44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 21, 2022 02:00PM
- Sep/21/22 2:22:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, allow me to begin by congratulating the new leader of the official opposition.
This week, which began with Her Majesty's funeral, was an opportunity for us to take a moment to reflect on the benefits of the Westminster style democracy. A loyal opposition is an essential element of our political system.
It is clear that we disagree on many points, but I hope that we can all—
71 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:23:06 p.m.
- Watch
Order. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
7 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:23:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. Deputy Prime Minister for her kind words and her congratulations. I look forward to being able to congratulate more young families on the ability to buy their own homes. It is nice to be in the House, but it would be nice for them to be in a home. Unfortunately, house prices have doubled under the government's policies. In fact, the share of the average Canadian's paycheque needed to pay the average monthly bill on housing has gone from 32% to 50%, and the government's solution is to raise paycheque taxes, gas taxes and other taxes.
Will the government not cancel the tax hikes so Canadians can pay their—
119 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:23:46 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.
5 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:23:51 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have just heard EI premiums mentioned, so I want people to guess what EI premiums were in 2015. They were $1.88. Guess who was the minister in charge? It was the current Conservative leader. Guess what EI premiums will be next year? They will be $1.63. That is 25¢ lower. The leader of the official opposition needs to tell Canadians if he was misguided then or he is misguided now.
76 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:24:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the answer is neither. Guess what Canadians paid in 2015 in EI if they earned $60,000? It was $930. Guess what they pay now? It is $948. That is an increase. Furthermore, if we look at total payroll taxes, they have gone from $3,400 to $4,100 under the government. That is a $700 increase, and the government plans to raise EI premiums, that is the paycheque tax, on January 1, along with other taxes.
Why will the government not cancel these tax hikes so Canadians can pay their bills?
94 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:25:05 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the leader of the official opposition of something he should have figured out when he was the responsible minister. The CPP and EI contributions every working Canadian makes are how we all pay for our retirement and how we create a safety net for every Canadian in case we lose our jobs. These contributions do not go into general government revenue.
At a time of global economic uncertainty, it is the height of irresponsibility for the Conservatives to suggest that we, as a country, stop putting money away for our retirement and a rainy day.
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:25:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in fact, EI premiums do go into general revenues when they go into surplus, and that is what the government plans to do. It plans to raise both EI and CPP premiums, the paycheque tax, right at a time when we are facing 40-year highs in inflation, all-time highs in increased housing prices, 40-year highs in food price inflation, and record food bank use. This is the last time that anyone should be raising any tax.
Will the government back down from its planned tax hikes on paycheques and on energy?
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:26:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the economy, expectations matter, and that is why it is so irresponsible for the Conservatives to talk down the Canadian economy. Yes, things are hard right now, but Canada is better positioned than any country in the world. We have the strongest economic growth and the lowest deficit in the G7. Employment is at historic highs. Inflation is lower in Canada than the U.S., the U.K. and the eurozone, and it has now come down for two months in a row. We will get through these tough times together.
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:27:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, now the Liberals would have Canadians believe they have never had it so good. I guess if one is jetting around the world singing songs in a beautiful lobby, that might be true, but the 30-year-olds stuck living in their parents' basement because the Liberals have doubled housing prices might disagree. Those who cannot fill up their tanks with gas might disagree. Those who are among the four in five families that have cut their diets because they cannot afford food might disagree.
The last thing they would want is a tax hike on their paycheques and their energy use. Will the Liberals therefore cancel those tax hikes?
112 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:27:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, for Canadians who are struggling today to make ends meet, the last thing they are going to want to do is trust these highly irresponsible Conservatives. After all, just this spring their new leader described crypto as a way to “opt out of inflation”. Since then, Bitcoin has crashed by 56%. A Canadian who invested in Bitcoin according to the reckless advice of this new leader would have seen her life savings destroyed. That is irresponsible and Canadians are smart enough to know it.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:28:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, first, now that he has sat down, I want to congratulate the new leader of the official opposition. I also want to congratulate the member for Richmond—Arthabaska.
I jotted down the address for the House of Commons on a piece of paper and I was thinking that maybe someone could give it to the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister wants to join us in the House, I suggest that he return to Canada via Roxham Road. It is much faster, since no one is monitoring that point of entry.
After that, however, will the minister ensure that the rule of law is reinstated—
109 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:29:20 p.m.
- Watch
Order. The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.
6 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:29:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we believe that our asylum and immigration systems are strong. We are working closely with stakeholders on the border situation.
We are working with our U.S. counterparts on issues related to our shared border, including the safe third country agreement. We always work closely with all of our partners to meet our national and international obligations.
59 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:30:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, maybe we could get the Prime Minister's attention by suggesting that he sing his answers. He could sing us a tune about why his government is allowing human smuggling into Quebec and Canada.
Is the Prime Minister intentionally letting tens of thousands of people cross at Roxham Road because he knows that Quebec cannot sustain efforts to integrate them in French?
Is the Prime Minister doing this on purpose, knowing what will happen? If not, will the government immediately suspend the safe third country agreement and devolve immigration powers to Quebec?
94 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:30:49 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with a lot of business owners across the country this summer, including business owners in Quebec. They told me that immigration is essential to our economy, in Canada and in Quebec.
As Minister of Finance, I fully support Quebec having its own immigration targets. Last year the province welcomed more than 50,000 new permanent residents.
I hope that all members in the House will work together to welcome immigrants to Canada and Quebec. We need them.
81 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:32:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the cost of groceries is up on average 10%. Bread is up 15.4%. Fresh fruit is up by 13.2%. Do members know what else is up? It is corporate profits. The corporate profit for the Sobeys corporation is up by 20.2% when we compare 2021 with 2020.
We know that corporate greed is driving up the cost of living, so what is the government going to do to tackle “greedflation” caused by corporate greed?
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:32:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as Canadians know very well, our government is deeply committed to ensuring that everyone in Canada pays their fair share.
We are permanently raising the corporate income tax by 1.5% on Canada's largest, most profitable banks and insurance companies, and we have introduced a recovery dividend of 15% on the excess profits of these institutions during the COVID pandemic. We also implemented, effective September 1, a 10% luxury tax on private jets and luxury cars worth more than $100,000, and boats and yachts worth more than $250,000.
93 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:33:05 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, times are tough with the rising cost of living. On average, the cost of groceries has gone up by 10%. For example, cooking oil prices have gone up by 27%, while pasta has gone up by 32%. At the same time, big grocery chains have seen their profits increase. Loblaws' profits grew 65% when comparing 2021 and 2020.
No one can deny that their greed played a role in inflation.
How is this government going to address the greed of these big grocery chains?
86 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/21/22 2:33:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been, and we remain, committed to ensuring that everyone pays their fair share.
We are permanently increasing the corporate tax rate by 1.5% for the largest banks and insurance companies. We also introduced a 15% recovery dividend on the excess profits these institutions made during the COVID-19 crisis.
54 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
