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Results: 241 - 283 of 283
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”.
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