Debates of April 20th, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Chair, many municipal councillors and band councillors across this country are business owners. Many of them have had to shut down their businesses, yet they continue in their role as band and municipal councillors, including in the town of Innisfil, which I represent. However, many of them do not qualify for the emergency benefits for their businesses that they have had to close.

I wonder if the government is considering extending some of these benefits to those band and municipal councillors who are working so hard in their communities to look after them during this COVID-19 crisis but cannot run their businesses right now.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Madam Chair, that is a really good question. I want the hon. member to know we are listening intently. We are working on that very issue and hope to be able to share information very shortly.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Chair, my last question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Has she been happy with the team Canada approach that not only Parliament but the opposition parties have utilized during this emergency crisis?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I have been very happy with the team Canada approach of all Canadians.

I would like to particularly single out the premiers. First and foremost, health care is a provincial responsibility. The premiers and provincial and territorial governments have had the first-line responsibility of dealing with this crisis. As the member opposite knows, most of the premiers are not members of my party. I think they have worked extremely collaboratively with one another and the federal government, and I commend them for that.

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

Madam Chair, thousands of Canadians, including Clarence, Diane, Megan and many others in my riding, do not qualify for any of the supports currently being offered by the government. They are self-employed, too small to qualify for the wage subsidy and do not qualify for CERB or CEBA. How long before these business owners can access support?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Madam Chair, all of our businesses across the country and our entrepreneurs and business owners are really important, and it is essential that we support them through this period. That is why we launched many of the measures to help them through this difficult period.

However, as I have said before, the work is not done. We continue to listen and work on this so that we do not leave anybody behind and we continue to support our businesses and entrepreneurs in this country.

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

Madam Chair, cyber-attacks have risen nearly 500% globally and are a threat that collect information and exhort ransoms from our own health system, corporations and of course individual Canadians. We know that the information of at least one Canadian hospital and thousands of our Canadian health care workers has been compromised.

What resources has the government put forward to stop these hackers and protect our country's information systems and citizens?

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

Madam Chair, indeed, as all of us are rightly focused on the front-line health care battle against the coronavirus, we do have to remember that this is a time when our information systems are particularly important and vulnerable.

Our government is very focused on that. Both the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Safety are working with the provinces and are very aware of the fact that we need to monitor our cybersecurity. One other security threat I will share with everyone here is scamming, which is a danger. People are afraid and vulnerable, and that is something we are focused on as well.

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

Madam Chair, weeks ago, the government announced that it would look into releasing offenders to ease the burden on the system and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our prisons. However, this has only shifted the problem from prisons to the police, with public safety concerns in our communities, not to mention the increased risk of spreading the virus to the general public.

What orders has the government, through the Minister of Public Safety, given to the commissioner of corrections, and what steps have been taken already to deal with this issue?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, the issue of federal correctional institutions and the coronavirus is another really important one. We have seen some worrying outbreaks in federal correctional institutions and have been working particularly closely with the Province of B.C. on the institutions there. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bonnie Henry for the very good advice she has been giving us about those institutions.

When it comes to inmates, let me emphasize that nothing is more important than the safety of Canadians. That is the first and foremost concern the Minister of Public Safety has in mind.

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

Madam Chair, the Minister of Public Safety promised that only non-violent criminals would be placed on parole to minimize the coronavirus outbreak in penitentiaries, as the deputy government—Deputy Prime Minister has indicated. However, media reports have recently confirmed that violent offenders are being released, and I am wondering why that is occurring.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I do aspire to be deputy government House leader to work closely with our House leader on managing questions on this side of the House. He is laughing, and it shows that it is true.

I would ask the member opposite to please share those reports with me and the Minister of Public Safety. The situation with regard to the coronavirus in federal correctional institutions is one we do need to watch closely, as there have been outbreaks there. At the same time, it is absolutely essential to protect the safety of Canadians.

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

Madam Chair, this question may be more in the bailiwick of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Canada and the U.S. recently came to an agreement to extend the prohibition on all non-essential cross-border travel. Did this new agreement change any of the previous conditions, yes or no, and what criteria is the government considering that has to be met in order to reopen the border?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, the agreement did not in any way change the original agreement. It simply rolled it over for 30 days. As we approach the end of those 30 days, and indeed every day after, we will continue to have a very friendly, very neighbourly conversation with our American neighbours about what to do next.

