Debates of Dec. 8th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Chair, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care issues important guidelines to health professionals across Canada, yet the task force lacks members with subject matter expertise. This can and has resulted in questionable, inaccurate and dangerous guidelines being issued, for example using outdated studies and ignoring relevant data to recommend against life-saving breast screening for Canadian women in their 40s. Multiple other specialties are similarly affected, such as urology, psychiatry and gastroenterology.

During the election, the Liberal Party committed to reviewing the task force. When will this happen?

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

Madam Chair, that is a great example of something that is extremely important. We look forward to doing this as quickly as possible, and we know that we can count on the member's input to make that possible.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Chair, the government has allowed PHAC to use the Pacific Gateway Hotel in British Columbia as a federal quarantine hotel since March 2020. Over 140 workers, mostly women, with decades on the job were terminated by that employer using the pandemic as a cover. Workers have now been on strike for seven months.

This week, it was reported that travellers are finding “wretched conditions” at Pacific Gateway and other quarantine hotels run by PHAC. Will this government commit to move out of the Pacific Gateway Hotel and cancel its arrangement with it?

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

Madam Chair, obviously caring for people in such facilities is absolutely essential. These people require appropriate treatment, and we expect all of these service providers to meet and abide by all appropriate labour and health laws.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Chair, in May 2021, the City of Vancouver submitted its final proposal to Health Canada requesting an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize the simple possession of illicit drugs. It is now half a year later, and the federal government has yet to render a decision.

Given that the catastrophic death toll from Canada's drug poisoning crisis is growing every single day, does the minister believe that this is an acceptable delay?

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

Madam Chair, my colleague is pretty well informed and mindful of the important challenges to deal with.

Section 56 exemptions are being considered in that particular context. We are working, obviously, very closely with the City of Vancouver and the Government of B.C. in that regard.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Chair, Canada's premiers are calling for the federal share of health care spending to rise from the current 22% of total costs to 35%.

Given that the federal government initially agreed to cover half the cost of medicare when it was first established, does the minister agree that 22% is an unreasonable share for the federal government to assume?

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

Madam Chair, there are four key statistics here: first, the $41-billion-plus Canada health transfer; second, the $11-billion investment that we put into place in 2017 on home care and mental health care; third, the $55-billion investment we made during COVID-19; and fourth, the $25-billion promise we made—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Chair, every year, six and a half million Canadians avoid going to the dentist because they cannot afford it, and one in three Canadians lacks dental insurance. The Liberal government's 2019 throne speech called universal dental care an idea worth exploring.

Can the minister outline what steps the government has taken to address this major public health deficiency?

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

Madam Chair, that is indeed an important area to consider, along with home care, mental health care, long-term care, virtual care, primary care and many other sorts of care that Canadians not only need but deserve.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, my first question is for the Minister of Tourism. He has not spoken for a while, so I wanted to give him an opportunity do so.

What amount is proposed in the bill to support the tourism industry?

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

Madam Chair, we have made it clear that our bill will help Canadians and the tourism sector. We encourage the members opposite to vote in favour of Bill C-3.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I repeat my question. What is the amount?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, we have clearly indicated that we have put $500 million into—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I asked a very simple question. How much has the Minister of Tourism and his government decided to invest to help the tourism and hospitality sectors in Canada?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, I was very clear. Some $500 million is going to the tourism relief fund.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, what I saw in the bill was $7 billion. I will ask another minister, one who has not said much yet this evening, the President of the Treasury Board, to tell us where the $7 billion is coming from to help everyone in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, it is very clear in our bill. We are here to help all the tourism sectors, the hotel industry, restaurants, all the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic. We encourage members on the other side to support the bill.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I do not want to insist, but I must. The bill talks about $7 billion. The Minister of Tourism cannot say what the amount is, and the President of the Treasury Board cannot say where the money will come from.

My colleague from Carleton asked the Standing Committee on Finance some questions and asked where the money would come from. We were told what it might be spent on, but no one told us where the money would come from.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, the bill is intended to support hotels, motels, cottages, bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, restaurants, food trucks, tour operators, theatres and music venues.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I forgot to say that I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

I will ask my question again. The government introduces bills to get them passed, but we are not told where the money will come from. I want to know if it is borrowed money or money in the bank. It is a very simple question.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, that is why we are introducing bills. That will help gyms, sports centres, ski resorts, entertainment centres, youth summer camps and fishing camps. We are going to help people in those industries.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Chair, I will try to be even more clear when I ask my question. The government is planning to spend $7 billion to help people in the tourism industry, all those the minister just listed. The President of the Treasury Board is unable to tell us where the money will come from.

Where will that $7 billion for all those sectors come from?