Debates of Dec. 4th, 2020

Small Business

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, having closed, locked doors is a nightmare fear that business people like Roly in Langdon deal with on a monthly basis. The government's fiscal update has few details, no timelines and provides no certainty for small businesses like Roly's. Roly cannot afford to wait months for another flawed Liberal program.

When will the government support the backbones of our communities, the small businesses? It needs to happen now. They are not waiting for another flawed program.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been here since day one of the pandemic for our small businesses and entrepreneurs. Over 800,000 businesses across the country have already received the emergency business account loan. That is a $40,000 loan that we had put in place at the very beginning. We just increased that loan by another $20,000, including a $10,000 grant. The rent program is now open. I encourage all entrepreneurs to access this subsidy, which can go up to 90%.

We are continuing to support businesses with our wage subsidy. We are there for our entrepreneurs.

Health

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, people are asking important and necessary questions about the vaccination plan.

We know that Canada will not be among the first to receive the vaccine. We know that Canada has a portfolio of vaccines. We know that, but when will we get the first doses? Will there be enough for all of the vulnerable people and front-line health care workers? If the government knows, it needs to tell us. If the government does not know, it needs to tell us that too. We need to plan. All we want is the facts.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have one of the best vaccine portfolios in the world, with more doses per capita than any other country in the world, and a plan to deliver those doses to the provinces and territories, which will use their expertise to immunize Canadians. This is good news for Canadians.

Every step of the way, we have been transparent with Canadians. There will be more information as the plan comes together and as we have more clarity about when we will receive those doses from the manufacturer, and there is good news: Health Canada has four of those promising vaccinations under review right now, and one that a decision will be rendered on very soon.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a plan, but not a detailed one. It is not clear.

People want to know what the vaccination plan is. Those who are counting know that there are now 386 sleeps before Christmas because Christmas this year has been cancelled. That is sad.

People want to know when we will receive the vaccines because they want an idea of the timeline. Will there be enough for the most vulnerable members of our society and health care workers? When can we hope to see an end to the lockdown? How much longer do we need to hold on? Psychological distress is real.

By what date does the government think that all vulnerable people and health care workers will be vaccinated?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, of course, we are all looking forward to the arrival of the vaccines.

We have four very promising potential vaccines that are currently undergoing scientific review. We will be guided by science, not only in the approval of potential vaccines, but also in their distribution. Health care professionals and scientists will be the ones who guide us in determining in what order people will receive the vaccine.

Official Languages

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a very simple question for the government that the government can easily answer. This is not a trap.

Since the beginning of the week, the official opposition and the Quebec nation have been very clear. Will the Liberal government allow all Quebeckers working in Quebec to speak French at work by making federally regulated businesses subject to Bill 101, yes or no?

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Official Languages)]

Mr. Speaker, ours is the first government in the history of this country to recognize that the French fact in Canada, and especially in Quebec, faces difficulties and challenges, especially in the larger North American context.

I urge my colleagues to work with us so that we can introduce a modern official languages bill that will protect anglophone minorities and the French fact in la belle province.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, did he say before Christmas?

I think the President of the Treasury Board is losing control of his secretariat. This week in committee, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that the Treasury Board had lost control of accountability. Nobody really knows what this government is actually spending.

The President of the Treasury Board has also lost control of respect for official languages legislation within government. It approved the WE Charity contract without conducting an official languages analysis. This is a very bad situation. Who will call the President of the Treasury Board to order?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government]

Mr. Speaker, our government is determined to ensure that our programs and services produce results for Canadians.

In their review of the proposed Canada student service grant, Treasury Board officials explored a number of avenues to ensure due diligence. The secretariat determined that the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth had the necessary authority under the policy on transfer payments to set up the program.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board admitted he violated Treasury Board rules on the $900-million WE deal. He admitted he failed in his obligation to perform the required official languages analysis for the WE deal just so they could line the pockets of Liberal insiders.

I am an anglophone member from Edmonton, and I am standing up for the French language. Why are francophone members from Quebec not standing up for French?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government]

Mr. Speaker, promoting official bilingualism and defending the French language have been a top priority for our government since 2015.

French is here to stay. It is part of our history, our identity and our future. It is our duty to defend and promote it. On this side of the House, we are proud to be francophones and francophiles, and we are proud of the concrete action we have taken to defend French.

