QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Border Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic
October 29, 2020
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Next week, Alberta will be launching a pilot project for rapid testing of travellers arriving in Canada by air or by land. How telling that the bill is a provincial one, even though the country’s borders are Canadian and therefore a federal responsibility. Once again, the government you represent has shown that it has no vision for travellers.
Can you tell us if the Trudeau government will assume its responsibilities or if it intends to make the provinces take on the physical and financial responsibility of the health security measures we will need if our borders reopen?
Thank you for this question. I do not wish to contradict you, but several of the premises of your question do not make sense. The Government of Canada has certainly assumed its responsibilities with respect to our border. That is very obvious from the results of discussions between Canada and the United States. For health and safety reasons, our border remains closed other than for well-known exceptions. We await with interest the result of the pilot project in Alberta, but the government takes its responsibilities concerning the border very seriously.
So, what you are saying is that Alberta is assuming its responsibilities as a province? I’m finding it difficult to follow you. That argument does not make sense. I cannot agree with you. In other words, it’s the province of Alberta that is taking the initiative to provide rapid testing to help travellers at the border. You say that does not make sense, but it is actually a federal responsibility.
Thank you.
You misunderstood me, and that’s mainly because of my flawed French. As you know, senator, the provinces are entirely responsible for everything relating to health. Health is an exclusive provincial jurisdiction. That’s why I am not surprised that a provincial government is implementing measures to protect its citizens. I simply wanted to say that it does not mean that the federal government is not fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to the border. I gave a well-known example that clearly shows how the federal government fulfils its responsibilities.
