House of Commons Hansard #2 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pandemic.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's throne speech was nothing more than an attempt to change the channel on his corrupt government's actions.
The speech was almost 7,000 words long but mentioned Canada's natural resources only once. There was no mention of unionized oil and gas workers in Alberta, no plan for forestry workers in Quebec and B.C., and farmers, all they can expect is more carbon tax.
Why did the Prime Minister knowingly leave millions of Canadians behind?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, from the beginning of this pandemic, we have been there for Canadians right across the country. Almost nine million people received the Canada emergency response benefit, and with the measures we are putting forward today, we are actually going to continue to be able to support the millions who continue to be out of work, looking for work but unable to find it because our economy is still in recovery. We have also stepped up in supporting small businesses by extending the Canada emergency business account and extending the wage subsidy.
These are the things that are going to get our economy going by supporting Canadians through this pandemic.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday's throne speech was a typical Liberal speech. They were setting the stage for fights with the provinces.
Before the throne speech was even finished, Quebec Premier François Legault was already saying that he was disappointed because this speech once again showed the federal government meddling in provincial jurisdictions, especially health. That is not its role, but meddling is the hallmark of the Liberal government.
Why does the current Prime Minister's Liberal government not respect jurisdictions, let the provinces look after health care, and let the Prime Minister take care of issues affecting Canadians?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to hear the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent say that the federal government does not have a role in protecting our seniors. That was not how the Premier of Quebec felt when he asked us to send in the armed forces to help seniors in our long-term care homes.
We will always be there to support our seniors. We will work together with the province, and with all the provinces, to protect the safety and health of all Canadians, especially seniors in this case.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, as if Quebeckers and Canadians needed any more proof, that was yet another unpleasant demonstration of the Liberal Prime Minister's arrogance.
Yes, the army did what it was trained to do. Whenever there is a need, we ask the armed forces to step up. I know people in the armed forces. I represent them in my riding. They are very happy to serve Canadians.
Once again, the Prime Minister has shown contempt for Quebec, for Quebeckers, for Quebec's premier and for all Canadians, because the Prime Minister does not respect provincial jurisdiction.
When will he realize that Canada is about working with the provinces, not against them?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have always recognized and will continue to recognize provincial jurisdiction. We also recognize that we need to work together during this unprecedented pandemic. All levels of government are working together to protect Canadians and restart the economy during this crisis. We are not here to play politics like the member opposite. We are here to work with the premiers and Canadians to implement measures that will help everyone.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the middle of a second wave of COVID-19, the Premier of Quebec and three of his counterparts came to Ottawa last week to send a simple message: help us. They came asking for money to combat COVID-19. That is why the Speech from the Throne is an insult to them. There is not a single word on health transfers, and no money either. There is nothing but preaching and interference.
In the middle of a pandemic, is the Prime Minister going to increase health transfers, or is he looking to pick another fight with Quebec?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to be able to work with all members of this House on the pandemic. I am sad to see that some have already forgotten the work we did a few months ago. We increased health transfers, which already stand at $40 billion a year, by half a billion dollars at the beginning of this pandemic and again in the $19-billion safe restart agreement between the federal government and the provinces.
I made a direct commitment to Premier Legault and other premiers to talk about health transfers to ensure that Canada continues to be able to serve its citizens.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister is not great at math.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that her government refuses to increase health transfers, in the throne speech, saying that the government must justify its spending to Canadians. What is the justification for its spending? The justification is COVID-19, the worst pandemic in history, which has taken the lives of 5,800 Quebeckers. That seems clear to me.
When will the government realize that we are in the middle of a second wave and increase health transfers?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we increased health transfers by half a billion dollars at the beginning of the pandemic, and by another half a billion dollars as part of the $19 billion that we sent to the provinces for a safe restart. We also sent $2 billion directly to help get children back to school. We will continue to work with the provinces, to help Canadians stay healthy and to restart the economy. We will continue to be there for Canadians, now that the CERB is transitioning to EI.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are worried. The numbers are going up. It is clear that we are dealing with a second wave of COVID-19, but at the same time, the Prime Minister has not really presented a plan.
What is the plan for increasing COVID-19 testing? What is the plan for our seniors in long-term care centres? What is the plan for ensuring that paying the price for the recovery falls not on ordinary Canadians, but on those who have made huge profits during the pandemic?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to point out that our approach recognizes first and foremost that we are still in a pandemic, that it is still going and that people still need help. That is why we continue to work with the provinces to speed up the testing process and make sure everyone can access it.
