Debates of May 25th, 2020

Foreign Affairs

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we put out a very strong statement alongside the governments of the U.K. and Australia with our deep disagreement over the measures proposed by China for Hong Kong. We will continue to defend the rights of people in Hong Kong, particularly the 300,000 Canadians who live there. We continue to defend Canadian interests around the world, including in regard to China.

The Economy

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec has a rather unique economic fabric because, over the past decades, it has built an amazing structure of small and medium-sized businesses owned by Quebeckers.

Today, that economic fabric is threatened by the pandemic and the weakening of businesses in Quebec, which are at risk of being bought by larger businesses that are often located abroad. That is a serious problem. Injections of $100,000, $200,000 or $300,000 could save some of those businesses, but that money is going to go into the coffers of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Will the Prime Minister commit right here and now to reversing the Liberal Party's participation in the wage subsidy program?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we implemented a wage subsidy program to help businesses, NPOs and charitable organizations keep their employees during the pandemic. We know that workers from all sorts of organizations and businesses need to continue to pay their rent and buy groceries. That is why we put the subsidy in place for all organizations and businesses that need it. We need our economy and our country to make a full recovery following this pandemic.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all of Quebec is listening to the Prime Minister's answers, or lack thereof. Let's be serious. A program is for those in need. A super-wealthy political party that raked in nearly $3 million in the first quarter is not in need.

Instead of letting cash go to the Liberal Party of Canada, can we keep that money for Quebec's small retailers, 30% to 50% of which are worried they may go bust, according to the chambers of commerce?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have introduced programs to help workers across Canada, including the Canada emergency response benefit, which is helping eight million Canadians across the country, and the wage subsidy, which is helping countless workers.

We have made investments to offer credit to small businesses. We are going to keep making sure that businesses and workers in need get adequate support during this crisis.

Health

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have seen that in this country Canadians have to make an impossible choice when they are sick. Without paid sick leave, they have to choose between going to work and potentially risking infecting their co-workers or staying at home and not knowing if they can pay their bills.

Will the Prime Minister commit to immediately putting in place a guarantee that all Canadians can receive paid sick leave?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that nobody should have to choose between staying home with COVID-19 symptoms and being able to afford rent or groceries. That is why the government will continue discussions with the provinces without delay on ensuring that, as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, every worker in Canada who needs it has access to 10 days of paid sick leave a year. We will also consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave. We thank the leader of the NDP and the entire NDP caucus for working with us on this issue.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for that response.

The Prime Minister promised to help Canadians living with disabilities. He made that promise weeks ago, but he has yet to follow through.

When will the Prime Minister provide support for people with disabilities?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that people living with disabilities are more vulnerable in the economic context created by COVID-19 and have additional costs to cover. We need to help them.

We have taken several measures, including establishing an advisory group that will help us meet the needs of this community. However, we know we need to do more, and we are going to do just that. In fact, we are currently working on mechanisms for helping Canadians with disabilities.

Sittings of the House

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, House Leader of the Official Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: The plan the Liberals are presenting on how members of Parliament can do their job in this place does not include a return to Parliament. The Liberals want a glorified committee with stunted duties and limited powers. It is a fake Parliament, which is not a surprise coming from the Liberals.

If the Prime Minister thinks it is okay for us to be here four days a week, face to face, in a glorified committee, why is it not okay for us to be here, as we are today, having real Parliament?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we are here today, and we will be here four days a week, taking questions from the opposition, as we did the week before and the week before that. Instead of having a normal sitting, with an average of 190 questions, last week and the week before we had over 300 questions, because we consider the role of parliamentarians fundamental. The opposition needs to play a role. The government plays its role. That is how democracy works.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we are very happy to ask questions. It would appear the Prime Minister does not really like to answer them, but we are very happy to continue to ask those questions.

As we are preparing to come out of this pandemic, we have an economic recovery that we need to see. We could see a possible second wave of the pandemic. Is it not more important than ever that Parliament, with all of its powers, including opposition days, private members' business and the business that Parliament does, happens in this place, and not just this so-called glorified committee, which is really the Liberals trying to pass off a fake Parliament, which it is not?

Does the government believe that Parliament is essential?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, what is essential is for the opposition to be able to ask questions. It is essential that committees can work. For example, in recent weeks, we had 74 meetings of different committees, 580 witnesses and 23 appearances by ministers. This is crucial, because this is our democracy. We will always defend our democracy at the same time that we respect the directions by our health experts. We are here to answer questions, and we are pleased to answer those questions.

