Debates of May 7th, 2021

Canada Revenue Agency

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government needs to send a clear message to victims of CERB fraud.

In the House, the minister said that victims will not be held responsible for the fraud. We all agree on that. However, when victims call her department, they are being told to pay taxes on the fraudulent amounts and that they will eventually be reimbursed.

My question will be clear because we need a clear answer. Should victims keep their money, yes or no?

It is not complicated.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Revenue Agency takes the protection of taxpayer information very seriously. The CRA has robust safeguards in place to identify fraudulent emergency and recovery claims. Canadians who receive a T4A for CERB payments they did not claim should contact the CRA as soon as possible. Victims of fraud will not be held responsible for any money paid out to scammers using their identity.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is really difficult to get answers to simple questions.

The minister also needs to take action to prevent victims of CERB fraud from being deprived of assistance from her government because the fraudulent amounts are being added to the victims' actual income. Government assistance benefits are calculated based on people's income, particularly the Canada child benefit, the Canada workers benefit and the GST credit.

What is the minister doing to guarantee victims that they will not be deprived of the government assistance they need?

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, let me be crystal clear for my colleague. Canadians who received a T4A without having claimed benefits do not have to include it on their tax return. Those who received an incorrect T4A simply need to report the actual amounts received on their tax return. In either case, these individuals should contact the agency as soon as possible to request either a cancellation of, or an amendment to, the statement.

I would encourage my colleague to seek information from reliable sources rather than unnecessarily scare Canadians. His constituents deserve better.

Natural Resources

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my riding has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Many people have lost their jobs, their homes and their livelihoods. More people are homeless, opioid abuse is skyrocketing and more and more families are struggling to make ends meet. The last thing constituents in my riding need is another blow to the oil and gas sector, which provides jobs and opportunities, and helps fund our vital social programs.

What is the government's strategy to ensure thousands more Canadians do not suffer the consequences of another cancelled pipeline?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, last night in this House we held an emergency debate. It was a debate in which all parties participated. It was a debate in which we made our intentions and the purpose of the mission of this government on pipelines very clear.

TMX, when we look back, is something that we approved and we are building. More than 7,000 jobs were created. We approved Line 3 and another 7,000 jobs were created. These are pipelines that will take us into the future.

When we look at existing pipelines that are essential to our energy security nationally, we will leave no stone unturned in making sure we are there for Canadian workers, that we are there for—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that just does not cut it. No stone unturned? The Prime Minister had six years to demonstrate his support for the natural resource sector and what do we have now? The cancellation of Keystone XL and the potential shutdown of Line 5. We are once again facing a last-minute crisis due to the government's lack of action.

When will the Prime Minister pick up the phone, show some leadership and receive assurances from the President that this vital pipeline will continue to operate and enforce the Transit Pipelines Treaty?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, last night in this House during the emergency debate, there was no daylight between the parties. Line 5 is a critical piece of energy infrastructure. It is vital to North American energy security. I will repeat what I said to the House last night. People will not be left out in the cold. The heating of Canadian homes, the flying of Canadian jets and the operation of Canadian refineries are non-negotiable.

Line 5 is not just vital to Canada, it is also vital to the United States and therefore it is vital to all of North America. That is the case we are making. Line 5 is essential to North American energy security.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the deadline to submit a brief of support to keep Enbridge’s Line 5 open is in just four days. The Canada-U.S. committee unanimously recommended this action, and the Natural Resources Minister said last night that he would take every action diplomatically and legally to keep Line 5 open. This is the most urgent action required and the Liberals have known about it for months.

Why did they leave it to the last minute and when will they submit the amicus brief?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her advocacy for her constituents. I can assure this House we are looking at all our options. We will leave no stone unturned in defending Canada's energy security.

We are working at the political level, we are working at the diplomatic level, we are working at the legal level and we are ready to intervene at precisely the right moment. We are standing up for energy workers, for energy consumers and for Canada's energy security. People will not be left out in the cold.

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, usually it is a good thing when Canadians from west to east come together for a common cause, but it is not so good when that common cause is a common threat.

The Governor of Michigan is threatening to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, in a clear violation of treaty obligations between the United States and Canada. This would put 25,000 Canadian jobs at risk.

When is the Prime Minister going to phone President Biden and insist that the Transit Pipelines Treaty be enforced?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said, Line 5 is the most efficient way to deliver the products that Michigan needs to heat its homes, to fly its jets and to power its economy. We do not need more trucks on the road jamming up the 401 or jamming up our already congested border crossings, and those idling trucks would be releasing emissions in Governor Whitmer's backyard, in Michigan, while they wait to cross the border. Line 5 is safe. It has been for 65 years. It will continue to be so. It is safer and better for the environment than the alternatives, and that is the case we are making in defending Canada's energy security.