We will be there to help seniors, because that is what we have always said we would do. We will help young people. We will help families by continuing support for families through EI. We will continue helping small businesses through measures that will contribute to the economic recovery. We will continue to be there for them.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a second wave. The numbers are increasing and people are deeply worried, but the Prime Minister has still not laid out clear plans for some of the most concerning parts of this pandemic.
What is the plan to make sure people have access to testing? What is the plan to make sure our seniors are no longer bearing the brunt of COVID-19? What is the plan to make sure families who need child care can get access to it? What is the plan to make sure, when we get past the second wave, that it is not everyday families struggling to get by who pay the price, but those who have profited off this pandemic who pay the price for the recovery?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the throne speech delivered by the Governor General yesterday lays out our approach in all those elements. Moving forward, we will continue to build on what we have done for child care and continue what we are doing to support families across the country, making sure that while we are dealing with this health crisis, we continue to have Canadians' backs.
The plan we laid out is a bold one that touches on the economy, the environment, health and safety, questions of fairness and the barriers still facing too many Canadians. We will continue to work together to deliver for Canadians.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, Tokyo airports started using rapid COVID-19 tests. These are different tests from those the Prime Minister outlined this morning that take hours to get and days to receive the results. They are different. When the health minister found out that this technology was available, why did she not pull her officials into the office and ask when the review was going to be done or when this was going to be available to Canadians?
The question, very bluntly, is this: On what day will the COVID-19 rapid test reviews be complete?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, throughout this pandemic, what we have done is rely on the expertise of the researchers, the scientists and the experts to guide us in the measures we are taking to respond to COVID-19. We will continue to do that because we know that, in fact, science and research are the keys to unlocking the next set of tools that Canadians and all global citizens are waiting for.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I believe the information the minister has relied upon to date is that COVID-19 is not transmitted from person to person, masks do not work and border controls are quasi-racist. That is the information she is relying upon, so forgive us if we do not believe her.
Why is the she apologizing for Chinese numbers on COVID-19 transmissions? Why is she trusting Chinese numbers more than reviews from tests that Japan has approved?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite may realize, science evolves. In fact, when COVID-19 first arrived on the global stage, not a lot was known about the virus. Every step of the way, we have worked with researchers, scientists and the excellent public health officers across the country to ensure that our response meets the new understandings as they evolve.
This is a dynamic situation. Of course, our advice will change as the science changes around the coronavirus. I am proud of the medical community and the hard-working research community—
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, it has been half a year and other developed countries have gotten it done.
Apparently, elite billionaires on private jets get special treatment when they fly into Canada. When Canadians found that out last week, the public safety minister actually claimed he did not know about it.
Let us get this straight. In the middle of a pandemic that has locked down our country and almost shut down our economy, the Liberals do not know who or how many are receiving exemptions from the 14-day mandatory quarantine at the border.
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the reporting on this incident was false, and unfortunately the member opposite may not have heard that there were no national interest exemptions issued in this case. The decision was made by a border services officer based on the information he was provided at the time of entry for those two individuals. The information provided, unfortunately, was not sufficient to allow entry.
We have acknowledged that the border officer in that case made a mistake and that those people should not have been admitted. I have spoken to the head of the CBSA and it will not happen again.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, more than six months ago, the Conservatives said the Liberals should shut down the border to block the virus and save Canadian lives. However, now the minister is actually admitting that after they dithered and delayed and did it anyway, they do not have control, or he is pretending they do not. The Liberals gave a pass to hundreds of rich, connected travellers, but the minister personally rejected the fiancé of a Canadian who is sick with cancer. That is quite the double standard. Meanwhile, everyday Canadians, businesses and families still face uncertainty at the border.
How many more elite billionaires are getting special treatment?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I will point out again that no elite billionaires were given special treatment and they will not receive special treatment.
The rules that have been put in place to maintain the integrity of our borders and the safety of Canadians are clear and enforced by our border services officers. We also have a process in place to deal with cases of compassion so that we can determine whether or not they are necessary for entry and that this can be done safely.
We will work with our public health authorities and with the provincial public health authorities. Our first priority will always be the protection, health and safety of Canadians.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians that their government would be transparent. Canadians now know that he did not intend to keep that promise.
For instance, it was only after the media reported on blatant conflicts of interest among certain members of the COVID-19 vaccine task force that the Prime Minister decided to release the information. He knew it, but he was hiding it from Canadians. Why?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
I would like some clarification. I do not know what the member said.
What is his question?
