House of Commons Hansard #92 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.

Topics

The EconomyOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

The EconomyOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Order. This cannot become a debate while question period is going on virtually. I would ask members to hear what other members have to say and what questions are put in the course of question period.

We will now go to the hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

International TradeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, President Biden addressed the U.S. Congress and stated his buy American measures will be tough and any potential exemptions to it have been “strenuously limited”. Buy America and the buy American executive order are of serious concern because the Liberals have still not received assurances that Canada will be exempt.

Can the Minister of International Trade confirm that Canadian businesses and workers will be exempt from these strenuous buy America rules?

International TradeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Canadian businesses and workers that we are absolutely standing up for them and working for them, and we are actively engaged with our American partners. I have raised this issue with the President, as well as with my colleague, the new U.S. trade representative. We are going to continue to work in the interest of our Canadian businesses, just as we have over the last five years.

International TradeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, what has changed? CBC reported in January that the first phone call between the Prime Minister and U.S. President was warm, friendly and collegial, according to a senior government official. The official reportedly said, “Many of the priorities are aligned. He's got a good rapport with us and wants to work with us, as we do with him”.

Here we are, about to enter May, and the U.S. stance on buy American has gotten even stronger. Can the minister explain why we are moving backward?

International TradeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business

Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, we have a plan, a road map between Canada and the U.S. We continue to work with the United States on building back for the benefit of Canadian businesses and workers, both in the United States and in Canada.

I want to assure Canadians that, should there be any efforts to expand or introduce new domestic content requirements, we will absolutely ensure it does not apply to Canada or affect our Canadian supply chain. We are an integrated market, where we have integrated supply chains, and we will continue to work with our American partners.

International TradeOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, President Biden’s comments clearly show the U.S. is not backing down from buy America measures. In January, a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office stated, “the Prime Minister and President agreed to consult closely to avoid measures that may constrain bilateral trade, supply chains, and economic growth.”

How is this working for us? It is obviously not. When will the minister get serious on the file, get on the phone and secure an exemption for Canadian exporters?

International TradeOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member that the government and I are working at all levels with our American partners. They are our largest trading partner, and our supply chains are incredibly connected. We will continue to work with the Americans to ensure we reinforce this deeply connected and mutually beneficial economic relationship, so we can grow middle-class jobs here in Canada as well as in the United States.

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has jeopardized the fishing season in the Magdalen Islands by closing 37% of the port in Cap-aux-Meules.

This week marks the start of the lobster season. There has been absolutely no change, as 37% of the port is still closed, there is no work going on, no plan, no compensation and especially no leadership for Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands.

When will the federal government take action on the port of Cap-aux-Meules to deal with the situation for the sake of the entire fishing industry?

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Burnaby North—Seymour B.C.

Liberal

Terry Beech LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries

Mr. Speaker, we understand how important access to wharfs and fishing facilities are for fishers. This is a top priority for us. We want to make sure that the issues at Cap-aux-Meules are taken care of. We are working with our colleagues at Transport Canada to do just that, and I am happy to work with the member directly to bring her up to date on all the good work that is happening.

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Mr. Speaker, that is not good enough. The fishing industry has been waiting decades for action, and it wants it now.

Right now, not only is the industry worried about the 2021 season, but it is also worried that the port will deteriorate to the point of jeopardizing the 2022 season. The Magdalen Islanders want the studies on the condition of the port to be made public. They want a second independent assessment, they want the federal government to compensate them for their losses and they want a federal administrator on site. In short, they want a plan, but there is none.

What will Ottawa do to solve the problem, and what is it doing for the people of the Magdalen Islands?

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Burnaby North—Seymour B.C.

Liberal

Terry Beech LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries

Mr. Speaker, we have been working diligently to make sure there are alternative facilities available, so fishers can have access to facilities in order to continue to fish and have access. We understand how important fishing facilities are for coastal communities, especially in this case.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is working diligently and directly with Transport Canada to resolve this issue. I look forward to providing continued updates to the member and to all the fishers who are affected in the region.

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

April 30th, 2021 / 11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' incompetence in managing this pandemic was on display once again this week.

On Wednesday, we found out that they were planning to make vacationers returning to Canada eligible for employment insurance, repeating the same scenario we had in January with the Canada recovery sickness benefit, where people were being paid to quarantine after breaking the public health rules.

Meanwhile, new mothers are seeing their benefits cut because they gave birth in the middle of a pandemic. This government calls itself feminist. Why did the Minister of Employment authorize this utterly ridiculous directive?

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Windsor—Tecumseh Ontario

Liberal

Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. No one should be travelling right now. EI is there for people who lost their job or cannot work through no fault of their own. Taking a vacation against clear government advice is a choice.

