SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 103 - Sep/27/22

Hon. Dan Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Lib.)

Sep/27/22 3:13:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in Inuvik, approximately a month ago, we announced an expanded nutrition north program, with $164 million in new funding, in partnership with indigenous partners. The newly expanded program moves beyond simply a subsidy with a new community food program fund to directly support community-led food security activities. We are providing more funds directly to indigenous partners, through the harvesters support grant, increasing access to traditional country foods, through hunting, harvesting and food sharing.

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Ms. Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, NDP)

Sep/27/22 3:13:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, an Inuit woman who travelled to Ottawa to be a nurse died after just four days in the city. She was a victim of violence, who had no access to safe, affordable housing. The missing and murdered indigenous women and girls inquiry's final report cites housing 299 times. The minister was asked about it today and he said, “words fail me.” His words and inaction are failing indigenous, Inuit and Métis people. Will the minister ensure that there are meaningful investments in a “for indigenous, by indigenous” urban, rural and northern housing strategy in budget 2023?

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Hon. Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Lib.)

Sep/27/22 3:14:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the case the hon. member is referring to obviously touches all of us. When a member of our community is targeted and does not have access to safe and affordable housing and is on the street, it diminishes all of us. We are committed to a “for indigenous, by indigenous” urban, rural and northern housing strategy. That is why in budget 2022 we dedicated $300 million as a first installment of what is needed, which is a significant amount of money and investments that are needed, to put in place serious investments in a “for indigenous, by indigenous” urban, rural and northern housing strategy.

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:15:11 p.m.
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I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Ashni K. Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Some hon. members: Hear, hear! The Speaker: I would also draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of Mr. David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Some hon. members: Hear, hear! The Speaker: We have a point of order. The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

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Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Sep/27/22 3:16:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, something very unfortunate happened during question period. The Minister of Public Safety twisted my words, thereby misleading the House on an extremely sensitive issue. I think it is important to choose our words carefully— Some hon. members: Debate. Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe: Mr. Speaker, may I speak? I was talking about smugglers, and he insinuated that I had said they were criminals—

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:16:49 p.m.
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Order. The hon. member can continue in two seconds. I think everyone is leaving, and they are talking as they leave. We will wait two seconds. Now that it is quiet, I would ask the member for Lac‑Saint‑Jean to please continue.

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Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Sep/27/22 3:17:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a sensitive issue, as you know. I am asking the minister to apologize for twisting my words. I was talking about criminal human smugglers who exploit migrants trying to cross the border. He said that I said that criminals were crossing the border. Those are two entirely different things regarding a sensitive issue. I want him to apologize because he twisted my words and it is unacceptable.

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:18:40 p.m.
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Sometimes in the House we do not always understand what is being said or what is being asked. I would remind members to pay attention to what they are hearing and saying. This is not really a point of order. This is a matter of debate on what was said. I will ask all members to be careful what they say.

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Mr. Jake Stewart

Sep/27/22 3:19:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Today in question period, the official opposition cited a March 2022 report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer that shows that the carbon tax will be a net cost to Canadian families. I am seeking unanimous—

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:19:34 p.m.
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I am afraid it is pretty clear that is debate and I will have to shut that one down.

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Mr. Ted Falk

Sep/27/22 3:19:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, there is a matter arising out of question period. Today the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, falsely stated that all on-farm fuel is carbon tax exempt. He knows that is blatantly false—

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:19:57 p.m.
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I am afraid I am going to have to cut that off as well. That is more of a debate. I am here to ensure that procedure is followed. What is answered and what is asked is, unfortunately, out of the purview of the Speaker.

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The Speaker

Sep/27/22 3:20:28 p.m.
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The hon. member for Vaughan—Woodbridge has four minutes and 30 seconds remaining in his debate.

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Mr. Francesco Sorbara (Vaughan—Woodbridge, Lib.)

