Debates of Jan. 30th, 2023

Question No.1074—

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada’s ministers.

With regard to parts (a) and (b), in processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. Information has been withheld on the grounds that the disclosure of certain information is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

With regard to part (c), all efforts were made to recover the lost funds. In December 2021, Global Affairs Canada’s legal team came to the conclusion that the department had pursued all necessary options and that the funds would not be returned.

With regard to part (d), this incident did not lead to a policy change.

Question No.1075—

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

With regard to subsidies for news outlets which the government has classified as a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization (QCJO) and the call with stakeholders on July 20, 2020, involving the Canada Revenue Agency and the Department of Finance: (a) which QCJOs and other media organizations (i) were invited, (ii) attended the call with stakeholders; and (b) how did the government choose which organizations would be invited to participate in the event?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the above noted question, what follows is the response from the CRA.

The CRA facilitated a public stakeholder engagement session in English on July 20, 2020, and in French on July 21, 2020, to discuss the qualified Canadian journalism organization, or QCJO, designation process, as well as proposed changes to legislation. The sessions were open to the general public, such as representatives from news media organizations, journalists and individuals interested in attending this type of event.

With regard to part (a), the sessions on July 20 and 21, 2020, were not by invitation only; they were open to the general public. The CRA promoted the open sessions and the links to register on Twitter and LinkedIn in both official languages. In addition to social media promotion, the CRA sent the registration link via email distribution.

The confidentiality provisions under section 241 of the Income Tax Act prevent the CRA from releasing taxpayer information, including identifying organizations that have been designated as QCJOs. With respect to the stakeholder engagement sessions on QCJO designation held on July 20 and 21, 2020, for reasons related to the Privacy Act, we are unable to release the list of contacts who received the email to register for the sessions. Furthermore, as per standard practice with teleconferences, a list of those who attended the July 20 and 21 sessions was not kept.

With regard to part (b), as noted above, the stakeholder engagement sessions were open to the general public. The CRA promoted the sessions through social media and by email to an evergreen list of contacts. For reasons related to the Privacy Act, we are unable to release the list of contacts who received the email to register for the sessions.

Question No.1076—

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

With regard to box 9954 “Proceeds of disposition” on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) form T2091IND Designation of a Property as a Principal Residence by an Individual (Other Than a Personal Trust): (a) why does the CRA or the government need to know the sale price of the person's primary residence; and (b) what is this information used for?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the above question, what follows is the response from the CRA as of December 5, 2022, the date of the question.

With regard to part (a), in October 2016, the Government of Canada announced an administrative change to the CRA’s reporting requirements for the sale of a principal residence. Relevant links are noted below. This administrative change was made to improve compliance and the administration of the tax system.

The October 2016 announcement can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2016/10/technical-backgrounder-mortgage-insurance-rules-income-proposals-revised-october-14-2016.html.

Information on principal residences can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/personal-income/line-12700-capital-gains/principal-residence-other-real-estate/what-a-principal-residence.html.

With regard to part (b), the new reporting requirements help the CRA to identify, risk-assess and audit real estate transactions where the criteria for benefiting from the principal residence exemption may not be met or where other tax non-compliance may exist.

Question No.1078—

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

With regard to the findings by the Auditor General that the government paid $6.1 million in Canada Emergency Response Benefit payments to 1,522 recipients that were incarcerated for the entire benefit period: (a) how much of the $6.1 million has been recovered as of December 6, 2022; (b) how many of the 1,522 recipients have yet to repay the government; and (c) to date, why has the government not recovered the entire $6.1 million?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the question above, what follows is the response from the CRA as of December 6, 2022. Regarding Canada emergency response benefit payments, please note the following.

The CRA blocked any federally incarcerated individuals from applying at the time of launch, which was April 6, 2020. The CRA is notified of federal incarcerations by Correctional Service Canada. Since this information is only provided on a periodic basis, timing can be a factor with respect to when the block is placed.

