House of Commons Hansard #42 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was program.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the midst of a pandemic, the government created a $900-million program and decided, without even launching a tendering process, that only those that hire the Trudeau family are able to administer it. Is it just me or did the Prime Minister create a loyalty program for his family and friends of the family?
Is there a single cabinet member who can explain to us how they decided that WE Charity was the only organization that was able to administer this program?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, as I explained before the Standing Committee on Finance, we wanted to create another program for students and not-for-profits. We asked the public service to give us some ideas. I am sure it did its job. It made a recommendation. I asked some questions, and it made a recommendation, which I accepted. That is how we arrived at that decision.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is absurd. We are in the middle of a pandemic. At a time when we should feel confident that our government is working for the common good, that the only thing that matters is the public interest, the Prime Minister is putting his family and his buddies first. He handed more than $40 million of taxpayer money to an organization that he has ties to and that hires members of his family. We obviously cannot trust him.
Will the Prime Minister do the one thing that could lend any semblance of sincerity to his apology and step down while the Ethics Commissioner investigates?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, we know this is a very unprecedented and challenging time and that Canadians are hurting. We know that COVID-19 has impacted all Canadians, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable. Students are no exception.
The program we put out for students was a $9 billion program in support that included the creation of the Canada emergency student benefit. We doubled Canada student grants for full and part-time students. We instituted a six-month moratorium on Canada student loans. We increased funding for first nations, Inuit and Métis students purposing post-secondary education. We announced 10,000 additional jobs for the Canada summer jobs program, a new investment of—
That is right. This is how much we have been doing.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, that makes no sense. The minister did not answer my question. The problem is that the Prime Minister did not recuse himself from the decision. He did not recuse himself beforehand, and then he apologized after the fact, but only because he got caught red-handed yet again.
Why did the Prime Minister fail to mention that his mother and his brother were paid by WE Charity? Did he just forget that detail, or was he hoping it would not come to light? Why try to hide the truth, if not because he knew his decision was ethically indefensible?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Prime Minister said that he should not have been there when the decision was made. He accepted responsibility. Our government will continue to ensure that there are programs for students and for not-for-profits. We will also ensure that Canadians have the resources they need right now. We know that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are also the leaders of today. Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have said that we would be there for all Canadians, and we will continue to work for them.
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, the WE Charity scandal continues to deepen. More troubling details are being revealed daily. With their filibuster in the ethics committee last week, it would seem that the Liberals are hiding something embarrassing. Every minister should be asked about their connection to WE. The transport minister, the employment minister and the foreign affairs minister have made it clear that they knew nothing about the Prime Minister's conflict of interest. The rest of cabinet, however, must come clean.
Can the minister tell us if she was aware of the Prime Minister's blatant conflict of interest?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I have been clear that my focus as the Minister of Youth has been on ensuring that young people have the supports they need during this pandemic. The member asks very good questions, and that is exactly why, when members of all parties supported a motion at finance committee to have us appear, I appeared. The first possible opportunity to have myself appear, I was there and I made sure that my officials were there as well to answer these very questions.
What is clear is that the public service made a recommendation. I accepted the recommendation because my goal is to ensure that young people have the supports they need, and I shared all of that information. It is publicly available.
Jag Sahota Conservative Calgary Skyview, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister does not believe that the rules apply to him. He outsourced nearly a billion dollars worth of taxpayers' money to an organization with with close ties not only to his party, but also to his family. It is greatly disturbing. It is always one set of rules for Liberals and another for everyone else. We have seen here today that the Liberals refuse to answer the questions we have about the scandal.
When will the Prime Minister agree to testify at committee?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is a shared responsibility, and that is why we continue to work day in and day out to ensure that those supports are available. Members of all parties at the finance committee asked me to appear and I appeared, and the officials appeared as well. What the officials reiterated was that they made a recommendation based on the organization having the capacity to deliver the substantial program in the timeline needed.
These questions have been answered and we will continue assuring and reminding Canadians that we will be here to support them. The Conservatives continue with their tactics, but we will stay focused on Canadians.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve answers after the Prime Minister got caught awarding a billion dollars of taxpayers' money to WE, an organization that benefited the Prime Minister politically and socially, and enriched his family.
The Prime Minister famously said that “sunshine is the best disinfectant”. Will the Prime Minister let the sun shine in and appear before the finance committee to answer questions about this sordid affair, or will he continue to hide?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that the record state what is actually taking place. There was a substantial line item of $912 million for the Canada student service grant. The vast majority of that program, that line item, was for grants to really reward students because they have been rolling up their sleeves helping to heal communities and not-for-profits during this very challenging time. It was a contribution agreement that was signed, and they would have been able to receive a maximum of $43.5 million, which we know will not happen because the WE Charity is no longer delivering this program.
