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.

Topics

Procedures and House AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, we are here to work on behalf of Canadians. We are here to serve Canadians. That is why we are working so hard in the middle of a pandemic.

We are in the middle of this pandemic. This is an emergency, and the best thing the Conservatives found to do this morning was to bring a motion to lose two hours, debating on a former MP who has not been here for the last year. That is what they did.

Procedures and House AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, this is coming from the government that just shut down Parliament for six weeks and locked the doors on committee rooms. We will certainly take no lessons from the Liberals on how we will spend our time.

They say they are working in good faith with committees. They shut them down and they block investigations at every turn. They went so far as to shut down the entire House and all its business for six full weeks. Actions speak louder than words.

It is simple: Will they unlock the doors and answer questions at PROC as to why they really shut down Parliament?

Procedures and House AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, we have this bill in front of us. It is a very important, crucial bill. It is there to help Canadians, those who have lost their jobs and who have to stay home to take care of family members. It would also provide sick leave for people who need it. We are here to debate that.

What is the problem with the Conservatives? They prefer to debate a motion on an MP who left a year ago. We know our priority. They know theirs.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the second wave of COVID-19 is hitting Quebec hard. Times are tough. The Government of Quebec is making difficult decisions that could have consequences on thousands of SMEs, their owners, their workers, and their communities. Some entrepreneurs narrowly avoided bankruptcy last spring, but they are worried about how the next few weeks will unfold.

Do the Liberals understand the challenge? Will they support the restaurants, bars and the entire cultural sector, such as movie theatres and performance halls that are just starting to get their heads above water?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Economic Development

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question because it is important. We want the business community and the cultural sector and all employees and entrepreneurs who are affected by this new lockdown to know that we are with them.

We will be there. We have been there for them over the past few months. We are there for them and will continue to be there in the days ahead whether through the Canada emergency wage subsidy, direct assistance for businesses, loans for small businesses and help through the EI system.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

Mr. Speaker, York Factory, an isolated first nation in northern Manitoba, has seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 and other people are symptomatic. The community desperately needs tests, medical personnel, PPE and mental health supports. The rapid testing team could not land, but there are other ways of getting it there. This first case is someone who had to go to Winnipeg for medical treatment.

I have been in touch with the parliamentary secretary, but will the government treat this as a wake-up call? York Factory and northern and indigenous communities need help now.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned by the recent cluster of cases in York Factory First Nation and are monitoring the situation closely.

Since the outset of COVID-19, we have in fact shipped five shipments of personal protective equipment to the community. Additional nurses have been deployed to the community, with two arriving just yesterday.

My department does remain in close communication with the community leadership, the first nations pandemic response and coordination team as well as all the health services that are available. We will continue monitoring the situation quite closely.

Government FundingOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON

Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges for all students, but has particularly affected youth in vulnerable and low-income communities. That is why organizations like Pathways to Education are an important resource for thousands of students during this difficult time.

Pathways to Education has helped thousands of students living in low-income communities across Canada by providing a combination of supports that remove barriers to graduation and promote positive development.

Could the minister please update the House as to the work our government is doing to support this important organization and our efforts to assist students in vulnerable communities facing new challenges from COVID-19.

Government FundingOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Whitby for his continued advocacy on this issue. Students in vulnerable communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why I am proud to share that our government has invested $5 million in Pathways to Education Canada. This funding will ensure that young people in low-income communities will continue to have access to the critical supports they need and ensure they have access to safe and accessible online resources to remain engaged and support their education.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Alleslev Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Speaker, the federal government refuses to fund the Yonge subway extension without a formal business case, yet York region today is the fastest-growing region in Canada, with over 52,000 businesses, 636,000 jobs and home to over 1.2 million people. Demanding a business case is just another excuse so the Liberals never have to actually deliver.

If infrastructure is so critical, why is the federal government against the Yonge subway extension?

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, we certainly support public transit in Ontario. We have a bilateral agreement with Ontario that will see the federal government invest over $11.8 billion in Ontario over the next decade, including $8.3 billion for public transit.

The reason that we need a business case is that we owe it to taxpayers to ensure that every dollar we invest gets outcomes. We are certainly willing to move ahead and we encourage the Government of Ontario to put forward a business case to our office so we can move forward and also to prioritize this project. I know people want that project to be built.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Alleslev Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Yonge subway business case has been obvious since it was built in 1954. It is even more obvious today.

The Yonge subway extension would create over 60,000 jobs and enable housing for over 88,000 residents. That is in addition to providing much-needed public transit for thousands of York region residents. The Ontario government has committed to the project, but the Liberals refuse.

