Debates of May 26th, 2021

Finance—Main Estimates, 2021-22

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, independent travel advisers are concerned. They know that the Canada recovery benefit is going to be cut at the end of September. They are not going to see money for months. Of the people working in this sector, 85% are women. They need help into next spring.

Will the minister extend that program for the hardest-hit sectors, such as tourism, festivals and events, and for the people working in that sector? Also, when will she pay back people like Christina? She never answered that question.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, there are lots of questions in there. I will go through them quickly.

On the independent travel advisers, let me remind the member opposite that there is a billion dollars in the budget specifically for tourism. The hiring credit will be very helpful for the tourism sector and all-season businesses. It is designed to provide them with particular support. I will also point out that the way we have structured the voucher refund program takes into account the needs of travel advisers as expressed to us.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, PNE, the 110-year-old institution in Vancouver East, employs more than 4,000 part-time and seasonal workers at its peak. Its local economic impact is over $200 million each year. Unlike other large fairs, it is unable to receive the wage subsidy. I already brought this up to the minister's attention last year, but nothing has been done to date.

Will the minister fix this so the PNE can access the wage subsidy? Will the federal government give the PNE a special grant, perhaps similar to that of the one that was given to Granville Island $16.7 million, so it can survive the pandemic?

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

Mr. Chair, I will remind the member of the specific support that is being directed to the tourism sector. There is $1 billion, including $400 million for major and local festivals and a $500-million tourism relief fund.

I also urge the member to be in touch with the RDA. B.C. has now its own RDA, and in some special circumstances, the RDAs are the best places to go for support.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will follow up directly with the minister about the wage subsidy for the PNE, then, and move on to another issue.

Nearly 20,000 people died from the overdose crisis between January 2016 and September 2020, and in B.C. alone over 17,000 people died from an overdose in 2020, the deadliest year yet. To save lives, many advocates, including Moms Stop the Harm and Dr. Bonnie Henry, have called for the federal government to declare the opioid crisis a national health emergency and to decriminalize personal drug possession. Will the government do that?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, the government definitely supports a harm reduction approach to the opioid crisis. I would like to really salute the important work being done in B.C. on this issue. The budget invests $116 million to support community substance use and addiction treatment, and that is on top of $66 million in the fall economic statement.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, I wish the minister would actually answer the question. I asked a specific question about whether the government would decriminalize personal use so that we can save lives.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I said, our government absolutely agrees with the member opposite that opioid-related deaths are a real tragedy in Canada. That is why we are investing significantly to support work in this space and to save lives. We absolutely believe in a harm reduction approach.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, the government should decriminalize, then.

The City of Vancouver has submitted an application to the federal government in support of having Vancouver's Chinatown designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Will the federal government support the city's effort and help revitalize Chinatown?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am delighted to get a question about Vancouver's Chinatown. As part of my post-budget virtual tour, I had conversations with some of the great entrepreneurs in Vancouver's Chinatown. They told me about an innovative program they have to ensure that Chinatown businesses in Vancouver are aware of all the business support programs. I have part of Toronto's Chinatown in my riding, and I am working hard at the constituency level to try to use some of the innovative techniques pioneered in Vancouver's Chinatown to share the news with businesses in my riding.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

That brings this evening's debate to a close.

It being 11:47 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), all votes are deemed reported. The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 11:49 p.m.)