Debates of Feb. 16th, 2021

Public Services and Procurement

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we call that abandoning Davie because $2.4 billion in maintenance is a far cry from the $70 billion it will end up costing to build the frigates instead of $26 billion as was first thought.

That is a cost overrun the equivalent of Quebec's entire annual health budget. It is $1,000 per Canadian. That is what it cost to shut out the best shipyard in Canada.

When will the government give work to Davie and Quebeckers?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, that is not the case whatsoever. The government has awarded contracts worth $838 million to Davie shipyard for the acquisition of three medium commercial icebreakers and conversion work.

The first ship began its operations in December 2018. The conversion work on the Jean Goodwill is going well and the first Royal Canadian Navy frigate has arrived at Davie shipyard for repairs and maintenance.

Health

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada had a clear pandemic guidebook pre-COVID, which the Liberal government completely ignored at the peril of Canadians and Canada. Canadians need the Liberals to share the data used to support their public policy decisions, data that has been intentionally hidden or is not available because they failed to collect it. The federal government is failing in everything from travel screening and rapid testing to vaccine procurement, vaccine rollout and lockdowns, all of which continue to plague our country's ability to recover.

Where is the data and what is the plan for recovery, or would the Liberals prefer that Canada remain in a perpetual pandemic?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way our response has guided by science and evidence. We are so proud of our hard-working public servants, researchers, scientists and public health professionals who have helped Canada in its response.

I will also point the member to the canada.ca\coronavirus website where all of the data that we are collecting is available. In fact, many researchers around the country use that data to provide additional analysis, for which we are also grateful.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, an Oshawa constituent is a nurse working for the federal government in servicing indigenous communities. However, due to logistical complications between the federal and provincial governments, this nurse has been unable to be vaccinated, thus putting the vulnerable communities that they are serving at risk.

Considering that the government has been vaccinating critical federal employees, such as our armed forces, why will it not also vaccinate critical federal health care employees serving vulnerable and remote communities?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, again, we are lucky in Canada to have the national advisory committee on immunization, which has provided expert advice about how to roll out the variety of vaccines that Canada has received and will receive.

This advice reflects the best scientists who work for the NACI team and provide that advice to the Government of Canada. It also allows for the provinces and territories to build their vaccine strategies, built on NACI's advice. The approach is based on saving lives first and then protecting people who are working close to folks who are at risk of contracting COVID.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's total failure to deal with this pandemic is having a devastating impact in my riding of Red Deer—Mountain View.

The government simply cannot get anything right. We are six months behind many other countries in the world when it comes to procurement and to vaccine distribution. Canada now ranks 38th in the world for vaccinations per capita.

Rather than fixing the problems, the Liberal government is distracting from them and continues to fail Canadians with chaotic and disorganized vaccination programs.

When will the Liberal government realize that there is no policy substitute for a transparent vaccine strategy?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have been transparent with Canadians, including by giving updates in the press, on a regular basis, from a variety of officials and elected officials, and by working clearly and transparently with provinces and territories so they can plan the vaccine rollout.

We will continue that approach, because Canadians expect no less.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to protecting and supporting our supply-managed producers. The proof is that we recently signed a transitional free trade agreement with the United Kingdom and we made no concessions on supply management.

Last week, the Prime Minister, several ministers, MPs and I met with dairy, poultry and egg producers to discuss the future of supply-managed agriculture. Can the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of compensation for supply-managed sectors?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, we will be making compensation payments to dairy producers for the agreements signed with the European Union and the trans-Pacific region over the shorter period of four years.

More than 60% of them have already received their second payment, totalling $327 million. Programs for poultry and egg producers will follow and then it will be the turn of processors.

Our government is committed to protecting the supply management system and not giving up any more market share.

Rural Economic Development

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in my new role as critic for rural economic development.

Rural businesses are critically important for Canada's future. That is why I was disappointed to read the Liberal rural economic strategy, which completely leaves out our critical hunting and angling sectors.

Hunting and angling contributes over $1 billion in annual GDP to Canada. Why are the Liberals ignoring our hunting and angling sectors?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his new role. I look forward to working with him to ensure that every rural community is part of Canada's recovery and indeed leading it.

The member referred to our economic development strategy for rural Canada, the first of its kind, focused on three pillars: people, places and partnerships. This includes everybody, including service groups, including hunters and anglers, including businesses, including the charitable sector, especially in the post-pandemic Canada.

