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Results: 701 - 800 of 1564
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.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to remind the member for Carleton that going into this crisis, Canada had the lowest unemployment rate we have had in 40 years, and I believe that there were a few Conservative governments during that period. They did not hit our record.
When it comes to international comparison, the better metric is labour force participation. Canada is at 78.5%, Australia is only at 77.5%, the U.S. is at 73% and South Korea is at 62.1%. We are higher than all of those countries.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we absolutely believe that everyone in Canada needs to pay their fair share, all the more so as we are fighting together against a global pandemic. That is why in the throne speech we committed to working to identify additional ways to tax extreme wealth inequality, including by concluding our work to limit the stock option deduction for wealthy individuals at large established corporations, and of course taxing the global digital giants.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I would never be condescending to any member in the House, particularly to members talking about our small businesses.
I absolutely agree with the member opposite that now, at the time of the coronavirus crisis, they need our support. We committed in the throne speech to enhancing CEBA, and we are very hard at work on that. We will have more to say very soon.
We also committed to further support on fixed costs and to targeted support for businesses facing new lockdown measures. All of that will happen.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, contrary to the Conservatives' partisan spin, our economic policy is working. In fact, just last week, DBRS Morningstar reaffirmed Canada's AAA credit rating, saying:
[We view] the overall fiscal response positively, as the stimulus has been timely in delivery, temporary in design, and sufficient in size given the scale of the shock.
That is an independent ratings agency reaffirming our AAA. That is who to trust.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, it is simply absurd to suggest that a credit ratings agency is somehow financially benefiting from our government's policies. I mean come on.
If the member for Carleton does not like hearing quotes from external experts, let me quote someone the member may prefer listening to: himself. I would like to remind people that in March, he said, “You might want to address [COVID-19] with big, fat government programs. We're Conservatives, so we don't believe in that.” Let me say to the nine million Canadians who benefited from the CERB, that is what—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government is very aware of the urgent need for rapid testing. We know that rapid tests can save lives and help keep our economy strong, but it is also very important for all of us to appreciate how valuable it is to live in a country where the independence of our health regulatory authorities is respected. Our lives quite literally depend on that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely aware of the gravity of the global pandemic that we are fighting together. That is why, in the throne speech last week, we were very clear that we will do whatever it takes to support Canadians in the fight against this virus, to acquire essential vaccines, and to work closely with provinces, territories and municipalities on stepped-up testing and tracing efforts.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I do not know about the members opposite, but speaking for the members on this side of the House, I can say that we have all been very hard at work over the past six weeks. We put together the safe restart agreement at the beginning of the summer because we knew that a second wave would be coming. That is why we knew we needed to give the provinces $19 billion to help us get ready together. Then, just a few weeks ago, we knew it was a priority to get kids safely back to school, which was another $2 billion.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we have made significant investments in health care, and we will continue to make significant investments in this area, whether in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.
Once again, my colleague is trying to start a fight between Quebec City and Ottawa. We do not want that. We want to work together. That is what we are doing now, and that is what we will do in the future.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I too have a great deal of respect for my hon. colleague.
However, I cannot agree with his comments that everyone should just look after their own affairs. We are in the midst of a global crisis, the biggest crisis since the Second World War. This is a time for all members and all provincial, territorial, municipal and federal leaders to work together in close collaboration. That is our approach.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we are not blackmailing anyone. We are co-operating and collaborating. That is why we made significant investments in health in Quebec and in all the provinces and territories.
In the safe restart agreement, $13 billion of the allotted $19 billion will go directly to health and the fight against COVID-19. That is true collaboration.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we agree with all members of the House and Quebec leaders that we are facing a very serious crisis with COVID-19. We must all work together. That is our government's approach.
