Debates of Feb. 2nd, 2021

Health

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every territory and province, including Quebec, asked that the federal contribution be increased to 35% of what it costs to take care of our seniors and our sick, for a total of $28 billion.

The Liberals said no, and more than that, they are going to impose Canadian standards. The Conservatives said that they would hold a meeting in the first 100 days after the next election, and of course the NDP acted like a subsidiary of the Liberals.

Is there no party in Canada that is prepared to accept the unanimous request of the territories, the provinces and Quebec?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times in the House and my hon. colleague refuses to hear it, we are going to increase health transfers. In fact, we demonstrated our willingness to do so with our unprecedented increase in investments in the provinces, the public, seniors and workers during this pandemic.

We know that more needs to be done and we will continue to be there to do more not only in the short term and immediately, but also in the long term. I look forward to having these discussions in due course once this crisis is behind us.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what is a national standard?

The federal government does not administer hospitals. It does not supervise doctors and nurses. This is not an area of federal jurisdiction, no matter how you slice it.

Why is it better if it is a Canadian standard rather than a Quebec standard?

What can a Canadian do that a Quebecker cannot?

How is being Canadian intrinsically superior to being a Quebecker?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I could point out one thing. Most Canadians and most Quebeckers, with the exception of the leader of the Bloc Québécois, know very well that doctors from the Canadian Armed Forces helped in Quebec's long-term care facilities, and those Canadian soldiers, with their medical doctorates, helped a huge number of seniors.

To claim that the federal government does not have any doctors is just saying anything to make a crass political argument. We will be there to work with all of the provinces to protect seniors, and I think—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Order. The hon. member for Burnaby South.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a recent report indicates that 65% of greater Toronto area workers are essential. In fact, Dr. Naheed Dosani indicates that those workers who get COVID-19 are “working in close [proximity]” and with “inadequate access to paid sick leave”. This is very clear. Paid sick leave will help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and will ensure that we save lives.

The Prime Minister says the job is done, and that it is already good enough, but the existing program has problems. Will the Prime Minister commit to fixing paid sick leave so it covers all the workers who need it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we brought in paid sick leave for Canadians who are not covered by their jobs because we know that, during this pandemic, people need to be able to make the choice to stay home if they start exhibiting symptoms and know that they can still put food on the table for their families. That is why we moved forward with federal sick leave. It is also why we are so happy to see many provinces step up to improve the system and to adjust it so it is right for their province.

We will continue to work hand in hand with the provinces on delivering for Canadians right across the country, because protecting our most vulnerable workers is part of the way to not just to keep up safe, but to make sure we recover well.

Health

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I had a meeting with Premier Legault. In his capacity as the chair of the Council of the Federation, he delivered the message that all premiers across the country want increased health transfers.

During a pandemic, it is more important than ever to increase investments in our health care. My question is simple. Will the Prime Minister increase health transfers, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, yes, that is the commitment we have made to all the provincial and territorial premiers.

I know we are going to have to increase health transfers. We will continue to increase these transfers, as we do every year. However, during this pandemic, it is also a time to provide immediate assistance, which is why we have sent tens of billions of dollars to the provinces to support health care systems.

As for the long term, we are very open to these discussions. As I have already said, yes, we will increase health transfers. In terms of the details, I look forward to having those conversations, but again, we will be there to support—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Order. The hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that, at the beginning of the pandemic, the government was slow to respond at the borders. Then, the authorities lacked guidelines for screening travellers. As such, it was quite incredible for Quebeckers to hear the President of the Treasury Board say yesterday on LCN that the Sûreté du Québec had done a poor job of ensuring that Quebeckers comply with the quarantine orders. When will the government show some leadership and admit its wrongs on the border issue?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. There was no delay, and we actually took very timely action in not only stopping all non-essential flights into Canada, but also in closing the largest undefended border, the border between ourselves and the United States. We have also been working closely with the provinces and territories. In most of them the police have jurisdiction, and they have been very effective in their enforcement of the quarantine orders.

We have been working with the Province of Quebec. I'm very pleased to advise that they now say the Sûreté du Québec is prepared to take over their responsibility in enforcing the Quarantine Act.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that the government is trying to pass off its incompetence on the backs of the provinces. Is it the fault of the provinces that the borders were not closed in time last spring? Is it the fault of the provinces if the Prime Minister is not able to ensure a vaccine supply?

The accusations of the hon. member for Québec demonstrate a flagrant lack of leadership. His government must assume its responsibilities. When will it apologize to the SQ and Quebec?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the accusations of my Conservative colleague are absolutely unfounded.

