Debates of Sept. 24th, 2020

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise in this hallowed and historic chamber, the bastion of our democracy, to deliver my first address as the shadow minister for women and gender equality. I thank the people of Calgary Skyview for the confidence they have shown in sending me here. It is a great privilege, and I do not take their trust lightly. I love this place, and I love Canada. I love our values of freedom, democracy, equality, inclusiveness and tolerance.

My remarks today, however, are tinged with disappointment and apprehension. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an erosion of Parliament and thus, our democracy. The pandemic has been a crisis the likes of which few, if any, of us have previously seen. This extraordinary circumstance called for an extraordinary response from our government to shepherd us through the crisis to recovery.

However, it did not require the abuse and undermining of our democracy. That is what we saw this summer. I speak from my personal experience on the status of women parliamentary committee. We knew that the pandemic was having a different and more dramatic effect on women and girls. Last July I called, supported by all parties, for the return to work of the status of women committee. The disproportionate impact on women and girls was exacerbated by the government’s failure to apply a gender-based analysis lens to the CERB, a serious error that our committee was to study and make recommendations to address.

Our committee heard from witnesses who explained that many women were forced out of the workforce or their education programs to meet the increased workload and pressure from their domestic and care responsibilities. We heard that the risk of gender-based violence, domestic violence and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation may be aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the testimony, we were preparing recommendations to guide the government in addressing this inequity. However, we were shut down before we could finish the work. The work, which we hoped would help the government address the disproportionate stress and hardship faced by women during this crisis, was stopped cold. So far, the government has not addressed the issues identified by our work, and Canadian women and girls continue to face these disproportionate pressures and risks.

Before I go any further, I would like to advise that I will be splitting my time with my colleague, the member for Calgary Midnapore.

Why was our democratic process cut off? Why were Canadian women and girls left to fall through the cracks? It was simply so the Prime Minister could avoid the increasing scrutiny and demands for accountability that were the natural consequence of his flagrant ethical lapses in relation to the awarding of a contract to the WE Charity.

We lost a great Canadian this week. John Turner made many contributions to Canadian life, both in his public and private roles. One of his greatest contributions to our country was as a parliamentarian. He had a deep intellectual and emotional attachment to our democracy and our parliamentary system. He went back to its roots in the Magna Carta, which established that the ruler’s will is not arbitrary and that the privileges of Parliament had to be protected.

He lamented the erosion of the independence of the standing committees and their increasing irrelevance under the continual centralization of power in the Prime Minister’s Office. He once said, “What we have in this country didn’t happen by accident, democracy doesn’t happen by accident. Let’s fight for the restoration of the supremacy of Parliament in our democratic life.”

Why is our Parliament so important? It is not because any one of us happens to be here, or happens to sit on any committee, or serve in cabinet, or oppose the government. It is because we are sent here by the people. It is because, since 1215 under the parliamentary system, we do not allow ourselves to be governed arbitrarily without our consent.

It is not because my work was cut off that I am concerned. If it was not me, somebody else would be here doing the work. It is our job to work on behalf of the people of this country. We were doing that work on behalf of women and girls in this country, at a time when they were under attack and a time when they needed their government to acknowledge this reality and act to address it.

That work is too important to fall to the arbitrary whims of a Prime Minister feeling the well-deserved heat of his own actions. In not standing up to the Prime Minister and saying to him that this is not how our democratic system works, the members opposite turned their backs on the people who sent them to Ottawa as their representatives, not as the Prime Minister’s representatives in their ridings.

They certainly turned their backs on women and girls in Canada in the midst of a crisis. It is ironic to me that I deliver these remarks during Gender Equality Week, a week that reminds us of the work we have left to do to address gender equity gaps in our country. The government extols its work protecting vulnerable women from increased violence and exploitation in the midst of the pandemic, but we are hearing from front-line workers and services that they are overwhelmed and do not have sufficient resources.

I heard from the London Abused Women’s Centre, which has seen an increase in trafficking during COVID, particularly into pornography and webcams. Devastatingly, some of the girls are as young as 12 years of age. The London Abused Women's Centre, like other agencies across the country, has received no federal funding since its previous grant expired on March 31, 2020. The program has temporarily continued only because of the generosity of the people in London, Ontario.