That is why, for example, as part of the safe restart agreement, we gave more than $3 billion directly to Quebec to help it fight COVID-19. We will continue to do that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, we are not looking to divide our country. We want to work together, because this is a global crisis, a national crisis. That said, as we stated in the throne speech, we agree that people who are in a position to do so must do their part for Canada. This is why we mentioned taxes in the throne speech.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I want to start by saying I really believe strongly that today, at a time when we are confronting a global pandemic and our deepest economic crisis since the Second World War, is a time for all of us to bear a deep responsibility for uniting and not dividing Canadians. We also believe, of course, that we all have to pay our fair share. That is why in the Speech from the Throne we talked about taxing Internet giants and we talked about taxing stock options, and we are going to do that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by pointing out just how much our government is doing for workers across Canada. Our government supported nearly nine million Canadians through the CERB; our government helped 3.5 million Canadians keep their jobs through the wage subsidy program; and our government helped 750 small businesses pay their rent. Clearly, we are here for Canadians, and we will continue to be here for them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
Our economic recovery plan is working. Members do not need to take my word for it. I want to read a quote from Lucy Iacovelli, Canadian managing partner of KPMG's national tax practice. She said, “Our clients have told us that the federal wage subsidy program is helping them not only to retain their employees, but also to cope with pandemic-related costs and rehire workers who have been laid off”.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the important question.
Right now, as our country is facing a global pandemic, it is important for us to unite rather than divide. It is more important than ever. Having said that, it is also really important for everyone in Canada to pay their fair share. That is why in the Speech from the Throne we committed to taxing Internet giants, to taxing stock options paid to executives at mature companies and to being sure that we have an inclusive society and an inclusive economy.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the economic support we have been providing to Canadians during the pandemic has not only prevented a great deal of human misery. It is also driving our economic recovery, and the member does not need to take my word for it. TD Bank economist Ksenia Bushmeneva said that the “...federal government income support programs...have so far been paramount for averting a delinquency tsunami” and protecting the economy.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me remind the member for Carleton and all Canadians of what he said on March 8 when asked about what support the government should offer to those very Canadians hurt by the pandemic. He said: “...You might want to address [COVID-19] with big, fat government programs. We're Conservatives, so we don't believe in that.”
Our government chose to support Canadians, and we are proud of it. I hate to imagine what the Conservatives would have done had they been elected in 2019.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member maybe does not understand is that, in fighting this pandemic, we have asked Canadians to make a really big sacrifice: We have asked Canadians to stay home. We are still asking Canadians to practise social distancing, because the best economic policy is to crush the coronavirus. To make it possible for Canadians to do that, our government is there for them, and we will continue to be.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely committed to supporting Canadians and Canadian businesses throughout this crisis. The mortgage deferrals from our banks have indeed been very helpful to many Canadian families. This is an issue that we are going to continue to be working on.
I also want to point out that the extensive support we have provided to individual Canadians and to Canadian small businesses has helped Canadians get through so far. As we said in the throne speech, we are committed to continuing to be there for Canadians as we fight, as the member opposite points out quite rightly, the second wave.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
As the Prime Minister said yesterday, Canada now knows how to deal with the second wave of COVID-19.
Our priority in terms of both the economy and health is to combat the second wave. That is the responsibility of all members of the House. I would like to point out to Canadians that is also the responsibility of each and every Canadian. We can succeed, but we all have to try to work together.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, as Deputy Prime Minister, part of my job is to be accountable to this chamber when the Prime Minister is not here. It is a privilege for me to answer questions on behalf of the government from members on the other side of the House, and I am very happy to answer any questions the opposition has today.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
The non-partisan public service recommended this structure as the only way to deliver the program in the required time.
Obviously, the way this unfolded was regrettable, and that is why the charity is no longer administering the project.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the non-partisan public service recommended this structure as the only way to deliver the program in the required time. Obviously, the way this unfolded was regrettable, and that is why the charity is no longer administering the project. When it comes to the committee, we are co-operating with it, as we ought to do.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, as we heard clearly last week at committee, it was the non-partisan public service that recommended this structure as the only way to deliver the program in the required time.
Let me also be clear with Canadians that the way this unfolded was regrettable and the charity will no longer be administering the project.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, it is neither. Let me simply be clear. As we heard from Canada's excellent public service last week, it was our non-partisan public service that recommended this structure as the only way to deliver the program in the required time. Obviously, the way this unfolded was regrettable, and that is why it is important for me to assure Canadians that the charity is no longer administering the project.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.
I want to acknowledge how important it is for our government to support Canadians at this time of serious economic crisis.
