Debates of Dec. 8th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, that is not acceptable. What is also not acceptable is to follow the proposal of the Conservative MPs. Just a few days ago, they asked for the removal of all tests and quarantine measures.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, the minister is incorrect. The Conservatives have long supported expert advice on our borders.

We were also interested to see the expert advisory panel of the government say that the guiding principles of all health decisions should be to minimize unintended harm. Does the minister feel he has fulfilled that with quarantine hotels?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, that is right. To minimize harm is exactly what we should be doing. That is what we have done throughout the crisis by putting strict measures in place at the borders to protect everyone, including those inside Canada.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I would beg to differ. Dr. Gooderham is a physician and vaccine advocate in Peterborough. She has a wait list of over one year for critical medical appointments. She has been stuck in quarantine and is having to reschedule so many appointments for patients in critical need. Does the minister believe that unintended consequences in this regard are not important?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I am going to smile because she mentioned a vaccine advocate. I think there should be more vaccine advocates on the other side of the House, and they should let us know how many Conservative MPs have not yet received one dose out of the 62 million doses administered to Canadians.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, Dr. Gooderham is a dermatologist. Skin care and skin cancer diagnoses cannot wait. She is very concerned that a number of her patients cannot wait, yet they have to because the minister has kept her in a quarantine hotel, despite having a negative COVID test for three days. Could the minister explain why this is acceptable?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I will say it again. Strict measures have been put in place at the border since the start of the pandemic, and they were the right measures to put in place to protect the health and safety of everyone.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, how is the minister protecting public safety when he is not allowing a pro-vaccine advocate into her community, an important doctor in her community, to access patients who have been waiting a year?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I do not understand exactly what the objective of this is. If the objective is to suggest that we should not have measures for quarantine and testing procedures at the border, then maybe the member should say so.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I have read what the doctor wrote to me. She has been waiting three days. She has a negative COVID test from the government, and she is still waiting three days to be released. She said that she is stuck there despite her negative test. She also says that it is inhumane, forcing her against her will, given that she is no risk to Canada.

Why is the doctor being held hostage by the government?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, is the suggestion to take no measures whatsoever and to remove all testing and quarantine? If that is the intent, maybe we should hear that more clearly.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I think our intent is to ensure that Canadians are treated with dignity and respect. Does the minister think he is doing a good job of that?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, again I have not heard the answer yet. Is the intent to ask the government to remove all testing and quarantine measures, as has been suggested by this—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I think my question is about the fact that the taxpayer has spent $1 billion.

We know with the government that the sky is the limit with spending, yet we are seeing an unbelievable amount of mistreatment: Canadians going without food; Canadians going without diapers and milk for their babies; people with celiac going without food they can safely eat; doctors having to put off critical patient appointments. However, all of these people have had negative tests and are just waiting for a bureaucratic stamp of approval for days.

It cost $1 billion, and this is what the Canadian taxpayer has received. I just do not find it acceptable. The minister himself has said he does not believe this is acceptable. I will ask him again for the record: Does the minister think it is acceptable to treat Canadians this way?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, what would be acceptable would be to hear the views of the opposition members of Parliament. Do they really believe we should take away all measures at the frontiers, including quarantine and testing measures?

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, does the minister think it has been $1 billion well spent?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, $1 billion spent to protect the health and safety of Canadians, I think, is a good idea.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, does the minister believe he is has been protecting the health and safety of the woman who has celiac disease who went 40 hours without food?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, again, we do not know what the alternative is. Are they proposing that we should remove all testing and quarantine measures?

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, the government should be treating Canadians with dignity and respect. If they have a negative COVID test, they should be released from quarantine, particularly the doctor who has not been able to see her patients, particularly the woman with celiac who has not eaten, particularly the man who has not changed his underwear for five days, all of whom have had negative COVID tests.

That is unacceptable behaviour from the government. I am not appreciating that there is absolutely no dignity and respect coming from a minister of the government, the health minister, who clearly does not care that people have been treated without dignity and respect for days with negative COVID tests.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I think having respect here would be for the member to tell the House clearly what measures she proposes should be in place.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I very much look forward to the time when Conservatives are in government. I cannot answer his question.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Vancouver Kingsway.

I would like to start with a simple little question. Has the minister received his mandate letter?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, there are a lot of ministers, and I am not sure who the member is addressing. I have not yet received my mandate letter. I hope it will be made public soon.