Indigenous Affairs

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General outlined how the government failed first nations on clean drinking water: an outdated funding formula and a non-existent regulatory regime. ISC now says 2024 is its target to end water advisories, but the AG made clear this will only happen if ISC makes changes. Following its damning testimonial, we finally saw action from the government not to fix the problem, but to defend its inaction.

The minister will not give a timeline, so when will the government end clean drinking water advisories on first nations?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, as the member well knows, this government has made significant progress. In 2015, there were 105 long-term water advisories in effect. We have, in fact, lifted 106, and we will continue to do so. We will fix a failed funding formula, and we have invested now $1.5 billion pursuant to the fall economic statement. We will continue to work with every community to ensure that long-term water advisories are lifted.

One long-term water advisory is one too many.

International Trade

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I think indigenous people in Canada deserve a better, clearer plan and a much greater sense of urgency from this government when it comes to life-saving water, just as people the world over deserve a better answer and a greater sense of urgency when it comes to putting their need to get life-saving vaccine ahead of the profits of international pharmaceutical companies. Yet, this government continues to refuse to get behind a waiver at the WTO. The United States of America announced just this week that it is getting behind that waiver.

When will Canada be part of the solution and not the problem at the WTO?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been, and will continue to be, a strong advocate for equitable access to affordable and safe COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Canada has actively participated in the negotiations on waiving intellectual property protections to COVID-19 vaccines under the WTO, and we will continue to work with our international partners towards a speedy and just recovery.

This pandemic is not over anywhere until it is over everywhere.

Indigenous Affairs

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, reconciliation is a journey of many steps: closing the infrastructure gap, supporting indigenous economies through this pandemic and connecting indigenous economies with the world.

Throughout the pandemic, indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada have received $38 million in flexible funding through the indigenous communities support fund and more than $9 million through the community business fund, supporting indigenous communities to build back better.

Could the minister update the House on the future of these programs?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, through budget 2021, our government is investing over $18 billion to improve the quality of life, close socio-economic gaps and create new opportunities for indigenous communities and peoples. This includes an additional $1.4 billion to fight COVID; over $6 billion, with $389 million ongoing to support indigenous infrastructure; $100 million for indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development opportunities; and near and dear to the member's heart, there is an additional $275 million for indigenous languages, including Mi’kmaq.

Wela'lin.

The Environment

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this government promised $5,000 grants to homeowners who make energy-efficient retrofits as of December 1, 2020, but it has not even established eligibility requirements. Homeowners and contractors are being told to hold on to their receipts to see if they will be paid back, as promised, for the investments they made at the direction of this government.

The Liberals have rolled out yet another half-baked program, and homeowners are left holding the bag. When will it actually be ready?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are so enthusiastic about home retrofits. I think that all members of this House will agree that supporting Canadians in making their homes more energy efficient is a great way for us to work together to fight climate change and create great jobs in Canada in putting these retrofits in place.

The program that the member mentioned is very important and, in the budget, we also committed to moving ahead with an additional program to provide credit for Canadians who want to have deep retrofits of their homes.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, recently the Czech Republic concluded Russian intelligence agents attacked an ammunition depot on Czech soil in 2014, causing deaths. In response, the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats, and four EU countries expelled Russian diplomats in solidarity with the Czech Republic for this violation of international law.

Three years ago, Canada expelled Russian diplomats in solidarity with the United Kingdom for violating international law in the Salisbury poisonings. Will the government do likewise in solidarity with the Czech Republic?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our position on Russia remains unequivocal. Canada will continue to hold Russia accountable for all its actions. We have strong sanctions against Russian officials under the Magnitsky act and the Special Economic Measures Act. Our government takes foreign interference seriously. To safeguard our national interests at home and abroad, we will continue to work with our allies to put pressure on Russia to counter its foreign interference.

Small Business

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after an announced CEBA expansion on December 4, many Canadians applied for expanded business loans. Many were denied as records held by the CRA did not match their applications. However, there is no method for Canadians to update their submissions. In January, the government promised to fix this, yet here we are five months later in the midst of further lockdowns during the Liberal third wave without a solution, leaving businesses to wait for the government to take action.

Will the minister commit today to a date when this issue will be resolved? Small businesses cannot wait.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, our government's priority since the very beginning of the pandemic has been to support our Canadian businesses and our workers. We know that small businesses continue to have difficultly making ends meet because of the restrictions in place due to the pandemic. To date, over 860,000 businesses have been supported by CEBA, and I understand the member's concern.

Financial institutions will be reaching out directly to businesses that have applied for, but not yet received, the expansions that they have requested and we will be providing clarifying information through our banks.