We are focused on supporting workers who have lost their jobs, are sick themselves or who need to take time off to look after loved ones. That is our focus.

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Speaker, it took a call from a TVA journalist for the government to back down.

The directive was clear. It stated that in the case of quarantine after a holiday outside Canada, a client who would otherwise have returned to work immediately after their vacation were it not for the quarantine requirement should be deemed eligible.

The worst part is that this directive is retroactive to December 2020, but now, on Friday, we are being told that vacationers are no longer entitled to it. This is maddening. What made the minister think that vacations funded through EI were a good idea?

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Windsor—Tecumseh Ontario

Liberal

Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, allow me to reiterate. No one should be travelling right now for non-essential reasons. EI is there for people who lost their job or are unable to work for reasons outside their control.

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

Mr. Speaker, today is the tax-filing deadline, which is a day dreaded by millions of Canadians. Despite the third wave of a pandemic, nearly one million taxpayers locked out of the CRA online portal, record wait times to contact CRA, and the call of millions of Canadians, tax professionals and opposition parties, this government has stubbornly refused to extend the tax-filing deadline.

Will this government, which took two years to file a budget of its own, give Canadians a much-needed break and extend the tax-filing deadline?

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Vaughan—Woodbridge Ontario

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that this tax season is stressful for Canadians, and we will continue to be there for them every step of the way.

An update to the Canada.ca website temporarily disabled the website's web links necessary to access CRA portals. Let me be clear. At no point was CRA's IT infrastructure seriously compromised, and the glitch was very brief. The situation is now resolved, and Canadians can access those services, which have been restored.

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON

Mr. Speaker, the government's response to our ask to extend the tax deadline is absolutely tone deaf. We are not talking about a glitch on a website. We are talking about millions of Canadians, who are being told to stay at home, who cannot complete their taxes by the deadline. They are going to miss out on benefits. There will be gaps and continued chaos. They call CRA and are on the phone for four hours. They have asked for things to be mailed to them, but they have not arrived yet, and the deadline is here.

Our ask is very clear. Why will the government not show some compassion and common sense and extend the tax deadline to June 30 to give people the relief they deserve and need?

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Vaughan—Woodbridge Ontario

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that this tax season is stressful for Canadians, and we will continue to be there for them every step of the way.

In February, we announced that the recipients of emergency recovery benefits would be eligible for interest relief if they filed their 2020 income tax returns. The CRA also has strong taxpayer relief provisions in place, which allow taxpayers to be relieved of penalties and interest if these were incurred for reasons beyond their control. These measures will ensure that Canadians who need help this tax season will receive it.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, this week in Alberta, we witnessed overtly racist lies from Jason Kenney, who blamed indigenous people for the rapid rise of COVID cases in Wood Buffalo.

Indigenous people in Alberta need help to fight this virus, not the blame for Jason Kenney's failures. Indigenous leaders, such as Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, have called for more safety measures to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19, but they have been denied.

When will the federal government step in and get vaccines into the areas hardest hit, like Wood Buffalo?

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Oakville North—Burlington Ontario

Liberal

Pam Damoff LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services

Mr. Speaker, I feel the comments by the Premier of Alberta cast aspersions on indigenous peoples in the province, who have been at the forefront of stepping up for vaccines.

I am proud of what our government has done. Vaccinations are under way in 614 indigenous and territorial communities. With vaccine production ramping up over the next month, I look forward to more indigenous peoples being vaccinated in our country.

Small BusinessOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have abandoned start-ups and new businesses when they need help the most. Jennifer, who owns tru MOVEMENT dance fitness and yoga in my riding, had just signed a lease and invested over $30,000 in improvements when the pandemic began, and she has since been left without any support. She has had no rent support, no wage subsidy and no help at all because her business started after the pandemic began. Just like every other business owner, she has had to close her doors to protect public health.

With nothing for start-ups in budget 2021, will the government admit that it failed new businesses and immediately expand its support programs to help people like Jennifer?

Small BusinessOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member that we know how difficult it is for small businesses as they continue to contribute in this fight against COVID-19. We have been with businesses right from day one, ensuring they are supported.

Budget 2021 has expanded existing supports for small businesses. This includes more accessibility through the Canada small business financing program, which will cover start-up and digital option costs. We are also going to be lowering credit card fees for small businesses.

While our work is not finished, we will continue to work to assist our small businesses through this very difficult time.

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Helena Jaczek Liberal Markham—Stouffville, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many people in my riding of Markham—Stouffville who agree that weapons specifically designed for military purposes have no place in our communities. Despite this, the leader of the Conservative Party has made numerous promises to the gun lobby to return military-style rifles to our streets and revoke enhanced background checks.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness please inform the House on what we are doing to protect Canadians?