Debates of June 17th, 2020

Supplementary Estimates (A)

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our global reputation definitely took a hit today.

The minister of border security announced on March 20 that Canada would turn away asylum seekers. Then, on April 20, he announced that fewer than 10 asylum seekers had crossed the border.

Why are the Liberals spending $200 million to house asylum claimants if they successfully closed the border?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the work the government has done to welcome the most vulnerable: those fleeing persecution, war, conflict and, increasingly, climate change. We invested in interim housing in partnership with the provinces and municipalities, which are doing tremendous work by integrating those who have fled those very difficult circumstances.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the $200 million the Liberals are spending on housing for asylum seekers, what other support are they providing?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to providing the housing that my hon. colleague has referred to, those who have had to flee the most difficult adversity, war, conflict and climate change are receiving support from those communities that are sponsoring, ordinary Canadians who—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The member for Edmonton Mill Woods.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Privy Council Office received an additional $48.7 million of funding for communications and marketing. Can the Liberals please explain what this money is for?

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

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians know, we are going through an unprecedented global pandemic and it has been incredibly important to communicate clearly with Canadians the measures we all need to take to stay safe—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Edmonton Mill Woods.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, out of this almost $15 million that is being provided to the Privy Council Office for communications, how much is being spent to cover the Prime Minister's morning press conferences from his cottage?

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

Mr. Speaker, the money is being spent to communicate clearly with Canadians the extraordinary measures we all need to be safe and to stay safe and well—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Edmonton Mill Woods.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on April 11, Finance Canada told Canadians that the CERB would cost $24 billion. The supplementary estimates now say the CERB will cost $60 billion, and that does not include the two-month extension the Prime Minister announced yesterday.

Can the Liberals tell us what the total cost of the CERB will be?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the $60 billion represents an estimated $15 billion for each four-week period. We know that as of June 4, for about two and a half months or two and a half four-week periods, we were at $44 billion. As people transition off the CERB to the wage subsidy, we anticipate the cost of the CERB to go down for two more four-week periods. It is difficult to tell right now, because we do not know how many more jobs there will be, but I assure the House that we will give that information in real time as we—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now go to the hon. member for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be participating in the debate today on the estimates, and I look forward to the minister's answers with regard to the funding her department is requesting.

Yesterday at committee, the deputy minister of PSPC told us that the $500 million being requested for PPE in these estimates was for contracts for itself, and not for contracts on behalf of other clients or departments.

Can the minister briefly detail what PPE is being purchased with this $500 million?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question.

We are purchasing a broad range of PPE and other supplies to meet Canada's needs in the short and long-term. We are purchasing in bulk, because we are unsure of the way in which this pandemic will roll out.

I am unsure of what my deputy minister said exactly at committee as I was not in attendance, but I would be happy to answer further questions if the member opposite would elucidate.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the minister to have a conversation with her deputy minister to find out just what information was shared with the committee.

Yesterday, the deputy minister also indicated that most of these funds were already under contract. Additionally, he indicated that many contracts for PPE include an advance payment provision, often depending on the commodity.

How many, or what percentage, of the contracts related to the $500 million request in the estimates contain an advance payment provision?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question.

The contracts with which we have been fulfilling Canada's needs for PPE across the country are varied in terms, in scope and in extent. As a result, it is impossible for me to provide, with specificity, the precise percentage that the member requires.

I will say that we are very transparent, where possible, with the contracts we have executed. If the member would take a look at the PSPC website, as well as at my testimony twice before OGGO, she would have that transparency.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I will advise the minister that I have the opportunity of getting briefings every week from her parliamentary secretary, who is quite forthcoming in giving answers to the questions that we ask. I just wish she would be, specifically to this $500 million request.

What is the average percentage of prepayments of all the contracts already entered into?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, we have executed hundreds of contracts with suppliers domestically and internationally. Answering that question with precision at this point is not possible, first, because we need to protect our supply chains, and second, because our contractual relationships are continually advancing and changing due to the high demand for PPE across the country and around the world.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we know that PSPC is trying to extract itself from a contract with a company that sold us millions of substandard KN95 masks. Yesterday, the deputy minister told the OGGO committee that other contracted companies are struggling with timeliness, and that at least one more is having quality issues.

Can the minister assure Canadians that none of the $500 million requested in these estimates will be going, or has gone, to one of these companies struggling with timeliness or quality?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question.

In my debrief with my deputy minister last night about this particular issue, he did mention that he had referenced one other contract. I will say with regard to that contract that, of any amount requested in the supplementary estimates, Canadians will not be paying for masks that did not meet the standards of the Public Health Agency of Canada. That is my commitment, and that has been our Prime Minister's commitment also.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there are eight and a half million Canadians on CERB, taxpayers who are struggling to pay bills and work, yet in these estimates the government is gifting $48 million more to wealthy people to buy electric vehicles.

Why is that a priority for the government?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thought we would had made it abundantly clear that we are committed to zero net emissions by 2050 and improving, in fact, on our targets by 2030 for the Paris Agreement. That's why we are putting in place electric vehicle incentives.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, how is subsidizing wealthy people to buy Teslas with $50 million, $5,000 a car, and making seniors wait months and months and months for a mere $500, a priority for the government?