Committee
Consult the user guide
For assistance, please contact us
Consult the user guide
For assistance, please contact us
Add search criteria
Results: 201 - 283 of 283
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Let me just say this: I will make no apologies for our government's approach, which has been to value speed over perfection and to be there when Canadians have needed us the most. Of course, fraud must be and will be looked into, but right now the priority is getting support to Canadians. You know what? I trust Canadians to do the right thing. I think that all members of this House should do that as well.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
My thanks to the hon. member for his question.
I completely agree that the pandemic crisis is truly very serious in Canada and very serious also in Quebec, especially in Montreal. A few days ago, I spoke with Valérie Plante, the mayor of Montreal, and I will be speaking with her again tomorrow. Our government is very involved. We are working in close collaboration with others.
At the same time as we are holding a virtual sitting of Parliament, the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces are providing their assistance to seniors in Quebec and Ontario. Let me take this opportunity to thank them.
As for health funding, we have increased the funds for the provinces and territories by $500 million in order to help them prepare to fight COVID-19. It is very important to do so.
Finally, let me assure the provinces that the federal government is here to help you in the fight against COVID-19, including the funding for that fight against COVID-19.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My thanks also to the hon. member for his question.
I must emphasize that we do understand the importance of working in close collaboration with Quebec during the crisis. In fact, that is what we are doing.
We have already increased the health transfers by $500 million, in order to help the provinces to fight the pandemic. We are ready to do more, because we understand that this is a genuine health crisis.
Let me now give an example to prove that the federal government has stepped up. The Canadian Armed Forces are in Quebec at the moment. We are working in close collaboration with Quebec on the matter of procurement, which is an extremely important problem.
We have to work together and we are going to continue to do so.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thanks for that reminder, Mr. Chair. I should also say happy birthday. Buon compleanno.
It is easy to forget to respond through the chair when we see each other so intimately on video, so no problem.
Look, I really want to thank the honourable member for that very important question. Let me assure him, through you, Mr. Chair, that our government is absolutely focused on ensuring that our support for the Canadian economy is designed to support Canadian workers. Sometimes that does mean supporting Canadian companies, but I want to assure the member opposite that we will put every measure in place that we can to ensure that this support does what it's designed to do.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Like many people who grew up in Alberta, I am very familiar with the amazingly beautiful Okanagan, but I am not personally familiar, I'm sad to say, with that canal. I can commit to the member opposite that I will raise this issue with our Minister of Infrastructure, who is working very energetically with the provinces right now to get money to shovel-ready projects.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I totally support Okanagan vineyards and orchards, but I think the member opposite will agree that it is imprudent to make a commitment without knowing all the details. What I can commit to doing is to looking into this and getting back to the honourable member.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
That's a great question, Mr. Chair. Let me just say that yesterday I had a very good conversation with the Premier of British Columbia, John Horgan, who told me how glad he had been yesterday to announce a project putting to work federal support for cleaning up orphan wells and how many great jobs that was creating. It's one example of doing what the member opposite suggests, and I agree that there is always more to do.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, as the Prime Minister recently said, it is absolutely appropriate for us to look into the behaviour of all countries in the handling of this global pandemic—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
When it comes to the work of committees, let me just say that we strongly support the essential work of parliamentary committees. They are, of course, absolutely independent. We support their work, and we support their ability to call all the witnesses that they feel they need to speak to in order to best inform Canadians.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As the Prime Minister said yesterday, it is absolutely appropriate for us to be all asking questions about how different countries have behaved in a crisis, including China. Our Minister of International Development has spoken with the head of the WHO about a post-crisis review.
