COVID-19 Pandemic  Madam Chair, COVID-19 is having immediate and devastating impacts on the tourism sector across Canada. My community of Niagara Falls has been hit particularly hard. With over 16,000 hotel rooms in hotels employing almost 40,000 workers and generating over $2.4 billion in receipts, Niagara's hotels and accommodations, restaurants and resorts and other small business operations have all been devastated by this terrible virus.

COVID-19 Pandemic  Madam Chair, on April 8, the finance committee met to examine issues related to Canadian tourism and how COVID-19 was negatively impacting this important economic sector. As part of the hearings, the Hotel Association of Canada put forward some immediate solutions that would help support tourism.

COVID-19 Emergency Response  Mr. Speaker, earlier the Prime Minister said that students would be eligible for CERB if they made $5,000 in the last year. However, to be eligible they would also have to have lost a job due to COVID. The vast majority of students had not started summer jobs when the crisis hit, and as a result are not eligible.

Wine Industry  Mr. Speaker, while the government's response to COVID-19 has demanded much of Parliament's attention, as it so deserves, we need to remember there are other important issues playing on in the background that also deserve Parliament's attention. In my riding, one of these is Australia's World Trade Organization challenge against the excise tax exemption for 100% Canadian-made wines.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  With regard to the $196,010,248 loan that was written off from Export Development Canada’s Canada Account: (a) who received the loan; (b) what was the purpose of the loan; and (c) why was it written off?

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  With regard to the 16 CC-295 fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft purchased by the government: (a) what are the operational limitations of the aircraft; (b) what operational limitations were discovered during any phase of the pre-acceptance testing; (c) what specific content in the aircraft’s manual is under dispute; (d) what specific Canadian requirements do the aircraft manuals suggest the aircraft does not meet; and (e) what are the critical safety aspects of the technical manuals currently under discussion between Canada and Airbus?

Public Safety  Mr. Speaker, a new green-light law in New York state will now prevent those residents from enrolling in trusted traveller programs like Global Entry, FAST, NEXUS or SENTRI. This is very troubling for Niagara Falls and for the region of Niagara. We benefit tremendously from these programs, which support the flow of people and goods crossing our borders.

Public Safety  Mr. Speaker, for two weeks the Canadian economy has been brought to its knees by a handful of activists. VIA Rail service has been stopped across the country, disrupting tens of thousands of Canadians who are trying to visit family or get to business meetings. Nearly 1,000 VIA employees have been laid off, unable to work while the blockades remain.

Single Game Sports Betting  Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to bring attention to an important policy matter that greatly affects my riding: single game sports betting. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to legalize this activity in all 50 states. Consequently, single game sports betting has been legalized in cross-border states such as New York, Michigan and Montana.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act  Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments earlier about the CBSA officers and the important role that they play at the international airport in Winnipeg. In terms of the ongoing funding for the commission, my hope is that it would be as robust as the funding that the government places in the CBSA and its front-line officers, and as well in the border infrastructure, which is critically important to my community in ensuring the free flow of goods and people across my community and across our country.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act  Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments on the professionalism and the importance of our CBSA officers. I hope he saw that I stressed that aspect in my comments about the interactions and the important role that they play. During the summer months leading into the election campaign, our local CBSA offices issued a news release that in the first eight months of this year, over 300 illegal firearms were confiscated at the border.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act  Madam Speaker, indeed it is a shame that something that should have been quite easy to pass was left to die on the Order Paper when the election was called. That is why I mentioned in my remarks that it was so important for this legislation to be brought forward quickly so that it can be implemented, as well as these important oversight provisions and the funding for the commission.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act  Madam Speaker, I will share my time with my colleague, the member for Beauce. I rise in the House today to support the government's Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege and an honour for me to take part in my first debate. I am absolutely thrilled to be here. It is an incredible responsibility representing the constituents of Niagara Falls. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with dairy farmers in my riding.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with the hon. member on not only this matter but other matters as we proceed. The auto sector is an important component and aspect of our regional economy. I was fortunate enough when I was a university student to work at our local St. Catharines factory for four summers.