We understand the importance of supporting Canadians. We are doing that now, and I want to assure the House that we will continue to do so.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I can assure you and all members of the House and all Canadians that our government understands the importance of supporting all Canadians during this very serious economic crisis. We do understand the importance of supporting people with serious illnesses.
We are working on it, and we will keep doing this important work.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.
What our government understands is the importance of helping young Canadians today. Economic history has shown that recessions pose a particular threat to young people, which is why our government is here to support that generation.
That is a promise from our government to all young Canadians.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I will tell you what this government believes in. We understand that economic recessions and depressions pose a particular threat to young people, and that is why we acted swiftly to support young Canadians. I want to say to all young Canadians that we will not allow them to be left behind. We will not allow them to be a lost generation.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, all Albertans should be proud of the contribution that Alberta and Albertans make to Canada's economy. We know that Alberta and the energy sector are an essential part of the strength of our country.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the question of fiscal stabilization and whether it is something that should be updated and modernized is a very good one. Bev Dahlby has done some excellent academic research on that, and it is something that we are looking into.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, as I said, Bev Dahlby has done some great work on this. We are looking carefully into it.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I would like to thank the member for London—Fanshawe for that important question and for pointing out that we are talking about real people. We are talking about Canadians who are really suffering and struggling in what is the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Our government is absolutely committed to providing 10 days of paid sick leave to every single Canadian. That will be paid for fully by the federal government, and that is part of the safe restart discussion we are having with the provinces right now.
Clearly, it would be helpful for workers to have a provincial commitment to ensure that they do not lose their jobs as a consequence of taking this sick leave, which we are prepared to provide. Having that effective conversation with the provinces and territories is very much in the interest of the workers, who I think all of us in the House believe we need to support.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I am quite certain that Canadians and our allies admire the work that we did as a country in renegotiating the new NAFTA. Canada is today the only G7 country that has a trade agreement with every other G7 country. At a time of rising protectionism, at a time when our economy is going through a crisis created by the coronavirus, the fact that we have secured—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, as Canadians know, we are going through an unprecedented global pandemic and it has been incredibly important to communicate clearly with Canadians the measures we all need to take to stay safe—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the money is being spent to communicate clearly with Canadians the extraordinary measures we all need to be safe and to stay safe and well—
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, we are in talks with Quebec and the provinces to decide what we must do together to prepare for a second wave and to ensure a safe and healthy recovery for all Canadians and Quebeckers.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis. Our government knows that Canadians and businesses are going through very trying times. That is why we acted so fast. We have implemented programs to support all Canadians affected by the pandemic.
This unprecedented crisis demands an unprecedented response. Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan is among the largest in the G7. We have introduced measures for workers, parents, students and for businesses, large and small. We are making sure that no one is left behind. Let me provide a few examples.
The Canada emergency response benefit is a major part of the government's COVID-19 economic response plan. It is meant to help stabilize the economy by supporting Canadians as they pay for essentials, like housing and groceries, and will help businesses across the country to pay their bills and keep their doors open. The emergency response benefit provides $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who have lost their incomes because of COVID-19. More than seven million Canadians have already received money through this essential benefit.
We are also boosting the Canada child benefit by $300 per child for over three million Canadian families. That is an extra $550 per family on average. We are supplementing the GST credit with a special payment for low- and modest-income families, averaging about $400 for single people and $600 for couples. Many people have already received their money.
We are also continuing to work with the provinces and territories to share the cost of a temporary wage top-up for low-income workers deemed essential in the fight against COVID-19. That includes Quebec and British Columbia, where the provincial governments have already implemented direct wage support for those workers.
We are also helping Canadian employers and employees deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Canada emergency wage subsidy, the government hopes to prevent further job losses and encourage employers to rehire workers previously laid off because of COVID-19. The idea is to ensure that Canadian businesses are well positioned to fully resume their operations after the crisis. The emergency wage subsidy covers 75% of employees' earnings, up to $847 a week, for employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, or 30% in April or May.
In addition, the Canada emergency business account provides up to $40,000 in interest-free loans to small businesses, including non-profit organizations. Since the second week of April, small business owners have been able to apply for assistance through the Canada emergency business account at their bank or credit union. Businesses can access this account through their primary lender, with which they already have a business relationship.