With respect to provincial incarceration, this segment of the population may have been eligible due to various provincial programs that allow for weekend-only incarceration, in order to allow for continued participation in the workplace, and day programs for inmates. The CRA is not notified of these incarcerations. However, individuals who had a mailing address located at a provincial institution were blocked beginning on May 11, 2020.

With regard to parts (a), (b) and (c), the CRA has identified recipients whose federal incarceration dates cover the entire benefit periods. As part of the CRA's ongoing post-payment verifications, which began in January 2022 and are ongoing, these individuals will be contacted to validate their eligibility.

Following a CRA manual review to verify an application for COVID-19 individual benefits, if an applicant is determined to be ineligible, they will receive a decision letter informing them that they were not eligible for benefit payments received, with the reason for the ineligibility, and that they will need to repay ineligible amounts. The decision letter also provides recourse options if the individual disagrees with the CRA’s decision.

Following a decision letter, the applicant will receive a notice of redetermination. Notices of redetermination inform applicants of debts or credits that have been established on their CRA accounts related to COVID-19 individual benefits. Once these debts have been established, only then may collection activities begin.

For these reasons, the CRA is unable to respond in the manner requested.

Question No.1079—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

With regard to temporary reductions in service hours at certain Canadian border crossings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: (a) which Quebec border crossings (i) temporarily reduced their service hours, (ii) have returned to their pre-pandemic service hours; and (b) what is the justification for the current service hours posted for each of the border crossings in (a)?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a)(i), border crossings in the Quebec region that reduced their operating hours due to the pandemic are Chartierville, Frelighsburg, Hemmingford, Highwater, Lacolle Route 221, Lacolle Route 223, Stanstead Route 143, Clarenceville, Morses Line and Trout River.

With regard to part (a)(ii), Lacolle Route 223 has returned to its prepandemic operating hours. Prepandemic, Clarenceville border crossing operated from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. This port of entry has since returned to operating from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

With regard to part (b), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA temporarily reduced service hours at certain Canadian border crossings, including the ports of entry at Chartierville, Frelighsburg, Hemmingford, Highwater, Lacolle Route 221, Lacolle Route 223, Stanstead Route 143, Morses Line and Trout River.

The CBSA is taking a phased and measured approach to restoring border operations. The key consideration was to ensure the CBSA was positioned to deal with a return of volumes at major ports of entry as COVID measures were incrementally lifted, including in the land environment. The CBSA has restored services to pre-COVID levels in the air and maritime environments and is currently preparing for the highway land environment as the final area to adjust.

Question No.1082—

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

With regard to the government’s commitment in the Fall Economic Statement 2022 to lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses: (a) when does the government intend to begin negotiations with payment card networks, financial institutions, acquirers, payment processors, and businesses; (b) with whom does the government plan to negotiate; (c) if known, on which dates will the negotiations in (b) occur; and (d) has the government set a deadline after which it will introduce amendments to the Payment Cards Network Act if an agreed upon solution is not arrived at, and, if so, what is the date?

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

Mr. Speaker, as announced in the 2022 fall economic statement, the government is working with the payment card industry and businesses to lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses in a manner that does not adversely affect other businesses and protects existing reward points for consumers. The government is moving quickly and has initiated discussions with payment card networks, financial institutions, acquirers, payment processors and business associations.

Concurrent with the fall economic statement announcement, the government released draft legislative amendments to the Payment Card Networks Act and indicated that should the industry not come to an agreement in the coming months, it would introduce legislation at the earliest possible opportunity in the new year and move forward with regulating credit card transaction fees.

