House of Commons Hansard #5 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pandemic.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the first thing we did when we took office in 2015 was raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% so we could lower them for the middle class. That was a very good idea. Unfortunately, the New Democrats voted against that initiative.
We will continue to help the most vulnerable people all across the country by creating economic growth for everyone and ensuring long-term fiscal responsibility. That is what Canadians expect, and that is what we will deliver.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has announced that the deficit is now over $300 billion. I am worried because, in that case, governments often do two things: either they cut the help to Canadians in the midst of a pandemic. or they put the pressure of paying for the pandemic on the shoulders of working-class families. Both of those are the wrong things to do.
So far, the Liberal government has talked about taxing extreme wealth inequality, but no one knows what the Liberal government means when it says that. Will the Prime Minister commit today to something direct, making sure that those who have profited off the pandemic pay the price?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the very first thing we did when we took office in 2015 was raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% and lower them for the middle class. Unfortunately, the New Democrats voted against that initiative.
Every step of the way, we have had Canadians' backs, supporting the most vulnerable, ensuring that our businesses can come back strong through this pandemic and ensuring, every step of the way, that we do so in a fiscally responsible way. That is what Canadians expect of us, and that is what we will keep doing.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just talked about wanting Canadians to do their part with contact tracing very enthusiastically, but that is really easy for him to do given his privilege. The reality is that somebody wanting a test has to wait in line for hours right now and then might have to isolate for days, taking time away from work and family members. It is not that easy. People around the world have access to at-home testing or rapid testing, but nobody in Canada does. That is his fault.
If the Prime Minister is asking Canadians to do their part, when is he going to do his job?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I share the enthusiasm of the member opposite for more testing opportunities and technology across the country.
No matter where a Canadian lives, they should have access to testing when they need it. That is why we have been working so diligently with all of our partners to ensure that we have access to rapid, point-of-care testing, of which we have approved two. Of course, testing at home is more complex and it is a challenge for countries all around the world. We will continue, we will stop at nothing, to make sure that we have the most current technology that is accurate and that helps contribute to defeating COVID-19.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, there are people in Montreal today who are being faced with another economic lockdown. It has been seven months. Standing up here and saying that is not going to fix the problem. We do not have these tests, yet other countries around the world do. That is because of incompetence.
Canadians need to know, without any pretty words, when we are going to have access to those tests. When are they going to be in the hands of Canadians?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the pandemic we have worked closely with provinces and territories to make sure they have the resources, both financial and technological, to manage COVID-19. We will continue to be there for Canadians, no matter which province they live in, because no matter where Canadians live they should have access to rapid testing regardless of their circumstances.
On our side, at the federal government, we are working with our industry partners and regulators to make sure that, as soon as new technology is available that is accurate and will help contribute to a reduction in COVID-19, we have those tools on the market.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister likes to say that he is focused on the pandemic. He should tell that to his Minister of Health. Today we found out that we just bought millions of saliva tests. The only problem is that they are not approved in Canada. The same tests were approved months ago in the United States, and people are using them.
When is the Minister of Health going to fast-track the process so we can get the tests quickly?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite has noted, we are not waiting to procure emerging technology. We are working in combination, across government, to make sure that as soon as new technology is available and approved for safe and accurate use, we will have access to those tests.
I thank the Minister of Public Services and Procurement for her incredible hard work on this file and on all the files to ensure that Canadians are safe and have access to the technology they need in their jurisdictions.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the provinces need saliva tests, rapid tests, very quickly, not months from now.
The government's sluggishness has resulted in red zones in Quebec. Montreal and Quebec City are designated red zones. Individuals and families have to get tested and wait several days. Mario Dumont, the television host who is famous across Quebec, is stuck hosting his show from home because he has to wait for his results. This is ridiculous.
When will these tests be approved?
Can Health Canada do it faster?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the $3 billion that Quebec has received to improve its testing capacity, to ensure that it has the contact tracing capacity it needs, to ensure that it has the data it needs to accurately contact trace and to ensure that they have the people in place to do that work, we have also accelerated our processes at Health Canada to make sure that as new technology arrives we are well placed to approve it. We have doubled our regulatory capacity. We have people standing by, working day and night with corporations and technology developers, to ensure that we have the tools necessary to approve those tests when they are safe and accurate.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada has a million missing jobs. That is how many more people are without work today than in February. Now, we have the highest unemployment rate in the G7. It is higher than the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Japan and Germany. They all have COVID as well, but their people are getting back to work. Our unemployment is three percentage points higher than in the OECD.