Let me simply say that I am personally convinced, and I think all members of this House are, that democracies will always be more transparent than authoritarian regimes.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I agree with the member opposite that our cities are absolutely essential engines of growth for our country at all times and they are going to be particularly essential as we look towards restarting our economy. If our cities can't work, none of us is going to be able to work. That is why our government has been energetically working with and talking with cities. We have been urging the cities to talk to the provincial governments and we are very keen, working with provincial governments, to find ways to support our cities.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I speak with the cities very often, in fact I have been speaking with them a lot over the last few days, and let me tell you what I tell them. What I tell them is they are absolutely essential to our country, to our economy and to our restart. Cities, of course, fall under provincial jurisdiction. Having said that, our federal government is ready and willing to work with the provinces to support our cities.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me just remind Canadians and the member opposite, Mr. Chair, that our government has made unprecedented investments in cities, unprecedented investments in public transit. It is something we believe in very strongly. I agree with the member opposite that having public transit up and running will be absolutely essential to the restart. I have been speaking, just over the past 24 hours, with Canadian mayors and premiers. We believe that we need to work together to support our cities to keep them going, and that is what we will do.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, what I will commit to do is to work with our cities, to work with our provinces, to ensure that our cities are able to be the essential part of the reopening of our economy that they need to be.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me start by saying that, when it comes to the Canada-U.S. border, decisions about our border will be taken by Canadians in the interests of Canadians. We are taking a cautious and prudent approach. Canadians have made huge sacrifices in fighting the coronavirus. We respect those sacrifices. We will not squander the gains we have made.
We are very aware of the particular concerns of British Columbia. In fact, just yesterday, I spoke with the premier of B.C.—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, Ambassador Barton is an excellent representative of Canada in China, and he is a member of our government and very much shares and helps to formulate our government's policy when it comes to China. Ambassador Barton, of course, shares our government's view that a post-crisis review is absolutely necessary.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we are working very closely with our provincial partners on the reopening.
I am pleased that we were able to publish, on Tuesday, April 28, shared guidelines on the reopening, which were supported by the Prime Minister and all of the premiers of the provinces and territories—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, as I was saying in my answer to the first question, the question of coordinating national and provincial parks is a very good one. That is something we are definitely working on.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the member opposite for his view that we need to be cautious and prudent and put the health and safety of Canadians first. That is very much the view of our government as well.
When it comes to international borders, the health and safety of Canadians is absolutely the first criterion we are going to look at. Of course, we will be looking at the situation with coronavirus—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank the member for his question and for his very collaborative approach with our government on a number of issues. I would like to thank him for this particular question and his particular reference to methane, because it gives me an opportunity to highlight some very important progress that the federal government made this week in working with the Province of Alberta.
Just yesterday Alberta joined B.C. and Saskatchewan and published its own draft regulations on methane. This will allow us, in working with Alberta, to work on equivalency on methane, which will allow us to work towards standing down the federal system in those jurisdictions. This is tremendously important, because it will allow us to cut methane emissions by 45% by 2025. It's hugely important for fighting climate change together.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me challenge one assumption implicit in the honourable member's question, the assumption that our government fails to understand the importance of the oil and gas sector to our economy. Let me quote some leaders from Alberta and their response to the lease program.
Tim McMillan, CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said, “I think this is essential. Not all companies are going to need to tap into this sort of liquidity...but some that are normally high-quality, stable companies likely will be looking for this program to provide a certain amount of liquidity for them.”
CAPP understands that we are supporting Canadian companies, including in the oil and gas sector, and I would urge the members opposite to understand that as well.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me assure the honourable member that, first and foremost, all decisions about Canada's border are taken by Canadians and with the health and safety of Canadians first and foremost in mind. When it comes to the current agreement's coming up next week, we are in very close conversations with Americans about next steps.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me just be clear that I didn't speak about any changes; I spoke about a very collaborative conversation with our American neighbours about next steps.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I found during the NAFTA negotiations that negotiations are best not conducted in public, but let me just assure Canadians that the health and safety of Canadians is first and foremost. Our government is taking a cautious approach, and we're working effectively.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me just say that I think the honourable member was actually seeking to know what exactly is being discussed with our American partners. Let me just say that we are taking a very cautious approach to the health and safety of Canadians. A very collaborative discussion is happening.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I'm not sure what the member is alluding to, but let me just say that the current arrangements are working extremely well. Non-essential travel is down very sharply. Essential travel, particularly for trade, continues, and that's a good thing, too.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me just emphasize to the honourable member that on a couple of occasions he has implied that a loosening of the current restrictions is being discussed. Let me be very clear that this is his assertion; I have not said that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I can assure you that dairy producers will receive fair compensation.