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy and, really, of our society. They give our communities their character, provide good jobs and support families across the country. That is why I am pleased to report that the Canada emergency commercial rent assistance will give eligible small businesses affected by COVID-19 another break. It will lower their rent by 75%. We are able to offer this support thanks to an agreement in principle that our government reached with all provinces and territories last week. That is team Canada at work.
The Government of Canada is taking strong, immediate and effective action to protect Canadians and Canadian businesses from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures I have outlined today will help Canadian employers retain or rehire their employees, as many have done already. This is the key to our response plan. By being able to hold on to their workers, Canadian companies will be in a better position to bounce back quickly after the crisis and many more Canadians will have the security of knowing that they still have a job.
Another aspect of our response that is really important is that we have not and will not hesitate to make adjustments to enhance our programs. We want to make sure that everyone is protected and we are working to ensure that people and businesses do not fall through the cracks. Our response has been guided by the principle that speed trumps perfection and that making useful modifications as we go along is a feature and not a bug.
That is why we are offering assistance to students and recent graduates affected by COVID-19. A few weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of students across the country were getting ready to start a summer job. For some of these young Canadians, this would be their first opportunity to take on challenges and succeed in the workplace. For others, this job would be a bridge to their career.
Today, these same students are having a hard time finding meaningful employment. Many are worried, and they are wondering how they can pay their rent and save for school.
In March, the number of post-secondary students who were employed dropped by 28% compared to February 2020. Some of these students are eligible for the Canada emergency response benefit. These young people are at a pivotal time in their lives, and we must do what we can to give them a promising future. The government intends to do something about that.
We are proposing the new Canada emergency student benefit as part of Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan. This benefit would provide eligible Canadian students with $1,250 a month from May to August. Eligible students with dependants or disabilities will receive a higher amount.
The government also intends to launch the Canada student service grant to encourage students to volunteer. This service grant will provide up to $5,000 to support recipients' post-secondary education costs in the fall.
We also need to look beyond this summer and improve existing financial assistance programs available to students. That is what we intend to do. Our plan includes doubling Canada student grants for all eligible students in 2020-21 to $6,000 for full-time students and up to $3,600 for those studying part time.
The government recognizes that many families will have a tough time setting money aside in 2020 to help their children go to school, and we want to support the next generation of Canadian leaders. We plan to enhance Canada student loan programs by increasing the maximum weekly amount available from $210 to $350.
Overall, the measures I have just described represent nearly $9 billion for post-secondary students and recent graduates.
During these unprecedented times, we will continue to carefully monitor all COVID-19-related developments. Protecting Canadians' health and meeting their immediate needs remain our priorities. Once this crisis is over, we will be ready to work with Canadians and kick-start the economy in order to build an even stronger country.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
I would like to start by sharing a personal experience. As the daughter of a farmer, I worked on the family farm during the summer. Obviously, I worked without pay, because it was the family farm. I am well aware that it is in the interest of farms to hire students, as this benefits both farm owners and students.
We firmly believe, and I think all members would agree, that Canadian students want to work. The problem is that many students will have a hard time finding work because of COVID-19.
That is why this program is so important. We also need to make sure that it does not act as a deterrent to students. We will keep a close eye on that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his excellent question and observation.
The answer is obviously yes. The government analyzed the structure and the short-term impact of the CESB on students to ensure that the measure meets its objectives while still encouraging students to work. Students are encouraged to work so that they can earn an income, and adjustments will be considered as required.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the coronavirus is a global pandemic and, as such, poses a profound security threat to Canada. For that reason, Canada's intelligence community has been deeply engaged in informing the government's actions. That is why in January the incident response group was convened by the Prime Minister, where briefings were shared and discussed.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite about how important our forestry sector is. The crisis today reminds us of how essential products of that industry are.
The pulp that is produced by Harmac on Vancouver Island is an essential input into many of the medical goods which are saving lives today. Over the past week, I have had many discussions with leaders in our forestry sector and with the provinces about what we can do to support the industry today.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, our government is far from indifferent to Canada's oil and gas sector. We know how essential the energy sector is to our country and how the energy sector is the source of hundreds of thousands of well-paying, middle-class jobs.