Question No.1087—

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

With regard to the Lac-Megantic rail bypass project: (a) what is the latest detailed timeline for the project between now and the projected completion date; (b) what is the latest estimate on the total cost of the project; (c) what is the current breakdown of how much funding, in percentage and total dollar amount values, will come from (i) the government, (ii) the Province of Quebec, (iii) other sources, broken down by source; and (d) what are the details of all communication between the Canadian Pacific Railway and the government about the project since 2018, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) sender, (iii) recipient, (iv) type of communication, (v) title, (vi) summary of contents, (vii) summary of the response, if applicable?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a), Transport Canada will continue to work with all stakeholders involved, including the Government of Quebec, the municipalities, and the Canadian Pacific Railway, toward the rapid completion of the Lac-Mégantic bypass. The project is being undertaken with consideration of the community and seeks to maintain broad social acceptability.

Canadian Pacific, with the support of Transport Canada, is currently completing the application to the Canadian Transportation Agency to secure regulatory approval. Concurrently, Transport Canada is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to complete the land acquisition required for the project. Finally, Transport Canada and Canadian Pacific are currently negotiating the construction contribution agreement for the project. These steps must be completed before construction of the rail bypass can commence.

Prior to construction, Canadian Pacific will launch a request for proposals, which will be undertaken for four months.

Once regulatory approvals have been secured and all necessary lands acquired and transferred to Canadian Pacific, construction will begin and is anticipated to take approximately 36 months to complete.

Following the commissioning of the bypass, the existing track will be dismantled, which is expected to take 12-18 months.

These times were publicly shared with the community during the June 2022 information session and the November 2022 public consultation.

In response to part (b), on May 11, 2018, the Government of Canada announced that the construction costs of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass were estimated at $133 million.

As part of the 2022 federal budget, $237.2 million was allocated to Transport Canada over five years for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, the dismantling of the existing track and the implementation of environmental measures.

On December 20, 2022, the Prime Minister and the Quebec premier agreed that, in the context of high inflation and other factors, both governments would increase their funding for infrastructure projects, including the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, all in the same ratios as initially announced.

Total project costs are not available at this time. Transport Canada is currently negotiating the construction contribution agreement with Canadian Pacific, which will include an updated project budget.

In response to part (c), the Government of Canada confirmed on May 11, 2018, that it would fund 60% of the construction costs of the Lac-Mégantic bypass, estimated at $133 million at the time. The Government of Quebec has confirmed that it will fund 40% of this amount.

As part of the 2022 federal budget, $237.2 million was allocated to Transport Canada over five years, starting in 2022–23, for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic bypass, the dismantling of the existing track and the implementation of environmental measures.

The Prime Minister and the Premier of Quebec met on December 20, 2022, and agreed that both governments would increase their funding for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, all in the same ratios as initially announced. The funding agreement will need to be finalized with the Government of Quebec. There are no other sources of funding for this project.

In response to part (d), Transport Canada undertook an extensive preliminary search in order to determine the amount of information that would fall within the scope of the question and the amount of time that would be required to prepare a comprehensive response. Transport Canada concluded that producing and validating a comprehensive response to this question is not possible in the time allotted and could lead to the disclosure of incomplete and misleading information.

Question No.1091—

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

With regard to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC): (a) is VAC aware of any veterans having died as a result of assisted suicide or euthanasia since the practice became legal, and, if so, how many; (b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, what efforts were made by VAC to investigate whether any veterans who died as a result of assisted suicide or euthanasia did so after receiving end-of-life advice from VAC; and (c) of any investigation made in (b), what were the findings?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), veterans are not required to inform Veterans Affairs Canada, VAC, of their intentions to use medical assistance in dying, MAID, in advance, and their spouses, families and legal representatives are under no obligation to inform VAC of a veteran’s decision following their passing. However, VAC is aware that some veterans have died as a result of using the legislated process for MAID since the practice became legal on June 17, 2016. This remains a conversation between a veteran and their primary care provider. VAC cannot determine, definitively, how many veterans have used MAID. VAC does not specifically track cause of death; however, families can occasionally make VAC aware of cause of death.

