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Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)

Feb/3/22 1:45:54 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, I have a specific question for the hon. member around her comments on ventilation in schools. Does the member have an estimate of how long a retrofit to improve ventilation would take in a particular case? I guess that speaks to the question of how long the member expects this pandemic to be going on for. Does the government have estimates for the timelines involved? We saw in the fall economic update, for instance, that funding has put aside for the enforcement of mandate rules for a three-year period. Is the government hoping to bring this pandemic to an end, or is the government undertaking long-term spending projects with the expectation this will continue for years to come?

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Ms. Julie Dabrusin

Feb/3/22 1:46:46 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, I really hope we have sunshine tomorrow, but I do not have control over that either. There are certain things that are beyond the government's control. I will say that, as long as the COVID pandemic continues, and even as it goes into its endemic phase, we will be there to support Canadians. I do not think any Canadian parent is going to argue, pandemic or no pandemic, that we should not have better ventilation in our schools, so I think supporting our provinces to be able to have healthy spaces for our kids is a good thing.

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Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

Feb/3/22 1:47:24 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to the member for Toronto—Danforth. I had the great pleasure of serving with her on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in the previous Parliament when she was the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. We worked together constructively. The committee undertook studies, including one on the impacts of the pandemic on the cultural sector, and made recommendations. Just yesterday, we spoke with stakeholders in that sector, who told us that the funds announced in last year's federal budget are still not accessible. My colleague will undoubtedly remember that the key word in this study was “predictability”, which cultural industries need in order to plan. Clearly, an event cannot be organized with two days' notice. These funds are still not available. I would also like to take a few seconds to talk about the Canada performing arts workers resilience fund, which was announced this week. For over two months now, self-employed workers in the cultural industry have been going without the financial assistance to which they are entitled, because the benefits expired in late October. The government just announced the launch of this $60‑million fund, but we do not know when those affected will be able to access this financial assistance. I would like to know whether we can hope to see some predictability in that regard too, and I look forward to hearing my colleague's comments on that.

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Ms. Julie Dabrusin

Feb/3/22 1:48:48 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, I think my colleague has some good questions. How can we give our artists predictable and ongoing assistance? I was not at yesterday's meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to hear the testimony, but if there is something that my colleague would like me to read, I will do so. For me, the important thing is to figure out how to provide ongoing support and economic assistance to our gig workers. I think it is very important to continue working on the modernization of the employment insurance system, as we were talking about, because it would provide ongoing, predictable support not just during COVID-19, but all the time.

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Ms. Lori Idlout (Nunavut, NDP)

Feb/3/22 1:49:43 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Qujannamiik, Uqaqtittiji. I want to thank the member for talking about the arts. I also want to let her know that Nunavut is the only jurisdiction that has no performing arts centre at all in any of its communities. I hope she will take that into consideration for any future work with respect to supporting the arts in Nunavut. As well, as she was talking about the fall economic statement, I want to highlight and remind her of what Bill C-8 fails to do. Bill C-8 fails to help families. The Government of Nunavut announced last week that the price of gas and diesel will increase eight cents a litre each, which will become effective this month. These increases will ultimately increase the cost of living. Essentially, this bill does nothing to help families facing rising food prices. Instead of helping working families with these rising food prices, why are the Liberals protecting wealthy grocery chains?

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Ms. Julie Dabrusin

Feb/3/22 1:51:05 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, the member opposite raises some very important questions about affordability. I want to remind all members in the House that, for this tax season, the personal amount for which people are exempt from paying taxes is going up by $600. That means that people making under $150,000 will be paying tax on $600 less of their income. It is actually a savings, so I—

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Feb/3/22 1:51:37 p.m.
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Resuming debate, we will go to the hon. member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington.