That is why last week our government announced unprecedented support for workers in the energy sector in the form of support for orphan wells. This work is long overdue, and let me point out to the member opposite that it was welcomed by the Premier of Alberta.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, this is a global pandemic. That is why international co-operation and information sharing are absolutely essential. We can all help each other and save lives by gathering and sharing the most accurate information possible. Having said that, decisions about Canada are made by Canadians based on the advice of Canada's world-renowned experts.
Finally, I think everyone in this House appreciates that democracies are transparent in a way authoritarian regimes can never be.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, as the member knows, this is the largest and most complex repatriation effort that Canada has undertaken in recent history. To date, working with all members of the House, because all of us have constituents who have been touched by this, we have facilitated the repatriation of over 19,000 Canadians, on 144 flights, from 72 countries. We continue to work with our international partners to get as many Canadians home as we can.
I want to emphasize one thing to all those Canadians who are able to come home, which is that everyone is subject to a mandatory quarantine order for 14 days upon the return home. We want those Canadians to come home. As Canadians, we all have a right to return to our country, but we have to be very careful that those returns do not compromise the health of Canadians.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I am not going to offer precise numbers of how many people will come back from India. As the member opposite knows, it is a very difficult situation in that country. It is difficult for Canadians; it is difficult for Indians. We are very aware of the situation of Canadians there and are working to safely return the people we can. I want to emphasize how important it is that anyone who comes back must obey quarantine orders.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, let me start by pointing out that the coronavirus is a global pandemic which knows no ideology and in order to best fight that pandemic and best protect Canadians, it is essential to work with and share information with all countries where that pandemic exists. Having said that, it is also very important for all of us as members of the international community to share as much information, and information which is as accurate as possible, in order to protect our own people and also in order to protect the rest of the world.
I hope that all members of this House would agree with my next statement. I believe very firmly that it is in the DNA of democracies to be far more transparent than any authoritarian regime can ever be. That is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in democracy, and I think that is why we are here in this House this afternoon.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the long-awaited announcement of $1.7 billion for an active well cleanup and $750 million for methane reduction are very positive steps for the energy sector for Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. They do not need to take my word for it. I am going to quote Premier Jason Kenney, who said, “Thank you to the Prime Minister...for announcing $1.7 billion to accelerate cleanup of orphaned and abandoned wells in Canada's energy sector. This is critical to getting thousands of people in the energy sector back to work immediately.”
The premier is right, and we are glad to be contributing to that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the member opposite is quite right. In our conversations with the premiers of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the need for support for small northern airlines has absolutely been emphasized.
As the member opposite knows, some of these communities are fly-in, fly-out communities and are dependent on airlines for their food. Some of the business operations of those airlines are compromised because of travel restrictions, including the very tight and, I would say, very admirable restrictions these northern communities have introduced to protect themselves. For that reason, last week we announced a significant support package for the north, in part specifically to support airlines.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, those duties are indeed a real issue for the softwood lumber industry, which is going through a very difficult time. The member is right to point out how much we need that industry for its raw materials for PPE and toilet paper. It is great that Canada produces it.
We are in what I would say is very regular discussion with the U.S. about our trade dispute, and we continue to win cases.
We are also talking with leaders in the industry about ways we can support the industry.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, that is another excellent question. One of the things I would say has been happening in recent days and weeks as we have been working with our North American partners on the border relationship has been a heightened appreciation on both sides of the border of the extent to which the security of Canada and the United States is dependent on our working together and our NORAD relationships.
Therefore, I would say that that question is very much on the agenda and is being discussed very positively with our neighbours.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, as my colleague has said, the government has been closely tracking the incidents of the novel coronavirus and its spread. The Public Health Agency of Canada alerted all provincial health authorities on January 2, and on January 14 the Public Health Agency convened a meeting of the Canadian Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health.
To the member's point, in January the first meeting of the incident response group was convened by the Prime Minister. That is an emergency incident response group, and of course intelligence information is shared there.
Beyond that, the confidentiality of our intelligence sharing prevents me from going into detail.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I have been very happy with the team Canada approach of all Canadians.
