Debates of April 20th, 2020

Seniors

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question.

We are obviously concerned about everything that Canadians are going through right now, especially seniors. We are currently giving low- and modest-income seniors an extra GST credit payment of up to $400 per adult and $600 per couple.

We are also giving seniors some flexibility when it comes to the withdrawal requirements for registered retirement income. We are lowering the minimum RRIF withdrawal amounts by 25% and will continue to support seniors during this terrible pandemic.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that the increase in the GST was not enough.

Our seniors need support for their purchasing power to help them through this crisis. Once the crisis is over, we are going to need them to kick-start the economy, especially in the regions. However, seniors are getting poorer right now because of rising prices. It is absolutely crucial that the old age benefit be enhanced by $110 per month. That is the bare minimum. It just makes sense. On top of everything else, pension plans are not performing well.

First of all, will the government increase old age security benefits? Second, will it remove RRIF mandatory withdrawal amounts?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we will continue to support seniors and provide some flexibility when it comes to the withdrawal requirements for registered retirement income.

We are lowering the minimum RRIF withdrawal amounts by 25% for 2020. This will help keep assets in RRIFs during this time of market volatility. In addition, seniors who have stopped working because of COVID-19 are eligible for the Canada emergency response benefit, which provides $2,000 a month.

We will continue to support seniors during this very difficult time.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since we are talking about helping seniors, I would like to say that our riding offices across Quebec have been inundated with calls from seniors who need the government's help. However, Service Canada offices are closed. It is impossible to reach anyone at Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency. The government is leaving seniors to fend for themselves on the Internet and they are not receiving the help they need.

What will the government do to improve access to these services? Will it establish a direct line so that we, the MPs, can help seniors?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians have access to the benefits they need and are provided by Service Canada.

We will ensure that we are dispatching Service Canada community liaison officers to vulnerable communities, working also with intermediary trusted organizations to enable people to be aware of alternative modes of service online as well as telephone numbers. We have also increased the capacity of our phone lines and other supports to make sure that people can get the help they need.

We will ensure that, even when people do not have a barrier to those services, we make an exceptional circumstance and an appointment may be made to help them.

Health

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, public health measures are working to stop the spread of COVID-19, with the number of new cases starting to stabilize. Now is the time to begin to prepare to ensure we are ready at the earliest possible moment to restart our economy.

What is the national strategy for supporting virus and antibody testing? When will widespread contact tracing be available? How will the government address critical shortages of medical items? Canadians need to see a plan. When will the Liberals provide a national plan to get this country back to work?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that this needs to be a coordinated national plan, and that is why right now we are working with provinces and territories to address the many facets that she identifies. Whether it is research, support for public health or boosting our health care system across the country, these are steps we need to take together and in a coordinated fashion. We will continue that hard work and we will come back to Canadians when we have a plan that will protect their safety first and foremost and allow people to get back to work.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the provinces, health professionals and front-line workers are doing incredible work to fight the virus and keep us safe.

Now the federal government needs to work with us to get Canada back to normal. Certain conditions must be met before restrictions are lifted. For example, the government needs to address the shortage of equipment and medication. When will the government share its plan to reopen Canada?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. It is extremely important that we work together with provinces and territories to ensure we have a strong fabric to protect Canadians' health and safety while we begin the long, hard work of restarting our economy and getting Canadians back to work. This will require research. This will require evidence. This will also require investments in public health and supporting local and provincial governments to do the hard work of contact tracing and isolating close contacts. I am looking forward to that work with my colleagues and we will continue to update the House as we do it.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, as Canada moves from self-isolation and closures to a gradual reopening of communities and businesses, a high level of testing for COVID-19 will be needed, especially in areas that experience a second wave. Yet concerns are increasing that the federal government has not adequately ramped up the availability of tests, as was successfully done in Taiwan and South Korea.

What is the government's plan to initiate large-scale testing to coincide with a lifting of self-isolation, and how many test kits are needed to begin?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in Canada we have one of the highest testing rates in the world.

We are very proud of the work that is happening all across the country at all levels of government, but also from private industry which has been racing to ensure that we have new tools and new testing approaches as the science develops. We are constantly working, for example, to increase laboratory capacity and approve testing kits. In fact, we have approved the use of 10 new testing kits across the country which will help accelerate testing and speed up results. This is a work in progress, but we are confident we are on the right track.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an article on Ricochet reveals troubling information about errors made and the lack of pandemic preparedness.

SARS hit in 2003, but the government does not seem to have learned anything from that experience. On the other side of the world, South Korea had what it needed. They tested all their people. They had masks for everyone. Here, we are still scrambling for equipment. As a result, Quebec's death rate is 23 times higher than South Korea's.

What steps will the government take to provide protective equipment to health workers?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it has been all hands on deck to try to secure personal protective equipment for our health care workers across the provinces and territories.

