SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 13

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 8, 2021 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 13 - Dec/8/21
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:20:15 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, I will just tell the minister that the CBSA identified 46,000 people from April to June of this year who landed in a U.S. border airport and immediately crossed the border into Canada by land. First, is the minister aware that there are two different rules for entry?
52 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
  • Dec/8/21 8:20:30 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, with some regret, but with respect, I will say that this is something we know, yet the members on the other side asked just a few days ago that we remove all tests and all quarantine measures. That would not have been the right thing to do.
49 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:20:48 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, with all due respect, we asked the minister if he was going to harmonize the tests with the U.S.. I just did that right now. Is there a plan on harmonizing tests with the U.S.?
39 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
  • Dec/8/21 8:20:56 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, our first priority is to protect the health and safety of Canadians. That is why we are taking those measures. If I have more time later, I will explain why those measures are the right ones for Canadians.
40 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, I will try to talk about the independent Canadian travel advisers, 12,000 of them. Most of them are women and some are in the LGBT community. Has the Minister of Tourism heard from them at all?
39 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, we went to the wall for independent travel agents during the pandemic, and we will continue to represent their interests.
22 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:31 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that they have not been captured under any of the government's programs over the last 20 months?
24 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:38 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, I am in discussion with members of the independent travel agency. We have heard their concerns and we are working on them.
24 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:46 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, will he commit to correcting this tonight at committee?
11 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/8/21 8:21:54 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, officials are working on this matter. We are in constant contact with members of the independent travel agency, and we will work on this matter.
27 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:00 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, he has an opportunity to correct this at committee. Will he correct this tonight, yes or no?
19 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:06 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, we will work on this matter, as I have said.
12 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:11 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, the independent Canadian travel advisers have come to the government. They have been quite vocal. They are not included in any of the programs that the government has put forward for Canadians. Will he commit to correcting that tonight, yes or no?
44 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:26 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, we worked with independent travel agents in the negotiations with the airlines in the LEEFF funding. We are in constant conversation with this sector of the economy. We will continue to work with these very important entrepreneurs.
39 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, is the Minister of Tourism concerned about the ever-changing travel restrictions and the impact they are having on the industry in Canada?
25 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
  • Dec/8/21 8:22:51 p.m.
  • Watch
I have already answered that question, Mr. Chair. What I did not say, however, is that we are going to do the right things for Canadians, as we have done for the last 20 months. This is absolutely important. There are no risks to take when it comes to protecting the safety and health of Canadians.
56 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:23:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, in typical fashion, Canadians will know that the government hastily held a press conference on November 30 to announce mandatory arrivals testing. I will start with a simple question. When will 100% of arrivals be tested in Canada?
40 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
  • Dec/8/21 8:23:22 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, as I have said repeatedly over the last few days, this is ramping up quickly. Just last Friday, we increased the testing capacity by 60% and we will soon reach the 100% target that we have announced.
39 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • Dec/8/21 8:23:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, we are starting to understand more about this from the industry and the media that are getting used to the Liberals not knowing what they are doing on this file. Can the minister confirm to the House that if take-home tests were used for fully vaccinated arrivals and not from the 10 countries, we might be over the 70% today?
63 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
  • Dec/8/21 8:23:55 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Chair, indeed the member is correct. We are using a range of either home tests or on-site testing as the facilities permit.
24 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border