The requests for proposals issued by WAGE and Public Safety are for significantly less funding, making it more difficult for trafficked and exploited women and girls to seek services and exit. This is shameful. Neither the throne speech nor the Prime Minister’s political posturing mentioned trafficking, despite the devastating impact it has on Canadian women and girls, their families and communities. Women and girls continue to suffer disproportionate hardship from the COVID-19 crisis.

I call on the government to mitigate the error of its decision to shut down Parliament this summer. I call for the important work of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women to be allowed to continue as soon as possible and include the previously heard testimony, so that we can complete the task that was arbitrarily halted at a time when women and girls in Canada needed us.

We are here for no other reason than it is the pleasure of our constituents that we be here. What a gift they have given us; what an opportunity to do something to improve the lives of Canadians. Our time here is too precious not to use it to the greatest of our ability and effort. The Prime Minister and his functionaries should never tell us when to do that work or when to stop that work. The people will tell us.

In the meantime, we are back. Let us get back to work. There is much to do.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, the member made reference to the proroguing of Parliament. I can and will articulate in the coming days just how important it was that we did, in fact, prorogue.

In terms of the type of abuse the member is referencing, I would have her reflect back to when Stephen Harper was prime minister and his government was going down in defeat. Had the House resumed, the government would have fallen. What the government did was it prorogued Parliament in order to avoid a confidence vote. That is quite different from what is taking place today.

We have seen a Prime Minister who is very much committed to the principles of transparency, accountability and democracy. That is the reality of the situation. Would the member not agree that the pandemic and the impact it is having on today's society needed to see a throne speech, which is a confidence vote, to reaffirm that the government is going in the right direction and for members of Parliament of all political parties to base their votes on?

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for what appear to be statements rather than questions.

I was not here when Stephen Harper was here, but it seems like what I have been hearing for the last nine or 10 months is that if it rains or snows outside it is Stephen Harper's fault. Maybe we should start living in today's day and age and focus on the future, as the Liberals have been saying.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her speech especially since we spent time together this summer studying the impact of the pandemic on women. We were in committee for a day and a half.

We found that the time we spent was much too short. I must therefore deplore the fact that Parliament was prorogued because we only had the time to write one letter. We were to resume the work and prepare a much more complete report, which was to be submitted to the minister. I find that regrettable, because it had major repercussions for women. When we met with the minister, I asked her why one of the CALACS in my riding, like many others in Quebec, was unable to obtain the funds needed for projects that directly support women who are victims of domestic violence. That is essential during a pandemic. We know what can happen to many women cooped up at home with their abusers. I did not get an answer.

I had some questions for the minister, because in the last throne speech, in December 2019, the government had already talked about an action plan to address violence against women. I asked the minister when we might see this action plan. I asked her what concrete ideas she wanted to include in the plan. Once again, I got no response. I was left wanting more.

That is another reason why I am eager to get the Standing Committee on the Status of Women back up and running. A lot of work remains to be done. Now more than ever, we need to apply a gender lens to the recovery, with concrete measures to support women as entrepreneurs and help them get back to work.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for her question and her participation this summer on our status of women committee. As she said, we heard a lot of stories where women are stuck with their abusers. There is no deadline on when the funding will be provided to these organizations. In fact, the funding is being cut or taken away from these organizations. At a time when the Liberal government is saying it has everybody's back, you do not have the backs of the girls and women of this country.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

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

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Calgary Midnapore.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, my headphones are not working so I will not use them. I will carry on anyway. First, I would like to say that I am pleased to be here in the House, even virtually. I am also pleased to respond to the throne speech, even if it is virtually. I am pleased to be responsible for the transport portfolio as the official opposition's transport critic. It is a portfolio that has an incredible history here in Canada.

In fact, the Hon. James Moore told me that transport was the only portfolio in the Canadian Constitution, so it really is something special.

It is in the Constitution because the railroad is in the Constitution, so transport is just an incredible part of Canadian history.

I will add that what is incredible is the number of individuals who have held this portfolio both as the minister as well as the critic.

That includes the Hon. John Baird, the Hon. Lisa Raitt, the Hon. James Moore and the Hon. Don Mazankowski. As a woman from western Canada, it is very special to share a portfolio with the Hon. Don Mazankowski.

