Debates of May 13th, 2021

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the Deputy Prime Minister is proud that her government-funded PenderFund Capital Management, which has $1.5 billion in assets, and one of its most prominent funds ever recorded was 40% of returns last year, or JM Fund Management, which had a pretty good return in 2020, not yet seen since 2016, and ranked one of the third-best performing hedge funds in 2020.

I am just wondering if she finds it ethical. Personally, I find her response a bit disrespectful, particularly in light of all the small businesses that opened up right before the pandemic and received not a penny from the Liberal government.

Again, I am just wondering if the minister believes, like her predecessor, that it is ethical to give billions to wealthy hedge funds and bankrupt companies and nothing to newly opened small businesses.

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

Mr. Speaker, what I think is ethical is doing whatever it takes to support Canadians and Canadian businesses get through this once-in-a-generation pandemic, and that is why I am so pleased that 873,000 small businesses across the country have been able to receive the CEBA loan. In the member's own province of Manitoba, 22,603 small businesses have received the CEBA loan. The wage subsidy in Manitoba alone has supported 175,000 jobs.

Official Languages

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, Quebec reaffirms its intention make federally regulated businesses subject to Bill 101, responding to the unanimous will of the Quebec National Assembly and to a request from all living premiers.

Ottawa always objected. However, last fall, this government finally recognized that it needed to “protect and promote French in Quebec”. It also acknowledged the “particular situation” of French in the North American anglophone ocean.

Will the government co-operate with Quebec to apply Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for Montarville for his excellent question.

Indeed, our government has taken a historic step in recognizing the need to protect and promote French. We also want to enshrine the right of francophones to work in French, to be served in French and, of course, not to be discriminated against because of their language in federally regulated businesses in Quebec and in other regions with a strong francophone presence.

I had the opportunity to talk with my Quebec counterpart, Simon Jolin-Barrette. We acknowledge the tabling of today's bill by the Government of Quebec. I will take a close look at the bill and keep on protecting the inherent linguistic rights of Quebeckers and francophones across the country while protecting linguistic minorities.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, precisely because it acknowledges the decline of French in Quebec and the need for action to promote and protect our language, the federal government should welcome Quebec's introduction of one of the most ambitious language reform documents of the past four decades.

The government must therefore commit to working with Quebec in implementing its Bill 96. Clearly, the first way to help is to do no harm. Will the government promise today that it will not take part in any challenges to Quebec's Bill 96, either directly or financially?

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

Mr. Speaker, the government recognizes that Quebeckers form a nation within Canada and that the official language of Quebec is French. We also recognized it in the reform document that I had the opportunity to table in the House earlier this winter.

Now, it goes without saying that we as a government must play our role to protect French in Quebec and across the country, because, as my colleague mentioned, French is certainly in decline in this country. We therefore must act and we will act.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec is appointing a French language commissioner, not an official languages commissioner, because French must be the common language in Quebec. At last, Quebec will be applying Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses. Quebec is once again asserting its place as a French-speaking nation before Canada.

Will the Liberal government recognize that Quebec must have sole authority over its language policy, and will it behave like an ally, not an adversary?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would remind my colleague that we have recognized the special status of French since the reform document was tabled and even before that, in the Speech from the Throne, because French is indeed declining in Quebec and in Canada, and we must do more.

For the first time, the federal government believes that substantive equality between our two official languages is necessary and that more must therefore be done to support the language rights of francophones across the country and in Quebec. We will do so, of course, by protecting the rights of all linguistic minorities. I will have the opportunity to work with my Quebec counterparts on this issue.

Health

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is becoming clear that scientists at the government's virus lab in Winnipeg worked closely with China. One of these scientists, Dr. Qiu, not only visited China five times in two years for this work, but also collaborated with scientists at China's military institute and trained scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology to a level 4 standard, enabling them to handle the world's most deadly viruses.

With all the known concerns about China's communist leadership, why was the current government helping China build capacity to handle the world's most deadly viruses?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member opposite knows, first of all, that these particular researchers are no longer with the Public Health Agency of Canada and that I cannot comment due to privacy obligations.

The National Microbiology Laboratory plays a critical role in research around the world and here in Canada.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a democracy, citizens deserve answers. To work at the government's level four lab in Winnipeg requires a secret clearance, a clearance normally only given to Canadian citizens. The CBC has reported that on July 5, 2019, Dr. Qiu and Dr. Cheng, along with Chinese students, were escorted from the lab by the RCMP. How on earth did Chinese nationals get secret clearance to work at the government's level 4 lab in Winnipeg, Manitoba?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first let me talk about the important role the National Microbiology Laboratory plays and continues to play, especially in the context of a global pandemic. I thank the professionals there who are working day and night to help Canadians with the laboratory and research needs we have.

I cannot comment on this matter due to privacy obligations. These people are no longer with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we live in a democracy, where transparent and open government is incredibly important, something the current government is not upholding. We know that secret clearance requires senior-level approval. We know that CSIS raised national security concerns about Dr. Qiu, Dr. Cheng and the Chinese students at the government's lab in Winnipeg, as The Globe and Mail has reported. With all that we know about China's communist leadership, how were these individuals given secret clearance at the government's level 4 lab, where the world's most dangerous viruses are handled?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat that the National Microbiology Laboratory is a Canadian treasure and has been providing incredible research and laboratory support to Canadians and Canadian organizations around the country during the pandemic.

