Debates of July 8th, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters

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

Madam Chair, I thank the member for a very important question. This is an issue of grave concern to the government and all Canadians.

It is important to acknowledge that over 100,000 times each year, the police respond to calls for service for people in crisis, and the overwhelming majority of those matters are resolved peacefully. There has been an enormous amount of work done to find alternative forums of response, from medical crisis intervention teams that pair police and health care workers together, to other community interventions and enhanced training for de-escalation.

I am in complete agreement with the member that we need to do much more, and that is why we will be working with the provinces and territories and indigenous leadership to, first of all, develop national standards for the use of force and de-escalation training, and also to explore and invest in alternative methods of response to these very difficult situations in order to keep people safe.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Chair, earlier today in question period, there were a number of questions about waiving cabinet privilege in matters that require investigation.

According to The Globe and Mail, as recently as March 2020, the RCMP were still investigating the SNC-Lavalin matter and whether obstruction of justice took place.

I wonder if the minister could answer the question of whether the Prime Minister is, at this point, prepared to waive cabinet privilege in the matter of SNC-Lavalin.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Chair, we have always supported the work of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, and we have complete faith in all of the independent officers of Parliament, including the commissioner.

Our government has always co-operated in every way and will continue to do so.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Chair, I have an opportunity to ask a different question.

Earlier in question period, there was some heckling, friendly banter one might say, asking the Liberal government if it were not time to reconvene Parliament. I do not happen to think it is. We are in a pandemic and we have to protect ourselves and our communities from the travel back and forth to this place potentially spreading COVID-19.

My question for the Liberals is this. When will we accept what the British Columbia legislature is already doing and allow voting from our constituencies so that legislation can be passed in this place?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Madam Chair, that is an excellent question that should be asked of the Conservatives, because we all agree in this place that we should be able to vote electronically. It is extremely important. That way, we could have people here and people in their ridings who do not have to travel here, and all members would be able to vote.

Now, let us ask the Conservatives why they do not support that.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Chair, I would be very happy to ask the Conservatives that, but I am afraid questions go to the government members.

My question now for the government members is this. We are having a lot of concern, particularly in areas such as Saanich—Gulf Islands near the U.S. border, about what is being called the Texas loophole. I do not think we actually meant to put in place something called a Texas loophole. I spoke with the Minister of Public Safety.

What we are going to do to ensure that the Canada Border Services Agency does not let tourists into Canada for less than essential purposes, potentially spreading COVID-19?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Madam Chair, in response to the ongoing COVID pandemic, we have agreed with the United States to restrict all non-essential travel for such activities such as tourism and recreation right across the border. Should travellers be admitted, they are provided with information that indicates they are not to make any unnecessary stops. We know there have been a number of cases. The RCMP and the police of jurisdiction have begun to determine whether there are violations, and enforcement has begun on these matters.

We want to discourage people from entering our country, crossing that border, for non-essential purposes while these restrictions remain in place.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Hamilton Mountain.

As the economy starts to reopen and many child care providers must reduce their capacity due to physical distancing measures, investments in child care are more crucial now than ever. Since women make up half of Canada's workforce, there will be no recovery without women, and they cannot recover without child care.

Will the government commit to establishing universal, high-quality child care?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Madam Chair, we are committed to helping parents access safe, affordable, accessible and quality child care. Since 2015, we have put into place over 40,000 affordable child care spaces for families in need. We are committed to creating an additional 250,000 before and after school programs.

We are committed to this sector because we recognize that early learning and child care is crucial for our economic recovery.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Chair, there is not a national standard across the board.

Today in committee, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality agreed to establish an act for child care like the Canada Health Act to ensure children and parents would equal access no matter where they lived in Canada to high-quality and affordable early learning and child care.

How long will Canadians have to wait for this act and how will the government back it up with the necessary funding?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, we have dedicated funding in the amount of $7.5 billion over the next 11 years. Those investments are continuing. We have also managed to continue to work on the renewal of the agreements we have with provinces and territories. I indicated to the member that we have, as a Liberal government, been responsible for the creation of over 40,000 affordable child care spaces. We are committed to creating over a quarter of a million before and after-school child care spaces.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Chair, access to child care and onward to post-secondary education continues to be out of reach for most Canadians. That is why the failed rollout of the Canada student service grant is incredibly troubling and needs an immediate fix. The Liberal government continues to prioritize its friends, who are richer, over the needs of other Canadians and many students.

