House of Commons Hansard #40 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
The Deputy Chair NDP Carol Hughes
You can, but you have to proceed with the questions now, if you want to take your two and a half minutes.
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to know what the Liberals plan to do with respect to the three topics I mentioned, namely seasonal work, Internet access and indigenous peoples who do not currently have access to the fisheries program. Mr. Paul, from the Mi'kmaq nation mentioned this yesterday.
Why is this not addressed? Tourism, fisheries, seasonal workers, the Internet, the vitality of democracy and the first nations are all urgent matters.
Supplementary Estimates (A)Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec
Liberal
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her speech.
It goes without saying that we support the people of Côte-Nord. We understand that they are clearly struggling right now, whether it is in the natural resources sector, in the fisheries sector, or in the various sectors found on the main streets of Sept-Îles or Baie-Comeau. I actually had the opportunity to discuss this issue last week with Yves Porlier, the mayor of Sept-Îles.
I simply want to tell my colleague that we are here to help her and to help the people of Côte-Nord through CFDCs, with money—
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
I thank my hon. colleague for her response. When I speak, obviously it is for the Côte-Nord, but I am also speaking for Quebec as a whole.
When it comes to tourism, she knows very well that this and other sectors are just as vibrant in Montreal as they are in my region. At the same time, Réjean Porlier and Yves Montigny, the mayors of Sept-Îles and Baie-Comeau, are of course having difficulties. There is also the reality of the immensity of the territory.
Once again, I am not getting an answer to my question. I am talking about the Internet and seasonal workers, which have nothing to do with CFDCs. I am also talking about first nations, which would like to access, without discrimination, the same programs as other fishers.
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Madam Chair, I know Yves Montigny and Réjean Porlier very well. It seems to be getting late.
What I was trying to say to the member is that my colleague, the Minister of Rural Economic Development is well aware of the Internet issues. She has been given a strong mandate in that regard. We will be able to work with her to properly serve the people of Côte-Nord and across Quebec. She certainly has her priorities in the right place, as the saying goes. The Internet issue is also very important to our colleague, the Minister of Innovation.
Let us work to find solutions to improve the lives of the people of Côte-Nord and all the regions of Quebec.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to talk to you about agriculture, which is an issue that matters to me because I grew up in the country.
I am going to go back in time to the month of March, when the crisis started. Technically, we should have voted on a budget in March, but, of course, the crisis happened. That was out of our control. However, what was under our control was how we could have chosen to conduct our parliamentary business.
Technologically speaking, nothing would prevent us from having a committee with a much broader mandate than that of the current Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic.
I would like to take a moment to talk about the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons' math. He said that we now have four nice two-hour question periods, so we should be satisfied. Imagine the week's question period as the cherry on the parliamentary sundae. Take away my sundae and give me two cherries, and I might not find that so satisfying.
We were unable to work on a budget. We were also unable to work on tabling private members' bills. If there were a vote on the budget, the Bloc's condition was to ensure that dairy producers would be compensated for the losses caused by a weakened supply management system.
We also intended to table a bill to prevent future breaches in supply management. What is happening is that, given that the CUSMA was ratified a little earlier this year than we hoped, dairy producers have only one month to compensate for a full year of quotas that have been affected. At the very least, losses will total $100 million, excluding future losses.
That is what I wanted to say about agriculture.
With regard to health, Quebec has spent up to $3 billion on health and only $500 million has been provided to help out all of Canada. There has been talk of conditional transfers in the future. There is no guarantee that there will not be a second wave requiring additional money.
I will start with my questions on agriculture as I cannot find any mention in the budget of support for farmers. I would like to know what the government will do for them given that they are having a horrible year and have also incurred losses because of reduced quotas and milk that was dumped.
Supplementary Estimates (A)Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Compton—Stanstead Québec
Liberal
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Madam Chair, in the supplementary estimates, amounts are allocated to various groups of producers, including meat processors. That helps our producers indirectly.
Regarding dairy farmers more specifically, our commitment remains firm. We will provide $1.75 billion for the first two agreements with Europe and the trans-Pacific region. The first payment was made at the beginning of the year or the very end of the previous year for some farmers. The rest is coming. Now that we have ratified our agreement with the United States, we will be able to finalize compensation for this third agreement.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Chair, producers are suffering losses now. They are suffering losses because of the COVID-19 crisis, which resulted in a drop in milk consumption, mainly because of the closure of restaurants and schools. Producers are also suffering losses right now as a result of the ratification of CUSMA, which happened earlier than expected.