When will the government table a real jobs plan so that Canadians can get back into the jobs they love, to put food on their tables and to provide the funds for our cherished social safety net?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, contrary to the Conservatives' partisan spin, our economic policy is working. In fact, just last week, DBRS Morningstar reaffirmed Canada's AAA credit rating, saying:
[We view] the overall fiscal response positively, as the stimulus has been timely in delivery, temporary in design, and sufficient in size given the scale of the shock.
That is an independent ratings agency reaffirming our AAA. That is who to trust.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, every time I stand up and ask about the plight of working people who desperately want their jobs back, the minister stands up and quotes some banker or some high-paid consultant at one of the major consultancies in town saying how much they love the policy. Maybe they do. They have had all kinds of benefits showered upon them, but everyday working-class people want their jobs back. They want the chance to earn a living. They want a paycheque, and they know that we have a million missing paycheques and the highest unemployment in the G7.
When will the government get out of the way and let people get back to the jobs they love?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it is simply absurd to suggest that a credit ratings agency is somehow financially benefiting from our government's policies. I mean come on.
If the member for Carleton does not like hearing quotes from external experts, let me quote someone the member may prefer listening to: himself. I would like to remind people that in March, he said, “You might want to address [COVID-19] with big, fat government programs. We're Conservatives, so we don't believe in that.” Let me say to the nine million Canadians who benefited from the CERB, that is what—
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is talk of going back into lockdown as of tomorrow evening. I stand in solidarity with my constituents and all the businesses facing this nightmare once again. Because of the pandemic, families, business people, individuals, seniors and everyone else are having to make huge sacrifices.
That is why 81% of us are demanding that the federal government increase health transfers. Quebeckers understand that the solution to a health crisis lies first and foremost in stable federal investments in health care.
When will the federal government deliver?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the federal government is there to support Quebec. Here are some examples: $675 million to increase testing; $270 million to support the health care system, including $112 million for mental health; $166 million for vulnerable populations; and $675 million to purchase PPE. We are introducing sick leave for Quebeckers who do not already have it and must self-isolate.
What Quebeckers need is co-operation, not partisanship. Let's work together.
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec wants ongoing funding for orderlies, not just for a few months, but for years to come.
Also, 81% of Quebeckers want the federal government to increase health transfers. Quebec's priority is to support its care staff that is battling COVID-19 as well as burnout. By being better protected, people can better care for others. Everyone in Quebec is on the same side. Everyone is working together to get through this crisis as quickly as possible. Only the federal government refuses to do its utmost.
When will it provide ongoing funding for health care?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, my colleague is talking about personal protective equipment.
I will repeat what I said earlier. We have spent $675 million to purchase personal protective equipment. We are giving more money for tests, more money for this type of equipment and more money for mental health. We are there for Quebeckers, we have been there from the very beginning.
However, the Bloc Québécois does not like that. It is happiest when there are squabbles. When we do our job, when we collaborate—and that is what we are doing—the Bloc does not like that. That is too bad, but we will continue to collaborate.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are still looking for the truth when it comes to the WE scandal. Just last night the Liberal committee chair of the procedures and House affairs committee violated the rules by adjourning the debate. The chair then cancelled the morning meeting as well.
This has the PMO written all over it. We looked at this during the prorogation of Parliament, but this time it is happening at the PROC.
My question is for the chair of the procedures and House affairs committee. When will the committee get back to work to study the WE scandal?
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Mr. Speaker, the motion that was brought to committee is quite complex. I am looking into this motion to see if it is in order. I am conferring with the procedural clerks and the table officers in order to do so.
I will be getting back to the members of the committee about when the next meeting is as soon as I have completed this task.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am just very concerned because last night as we were sitting at the procedures and House affairs committee, the meeting was adjourned.
There was supposed to be a meeting at 11 a.m. today. Why was it cancelled? Once again, it should not have been cancelled. The meeting should have been suspended. It is part of our procedural rules, and that was not done.
I am just wondering why the government is going outside of procedural rules to cover its butt when it comes to WE. When is it going to answer the question on the WE motion?
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Mr. Speaker, once again, because this motion was fairly complicated, I still have not had enough time to complete the analysis of the motion. As soon as I have done so, after conferring with the procedural clerks, I will get back to the members.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, cover-ups have been the name of the game under the Prime Minister. Time and time again, he has broken ethics laws, been caught and then tried to cover it up. We saw it again last night at the procedure and House affairs committee, when Liberals scrambled to shut it down to prevent WE documents from coming to light. Canadians have had enough and they deserve answers.
What exactly are the Prime Minister and his Liberals trying so desperately to hide?
