Debates of Dec. 8th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

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

Mr. Chair, as I have said repeatedly over the last few days, this is ramping up quickly. Just last Friday, we increased the testing capacity by 60% and we will soon reach the 100% target that we have announced.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, we are starting to understand more about this from the industry and the media that are getting used to the Liberals not knowing what they are doing on this file.

Can the minister confirm to the House that if take-home tests were used for fully vaccinated arrivals and not from the 10 countries, we might be over the 70% today?

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

Mr. Chair, indeed the member is correct. We are using a range of either home tests or on-site testing as the facilities permit.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, take-home tests have been used throughout COVID. It is the same test whether one takes it at home or at a facility.

Why is the government slowing the pace of 100% testing when the solutions are right in front of it?

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

Mr. Chair, there are different types of take-home tests. There is the molecular type, which is the most precise one that travellers into Canada need to take, and there are the rapid test home kits that people can also use.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am going to cede my time to the member for—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will be questioning the President of the Treasury Board.

Can the minister tell us the percentage increase in payroll taxes over the time period 2020 to 2022 which small businesses are facing?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Chair, I would love to answer her after I have had a chance to speak with my officials as I do not have that data with me this evening.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will give the minister the answer. It is 18% and it is right on the government's website.

What is the maximum dollar value increase from this year to next year a business will have to pay in CPP employer contributions?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chair, as we know, we are currently doing a regulatory review and we will continue to make sure businesses do not have too much of a burden on their—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I was referring to CPP increases. What is the dollar value that businesses will pay for the CPP maximum employer contributions per employee?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Chair, the CPP increase is there to make sure that the system is in place for future generations. It is an agreed-upon framework over the next 10 years.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, on Friday when I asked the government about CPP premium increases that businesses are facing in 2022, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry said, “this is not an increase.” Can the minister confirm today that the CPP premiums are not going up for businesses in 2022?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Chair, because of this historic change in the CPP that we made quickly in 2016, there is going to be a decrease of 25% in poverty among seniors over the next years.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, the question was about how much businesses are paying. Once again, the Minister of Innovation made this comment on Friday.

To gain clarification for Canadian businesses, is this an increase or is there no increase in 2022?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, there was an incremental increase that was agreed on in the framework set in place in 2016. This is to make sure that CPP is in place and able to do as my colleague said, reduce poverty but secure retirement for Canadians for generations to come.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, now we have clarity from the comments that the other minister made on Friday.

Could the minister tell us the average amount of debt individual small businesses have taken on over the course of the pandemic?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, businesses were supported, nine million businesses, by CEBA. That is the metric that we are following.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, what is the average amount of debt? Surely the government should know this answer.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, our government is here to support Canadian businesses. What we did during the pandemic is what we will continue to do as we come through this.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister acknowledge that some small businesses will likely have to go more into debt to afford the upcoming payroll tax increases?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, confidence is back and 106% of the jobs are recovered. Businesses are recovering. Businesses can afford the increases.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, the finance minister often likes to quote people, so here is the quote from the CFIB: “Pausing the rise in CPP premiums for small businesses is one of the top priorities for CFIB.” Does the minister agree?