We cannot afford to leave anyone behind and we intend to ensure everyone is connected to high-speed Internet.

Tourism Industry

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tourism operators in northwestern Ontario rely primarily on American clients to keep their businesses running. Given that we are well into February, they need to know now if they will have international visitors this summer or if they will lose another season. Some level of certainty from the government, one way or another, is crucial for these businesses to plan ahead.

When will tourism operators know if fully vaccinated foreign nationals will be exempt from travel restrictions or not?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I had the chance to have many discussions with tourism operators in northern Ontario along with many of my colleagues. Obviously, we know they are going through difficult times.

We have been there for them since the beginning of the pandemic. We have invested $10 billion through the wage subsidy, through the regional development agencies and through also the support to a fixed cost. Recently, we even launched the highly impacted sectors support.

It will be a pleasure to work with my colleague to ensure that these tourism operators have access to this very particular new support.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada emergency rent subsidy is designed to help business owners who have been hit hard by this pandemic. A young man in my riding who has been running a business for 10 years pays his taxes. He qualified for the subsidy in the spring, but since September he no longer qualifies. Why is that? It is because of a non-arm's length party.

Can the Minister of Finance fix this mistake and support all business owners, including honest, young Canadian entrepreneurs?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my hon. colleague. The Canada emergency rent subsidy is a very important program that provides support for our Canadian businesses through the pandemic.

When the government implements a program like this one, we need to make sure that it helps as many businesses as possible without compromising the integrity of the program. We are always managing that balance. Our goal is to help all of the businesses that are entitled to this program and need this support.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the pandemic our government has provided financial support to millions of Canadians, helping them put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, but this crisis continues to have dire consequences for many Canadians. They need more time and flexibility to pay back the interest on their tax debt.

Can the Minister of National Revenue talk about the recent announcements on this subject?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Ottawa South for his question and his hard work.

I did indeed announce last week that Canadians who received financial support payments related to COVID-19 and earned $75,000 or less in taxable income would not be required to pay interest on their tax debt before 2022.

This measure will give millions of Canadians the flexibility and peace of mind they need to get through this difficult period until they get back on their feet.

Health

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, new land border testing requirements and possible testing for essential travellers is causing confusion and concern among Canadians.

In my city of Windsor, which accounts for 40% of trade between our countries, thousands of essential workers cross daily to work in health care, the supply chain and transport. For months I have called for rapid testing and a comprehensive plan for our border crossings that keeps it moving, safe and builds public confidence.

When will the government act on rapid testing, vaccinate CBSA officers and vaccinate essential workers instead of causing confusion in the community? Why does it not just act and protect Canadians?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way that is exactly what we have been doing, acting with provinces and territories to protect Canadians.

In regard to the member's question about rapid testing, we agree that it is a very important tool. As the member may realize, we have shipped over 21.6 million rapid tests to provinces and territories: 4.1 million to Quebec, 6.7 million to Ontario, 2.3 million to Alberta and even more to other provinces and territories.

We will continue to ensure that provinces and territories have the tools they need as well as the guidance to use it.

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, uncoordinated provincial and territorial responses to COVID-19 failed to halt the spread of the virus in Canada. Small and medium-sized businesses are struggling to survive. Millions of Canadians are experiencing financial hardship. Mental health challenges, drug overdoses and domestic violence have increased.

Will the government work with the provinces and territories to create an intergovernmental COVID task force to coordinate a national response to the pandemic so Canada can get to zero and end the lockdowns?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians have been working incredibly hard and sacrificing a lot to get through this pandemic. I want to thank all Canadians for their enormous efforts.

We already have an intergovernmental coordinating committee, which is called the special advisory committee, and all medical officers of health from all across the country work together as professionals, as doctors, to guide our country's response. Of course, it is led and chaired by our incredible Dr. Tam to ensure that we have consistency and cohesion for the guidance that we provide to Canadians as well as the efforts that we take in procurement, research and various other aspects of managing COVID. That has served us well, and we will continue to support provinces and territories through that mechanism and many other strategies and tables that meet.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties. I believe that you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the House call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to grant permanent residency to Mamadi Fara Camara as soon as possible, pursuant to section 25.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

I am hearing no voices. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

There being no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Oral Questions

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. When the member for Red Deer—Mountain View was asking a question, I noticed that another member popped up on the screen, inadvertently interrupting the member for Red Deer—Mountain View. I am wondering if the MP for Red Deer—Mountain View wants a chance to re-ask the question.