It is also important to note that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is investigating and we will—
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberals are in trouble after handing over almost a billion-dollar contract to their friends at WE. Meanwhile, students have to wait to get paid for the time they have already spent working in their communities. That time was given in good faith.
During COVID, students are facing disruption of their studies and lack of employment opportunities. Their futures are at stake, but Liberals prefer keeping their wealthy friends wealthy, instead of helping students make ends meet.
When will the Liberals put the future of students ahead of the interests of their friends and the well-connected?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the following with the member, because she obviously has not seen the $9-billion student support program that we put forward. We announced $9 billion in support, including the creation of the Canada emergency student benefit. We doubled Canada's student grants for full and part-time students. We instituted a six-month moratorium on Canada student loans. We increased funding for first nations, Inuit and Métis students for post-secondary education during this very challenging time. We created an additional 10,000 jobs through the Canada summer jobs program.
The list is long because we are here to ensure that there is a suite of programs to support students during this very challenging time. We will continue to ensure that they have those supports.
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that giving an apology is not the same as taking responsibility, yet the Liberals continue to refuse to take responsibility for this disturbing pattern of self-dealing that now sees the Prime Minister and the finance minister under an ethics investigation. It is as if the Liberals think the rules do not apply to them, that they get to do favours for their family, the wealthy and elite and get away with it with the magic words “I'm sorry”, but that does not cut it.
Will the Prime Minister finally take responsibility and agree to waive the cabinet confidentiality, attend the ethics committee and fully co-operate with the Ethics Commissioner's investigation into the WE Charity scandal?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that we will be complying with the Ethics Commissioner, and that is something we have always done. We have the utmost respect for officers of Parliament. We know they do very important work, and that is why it is important that we let the commissioner do his important work.
It is also important to note that our focus is on Canadians and delivering programs for them. That is why we have put forward the Canada emergency student benefit. We have put forward the Canada summer jobs program. We have made sure that these programs are actually modified to ensure they are within the COVID-19 context. We want to ensure the health and safety of all Canadians, including students. Yes, we will continue fighting for students.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I know we have been away from the House for a while. I want to remind hon. members how it works. We ask a question and then we get a response. Help from the other side, whatever side it is on, whether it is during the question or during the answer, is not the way we should be doing things. I wanted to put that out there.
The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Louis.
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Lac-Saint-Louis and Canadians across the country are eager to know when we can return to normal. In my riding, families have made changes to their lives, from staying home to wearing masks, so they can keep themselves and our community safe.
Recently, we heard the news that Medicago, a Quebec company, has been approved by Health Canada to begin clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. Could the minister please tell us the status of this research?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Lac-Saint-Louis for his question and for his work.
We knew that it was essential to invest in research to ensure that the best and brightest can find treatments and potentially a COVID-19 vaccine.
On July 9, Health Canada approved the clinical trial for Medicago's COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. This is the first vaccine from a Canadian company to enter human trials, and we are pleased to support such important research in Canada.
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Here we go again, Mr. Speaker. The CMHC paid $250,000 to a group that labels homeowners as lottery winners to see how they could be taxed some more. The minister claims the Liberals are not looking at a capital gains tax, but recall that before the previous election, there was a document entitled “Ontario Caucus Priorities 2019 Platform”, where these tax options were being considered by no less than the current parliamentary secretary to the same minister. The CMHC study is looking at a home equity tax.
Will the government end this charade and commit to no new tax, no tax hikes, on principal residences of homeowners?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. This is not something that this government is considering. We are not looking at tax changes on principal residences. That is not something we are looking into and we will not be considering that in the future.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, CMHC spent $250,000 on a study to determine how the government could squeeze more taxes out of homeowners.
Will the government promise to put an end to this practice and stop always demanding more and more taxes, especially from honest Canadian workers? Will it promise here and now that it will not punish them and that it will drop the idea of a home equity tax on primary residences?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
We cannot drop an idea that we never had. Changing the tax rules for principal residences is not part of our plans or our policy. We have no such plans.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada's poultry and egg producers are at the end of their rope. The government promised support measures to offset losses resulting from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but that compensation has yet to be paid. CUSMA is now in effect, which means more losses for them, yet these farmers continue to wait. Producers have been more than patient.
Can the minister tell us the date when the compensation will be paid? We want a date. The agricultural sector is listening.