Thursday April 9, 2020 ~ COWICHAN-MALAHAT-LANGFORD
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) has been social-distancing at his home with his family in the Cowichan Valley since arriving back from Ottawa on March 13.
But he’s hearing directly from individuals and businesses in his riding about the impact of the economic downturn that is escalating under the weight of COVID-19 social and economic restrictions.
“We’re starting to hear directly through the constituency offices that people are starting to fall through the cracks,” said MacGregor in an interview with West Shore Voice News earlier this week.
“There are university students who had a job lined up for the summer but are not able to get it now because businesses have closed their doors. They’ve not been fired, but the job is not available when traditionally need it most,” he says, in explaining that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program and EI supports don’t have a category for students in that position.
“A huge group of the population is not eligible for CERB and the NDP has asked government to address this,” said MacGregor. As one example: “Some people have multiple part time jobs (gig economy workers). They may lose one or two jobs or contracts but have employment with another job. But they don’t qualify for EI even though a significant drop in revenue.”
“The wage subsidy program for employers seems overly complex at first glance,” MacGregor continued. By Tuesday evening April 7, MacGregor and his fellow NDP MPs had seen a first draft copy of the legislation that will be needed to pass the measures that are needed for things like bumping up the wage subsidy to 75%.
“That’s not been introduced in the House of Commons yet, it’s still embargoed,” he said on Tuesday evening. “I have concerns that the flow of the wage subsidy benefits will take too long. It will still leave a lot of small businesses wondering if it’s better to lay off all employees and shutter their doors or whether the wage subsidy will help. The government might look at the drop in revenue but that’s after the fact. Businesses would have to wait for that to happen, and then see if they’re eligible for the wage subsidy,” outlined MacGregor. In that context, he said: “We don’t want perfect to be the enemy of the good.”
During a health and economic emergency it’s important to “get money out the door as quickly as possible”, the now two-term MP said. The NDP has been specifying a certain amount be paid to each adult and along with an amount for each dependent child. “We can worry about who received it and maybe didn’t need it, in later tax years,” he says with a tone of practical assessment.
“People need to feel with certainty that the federal government is there and enacting a process that is not overly complicated for people. People shouldn’t be made to jump through too many hoops,” MacGregor told West Shore Voice News.
He feels that the current process of applications for financial aid by both individuals and businesses is adding stress to people’s lives at a time when they need to be focusing on their own health, their family’s well-being and their economic challenges.
“CERB did echo our (NDP) call for $2,000 and in this case it’s $2,000 per month. Previously there were two kinds of benefits, now are brought into one streamlined process,” he explains, and is pleased that the NDP’s input was heeded for this benefit to Canadians who are suddenly in financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But there is still room for improvement (in the discourse between political philosophies during a crisis). “The original 10% was completely inadequate and now that is up to 75%,” MacGregor gives as another example of where the NDP had influence on an important change that manifested quickly after making the suggestion.
Members of Parliament had a technical briefing on Monday night April 6 about the proposed next piece of legislation to change the wage subsidy and other financial measures deemed necessary now in a fast-changing situation during the pandemic. “MPs listed to the Minister of Finance, and the minister heard from the Bloc, Conservatives and NDP.”
“In order for this second piece of emergency legislation to pass quickly there has to be unanimous consent,” said MacGregor. He explained that usually a transitional process takes weeks or months, but that this new legislation will need unanimous consent in one day. “So we started negotiations behind the scenes, so that when House of Commons comes together there are no surprises and it can pass in quick order,” said MacGregor.
The next session of the House of Commons is now set for Saturday April 11 during the Easter long weekend. The Senate is also reconvening on Saturday to consider the bill, should it be passed by the House.
All parties agreed last month to suspend the House of Commons for five weeks until April 20 but with that date fast approaching and the coronavirus spread intensifying across the country, the Liberals are looking at the possibility of virtual sittings. That would not only avoid having to congregate people and staff in the facilities but would allow MPs from across the country to participate, not just those who can manage to get to Ottawa by ground travel.
MacGregor is pleased that for the April 11 session that three NDP MP’s will be included in the small session during which the two-metre physical distancing required by public health directives will be adhered to.
Representing the NDP on Saturday will be their leader Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby-South); Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain) who is the NDP’s official critic for Pensions, Seniors, Labour and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario in addition to serving as the deputy critic for Veterans issues; and Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) who is Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics and NDP Critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs (Youth).
Taking a positive approach, MacGregor says: “To be fair – I give credit to the government. This situation is unprecedented. They’re probably making it up as we go along. Canada has never faced a situation like this,” he said, echoing the same sort of astonishment that everyone is feeling at the rapid changes that COVID-19 has caused in every aspect of Canadian living.
“This is clearly demonstrating an opportunity for the Opposition parties and government to come together. These circumstances are highlighting the opposition parties’ very important role in holding government to account and proposing alternatives,” says MacGregor.
“There are different ways of doing things. We’ll come to a place where there will be that unanimous agreement. In our constituency offices across the country — and in Conservative and Liberal offices too, we’re hearing the same things from Canadians. The government is also probably hearing concerns from their Liberal backbenchers.”
On March 16 Alistair MacGregor’s two constituency offices (one in Duncan and one in Langford) were closed to the public. Constituency staff is working remotely from home where constituents can reach them by phone at 1-866-609-9998 and by email.
Alistair’s two Ottawa staffers are helping with constituency contact, also working remotely from home in the nation’s capital. Parliament Hill is closed except for a skeleton crew right now.
Around March 25, MacGregor said: “It will be at least five weeks to be self-isolated and social-distancing during the pandemic,” says MacGregor. He hopes all the appropriate measures are in place to help people weather the storm.
“By the end of April we’ll have a better idea of how social isolation and physical distancing has worked — if the infection rate has significantly plateaued.”
“The other concern is that if we start relaxing the self isolation and social distancing, the disease could make a comeback. I trust our medical health officials to make the call. It’s a rapidly evolving situation, from week to week different information comes out,” says MacGregor.