44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 3, 2021 10:00AM
- Dec/3/21 11:29:10 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her advocacy on this very important issue. It is precisely why, from the very beginning, Canada stepped up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is precisely why we helped found, support and co-chair the COVAX AMC group. It is exactly why we have donated millions of vaccines to the developing world. We understand that until we end this pandemic everywhere, we do not end it anywhere.
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- Dec/3/21 11:29:46 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, small businesses have struggled through an enormously challenging year. On December 31, they will be ready to toast a more prosperous and brighter new year. However, who will be knocking on their doors when the clock strikes midnight? It will be the Liberal tax collector. The New Year's hangover this year will be the CPP increase.
After such a difficult 2021, why are the Liberals increasing CPP taxes on businesses?
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- Dec/3/21 11:30:23 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is a real pleasure to be rising in the House again today.
I think the member is misleading in her question. In fact, this is not an increase. This is not a tax. We will make sure we will be there. What Canadians understand is that we have been true to them and have been with them every step of the way during this pandemic, and we will continue to be there for small and medium-sized businesses.
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- Dec/3/21 11:30:56 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the government says the January 1 payroll tax hikes are necessary, but a payroll tax needs a payroll to tax. Statistics Canada's most recent survey of business conditions says that one in four businesses expects their profitability to be down by the end of the year. There have been many times this year when more businesses have closed than opened.
Is the government not concerned that a higher tax in this country's current economic conditions could cause further small businesses to fold?
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- Dec/3/21 11:31:31 a.m.
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- Re: Bill C-2
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the question because it gives me a chance to explain something to the House and to Canadians who are watching at home this morning. One thing that Canadians and small businesses across this nation will remember is that we have been with them every step of the way through this pandemic, both at the start and during the pandemic, and we will continue.
I have one piece of free advice for the Conservatives. If they are genuine in wanting to help small businesses in Canada, why do they not support Bill C-2 instead of voting against it like they did yesterday?
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- Dec/3/21 11:32:09 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, elder abuse manifests itself in many forms. Financial, emotional, mental and physical abuse is rampant against Canadian seniors and it is only increasing. In the last Parliament, the House unanimously agreed to Motion No. 203. Among other things, this Conservative-led initiative called for legislation to combat seniors fraud. This was over two years ago.
When will the government take meaningful action and introduce legislation to protect Canadian seniors?
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- Dec/3/21 11:32:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, elder abuse, in all its forms, is totally unacceptable. This issue is extremely important to our government and it is an issue we all take very seriously.
We are working on initiatives to combat seniors abuse, including strengthening the law, creating a national definition and having better data collection. This builds on the work we are already doing with the National Seniors Council, with projects such as the New Horizons for Seniors program, to help raise awareness around seniors abuse.
I hope the hon. member and indeed all members of the House apply for the call for proposals for the New Horizons for Seniors program. The deadline is December 21.
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- Dec/3/21 11:33:32 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, last week I rose in this place to ask the government when it was going to rectify its GIS clawback that is currently crippling vulnerable seniors. The Deputy Prime Minister, in the process of deflecting the question, touted a one-time payment of $500 as some sort of compensation. Our seniors are losing up to nine times that amount because of this clawback.
I will ask this again. When will the government show compassion and step up? Our seniors need it and they deserve it.
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- Dec/3/21 11:34:11 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we all know how challenging this pandemic has been on seniors. Every single step of the way, this government has been there to support seniors, especially the most vulnerable, by strengthening their GIS. We moved very quickly to provide immediate and direct financial support to seniors.
When it comes to the CERB and GIS, we are aware of the issue. I can assure the hon. member that we are working on this issue to find the right solution to support those affected. As always, we will be there for our seniors.
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- Dec/3/21 11:34:49 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, yesterday, U.S. countervailing duties on softwood lumber doubled.
Yesterday evening, I spoke with representatives from the Quebec Forest Industry Council, and they are extremely concerned for these companies, which create 140,000 jobs in Quebec.
These companies' money is being gobbled up by duties instead of being invested in our economy. Many of them are local family businesses, such as D&G Forest Products in Sainte‑Aurélie, Bois Daaquam in Saint‑Just‑de‑Bretenières and Scierie Lemay in Sainte‑Marie.
What does the Prime Minister intend to do to convince the U.S. President to reverse his decision?