Will the Liberal government either cancel this program and transfer the funds to Canada summer jobs or give grants directly to the volunteer sector?

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

Madam Chair, since the beginning of this pandemic, our focus has been on Canadians. We recognize that all Canadians have been impacted by COVID-19 and that there are communities that have been disproportionately impacted. Our focus will remain to support students during this very challenging and unprecedented time. That is why there is a suite of programs, $9 billion worth of programs to help students right now, because we know they need also need hand-up. We will continue to be here for Canadians.

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Chair, the government has expressed many times in the House that it has the backs of workers. However, thousands of Canadian workers and their families could be put at risk in the coming months because they will be ineligible for benefits under the wage earner protection program if the company they work for claims bankruptcy in a foreign country like the United States.

In 2018, Parliament passed legislation to fix this program, but the Liberals have not bothered to do the order in council that would bring it into force. Why are they putting Canadian workers at risk and when will they fix the problem?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Madam Chair, I want to assure the member and all Canadians that we have been working very hard to protect workers, things like the wage subsidy and the emergency response benefit. All these measures are implemented in order to protect workers.

With respect to the wage earner protection program, yes, we have extended it and enhanced the benefits from six weeks to seven weeks. Therefore, the entitlement has increased, which means more money in the pockets of workers.

We will continue to work hard to ensure workers are protected.

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Chair, but it is not in force. The problem is that many people have already been ineligible because the government has been dragging its feet on when it is going to put the order in council.

However, this is not the only time the Liberals have let Canadians down. In last year's budget act, the government included amendments to four different acts that it said would enhance retirement security. The labour minister likes to refer to this as proof of her government's commitment to workers, but nearly half of these amendments are not even in force. Again, the Liberals dragged their feet and failed to do the necessary orders in council.

Why does the government keep turning its back on Canadian workers and instead helps corporations?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, with all due respect, I have to completely disagree with the member's statement and assertion. We have been working hard for workers from the time we were elected. Right off the bat, we had the implementation of Bill C-4, repealing Bill C-525 and Bill C-377, which were anti-union pieces legislation.

Let us look at some standards and enhancements that we have implemented: stronger labour standards, enhanced leaves, new leaves and flexible work hours. We have and we will continue to work hard for our workers in Canada.

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Chair, I was hoping that the Minister of Labour was listening. They are not in force. It is on your website. It has been done by parliament legislation. Tell us when you are going to put it into force. Quit with the pretty words and put it into action.

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I remind the member that he is to address all questions and comments to the Chair.

A brief answer from the minister.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, we have been working so hard for workers. We are proud of our record and we are going to continue to build on that record. We have implemented many measures that have helped strengthen worker protection and we look forward to the work ahead.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia.

The quantity and quality of transportation services in eastern Quebec and my region in particular, the Lower St. Lawrence, have been deteriorating for decades now. Whether on the ground or in the air, we have had limited and poor service for quite some time. VIA Rail has reduced service to the Lower St. Lawrence by half since the 2010s and has sold off a dozen or so of its train stations in my region.

Last week, and just as brazenly, Air Canada suspended flights in our greater regional area. That company's customers came to expect service that was often chaotic, with no regard for passenger inconvenience. There is absolutely no guarantee that Air Canada will bother to resume those flights in the fall, or ever. Workers, business people and the general public were left high and dry, and it happened overnight.

Will the Minister of Transport promise that Ottawa will stop giving in to Air Canada's blackmail and stop providing it with financial support, since it has received too much already?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Madam Chair, we understand that people are disappointed—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The sound has been cut off.

The hon. minister.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Madam Chair, I understand the frustration of the people who had regional flights in Quebec and in Canada. Members will understand that right now, Air Canada flights are not profitable because so few people are flying. This is an unfortunate situation, one which we are working on with the airlines.

As for VIA Rail, it is a Crown corporation and chooses its own routes based on the profitability of these routes.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to inform the Minister of Transport that between January 2019 and January 2020 there was a 30% increase in Air Canada flights at the Mont-Joli airport. He should check the facts before making any further claims.

History has shown that public money for Air Canada has not encouraged it to provide better service to its passengers. Instead, public money has subsidized unfair competition between Air Canada and small regional airlines.

Will the Minister of Transport commit to putting an end to this vicious circle and listen to the regions, which have all had enough of Air Canada?