When Canadians think of transport they have beautiful visions, I know I do, of grain rolling across the Prairies in railcars, as well as my favourite commodity, which is oil. That really is a beautiful picture for Canadians to have.

I remember a trip that I made to the United States.

While I was there I saw a CP or a CN railcar.

All of a sudden, it was like I was at home in Canada when I saw that.

I remember, as a young girl, lying in my bed at night, falling asleep in my house in Lake Bonavista, with the rails just a kilometre away from my home, and listening to the sound of the trains going across the tracks and the sound of the horn. Everyone can see that transport has an incredible history here in Canada, as well as for me personally.

Transport is unity.

Transport is the actual physical network that ties Canadians together all across this incredible country of ours. Transport brings people together. There is not a single Canadian who cannot think of the joy of going to the airport and seeing a friend or relative that he or she has not seen in a long time. Transport allows people to put food on their tables because of all the commodities that are carried all across this great nation.

That is why I was so disappointed with yesterday's throne speech.

It was very disappointing that yesterday's speech was not about unity.

There was nothing in it about unity, nothing at all.

Unfortunately, it has never been about unity with the Liberal government, because for five long years now we have seen region pitted against region.

We have seen province pitted against province and sector pitted against sector.

Unfortunately as well, we have seen scandal after scandal, a refusal to recognize the crisis of the pandemic that was on the horizon. The official opposition tried so hard to bring this to the attention of the government, to show it the doom that was ahead for Canadians, for our well-being and for our economy, but it refused to listen. Now we see the incompetence of the government to get us out of this slump, to get us on the path to economic recovery, to take us to a better place. In the words of the leader of the official opposition, Canada has never been more divided.

In the transport file, I see tens of thousands of people without work. People contact me who are desperate. People from the airline sector are barely hanging on as a result of the government's inability to develop a plan for safe skies or obtain the access to rapid testing that so many other nations around the globe have managed to obtain at this time. My own YYC airport authority has seen a loss of 20,000 jobs.

I hear from people all across the country. People write to me, such as Michael, who wrote, “I am an airline pilot and I've been laid off since March. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing up for our industry within Parliament.” I hear from people like Shanna in Manitoba, who wrote, “I don't need a reply, but I just wanted to let you know thank you for your letter to Parliament. It seems our present government is giving away the farm, so to speak, and forgets about transportation and how we are going to recover. But then again, what do I know? I'm just a furloughed flight attendant who is volunteering in schools to help make this transition as smooth as possible in my community.”

I hear from people like Philippe, who wrote me the following:

“I read your news release regarding the absence of a plan regarding airlines. You seem to be one of the rare persons who understands the plague of the aviation sector. The federal government is currently squandering away decades of work by thousands of talented people. If they don't want to throw money at the aviation sector, at least allow us the conditions to do our jobs.”

People are worried about food not making it to the table. Chad, from the transport industry, wrote, “Please help. Freight capacity is a real problem. The government is even facing it with personal protective equipment. The government needs a plan to help transition supply chains to the new reality.”

I hear from people who are so tired of the government choosing winners and losers and being on the losing end of that equation. I hear from energy workers in my riding, like John and Linda, who have lost not only their truck but now their home because of the government's abandonment of the west.

For six weeks Canadians went without Parliament, we went without committees, Canadians were without a voice. They were left void of a plan for economic recovery and no hope for families across the nation, which so desperately need hope at this time. This is not unity. Unity is not turning our back on an entire region of Canada. Unity is not leaving thousands of people without work, to lose their homes and their dignity. Unity is not omitting an entire sector from the Speech from the Throne, one that is so desperately needed in the restart of this economy. This is not unity at all.

Unity is the Rocky Mountaineer chugging through the majestic mountains. Unity is the first glimpse of Lake Ontario on VIA Rail from Ottawa to Toronto. Unity is Alex Colville's painting To Prince Edward Island. Unity is looking out over Vancouver port from Canada Place in British Columbia. Unity is the good people of Windsor West who I talked to last night. Unity is using the words such as oil, gas and pipelines in the Speech from the Throne.

How committed is my leader is to unity? He is so committed that he went to la belle province, the province of Quebec, and had a conversation with the premier to discuss solutions to unity. He left the front steps of his house. He had the courage to do that, forsaking his health and the health of his family. This is the courage and the leadership we need at this time.

