Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland promises to close the loopholes in the system for artists and seniors, as demanded by the Bloc Québécois, its only dance partner, to try to get its bill on the future adopted before the holidays. pandemic aid.
“Our government understands the importance of the cultural sector especially, but not only, for Quebec. We agree on what we must do, ”said Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland during her testimony before the federal finance committee on Thursday.
She was responding to the Bloc Québécois MP for Joliette, Gabriel Ste-Marie, who pointed out the lack of direct assistance to artists working as self-employed workers in the Liberal bill. Ms. Freeland reiterated her campaign promise of specific “transitional aid” to artists whose livelihoods are still compromised by health measures. She still did not mention any timeline.
Introduced at the end of November, Bill C-2 renews certain wage and rent subsidies for companies that have lost the most income, for those affected by a new lockdown or for those in specific sectors of the economy. Companies in the cultural sector would thus be entitled to it, such as theaters, cinemas or museums.
The text was the object of criticism from all the opposition parties, but the minister took particular care to respond to those of the Bloc Québécois in her opening speech in committee on Thursday. The Trudeau government, re-elected as a minority in September, needs the support of at least one opposition party to push its bills through the Commons. And unlike the NDP, the Bloc has not closed the door to supporting C-2.
“You touched on the subjects in your speech, thank you,” remarked MP Gabriel Ste-Marie. “It was intentional,” the minister replied cordially. I want to thank you for the serious and collaborative approach. Maybe we won’t always agree, but I appreciate the constructive approach. “
Promise for seniors
Another condition put forward by the Bloc Québécois to support the bill was to resolve the situation of seniors who lost their Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) this year because they received emergency benefit amounts during the pandemic.
“At the technical level, at the technological level, we have discovered that it is a somewhat complicated problem,” explained the Minister. I am ready to make a public commitment to you that this is a problem for our most vulnerable seniors and we are in the process of implementing a solution. “
Chrystia Freeland did not say when this issue would be resolved, or if an announcement is scheduled on the subject during her update on Canada’s public finances next Tuesday.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) also pressed the government to demand the reinstatement of the GIS for an estimated 90,000 low-income seniors in the country. However, this party excludes any support for C-2, failing to see it as the renewal of other direct aid programs.
“Without having an alternative [comme une réforme de l’Assurance emploi], we are against cutting aid to people during the pandemic, ”said its leader, Jagmeet Singh.
Other billions
The Conservative Party, for its part, has very clearly shared its concern that the federal government is spending too much money, the alleged cause of rising inflation in Canada. The tense discussions in committee between the Conservative finance critic, Pierre Poilievre, and Minister Freeland were interrupted by multiple calls for order, sometimes to end the first boom in house prices, sometimes to ask the second to answer more succinctly.
“It is important for Canadians not to be deceived by a false narrative,” replied Ms. Freeland, arguing that pandemic programs were necessary to get the Canadian economy back on its feet.
Conservative Party spokesperson Axel Rioux told the Duty that his party is also ready to support C-2, in particular in exchange for an investigation into the benefits received by criminals and better measures to prevent emergency aid payments to people “able to work”.
The cost of the measures proposed by C-2 is estimated at $ 7.4 billion. According to an assessment by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, released Tuesday, the bulk of this sum (5.5 billion) is intended to be provided in subsidies to businesses.