He knows very well that in the past, we already had one of the most robust plans for managing our borders. We have just strengthened that, and significantly. Anyone who comes to Canada has to be tested before they arrive. They have to pay $2,000, which they have to show when they want to come here. They have to be tested when they arrive in Canada. They must self-isolate for three days in a specific location. These measures are among the strictest in the world. It would be nice if my colleague would at least have the decency to recognize that.

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

Mr. Speaker, the European Union's export controls on COVID vaccines are adding to uncertainty. The trade minister says she has verbal assurances from her EU counterpart but has no written agreement confirming that we are exempt. A trade expert told the Toronto Sun this means “the EU can say this doesn't apply to Canada until they decide it does.”

Is the minister working to get a written exemption, just as other countries have, for our millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine that would be coming from Europe?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, our government and I have been in contact with our counterparts at the European Union as well as with the member states on this very important issue. Over the past week I have reiterated to my counterparts that our expectation is that their mechanism will not affect vaccine shipments to Canada. Our next vaccine shipments remain on track for delivery.

We are going to continue to work with the EU and our international partners, as we have throughout this pandemic, to ensure that critical health and medical supply chains remain open and resilient. We share the urgency of Canadians to ensure that vaccines get to Canada, and we are operating every day with this urgency.

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

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that over 100 countries are exempt from these measures and we are not.

The government has no written assurances that the EU's export controls will not affect Canada. Whether a week from now or a month from now, we simply do not know if the EU can implement these measures on Canada's vaccine contracts. Verbal assurances are simply not enough.

Why is the minister not pushing to get Canada on this exemption list?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, the exemption list largely includes developing countries and states from the European single market. Many of our long-standing international partners, including New Zealand or Japan, were also not included on this list, but me be clear: We have been repeatedly assured, in my discussions with my counterparts and in the Prime Minister's conversation with President von der Leyen, that the EU's measures will not affect our vaccine shipments. Our government is going to continue to work closely with the EU, and with the member states, to ensure that Canada's access to vaccines is not disrupted.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, over a year after COVID-19 started to spread, the world has learned a lot about how to fight it, but Canadians are still being asked to sacrifice with no end in sight. Canadians need vaccines, deployed rapid tests and information to secure our future and rebuild our economy. By now the Prime Minister should be telling Canadians what is being done to eventually safely lift restrictions and not just putting new ones in place.

How many million Canadians need to be vaccinated before restrictions are lifted?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have been there for provinces and territories as we have fought COVID-19 together. Whether it is through the provision of billions of dollars to ensure that provinces and territories have the capacity to test, contact trace and safely isolate or whether it is to provide personal protective equipment, purchase testing or vaccinations, that is what we have been doing: supporting provinces and territories every step of the way.

Vaccines are an important tool in seeing the end of this pandemic, and I thank all Canadians for trying so hard together to protect each other.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members who are joining us virtually today that the arm on their headsets is sometimes too close to their mouths and sometimes too far away. The rule of thumb is one and a half centimetres away, just below or just above, the end of their mouths. For those who are not quite into metrics yet, it is about half an inch away.

The hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that you said that, because I would love to be having this debate in the House.

However, the minister could not answer my question, a question that relates to when life gets back to normal. Limiting Canadians' charter rights, limiting their movements, preventing them from entering their own homes and having to go to quarantine facilities are extreme measures that should have a clear end criteria. They must be temporary. A year into COVID, the Liberals must start telling Canadians how and when they will be safely lifted.

Therefore, no word salad: How many million Canadians need to be vaccinated before restrictions are lifted?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, as the science and research has evolved around COVID-19, Canada has been guided in our response by that science and evidence. In fact, quarantines are an important measure in protecting Canadians from the importation of the virus and now the importation of variants. Every step of the way, we have followed research and evidence, and we will continue to do that.

I want to thank all Canadians for the sacrifices they are making to keep each other safe.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is good news in the long term that a Novavax vaccine will be manufactured in Montreal, but that is no help to us now, because we will not see a single dose of that vaccine this year.

This will be helpful in the event of a future pandemic, but it will not help the 13 million people the government promised to vaccinate by June. Meanwhile, the bad news keeps coming about procuring vaccines to get us out of the second wave.

What is the government doing now to make sure that we get the doses we need?

[William Amos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our government has had the following objectives: one, secure access to vaccines and to the best vaccine candidates in the world; two, invest in the most promising Canadian vaccines and treatments; and three, invest strategically to rebuild Canada's biomanufacturing capacity.

That is exactly what we have done, and we have known all along that we must rely on the best advice of Canadian scientists. We are supporting biomanufacturing for Canadians. It is coming.