I am so proud to stand behind and beside our leader to get our people and our goods moving again. The only way we are going to come out of the pandemic is together and together with unity.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, unity is a government that understands and appreciates the diversity of our nation and the many different regions in our nation and works to better the lives of all. A good example of unity is that when we hit the pandemic from nothing, we created a program called CERB. Through that program, close to nine million Canadians were served. That is with a population base of 37 million. That is a government that understands the reality and the importance not only of unity, but being there in a real tangible way for Canadians. That is but one way to demonstrate the importance of unity on which this government was very clear.

Would the member agree that it did not matter where people lived in our beautiful country, that the program was there to serve Canadians first and foremost at a time in which it was needed?

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, unity is the constant recognition of all Canadians from all regions all across the country. This is something that we have not seen in five years. My home in the west has been completely ignored as well as thousands of other Canadians. It is never more important than right now that this economy fire on all cylinders, with all hands on deck, with all Canadians being united for the future of this great nation.

We did not see this in the throne speech yesterday. The government was slow to respond. We have discussed this over and over again in the House of Commons, the closing of our borders, allowing people to suffer, giving away personal protective equipment. Now the very least that the Liberals can do is include all Canadians in the solution and they are not doing that.

[Louise Charbonneau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to salute all of my colleagues here in the House, who have kept working and serving their constituents very well during the pandemic.

The member talked about transportation, so I would like to take this opportunity to point out that Trois-Rivières has no train service. We are waiting for the high-frequency train that Mr. Trudeau's government promised years ago.

I would like to know if my colleague supports taking action on that.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I would remind the hon. member that she is not allowed to refer to a member by name. I hope that, next time, she will use the member's title, not his name.

The hon. member for Calgary Midnapore.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague.

Indeed, that is another example of one of the Prime Minister's forgotten projects. That is actually why the leader of the official opposition went to Quebec City. He sat down with the Premier of Quebec in order to learn more about issues and projects such as that one.

I think that if we had a new government and a new leader, we would be able to dedicate more time to conversations on the projects and issues that the current Prime Minister has forgotten.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time today with my hon. colleague and friend, the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin.

It is with great privilege and humility that I rise today in the House of Commons in this most unique and extraordinary time in our country and the world's history with the onset of COVID-19.

The Speech from the Throne, I believe, is aptly called “A stronger and more resilient Canada”. Why do I say “aptly”? Frankly, it is because Canadians, like those living in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, individual Canadians, families, seniors and businesses from coast to coast to coast, through COVID-19 have demonstrated time and again their resiliency by helping their neighbours, by helping those less fortunate. For example, Canadians have been delivering groceries to seniors, and businesses and their employees have shown resiliency by retooling quickly to ensure that our essential and front-line workers have access to the personal protective equipment they need to ensure their safety.

I wish to offer my gratitude and sincere thanks to the brave men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces who were called upon to assist in the crisis in our long-term care facilities caused by COVID-19, including locally in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge at the Woodbridge Vista long-term care facility. My heart goes out to those families who lost loved ones at these long-term care facilities. We must do better. I fully support our government working with the provinces to establish pertinent, national standards to ensure all our seniors the ability to live with dignity, respect and safety in a long-term care facility. On behalf of the residents in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, I wish to thank members of the CAF for their ongoing service to Canada and for their assistance to our seniors who sacrificed so much to help build this country.

My riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge and the city of Vaughan is home to a dynamic business community, and I would argue one of the most entrepreneurial in this country. Many of these businesses and their workers, in response to COVID-19, quickly retooled and produced the much-needed PPE, including masks, protective shields and hand sanitizer. A big thanks to the Woodbridge Foam Company, Magnotta Winery, Last Straw Distillery, Campio Group and Ben Machine Products, to name a few.

The throne speech pledges to build a more resilient Canada, a Canada that we know is blessed, diverse and inclusive, but remains a work in progress. Our government will ramp up significantly the ongoing investments in infrastructure, be it in the areas of public transit, building retrofits, clean energy and affordable housing. These investments will create jobs, grow our economy and ensure a more competitive economy.

