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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 19

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 16, 2021 10:00AM
  • Dec/16/21 2:17:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, 'Twas the week before Christmas, from the House floor,MPs rewriting the verses of Clement Moore,whose Night Before Christmas we all know so well,yet spoofing it just right can be hard as hell.When writing my version last year at this time,it was hard to make AstraZeneca rhyme.The task poets now face on the path we are onis finding a word that rhymes with omicron.In the year when the best gift under the tree is likely to be booster dose number three,it is hard to remember the joy of the season, when nature and governments give us no reason.The nation's debt load is now half a trillion, but hope springs eternal so thanks a million.To those who bring joy into all of our lives, caregivers, friends, children, husbands and wives,whether your home is Whoville, Perth or Timbuktu,Merry Christmas to all, merry Christmas to you.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:18:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, [Member spoke in Farsi] [English] These lines are from noble Hafiz, a Persian poet whose renowned work, The Divan of Hafiz, is engaged for telling fortunes during the celebratory occasion of Yalda. On December 21, I will join fellow Persians within Richmond Hill and around the globe in Yalda festivities when we mark the winter solstice by enjoying good company, the delight of traditional foods and the divinity of poetry. Please join me in wishing all who celebrate Shabe Yalda a happy and safe celebration, and thanks to all for their continued support. [Member spoke in Farsi] [English] I wish everyone merry Christmas, happy holidays and happy new year.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:19:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a year ago, the Minister of Finance said there would be deflation in Canada. She promised prices would go down for Canadian families. Instead, we have seen grocery prices go up 15% to 20%. We have seen gas go up 40%. We have seen housing, rent and mortgage prices go up 20% to 30%. She misled Canadians with the deflation promise. Today, in the mandate letter for the Minister of Finance, why is there is no mention of the inflation crisis?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:20:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the person who is misleading Canadians when it comes to the economy is the Leader of the Opposition. Here are the facts. Our GDP grew by 5.4% in the third quarter. We have recovered 106% of the jobs lost to the pandemic. As Stephen Poloz, the central banker appointed by Mr. Harper, put it over the weekend, “Aren't we lucky that the policies worked well to prevent the second Great Depression, which is what economists worried about when we first encountered COVID.” That is the reality.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:21:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the reality is the Minister of Finance was the first Canadian politician ever to be flagged for misleading Canadians online. It is quite rich for that minister to suggest other people are misleading Canadians, when she has been flagged just as Donald Trump was. It is almost the end of the year. I will give the minister the opportunity to apologize to Canadians for misleading them during the federal election.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:21:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to allow the Leader of the Opposition to stop flip-flopping and to choose an economic lane. It is something his caucus might appreciate, too. Today, the Conservatives are complaining about government spending, but on the campaign trail they proposed a deficit of $168 billion for 2021-22. In the fall economic update, we showed a deficit for that year of $144.5 billion, which was $23.5 billion lower than what the Conservatives proposed. Could the leader of flip-flops please let Canadians know what he really stands for?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:22:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would note Donald Trump does not apologize either. The cost of living crisis is worse than it has been in decades. It is a disaster. This winter, some families will have to choose between heating their house and buying groceries because wages are not going up. That is unacceptable. Do the Liberals understand the choices Canadians have to make because of their inflation?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:23:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, here are the facts: Our GDP went up 5.4% in the third quarter, and we have recovered 106% of the jobs that were lost. Stephen Poloz, who was appointed by Mr. Harper, said we are lucky to have policies that worked to prevent a second Great Depression. Many economists were worried about that when the COVID‑19 crisis hit. That is a fact.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:23:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member for Malpeque could have asked the Prime Minister a question on the potato crisis in P.E.I. yesterday, but he did not do it. The Liberal member for Cardigan had the message for Prince Edward Island farmers that no matter what happens, the government can help, but farmers will lose. He is right. Under the Liberals, farmers always lose. The P.E.I. premier is questioning why the agriculture minister is not in Washington. Maybe it is because resolving this dispute is not even in her mandate letter. Why is the agriculture minister not in Washington, putting all her potato chips on the table and resolving this dispute?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:24:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me assure all farmers across our amazing country, very much including the farmers in P.E.I., that our government is extremely focused on supporting farmers in general and on supporting farmers when it comes to this trade issue. I was sitting next to the Prime Minister when he raised this issue directly with the President of the United States. