House of Commons Hansard #41 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.

Topics

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, the answer is simple. Yes, we are considering all the options when it comes to standing up for human rights. As I said to the member many times, and I welcome him, we should speak with one voice. This is not a political issue. This is about fundamental values and principles that Canadians who are watching from home share with us. There are no politics in that. Canada will stand up and speak up for human rights around the world.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Calgary Rocky Ridge.

Will the fiscal snapshot include specific funds for the energy and resource sector, yes or no?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:45 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mona Fortier LiberalMinister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, today's snapshot will present the investments that our government has made since the beginning of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, will the fiscal snapshot include what funds will be allocated for businesses that use personal chequing accounts and want to apply for the CEBA program?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, today's snapshot will present the investments we have made with the economic response plan. We will present the numbers, the amounts for CEBA, the CERB and the different investments that—

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, will the fiscal snapshot indicate if the wage subsidy program can be extended within the budget allotment?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our government has acted promptly and decisively to make sure we are supporting Canadians, workers, businesses, non-profit organizations and vulnerable—

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, what percentage of the trillion dollars' worth of debt is termed out over two years?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, our government acted decisively and promptly to make sure we supported Canadians, workers and businesses. We will present—

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, my province has announced a recovery plan. On what date can we expect a recovery plan from the government, including a comprehensive fiscal update?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, while the situation continues to be very volatile, our government is committed to continuing to be transparent with Canadians about what we know and what we do not know.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, we are all here today, and the government claims accountability.

Why on earth would the finance minister schedule the fiscal snapshot for after question period?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, I invite the hon. member to stay this afternoon, as the Minister of Finance will be presenting the economic snapshot.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, the only explanation for doing it after and not before is to avoid actually taking questions on the update.

Maybe this minister can tell us how much interest Canadians are going to have to pay to service the debt, which is expected to hit a trillion dollars before the end of the year.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mona Fortier LiberalMinister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, going into the global pandemic, Canada was in a great position to deploy its fiscal firepower to protect Canadians, and we have. A worst-case scenario for Canadians and the economy would have been to not act.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. Before COVID hit, the government's track record of mismanagement compromised our ability and fiscal capacity to deal with the crisis. The government inherited a balanced budget, a near-full-employment economy and a AAA credit rating, and has squandered all of it.

Will this minister tell us what the cost is to service Canada's debt?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the pandemic, Canada was well positioned to use its financial power to protect Canadians, and that is what we did. Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan involves giving workers and Canadians the financial support they need to get through this crisis.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, how much will the downgrade of Canada's credit rating add to our cost to service debt?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the crisis, we have been clear and transparent with Canadians. We will continue to be and we will support Canadians during the crisis.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, what about a further downgrade?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada's sound fiscal position means that we can continue to support Canadians.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General tabled only three reports. Typically in a session they would table seven or eight.

When will the government fully fund the Auditor General so the Auditor General can do her job?