House of Commons Hansard #44 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, since the very beginning of this pandemic, we have taken a number of substantial and important steps to ensure that both Canada and employers could safely welcome temporary foreign workers.
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, we will always be there for temporary foreign workers and we value their contributions to our economy.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Madam Chair, there have been 32 COVID complaints to the government and not a single farm has been found in violation of the pandemic rules. Windsor Essex has over 300 workers quarantined in hotels. Five are in ICU and some have died. If the farms were safe, why are workers now infected living in hotels and not living in the substandard housing that was approved by the government?
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, we are a country that is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all workers, including temporary foreign workers. This includes working with provinces and territories to improve housing for foreign workers in Canada. We are committed to implementing additional measures that will protect the health and safety of all workers, including temporary foreign workers helping to protect the food security of Canadians.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Madam Chair, when the outbreak was devastating our long-term care homes, federal personal assistance was sent immediately.
Why is the same not being done for these workers? Is it because they are from Mexico, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Jamaica and Barbados?
Why did the government take a knee on their public safety?
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Madam Chair, I reject the hon. member's assertion. We recognized that there was more to do to protect the temporary foreign workers in Canada and we are committed to looking at steps in addition to the substantial number of steps that we have taken to ensure that both Canada and employers can safely welcome temporary foreign workers.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, I will use my five minutes to draw everyone's attention to this issue.
I will get straight to the point. The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner found the Prime Minister guilty on two occasions, but then what happened? The Prime Minister kept doing the same thing. Two guilty verdicts is like two strikes. It means he should be careful, because strike three means the player is out.
Yesterday, I talked about judgment and my concerns. Today, I would like to know if the Prime Minister's entourage and cabinet saw what happened.
Here is my question: Did they see the red flag?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Chair, the Bloc Québécois seems to be out of ideas.
Previously, Bloc members asked questions about soldiers and long-term care centres. We satisfied their expectations, so they did not ask any more questions about that. Then they asked questions about the emergency wage subsidy. We fixed that problem, so they do not have any more questions about it. Then they asked questions about seniors and people with disabilities. Once again, we did what was expected of us and more.
I think the Bloc members are asking those kinds of questions because they are out of ideas.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, I will ask a different question.
What is a conflict of interest?
I will continue speaking so he has enough time to answer with three or four sentences. What is a conflict of interest?
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Madam Chair, regarding the Prime Minister's work, it is important to point out everything he has done to ensure that our seniors can get financial support, that those who have lost their jobs can get the CERB, that our businesses can get the wage subsidy. That is where the Prime Minister and the government are focusing their efforts. We are meeting the needs of Canadians.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, once again, let us look at the facts. The Liberals are in government. Every administrator has been through this. People back home are asking me why it is that when they sit on a board, they have to disclose any personal information that could lead to a potential conflict of interest. What is happening here? We are talking about nearly $1 billion of our money.
I will ask the question again. What is a conflict of interest?
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Madam Chair, the government has always worked with the officers of Parliament, whether it is the Ethics Commissioner or any other officer. Throughout all of this, we remain focused on the priorities of the Government of Canada. The priority is to get through a pandemic. We are definitely still in a pandemic. It is not over. We must continue to help our families, our seniors, our children, persons with disabilities. That is what we are focusing on. The entire government is focusing on that.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, I did not get an answer, but I have another question.
Are cabinet and the entire government complicit in what happened with a failure to disclose information that may soon be found to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act?
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Madam Chair, we are wading into conspiracy theories. All kinds of plots are being suggested.
The government is here for one thing: to ensure the well-being, safety and health of Canadians, especially during a pandemic. We have put very strict measures in place to promote the health and safety of Canadians, but also to help all those who have lost their jobs, those who had to stay home to take care of someone who was sick, those were sick themselves. We will not apologize for taking action on behalf of Canadians, for Canadians.
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, I am going to tell you something because just one hour ago I was at the Standing Committee on Finance. I understand what is happening. We are not getting answers, we cannot get at the truth. One witness announced that the government was receiving personal data for partisan purposes for the Liberal Party. I would like someone to explain that to me since we are talking about a scandal. What happens after the second strike?
It is no longer a scandal that we can attribute to the Prime Minister alone. Could this not be considered a Liberal scandal?
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, I have some time left. On behalf of the 37 million Canadians, all Quebeckers and my constituents, I invite the government to quickly shed light on this matter.
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to say to my colleague that all Quebeckers are included in the 37 million Canadians.
The Assistant Deputy Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
We will now take a short break so that the staff can safely change positions.
(The sitting of the House was suspended at 1:56 p.m.)
(The House resumed at 1:58 p.m.)
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin.
Many families continue to be separated from their loved ones due to the necessary border closures, but while we continue to hear of foreign nationals finding loopholes to sneak across the borders, many family members are still separated from their loved ones. This includes Sarah Campbell from Stratford, whose British fiancé is unable to come to Canada. It was bad enough they had to cancel their wedding, but now, after her recent diagnosis with thyroid cancer, her fiancé is unable to join her here in Canada. Her pleas to the Minister of Public Safety have been met with apathy.
Will the minister commit to providing guidelines to allow for the entry of those in long-term relationships on compassionate grounds?
Sitting ResumedCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders
Scarborough Southwest Ontario
Liberal
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, frankly, I reject the suggestion that we have responded to these many issues with any apathy at all; rather, we have worked diligently on them.
Our first priority has to be the protection of the health and safety of Canadians. That is why we have implemented these very reasonable restrictions. However, we have also worked very closely with individuals who are seeking to reunite with family members, and in a compassionate way, always keeping in mind the safety, security and health of Canadians.
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, when my constituent contacted the minister's office, she was told that there was nothing he could do and that she should instead contact my office.
Now, I am happy to take over the running of his department, but until that time, will he do his job and ensure that those in compassionate situations are able to reunite with their loved ones?
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would not speculate on the member opposite's capability of doing this job or any other.
What I will say is that my office has been working very, very diligently with people right across the country and with members from all sides of this House. MPs have contacted my office, and we have worked very closely with them. We will continue to do so. A lot depends, of course, on the way in which a member approaches—