44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 3, 2022 10:00AM
- Feb/3/22 11:15:39 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the member opposite talking about some of the concerns of his constituents, and I want to take this opportunity to talk about some of the concerns that my constituents are facing right now daily because of the unpeaceful, unlawful protest that is taking place.
For example, I just received an email from a gentleman who wrote:
My wife and I live about 10 blocks west of Parliament Hill, and while not in the thick of it, we are close enough to be continually impacted by the protesters' activities. Besides the continuous blaring of horns, we are completely disgusted by the actions of these protesters. They are rude, aggressive and intimidating in the local stores and indoor spaces. One of the nearby parking lots seems to be used as a massive urinal. Insults and firecrackers have been hurled at people wearing masks who are simply passing by. I'm sure that you all have heard these stories and more on the news.
That is the impact on my community. This protest needs to end now.
178 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:16:35 a.m.
- Watch
I want to remind the hon. member that, just like we do for those who are delivering speeches in the House, the questions and the speeches should be related to the actual debate that is before the House. I just want to remind the hon. member to ensure that his questions are relevant to the discussion that is before the House.
The hon. member for Kenora.
66 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:17:07 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, I thank the member opposite for those comments. I do not believe there was a question there, necessarily, but obviously everyone in this chamber supports the right to peaceful protest in Canada. To the extent that a protest moves beyond that, obviously again, we all support the proper measures being taken.
I do not live in the member's riding, of course, so I cannot comment on the specifics of what has been seen, but I think all of us in the House are on the same page in that respect.
93 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:17:51 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague from Kenora on his speech. He speaks softly, but he is eloquent. I believe he is doing a great job representing his constituents.
His speech echoes the same concerns I hear from the businesses and residents of my riding, Drummond, particularly regarding some of the measures brought in to help businesses and merchants get through the crisis we are currently experiencing.
In my view, there is something missing from the legislation before the House today, Bill C-8. The goal is to stimulate economic recovery, support entrepreneurs and build their confidence. However, entrepreneurs who started their business after the pandemic set in are excluded from many of the measures in place. This undermines confidence, causing people who want to start a business to think twice. I think this is undermining the economic recovery.
I would like to hear what my colleague from Kenora thinks about that.
153 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:18:56 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, it sounds like my hon. colleague and I have likely heard many similar things in our own ridings.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, I heard from many business owners in my riding that the programs brought forward had rigid criteria. Many of them were falling through the cracks and were not able to access some of the support services. Specifically, tourist camps and seasonal businesses had a lot of difficulty and, as the member mentioned, a lot of new businesses as well were having trouble getting off the ground. I would agree wholeheartedly with the member's characterization there.
102 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:19:47 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Qujannamiik, Uqaqtittiji, and qujannamiik to the member from northern Ontario. I am glad to say that I am from a more northern territory, and that the information the member has shared is drastically worse in the north. According to a 2017 statistic, 76% of Inuit over the age of 15 from all over the north suffer from food insecurity. Having said that, many of the other statistics show that there is already a lot of food insecurity across Canada.
These people need help, not more cuts for the working people who are losing their income and paying more for their bills. Why do you want to make their lives even harder?
111 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:20:44 a.m.
- Watch
The hon. member needs to address comments through the Speaker and not directly to the member.
The hon. member for Kenora, a brief answer please.
25 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:20:51 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, this is the first opportunity I have had to engage with the member for Nunavut in the chamber. I would like to congratulate her on her election and welcome her to this place. She made a very important point of not spending more or less, but spending more efficiently and spending smarter.
Over the past few years we have seen each year that the government has increased funding for Nutrition North, which is the flagship program to deal with food insecurity in the north, yet each year, as the member noted, food insecurity is getting worse. The government is spending more and getting worse results. It is certainly time for a change.
114 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:21:36 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and speak to yet another positive piece of legislation that I would encourage all members of the House to support. It is going to be interesting. I am expecting that members from the New Democrats, the Bloc and the Green Party will support this piece of legislation. I hope I am not being too presumptuous in the hope that we will get that support.