I should also point out that we preserved supply management when negotiating the new NAFTA. That is important to Canada and Quebec, and I'm very pleased that we were able to do that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank the member for his question.
I fully understand, as we all do, the important role processors play in our system and our country. I can assure the members of the House that we will continue to work with Canadian processors as the agreement comes into force.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me please inform the honourable member that we are, of course, aware that the current agreement expires. I had a long conversation yesterday with the Prime Minister—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Yes, absolutely. Our government is wholly committed to restarting the economy, and we are working closely with the provinces to do just that.
Last week, our government, together with the provincial and territorial premiers, [Technical difficulty—Editor] released the principles that will guide efforts to restore economic activity across the country. That is key. The discussion between the Prime Minister and the premiers is continuing today.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, between the outbreak of war in September 1939 and the allied victory in Europe on May 8, 1945, more than one million Canadians served in our country's armed forces. More than 43,000 lives were lost. In the liberation of the Netherlands, which we also commemorate this week, 7,600 Canadians perished over the course of a brutal nine-month campaign. The scale of their generation's sacrifice can be difficult to comprehend, for this was a time when Canada's population was only 12 million—think about that—yet they shouldered their burden and they carried it without complaint until the job was done and they could come home and resume their lives, those who were able to come home.
In so doing they laid the foundation not only for seven decades of postwar peace and prosperity but also for a new generation of immigrants from across the European continent and, in time, from around the world, who built new lives in Canada, and who built Canada itself.
For them, our country represented peace and a refuge from crisis and turmoil. Then, as now, Canada held the promise of a better, more peaceful and more prosperous future. What better and more enduring example is there of Canada's importance in the world?
The tens of thousands of patriotic men and women who enlisted to serve their country during the darkest days of war in the early 1940s could not have known that, in the end, the allies would be victorious.
They could not have known that on a sunny day in May long years later, Canadian soldiers would be greeted as heroes by throngs of overjoyed men, women and children in the streets of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague. They knew only that they had a moral obligation to serve, one shared by the six brave Canadians who tragically lost their lives a week ago while serving in Operation Reassurance.
Mr. Chair, as we mark the liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe Day, we honour all these great Canadians. We honour their toughness, their moral fibre and their resolve, which changed the course of history. We honour their sacrifice.
For the Canadians who went to the front lines and served in the Second World War not only defeated the forces of fascism, authoritarianism and oppression. They built a better world. They built transatlantic alliances that protect us to this day and formed bonds that enhance our prosperity.
When Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands addressed this House in 2018, he spoke of the enduring friendship between our two countries, a friendship forged during the war through the extraordinary actions of ordinary Canadians. Our soldiers liberated the cities from Nazi occupation and, to this day, the children who hailed them in the streets remember them still. Seventy-five years later, they continue to tend to the graves of our fallen soldiers. Their children and grandchildren lay flowers at the feet of monuments dedicated to the memory of our Canadian heroes.
It has been 75 years since our parents, our grandparents and our great-grandparents, the greatest generation, stepped up to do their part to build a more prosperous, secure and free world. As our Minister of Veterans Affairs put it, many sacrificed their future to liberate people who had suffered for years under brutal occupation. They left behind family, friends, children, parents and communities, people who loved them. My grandfather, Wilbur Freeland, and his two brothers, Carleton and Warren, were among those volunteers. Carleton and Wilbur came home. Warren did not.
Today, as our country faces a new battle against a pandemic that knows no borders, I cannot think of a better example to follow, and I cannot think of a better reason to serve.
