Peace River MP takes part in first live COVID-19 committee

ATHABASCA-BARRHEAD-WESTLOCK-Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen has a few concerns about how the federal government's programs designed to help Canadians and more importantly his constituents deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

And on April 29, he had a chance to voice those concerns during a special committee debate in the House of Commons.

Due to safety and social distancing considerations, the debate was limited to 30 MPs. Viersen was one of 11 MPs chosen to represent the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC).

He added he volunteered to be one of CPC's representatives, saying in the future other MPs will get a chance to represent their prospective parties.

MPs agreed on the format of the committee meeting the previous week, deciding that it would meet three times a week, twice via videoconferencing and one in-person.

The April 29 meeting, was the committee's second meeting and the first one in person.

"It was a modified question period or a committee of a whole," he explained.

Except during a question period, selected opposition MPs get 30 seconds to ask questions but in the case of the special committee, they were given five minutes.

"That still isn't a lot of time, but I did the best and tried to ask and get as many answers for my constituents," Viersen said. However, he admitted the format did not necessarily allow for the most detailed responses.

All totalled, Viersen asked five questions, all of which were addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but were answered by various Liberal cabinet ministers.

In his first question, he asked the prime minister if the government has a plan to assist the flood victims in Fort McMurray, Fort Vermillion and Garden Creek all communities that have required mass evacuations. The latter two communities are part of the Peace River-Westlock riding.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair responded saying he has reached out to the mayor of Fort McMurray and Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu saying the government is "mobilized and ready to respond", but added they have received no formal request.

In his next three questions, Viersen asked about programs geared to help farmers, small businesses and unemployed workers, but was concerned many people could potentially fall through the cracks and not receive much needed financial help.

A lot of people in the riding are farmers and/or own small businesses and are unincorporated and they are finding out that they are not eligible for the Canada emergency business account (CEBA).

CEBA is part of the federal government’s loan and loan-guarantee program for small and medium-sized businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.​

The $25-billion program launched April 9, is meant to provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover operating costs for businesses that have seen a reduction in revenue during COVID-19.

If $30,000 is paid back by Dec. 31, 2022, $10,000 of the loan is eligible for complete forgiveness. If the loan is unable to be paid back by then, it has the option of being converted into a three-year loan with a five per cent interest rate.

To be eligible business had to have a payroll of between $20,000 and $1.5 million to qualify for the program.

"That's the problem," Viersen said. "A lot of small farmers and business owners don't take wages, but dividends so they don't have payrolls or T4s. Other businesses don't have an account with the [Candian Revenue Agency]. And that is why I asked [the prime minister] if he would ensure that the CEBA be adjusted"

Small Business Minister Mary Ng replied that the government is continuing to listen to farmers and businesses and that "the work isn't done."

"One of the things that I did hear loud and clear from businesses, is that they need support in rent and we are helping in that regard," she said.

Unfortunately, Viersen said entrepreneurs who recently launched their businesses cannot access CEBA funding, for the same reason in that they don't have 2019 payroll records, identifying three restaurant owners, one in Athabasca and two in Westlock that opened their businesses in 2020.

Ng admitted that not all businesses qualify for CEBA.

"We have put out additional measures to support all businesses in Canada through regional development agencies. There are supports for businesses that may not qualify for some other measures ... We will continue to work with businesses to make sure all businesses in the country are supported," she said.

Viersen then asked what the government's plan is to help restore the economy.

"Many of my constituents, they have lost their oil and gas jobs months ago, their employment insurance has run out and they don't qualify for the [Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)]," he said. "Can the government inform this house with their plan to restore the economy? And when will Canada be revising its health restrictions?"

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland responded by saying the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) released a statement on April 28, that was endorsed by the provinces and territories agreeing to a set of guiding principals that jurisdictions must meet before considering restarting their economies.

Viersen noted that although he didn't mention it in his questions that elected officials were not eligible for programs such as CERB and CEBA, but in large part, due to the work the CPC did they were able to get a commitment from the government that they would amend the criteria to include elected officials.

"I know it makes sense on the surface, but many municipal councillors, mayors, reeves and school board trustees have a small business or may have gotten laid off from their other job and are having a tough time making ends meet," he said.

Viersen concluded by saying with so many children spending so much time online the "risk of exploitation is significant".

"Is the prime minister aware of the increased risks, sexual exploitation of children online due to the COVID-19 lockdown? Does the government have any estimates or models to protect children online?" he asked.

Once again Blair responded that the government recognized that with a lot of children at home there may be an increased risk but that the RCMP National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre is working with various community partners and is monitoring the situation.

Bill C-15

Later in the day after a recess, Viersen had an opportunity during a debate and subsequent passing of a $9-billion suite of student-focused COVID-19 supports, known as Bill-15 to give a 10-minute speech stating the need to examine what they have learned in retrospect from the government's response.

"All this is due to a virus that we are afraid of spreading but what happens is we get into the weeds on this $9-billion and all we ask is it being allocated properly," he said. "But now we have some hindsight ... The assumptions we made in February are they holding true. Now we get to look back and ask is this disease as contagious or as deadly as we thought it was ... is spending $9-billion on student jobs something we have to do, or can we get the economy started and get restaurants open and students can get their waiter jobs back."

It should be noted that he voted in support of the bill.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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