Finance

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an extraordinary situation calls for extraordinary measures. In the context of the pandemic that has hit Canada, we understand and accept that the government has to inject billions of dollars and that this results in a deficit. The fact remains that we need to know where this is heading. On April 30, the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated the deficit to be $252 billion.

Today, 25 days later, can the government tell us how much the deficit will be?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House and my colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent that we are going through an extraordinarily serious crisis. Millions of Canadians have lost their jobs and are worried for their health and that of their loved ones.

Although this is a period of uncertainty and concern, we are doing everything we can to reassure Canadians and help them get through this crisis.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with what the President of the Treasury Board said 100%, but he did not answer my question. The President of the Treasury Board is the best person here, aside from the Prime Minister, to answer the following question. What will Canada's deficit be? Twenty-five days ago, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said $252 billion, which is enormous.

With 25 more days of spending behind us, what is Canada's deficit now?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, no Canadian should have to worry about paying the bills, additional child care or putting food on the table at this time. Canada had a strong fiscal position. Canada is ready and able to respond to the challenges of COVID-19. The time to act is now. We will be unwavering in our support to families, our health care system and our economy. We are in this together, and our government is prepared to use whatever means are necessary to keep our economy strong and stable.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, even before COVID-19, Canadian farm families were struggling. Farm revenues fell by 45% in 2018, the largest drop in Canadian history. During the pandemic, the Liberals increase the carbon tax on farmers and do not offer any assistance for an essential industry. The situation is dire. Planting is down 25% and 30,000 farms are at risk of bankruptcy.

During a financial crisis, why do the Liberals feel the best lifeline for Canadian farmers is an online calculator?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to remind the House that Canada already has a suite of risk management programs available. These risk management programs are enhanced by various other complementary programs. Taken together, the programs make $1.6 billion available to farmers during ordinary times. That is why I keep saying that is what they should turn to first.

Even so, we will keep adding funds and launching programs. AgriRecovery is a great example of that. In past years, the program made $15 million available, but we have put $125 million into it already.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister obviously does not understand how dire and desperate the situation is for Canadian farmers and agri-food businesses. Her response to farmers is that they just do not understand the programs. What programs: an online calculator and more debt? How out of touch can the Liberals possibly be? The business risk management programs were never designed for a global pandemic.

Instead of insulting farmers, why will the minister not listen to them and design a program they can actually use?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would never, ever insult farmers. I have way too much respect for the farmers I have been spending a lot of time with lately. They are the beating heart of my riding. I have enormous respect for farmers, and I know they know it.

We ware improving our programs. Let me share an example. The Canada emergency business account was already set up for the agricultural sector, but we heard from a lot of people that many small businesses could not access it. That is why we broadened the criteria. As of now, the account is available to small farmers too, who can access $670 million in direct transfers through it.

Government Programs

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am beginning to see why the Liberal Party prefers not to have real question periods. The Prime Minister said that they are going to take the subsidy and keep it. He told fishers in eastern Quebec that he is going to keep the money that they need. He told small businesses in Beloeil and in the Papineau riding that he is keeping for himself a chunk of the money that they need. He told hotel operators that he is keeping the money and that they should consult a website where they will find out they are not entitled to the money. That is absurd.

Could the Prime Minister show a modicum of common sense, rise and tell the House that the Liberal Party is forgoing the wage subsidy?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada emergency wage subsidy is there to help workers through this time. Workers deserve that assistance so that they do not have to worry about putting food on the table or weathering this difficult time. We want to support all employers, which is why the wage subsidy is available whether it is a not-for-profit or for-profit business. This is to help Canadian workers through this very difficult time, and we are going to continue supporting Canadian workers through this period.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals raised almost $3 million in the first few months of 2020, while the Conservatives raised $4 million. They are rolling in cash. They can pay their staff, but they are asking families to chip in and pay them. Why? It is partisanship. They are asking Quebeckers who lost their jobs to pay party staff because they do not want to dip into their election funds.

I will ask my question. I have wanted to ask it for a long time.

Why is it so difficult for the Liberals to keep their hands out of the cookie jar?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, I think everyone agrees that COVID-19 has been very hard on Canadians. We have asked Canadians to do something extraordinary through this period to fight COVID-19, and workers are at the very heart of this. The Canada emergency wage subsidy is there to help our hard-working Canadians so that they can be supported during this difficult time. We are going to continue to do that. Irrespective of what sector, irrespective of what size an organization is, we are going to help Canadian workers.