House of Commons Hansard #116 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, regional airlines have been devastated by the COVID‑19 pandemic.
As if that were not bad enough, to add insult to injury, Transport Canada has told Aviation MH, a company in Rivière‑du‑Loup, which is in my riding, to pay $544 just to change its mailing address.
Is the Minister of Transport okay with his department exacting its pound of flesh from a hard-hit business just to reprint a certificate that probably costs next to nothing to produce?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, and I would like to reassure him that our government is committed to ensuring that all regions have sustainable, efficient and affordable air service. We want to make sure that everyone in every region is well served. I would be happy to work with my colleague to address the specific issue he raised today.
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Mr. Speaker, now that provinces are reopening, our top priority must be an economic recovery in all sectors and all regions of the country, but the government has done nothing to help small businesses and tourist outfitters in northwestern Ontario who are struggling to maintain operations and have now lost the better part of two summers. They need hope that they will reopen to a thriving economy.
When will the government give them that hope and present a real plan for an economic recovery?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, obviously I do not agree with my colleague, because we have been there since the beginning of the pandemic to help our different regions, and in particular northern Ontario, to make sure that businesses have access to different measures to survive the pandemic, particularly our tourism operators. They have had access to the wage subsidy, the CEBA account, and support through FedNor.
We have been there to make sure they can continue to operate in these very difficult times, and we will continue to support them in the future, as we will be investing more than $1 billion to support them in the coming months.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Mr. Speaker, as life returns to normal in countries such as the U.S. and the U.K., here in Canada the government has offered no plan to reopen the economy, no plan to end the disastrous hotel quarantines and no plan to see a return to normalcy. Enough is enough.
After 15 months of failed COVID policy after failed COVID policy, why is it that the government’s only plan is to keep Canadians locked down forever?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I find it rich every time the Conservatives put on record their opposition to sensible public health measures that are designed not only to keep Canadians safe, but to protect the long-term interest of our economy as well.
Our plan from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was to do everything we can to protect Canadians from the public health emergency. I point the hon. member to the fact that Canada is now number one in the OECD of any country in terms of the number of citizens who have received their first dose.
We are going to continue to support businesses so they can punch out of this pandemic recession by extending the emergency benefits and by putting in place new measures to encourage businesses to hire more Canadians, to make sure that all Canadians from different walks of life get to benefit from the profound economic growth that private sector economists are projecting for Canada this year. A year from now, his comments on the record—
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Speaker, the fishing vessels in Grande‑Rivière in the Gaspé have been abandoned by the federal government. The Government of Quebec asked Ottawa to provide funding for the winter storage facility for those fishing vessels, but Ottawa refuses to broaden the scope of the Quebec fisheries fund, despite the fact that only $5 million of the $42 million provided for the fund have been disbursed over the past two years.
Grande‑Rivière and the RCM are taking action to help fishers. The Government of Quebec is taking action to help fishers. A total of 50% of landings occur in the Gaspé. The region's economic development is at stake. Where is the minister and member for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, if we want to talk about leadership, I will certainly take no lessons from the Bloc Québécois, which completely drained the lifeblood of the Gaspé for 15 long years. What is the Bloc Québécois able to do in the region? It cannot do anything at all except complain. The Gaspé needs doers, not whiners.
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Speaker, I hope the people of Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine will hear what the minister said.
Today, in Grande-Rivière, in the Gaspé, the federal government is abandoning fishers and hurting the economy. This spring—and we do not even know what will happen next year—port facilities are being abandoned in Cap-aux-Meules, in the Magdalen Islands, putting fishing seasons at risk.
The federal government is abdicating its responsibilities everywhere throughout the region, and that makes no sense whatsoever. If the federal government is not there to support fisheries in eastern Quebec, where is it? Is the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine doing anything at all? How is it that she has been incapable of understanding and saying to her fellow ministers that the fisheries—
Fisheries and OceansOral Questions
Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Québec
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, while the Bloc Québécois is playing armchair critic, on this side of the House, we are producing tangible results for Quebeckers. The Bloc Québécois prides itself on speaking on behalf of the people of Gaspé, but what have they accomplished for the economy? How many jobs have they created in the Gaspé? I can tell you that with friends like that, the people of Gaspé don't need enemies.
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, last week, a family from Virden, Manitoba took their son to an eye specialist in North Dakota, due to his condition. Their son had a referral from a doctor in Canada, but when they returned across the border into Canada, they were slapped with a fine of $10,000. This is absurd, given that the Prime Minister has just exempted NHL players but is willing to fine a mom and a dad $10,000 for taking their son to a medical appointment.
Therefore, I am asking the Minister of Health or the minister of public safety to intervene and fix this injustice.