When will the government stop hiding behind a smoke screen and fund the Yonge subway extension?

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, we are certainly not hiding behind any smoke screen. We just expect that we have to be mindful of taxpayer dollars. I would have thought the Conservative Party would support that.

We have approved more than 1,000 projects across Canada in the last few months. We are moving forward. We are doing it because we need to create jobs. We need to reduce emissions. We need to ensure a more inclusive future.

The Yonge subway line is an example of that. We certainly encourage the Government of Ontario to move forward and hand a business case over to us.

Forestry IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals failed to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement with the United States or to negotiate softwood into CUSMA. Yesterday, the U.S. announced its decision to appeal the World Trade Organization's report on U.S. countervailing measures in softwood lumber.

The Liberals have once again let down forestry workers and families. Six thousand people lost their jobs in the second quarter this year alone, adding to the thousands from last year.

When will the minister stand up for forestry workers in regions like Skeena, the Okanagan and Vancouver Island?

Forestry IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, we are expanding and extending the wage subsidy program through until next summer. Our sector was already hit and facing significant challenges before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The wage subsidy is going to help more forestry companies in regions that have been hit hardest by these conditions. It keeps Canadians working. All levels of government are working together to ensure that Canadian workers and companies have the vital supports they need, when and where they need it.

Forestry IndustryOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the United States has appealed the World Trade Organization's decision in favour of Canada on Canadian softwood lumber. We are talking about $3 billion unfairly being held at the border. American protectionism is and will continue to be an issue, regardless of whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in charge.

When will the government implement policies that support the interests of forestry workers in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, the Lower St. Lawrence, Mauricie, Abitibi and Baie-Comeau?

Forestry IndustryOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business

Mr. Speaker, Canada is disappointed that the United States decided to appeal the WTO report from last month. The WTO found that the countervailing measures that the United States had imposed on Canada were inconsistent with the United States' obligations. The American countervailing measures on Canadian softwood lumber were deemed to be unfair and unfounded, and they are undermining the economic recovery on both sides of the border.

We will continue to work—

Forestry IndustryOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. The hon. member for Montcalm.

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has let its deficit, the deficit of all taxpayers, balloon to more than $328 billion.

The pandemic is a public health crisis. The people we are relying on most are our nurses, orderlies and doctors. How much money did the federal government transfer to Quebec for health care? At the very beginning of March, Quebec received just $100 million of the $328 billion that has been spent. How can this government be so indifferent to the challenges our health care professionals are facing?

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, we have been with Quebec since day one, both through even more regular discussions between the first ministers as part of bilateral collaborations between ministers and, most importantly, through direct assistance. As I said earlier, we allocated $675 million for additional testing, $270 million for health care in general, $112 million for mental health, and $675 million for new equipment to protect our guardian angels.

The Government of Canada has been with Quebec since day one, and we will continue to face this challenge with Quebec.

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, when the government says no to increasing health transfers, it is not saying no to the National Assembly, the Government of Quebec or provincial governments. It is not saying no to Quebec's Premier Legault or to the 81% of Quebeckers who are in favour of transfers. When it refuses to increase transfers, the Liberal government is saying no to exhausted nurses, orderlies and doctors. It is saying no to sick people waiting for care.

Why is this government saying no to increasing health transfers on a recurring basis?

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, when the government says no to the Bloc Québécois, it is not saying no to Quebeckers.

The problem is that the Bloc Québécois often gets a little confused. There is the Bloc Québécois and there are Quebeckers. We often disagree with the Bloc Québécois, but we will always stand alongside Quebeckers. We will always be there to support health care, our seniors, our families and our businesses, and we will always stand alongside Quebeckers.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about Service Canada's inability to respond quickly to the demand for services. The situation will only be exacerbated by the new terms and conditions of the EI program. Unfortunately, the Liberal government is always slow to act and likes to use band-aid solutions instead of fixing the problem.

What is the Liberal government's plan and when will it be implemented in order to deal with the huge flood of requests at Service Canada as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

York South—Weston Ontario

Liberal

Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families

Mr. Speaker, we have hired an additional 1,500 agents to monitor phone calls coming in through the dedicated phone lines that have been set up for Canadians to answer questions. We have also produced new avenues for citizens to access services.

We are working hard to make sure we support Canadians through this difficult period.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, can the government please confirm that it has a reliable plan to handle the forecasted increased service demands at all Service Canada offices once these new benefits pass in order to prevent the current multi-hour wait times? As well, will the government commit to making that plan public within the next couple of weeks to include exact dates on which Service Canada offices will open and when?

I will note that I first asked this question on April 11. I am still waiting for a response.