Public Safety

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 31 years ago, 14 promising young women lost their lives in a heinous act of violence, misogyny and hatred. What motivated the killer was that these women had the audacity to pursue higher education. We must remember the tragedy of December 6, 1989, not only to continue fighting for the advancement of women in our communities, but also to strengthen gun control.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness please inform the House about what measures we are taking so that similar tragedies do not happen again?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Mississauga—Erin Mills for her important question and her tireless work on behalf of the women's caucus for several years now.

This Sunday, we will solemnly remember the tragedy that occurred at École Polytechnique in Montreal 31 years ago. It is a sad anniversary that serves to remind us that gender-based violence still exists and we must do everything we can to curb it, as well as strengthen gun control.

Our government passed legislation to enhance background checks for anyone applying for a licence to possess or acquire firearms, in order to screen for a history of domestic violence.

In May, we also banned the military-style weapon used in the École Polytechnique massacre, but we know there is still a lot of work to do.

We plan to introduce legislation to implement red flag laws will allow us to further reduce—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member for Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation is among the government's most troubled federal agencies. Issues ranging from poor management to high rates of workplace injury have plagued this agency for decades. In 2019, the government recommended it transition to a harvester-led co-operative or an indigenous economic development corporation.

This transition is critical for the future of Manitoba's fishers, processors and economic reconciliation. It has been over a year. Why does the minister continue to neglect our freshwater fisheries?

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, we understand how important the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation is to ensuring that harvesters and fishers can get their fish to market. We have made sure throughout this COVID crisis that we have had harvesters' backs, ensuring that the harvesters benefit applies to fishers and harvesters right across the country.

When it comes to the future of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, we will continue to work with indigenous nations and our provincial partners to ensure there is a solid future for fishers of freshwater fish.

Health

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, unregistered pesticides, lost tax revenue, dangerous working conditions, undocumented workers and links to organized crime are but a few of the damaging consequences of large-scale grow ops in Essex County.

Will the minister commit to a meeting with my three Essex colleagues, from three parties, and myself to address the federal role in this crisis?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we are always interested in meeting with members of the opposition to discuss concerns they have in their own ridings.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, identity theft is a real problem in our society, especially since the CERB was brought in.

Lately my team has been getting calls from people who may have been victims of fraud. When they try to notify the Canada Revenue Agency, they end up being put on hold for ages only to have the call dropped. My assistants make attempts on their end, but they get no response, only a message that the CRA is experiencing technical difficulties. Even by email, the wait is very long. This keeps people stressed and worried. The government promised to fight fraud.

How can it do that if it does not listen to the public?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we have identified CRA call centres as an essential service. Many call centre agents continue to come to work. However, because of social distancing, the CRA is operating with reduced capacity. As a result, the CRA is not able to answer every call as quickly as we would like.

We are working on finding solutions as quickly as possible.

Indigenous Affairs

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday our government tabled important legislation on the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Built upon the former Bill C-262, this bill aims to protect and promote indigenous rights, including the right to self-determination and self-government, equality and non-discrimination.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice update the House on the foundations of Bill C-15 and its ability to serve as a framework to advance reconciliation with indigenous peoples?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Surrey Centre for his advocacy.

Over 25 years of negotiation took place between indigenous peoples and nation states to develop the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The foundation of this legislation, the former Bill C-262, was carefully examined by both this House and the Senate during the last mandate. It also shares many similarities with the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Our government has, through consultation and collaboration with indigenous peoples, built upon this legacy of careful consideration to present this critical legislation. It will serve as the foundation for a renewed relationship with indigenous peoples.

Government Programs

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Truchon decision has caused a lot of real worry for people living with disabilities in Canada.

In the wake of that decision and the changes to medical assistance in dying, we have to ensure that all Canadians with disabilities have enough resources to avoid the terrible choice between a life of poverty and suffering or premature death.

Yesterday we called on the government to establish a bold new income support program that would lift all Canadians living with disabilities out of poverty.

Will the government work with us to deliver that support to people with the same urgency it gave Bill C-7 instead of repeating the unacceptable delay we saw with the emergency one-time payment earlier this year?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I would emphasize that Bill C-7 strives to ensure we have a regime that protects vulnerable persons with adequate safeguards, and all the time respects individual autonomy and competence.

With respect to supports for persons with disabilities, this is something that the minister and the entire governmental team has been working on diligently. We will continue to hear those voices and those calls for support, and we will continue to work to deliver that important support.