House of Commons Hansard #105 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want and deserve to have an employment insurance plan that is flexible and meets their needs. Employment insurance sickness benefits are an important support for Canadians who have to stay home from work because of an illness or injury.
Workers who receive major treatments or who need more time to heal from an illness or an injury face financial pressures. That is why with budget 2021 we are extending EI sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 26 weeks.
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, what the government is proposing represents barely half of what some people need in order to heal in peace and with dignity. Sometimes it takes 50 weeks of employment insurance for people with a serious illness such as cancer. No one should have to worry about their financial situation when they are fighting for their health or their life.
Yesterday, every party called on the government to increase sickness benefits to 50 weeks by passing the bill introduced by the Bloc Québécois, but that will take a royal recommendation from the government. Will the government do that?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, EI sickness benefits are a very important support for Canadians. Workers who receive treatment need financial assistance and that is why we are extending EI sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 26 weeks. We will also continue to work on modernizing EI. Everything is on the table.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Mr. Speaker, Matthew Jelley is the president of Maritime Fun Group, which has the popular tourism attractions Shining Waters Family Fun Park in Prince Edward Island and Magic Mountain in New Brunswick.
When budget 2021 was announced, he did some math and quickly realized he will be worse off under the proposed Canadian recovery hiring program compared to the existing Canadian emergency wage subsidy. While the pandemic continues, why are the Liberals threatening to end essential support programs such as CEWS for tourism businesses, which have been hit the hardest?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the tourism industry, our government absolutely understands how essential it is to the Canadian economy and how it was hit particularly hard by COVID. That is why the budget includes $1 billion specifically to support tourism. When it comes to the hiring credit, it has been designed such that it will provide particular support to seasonal businesses such as tourism businesses.
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Mr. Speaker, a one-dose summer means a locked down summer for the tourism industry. Canada's closed borders mean that tourism businesses continue to suffer. This industry was the first impacted, and it will be the last to recover, yet there has been radio silence from the federal government.
What is the benchmark to restart travel? Is it 70% fully vaccinated, 80%, or cases under a certain number? It has to be something, and tourism businesses need time to be able to be ready to safely reopen for visitors. When are the Liberals going to table a plan with benchmarks for a safe reopening?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his ongoing advocacy for the tourism sector. Obviously, as a government, we have been there since the beginning of the pandemic and the economic crisis to help the tourism sector, including tourism operators, hotel owners and restaurant owners. We have been there to make sure they can get through this crisis, have access to the different supports we are offering them, and eventually get out of this pandemic stronger.
That is also why we are investing a billion dollars in the budget to make sure they can have access to new forms of support. I look forward to making good announcements to make sure they can have access to that support very soon.
Jag Sahota Conservative Calgary Skyview, AB
Mr. Speaker, last week, another woman in Quebec was attacked and murdered by her partner, making it the 11th such attack since February. Unlike our allies, Canada has lagged, resulting in women across this country continuing to be victims of violence. The Minister for Women and Gender Equality has had years to produce a national action plan, yet we have nothing.
How many more women need to be murdered before this minister gets serious about addressing violence against women and produces a national action plan?
Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Government of Canada, let me offer my condolences to every family grieving loved ones lost to an entirely preventable crime.
My colleague's compassion is commendable, but her facts are wrong. Our government has done more to support women in crisis, those living in violent homes, and more to address and prevent gender-based violence than any other government before.
Our response to COVID has been recognized as having the best feminist intersectional lens, and about a million Canadians have received supports in their hour of need through gender-based violence organizations—
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that climate change is real. They understand that investments in clean technology will create thousands of well-paying jobs and also build a more sustainable future.
Could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry tell us today how the government is supporting Canadian innovators and helping Canada meet its climate targets for 2030 and the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her excellent question and also her hard work on this file.
Canadian innovations in clean technology are at the core of our green recovery. That is why I announced $44 million in funding for innovative Canadian businesses earlier today. With our investments in firms such as Optel Group in Quebec City or PyroGenesis in Montreal, we are enhancing support for Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs while helping to reach our climate targets.
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Liberals voted against Motion No. 61, an initiative to promote our energy industry. For example, Newfoundland and Labrador's oil and gas sector represented 35% of its GDP and was the second-largest employer in the province in 2018.
Newfoundland and Labrador's energy workers, like all Canadian energy workers, are disappointed with the Minister of Natural Resources for failing to support this crucial industry. How could the minister vote against Motion No. 61?
