John Barlow - 12:30

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, it is absolutely not. In fact, I am pleased to be here in person meeting with members from across the country and pleased that our colleagues who live further away from Ottawa than I do have the opportunity to join us.
Parliament plays an essential role in our democracy, and it's—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:31
John Barlow - 12:31

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, the agricultural sector is critical to our country, and the questions some of us have been asking around food security have reminded us how lucky we are, as Canadians, to be living in an agricultural superpower.
When it comes to the specific technical questions that farmers have, they should turn to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, who will be delighted to help.
...Less
John Barlow - 12:32

Lib. (ON)
...More
What I can say is that we are very mindful of and very grateful for the extremely—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:32
John Barlow - 12:32

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, very many farmers, and certainly many of the farmers of my acquaintance, have worked with accountants for a very long time. Farmers are sophisticated business people who deal in the futures markets every day. They run hugely important businesses—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:33
John Barlow - 12:33

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, what is condescending is to behave as if farmers are not highly sophisticated businessmen. They hire economists. They hire agronomists. They are at the cutting edge. I am proud of the sophistication of Canadian farmers, and I'm proud of the support we offer them.
Some honourable members: Oh, oh!
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:34
John Barlow - 12:35

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I agree with the member opposite about one thing: The energy sector and energy workers are absolutely essential to our economy, and we support them.
One of the things I am most proud of is the $1.7 billion our government has committed to cleaning up orphan wells. That money today has created jobs in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. People are working because of it, and they are cleaning up their communities thanks to that support.
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:35
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:36

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, the purpose of the wage subsidy is to support workers, help them keep their jobs and keep them connected to their workplace—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:36
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:36

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, allow me to remind the hon. member opposite what we're doing to support Canadians: more than 8 million Canadians have received the Canada emergency response benefit.
In addition, 635,000 businesses have received loans through the Canada emergency business account.
...Less
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:37

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I would like to continue by reminding my colleague opposite what our government is doing today to support Canadians and Quebeckers: 293 applications for the Canada emergency wage subsidy have been approved.
Over 2 million Canadians today have—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:38
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:38

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, our programs don't discriminate. They're there to help all workers, to help all Canadians, to help all Quebeckers.
The hon. member talked about companies and sectors that need more help. We agree with that. We think we all need to work together to continue to help Canadians and Quebeckers—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:39
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:39

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I want to point out something important when we talk about our work and our economy. The important thing is that we have put in place unprecedented economic measures that are absolutely urgent and necessary.
That's what we'll continue to do.
...Less
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe - 12:40

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I am absolutely willing to look into the eyes of the entrepreneurs and workers in my riding because they know that our government is doing a lot to help Canadians in this historic crisis.
Our economic support program is the largest program in Canada's history—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:41
Jagmeet Singh - 12:41

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, that's a very important question, and I would like to thank the member for asking it.
I think this is a historic week. All Canadians have seen what is happening in Ontario and Quebec. We—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:42
Jagmeet Singh - 12:42

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I want to start by saying one thing, and that is to publicly thank, in this House, Brigadier-General Conrad Mialkowski and his team for compiling the assessment that they did of long-term care homes in Ontario. They acted with courage. They acted with compassion. What they did is historic, and we all need to—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:42
Jagmeet Singh - 12:42

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I agree with the member opposite that after what we have learned this week, all options must be on the table when it comes to how care for our elders will be provided in Canada in the future.
I think it is clear to us all that root-and-branch reform is necessary. We need to act with speed but not haste, and work with our provincial partners.
...Less
Jagmeet Singh - 12:43

Lib. (ON)
...More
What we will commit to do—and I hope with the support of all members of this House—is work very carefully and also very urgently in close co-operation with our provincial partners, under whose jurisdiction this falls, to ensure that these heart-wrenching reports mean that as a country we turn the page—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:44
Jagmeet Singh - 12:44

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, I want to clarify one point in the member's question. Canadian Crown corporations are not Liberal, not Conservative and not partisan.
One of the strengths of Canada is that we have non-partisan government institutions, and they serve us extremely well. Our—
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:45
Jagmeet Singh - 12:45

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, as I said at the outset, the ownership structure of long-term care facilities needs to be on the table. Everything does.
I also want to emphasize how important it is for us to do what we have been doing, which is to work very closely with the provinces, under whose jurisdiction this falls. In just the past 24 hours, I have spoken with Premier Ford, Premier Horgan and Premier Moe, and our conversation included long-term care facilities.
...Less
Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:46
Bruce Stanton - 13:40

Lib. (ON)
...More
I'd like to thank the member opposite for her excellent point.
Our government is very committed to removing barriers to interprovincial trade. It's something that we have been working on with the premiers. Obviously the coronavirus has taken precedence in recent weeks, but it's a priority. It's the right thing to do.
...Less
Tracy Gray - 13:40

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, it is absolutely right and appropriate for first ministers, who have been meeting every week for more than two months, to be focusing on the urgent threat posed by the coronavirus.
However, I agree with the member opposite that we need to lift barriers to interprovincial trade. That's something we're committed to doing and to working on with the premiers.
...Less
Tracy Gray - 13:41
Taylor Bachrach - 13:58

Lib. (ON)
...More
What we do acknowledge is the essential role municipalities play in our country at all times, and the particularly essential role they play today as our country gets ready to restart our economy.
We are working closely with the municipalities to talk about ways we can support them and are working closely with the provinces, in whose jurisdiction the municipalities fall.
...Less
Taylor Bachrach - 13:59

Lib. (ON)
...More
Let me just say again, Mr. Chair, that we are extremely alive to the importance of municipalities in our economy. We are very aware of the difficult financial situation they find themselves in, and we are very aware of how important it is to keep our municipalities functioning, particularly as we move into the restart.
We're working with municipalities and are urging them to work with their provinces, as we are doing too.
...Less
Bruce Stanton - 14:00
Taylor Bachrach - 14:00

Lib. (ON)
...More
Mr. Chair, the federal government very much understands and appreciates the importance of municipalities. We are prepared to support them. Provinces need to do their share too.
...Less
Bruce Stanton - 14:00