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I encourage the member opposite to contact my office with the specifics of this particular case, and I would be happy to look into it for him. In general, though, the measures at the border are there to protect Canadians from the importation of the virus, and we encourage all Canadians to follow the rules. I will look into this particular case for the member.
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have heard from so many constituents who tell me that the mandatory hotel quarantine program of the government makes no sense. It is expensive and, given the lack of supporting data, people are not convinced that it is better than a stay-at-home order.
I recently heard from a constituent who is doing humanitarian work overseas as a volunteer. She has not been able to be fully vaccinated and cannot afford the government's inflated prices for a hotel on her return. When will the government scrap this botched program?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, our measures of protection at the border have been guided through science and evidence, to ensure that we protect Canadians from the importation of the virus. We will continue to adjust border measures as the science and evidence and advisers recommend to do so.
Over the last year and a half, Canadians have made tremendous sacrifices in their lives. Small businesses have struggled. Individual families have sacrificed. We can see the finish line. It is important that we are careful and cautious in our next steps.
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 testing and screening expert advisory panel has officially recommended doing away with the failed Liberal hotel quarantine policy. Instead, the Liberals increased fines for non-compliance, and only the day before the Prime Minister left for the U.K. was it modified. When will the government immediately end, not simply modify, this non-science-based program? When will it be gone?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, before I answer that question, let me just say that any kind of allegation that the Prime Minister is not complying with the measures that are in place for all Canadians is untrue.
In terms of the progress on alleviation of border measures, we will be guided by science and evidence, on this side of the House. As I said, Canadians have made extraordinary sacrifices to fight this virus. We see the finish line. Canadians are stepping up to get vaccinated. By the way, we are first in the G7, the G20 and the OECD for first shots. We are on our way. It is important that we protect our progress.
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, we said it a few months ago, and we keep saying it. There is a vaccination plan, and that plan is working.
We told Canadians that we would be there for them and that we would get through this pandemic together, and that is what we have done. Although some people chose to spread fear and uncertainty, there is no doubt that the plan is working. Quebeckers are already booking appointments for their second dose of the vaccine.
Can the minister give us more information on how the vaccine procurement is going and how it is shaping up for the future?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saint‑Laurent for her question.
She is right to say that we are getting results.
Canadians are rolling up their sleeves. Today, over 72% of eligible Canadians have received at least one dose, putting Canada first in the G7, the G20 and the OECD. Our announcement of over seven million Moderna doses next week brings next week's deliveries to a total of 9.5 million doses.
As we have been saying from the start, our plan is working.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have been contacted by numerous municipalities in my riding regarding their applications to the investing in Canada infrastructure program. Unfortunately, many of them have been receiving the cold shoulder from the federal government and have not heard back on the status of their applications, as they watch other projects across this country being announced. As the minister knows, time is running out for municipalities to start construction.
When will the municipalities in my riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London be able to announce and begin construction on these projects?
Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities
Mr. Speaker, the member can rest assured that we have been approving thousands of projects across the country. Since the pandemic, every day we are moving forward on projects. Projects have been delayed because we have not received them from the province, but we are turning them around as quickly as possible. I am certainly happy to follow up with the member and also remind her of all the investments that we have made in her community. It is critically important that shovels are in the ground. We also need to be creating jobs, tackling climate change and building more inclusive communities.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, media reports say that soldiers who raised concerns during Operation Impact have been interviewed by the military police. The defence minister and the parliamentary secretary said the allegations into Iraqi war crimes are troubling and an investigation must occur. We know the minister is allergic to conducting investigations. He even pushed back from the table to avoid seeing any evidence.
Will the minister confirm that an investigation is under way into the motive behind the cover-up of the allegations of war crimes that occurred under the Prime Minister's watch?
Anita Vandenbeld LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to respecting and upholding human rights, international and domestic law, and the dignity of all persons. These disturbing allegations, I can confirm, are under investigation by the Canadian Forces national investigation service. The Canadian Armed Forces is no longer operating with the elements of the Iraqi security forces involved in these allegations. We are taking this matter very seriously.
Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, talking about the weather is truly Nova Scotian, and the weather radar is an important tool for farmers and fishers alike, allowing them to plan and make sure they and their workers are safe. Currently, a big chunk of southwest Nova Scotia, the most lucrative fishing grounds in Canada, is not covered by weather radar. As of tomorrow, the existing radar in mainland Nova Scotia will be offline for months, creating more uncertainty in the forecast.
Can the minister commit to not only the quick replacement of the Gore facility, but an expansion that will finally cover all Nova Scotians to make sure that our citizens are safe on land and on sea?