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Hastings—Lennox and Addington, CPC)

Feb/3/22 1:51:51 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time today with the hon. member for Bay of Quinte. It is my pleasure to rise in the House today to address Bill C-8. This bill would enact tax and spending measures outlined in the economic and fiscal update. The bill itself has seven parts. Allow me today the privilege of suggesting some highlights as to why the official opposition opposes the bill. Canadians are listening. Canadians are seeking more from the government, and they deserve more. Bill C-8 would add an additional $70 billion of new inflammatory fuel on the fire. Friends, our national debt has now reached a ridiculous $1.2 trillion. Since the beginning of this pandemic, the Liberal government has brought in $176 billion in new spending that is unrelated to COVID-19. The Liberal government ensured Canadians it would find a balance on transparency. I am not seeing it. Across our country, there are numerous concerns at hand. I see and hear them from my riding every single day. We all recognize the importance of stimulus spending. There is a time and a place. However, the cost of living is out of control. More dollars chasing fewer goods means higher prices. In terms of groceries, inflation is hurting every Canadian and every family at the grocery store. Chicken is up 6.2%, for example. Bacon is up 19.1%. Working Canadians are sighing every time they pull into the gas station. Automobile gas is up 33%. The state of our economy is weak. The deficit and national debt are disturbing and Canadians have caught on. People in Hastings—Lennox and Addington, and across this country, are being stretched. To quote the Parliamentary Budget Officer, “the rationale for the additional spending initially set aside as 'stimulus' no longer exists.” Many Canadians are exhausted, financially, emotionally and mentally. We need to reactivate this economy. We need to have lower taxes, more freedom, smaller government and regain some optimism and hope in ourselves and in our government. Conservatives are opposed to Bill C-8. As we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Canadians are worried about our economic recovery and security. Unfortunately, debt loads on individuals and all levels of governments have imploded. This is putting businesses, jobs and home ownership at risk. As communities face unprecedented challenges, the current government sadly is continuing to reward its insiders. Promises made to our veterans, seniors and small businesses have been broken. Earlier in the House today, we were reminded by a fellow Liberal member that the Liberal government claims it wants to build back better after the pandemic. The Liberals want to do this by spending huge amounts of taxpayers' money. However, in my view, they have no realistic plan for this recovery. The Liberal government has a long and proven record of failing to get the job done for Canadians, and Bill C-8 is no exception. Canadians deserve much better from their government. Our lives have changed over the last few years, but this has not changed our character. Canadians have overcome adversity in the past, and they will overcome it again. The key to moving past the pandemic in Hastings—Lennox and Addington is to give our communities the tools and resources they need to become more self-reliant and resilient. Governments, regardless of jurisdiction, need to provide the necessary investments in local infrastructure and relief from taxes that stifle productivity. They also need to cut the red tape that inhibits growth. This includes investing in mental health programs, cleaner energy, supporting the farmers that feed us and our local businesses, which provide for us by creating an environment for new opportunities and investment. I recognize the challenges are steep. The future of Hastings—Lennox and Addington and this country depends on bringing together people, ideas and working on things that unite us as a community, as a riding and as a country, rather than focusing on those things that divide us. As we come out of this pandemic, the top issue facing this entire country is getting the economy back up and running. A key part of economic recovery is getting people back to work. Let me say first that the best indicator of future performance is past performance, and it should be remembered that during the 2008-09 recession, the last time this country faced a crisis, it was a Conservative government and Conservative economic policy that was able to strengthen Canada's fiscal position without jeopardizing the goal of income redistribution. In fact, the same Conservative government's strict fiscal disciplines achieved a balanced budget in 2015, and it did not come from raising taxes or cutting transfers to people, provinces and territories. People should also remember that it was a Conservative government that brought in NAFTA, which has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on the Canadian economy. It has opened up new export opportunities for businesses, acted as a stimulus to build internationally competitive businesses and helped attract foreign investment to Canada. Conservative governments have had a long and distinguished history of cleaning up Liberal messes, and we stand ready to do so again. We need to focus on getting the economy back on track, bringing back jobs, responsibly balancing the budget and providing accountability. When COVID-19 hit, the Liberal government was not ready. Liberals were caught unprepared. They made poor decisions, put lives at risk and crippled our economy. It did not have to be this way. Canada has faced pandemics before. In recent memory we were confronted with SARS and H1N1. Each time we learned lessons and prepared for future pandemics. Tragically, the Liberal government undid much of that preparation, cutting funding to key programs. They shut down the Global Public Health Intelligence Network, our pandemic early warning system. They let the National Microbiology Laboratory decline and then depleted Canada's PPE stockpiles. They fought with the pharmaceutical industry and stacked the Public Health Agency with bureaucrats, not scientists. When COVID-19 emerged, the Liberals were unprepared and slow to respond and made numerous decisions with tragic consequences. At first they denied there was a risk to Canada. They waited too long to close the border and ignored warnings of scientists within their own government and across Canada about the transmissibility and threat of COVID-19. They downplayed the importance of screening at borders, wearing masks, evidence-based contact tracing and domestic vaccine production. Front-line workers were left to fend for themselves, as public health guidance was confused or blocked.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Feb/3/22 2:00:03 p.m.
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The hon. member will have two minutes after question period to finish her remarks and for questions from the other members.