My riding is home to the training facilities of the leading and largest construction unions in the province of Ontario. Those unions, such as LiUNA Local 183, Local 27 of the Carpenters & Allied Workers Union and all the building and trade unions and their members I know will be there, as they always are, to train the workforce needed to build a resilient and inclusive Canada. Men and women working in the trades across this country through COVID-19 have continued day in and day out to build the communities we call home, and I thank them.

We all know of the economic toll of COVID-19. At the height of the initial stages of the pandemic, nearly 5.5 million Canadian workers were impacted, with three million losing their jobs. An additional 2.5 million workers were required to be absent from work. Our government responded quickly and firmly. Close to nine million Canadians were helped through the Canada emergency response benefit. An additional 3.5 million Canadians were supported and continue to be supported by the Canada emergency wage subsidy, CEWS.

The Governor of the Bank of Canada commented on September 10, 2020 that:

Measures like CERB and wage-support programs have replaced lost incomes, providing a cushion for many families, especially low-income households. To help during the reopening of the economy, the government has extended its wage subsidy program and is changing CERB into an expanded employment insurance program. These programs are keeping workers connected to employers and the unemployed connected to the labour force, supporting our recovery.

He goes on to further state that:

The economy is benefiting from considerable fiscal support to protect the most vulnerable, replace lost income and subsidize wages.

We know much work remains and needs to be done, particularly with the 1.1 million Canadians whose livelihoods remain impacted by COVID-19. Canadian workers and their families know that our government has their backs, full stop. We will continue to fully support workers and businesses through the crisis, as indicated in the throne speech, as long as it lasts and whatever it takes.

I reject the notion from the other side that we must put in place measures for austerity and that we must not invest in Canadians and Canada at this time when we face a pandemic, a unique and extraordinary time both here in Canada and in the world. For the short term, we must strengthen Canada's social safety net and ensure proper investment in our health care system, and we continue to do that in partnership with the provinces. In the medium and longer term we need to focus on implementing policies that drive economic growth and job creation.

As someone who worked in the financial markets, I believe in the private sector and the wonders of economic growth. Before COVID, we in Canada had generated over a million jobs and driven the unemployment rate to record low levels. We will get there again. With that, it is constructive to see the support from both business and labour organizations for the announcement in the throne speech that the CEWS will be extended through next summer. Perrin Beatty, the president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, applauded the extension of the CEWS and other measures, including national leadership on child care funding to enable women to more fully participate in the labour force and the government's focused campaign to create one million jobs, restoring employment to previous levels.

The city of Vaughan is home to over 12,000 SMEs, employing tens of thousands of Canadians, and every day these business owners place all their efforts into the success of their businesses. I applaud them. These entrepreneurs and their employees know that they have a strong voice in Ottawa and that their concerns and ideas are being heard, much like the introduction of the CEBA, the CECRA, the Canada emergency wage subsidy and the CERB.

With the remaining time, I would like to comment on our government's plans to strengthen our social fabric so that all Canadians have an equality of opportunity and are able to achieve their full potential. Whether it is investments empowering Black entrepreneurs, whom we know face hurdles in accessing capital and unleashing their full potential; making significant long-term sustained investments to create a Canada-wide early learning and child care system; or investing in skills training, our government is there to move our economy forward and to ensure a brighter future for all Canadians across this blessed country.

We need a system of child care and options available for parents that ensure and achieve social and economic equality for women. The labour force participation rate for women was impacted profoundly by COVID-19 and we need to repair that damage. We know our full economic potential is only achieved when all Canadians are able to participate in the workforce and not held back by barriers, such as child care availability or affordability. I applaud la belle province on its child care program. As indicated in the throne speech, we need to learn from it.

As noted in a report today by Scotiabank:

The Quebec experience has demonstrated that universal, low-cost childcare removes a substantial barrier to workforce participation for many women, paying economic (and fiscal) dividends. It can also increase household disposable income and indirectly alleviate housing affordability pressures.

Now I would like to speak about seniors.

Over the first session of Parliament, we helped our seniors. We restored the age of eligibility for OAS and GIS, which the Conservatives had raised from 65 to 67. We brought it back to 65. That is nearly $15,000 more in the pockets of future retirees. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by 10% for our most vulnerable seniors, lifting thousands of them out of poverty. Now we have again committed to introducing old age security, increasing it by 10% for those seniors when they hit 75. We know that when seniors age and get to 75, or in and around that mark, they face increased pressures and costs, and we are there to help them.

