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Results: 691 - 720 of 889
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with a global pandemic that has created the most serious economic crisis since the Second World War. We agree that it is appropriate for members to examine government spending. That is why the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons presented a reasonable proposal to his counterparts in order to start this work.
I hope that opposition MPs and the leadership of each party will work together to find a reasonable way forward.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me review the facts for you.
Officials turned over more than 5,000 pages of documents to the Standing Committee on Finance. Today, the Prime Minister released his speaking fees and expenses. The Prime Minister, his chief of staff and other officials appeared before committees to testify about this matter. That is transparency.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very important question.
Our government strongly condemns the recent acts of violence in Nova Scotia. We have approved a request for assistance from the province to increase the RCMP presence as needed. These acts of violence will be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators will be held to account.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I very much agree with the member opposite that Canada has for decades and centuries failed the indigenous people in Canada, and it is time for us to put this right.
We condemn the appalling violence that has taken place, and let me say I believe the vast majority of Canadians feel exactly that way. I think we all also agree on the need for all parties to engage in respectful dialogue in upholding the Marshall decision and the Mi'kmaq treaty right to fish while ensuring the conservation and sustainability of the fishery. Let us work for that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government is taking the pandemic very seriously. That is why we have been working day and night to procure the necessary supplies to combat the pandemic.
When it comes to ventilators, I must thank all Canadians who have worked very hard to manufacture these ventilators here in Canada and in my riding.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but that is not true.
The reality is that our government has procured a lot of ventilators both domestically and abroad. Now we have enough ventilators across the country to deal with the second wave. We will continue to procure ventilators, drugs and testing kits in order to be ready to help Canadians fight coronavirus.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our nurses, our doctors, our personal support workers are not just preparing to help us, they are helping us. They are fighting the second wave right now. That is why I am so grateful to all the Canadians who have thrown themselves into the manufacture of ventilators, who have thrown themselves into procuring ventilators.
The reality is that we can be confident going into the second wave that we have the ventilators we need. When it comes to other forms of PPE, the reality is that we have been so busy purchasing it that additional warehouse space had to be found.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I take the jobs of energy workers across the country very personally and very seriously. That is why just two weeks ago our government provided $320 million directly to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in order to support its work in supporting energy workers. That is not rhetoric. That is action to support the energy workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government absolutely understands the importance of the energy sector in providing high-paying jobs across the country and being truly an engine of our economy.
Let me disabuse the members opposite of the notion that somehow our government does not care for Alberta and Albertans in this crisis. During this pandemic, over one million Albertans have received the CERB. In a population of 4.3 million, that is nearly a quarter of Albertans. Over 102,000 Alberta businesses have received the CEBA. The wage subsidy has supported 5.6—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we will never abandon health care, and we will never abandon Quebec or Quebeckers.
The fact is that Quebec has received over $3 billion thanks to the safe restart agreement. In addition, two million Quebeckers have received the CERB. That is nearly one in four Quebeckers. Over 157,000 businesses have used the Canada emergency business account and the wage subsidy.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I agree that the second wave has started and I agree that our country needs to work together to fight this pandemic. That is why we gave the provinces $19 billion for a safe restart, another $2 billion in support for a safe return to school, $500 million at the beginning of the pandemic and, of course, $40 billion every year for health care.
That is real support.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, as we said in the Speech from the Throne, we are going to find additional ways to tax extreme wealth inequality, including by limiting the stock option deduction for wealthy individuals at large corporations, and addressing corporate tax avoidance by digital giants. We all need to pay our fair share, especially in times of crisis.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, that is a great question.
I would like to say to Caroline that I agree with her wholeheartedly. One of the great strengths and prides of Canada is that we have universal access to our health care system. Everyone is treated the same.
When it comes to testing, let me say how delighted I am that today Canada has approved its first antigen test, the Abbott Panbio. We have an advance purchase agreement for 20.5 million of these tests. That is in addition to the ID Now tests, which were announced last week.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question.
The Bloc member is well aware that we promised to help SMEs with fixed costs in the throne speech. That is absolutely necessary, and it is even more necessary now because of the second wave.
Our government agrees. This is an essential program. We are working with businesses and the provinces and territories to set up a program.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, once again, I agree with the Bloc member that the program does need to be adjusted to help SMEs. We are currently discussing the matter with the provinces, including Quebec.