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Mr. Parm Bains (Steveston—Richmond East, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:00:22 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, last week the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion participated in a round table with housing experts in my riding of Steveston—Richmond East. Together, we discussed the important initiatives from the federal government to develop affordable housing in B.C., such as the affordable housing innovation fund to encourage new funding models for affordable housing. The minister spoke about CMHC's call for ideas to develop a housing accelerator fund to help municipalities remove barriers to affordable housing and addressed the urgent need for skilled labour with Canada's leading immigration program. Our government is working with the provinces and municipalities to ensure Canadian families have access to affordable housing, because every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable home.

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Mr. Larry Maguire (Brandon—Souris, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:01:23 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, west Manitoba lost a giant with the passing of Mr. Irvin Goodon on December 28. Mr. Goodon was a husband, father, grandfather, businessman, community builder, and writer, and a proud member of the Métis nation. Growing up in the Turtle Mountains, Irvin was instantly connected to the land. From trapping to hunting and enjoying the bounty of his harvest, he was an ardent conservationist, which led him to founding the Goodon International Wildlife Museum in Boissevain, Manitoba. I will always remember Irvin as an entrepreneur who built a construction business that revolutionized the shed-building industry North America. From humble beginnings to becoming a nationally recognized business leader, such as being inducted into the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame, Irvin was a pioneer in every sense of the word. I was honoured to call him a friend all these years and I appreciated his sage advice on all things political. I thank his wife Marge and children Laurie, Will and Jo for lending their father to the world. He was a wealth of inspiration and a friend to all. May he rest in peace.

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Ms. Valerie Bradford (Kitchener South—Hespeler, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:02:45 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, recently I met with Stephen Jackson of Anishnabeg Outreach, a non-profit organization for indigenous healing in my riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler. Over the past three years, under his leadership, this centre has grown from a staff of two to 30. Using digital technologies, the outreach centre has transformed from a local organization providing service to the 50,000 indigenous people living in the region to a national organization providing healing and employment opportunities to friendship centres, reserves and urban centres. The processes and tools being used by this trail-blazing organization will position the current and future first nation, Métis and Inuit generations as prosperous leaders and strategic partners in Canada's future. I encourage the members of this House to take a moment and join me in recognizing the remarkable work being done by the Anishnabeg Outreach centre.

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Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, BQ)

Feb/3/22 2:03:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the house about Serge Guay's invaluable contribution to the Site historique maritime de la Pointe‑au‑Père in Rimouski. Mr. Guay was at the helm of this lower St. Lawrence museum for 31 years. During that time, the site blossomed into the must-see attraction it is today, bringing in tens of thousands of visitors every year. Throughout his career, Mr. Guay was known for his passion, determination and creativity. Last May, the Canadian Museums Association awarded him a prize for his museum leadership skills and the important role he played at the Musée de la mer. Among his numerous achievements is the ambitious acquisition of the Onondaga submarine in 2009, which became Canada's first publicly accessible submarine. I am grateful to Mr. Guay for his contribution to building this top-notch historical tourist attraction that really puts our wonderful region on the map and makes us all so proud. I wish him a happy retirement.

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Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Gatineau, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:04:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on January 15, the Espoir Rosalie centre, an organization in Gatineau, celebrated 30 years of serving our community. Espoir Rosalie helps single mothers and their children develop parental autonomy. Participants have access to respite services and can take various workshops to learn how to build their own support network. I want to acknowledge the important work this organization does on a daily basis to ensure that we can live in a society where everyone has an equal chance. I want to sincerely thank the team, the board, and all the volunteers at the Espoir Rosalie centre for their incredible work.

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Mr. Jacques Gourde (Lévis—Lotbinière, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:05:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to an extraordinary man who left us far too soon, Réal Gagné. Réal was a proud farmer all his life, a loving husband to his wife Thérèse, an attentive father of five daughters, Stéphanie, Marilyne, Joannie, Danielle and Mélanie, and a wise grandfather of nine grandchildren. He also leaves a void in the lives of his brothers and sisters, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and his friends, who shared his zest for life and his passion for maple syrup farming. Without question, he was the heart and soul of his entire family. Réal served his community with sound advice, and he was also involved in marketing maple syrup at the provincial level. Personally, I have lost more than a good friend. He was my neighbour, and every year at harvest time, we would take the time to stop our tractors and share funny stories that only Réal had the gift to tell. His presence was always a source of great comfort. To my neighbour Réal, rest in peace.