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

Madam Chair, the RCMP training centre has been closed and cadets were sent home in mid-March, of course with full pay. The RCMP has thousands of federally funded members who are fully trained. Has the government asked the RCMP to reassign the 400 recruits, and could the Deputy Prime Minister tell us how the federally funded RCMP members are helping Canadians on the front lines during this crisis?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, today of all days is a day that we should all be very grateful for the service of the RCMP across the country. I will leave it at that.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Chair, COVID-19 is having immediate and devastating impacts on the tourism sector across Canada. My community of Niagara Falls has been hit particularly hard. With over 16,000 hotel rooms in hotels employing almost 40,000 workers and generating over $2.4 billion in receipts, Niagara's hotels and accommodations, restaurants and resorts and other small business operations have all been devastated by this terrible virus.

It is the third time we have had to ask this. When will the government announce an economic aid package to support Canada's tourism and hospitality sector?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Madam Chair, the health and safety of Canadians is our top priority at all times. We know that tourism has been hard hit by COVID-19, and we are working tirelessly to mitigate its impact on the Canadian economy. As a first step, we are providing immediate help to those Canadians and businesses most in need, including to people without pay because of COVID-19, whether they are sick, caring for a loved one, unemployed or have been sent home.

We remain in communication with our colleagues in the provinces and territories, as well as with indigenous leaders and communities, to ensure we have a coordinated Canada-wide approach so we face and recover from this together. Our tourism sector is strong and resilient, and we will always be there to support it.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Chair, on April 8, the finance committee met to examine issues related to Canadian tourism and how COVID-19 was negatively impacting this important economic sector. As part of the hearings, the Hotel Association of Canada put forward some immediate solutions that would help support tourism.

One recommendation would allow the sector to submit its loss carry-over for the financial year now, which would provide businesses with much-needed financial liquidity. We have also suggested that the government examine rebating the HST payments made by businesses in 2019, again with the purpose of providing them with much-needed financial liquidity quickly.

Will the government support these proposals?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Madam Chair, if there is one thing people recognize it is that our government has acted swiftly to help a number of Canadians and a number of businesses, small, medium and large, across the country. We are working every day, morning, day, and often night, to do even more for them. We will continue to do so until together as Canadians we make it through this crisis.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Chair, COVID-19 has heavily impacted the greenhouse sector this year. Greenhouse operators have already invested tremendously in input costs to grow their product for market, but these markets have now instantaneously disappeared because of the virus. The next eight weeks are critical for greenhouse operators to cover their costs and make their profits. However, the future looks bleak.

Will the government consider supporting the Canadian greenhouse sector by providing operational cost coverage for the fiscal year?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Chair, I can assure you that we are working very closely with producers in all sectors, including greenhouse operators and processors. We are looking at various options to help them depending on the specific challenges they face.

As everyone knows, we have already implemented measures through Farm Credit Canada and the advance payments program. We have also helped the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. We are rolling out various measures, and we are well aware of the challenges facing greenhouse growers.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Chair, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture has recommended that the federal government restore the AgriStability coverage rate to 85% and remove the reference margin limit for the 2020 program year and the remainder of the Canadian agricultural partnership. Over the last few weeks we have now heard how much COVID-19 is impacting our Canadian agricultural sector and how this can impact future food security throughout our country.

Will the federal government commit to these agricultural supports?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Madam Chair, again, I am in contact with farmers, processors, and retailers every day. I am well aware of the situation. We have formed working groups. We are looking at what might be the best programs, the best options to help them. Obviously, they might already be benefiting from a certain number of programs. I am thinking about the programs for small businesses, the small business relief program and access to funding through Farm Credit Canada. These loans help in managing working capital. We will continue to consider different programs. AgriStability is one of many.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Madam Chair, on February 26, the Standing Committee on Health passed a motion stating the following:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the committee order all documents, including briefing notes, memos and emails from senior officials, prepared for the Minister of Health, Minister of Transport, Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of National Defence regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus, no later than March 15, 2020; that matters of Cabinet confidence and national security be excluded from the request; and that any redactions to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose names and personal information may be included in the documents, as well as public servants who have been providing assistance on this matter, be made by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons.

The documents were provided, but they were redacted by the government in advance. As a result, the parliamentary counsel has written to complain about this action.

Will the government reverse its course and allow the parliamentary counsel law clerk to do the redactions, rather than redacting proactively?