Debates of June 5th, 2023

Question No.1409—

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as of April 2023, and since the coming into force of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act in July 2019, 105 vessels of concern situations were resolved with the collaboration of the owner. Transport Canada has issued only one penalty to an individual since 2011-12. The fine was issued in 2020-21 and was for $ 5,000. The account/debt has been registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, but no payment has been received. Transport Canada did not forfeit, retain pending payment of a fine, or dispose of for the purpose of payment of a fine, any vessel since 2011-12.

Question No.1413—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

With regard to Marine Atlantic's decision to have its new ferry built at a shipyard in China: (a) what is the value of the contract for the new ship; (b) did Marine Atlantic study the economic impact of choosing a shipyard in China as opposed to a Canadian shipyard, and, if so, what is the impact, including the (i) number of jobs created overseas as opposed to in Canada, (ii) approximate dollar value of economic benefits, both direct and indirect, for the economy in China as opposed to the Canadian economy; (c) did Marine Atlantic invite Canadian shipbuilders to submit proposals related to the construction of these vessels, and, if so, which shipbuilders submitted proposals and why were those proposals not accepted; (d) does Marine Atlantic plan on altering its procurement processes in the future to ensure that it purchases vessels built in Canada, and, if so, what are the details of such a plan; (e) what action, if any, has the minister responsible taken to ensure that future vessel procurement involves construction at Canadian shipyards; and (f) will Marine Atlantic be required to pay import duties on the vessel, and, if so, what is the dollar value and percentage that is expected to be paid in duties?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (e), Marine Atlantic Inc. is an independent Crown corporation that operates at arm's length from the Government of Canada and is responsible for managing its business decisions and operations, including those related to procurement.

For the capital work that is done for its vessels, Marine Atlantic continues to conduct its refits and maintenance in Canada, as operationally feasible, to support the regional economy.

With regard to part (a), the bareboat charter has a cost of approximately $100 million.

With regard to part (b), Marine Atlantic pursued a competitive procurement process open to domestic and international bidders for the five-year charter of a newly constructed vessel. Stena North Sea Ltd. was the highest ranked proponent. The economic impact of the shipyard selected by Stena to construct the vessel was not considered within the competition.

With regard to part (c), the competition was open to domestic and international suppliers experienced in the operation and chartering of Ro-Pax vessels. Stena North Sea Ltd. was the highest ranked proponent based on the established evaluation criteria.

With regard to part (d), Marine Atlantic’s procurement processes are subject to domestic and international trade treaties.

With regard to part (f), Marine Atlantic does not anticipate being required to pay import duties.

Question No.1416—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

With regard to the Vaccine Injury Support Program: (a) how many applications for financial compensation were (i) received, (ii) approved, (iii) rejected; (b) how much has been paid out through the program; (c) what is the average payout for approved applicants; and (d) what types of injuries were approved for compensation, and how many claims were related to each?

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

Mr. Speaker, the pan-Canadian vaccine injury support program, VISP, provides financial support to people in Canada in the rare event that they experience a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada, on or after December 8, 2020. The program also provides death benefits and support for funeral expenses in the rare case of a death as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine.

The VISP was launched on June 1, 2021, and is being administered independently by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting Inc., RCGT, with Public Health Agency of Canada, PHAC, funding. PHAC is not involved in individual cases, including in the determination of decisions regarding causality or compensation.

As the independent third party administrator, RCGT oversees all aspects of claims intake and assessment and is responsible for providing periodic public reporting on program statistics. Public reporting began on December 1, 2021, and data on the VISP is updated twice a year. Latest public reporting can be found at: https://vaccineinjurysupport.ca/en/program-statistics.

The Province of Québec continues to administer its long-standing vaccine injury compensation program, VICP. Information on Québec’s VICP, including program statistics, can be found at: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/vaccine-injury-compensation-program#c3895.

With regard to part (a), as of RCGT’s last public report on December 1, 2022, RCGT had received 1,299 claims; 221 claims had been assessed by a medical review board and 50 had been deemed eligible for compensation; and 171 of the claims assessed by the medical board were deemed ineligible for compensation and 209 claims did not meet the eligibility criteria. Further information with regard to program statistics can be found at the following link: https://vaccineinjurysupport.ca/en/program-statistics.

The Province of Quebec updates its program statistics annually. As of March 31, 2022, Quebec’s VICP had received 410 claims; 199 claims were assessed by a medical committee and 56 had been deemed eligible for compensation; and 143 of the claims assessed by a medical committee were not deemed eligible for compensation and 45 claims received were not pursued. Further information with regard to program statistics can be found at the following link: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/vaccine-injury-compensation-program.