The interesting dynamic at play here is going to be how the Conservative Party will vote on this legislation. One member says “against”, and that is my fear because if they wanted to listen to what their constituents had to say, I believe they would be supportive of this legislation. I will not be surprised if they vote against it. After all, the very first piece of legislation that we introduced after the election was Bill C-2, which ensured that we could continue the ongoing supports for Canadians from every region of our country. Think of small businesses and the lockdowns, and the financial support that the Government of Canada continued to provide so that we would be in a better position to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was surprised that the Conservative Party of Canada voted against that legislation. I do not understand it. On one hand they talk about the importance of small businesses, but when it came down to supporting small businesses, they voted against Bill C-2. Here is a bill in which they could redeem themselves, at least in part, by getting behind this legislation and supporting it. I listened to a couple of speeches this morning and they highlight some issues—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
291 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:23:47 a.m.
- Watch
I am sorry I have to interrupt, but there is a lot of feedback coming from the other side of the House. I would ask members, if they have thoughts about questions or comments, to jot them down so that they do not forget them. They will have an opportunity to ask not five minutes' worth of questions, but 10 minutes' worth of questions after the hon. member finishes his speech.
Resuming debate, the hon. parliamentary secretary.
77 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:24:15 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, if the opposition would like, I would give leave so there could be unlimited questions and answers, as opposed to 10 minutes.
The point is that the legislation before the House today is solid, good legislation that should be supported by all members. The Deputy Prime Minister, the cabinet and government members in particular have fed into this legislation some initiatives that each of us should be supporting. I would like to highlight a few of them.
We often hear about taxation. There is an incorporation of some taxation policy within this legislation. The legislation also talks about ventilation expenses. Those that would qualify under a tax credit would improve the quality of the air we are breathing.
There is a good clause that ensures that we deal with housing. We had a member this morning talk about the cost of housing. In this legislation, we are putting into place a 1% annual tax for those individuals who are buying up condos, apartments and houses with no intention of living in them. They have no intention of renting them out. The people who are non-resident, non-Canadians are now going to pay a 1% annual tax on these. When the Conservatives talk about doing something on housing, this is doing something on the housing issue.
218 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, it is interesting. Members need to be careful with heckling. They could be embarrassed by some of the things they heckle across the way.
I remember Conservatives at one point jumping from their seats and hollering from the skies, saying, “We want rapid tests.”
48 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, millions of dollars in taxes is significant, I would suggest to the member. However, will Conservatives oppose that? We need to remember that this is the Conservative Party that opposed the 1% tax we put on Canada's wealthiest a few years back. What will Conservatives do with this tax?
We have supported our schools. They want to improve their ventilation systems, so there is better air quality for school children in the different regions of our country. We have support for our provinces and territories in regard to proof of vaccination in this legislation. We have support for rapid testing. Canadians are interested in receiving rapid testing.
110 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, it was two years ago, as one member points out.
The federal government acquired well over 100 million tests. As of December, 2021, most of those tests that we purchased long ago were not being used. When we had the COVID-19 variant and the demand started to pick up, we, as a government, purchased over 100 million additional tests.
62 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
4 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
4 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
We have a point of order.
The hon. member for Kitchener Centre.
12 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:26 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
3 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:30 a.m.
- Watch
- Re: Bill C-8
Madam Speaker, many members in the House might have questions and comments for the hon. member. Many of us are waiting until the question and answer period for that. I would ask you to consider the importance of ensuring that those who are speaking have a chance to do so, and that those who ask questions have a chance to do so after the speech is done.
67 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/3/22 11:28:50 a.m.
- Watch
I greatly appreciate the hon. member raising that. As I mentioned a few minutes ago, I would ask the official opposition members to please hold on to their thoughts, questions and comments, and not to think out loud. It is interrupting the debate in the House. I hope they will ensure that they adhere to that.
The hon. parliamentary secretary has 13 and a half minutes remaining.
67 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