I would like to particularly single out the premiers. First and foremost, health care is a provincial responsibility. The premiers and provincial and territorial governments have had the first-line responsibility of dealing with this crisis. As the member opposite knows, most of the premiers are not members of my party. I think they have worked extremely collaboratively with one another and the federal government, and I commend them for that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, indeed, as all of us are rightly focused on the front-line health care battle against the coronavirus, we do have to remember that this is a time when our information systems are particularly important and vulnerable.
Our government is very focused on that. Both the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Safety are working with the provinces and are very aware of the fact that we need to monitor our cybersecurity. One other security threat I will share with everyone here is scamming, which is a danger. People are afraid and vulnerable, and that is something we are focused on as well.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the issue of federal correctional institutions and the coronavirus is another really important one. We have seen some worrying outbreaks in federal correctional institutions and have been working particularly closely with the Province of B.C. on the institutions there. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bonnie Henry for the very good advice she has been giving us about those institutions.
When it comes to inmates, let me emphasize that nothing is more important than the safety of Canadians. That is the first and foremost concern the Minister of Public Safety has in mind.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I do aspire to be deputy government House leader to work closely with our House leader on managing questions on this side of the House. He is laughing, and it shows that it is true.
I would ask the member opposite to please share those reports with me and the Minister of Public Safety. The situation with regard to the coronavirus in federal correctional institutions is one we do need to watch closely, as there have been outbreaks there. At the same time, it is absolutely essential to protect the safety of Canadians.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the agreement did not in any way change the original agreement. It simply rolled it over for 30 days. As we approach the end of those 30 days, and indeed every day after, we will continue to have a very friendly, very neighbourly conversation with our American neighbours about what to do next.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, today of all days is a day that we should all be very grateful for the service of the RCMP across the country. I will leave it at that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I thank the member for her question.
Even before the coronavirus crisis, we understood the importance of having high-speed Internet, especially for rural communities. I think that everyone, the members here in particular, is aware that the coronavirus has and will continue to completely change the economy.
As the member pointed out, one of those changes will be the increased importance of telework. For that reason, I completely agree that access to high-speed Internet for all Canadians, including those in rural communities, must be a top priority for our government when we begin to relaunch the economy after the crisis. Obviously, it is too soon to start that work right now because of the measures we have taken to protect public health, but I absolutely agree that this must be a priority.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I want to commend the member because people in her region understand that this is a priority for our government. We have already announced an investment of $500 million in this project. The fact that people in the member's region have already submitted an application is a step in the right direction.
I agree that the coronavirus has changed many aspects of our economy and that we need to change how we do things going forward. One thing that will be absolutely crucial will be to further highlight the importance of high-speed Internet access for all Canadians.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, I was due to speak with the minister about this today but she is understandably very much engaged in her response to the tragedy in Nova Scotia.
I also want to take this opportunity, and was looking forward to a chance, to answer a question from the member for New Brunswick Southwest because I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the remarkable thing that a New Brunswick company, LuminUltra, is doing.
LuminUltra in New Brunswick has taken on, at very short notice, the production of reagent. This reagent had been very hard for us to get and LuminUltra is now, one could say, the engine powering coronavirus testing across the country.
On fisheries, I am happy to answer if the member has another question about that.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, first of all, I thank the member for paying that moving tribute. All members in the House join him in this sorrow.
Many of the questions I have heard today have been very helpful. I have particularly been grateful for the questions where people have asked about specific issues, either in their ridings or specific issues in the areas in which they are a critic. Please know that ministers have been listening carefully, and we will get back to members on each of those specific things. That is not the only thing that has been helpful, but that is one of them, and I thank everyone who has been drawing attention to these specific areas.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, perhaps in the bipartisan spirit of the Aileen Carroll tribute we have just heard, I will quote the premier of Ontario, who was rightfully very passionate in denouncing anyone who would seek to price gouge, who would seek to be fraudulent or who would seek to profit off of the pain and suffering of Canadians today. I will begin by denouncing that kind of selfish behaviour in the strongest possible terms, and as a society, we just have to not tolerate anyone behaving that way.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, as the member opposite knows, policing is done principally by the provinces, although of course the RCMP plays an essential role. We are very aware of the fiscal strain that provinces and municipalities are facing and that is something that we are discussing with our provincial partners.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Madam Chair, the orphan wells cleanup was specifically focused on workers, because we are so aware of the concerns of energy workers. However, I absolutely share the concern of the member opposite on the particular challenges the energy sector is facing, and that is something the government is focused on.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, I want to thank my colleague for the question.