We have done much over the decades, and all parties have, to lower poverty in seniors across Canada. We know that those who are still in poverty tend to be widowed or single seniors, most of them women. We have promised to work with our provinces to strengthen the CPP survivor benefit. That is a measure that I applaud the government in undertaking. These, along with other measures that were implemented, have driven poverty levels to record low levels for our seniors.

We will be there to assist them. They are my parents, and they are, to me, the greatest generation that helped build this country.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, I certainly appreciate the member opposite and his speech today. He is not just a member of Parliament, he is also the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of National Revenue. I worked with him previously on the finance committee, and I miss his interventions on that committee. Again, this is directed to him in that capacity as the parliamentary secretary.

Many constituents in my riding have had the issue where their identity has been stolen, benefits were claimed and, when they inquired with CRA, the blame was put on them. They were told that their password was not good enough, and that it was their fault for not having secured their CRA account. The whole purpose of CRA is to have a secure way for people to pay the government what is owed for their taxes, and the idea is that CRA will protect their information.

The minister has been nowhere on this, so I would like to ask the member, in his role as parliamentary secretary, these questions: Why is the government content to allow CRA to put in place a process that is not secure and that does not protect people? Why is the government allowing the CRA to blame individual taxpayers, rather than helping them with this issue?

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I would like to remind members to limit their questions to a minute to allow for others to be able to ask questions. This was mentioned earlier on today.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, I would like to tell my hon. colleague that I will visit Penticton soon. I will say that if the member has constituents who have been impacted by cyber-attacks on their accounts, please let us connect and chat about that.

The officials and individuals at the CRA are great. They are hard-working folks who have implemented the CERB and many other programs. They would not have indicated that it was the responsibility of the taxpayer. I do not agree with the member's statement.

Let us work together and solve this for any of those constituents facing this issue. They are not responsible. These are activities that were done illegally. We are there for the constituents. We are there for them and with them. I am more than happy to help you and assist you and your constituents in your office on this matter.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I appreciate that the member wants to come to my constituency to help my constituents, but I do want to remind the member to address questions and comments through the Chair.

The hon. member for Jonquière.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Madam Speaker, I thank our colleague for his optimistic speech.

Beyond good intentions, there is a reality. My colleague had a lot to say about a harmonious partnership with the provinces in the Speech from the Throne. The reality is that this is a missed opportunity. I think the government did not respond to the provincial premiers' clear message on health care funding, the infamous 35% that we may never see.

My colleague had a lot to say about a public child care system. I would like some assurances from my colleague that if that comes to fruition, Quebec could get compensation, no strings attached.

What does my colleague say to that?

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Jonquière for his question.

When we look at our government's actions to date with the safe restart agreement, we see that $19 billion has been given to the provinces to utilize. When the provinces of Quebec and Ontario needed assistance in their long-term care facilities, we responded immediately. With that, we will continue to work constructively with all provinces in this beautiful country of ours.

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Protecting our seniors is and always will be a priority for our government. We have shown that seniors are extremely important to us. We need to give them the comfort and security they deserve.

Since the creation of the ministry of seniors in 2018 and the appointment of the member for King—Vaughan as minister in 2019, our government has shown unprecedented levels of involvement and a willingness to take care of our seniors. By creating a ministry dedicated to seniors, our government has shown just how important seniors are and has made it possible to implement special measures tailored to their needs.

I am thinking about new horizons for seniors, a grants and contributions program. The aim of this ambitious program is to support projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors from coast to coast to coast. The program promotes volunteerism among seniors and supports their social participation through the mentoring of others. It also supports the inclusion of seniors in society in order to prevent the isolation and exclusion they all too often experience.

This innovative program provided $25,000 in funding over one year for eligible projects. In my riding, we secured almost $25,000 in grants for two seniors' centres. Âge d'or St-Ferdinand—Fabreville used the money to buy tables, a bingo cage and bingo accessories for seniors' card and bingo nights. The Manoir Thérèse-Casgrain's seniors' club replaced their carts with safer ones for their evening activities.

This program is so popular with Canadians that it is being renewed this year, and the application period runs from September 9 to October 20. The value of this program is clear from the sheer number of applications. These investments are necessary, since they allow seniors' centres to continue organizing activities during these difficult times. They also help combat isolation and create mentorship roles for seniors so that we can benefit from their wisdom.