For the last surviving members of the greatest generation, our elders are now the generation most in need of our protection from the COVID-19 pandemic. They look to us to do what is right, responsible and just, however hard that might be. They look to us to forgo, for now, the comforts and pleasures of gatherings and ordinary social interaction. They look to us to follow the advice of public health professionals to wash our hands, to avoid non-essential travel and to stay home as much as possible for as long as necessary.
I actually think it is very simple. We owe it to the generation of Canadians who won that great victory in Europe, and who built the peace that followed, to do whatever is in our power to keep them safe. We owe it to generations to come, our own children and grandchildren, to bequeath to them a country that is more prosperous, more free and more secure than the one we ourselves inherited.
They did their part. Now we must do ours.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we agree that small businesses are essential for the Canadian economy. That is why our government has implemented an economic program that is without precedent in Canadian history. We have done so to help all Canadians, including workers and businesses. We have specifically helped businesses to pay salaries. Small businesses can access loans of $40,000.
As for rent…
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me start by challenging the notion that our economic support has been in any way cold-hearted. I think all the members of this House really, really feel for Canadians. We know that this is an unprecedented time, without parallel since the Second World War, and I think all of us are working hard to support Canadians and Canadian companies.
Our economic support right now is at 11% of GDP. That is a lot of money going into the Canadian economy, and that is great. When it comes to flexibility for the support for small businesses, we have made some tweaks along the way—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, the government is not slowing down the production of Canadian-made PPE. I, in fact, agree with the member opposite that the fact that Canada has preserved a strong manufacturing base, the fact that Canada's outstanding patriotic manufacturers are stepping up to support us, is fantastic. We are working so closely with those manufacturers. We are proud of their work.
I spoke last night to the CEO of Thornhill Medical in my own riding. They are making ventilators right now and have started to deliver them to Canada.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
The government will commit to doing everything necessary to support Canadians, Quebeckers and the Canadian economy. It's impossible to predict today what exactly is going to happen with the coronavirus, but the Government of Canada will be there to support Canadians. We've already done a lot. Eleven per cent of GDP is a lot, and we will do everything necessary going forward.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, my answer is twofold.
First, the member is right to say that the seasonal nature of the fisheries and tourism sectors makes them unique. We agree that has to be taken into account.
Second, I want to point out that we have already invested $675 million in our six regional development agencies, and we made such a large investment because the agencies provide assistance to fishing and tourism businesses in the regions.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I will simply say that fisheries, including the lobster fishery, are a special case, and we are working on it.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, no Canadian worker ever should feel compelled to work in dangerous conditions. That is particularly true today, when we know that conditions are particularly dangerous. This government will never do anything with our programs to force workers to make that kind of choice.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, the member opposite is quite right about where the federal government has particular authority in food processing, which is to guarantee the safety of the foods processed there for Canadians to eat. I think all members know that it is the provinces who are responsible for public health and for delivering health care. They are doing a fantastic job, and we are collaborating closely with them.
When it comes to Cargill and food processing, I agree with the member opposite that it's something we all need to be particularly concerned about, and we have been.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I think we all understand that there is a very clear difference between the duty to inspect food that is produced and ensure that this food is safe for Canadians, and the equally sacred, or I would say even more sacred, duty to ensure that workers are working in safe conditions. We take both of those extremely seriously, and we are aware what falls specifically in our jurisdiction. Having said that, we care very much about all Canadian workers. I think all of us are so grateful for the essential workers working in Canadian food processing. We have a shared responsibility to keep them safe.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I absolutely agree with the member opposite that one of the most important things, I would say in general, but particularly when it comes to addressing the spread of coronavirus, is for all of us to stay home if we are even a little bit sick, and that is precisely why we took the unprecedented step of putting in place the CERB. The initial inspiration there was to make sure there was no disincentive for people to stay home to take care of themselves, to take care of their children, to take care of their communities.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me just point out one thing specifically when it comes to coronavirus, and that is that if people suspect, if they have symptoms that they think may mean they have coronavirus, the prudent thing would be to stay home for 14 days.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I do actually want to start by recognizing the outstanding work of Canadian public servants. All of us on this side of the House are privileged to work with them every single day, and they are doing an amazing job in supporting Canadians through this unprecedented crisis.
