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Results: 16 - 30 of 79
View Don Davies Profile
NDP (BC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's generous of you.
Brandon, I want to give you a chance to answer my last question. It's budget day today. What advice would you give the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance regarding the best measures to help students in this country?
Brandon Rhéal Amyot
View Brandon Rhéal Amyot Profile
Brandon Rhéal Amyot
2021-04-19 13:00
Thank you, and I apologize for my cut-off.
I was actually about to touch on the fact that Internet has been an issue for post-secondary education across the country. Even in bigger cities, it's an issue. I have missed many a class because my Internet cuts out, as it just did here, so now I'm on mobile data.
To answer your question regarding the federal budget today, we need to go bold with our post-secondary policy on funding. During the pandemic, we need to reimplement the Canada emergency student benefit. We need to extend it to international students. We need to put a moratorium on student loan debt repayment and interest. In the long term, we need to increase federal transfers to the provinces for post-secondary grants for students to reduce the amount of debt we have to take on.
We need to increase institutional funding, and the federal government should create a federal post-secondary education committee. We are the only G7 nation with no federal oversight of post-secondary education. It is time to get bold, when it comes to post-secondary policy, so that Canada can really stand out on the world stage.
View Leah Gazan Profile
NDP (MB)
Just with the limits on my time, Minister, it was in your mandate letter—
Hon. Carla Qualtrough: I know.
Ms. Leah Gazan: —so if you could follow up with my office with a response....
On the student loan repayment moratorium, we know that industries that employ young people have been hard hit during the pandemic. The service industry is one example. Young people currently have fewer job options, and those that are available are often low-paying jobs and put them at higher risk for COVID-19.
On November 25, the House unanimously adopted a motion to extend the pause on federal student loan repayments. Why have we not seen action on this? When will you pause federal student loan repayments?
View Carla Qualtrough Profile
Lib. (BC)
Helping to provide relief for students' debt obligations was, as you know, one of the first things we did when the pandemic hit. In the fall economic statement, we have committed—I think it was around $329 million, but I'll confirm—to provide immediate relief to all student loan borrowers through a one-year interest waiver, which I guess is the best way to describe it.
Again, we're looking at the way forward through our budget preparations, and I will have more to say on additional supports for students in the coming months.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, for the invitation to be with you virtually today. Accompanying me virtually from the Department of Finance are Maude Lavoie, Dave Beaulne, Trevor McGowan, Lesley Taylor and Nicolas Moreau.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging that today is a sombre anniversary. It is one year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO.
On this national day of observance, I know that all of us honour the memories of all those who have lost their lives to this disease, and we have the deepest compassion, I know, all of us in this committee, for their families and their loved ones.
To the extraordinary Canadians who have been serving on the front lines in our country's fight against COVID-19, to personal support workers in long-term care facilities, to all of our health care workers and to the essential workers keeping food on our shelves, from cashiers to truck drivers, let me just say thank you.
I'm happy to be with you, parliamentary colleagues, to talk about Bill C-14, which would implement several important and necessary measures from the fall economic statement, which I tabled last November 30.
For over a year now, Canadians have been coping with an unprecedented crisis that is still in progress. But spring is coming and there will be better days ahead.
Until we've got COVID-19 under control, our government will do everything it can for as long as it's needed to help Canadians get through the crisis. From the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has done everything in its power to get the virus under control and limit its economic impacts. So far, $8 out of every $10 spent in Canada to combat COVID-19 and help Canadians came from the federal government.
In the 2020 fall economic statement, we set out a detailed plan to protect Canadians, jobs and companies in Canada during the pandemic's second wave. We took rapid action to meet these commitments.
By supporting Canadian businesses, jobs and families, not only were we helping our communities get through a difficult winter, but also preventing economic after-effects. This support will allow for a full and robust economic recovery once the virus is totally under control.
Bill C-14 is an important component of our government's economic plan. It makes it possible to move forward with the emergency measures outlined in the economic statement designed to provide immediate assistance to families with young children, students and businesses, in addition to measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
When we debate Bill C-14, here is what is concretely hanging in the balance.
The fall economic statement announced a new $1 billion safe long-term care fund to help provinces and territories protect seniors. Of this, Bill C-14 would provide $505.7 million immediately, while our need is most urgent, to support long-term care facilities over the coming months to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to help prevent outbreaks and deaths in supportive care facilities.
In addition, we have proposed, through this bill, to provide up to $395.6 million to support a range of health initiatives to help Canadians cope during the pandemic and to continue our fight against the virus with vaccine funding and development, testing and treatment.
