Bob Zimmer

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the member's speech highlights the privilege in this place and the fact he has been a part of the process all day long, and Canadians would not even have heard that if this day had not happened. He has appreciated it too, just as we are suggesting, that to be in this place is an important part of our democracy.

That said, I was part of the human resources committee. The basic income guarantee, or whatever it is called, is a great idea in theory but there is a huge cost to it. It is not just the cost in terms of money but also in terms of all the other social aspects of it. We estimated it would cost $100 billion per year to run the program.

I am glad the member is supporting oil and gas workers too. It is great to hear the Green Party actually supporting oil and gas workers. Workers in my neck of the woods who are in oil and gas central in British Columbia will appreciate his comments.

However, the big question I have for you is how are you going to pay for a $100 billion program with such a decline in natural resource development, which your party helped cause?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, highlighting what we all experienced today, even with a session that had less than the normal 338 members of Parliament, is that we still saw democracy happen.

I travelled from Fort St. John in northern B.C. and drove 4,200 kilometres to get here. I think it is important to note this, as it matters that much to some of us to be here in this place. I think the hon. member's speech highlighted that for all Canadians.

I would rather ask this question of everyone, but did the member find the session valuable today? Did he think it was really important to do what we did today? Does he see it as something to continue in this particular setting with all the safeguards in place?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Madam Chair, our defences in the north need to be upgraded, and need to be upgraded now. The North Warning System is outdated and experts are reporting that our long and short-range radar is essentially obsolete.

Can the government tell Canadians if there are any plans to modernize this important defence system?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Madam Chair, the U.S. duties on softwood lumber cannot be disbursed because they are under dispute, as ministers know. This only creates billions in held-up capital and also makes it harder for lumber companies to operate in this current situation. If lumber companies fail, then pulp mills will close and access to chips at a time when pulp products are needed for both PPE and consumer paper products like toilet paper.

Has the government approached the U.S. about releasing this money?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I thank the minister for highlighting the very reason I am asking her to fix it. Our companies do not qualify for it based on that reason.

Airlines in the north are critical for essential needs like food and medications. Can the minister please tell me what special considerations are being taken to ensure that these northern airlines are able to continue their important work that is specific to so many of these remote communities that rely on them for their very survival?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Madam Chair, many businesses across the north have very different needs than the rest of the country, from short seasonal work to exploration work that does not always generate revenue right away. We have made the Minister of Finance aware of these concerns.

When will the Canadian emergency wage subsidy be amended to consider the needs of the north?

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 20th, 2020]

Madam Chair, the Canadian north has had many challenges. We have heard over the last number of months promises made by the government that it is going to help our northern communities, but it simply has not been the case. For example, many of these businesses that operate in the north do this solely by hiring contractors for their labour.

Can the minister tell me if the Canada emergency business account will be modified to take into account the special needs that businesses in the north have?

[Regional Economic Development, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, businesses in the north have a very different need from the rest of the country. With a shorter business season and industries like junior mining and exploration, it is clear that the government's one-size-fits-all approach to emergency business measures has, sadly, done little to support our northern economy. The Yukon Chamber of Mines and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, as well as other northern businesses, have said programs like the Canada emergency wage subsidy will not work for the north.

Will the government listen to these leaders and make changes so that our businesses in the north have a fighting chance to survive?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, April 11th, 2020]

With regards to the Budget 2019 commitment to build or expand northern infrastructure projects “through a doubling of the federal municipal infrastructure commitment in 2018-19”: (a) what is the breakdown of this funding by project; (b) what are the details of all projects in (a), including the (i) name, (ii) description, (iii) amount of federal contribution, (iv) projected completion date; and (c) how much of this funding has been delivered to date, broken down by individual project?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, April 11th, 2020]

With regard to the government’s response to the report of the Special Senate Committee on the Arctic entitled “Northern Lights: A Wake-Up Call for the Future of Canada” tabled in June 2019, and broken down by each of the 30 recommendations: (a) what directives has the government given to fulfil each of the 30 recommendations; (b) what funding streams have been allocated to fulfill each of the 30 recommendations; and (c) what plans and timelines have been established by the government to fulfill recommendations each of the 30 recommendations?