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I would never shy away from defending the record of this government on Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore, but I think it is an important opportunity to also speak to the member's province of Alberta.
Since 2010, Alberta has doubled its wind capacity. It is on track to double it again by 2023. Just last week, BluEarth Renewables in Calgary announced the Hand Hills wind farm project, which is part of four solar and wind projects backed by $500 million of investment in Alberta.
Oil and gas workers built this country. I agree with the hon. member on that. They are the same people who will help build renewables and lower emissions. We support them and we are building that future with them.
Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, a few weeks back, I sent a letter to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans asking for details on the possible indigenous fishery beginning June 1 and how she and her department would respond. The minister's statement about regulations and seasons in March was what coastal communities had been waiting for since tensions blew up back in September. Nobody wants a repeat of that.
Will the minister allow tensions to blow up once again, or have there been meaningful negotiations with all sides to avoid another fisheries crisis in St. Marys Bay?
Bernadette Jordan LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the ongoing situation concerning moderate livelihood, we are continuing to have negotiations with first nations, as well as making sure that industry is well communicated with. We have put a plan in place for this year where fishers are able to get out on the water with the moderate livelihood fishery. It is a flexible plan. It is a plan that allows them to develop their own fishery plans.
We are committed to finding a path forward. I look forward to working with the hon. member opposite to make sure that we do that.
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Mr. Speaker, a new mom-to-be in my riding was temporarily laid off in December after working throughout the pandemic as an essential worker. She is pregnant with a June due date. Under the Liberals' CERB-to-EI transition, this young lady was forced to claim EI against the hours she banked from her maternity benefits. As a result, she will not be eligible to receive a full year of maternity leave. According to the minister, this was by design.
Why did the Liberals approve a benefits program that discriminates against new mothers?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, that is a really important question. We know that individuals want to work, and we have been there through a variety of emergency and recovery benefits to help those who are not able. We have tried to align our EI system with our recovery benefits in order to make the transition seamless back and forth. I am aware of the issue the member is speaking about. We are trying to figure out a way forward for women, particularly new moms, who are in the difficult position of not having work at this time.
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, after a difficult pandemic, almost 70% of adults in Peel have received their first dose. However, these vaccines are not made in Canada, and Canadians want a reliable domestic supply of vaccines so we are not dependent on foreign manufacturing.
Can the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry tell this House how our government is working to strengthen domestic vaccine manufacturing in order to improve our security and make us more resilient and independent for any future pandemic?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Brampton South for her leadership on this very important file.
Members will be interested to learn that last week I was pleased to announce a historic $200-million investment in Mississauga’s Resilience Biotechnologies to help increase manufacturing capacity for a range of vaccines, including those that use the mRNA technologies. This is yet another important step to support Canadian leadership in this vital sector and will help grow our life sciences ecosystem as an engine for economic recovery.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, this past week, the City of Timmins and the community of Moosonee declared a state of emergency because of the spike in COVID cases. We had 77 cases in the Porcupine Health Unit in a single day. That includes communities like Timmins, Cochrane and Matheson. We have over 70 cases now in the Cree communities of James Bay, which represents a potential medical catastrophe. We need to get the rapid surge capacity funding approved now.
What commitment will the Minister of Health make to the people of Timmins—James Bay to get us through this crisis and safely to the other side?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, my heart is with the member's community. I know in my own riding and region of Thunder Bay—Superior North we experienced a very similar alarming surge. We know that smaller rural communities have fewer health care resources. That is why I have urged the Public Health Agency of Canada to work closely with the member opposite's medical officer of health to ensure that we get those rapid response programs, including isolation housing, in place as soon as possible.
Yasmin Ratansi Independent Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, GERD, is causing tensions among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Egypt and Sudan depend solely on the Nile for their commercial and residential uses. Having met with the ambassadors of both Egypt and Ethiopia, it appears they need a facilitated solution to avoid a conflict. All three countries consider Canada as an honest broker. Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs advise if he has engaged with the three countries for a peaceful resolution?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canada recognizes the importance that countries in the Horn of Africa place on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a means to foster economic prosperity and development. Canada also believes that the best solution to this issue is a peaceful, fair and negotiated agreement among all parties. Canada will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains hopeful that the parties involved in the ongoing negotiations will remain committed to a constructive dialogue and peaceful co-operation.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
That is all the time we have for Oral Questions today.
The hon. House leader of the official opposition, for his weekly question.