Proceedings on the bill entitled An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19  Madam Speaker, I respect the hon. member across the way. We have worked together in the past and what I am trying to do is make the case that if Bill C-4 is going to pass and every party in this building wants to help Canadians, but I want to provide the other argument that if this is going to get a yes to supporting the bill we need to explain to Canadians how we are going to pay for it.

Proceedings on the bill entitled An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19  Madam Speaker, we are here tonight talking about Bill C-4. I have the document in front of me; it is fairly thick. The government wants to ram it through after only four hours of debate. This is unfortunate because there is a lot there. I guess we are supposed to speak to it, so I will speak to it a bit.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition that recognizes an article by the Associated Press that revealed an ongoing campaign of Uighur birth suppression by the Chinese Communist Party. The petitioners state that they would like to recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are being subjected to genocide, and ask that the government use the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Magnitsky act, to sanction those who are responsible for the heinous crimes being committed against the Uighur people.

Government Business No. 9  Madam Chair, I want to ask my colleague about the current situation in Parliament and the fact that some media and reporters have done a great job of shedding light on this. I would like to also add Vivian Krause to that mix, and some of the statements she made with respect to WE.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Madam Chair, that was a question about WE, not about what the government was supposedly doing. Airlines in the north provide critical services to remote fly-in communities, including supplying food and providing access to health services. To help ensure these services continue uninterrupted, the Northern Air Transport Association has recommended that the government suspend federal excise and carbon taxes.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Madam Chair, the recently released Senate report on the federal government's COVID-19 response recommends that the government work with the territories to ensure that northern airlines have sufficient financial support and access to gateway routes. Could the Minister of Northern Affairs please outline what further action the government will be taking to protect this vital transportation network, given this recommendation?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Beauce. The list of questions about the Liberal government and its relationship with the WE organization grows, and here is another one. In 2017, the Liberal government paid over $13,000 to the WE organization to help secure the appearances of Canadian talent at WE California that year.

Fisheries and Oceans  Madam Speaker, two weeks ago I was honoured to speak to a group of recreational fishermen and women at the Public Fishery Alliance rally in Vancouver. I give special thanks to organizers Peter Krahn, Dave Brown, Fred Helmer, Chris Bos and many others. According to Phil Morlock of the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, more than eight million of us fish recreationally every year and spend $10 billion annually, yet we have a federal government bent on shutting us down.

Further COVID-19 Measures Act  Madam Speaker, the member for Winnipeg North talked about how great an economy the Liberals were a part of before COVID hit. I would like to remind him of our reality, where we are now. For Canadians out there who are watching today, we have seen our debt increase by one-third within four months.

Tourism Industry  Mr. Speaker, with an annual economic effect of over $5.5 billion and over 37,000 jobs supported nationally, the guide outfitters sector is vital to Canada's rural and remote communities. In Canada, it typically welcomes over 300,000 fishing and hunting clients from outside of Canada, with the vast majority from the United States.

COVID-19 Pandemic  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.

COVID-19 Pandemic  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.

COVID-19 Pandemic  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  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  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.