I completely agree. I think that the coronavirus crisis has highlighted the importance of having high speed Internet across the country and especially in the regions where this service is still not available.
I agree with my colleague that the Internet is important, not just for young people and workers who use it, but also for our seniors. I believe that families celebrated Easter over the Internet with their seniors, and we must improve access to that service. Even before the crisis, this was a priority for our government and we had announced a $500-million investment. However, I now think that we must do more.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, Canada, as a member of the Five Eyes, as a member of NATO, as a member of NORAD, is a close intelligence partner with all of those allies, very much including the United States, and is privy to a great deal of intelligence. Of course, the global pandemic is an issue that has concerned our intelligence agencies and those of our partners, so we have been in close communication with them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
As I have said, Mr. Chair, our intelligence sharing is very important. Our intelligence sharing with our allies during this global pandemic, which poses particular security challenges, has been very energetic, and we continue to work with them.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, part of the basis on which we are able to work closely with our partners, including when it comes to sharing intelligence, is sharing with Canadians only what we are able to.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, when it comes to border control, our government is very aware of the importance of ensuring that people coming into the country today are subject to mandatory quarantine. That quarantine is being enforced. That includes Canadians and non-Canadians. As Canadians know as well, there are strict limits today on anyone who is not Canadian entering the country.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we became aware that the coronavirus was indeed a threat and that there were a number of places around the world from which we were receiving people who could have the contagion of the coronavirus. That is why at the border we were very clear about giving clear instructions about the need for self-isolation.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, as I hope the member opposite knows, “quarantine” is a very specific legal term, and the measures of quarantine are currently in place. Prior to that obligatory quarantine being in place, incoming travellers, whether they were Canadian or not, were very clearly told to self-isolate.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, guaranteeing our food supply is absolutely essential, particularly at a time of a global pandemic. In terms of designating what are and are not essential services, it is incredibly important for the federal government to work collaboratively with the provinces, and that is what we are doing.
We have issued federal guidelines, which is important, and the provinces are issuing their own guidelines based on provincial realities. That is the way to work co-operatively.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we are very aware of the importance of canola exports to the Canadian economy and I think all of us are more aware than ever of the importance of farmers to Canada.
We continue to work on getting Canadian canola accepted around the world. That includes working with China.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, it is absolutely essential that, first and foremost, we do everything we can to protect the health and lives of Canadians as we fight this first wave of the coronavirus. What that means is that we must practise physical distancing and we have to stay at home. We are well aware, of course, of the economic impact. That is why we are here in the House bringing in today's economic measures. Of course, we need to work on an exit plan, but we can only do that once we know that we have hit and moved past our peak.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we are definitely working on such a plan, as would any prudent government. I will mention some of the things that are going to be necessary as Canada thinks about how we move past the current stage.
We are going to have to work on serological testing. We are going to need to know who has antibodies against this virus and who does not. We are going to need to be aware and realize, as the Prime Minister and our public health officials said in their presentation this week, that it is quite likely there will be one, two or even three additional waves. We are going to need to have a very sophisticated approach.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, we are very aware that there are communities of particularly vulnerable Canadians who need particular support during this crisis. That, of course, includes our veterans, many of whom are also older people and so fall into a category doubly at risk. We are very much focused on them.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the individual Canadians who are making such efforts to reach out to fellow Canadians who are suffering from the necessary isolation.
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Chair, that, I am sad to say, is an excellent question.
One of the prices we are all seeing right now through this period of physical distancing is that more Canadians are suffering from mental health problems. We are very much focused on it. Health Canada is definitely putting forward some measures to be sure to help people at this time.
I also want to encourage individual Canadians to keep doing what they have been doing, which is to help their neighbours, friends and family.
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