Debates of July 8th, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Madam Chair, one of the reasons I think the government's answer to this is very important, and it is something that we have learned during the pandemic, or that has been publicized and many already knew, is that the state of long-term care in Canada has not been good. It has not been serving a lot of Canadians well.

We know from the evidence that for-profit delivery of long-term care results, on average, in lower health outcomes for Canadians. We know that a lot of federal money will be required in order to get long-term care up to where it needs to be in Canada. We want the federal government to be convening meetings with the provinces now on how to do that, and we want the government to be a champion at that table for getting for-profit delivery services out of long-term care.

Is the government committed to doing everything it can to get for-profit delivery of long-term care off the table in Canada?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Madam Chair, as the Prime Minister and I have said, we will stand with the provinces and territories to make sure that every senior has the ability to live with dignity and safety regardless of where they live.

As the member knows, we have actually invested well over $4 billion in home care in provinces and territories, because we know the best solution is to be able to stay in one's home for as long as possible. We are going to continue to work in that vein with the provinces and territories, but also, as we committed to earlier in the pandemic, to be with provinces and territories—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Provencher.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Madam Chair, I am going to be splitting my time with the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam.

We are pleased to see that Canada is beginning to reopen. However, that means that Canadians need access to government services beyond COVID. Many constituents have expressed to me their concern and frustration that they are not able to access these important services. For example, my province of Manitoba has seen very few COVID cases and, yet, the CRA tax centre in Winnipeg remains closed indefinitely, severely impacting both employers and taxpayers.

What is the Liberal government's plan to safely restore CRA services?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Madam Chair, the Canada Revenue Agency is also intent on protecting the health and safety of its employees. We are currently working on a return-to-work plan with a continued emphasis, as I was saying, on the health and safety of employees.

It is very important to us to be able to provide quality services to the public.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Madam Chair, during the past few months Canadian front-line and essential workers such as truck drivers, bus drivers, manufacturers, farmers, restaurant workers, store clerks, gas station attendants, construction workers, bankers, mechanics and even the media have found ways to work safely.

Can the Prime Minister or the minister explain why so many Canadian workers have found ways to do their jobs safely and the Liberal government cannot figure out a way to restore the public service to Canadians?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to point out to my colleague that 94% of our employees are working from home.

I tip my hat to the employees of the Canada Revenue Agency who have been able to respond to Canadians. Canadians have been able to receive the CERB and the CESB.

Among theses 94% of employees working for Canadians, 60% are women. Looking at everything that happened from one end of the country to the other, when everything was closed in terms of child care, I can only congratulate the employees of the Canada Revenue Agency on their excellent work.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Madam Chair, that was not an answer.

The Auditor General has revealed a troubling failure of the public safety minister in her latest report. Under the Liberal government, tens of thousands of individuals who are subject to removal orders are in Canada, including some with criminal ties. This unacceptable failure risks further undermining the integrity of our immigration system and public safety.

Instead of wasting his time attacking law-abiding firearm owners with legislation and regulations, could the public safety minister do his job and enforce removal orders?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Madam Chair, this is an excellent example of the exceptional work done by the Auditor General. I will take this opportunity to thank him for his report. I will also point out to the member that we significantly increased the resources of CBSA to effect those removals because we know how important they are to a well-managed immigration system. We are making investments in something that a previous Conservative government cut to restore that capacity. We thank the Auditor General for his recommendations and we will be implementing all of them.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Chair, the restriction on chinook fishing is threatening the livelihoods of British Columbians. I have a constituent who now fears potential bankruptcy because the Liberals choose to punish fishers for their own failure to restore salmon stocks.

When will the Liberals stop scapegoating British Columbians and start dealing with the real threats to chinook salmon such as undertreated sewage, and illegal and unreported fishing in the Fraser River?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Madam Chair, the chinook salmon are in serious decline. We are taking measures to make sure that we are going to protect the stocks. It is a critically important piece of the work that we are doing. Fisheries management issues are something that are always difficult when people are impacted, but it is something that we know we have to do, along with habitat restoration and addressing climate change. All of these things are impacting the stocks. We are going to make sure we do everything we can to protect the chinook salmon.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Chair, the Liberals announced $45 million in funding for free and weekly periodicals. This includes ethnic media, but that funding will be divided among approximately 2,500 outlets, including English publications. The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada said that this will barely scratch the surface and it will not counter the pending collapse that awaits ethnic media.

If the Liberals truly believe diversity is Canada's strength, will they stop treating ethnic media like an afterthought?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Madam Chair, our government has been there for Canadian media and we have been for years. We have invested more than $650 million to help media across the country. I find it quite ironic that I would be asked what our government has been doing to help the media when I have heard that the platform for the member for Durham would actually cut back the $600 million in support that we have provided for the media.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Chair, as Canada reopens, the demand for PPE masks continues to grow, but the government is delaying the awarding of contracts to Canadian manufacturers. On June 18, the minister said contracts were given to 25 Canadian companies and hundreds across the world. Will the government protect domestic production and give priority to made-in-Canada companies and Canadian supply chains?

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

Madam Chair, the member's question is somewhat misguided in the sense that we have placed an incredible priority on domestic manufacturing. Over half of the face shields received in Canada already have been produced domestically, and we are well on our way to becoming self-sufficient, which we intend to do to address future waves of this pandemic.

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Before we continue, I want to remind members who are participating virtually to ensure that their cameras are on and not obstructed so that we can have a good functioning of Parliament.

The hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Oshawa.

Can the President of the Treasury Board tell us how many public servants are currently working for the government?

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

Madam Chair, I am very pleased to say that all Government of Canada employees have been working since the start of the pandemic to help Canadians overcome the difficult situations in which they find themselves.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I am going to help the minister out. Approximately 285,000 public servants work for Her Majesty.

Does the Prime Minister believe that public servants are competent people?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I am pleased to say that Canada is fortunate to have an extraordinary public service and I believe that my colleague thinks so as well.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I agree with the President of the Treasury Board. That is why I am asking which minister authorized the awarding of a $900-million contract to WE Charity to manage this program.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Chair, of course our priority will always be to support Canadian companies. I would like to acknowledge the fact that 40% of the production right now of personal protective equipment that we have purchased has been allocated to Canadian companies because we have been able to mobilize industry and support companies. This is a proud moment for all Canadians, particularly those Canadian companies that have stepped—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Before giving the floor to the hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, I would like to remind members that there can be no points of order during the time for questions addressed to ministers.

The hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I have a very simple question. Which cabinet member, including the Prime Minister, authorized an untendered contract, when we know that 285,000 public servants could very well have done the job? The government nevertheless gave it to an outside organization.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Madam Chair, the non-partisan public service clearly indicated that this was the only organization able to provide this service in the timeline needed. It made a recommendation and we took it.