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Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Milton, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:07:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Team Canada will march into the opening ceremony of the Olympic winter games. The Canadian delegation will be led by three-time Olympic champion and two-time gold medallist Marie‑Philip Poulin, the captain of the women's hockey team, and by five-time Olympic short-track speed skating champion Charles Hamelin. I encourage every Canadian and indeed every member in this House to cheer on Team Canada, celebrate the victories and triumphs, get to know our athletes and enjoy the inspiring stories of their Olympic journeys. Nothing brings our country together quite like the Olympics, and I think we could all use something to cheer for right now. Physical activity and recreation are essential for our communities and for our collective mental and physical health. That is why I am so proud that this week we announced our new initiative, called “community sport for all”. That is $80 million over the next two years to ensure that everyone in Canada can access quality, barrier-free sport and play. Playground to podium, Canada is proud to support our athletes. Go, Canada, go.

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Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:08:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of sadness that I rise to recognize the passing of a dedicated community volunteer and loyal friend from my riding of Kings—Hants. Mark Clarke passed away suddenly yesterday while waiting for delayed heart surgery. He retired from Michelin after 31 years, but as the saying goes, he was busier in retirement than ever during his active working life. He was a devoted volunteer with a lengthy record of service to the Kentville Lions Club, where he served as president and could often be found on Saturday mornings serving pancake breakfast. He was also a talented musician and would often perform jam sessions in the community, frequently doing shows for seniors. He was passionate about public affairs. In fact, the first meeting I had with individuals to discuss my candidacy to become a member of Parliament took place in his living room. He relished talking to people on their doorsteps during election campaigns. He was well known, well liked and well respected. To the love of his life, Gay, and to their entire family, I extend my heartfelt sympathy. I was lucky to have known Mark and to have known him as a friend.

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Ms. Lianne Rood (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:09:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, forcing people's backs against a wall by imposing unreasonable mandates and demonizing those who seek to create a dialogue and ask to be heard by their government is wrong. We need to safely and responsibly learn to live with the virus, and the government needs to accept that there are many ways forward to give people hope. Hope is the message we have been hearing, and many are spreading this message of freedom, unity and patriotism across this country. It is shameful that the government continues to divide Canadians. With this many Canadians from across the country of all races and faiths coming together to seek hope to end the mandates, they deserve to be listened to. So many people I have met are thankful for the polite conversation, because they want to be heard. I encourage the Liberal members to listen and give hope a chance to be heard.

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Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:10:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has put forth a national child care strategy to help families save thousands of dollars in child care costs and help grow our economy. Almost every province and territory has signed on to a child care agreement with our federal government, except for the Province of Ontario. In Brampton East, families have consistently expressed the need for affordable child care and what it would mean for them. Over the weekend, my friend Ajit in Calgary reached out to thank me and our Liberal government for a national child care strategy and shared what it will mean for his family. For his family, that means child care costs going from $1,300 a month to $680 a month, That is over $7,000 in savings in the first year alone. Our federal government has $10.2 billion on the table and stands ready to work with the Province of Ontario so that Ajit's reality in Calgary can become a reality for families in Brampton and across Ontario. It is high time for the Province of Ontario to do its part in making affordable child care a reality.

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Mr. Dan Muys (Flamborough—Glanbrook, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:11:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, families in Flamborough—Glanbrook are desperate for reliable high-speed Internet. On a regular basis, I receive calls and emails from constituents who struggle with overpriced, unreliable Internet. Take Ryan in Flamborough, for example, who lives just 15 minutes from the city but has no reliable broadband. Last month, to ensure his two kids would have access to online schooling, he had to pay over $500 in charges for a wireless hot spot. There are over 8,000 rural households in Flamborough—Glanbrook, the majority with bad Internet, including my own. Yet, last week the government made an announcement to connect just 47 of them. That is less than 1%. In 2022, the pandemic has taught us that access to reliable high-speed Internet is no longer a privilege for some but a necessity for all. The people of my riding cannot wait until 2025. They need action now.

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