43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 009 Monday, October 5, 2020 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 511 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, October 5, 2020 The House met at 11 a.m. pened. Communities across Windsor—Essex came together and, with the help of 10,000 volunteers, collected over two million pounds of canned goods and donations to help feed the most vul‐ nerable. Prayer SPEECH FROM THE THRONE ● (1105) [English] RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY The House resumed from October 1 consideration of the motion for an address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to her speech at the opening of the session. Mr. Blake Richards: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As per Standing Order 43(2)(a), I am indicating that the Conser‐ vative caucus's 20-minute speaking slots for the remainder of this debate on the Speech from the Throne will be divided in two. Mr. Irek Kusmierczyk (Parliamentary Secretary to the Min‐ ister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Brampton East. As members can see, the residents of Windsor—Tecumseh are incredibly resilient and incredibly compassionate. Our community I am honoured to rise in the House today as we mark the opening was able to weather this storm in part because we felt we had a of the second session of this remarkable 43rd Parliament; a Parlia‐ partner and friend in the federal government in Ottawa. Since ment unlike any other before it. March, our government worked at lightning speed designing new The COVID-19 pandemic has created one of the most challeng‐ programs and benefits to support Canadian workers and businesses ing health and economic crises our country has ever faced, and in through this challenging period. As the member of Parliament for cross-border communities like Windsor—Tecumseh, we have felt Windsor—Tecumseh, my goal was to ensure that our constituents' the full force of COVID-19's terrible impact. As a proud manufac‐ voices were heard and reflected in the decisions being made in Ot‐ turing region, many of our workers did not have the ability or the tawa. Each day, we spoke with countless residents, workers, busi‐ choice to take their work home during the shutdown; either one was ness owners, organizations, mayors, farmers and nurses. Each in the factory or one was not. The closure of the U.S. border not night, we transmitted everything we heard directly to cabinet minis‐ only deprived our community of visitors and commerce that keep ters who quickly crafted programs in response, such as the Canada our businesses vibrant, but it also forced the gut-wrenching separa‐ emergency response benefit, which helped nearly nine million tion of families and loved ones at a time when they were needed the Canadians keep the lights on and cover the cost of rent, groceries most. As a region with the largest concentration of greenhouses in and other expenses. Three million-plus Canadian employees remain North America and hence the largest concentration of temporary connected to their employers through the Canada emergency wage foreign workers, we saw how quickly and ferociously COVID out‐ subsidy program. I spoke with workers at Ford and FCA's Windsor breaks could spread in the agriculture sector. assembly plant, and small business owners like Mike, the founder of Advance Electric and Controls, who said that the wage subsidy Few communities in Canada faced all these forces at once, but was a lifeline that kept the company going and took care of fami‐ we more than faced these challenges. In the face of COVID-19, the lies. Restaurants, cycle shops and hair salons were able to continue residents of Windsor—Tecumseh rallied together like never before, because of the wage subsidy and because of the $40,000 emergency and here is just one incredible example. On June 27, a miracle hap‐ business loan that supported over 750,000 businesses. 512 COMMONS DEBATES October 5, 2020 The Address When we designed the programs, we did not always get it right I am proud that our federal investments have helped these essen‐ the first time, but we kept listening to Canadians and kept adapting tial organizations continue their vital work during the pandemic. to make sure we protected the health and livelihood of Canadians They are what makes our country so great and they have a strong and Canadian businesses. While the pandemic has certainly ex‐ partner in our government. That has been the signature approach: posed major weaknesses in our systems and institutions, it also working together, all hands on deck, partnering with community or‐ brought to light an incredible sense of community. Signs popped up ganizations, collaborating with the province and working together on lawns and in windows across Windsor—Tecumseh thanking es‐ with our mayors. This has been a true team Canada approach. sential front-line workers. Manufacturing companies in Windsor— Essex converted their operations to produce PPE and medical sup‐ plies. Windsor Mold Group partnered with the federal government to produce two million face shields for health care workers. Hiram Walker and Wolfhead Distillery shifted production from whisky to When Mayor Dilkens and Mayor McNamara told me that the hand sanitizer. Ford Motor Company, CenterLine, Cavalier Tool city of Windsor and the town of Tecumseh, like many cities and and Valiant began manufacturing face shields, face masks and pro‐ towns across Canada, were struggling under the costs of COVID, tective clothing. The Windsor Essex Sewing Force recently pieced we listened and we got to work. Within weeks our government put together its 25,000th mask. It is inspiring but not surprising to see forward $19 billion in safe restart funds to help municipalities. Our the number of local companies that stepped up. two communities of Windsor and Tecumseh received close to $19 million to help keep services going. When it became clear that the pandemic was impacting low-in‐ come women, seniors, persons with disabilities and those experi‐ encing homelessness, our government crafted the $350-million emergency community support fund to leverage the great work of charities and local not-for-profits to support vulnerable neighbours. When Ontario opened schools back up and parents were worried about the safety of their children, our government provided $2 bil‐ ● (1110) lion in a safe return to class funding. Our local Catholic and public In our region alone, over $2.3 million in community support school boards received $6 million to purchase PPE and retrofit their funding was distributed to local organizations through trusted local classrooms to make them more safe for our children. partners the United Way of Windsor-Essex and the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation. Lorraine Goddard, Lisa Kolody and their teams were chosen based on their commitment to collaboration and an ability to respond quickly to emerging needs in our community. What I am most proud of is not just what our government has The local Alzheimer's society and several other organizations done to help Windsor—Tecumseh during the pandemic; what I am collaborated on the Windsor-Essex seniors call assurance program, proud of is the vision we have outlined in the Speech from the which provided outreach and social support to seniors in isolation Throne of what we are going to do next. The vision outlined in the due to COVID. Speech from the Throne feels like it was written by a resident of Windsor—Tecumseh, for the community of Windsor—Tecumseh. Big Brothers Big Sisters developed a virtual learning program for at-risk youth in priority neighbourhoods. The Arts Council received funding for their art share initiative, which helps grow Black and indigenous cultural spaces, connec‐ Protecting Canadians from COVID-19 remains our top priority, tions and professional development opportunities. which is why we are accelerating the production and distribution of vaccines, COVID testing and PPE. At the same time, we have com‐ Family Services developed the COVID-19 counselling support mitted to developing an affordable Canada-wide early learning and line to help residents access much-needed professional counselling child care system that works for parents and their kids. Establishing services. national standards for long-term care and accelerating the national universal pharmacare program will provide seniors the level of care Since the start of the pandemic over 50,000 children and adults they deserve, while lifting the burden of expensive medications for received food assistance in Windsor-Essex. In April, the Prime all Canadians. Minister announced the federal investment of $100 million to cre‐ ate an emergency food security fund to boost the efforts of local food banks. The Windsor Essex Food Bank Association received over $500,000 in direct funding and purchased food from the emer‐ gency fund. This important investment will allow June and her One pillar of the government's vision is to protect jobs, workers team at the Unemployed Help Centre to continue operating drive- and their livelihoods. Modernizing and expanding the EI system, through food hubs, ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbour‐ while at the same time establishing a Canada recovery benefit, cre‐ hoods and neighbours have access to fresh food throughout the ates a safety net for workers not able to work, for those not eligible winter. for EI and for families taking care of loved ones. October 5, 2020 COMMONS DEBATES 513 The Address There are two additional key commitments that will have a huge talks about the extension of the wage subsidy to protect workers impact on the residents of Windsor—Tecumseh.