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

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, how many other organizations were considered?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, the public service made a recommendation for WE Charity to deliver the Canada student service grant. We accepted its recommendation.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, one last time, how many other organizations were considered?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, one last time, the public service made a recommendation for this organization to deliver the Canada student service grant. We accepted its recommendation.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, is that the big “WE“ or small “we”? That is my question.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, we do appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation about how we support all Canadians during this time. We know that students have also been impacted and that is why the suite of programs has been made available.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, it looks like we have a hard time getting answers.

Would the government be prepared to table today a full list of all other organizations that were considered to deliver this $900 million grant?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that our focus is on delivering programs for Canadians, including students. This information is being requested by the finance committee. All members of all parties have been able to advance that motion and we will make sure it is available.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to be here with you today. It has been a while since we last saw one another. Many things have happened in Canada since then, but, unfortunately, they have been very bad things.

In just 15 days, under the current Prime Minister, Canada suffered a loss at the UN and saw its credit rating lowered, and the Ethics Commissioner began another investigation of the Prime Minister. The Liberal government has scored a hat trick in the mismanagement of public funds.

How can the Prime Minister accept such a disaster and explain it to Canadians ?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see you again and to see our colleagues and friends here.

On the contrary, during the past few weeks the government has worked to continue to support Canadians who have lost their jobs and who need a helping hand, to address public health issues and to help small and medium-sized businesses. The Government of Canada will continue to do its job for all Canadians.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, this government is so proud of its pathetic hat trick that it struggled to find someone to respond. He did not answer the question, though, because all three of the Prime Minister's goals were on Canada's own net. In reality, this government scored three big failures in 15 days.

That is not all. The Prime Minister got one more hat trick: For the third time, he is under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner.

How can a government minister defend his Prime Minister?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

Mr. Speaker, once again, the non-partisan public service made a clear recommendation that this was the organization that would be able to satisfy and provide this service in the timeline needed.

When it comes to the Ethics Commissioner, what has been always clear is that we will always work with officers of Parliament, including the Ethics Commissioner.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is tragic that Canada suffered three failures in 15 days and that this government seems unable to find someone to answer basic questions about the Prime Minister's ethics, the credit-rating drop and the government's failure at the UN.

There is more. Today, we learned that Canada has the worst unemployment rate in the G7, at 13.7%. However, some businesses in my riding, such as Groupe PolyAlto, are looking for employees.

On the one hand, we have the worst record on unemployment, and on the other hand we have a labour crisis. Why? It is because the Liberals' policies are neither properly administered nor tailored to present needs.

Why is the government sticking to positions and policies that discourage people from going to work?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, from the start of the pandemic, the government has been taking concrete measures to support Canadians, workers and businesses. We have helped people get through this pandemic, and we are going to keep doing that. The important thing is to make sure that health and safety remain Canadians' number one priority.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, we agreed that the government's first measures needed to be implemented, because we were in crisis mode. Now we are in recovery mode. However, the policies that were appropriate to respond to the crisis are not appropriate to manage the recovery.

What do the Liberals have to say to Groupe PolyAlto, a company in my riding that has 80 employees and room for many more but that is struggling to hire new staff because people are choosing the CERB over work?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning of this crisis, our government has been taking concrete, decisive action. We supported workers with the wage subsidy, and we supported families with the Canadian emergency response benefit. If we had not done these things, we would be worse off economically. We will therefore continue to support Canadians throughout this crisis.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Let me repeat, Mr. Speaker. The policies that were appropriate to respond to the crisis are not appropriate to manage the economic recovery. The Canada emergency response benefit and the Canada emergency student benefit are harming the Canadian economy and business owners who want to get the economy moving again.

Why is the government maintaining policies that are not adapted to today's reality?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Actually, Mr. Speaker, we are adapting to today's reality. We are in the midst of a pandemic and we want to support Canadians, workers and businesses. We have taken measures to support businesses and to get through this difficult time. We will support Canadians and make their health and safety a priority.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

It is hard not to feel disappointed in one's government when every day there is a new scandal. Does the Prime Minister believe it was ethical to award a near $1-billion exclusive contract to his friends at WE Charity, yes or no?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

Mr. Speaker, the non-partisan public service made a clear recommendation that this was the organization able to provide the service in the timeline needed. We accepted its recommendation.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, given the ongoing ethics investigation, will the Prime Minister and his family be stepping back from their involvement with the WE Charity until the investigation is concluded, yes or no?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, once again, at the recommendation of the public service, we accepted the recommendation. It is well known that the Prime Minister and his wife have spoken at WE Charity events, and we will work with the Ethics Commissioner to answer any questions that he may have.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, I think it would be inappropriate to continue involvement with an investigation ongoing by the Ethics Commissioner, but at the very least, will the Prime Minister confirm he will not invoke cabinet confidence on this matter, commit to full transparency and allow the Ethics Commissioner to complete his investigation free from interference, yes or no?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the parliamentary finance committee passed a motion, supported by all parties, requesting answers. That information will be provided and people will get those answers.

It should also be noted that when it comes to WE charities, there are multiple parties in the House that have interaction with them, including the member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, who was at WE Day. Prime Minister Harper hosted WE Day—

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.