In response to (b), there is no evidence that MAID was ever discussed inappropriately with these veterans or the families by any VAC employee. A thorough and manual deep-dive review was conducted on each instance, including references to medical assistance in dying, file reviews and discussions with VAC employees who potentially had interactions with the veterans. As part of the investigation ordered by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, VAC has also reviewed and analyzed 402,000 unique client files dating back to 2016 across its systems: client service delivery network, GC Case and My VAC Account, as well as correspondence and case notes.

In response to (c), there is no evidence that MAID was ever discussed inappropriately with these veterans or the families by any VAC employee. A thorough and manual deep-dive review was conducted on each instance, including references to medical assistance in dying, file reviews and discussions with VAC employees who potentially had interactions with the veterans. As part of the investigation ordered by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, VAC has also reviewed and analyzed 402,000 unique client files dating back to 2016 across its systems: client service delivery network, GC Case and My VAC Account, as well as correspondence and case notes.

Question No.1095—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

With regard to grants provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, or the National Research Council Canada, broken down by year, since January 1, 2016: (a) what are the details of each grant awarded, including, for each (i) the date, (ii) the amount, (iii) the recipient, (iv) the project description, (v) the start and end date of the project, (vi) whether the grant was co-financed by a third party or commercial partner, and, if so, what is the financing arrangement; (vii) whether the project has resulted in patents, and, if so, who owns them?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, the National Research Council Canada, NRC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, NSERC, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's, SSHRC, funding is proactively disclosed and published in the Open Government portal at https://search.open.canada.ca/en/gc/, one month after the end of each quarter of a fiscal year for data from 2017 to the present.

The next proactive disclosure report covering grants paid from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 will be uploaded to Open Government in January 2023.

The NRC did not have grant programs prior to 2017. The collaborative science, technology, and innovation programs, CSTIP, program was established in 2018 and therefore there is no data to report.

For NSERC grants prior to 2017, the data is also available at https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/c1b0f627-8c29-427c-ab73-33968ad9176e.

Prior to April 1, 2017, SSHRC’s funding was proactively disclosed on its website: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/transparency-transparence/disclosure-divulgation/grants-subventions/grants-subventions-eng.aspx.

NSERC collaborates with national or international agencies, government departments and organizations across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to deliver joint funding initiatives. Partner organizations on joint initiatives must comply with the following polices as applicable: guidelines for organizations participating in research partnerships, available at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/policies-politiques/orgpartners-orgpartenaires_eng.asp; college and community innovation program partnership guidelines, available at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/policies-politiques/cci_partners-icc_partenaires_eng.asp; alliance grants, role of partner organizations, available at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/alliance-alliance/role_of_partner_organizations-role_des_organismes_partenaires_eng.asp#roleofpartner; and alliance grants, terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations, available at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/alliance/TC-Partners_e.pdf.

NSERC’s policy on intellectual property for grants is available at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/ip-pi_eng.asp. Each post-secondary institution has its own policy related to intellectual property that dictates who owns the rights.

SSHRC collaborates with national or international agencies, government departments and organizations across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to deliver joint funding initiatives: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/joint_initiatives-initiatives_conjointes-eng.aspx. Partner organizations on joint initiatives must agree to comply with SSHRC’s regulations governing grant applications, available at https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/policies-politiques/grant_regulations-reglements_subventionaires-eng.aspx, and the joint initiative must meet conditions set out in the guidelines for setting up joint initiatives with SSHRC, available at https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/partnerships-partenariats/joint_initiatives-initiatives_conjointes-eng.aspx. Joint initiatives funded by SSHRC are proactively disclosed and published by SSHRC on Open Government with the name of the joint initiative included in the publication.

SSHRC’s policy on intellectual property and copyright for grants is available at the following links: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/policies-politiques/g_copyright-s_droits_auteur-eng.aspx and https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/policies-politiques/f_copyright-b_droits_auteur-eng.aspx.

Though NSERC and SSHRC fund research that may result in patents, the patents are owned by academic institutions or third parties/companies, not NSERC and SSHRC.