The challenges brought on by this pandemic have caused great hardship for Canadian families with young children and brought unanticipated costs. Bill C-14 proposes to provide immediate relief for low- and middle-income families with young children who are entitled to the Canada child benefit by providing up to $1,200 in 2021 for each child under the age of six. Families that have a net income at or below $120,000 would receive four tax-free payments of $300. Families entitled to the CCB who have a net income above $120,000 would receive four tax-free payments of $150, for a total benefit of $600.
This temporary assistance would directly benefit more than 1.5 million families and more than two million children at a time when many are still grappling with the financial impacts of the pandemic.
If I can speak personally for one moment, I am hearing so clearly from my neighbours and constituents who have young children just how hard COVID is for them. I know we would all love to give them this extra support. As you all know, we can't get it to them until Bill C-14 receives royal assent.
Our government is also working to protect the future of students who had to leave school or who were unable to obtain summer internships or jobs.
Through Bill C-14 we will eliminate interest on repayment of the federal portion of Canada student loans and Canada apprentice loans for 2021-2022. This important measure will provide $329.4 million to 1.4 million Canadians who are looking for work or who are in the early stages of their career.
The bill also formalizes an amendment to the Income Tax Act that will allow the Canada emergency rent subsidy to recognize rent payable as an eligible expense, provided certain conditions are met.
As members of this committee will recall, the Canada Revenue Agency is currently administering the rent subsidy with rent payable as an eligible expense. This is because the businesses relying on this subsidy told us that it was what they needed, and all of us listened. Not all small businesses have the cash flow to pay their rent on the first of the month with the reimbursement to come later. This bill ensures that those small businesses can get the support they need. Again, I'm sure we've all heard from small businesses in our ridings who really need that support.
Additionally, Bill C-14 authorizes payments to Canada's six regional development agencies for the regional relief and recovery fund. The government announced the $962-million fund on April 17, and then expanded it to $1.5 billion on October 2. As a next step, Bill C-14 proposes a further top-up, to $2 billion, for this fund. It helps support businesses that for one reason or another are unable to access other federal pandemic support programs.
The point I'm making here is really simple: The measures in Bill C-14 are essential. Canadian families and Canadian businesses need this support to get through the crisis.
Colleagues, today let's set aside partisan sparring and work together to support the people all of us serve. I welcome vigorous debate, care and study. Indeed, debate has been central to Canada's response to COVID-19 so far. Our government has received constructive input from all parties, very much including all the members of this committee. I recognize the critical role parliamentary committees play in scrutinizing government legislation. I understand that the opposition's formal role is to oppose, and that delay forms part of the opposition tool kit in the Westminster parliamentary system. I get that. When I was first elected, I sat in the opposition benches. I asked questions in committee of the member for Abbotsford, who now sits in this committee with us all, when he served as trade minister.
That said, it is now time for us to move forward. Canadians need the concrete support this bill offers, and they need it urgently. At second reading, some of our colleagues on the opposition benches set partisan politics aside to do what is best for Canadians and supported the bill. I was frankly surprised that the Conservatives chose to do the opposite. I was surprised they did that even as they put forward an opposition day motion urging the government to support small business.
I say to my Conservative colleagues, on this committee and in the House, that—
View Peter Julian Profile
NDP (BC)
Thank you.
You talked about comprehensive supports. Here's another example: part 2—student loan payments. Despite the fact that the NDP steered through a motion, which passed unanimously, for a moratorium on all student loan payments, what we have is just a moratorium on interest.
Students are struggling. People with disabilities are struggling. These are situations that are well known to Canadians right across this country. The NDP has also proposed supports going immediately to people with disabilities, far beyond the partial payment that was made this fall and that took nine months to occur.
Why didn't the fall economic statement ensure that there was a moratorium on all student loan payments and that there were adequate supports in place for people with disabilities?
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Julian, I'm really glad you raised students. In my opening remarks, I singled out the importance of Bill C-14 in allowing us to provide more support for students. It is really important to me, and you're right to raise the issue.
What I would say, collectively, is that we need to understand that the three groups that have been hardest hit by losing their jobs are youth, women and low-wage workers—particularly racialized and new Canadians. We need to be sure that our support is targeted there.
Mabel Tung
View Mabel Tung Profile
Mabel Tung
2021-02-17 18:14
Ever since Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 its people have strived to protect their way of life and their system of government. In July 2020, China imposed a sweeping national security law, stripping the city of any remnants of autonomy, civil and social freedom. Tens of thousands turned out to protest this new legislation. Thousands were arrested and hundreds were imprisoned.
In 2021, the mass arrests have intensified. Pro-democracy legislators, democracy activists, a media tycoon and a human rights lawyer are on the list. Some are held, being denied bail.
Many Hong Kongers who participated in the movement fear they will face the same fate as the student protesters in Tiananmen Square 32 years ago. They look to western democracies for protection and safe harbour. Already 46 Hong Kong citizens are seeking asylum in Canada.
