Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Mr. Speaker, I do not quite agree that the government is doing everything it can to help businesses. Some sectors, maybe even in the member's part of the country, are still waiting for support programs. I think supporting these sectors, especially the most vulnerable ones, is still urgent.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, my political party always stands up for workers and we always will. We supported the emergency measures when people really needed assistance. It is despicable that the government is now not prepared to implement these new programs and measures. I mentioned this in my speech.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, my answer to my colleague, the parliamentary secretary, is simple: It is a matter of political choice. I already anticipated that we would be told that $19 billion has already been invested, with an additional $1 billion now, for long-term care standards. I would remind the member that these are one-time payments.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, of course we should be concerned about the debt. As parliamentarians, we must always be sensitive to the budgets presented to us. It is worth noting that I was elected over a year ago and I have yet to see a budget. Indeed, this is a matter of some concern, but not to the point of underestimating the money the government needs to spend right now on health and to support our most vulnerable populations.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, I wish you, my colleagues and all staff of the House of Commons a happy new year. I ask the House for consent to share my time with my esteemed colleague from Rimouski‑Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, Bill C‑14, which we are reviewing today, appears to build on certain measures in the economic statement the government released last November. It is very troubling, however, that, like the economic statement, this bill does not address glaring needs such as increased health care transfers and financial assistance for seniors.

Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020  Madam Speaker, the member talked about the deficit and the kind of plan he would implement. I would like him to comment on the aerospace industry, which we believe should be strengthened and supported. How does he see that sector, which seems to have been abandoned entirely, fitting into the economic recovery plan?

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, from December 7 to 10, the Mouvement autonome et solidaire des sans-emplois is holding a week of regional action to appeal for a complete overhaul of employment insurance. In addition, the Conseil national des chômeurs et chômeuses is conducting the AE-21 campaign, which calls for a permanent reform of EI.

Government Programs  Madam Speaker, the federal government is abandoning new mothers who lose their job while on parental leave. Because they did not accumulate enough working hours while they were taking care of their newborns, they are not entitled to EI. Ottawa is not even allowing them to collect the Canada recovery benefit.

Government Programs  Madam Speaker, this was already a problem before the pandemic. It is unacceptable that new mothers are not entitled to EI if they lose their employment at the end of their parental leave. They are workers like any other and deserve to be supported. In some cases, it is already possible to count weeks worked in the past two years instead of the past year in order to qualify for EI.

Government Programs  Madam Speaker, the problem is that EI has never been adapted to the Quebec parental insurance plan. The mothers being abandoned by the federal government are Quebeckers. Because Quebec is feminist and has a more generous program so that Quebec women can balance work and family, Quebec women are being abandoned when they lose their job.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. It is indeed a tool, but it should not be the only tool. We need a far more ambitious plan for dealing with climate change. However, we should not deprive ourselves of this tool, since it can help improve things.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. I will answer by saying that Quebec has already adopted these types of measures. We agree with the carbon tax, because Quebec has already implemented a similar measure. We are doing better than Canada in our fight against climate change, although much remains to be done.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the plan had its faults. We had to fight to increase the wage subsidy to an appropriate level. The emergency loan program also had to be modified to meet needs. The commercial rent program is recent. They are saying that they set aside $3 billion, but that the money was not spent because the program was not adapted to businesses.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue for his fine speech. I also want to say hello to his staffer who is just coming back to work. I would like to continue in the same vein as my colleague. With respect to the motion we are studying, we can agree on the preamble, which states that Canadian businesses are in distress and need help.