I will also remind the member opposite that these individuals are no longer with the Public Health Agency of Canada, and that I cannot comment due to privacy obligations.

Ethics

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, well, the Ethics Commissioner's report on the WE scandal is a doozy. This is way beyond whether or not Bill Morneau should have recused himself. What we have learned is that the office of the finance minister of a G7 country used its enormous influence to open doors to further the private interests of the Kielburgers. Liberals were intervening right down to the municipal level to help their friend Craig, and then the Liberals put the WE brothers in the driver's seat of a $900-million deal with no competition. That is what got them into trouble.

When will the government end this blatant insider access for their cronies and their pals?

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

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner has investigated the matter, and the report released today cleared the Prime Minister of all allegations.

I will quote directly from the report. On page 3, it says that the Prime Minister “did not contravene subsection 6(1), section 7 or section 21 of the Act”. The commissioner is conclusive on page 40, where he says, “I cannot conclude that a contravention has occurred.”

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what we have seen repeatedly from the Liberal troops today is that they have a real conflict of interest culture. This is the fifth time that the commissioner has found that the Liberals had a conflict of interest. It is not the first, second, or third time, but the fifth time.

Even though the Prime Minister was not personally found to be in the wrong, the entire Liberal government is tainted because this decision was made by cabinet.

Will the Prime Minister pledge today to put an end to this culture of cronyism and finally meet the needs of Canadians and not those of his friends on Bay Street?

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

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner investigated this matter, and the report released today clears the Prime Minister of all allegations.

I will quote directly from the report released today. On page 3, we read that the Prime Minister “did not contravene subsection 6(1), section 7 or section 21 of the Act”.

Also on page 3, the commissioner states that, “there is no evidence of impropriety in relation to [the Prime Minister]'s decision making in relation to” this matter. On page 40, the commissioner states, “I cannot conclude that a contravention has occurred”.

Justice

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians, including me, were pleased to see investments made through budget 2021 to restore the Law Reform Commission of Canada. In a world that has changed so much since 2006, when the commission saw a cut in funding by the previous Conservative government, our justice system has faced new and more complex challenges. Now, more than ever, we must ensure that Canadians have access to a justice system that is fair, relevant and accessible.

Can the minister tell us more about this very important investment?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, through budget 2021, we will invest $18 million over five years and $4 million ongoing to revive the Law Commission so that it is able to continue its important work guiding the federal government on the legal challenges of today and tomorrow with evidence-based ideas and research. The commission will also ensure that our justice system is responsive to challenges, such as systemic racism in the justice system, and will also help in establishing a new relationship with indigenous peoples.

Today, I am paying homage to one of my mentors, the late Law Commission president Rod Macdonald, both in answering this question and in wearing this bow tie.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, the federal government approved an unprecedented four-month delay between doses of vaccine due to supply, meaning that few Canadians are fully vaccinated against COVID. The federal government has not issued any clear advice for half-vaccinated Canadians about their level of protection, their risk of transmitting COVID and what restrictions do or do not apply to them.

Given the Prime Minister's announcement of a half-vaccinated summer, what official public health advice does the federal government have for half-vaccinated Canadians regarding what they can or cannot do?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am not really sure where to start with that mixed bag of half-truths and falsehoods, but I will start with this.

Here is what we do know: Vaccines save lives and they stop the spread of COVID. They are a critical tool in getting our lives back to normal.

I want to thank all of the immunizers across the country who are working so hard to get vaccines into Canadians' arms. In fact, we are doing a phenomenal job. We see that we are one of the fastest immunizers in the G7. We see Canadians stepping up in unprecedented ways to take a vaccination when it is offered to them.

I would encourage Canadians to continue to get vaccinated. It will save their own lives, it will help stop the spread in their community, and we will have a much better summer and fall.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before continuing, I would like to remind all members in the chamber and joining us virtually to be judicious with the language they use. Sometimes some language may be inflammatory and cause problems. While the words used are not necessarily bold, sometimes the intentions behind them are.

I know this is week five of a long stretch, but I ask all members to be mindful of our fellow members in the chamber.

The hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill.

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

Mr. Speaker, thank you for that advice to the health minister.

Even though only 3% of Canadians are fully vaccinated, by now Canadians should have advice from the federal government on what they can look forward to once fully vaccinated. This also applies to half-vaccinated Canadians, given the proclamation of a half-vaccinated summer. Countries around the world are doing this. This type of hope will incent people to get the vaccines.

What advice does the federal government have for half-vaccinated Canadians, or fully vaccinated Canadians, regarding what they can or cannot do?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat that vaccines save lives and they stop the spread of disease. I think Canadians know that we need to get to the finish line together. Canadians have made extraordinary sacrifices for each other. Now they are stepping up to the plate and getting vaccinated when it is their turn. That is how we will see a light at the end of this tunnel.

I am so proud of all the immunizers around the country who are working so hard to get immunization to Canadians, no matter where they live. We are going to reach that finish line, and we will get there together.