I spoke with the Quebec finance minister about this very topic yesterday and I can assure the member that Canada will always be there for Quebec and for Quebeckers. For instance, nearly one in four Quebeckers have received the CERB.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me repeat what I said when the Leader of the Opposition asked about our support for the energy workers of Newfoundland and Labrador. I pointed out that our government was very proud, thanks very much to the hard work of our Minister of Natural Resources, to have supported Newfoundland and Labrador with $320 million. When it comes to Alberta and our energy sector, let me just point out that it was our government that bought TMX and our government will get it built.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, every day, Canada is working hard to get the economy going and to keep Canadians across the country healthy.
With regard to the economic recovery, I would like to quote TD Economics, which said that Canada is ahead of the United States in the race to recover the jobs that were lost because of the pandemic. Canada has recovered approximately two-thirds of the lost jobs, compared to 55% in the United States, so clearly we are doing our job.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating the member opposite on his election as leader of the official opposition and by saying how pleased I was by his and his wife's recovery from COVID-19.
I share the member opposite's view that rapid testing is absolutely essential to our health. It is absolutely essential to our economic recovery. That is why I am pleased that we bought 7.9 million rapid tests last week.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me say the health minister is a cherished colleague who is doing a fantastic job.
When it comes to provinces and the fight against the coronavirus, this is an effort that we must undertake together. That is why over the summer we agreed, in the safe restart agreement, to $19 billion to the provinces to support their fight against coronavirus and another $2 billion for the safe restart of schools.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the opposition leader concerning the measures that the Province of Quebec has taken. I support these strong measures. That is very important, and we must work with Quebec.
Concerning rapid tests, we bought 7.9 million of them last week. The tests will be in Canada next week.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. The Prime Minister and, indeed, I believe all members of the House take the health of Canadians extremely seriously.
When it comes to rapid testing, I was very pleased that last week we were able to announce the procurement of 7.9 million rapid tests. Those tests will be in Canada next week, and we will have more to announce about rapid tests very soon.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, allow me to make one small correction: Quebeckers are Canadians.
With respect to borders, I have to say that I am very proud of our government's policy, especially regarding the U.S. border. We were able to restrict non-essential travel while allowing trade, which is so vital to our economy, to continue. That is what we will keep doing.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I absolutely agree that the second wave in Quebec and Ontario is very serious. We are taking it seriously. That is why we signed the safe restart agreement, which includes close to $3 billion for Quebec to support a safe restart.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of how serious the health care situation is in Quebec. That is why we gave Quebec nearly $3 billion for the economic recovery and health measures. We also helped seniors in Quebec through our Canadian Armed Forces. We were there when Quebec needed us and we will always be there for Quebeckers.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the plan is to continue working closely with the provinces, territories and municipalities.
We purchased 7.9 million rapid tests last week, and we will have more news this week.
As for our approach, the safe restart agreement we reached this summer will provide the provinces and territories with $19 billion in support.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I must agree with the leader of the NDP about one thing: We truly are at a crossroads when it comes to COVID-19. The second wave is here right now, particularly acute in Quebec and Ontario, and each one of us has a responsibility to do everything we can to flatten the curve.
When it comes to fighting the coronavirus, we are committed to continuing to work in close collaboration with the provinces, territories and municipalities. It is the Canadian way and we are going to keep on doing it.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question, which is truly important.
In the Speech from the Throne, we promised we would help SMEs pay their fixed costs. This assistance is more important than ever since we are in the second wave and the provinces, including Quebec, have taken strong measures to combat this second wave. We must truly be there for them and we will be.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes. I discussed this issue with Quebec's finance minister, Éric Girard, yesterday evening. He and I are going to be talking again this evening.
I have a question for the Bloc. Once we have completed the technical work, I hope the Bloc will vote with us.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, personally, I love the small businesses of Edmonton Strathcona, in particular.
In the Speech from the Throne, we committed to extending CEBA to support small businesses across the country and to support small businesses with their fixed costs, including rent. That is something that we are working on right now with the provinces and municipalities. Small businesses need our continued support and we are going to be there for them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Conservatives do not want to admit it, but our economic policy works for workers.
Members do not need to take my word for it. We are told that Canada is ahead of the United States in the race to recover the jobs that were lost because of the pandemic. In August, Canada had recovered approximately two-thirds of the lost jobs, compared to 55% in the United States.
I believe the United States is a G7 country.
Results: 691 - 720 of 889 | Page: 24 of 30

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