At this time, there are no issued patents that resulted from CSTIP grants. Information regarding terms applicable to intellectual property funded by NRC grants and contributions can be found on the NRC’s website: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/grant-contribution-funding-collaborators.

Question No.1097—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

With regard to the government's response to findings from the Parliamentary Budget Officer that the 2022 Fall Economic Statement included $14.2 billion in new measures without providing specific details on this spending: what is the itemized breakdown of how the $14.2 billion will be spent, by year?

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

Mr. Speaker, in an effort to be transparent, the 2022 fall economic statement, FES, included provisions for anticipated funding pressures of a sensitive, pending, or uncertain nature. This includes but is not limited to amounts subject to negotiation, like contracts or litigation, as well as anticipated pressures that were expected to materialize in the near term, when developing the fall economic statement 2022, such as funding for the Indo-Pacific strategy and the national adaptation strategy, and biodiversity funding announced during COP15.

The $14.2-billion figure that the Parliamentary Budget Officer is referring to is the sum of two items in the 2022 fall economic statement, which can be found at https://www.budget.canada.ca/fes-eea/2022/report-rapport/FES-EEA-2022-en.pdf. An $8.5-billion provision, over six years, for anticipated near-term pressures is shown on page 17 of the statement, and the total net fiscal impact of non-announced measures, which is $5.7 billion over six years, is reported on page 66 of the statement.

The $8.5-billion provision for anticipated near-term pressures is a provision for possible decisions the government would take in the near term following the fall economic statement. For further clarity, it is not a prudence provision for economic risk. The government reports on the creation or use of provisions in budgets and updates.

For non-announced measures, the $5.7-billion total reflects the aggregate fiscal impact of items that were deemed confidential at the time of print and could not be publicly disclosed. These may include, for example, funding decisions associated with national security, commercial sensitivity, contract negotiations and litigation issues.

Question No.1098—

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

With regard to the tariff on fertilizer originating from Russia: how much revenue has been collected as a result of the tariff on purchase orders which were made (i) prior to March 2, 2022, (ii) on or since March 2, 2022, (iii) in total?

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

Mr. Speaker, customs duties and taxes are assessed based on the time of importation of goods, as opposed to the date of when they are purchased. The government does not have information on when purchase orders were made.

Since the general tariff of 35% took effect on virtually all goods imported from Russia on March 2, 2022, fertilizer importations with a value for duty of $95.8 million resulted in a total value of customs duties collected of $33.5 million. There have been no commercial importations of fertilizer from Russia into Canada since May 2022.

On June 27, at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Elmau, Germany, Canada and other G7 members committed to explore possible pathways to use tariff revenues on imports from Russia and Belarus to assist Ukraine. Further to this commitment, on December 13, 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced that Canada will provide these funds to Ukraine to help repair Kyiv’s power grid.

Effective June 20, 2022, the Government of Canada also provided additional interest-free relief under the advance payment program. This change is forecasted to save producers $75.7 million, over two program years, to offset the rising costs of inputs, including fertilizers.

The government is working with representatives from the sector to determine the best mechanisms to reinvest the equivalent of the amount on fertilizer imports into the sector.

Question No.1100—

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

With regard to exemptions from Treasury Board guidelines in relation to the ArriveCAN application: (a) which exemptions did the Canada Border Services Agency or any other entity apply for; and (b) for each application in (a), was the exemption granted or denied?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the CBSA did not apply for any exemptions from the Treasury Board Secretariat in regard to the ArriveCAN application.

Question No.1109—

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

With regard to the government’s procurement of children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen in November 2022: did the government purchase any bottles of acetaminophen or ibuprofen directly, with the intention to resell and give those units to retailers, and, if so, what are the details of all contracts, including the (i) total amount paid, (ii) number of units procured, (iii) price per unit, (iv) signatories to the contract?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Mr. Speaker, the November announcement related to the additional supply of acetaminophen and ibuprofen being available in Canada refers to the private sector-led importation of foreign-labelled product. No federal procurement took place in this regard.