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- Dec/3/21 11:35:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
I am from the Mauricie region, and I am very familiar with the forestry industry and companies like Rémabec and Resolute. My riding is even home to the École forestière in La Tuque.
If there is one thing that the Canadians watching at home this morning need to know, it is that the Minister of International Trade is in Washington today to defend the interests of forestry workers.
If there is one thing Canadians know, it is that we will always be there to defend the interests of the forestry industry and its workers and to work with—
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- Dec/3/21 11:36:11 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are being hit hard by inflation. Owning a home is out of reach for many Canadians. The U.S. countervailing duties on softwood lumber will only make matters worse.
If interest rates rise, which is entirely possible, we will have a perfect storm. It will be brutal.
The Prime Minister needs to get his act together, take leadership on this issue and get that decision reversed. When and how will he do that?
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- Dec/3/21 11:36:41 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, one thing that Canadians know for sure is that we on this side of the House know how to stand up for the interests of Canadian businesses and industries.
We demonstrated this when duties were imposed on the steel and aluminum industry, for example.
In addition, as I just mentioned while running out of breath, the Minister of International Trade is in Washington at this very moment, standing up for the interests of forestry workers and defending the interests of the industry. That is what we are doing today, and that is what we will continue to do.
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- Dec/3/21 11:37:20 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it has happened again. Gun violence has hit Montreal yet again.
Yesterday, a 20-year-old man lost his life when he was struck by bullets. A 17-year-old teenager was also injured. It happened in the middle of the street in a residential neighbourhood at 7:15 p.m.
Montreal families are scared. They are scared of losing their young people, of being hit by stray bullets, of ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time, even in their own home.
The minister knows he has a duty to do something about this, but does he understand the urgency of the matter?
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- Dec/3/21 11:37:57 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we agree on the importance of having cross-border working groups. That is why they have been around since 2002, in the form of integrated border enforcement teams.
Just this week, more than 60 firearms were seized through a partnership between the RCMP, the Sûreté du Québec and the Montreal police.
We have to do everything we can to ensure that our children, families and everyone can stay safe.
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- Dec/3/21 11:38:32 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it was Montreal's 32nd homicide of 2021, and there is one more month to go.
I applaud the seizure of guns last week, but more must be done. I applaud the fact that the minister is willing to attend the summit organized by the mayor of Montreal, which will be held in late January, but he needs to act more quickly.
The Government of Quebec is set to announce an additional $46 million for the prevention of violence. There is a sense that action is urgently needed, but Ottawa is not quite there.
What will the minister do today to prove that he understands how urgent this is?
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- Dec/3/21 11:39:02 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we are focusing on stopping the movement of firearms across our border and ending the senseless violence in our communities.
During the election campaign, we promised to invest at least $1 billion to help the provinces and municipalities ban handguns in their jurisdictions.
As I have already said, I will be having a virtual meeting with my Quebec counterpart to find concrete solutions on the ground.
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- Dec/3/21 11:39:36 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, in times of doubt and uncertainty, Canadians can rely on one thing from the government: more confusion.
Yesterday, the U.S. announced new travel restrictions for Canadians. On our side, the minister announced new testing measures for all travellers coming here. He did not say who would administer the tests, he did not say where travellers would have to isolate, he did not say when these measures would begin and he did not tell airports or airlines.
I have a few simple questions for the minister: Who, what, where, when and how will Canadians get details on this new plan?
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- Dec/3/21 11:40:06 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am happy for the opportunity to answer this question.
Before I respond, however, and since this is my first opportunity to do so, I would like to quickly acknowledge the new cohort of pages, of whom we are already very proud. The member for Hull—Aylmer and I were once pages, many years ago. We know how challenging it can be to manage work and school. We thank them in advance for everything that they will be doing.
As for the question, as always, all of our decisions are based on science and on keeping Canadians healthy and safe.
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- Dec/3/21 11:40:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, last week, the Liberal government announced stricter border measures to combat the omicron variant, as the Conservative opposition was calling for.
A week later, it has become clear that there is a huge gap between what the Minister of Health said and what is actually happening on the ground. There was no consultation with airports and very little with the provinces. It has been a week, and everything is a total disaster.
Does the Minister of Health realize that public health measures are not something he can make up as he goes?
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