We urge the Government of Canada to lend support to Hong Kongers seeking political asylum. We welcome the new open work permits for Hong Kong residents announced by Minister Mendicino as a major step when it comes to helping young activists become integrated into Canadian society.
To make the new policy more accessible to activists under imminent persecution, we submit the following recommendations:
First, appoint a designated commissioner within the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong to handle, with utmost confidentiality, cases from political asylum seekers, including vetting, background checking and evidence gathering to establish the validity of their claims. This commissioner can enlist the help of prominent Canadian civil rights organizations such as VSSDM, which have direct connections with Hong Kong civil society. In urgent situations, we recommend providing temporary resident permits with special quotas to activists who need to leave Hong Kong and complete the application process within Canada.
Second, broaden family reunification, including for siblings and extended family. This would be another way for more young activists to flee Hong Kong. Again, in urgent situations, we also recommend providing temporary resident permits to activists who need to leave Hong Kong and complete their application within Canada.
Third, provide grants or loans to asylum seekers. Instead of applying for refugee status, asylum seekers would receive a loan to further their studies and they would pay back the loan in the same way that one pays back student loans. This way the federal government would not be required to pay any financial assistance, thereby saving taxpayers' money. Furthermore, this would save the activists from having to live through a year of uncertainty.
Number four, support former Canadian citizens who returned to Hong Kong and ran for public office in the pan-democracy camp. These Canadians were required to give up their Canadian citizenship. These legislators have subsequently been either disqualified to run or stripped of their seats under the national security law. We ask that the Canadian government grant them pathways to regain their Canadian citizenship, such as giving them permanent resident status to work towards citizenship.
Number five, extend the visas of Hong Kongers currently residing in Canada under the temporary work permit who participated in protest actions in various Canadian cities since 2019. They face an uncertain future. They fear returning to Hong Kong only to be arrested or barred from leaving the city, or remaining in Canada without proper status. We recommend allowing for an application to extend their existing visa to a five-year visa with an expedited pathway towards obtaining permanent resident status.
View Matthew Green Profile
NDP (ON)
Thank you. I'm trying to get an outlook for the next generation, notwithstanding the fact that our aging population has had some good years and of course some other decades that might not have been so good.
I want to take a moment right now and zero in on your legislative costing note on eliminating interest on the Canada student loans program. In it, you have suggested that it will cost $315 million for 2020–21. It showed that in the past five years, ESDC has written off, waived or forgiven more than $2 billion in students loans due to financial distress and what student borrowers are experiencing here throughout COVID. That's on top of the $410 million ESDC has to spend to contract the administration of Canada student loans programs to DH Corporation over the same period of time.
In your opinion, what would be the effect of eliminating student loan interest payments; what effect would it have on borrowers; and could this help potentially offset the losses experienced by the student loan defaults and writeoffs?
Yves Giroux
View Yves Giroux Profile
Yves Giroux
2021-01-27 17:39
The cost estimate we did, which was pegged to not imposing interest on student loans, as you pointed out, was a $315-million gross cost, minus $5 million in reduced tax credit for the interest expense. Of course, this would probably have a positive impact on the number of defaults, given that the amount owed by students collectively would be lower, so the probability of default, other things being equal, would probably go down slightly.
That's one thing we considered, and we also noticed when we did cost estimates in a previous setting. In the electoral campaign a couple of questions were asked by various parties on various student loan measures. When relief measures are afforded to students, they have a corresponding impact in reducing the number of bankruptcies, loans in default and loans written off.
View Matthew Green Profile
NDP (ON)
I note that the new Biden administration has extended the freeze. We have not, to date. We're hoping this government will go down that path.
Just for my own clarification, what is the effective rate right now on the program? Is it also impacted by the really low interest rates?
Yves Giroux
View Yves Giroux Profile
Yves Giroux
2021-01-27 17:41
Yes, it is, but given my apparent age it's been a while since I've paid interest on student loans.
Maybe Xiaoyi or Trevor knows the going rate on interest on student loans.
Trevor Shaw
View Trevor Shaw Profile
Trevor Shaw
2021-01-27 17:41
I believe the interest rate on that program is close to the government's own borrowing costs of close to the prime rate of interest.
View Matthew Green Profile
NDP (ON)
Respectfully, though, I'm not looking for comfort; I need to get a sense of the number.
I say that with the utmost respect to you.
View Louise Chabot Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to ask a question about the student loans mentioned in the fall economic statement. $329.4 million was announced to eliminate interest on Canada student loans and Canada apprentice loans for fiscal 2021-22.
Since these programs do not apply to Quebec students, can you give us the details about compensation for Quebec students further to this announcement?
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