When it comes to collective bargaining, our government believes in that, and of course we will bargain and negotiate in good faith.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Our government is committed to defending aluminum workers and the sector. Beyond the support under CUSMA, we have strengthened our anti-dumping rules. We've also put new tools at the disposal of the Canada Border Services Agency so it can determine whether aluminum is being dumped in Canada. Lastly, we've created a new oversight regime for imports—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I very much hold Irwin Cotler in high regard, as I think every member of the House does. I don't think I agreed that democracies are more transparent than authoritarian regimes. I think I said they were and maybe others agreed with me, which is good because we are a democracy.
When it comes to looking into how we got here with coronavirus, we absolutely agree that it is going to be very important to have a review. Our Minister of International Development spoke about that with Dr. Tedros of the WHO—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me just say to that, Mr. Chair, that no country in the world has any business telling Canadian parliamentarians and Canadian parliamentary committees what they can and cannot do. We are a sovereign country and a sovereign democracy. I think all of us are rightly proud of that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I would like to thank the member for that very important question. I think everyone who is aware of the wine industry and the trade issues that it faces is aware of the seriousness of the Australia wine challenge, and it is absolutely the case that both the industry and the government are going to have to adapt in this new environment. I think we need to work together to do that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the energy sector is an essential part of the Canadian economy, contributing hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs and billions of dollars in tax revenue. That is why our government strongly supports the sector, and it's one reason why we were very proud to announce more than $1.7 billion in support to clean up orphaned wells. That support is going to put thousands of workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan back to work, and that is a good thing.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I do agree with the member opposite that it is a very good thing that east coast refineries are working on refining Canadian oil. That is good news for our whole country.
When it comes to pipelines, I'd like to remind the member opposite that our government does believe in them. That's why we bought one.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, our government is very much in favour of lifting barriers to trade between provinces, and that is a discussion we are having with the provinces. Some premiers have unilaterally lifted trade barriers among themselves, and I encourage all premiers to do that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me assure the hon. member that our government cares very, very much about the women and men who work so hard to feed our country. Let me just say I am grateful to all the farmers, like my dad, who are out in their fields right now getting ready for seeding. We, as Canadians, are lucky to be citizens of an agricultural superpower, and our government believes in supporting our farmers and ranchers.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me just say that I feel there is nothing shameful at all in having me, the Deputy Prime Minister, answer questions about agriculture. I am actually very proud to speak up for Canada's amazing farmers, for our country's amazing ranchers, for our amazing pork producers and our poultry producers. I feel so close to our farmers. I love them and our government supports them.
Today, we announced $252 million of support for our producers. They need it. They deserve it. We're here for them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me say that our government's response to this global pandemic has of course been informed by the excellent work of Canadian intelligence agencies throughout. We have been working on this from very early on. On January 2, PHAC first spoke with provincial health authorities to alert them to the situation. On January 14, it convened a meeting of all provincial health authorities. In January, the Prime Minister convened a meeting of the incident response group, and in January we increased screening at all major airports.
All of these actions were informed by the work of our excellent intelligence community, and of course our work with our Five Eyes, NATO and NORAD allies.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank my colleague for his question and for his hard work.
One of the most important things the federal government can do when it comes to the reopening of the Canadian economy is to work in close collaboration with the premiers of the provinces and territories. That's why I was so pleased that last week the Prime Minister, together with all the first ministers of the country, was able to issue a statement around the principles that will be guiding our entire country as we move towards a restart.
This is so important because, as my colleague has pointed out, all of our business, our economic activity, happens across the country. It happens across provincial and territorial boundaries.
I would really also like to take this opportunity to thank the first ministers across the country. They belong to different parties, but everyone has really been able to put partisanship aside. We have been able to work together in fighting coronavirus, and we are going to work together in the future to keep on fighting coronavirus and to reopen Canada.
Thank you.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Let me thank the member, first of all, for her really very important question. I think all of us share the concern for Canada's essential workers who are keeping us safe, putting food on our tables and often working in difficult conditions.