Sep/27/22 3:20:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that was a riveting question period. We all know that Canadians, along with citizens of countries across the world, are dealing with inflationary pressures. Our government has acted since day one, in 2015, to ensure we work hard to strengthen our middle class and obviously assist those who wish to join the middle class. In this Parliament, we have put forward a number of measures to assist Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It is great to see that the opposition will be joining and supporting us in the GST tax credit, which would assist nearly 12 million Canadians, which is great news, and would allow for the doubling up of the GST credit for the next six months. The payments would be received prior to the end of the year, which would obviously be a big help for families as we enter the fall and Christmas period. We are putting forward the rental benefit, a $500 top-up, which would assist 1.8 million Canadians, those who really need the assistance the most, such as seniors, people on fixed incomes and lower income families. We need to be there for those Canadians. That is what this country is about, and that is what our government has been about since day one, ensuring that Canadians have access to the resources they need to provide for their families while we continue to grow our economy and generate the investments we need to create jobs for our citizens. We have done this since day one, in complete contrast to what I would call the anemic record of the prior government, which we defeated in 2015. I would also like to comment on the dental benefits, which I touched upon very briefly before question period started. As members of Parliament, we deal with cases consistently. There are those cases that really leave an impact on how we could help, not only for today, but also for the future. We are creating a dental benefit for Canadians, especially for seniors and lower income folks, so they do not have to make a choice about whether they can go to the dentist to get that dental work done, to pay $500, $1,000 or even more out of pocket to get assistance. We are acting on that. First, we would introduce the Canada dental benefits for kids under 12 who do not have a proper insurance coverage. This is obviously means tested, which is important and something I believe in. It would then be introduced for seniors and families. That is what I would define as responsible and prudent leadership from any government, and specifically from our government. Going back to my original comment, I ran for office as an economist. I ran as somebody who worked in the global financial markets for over 20 years, and I ran as someone who grew up in a small town in northern British Columbia to immigrant parents who worked hard, saved, sacrificed and did the right thing. They were provided with the opportunity to push their kids forward to not only create a better environment and brighter future for their children but also for them to have the opportunity to do so. That is why I ran for office. Our government has continued to do that since day one, whether it was the redesign of the Canada child benefit or the implementation of the Canada workers benefit, which which we would see by the end of this year up to $2,400 more in the pockets of hard-working Canadians. This is, again, means tested, and has helped literally three million Canadians since the inception of our changes. We have done that. We have cut the small business tax rate for our businesses across the country, from 11% to 9%, providing the necessary support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those supports were essential for so many businesses, for so many employers and for so many Canadians and Canadian workers. That is what our government has done since day one. Our fiscal position remains strong as we continue to deal with the issues of the day. Affordability is something that I know all my constituents are dealing with. I ask the opposition parties to join us in pushing this legislation through quickly and efficiently to ensure that Canadians get the help they need, especially folks on fixed incomes, seniors and working families.

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Mr. Frank Caputo (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC)

Sep/27/22 3:25:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo. Before asking my colleague a question, I do wish to recognize the passing of a friend from high school and former constituent, Daniel Letendre. I wish his family all the best, and may eternal light shine upon him. I heard my colleague speaking about small business tax cuts and things of that nature. Would he agree that, especially over the last seven years, we have seen incrementalism come in when we are dealing with paycheques? There is 1.5% on income tax and a little more on CPP, and then there is a little more on EI and a little more on the carbon tax. If we look at take-home pay over the last 20 years, it has slowly dwindled, and house prices have doubled under the government. How can we simply say that we are doing something for small business or for the ordinary Canadian when, incrementally, the situation has gotten way worse, especially with inflation and rises in these types of expenses?

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Mr. Francesco Sorbara

Sep/27/22 3:26:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I must admit that the family of the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo and mine have known each other for over 50 years, since they immigrated from southern Italy to Canada, and I consider the member a great friend. I will say that our government has focused on returning money to the pockets of Canadians. We have introduced two tax cuts directly aimed at middle-class Canadians, one in 2015 with the raising of the basic personal amount. We will continue to return money into the pockets of hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast, including the residents in the member's riding.

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Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ)

Sep/27/22 3:27:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in his speech, my colleague addressed the issue of dental care. What amazes me is that they are trying to see this as a solution for contributing to finances, including seniors. Does my colleague not agree that before getting their teeth taken care of, people need to eat? The government is still refusing to give seniors what they need, in other words, help seniors who receive old age security at 65. There should not be two classes of seniors. The $110-a-month increase for seniors aged 75 and up is discriminatory and unfair. It is ageist.

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Mr. Francesco Sorbara

Sep/27/22 3:27:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Shefford for her question. From our government's election in 2015 to today, we have helped seniors. We have been there for seniors since day one, and we will continue to be there for seniors. The10% increase in old age security was introduced, with $800 more in the pockets of seniors, to over 3.3 million seniors across Canada, which is a great benefit. We know that seniors who are living in poverty tend to do so later on in their years, which is why we put in a measure for seniors when they hit 75. We have also increased the guaranteed income supplement for seniors by 10%, and we returned the age of eligibility for old age security and GIS back to 65, as the Conservatives had raised it to 67, which was very important for many seniors in my riding and in all members' ridings.

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Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Sep/27/22 3:28:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I find it disturbing that the Conservatives raise questions about the carbon tax today. This is a time when people on the eastern seaboard of the country are suffering from one of the worst examples of a crisis caused by climate change, which climate scientists are absolutely ad idem on that we are going to see more of because we are not dealing with the fundamental causes of the climate crisis. This is the exact wrong time to be reducing the effect of any mechanism that may help in reducing our carbon emissions. These are my questions to my colleague: Would he not agree that, in order for a carbon pricing mechanism to be most effective, we should have to make sure that it is actually effective in helping to reduce the consumption of carbon? Is that, in fact, happening with the federal carbon tax? Is it reducing carbon emissions in this country?

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Mr. Francesco Sorbara

Sep/27/22 3:29:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have introduced a suite of measures to ensure that, by 2050, we will be net zero. Those measures include putting a price on pollution and innovation, which we are seeing in many industries across the board, such as the auto industry as well as companies like ArcelorMittal and other steel companies where they will be switching from carbon-intensive energy sources to less carbon-intensive energy sources. That is the way we will get down to net zero by 2050.

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