Most importantly, they address seniors' special needs, which are a major modern concern in our society. Our seniors' safety is our top priority, so replacing old equipment is crucial.

I am also thinking about the caregiver credit, which is aimed at providing financial support for those who help and care for our seniors. Caregiving is a calling that deserves to be valued, and the government has recognized this and will continue to do so.

On a related subject, the guaranteed income supplement gives lower-income seniors an additional monthly allowance to help them meet their specific needs. Furthermore, we must not underestimate the pandemic's effects on our mental health, and we must continue supporting programs that address this problem. We also need to recognize the importance of assistance for veterans, to ensure that they are not left behind as we tackle the challenges of the pandemic.

The throne speech made it clear that the government is once again committed to helping seniors during this long Parliament. Concrete measures were announced yesterday, such as increasing old age security for Canadians over the age of 75 and boosting the Canada pension plan survivor benefit. The government is also committed to taking additional action to help seniors stay in their homes and live independently. We will work with our provincial and territorial partners to set new, national standards so that seniors get the best support possible.

We will also amend the Criminal Code to explicitly penalize those who neglect seniors and put them in danger.

In addition, we will bring forward a disability inclusion plan, which will include a new Canadian disability benefit modelled after the guaranteed income supplement for seniors; a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities; and a better process to determine eligibility for government disability programs and benefits. In these uncertain times, we owe it to them to keep taking care of our seniors.

COVID-19 has further isolated seniors from their families because they are vulnerable to this virus. We must continue to protect them during this pandemic, by following health guidelines and visitation rules. I know it is hard to not be able to see loved ones, parents, grandparents and friends, but we must come together to keep them safe.

I want to tip my hat to our hard-working health care workers for the outstanding job they are doing protecting us every day. It is our responsibility to ensure that their work will not be in vain.

I have a special place in my heart for the staff at the Sainte-Rose CLSC and CHSLD, who fight this virus day after day.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible resiliency of our food banks, which, despite the circumstances, continue to support those most in need. I want to remind members that their operations depend primarily on our individual donations.

The next few months will be crucial in the fight against the pandemic, and it is up to every one of us to ensure that the situation improves. Every day all of us wage our own battle against this vicious virus, and we must battle it every day.

We are in constant contact with the municipal, provincial and federal authorities to reassure our fellow citizens and to help them get through this crisis.

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Speaker, my colleague spent a lot of time talking about seniors. I know the government wants to take a lot of credit for what it has done for seniors, but if you talk to the seniors themselves, they are not very happy at all.

You can talk about all of these little programs, but they are wondering about the benefits they need for surviving and living without having to go to food banks. With all of the increased costs, they are wondering when it will happen. You said it in 2015, you said it in 2019 and you are saying it again.

Seniors want to know when their benefits will be increased so that they can live with dignity and no longer have to go to a food bank to survive.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I know that it has been a little while and we are just starting to get warmed up to being back in the House, but I want to remind the member to address the questions and comments to the Chair.

The hon. member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin.

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

Our government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting seniors through concrete measures. By increasing old age security at age 75 and increasing the CPP survivor pension, the government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting our seniors.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.

I would like to continue in the same vein as the question posed by my colleague. During the last election, his party's electoral platform included an increase in old age security payments for those 75 and older, if I am not mistaken.

Five weeks ago, the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament saying that the government would deliver a masterful Speech from the Throne. Then it came back with a promise to increase old age security for those 75 and older. Shutting down Parliament for five weeks to make this type of promise is a little disappointing.

My question for my colleague, however, is this: Why create two classes of seniors, those 65 to 75, and those 75 and older?

Why make this distinction? What is the 75-and-under set missing according to the Liberal Party of Canada to be entitled to increased support in their purchasing power?

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague.

We will have a lot of time in the House to discuss these measures because this affects pretty much everyone, both in the opposition and the government.

I would like to say that our government is committed to supporting our seniors, as evidenced by the new horizons for seniors program, which provides grants and contributions for projects that benefit seniors, no matter what their age. It also encourages the greater inclusion of seniors in our society in order to prevent the loneliness and social exclusion that all too often befall seniors.