When it comes to the Cargill plant, this is an issue that our government has been very closely engaged in. My colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, has spoken with her provincial counterpart and the head of the plant. The decisions about suspending and reopening are taken by local and provincial health authorities.
To the question my colleague asked about workers, it is absolutely the case that no Canadian should feel they need to work in an environment that is unsafe, and it is also very much the case that any Canadian who is feeling unwell should stay at home. This is the way that collectively we take care of ourselves and we take care—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I'm sorry, but I was struggling with my mute button. I apologize.
Let me just be very clear. No Canadian worker at any time should feel obliged to go to work in unsafe conditions.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
In a time of coronavirus that is even more the case, and the government of course should not penalize workers for doing the right thing and declining to go to work in unsafe conditions.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, let me be very clear that my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, has been in touch with provincial authorities. She has been in touch with the plant.
The duties of the food inspection agency, of course, are to ensure that the food produced at the plant is safe. That is what inspectors are trained to do and what they are focused on.
We are working closely with provincial authorities and with health authorities to ensure that—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I think all of us as Canadians are proud of the great potato farmers across the country. We are aware that the coronavirus, by keeping us away from restaurants where we eat french fries, has had a profound effect on the market for potatoes.
The program announced today by the Prime Minister and my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, will be very helpful for potato farmers, including with the surplus food program that starts with a $50 million fund, and that—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, the honourable member spoke about farmers generally. The program today is $252 million, which comes on top of the broad range of other programs that farmers, of course, have access to.
On potato farmers, in particular, I agree with the honourable member that this is a specific area of concern. I think all Canadians would like to see those potatoes not be wasted but be used, and that's why the $50 million for surplus food purchase is going to be so helpful.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I absolutely agree with the honourable member that our beef, pork and poultry producers are absolutely essential for our country.
I am very pleased as a Canadian that we have security that comes from being a country that produces not only enough food for ourselves, but also enough food to feed the world. That is why the $125 million specifically to support our beef, pork and poultry producers is going to be so helpful.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I don't know about the honourable member, but where I come from, $252 million is not just crumbs. I know that Canadian farmers don't feel that $252 million is nothing, either.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight two other aspects of the essential support for farmers that we announced today: the $77 million to support food processors, which will not only be important for the processors, but helpful for the farmers who produce products that go to them; and the $250 million that we would like to add to the Canadian Dairy Commission's line of credit to raise it to half a billion dollars, which will be very helpful to our essential dairy farmers.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, first of all, let me say I do not, as has now been suggested by two members opposite, consider it in any way shameful that I should be answering questions about our support for the agricultural sector. Our government strongly supports our farmers. I have to say I personally very strongly support our farmers and have a strong personal connection to them.
The $252 million of support is real and meaningful, and it is directed exactly where it is needed. It is directed at food processors, beef and pork producers and the dairy sector.
As to the question about students, let me just point out that farm kids are students too, and farm kids will be benefiting from the support for students. I know they, their parents and grandparents are very—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
We announced over $77 million in assistance for food processors to help them protect their workers and deal with the costs associated with the coronavirus.
To help livestock and pork producers, we established agrirecovery, a national initiative that will provide $125 million to help producers adapt to market changes.
We're launching—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Our country, Canada, will never depend on its neighbours or any other country for food. Canada is a major beef, pork and grain producer. Canada is an agricultural superpower and we should all take pride in that.
I want to mention another significant part of our announcement today, which is the $50 million surplus food purchase program. This is very significant. I think that all Canadians must support this initiative.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we are very aware of the intense pressures that oil and gas workers are facing. Let me start by expressing the great sympathy that I think everyone in this House today feels for the people of Fort McMurray, who are facing a triple blow of a flood, the coronavirus and a deeply depressed price for oil.
When it comes to employing oil and gas workers, the support that our government has given directly for the cleanup of orphan wells, $1.7 billion, is going to put a lot of people back to work very quickly.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me start by saying that I defer to no one in my tremendous respect for Irwin Cotler, who, I think, is a moral authority recognized by all members of this House.