I want to know what will happen now that CUSMA has been signed and is already causing losses. I understand that we were talking about the other two agreements and the related compensation, but what is happening now to address the losses related to COVID-19 and CUSMA?
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Madam Chair, we gave dairy farmers exactly what they wanted, which was to increase the loan capacity of the Canadian Dairy Commission by $200 million. Thanks to supply management, the commission is a very experienced organization and perfectly capable of adapting to the situation. The increased loan capacity will enable the commission to buy greater quantities of butter and cheese to compensate for the drop in demand, mainly from restaurants.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Chair, I would be much happier to get money than a credit card. That is what happened in the case of the Canadian Dairy Commission. It got an increase in its line of credit, which is good in a way. However, it is not a direct subsidy and it does not directly cover the losses that dairy producers have suffered. I am not saying that the measure is bad. I am saying that it is insufficient.
I would like to know what direct compensation has been planned for dairy producers that are suffering losses because of COVID-19 and the hasty ratification of CUSMA.
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Madam Chair, I will repeat what we said to dairy producers who were asking us to provide more resources to the Canadian Dairy Commission. It is not a mortgage. In fact, it gives them the possibility of buying additional quantities of milk-based products, namely butter and cheese, store them and resell that cheese and butter at the same price when demand resumes. That is exactly what the producers asked us to do.
Our commitment remains strong when it comes to compensation related to the agreement with the United States.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Chair, I understand that there may be a second wave in this pandemic and that we will not necessarily have the time to return to the House in the meantime to consider new votes. I would therefore like to know where is the money that the provinces and Quebec will need to deal with a second wave.
Supplementary Estimates (A)Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Madam Chair, we are in talks with Quebec and the provinces to decide what we must do together to prepare for a second wave and to ensure a safe and healthy recovery for all Canadians and Quebeckers.
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Madam Chair, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to these supplementary estimates and to the health portfolio.
It is no surprise that the supplementary estimates (A), 2020-21, were largely influenced by our government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented crisis called for an unprecedented, timely, global and coordinated response. Our government took action on several fronts, but public health was one of our top priorities. The organizations in the health portfolio were instrumental in these efforts.
Early in the crisis, Health Canada responded quickly to support the Government of Canada's response. In total, these initial measures cost more than $9.2 million dollars and included support for specialized health services, drugs and medical devices, and funding for operations and coordination.
Since that time, the department's response has expanded and evolved. One of its top priorities has been keeping Canadians informed and helping them protect themselves during the pandemic. To do this, Health Canada has developed a number of digital tools to provide timely, reliable information to Canadians where and when they need it. This includes the Canada COVID-19 app, which provides up-to-date information on the pandemic, a symptom tracker and a self-assessment tool. It also includes the Wellness Together Canada portal, which links Canadians to mental health and substance use supports.
Innovative tools like these empower Canadians to stay healthy and to stop the spread of COVID-19. Health Canada is requesting a total of $240.5 million in additional funds to support these initiatives.
Right now, there is nothing more important than making sure Canada's health care system has the right tools to fight COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, medication and essential equipment, such as personal protective equipment, have been in high demand around the world. As a regulatory body, Health Canada has found innovative solutions to source and ensure access to these essential supplies.
The department implemented a temporary measure to facilitate access to hand sanitizer, disinfectant and other PPE. In addition, the Minister of Health signed a number of emergency orders that facilitated access to tests, drugs and medical supplies.
Health Canada will continue to take measures like these if necessary, to ensure that Canada has the drugs and medical equipment it needs to fight the pandemic. The department will also continue to do the operational work needed to coordinate our COVID-19 response.
In total, Health Canada is requesting $12.8 billion in additional funding for this work.
Of course, even during the pandemic, Health Canada continues to carry out its regular activities, as it works to protect the health of Canadians. That includes supporting medical research. As part of these supplementary estimates, Health Canada is requesting more than $15 million for the Terry Fox Research Institute and Ovarian Cancer Canada. This investment will advance precision medicine in cancer, including ovarian cancer, for which there is still no reliable screening test and no vaccine to prevent it, even though it has the lowest survival rate of all other cancers in women, a fact that my family unfortunately knows too well.
The department is also requesting an additional $1.5 million to support a safe and non-discriminatory approach to plasma donation. Specifically, this funding will go toward research on reducing barriers to plasma donation by men who have sex with men.
Altogether, these supplementary estimates will increase Health Canada's statutory spending forecast by $262.6 million and its voted spending authorities by $16.6 million.
I will now turn to the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC.
