44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 7, 2021 10:00AM
- Dec/7/21 6:59:35 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I want to inform the government members that my questions will be primarily for the President of the Treasury Board and the Deputy Minister of Finance, who is also the Minister of Tourism. I also want to say that I do not need the timing of questions and answers to be precise but that I hope that the government will try to respond within a reasonable amount of time.
My first question is for the President of the Treasury Board. Again, I congratulate her on her speech and on her appointment to this important position.
When the House passed Bill C‑30, the budget implementation bill, in the spring, she decided to slash the budget of the Canadian Securities Transition Office in anticipation of its closure. Senior officials told the Standing Committee on Finance that it would be shut down very soon.
Six months have passed and the supplementary estimates do not contain more funding for the office, and I understand that it is set to close. My question is the following. Has the Canadian Securities Transition Office closed down in accordance with the legislation passed by Parliament? If not, when will it close down?
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- Dec/7/21 7:01:42 p.m.
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Madam Chair, my next question could be handled by the Associate Minister of Finance.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the House has passed a number of bills to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, and to businesses affected by the pandemic.
The House is currently considering legislation that would extend the Canada emergency wage subsidy and the Canada emergency rent subsidy, subject to certain changes in the selection criteria.
My question to the minister deals specifically with self-employed workers in the cultural sector, who are not getting any support under the bills currently before us. I would like to ask the minister what the government plans to do to support these people who cannot be left behind.
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- Dec/7/21 7:03:14 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank the minister for his answer. I would like to point out that the Bloc Québécois is calling on the government to make a public and formal commitment to support self-employed workers in the cultural sector and to not leave them behind. A few years ago, we asked the government to distinguish between employed and self-employed workers. In Quebec, this is what we see in most cases. It is such an important sector that we think it is absolutely necessary to protect it and to help people get through the pandemic in order to preserve their expertise.
There is something else to consider in terms of supporting businesses and workers affected by the pandemic. In the bill currently before us, there is special concern for the tourism and hospitality sector, which includes the entire cultural sector. This is a well-defined initiative and we welcome it. However, we do have some concerns about other sectors that are very important to us and that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. I will give a few examples.
Looking at the figures published by manufacturing associations, we see that the aerospace sector has a long way to go before it gets back to pre‑pandemic revenue levels. A number of other manufacturing sectors are also struggling, including the many companies that are facing a shortage of semiconductor‑based chips. They are struggling and facing cash flow and labour retention problems. They have skilled labour, and they do not want to lose it.
My preamble was long, but here is my question. Currently, these sectors do not have the same support as the tourism and hospitality sector. Today, in committee, senior officials confirmed that the Governor in Council has the power to amend such legislation by regulation. Will the government commit to doing so if there is a demonstrated need?
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- Dec/7/21 7:06:15 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank the minister for her answers.
Once again, we in the Bloc Québécois expect a formal commitment from the government to be prepared to step in and amend by regulation the parameters of the upcoming bills passed to support the sectors most affected. As a society we cannot afford to turn our backs on them. The purpose of assistance programs is to collectively support these strategic industries so that they can get through the pandemic. That is really important to us.
Now I would like to point to another situation. Since the summer, we have all heard from seniors in our ridings who are experiencing really terrible financial hardship. Some are in disastrous situations, for example working seniors who receive the guaranteed income supplement. When the pandemic kit, those who had to stop working were told to apply for the CERB. However, the benefits they receive are taken into account in the calculation of the guaranteed income supplement they are entitled to. The government is telling them that they received too much money, that either they pay it back or their guaranteed income supplement will be clawed back.
Among the points I would like to raise, I wish to touch on three issues concerning the Canada emergency response benefit and the guaranteed income supplement for seniors. First, the Bloc Québécois is asking that CERB payments be considered employment income for the purposes of calculating the GIS, so that recipients are not penalized as much. Otherwise, seniors will fall well below the poverty line and will be unable to make ends meet. The criteria were poorly explained, which has caused a lot of problems.
Second, the guaranteed income supplement should be recalculated immediately, regardless of whether seniors dealt with Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency. At first, depending on the agency, applications could not be made. Now, any applications are systematically rejected, as though by a computer.
Third, it should be possible to make repayments over three years, rather than over the current year. Some seniors earning $1,500 a month have to pay back $800 or $900 a month, which leaves them with just $600 to cover rent and living expenses. That is an impossible situation.
Is the government committed to correcting this injustice? If so, how, and when?
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- Dec/7/21 7:11:43 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank the minister for his response. We obviously expect the government to take quick action to rectify the inequity associated with CERB and the GIS. This is essentially a humanitarian issue. Some seniors in my riding say they are no longer able to pay for medication, even though Quebec has pharmacare. They are therefore choosing to go to the hospital, since that is the only place where they can get their medication covered.
One of my Bloc Québécois colleagues told me about a woman who was no longer able to pay rent, so she had to sell her furniture and move into a friend's room. Once she is able to pay her debts, she will not be able to find housing comparable to what she had before, given the rising cost of rent. She will have to buy new furniture and settle in a new place. These are dire, urgent situations. I am pleased to hear the minister make some commitments.
I have one last question and the government can use the remaining time for its response. The provinces pay around 80% of health care and the federal government pays around 20%. When will the federal government commit to funding 35% of health care spending?
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