Our MPs are still essential workers
At this strangest of times, when Canadians are questioning more than ever what’s essential to their lives, the routine House-of-Commons gong show has at times seemed utterly dispensable.
After all, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau updates the nation about the latest twists and turns of COVID-19 pandemic in his daily press conferences. Federal public health officials are regularly explaining momentous decisions about how the country is battling the novel coronavirus.
Borders have been closed to most foreigners, stranded Canadians have been brought home, plans have been made with the provinces to reopen the economy — all without the fuss and furor that too often accompanies preening parliamentarians jockeying for media attention and partisan one-upmanship. Who needs them?
As it turns out, we all do. As tempting as it might be to declare Parliament, and specifically the House of Commons, as non-essential in this ongoing crisis, it would be a grave error to do so.
The passage of an emergency $9-billion aid package to the country’s college and university students last week shows why this is so. This package is a good idea that was made even better by the opposition parties in the House of Commons.
The Liberal government, which has already earmarked tens of billions of dollars to support people thrown out of a job or help struggling companies continue to pay their workers, was right to step up for yet another group of Canadians.
Summer jobs will be scarce this year. Many postsecondary students will have already lost part- or full-time employment because of our pandemiclocked-down economy.
Looking forward, however, the long-term economic and social well-being of Canada will depend on these millions of students completing their education, getting jobs, paying taxes and becoming contributing members of their communities.
Pandemic or not, they will still have tuition fees to pay, books to buy and living expenses to cover. Pandemic or not, the education provided by our colleges and universities must go on this year. These students deserve their country’s help.
But in Canada’s parliamentary democracy, it is essential that new spending of this kind receives the approval of a majority of MPs. Especially now, when the Liberals govern with a minority of House of Commons seats, their big-ticket decisions need to have the backing of at least one other major party. Only then can the government say it is representing the people’s will.
And in this case, the government’s plan has been improved. In general, the aid package means eligible post-secondary students and graduates will receive $1,250 a month from May to August.
But thanks to an amendment by the New Democrats, people with a disability or a child will get $2,000 a month, making the payout equal to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. That additional money recognizes a real and legitimate need.
Meanwhile, to win Conservative support, the Liberals have vowed to include new incentives to connect students to available jobs. The program will also look for options to pair students with jobs relevant to their skills or studies. You needn’t agree with Conservative fears that a monthly payout could be a disincentive to work for some students to welcome new efforts to help them do so.
The Liberals could not have expedited passage of this $9-billion aid package without unanimous consent from the House of Commons.
That it received this consent while producing a more nuanced and comprehensive program shows that the House of Commons can do the job it’s meant to do. And that, whatever some people might think, it remains essential.