When it comes to reporting on the coronavirus in countries around the world, it is absolutely the case that we all help our own citizens and we help each other with candour and transparency. It is also the case that we need to work together.
Having said that, I think all members of this House will agree that a democracy will always be more transparent than any authoritarian regime.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I began by saying that I think we share a high regard for Irwin Cotler, and let me say that I personally have a high regard for Ambassador Dominic Barton, who is the right man at the right place at the right time. Ambassador Barton is absolutely central to our procurement work in China today, and his extensive business experience is saving Canadian lives.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, there was nothing grudging at all in the very candid and important conversation our Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, had recently with Dr. Tedros of the WHO.
In that conversation she talked about the essential role the WHO plays as the only international organization that coordinates the world's health response, and we need that in a pandemic.
She also spoke about how important it will be to have a post-crisis review—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, Canada's one China policy is clear, and it has been the policy of successive Canadian governments. We continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international multilateral organizations, where its presence is important. Taiwan's role as an observer in the WHO is very helpful.
Let me also point out that we participate together with Taiwan in APEC.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Well, since it's just 15 seconds or less, Mr. Chair, I think everyone in this House believes in democracy, and that is something we are working on and demonstrating in our debates today.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, first of all, as we have discussed already this afternoon, improved Internet access for Canadians in remote northern rural communities is absolutely a priority. It's been a priority of our government from before this crisis, and the member opposite is entirely right that the crisis has underscored the importance of rural broadband access for children and their parents.
When it comes to corporate responsibility in this crisis, I agree with the member opposite. We all have to do our part. I think we're seeing essential workers, many of them very poorly paid, acting heroically every day and we expect corporate Canada to step up too.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, the new NAFTA is the result of three years of hard work for all Canadians.
We all came together as a country throughout the negotiations. The result is excellent for Canada, especially since today there are major issues around the global economy and protectionism. This is good news for our country.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I would like to tell the honourable member and all members here that, in the context of a global economic crisis worse than the Great Depression, the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the United States is an excellent success for Canada.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, this government will always stand up for Canada. This government will always stand up for free speech and freedom of expression in Canada.
Let me say that I personally hold the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in very high regard. I think I've given a speech there. It's a great group.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I think I just did, Mr. Chair.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, yes, indeed, Canada believes that Taiwan's role as an observer in the WHO assembly meetings is in the interest of the international health community and is important to the global fight against pandemic and disease. We have experience working with Taiwan as an economy in APEC, where Canada participates as well.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, first of all I would like to thank the member opposite for his question. It gives me the chance to let everyone in the House know that yesterday, we were very pleased to be able to publish a statement supported by all first ministers, all the premiers of the provinces and territories and the Prime Minister, agreeing to some principles that will guide us all across Canada as we move towards restarting the economy. This is a really important step and I'll talk about it more in a minute, perhaps.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, let me just thank the member opposite for the question and say that we do have a made-in-Canada solution.
I am proud of Thornhill Medical in my riding, which, even as we speak, is manufacturing ventilators. It has delivered some ventilators to the Government of Canada. Thank you very much.
In the member opposite's own riding, manufacturers are stepping up and producing PPE, as I am sure the member knows, and I'm sure he shares my pride in Canada's fantastic manufacturers.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
I thank the member for that question. The member is very lucky to represent the amazing town of Jasper, one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
We are very aware of the challenges that municipalities across the country are facing and we are very aware of the particular challenges that the tourism sector is facing. We are working closely with municipalities across the country to support them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd also like to thank the member for his question.
We are working closely with the provincial and territorial premiers. Every week, the Prime Minister has a call with the premiers. [Technical difficulty—Editor] What we've been able to do in responding to this crisis is work together as “Team Canada”.
Results: 201 - 283 of 283 | Page: 3 of 3

|<
<
1
2
3
Export As: XML CSV RSS

For more data options, please see Open Data