As members will recall, on March 11, the Prime Minister outlined Canada's whole-of-government response to COVID-19 by establishing the COVID-19 response fund.
As the agency responsible for preparing for and responding to public health emergencies, PHAC has played a key role in this response. As such, these supplementary estimates increase PHAC's statutory spending forecast by $2.3 billion and its voted spending authorities by $42.3 million. Of this, $177.1 million will support PHAC's early work to respond to COVID-19. This includes the immediate public health response and the acquisition of supplies for the provinces and territories. It also includes support for communication and public education initiatives.
An additional $74.7 million will be allocated to a more long-term response to the pandemic, which includes isolating travellers entering the country and strengthening the testing capacity of the National Microbiology Laboratory. Furthermore, $7.5 million will be allocated to the Kids Help Phone, which is providing mental health support to young Canadians during this difficult time. The Public Health Agency of Canada is also asking for $1.8 billion to procure protective gear and medical equipment.
With regard to the new funding, PHAC is asking for support to prepare for future pandemic-related challenges. For example, $37 million will be used to establish a Canadian supply of respirators and surgical masks. An additional $5 million will be allocated to the national medical research strategy. This initiative includes COVID-19 tracking and testing and the development of vaccines and treatments. It also includes strengthening Canada's capabilities in biomanufacturing, vaccine research and clinical trials, in co-operation with Health Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; the National Research Council of Canada; and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Of course, the effects of COVID-19 are not limited to health care. This pandemic has had an impact on almost every aspect of our society. That includes the agri-food industry, which is dealing with unique pressures.
Throughout this crisis, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, or CFIA, has been working diligently to protect the integrity of the food system to ensure that Canadians continue to have access to safe, high-quality foods. These supplementary estimates include just under $20 million in additional funding for the CFIA to carry out this important work. For example, the CFIA has been increasing the number of inspectors, reassigning staff to high-priority areas and finding innovative ways to conduct remote inspections.
As the organization responsible for supporting critical research to inform governments' actions in public health crises such as COVID-19, CIHR is receiving over $151 million in 2020-21 from the fiscal framework for COVID-19-related initiatives. Of this amount, over $147 million is being funded through these supplementary estimates, while CIHR is also allocating close to $4 million of existing funding. Following the Prime Minister's announcement of March 11, and in partnership with a number of provinces, CIHR was able to invest an additional $25.8 million in 53 more research grants.
We understood that we needed to do more to guarantee the best health outcomes for all Canadians dealing with the pandemic. That is why, on April 23, the Prime Minister announced additional funding for a solid research plan, a response to the pandemic and health emergencies.
Almost overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live our lives and put exceptional demands on our health care system and institutions. It is a challenge unlike any we have seen in our lifetime, but together we are rising to meet it. It has never been more important for us to work together as a government and as a country.
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Madam Chair, we hear a lot in the House about antibody testing.
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Actually, Madam Chair, I am asking this question of the minister.
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Exactly, Madam Chair, thank you very much. I will be asking this question of the Minister of Health.
We hear a lot in the House about antibody testing. I know that some weeks ago, the Prime Minister announced research initiatives and, with that, announced some $200 million in funding for the serosurveillance consortium. Can the Minister of Health please tell the House what this funding is for and what the consortium is going to do?
Supplementary Estimates (A)Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Thunder Bay—Superior North Ontario
Liberal
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Madam Chair, I thank the member for highlighting the incredible work of both Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada in responding to the coronavirus outbreak in Canada.
Part of the mystery of coronavirus is what does having coronavirus mean for people's future immunity to the disease? In fact, it is something that researchers around the world are working on. We knew that Canada needed to have its own immunity task force, its own approach to understanding serosurveillance in our own country.
Therefore, $200 million in funding is going to support the consortium that will ensure that we can actually move forward with blood tests that will provide better understanding of what having been a positive case with COVID means and whether antibodies can be used in possible future treatments.
The serosurveillance consortium is doing important work as part of the immunity task force and, again, we are so grateful to the excellent researchers and scientists who are contributing their time and energy to this work.
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Madam Chair, we all know too well that COVID-19 is taking a toll on Canadians' mental health, whether it is the isolation of quarantine or the stress caused by losing a job or getting sick. We know that our constituents need our support, but there is a specific group that needs special attention: children and young Canadians, some of whom did not get to have their graduation ceremonies this June.
In the supplementary estimates, the Public Health Agency of Canada is requesting $7.5 million in funding for Kids Help Phone to provide support for counselling services to children and youth.
Can the Minister of Health please explain to the House how this funding will be used to support our young people?