With regard to part (b), from June 1, 2021, until December 1, 2022, a total of $2,779,277 in compensation has been approved or paid by RCGT.

From the inception of the program in 1988 until March 31, 2022, Quebec’s VICP has paid a total of $7,853,000 in compensation.

With regard to part (c), the amount of compensation an eligible individual will receive is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the injury. Eligible individuals may receive income replacement indemnities, injury indemnities, death benefits, including coverage for funeral expenses, and reimbursement of eligible costs such as otherwise uncovered medical expenses. Given the different types of supports available, the average dollar value of successful claims would not represent the amount an eligible claimant may receive through the VISP or VICP.

With regard to part (d), serious and permanent injury is defined as a severe, life-threatening or life-altering injury that may require in-person hospitalization or a prolongation of existing hospitalization, and results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or where the outcome is a congenital malformation or death. In compliance with privacy laws and policies, PHAC only collects information relevant to program administration. As per the terms and conditions of the funding agreements with RCGT and the Province of Quebec, PHAC will never receive disaggregated data on details on the nature of injuries for which claims are being submitted or approved from RCGT and Quebec.

Question No.1418—

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

With regard to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC): (a) what is PHAC's Management Response and Action Plan for future pandemic or epidemic events; and (b) what are the details of all emergency preparedness exercises and simulations that PHAC has been involved in, since January 1, 2020 including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) entities and organizations involved, (iv) summary of the exercises or simulations, (v) observations and results?

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

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), since the start of the pandemic, the Public Health Agency of Canada, PHAC, has conducted several reviews and assessments of its emergency response activities, including linkages with key emergency management plans. During this time, these plans have provided a useful framework for establishing key governance and operational structures to drive response activities in accordance with internationally recognized best practices.

The collective learning from Canada’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic is informing PHAC’s preparedness planning for future pandemic or epidemic events together with a broad range of federal, provincial, territorial, FPT, and indigenous partners and multiple multisector partners, building on all key components of the public health response to COVID-19 including strengthening surveillance, wastewater monitoring and detection of infectious diseases; improving early monitoring and warning processes; updating and testing our emergency plan; securing and distributing vaccines, therapeutics, and other equipment; enhancing public health risk communications and trust building among people living in Canada; and developing evidence-informed public health guidance.

The Office of the Auditor General, OAG, published four reports concerning COVID-19 performance audits related to pandemic planning, health surveillance, early warning of public health threats, border measures, strategic stockpile and procurement support of vaccines. Further information concerning the AG’s report findings can be found at the following link: https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca. Further information concerning PHAC’s management response action plans to address the various OAG report recommendations can be found at the following link: Audit reports - Canada.ca.

PHAC’s work and other forward-looking pandemic preparedness work is already under way as part of several PHAC management response action plans in response to OAG audits related to COVID19.

For example, PHAC is already working with provincial and territorial, PT, partners to build on information sharing, management, and technology improvements; PHAC has established a new centre for integrated risk assessment; PHAC has established a new centre for data management, innovation and analytics; PHAC has restructured its border and travel health program to better respond to the changing pandemic and increase its focus on compliance; PHAC continues to work with FPT partners and vaccine manufacturers to manage its supply of COVID19 vaccines, make surplus vaccine doses available to other countries for donation, and prepare for potential pandemic influenza vaccine readiness; and PHAC continues to support and improve vaccine information data sharing among FPT health authorities and indigenous partners, health care professionals and vaccine manufacturers.

Drawing from lessons learned, PHAC will continue to support the health and well-being of Canadians and prepare for future pandemic or epidemic events.

We know how important it is to take stock of what we’ve learned through this pandemic, to prepare for future health emergencies. We can always do more, that’s why our government has committed to a COVID response review in the future. In the meantime, we will keep working with provinces and territories to improve our health care system and keep Canadians healthy and safe.

With regard to part (b), since January 1, 2020, PHAC has led or contributed to 21 emergency preparedness exercise activities. This includes 15 discussion-based exercises such as seminars, workshops or tabletop exercises, and six operations-based exercises such as drills, command post or full-scale exercises.

Exercise activities included various partners internal to the health portfolio, other federal departments and provincial, territorial and/or municipal partners as required for the designated subject matter and scenarios. The exercises aimed to meet targeted objectives developed for each individual activity, testing relevant plans and processes involved in the emergency response. In addition, the exercises highlighted best practices, gaps and opportunities for improvement moving forward.

In processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The requested information in part (b) concerning emergency preparedness exercises and simulations is considered to be protected information, therefore the specific details have been withheld due to confidential business information.

Questions Passed as Orders for Return

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate)]

Mr. Speaker, furthermore, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 1399, 1401 to 1408, 1410 to 1412, 1414, 1415, 1417 and 1419 could be made orders for return, these would be tabled immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.1399—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

With regard to personnel employed by the Department of National Defence (DND) or the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF): (a) how many individuals are currently employed by (i) DND, (ii) CAF; (b) how many of the individuals in (a) are (i) civilians, (ii) regular forces, (iii) reserve forces; and (c) of the individuals in (a)(ii), what is the breakdown by (i) Canadian Army, (ii) Royal Canadian Navy, (iii) Royal Canadian Air Force, (iv) Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, (v) Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, and what is the rank for each?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1401—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

With regard to the federal civil service, as of April 1, 2023, broken down by department, agency, Crown corporation or other government entity: (a) how many employees or full time equivalents are currently employed; (b) what was the amount spent on salaries, benefits and other compensation in the last fiscal year; and (c) what is the breakdown of (a) and (b), for government entities with both civilian and enlisted or officer employees such as the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP, by type of employee?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1402—

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

With regard to travellers entering Canada and the ArriveCAN application: (a) how many travellers entered Canada between January 1, 2023, and April 15, 2023; (b) how many and what percentage of the travellers in (a) submitted their information through ArriveCAN prior to their arrival in Canada; and (c) what is the breakdown of (a) and (b) by the type of point of entry used (air, land, sea)?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1403—

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

With regard to government interactions and expenditures related to Canada 2020, since October 1, 2022, broken down by department, agency, Crown corporation, or other government entity: (a) what are the details of all expenditures, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) description of goods or services, including the volume, (iv) related events, if applicable, including the dates, locations, and the title of each event; (b) what are the details of all sponsorships the government has provided to Canada 2020, including the event (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) sponsorship amount, (iv) title, and the purpose of sponsoring the event; and (c) what are the details of all gifts, including free event tickets, received by ministers, ministerial staff or other government officials from Canada 2020, including the (i) date, (ii) recipient, (iii) value, (iv) description of the gift, including the volume and the event date, if applicable?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1404—

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

With regard to stakeholder consultations on bail reform conducted by the Minister of Justice or the Department of Justice since October 1, 2022: (a) how many stakeholders have been consulted; and (b) what are the details of each consultation, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) groups and individuals consulted, (iv) names or titles of those who conducted the consultation, (v) summary of the feedback received, (vi) form of the consultation?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1405—

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

With regard to the Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors under budget 2021, and the amendment to the contribution agreement for the funds awarded to the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto signed on November 10, 2022: (a) what specifically did the amendment change in the initial schedule and the initial project list; (b) how did the amendment respect the contribution agreement requirements and fiscal responsibility towards the project; (c) how did the amendment represent good stewardship of public funds; and (d) did the amendment reference the need for the Harbourfront to consult with the public on the changes to the schedule and the project list?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1406—

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

With regard to the Village at Griesbach administered by the Canada Lands Company, since the acquisition of the property: (a) how does the Canada Lands Company define affordable housing for the purposes of this property and what is the associated dollar amount to be considered affordable for this project; (b) what is the number of units that are (i) under $600 per month, (ii) under $800 per month, (iii) under $1,000 per month, (iv) under $1,500 per month, (v) under $2,000 per month, (vi) over $2,000 per month; (c) what is the total number of units that meet the definition in (a) that are (i) planned, (ii) currently under development, (iii) completed; (d) what is the total number of units that do not meet the definition of affordable and are (i) in planning, (ii) currently under development, (iii) completed; and (e) what is the total amount of funding that has been (i) committed, (ii) finalized, (iii) advanced to the applicants?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1407—

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

With regard to the national inventory of wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels, broken down by fiscal year since 2011-12: (a) what is the total number of vessels added to the inventory located (i) on the Pacific coast, (ii) on the Arctic coast, (iii) on the Atlantic coast, (iv) in the Great Lakes, (v) in the St. Lawrence Seaway; (b) what is the total number of vessels removed from the inventory located (i) on the Pacific coast, (ii) on the Arctic coast, (iii) on the Atlantic coast, (iv) in the Great Lakes, (v) in the St. Lawrence Seaway; (c) what risk categories does the government use to prioritize the removal of vessels; (d) what is the current number of vessels in the inventory, broken down by risk category; and (e) does the government have an estimate of the number of abandoned vessels not included in the inventory?