The federal government has been working very closely with our counterparts to ensure that we find supplies, that we place those orders together and that we are able to get those orders out of countries. Also, we have been ramping up our ability to produce personal protective equipment and other medical supplies domestically, which will greatly increase our capacity to ensure an ongoing supply going forward.

It is a tragedy that so many people have lost their lives across this country, particularly in long-term care homes, which I know the province of Quebec is struggling with. We continue to work with our counterparts to protect those lives.

Taxation

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones. We are all working incredibly hard to get through this crisis. We are investing billions of dollars to help people and businesses.

Poland and Denmark just had the brilliant idea to make companies that are registered in tax havens ineligible for public assistance. Companies that cheat and do not pay their fair share should not receive our assistance.

Is the government prepared to follow this example?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in these extraordinary times, Canadians should not be worrying about paying bills and rent or feeding their families.

Our government is committed to supporting Canadians, our health care system and our economy. As part of the first phase of Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan, we are providing immediate assistance to Canadians and businesses, and we will continue to do so in the coming weeks.

Small and Medium-sized Businesses

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in these uncertain times, we rely on the talent and ingenuity of Canadians across the country.

Canadians understand that we must focus on manufacturing essential products in Canada.

By ramping up production in Canada, not only are we supporting our health care and front-line workers but we are also ensuring small and medium-sized businesses can stay open across the country.

Could the minister update this House on Canadian businesses' response to the government's call to action?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Orléans for her question. In the past few weeks, she has worked hard to stand up for the businesses in her riding.

During these difficult times, we have seen our small business owners put up their hands and ask us what they can do to help. Because of them, our government is investing $2 billion to purchase personal protective equipment, including things like more masks, face shields, gowns, ventilators, test kits, swabs and hand sanitizers.

We have launched Canada's plans to mobilize industry to fight COVID-19 to ensure that we can quickly produce right here in Canada the things that we need to prevent the spread of the virus. We admire the innovation of our small business owners. This is their trademark and it is why they are the core of our plan. Our businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are helping us get—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

Forestry Industry

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the forestry industry was in crisis before the pandemic with mills closing down and thousands of jobs lost. If our forestry industry is in jeopardy, the production of medical supplies, toilet paper and other essential products is also in jeopardy.

Has the government analyzed the impact of the sawmill closures on downstream production, such as toilet paper and PPE? What specific measures will the government take to ensure the long-term viability of the forestry sector?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite about how important our forestry sector is. The crisis today reminds us of how essential products of that industry are.

The pulp that is produced by Harmac on Vancouver Island is an essential input into many of the medical goods which are saving lives today. Over the past week, I have had many discussions with leaders in our forestry sector and with the provinces about what we can do to support the industry today.

Regional Economic Development

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry has been devastated and the recovery post-COVID-19 is uncertain. Bookings have been cancelled well into 2021. Small businesses in my riding are reeling from inconsistencies in the BDC. SMEs who took out loans just prior to the shutdown and had not opened are expected to pay the interest on principal they are not yet required to pay.

I have two questions. First, will the government consider extending the wage subsidy program for tourism-based small businesses? Second, will the government consider giving SMEs struggling under COVID-19 a break on their interest payments?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that some sectors, like tourism as well as seasonal businesses, are facing unique realities and challenges of COVID-19. That is why the Prime Minister and our Minister of Economic Development announced an investment of $675 million in our six regional development agencies and $287 million in the Community Futures Network. These supports and investments are going to help this very critical sector and those many small and medium-sized businesses across the country.

Natural Resources

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, three weeks ago, the finance minister said that help was coming for the energy sector within hours, and then nothing; crickets. Finally, the government announced something for orphan wells; however, it is woefully inadequate for an energy sector and economy already decimated by the Liberal government.

What will the Prime Minister's plan be when 7% of our GDP, hundreds of thousands of jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars in federal and provincial tax revenues are permanently lost because of his continued indifference and hostility towards Canada's energy sector?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government is far from indifferent to Canada's oil and gas sector. We know how essential the energy sector is to our country and how the energy sector is the source of hundreds of thousands of well-paying, middle-class jobs.

That is why last week our government announced unprecedented support for workers in the energy sector in the form of support for orphan wells. This work is long overdue, and let me point out to the member opposite that it was welcomed by the Premier of Alberta.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, grain and oilseed farmers are in a cash crunch crisis as they prepare for spring seeding. They are trying to buy seed, fuel and fertilizer. Most do not qualify for the Canada emergency business account, and the funding to Farm Credit Canada only benefits existing FCC customers. According to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, only 25% of Canadian farmers will benefit from the additional credit to FCC.

Since the government has failed to account for the specific needs of farmers, when will it announce a real plan that will help feed the people who feed this country?