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to standing up to the U.S. Canadians know they back down from the Americans in a fight.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:25:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, farmers are very thankful the Liberals will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to Canadian agriculture. I spoke to P.E.I. farmers this morning and this is what one of them had to say: “With the stroke of a pen, the Liberals have destroyed everything I have worked for for six generations.” The agriculture minister is now saying this dispute will not be resolved until the new year, but CFIA is telling island farm families this half-baked ban will likely last until 2023. How many harvests will be lost? How many businesses will be bankrupt? How many farmers will lose before the minister lifts the political ban on potato exports?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:25:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me once again say to Canadian farmers that they should not listen to the scaremongering they are hearing from Conservatives. They need to know that our government cares passionately about Canadian farmers. We know the importance of family farms to our economy. Let me also remind Canadian farmers that our government is prepared to stand up for national interests when it comes to trade with the United States. Canadian farmers know that from the COOL dispute we had right after we were first elected in 2015.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:26:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, secularism and Bill 21 are being attacked by a united front of federal officials, including elected members from all parties, starting with the Prime Minister himself. The worst part is that this united front is spreading misinformation. Let us set the record straight. State secularism is not discriminatory. It applies to everyone. That is a fact. The teacher, Ms. Anvari, did not lose her job. She was reassigned. That is a fact. She was not reassigned because of her religion. She was reassigned because she knowingly broke the law. When will the government stop spreading misinformation and stop Quebec-bashing?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:27:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, we disagree with Bill 21. In our society, no one should have to change jobs because of their religion. That is the position of our government and our party. We agree with Quebeckers who are defending their rights in court because they too think this law is unjust.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:27:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is more. It is comical. Canadian cities have now gotten on board with the Quebec bashing. Yesterday, Brampton announced funding to challenge Bill 21. Oh, and they also called Quebeckers racist, because why not? Today, Toronto is joining in. The worst part is that these people do not even know what they are talking about. They do not understand secularism and they do not understand Bill 21, not least because members here will not stop telling lies about it. They are grandstanding at Quebec's expense. Will the government announce that it respects our democratic choices and will not challenge them in court?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:28:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is true that I represent a Toronto riding and that I was born in Alberta. However, I want to sincerely tell the member from the Bloc Québécois and all Quebeckers that our government is working closely with the Government of Quebec, with municipalities in Quebec and even with members of the Bloc Québécois to support all Quebeckers. I am urging the member not to try to stir up trouble between us and Quebec.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:29:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today there are more than 2,700 new COVID-19 cases in Quebec alone. People are already gearing up for capacity limits to be introduced in stores and restaurants to limit the spread. This means that people will once again be out of work, except that, this time, there is no help for them. There is no CERB for workers and no wage subsidy for small businesses. How can this government cut help for people when we are up against possibly the worst of the pandemic?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:29:50 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-2 
Mr. Speaker, I really want to thank my colleague for his question because I truly believe that COVID-19 is the greatest challenge today. That is why I hope that all members will support Bill C-2. This bill will create support measures for individuals and businesses in the event of another lockdown, precisely because we agree with the NDP members that these support measures are necessary. I hope that all members will vote in favour of Bill C‑2.
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  • Dec/16/21 2:30:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, COVID cases are increasing everywhere, and people are already gearing up for reduced limits to the numbers of people in stores and restaurants to limit the spread. This means people will once again be out of work, except for this time, there is nothing to help them. There is no CERB for workers and no wage subsidy for small businesses. How can the government cut help for people when we are up against possibly the worst of this pandemic?
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  • Dec/16/21 2:31:04 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-2 
Mr. Speaker, I think that COVID is the greatest challenge facing Canada today. That is why I focused on it in the economic and fiscal update. I agree with him that we need to have support measures in place for people in businesses in the event of additional lockdowns. That is why I urge all members of the House to support Bill C-2. It would create precisely those tools. We need them. I really hope all members will support the bill.
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