44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 28, 2022 02:00PM
- Sep/28/22 2:35:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that our government is absolutely committed to ensuring that everyone in our amazing country pays their fair share. In fact, we are raising permanently the corporate income tax on the largest, most profitable banks and insurance companies by 1.5%, and we have put in place a 15% recovery dividend on the excess profits of these institutions during COVID. We have also implemented a 10% luxury tax on luxury cars, planes and yachts.
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- Sep/28/22 2:35:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the cost of pasta has increased by over 32%, which means it is getting harder for families to buy groceries.
However, it is not getting harder for the CEOs of major grocery store chains. They have earned record profits and big bonuses. Clearly, CEO greed is contributing to inflation.
Will the government support our demand to investigate food prices?
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- Sep/28/22 2:36:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have been and remain committed to ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of taxes. That is why we are permanently raising the corporate income tax rate by 1.5% on Canada's largest, most profitable banks and insurance companies. We have also introduced a recovery dividend of 15% on excess profits at these institutions during the COVID pandemic.
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- Sep/28/22 2:36:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, 40-year highs of “Justinflation” is where we are at. Payroll taxes have gone from $3,400 to $4,100 under the government, a $700 increase, and the planned EI premium hike is yet another increase on paycheques. When Canadians are struggling with paying their bills, the government's next move, on January 1, is to raise EI premiums on their paycheques.
When will they finally give Canadians a break and cancel the planned EI tax hike?
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- Sep/28/22 2:37:31 p.m.
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Before going to the minister, I want to remind hon. members they cannot do indirectly what they cannot do directly. If they are saying something, maybe they can insert the pause where it is supposed to be to avoid any kind of mockery of our system.
The hon. minister has the floor.
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- Sep/28/22 2:37:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the facts are very clear. EI premiums are lower today than when the opposition leader oversaw them. In fact, EI premiums are actually the lowest they have been in decades. Come next January, even though the premium will be increased, it will still be 25¢ lower than in 2015 under the opposition leader. EI benefits are also way more generous than they were under the Conservatives 10 years ago.
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- Sep/28/22 2:38:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister knows she is collecting more in EI premiums than she will pay to workers, and the finance minister ought to know that the EI surplus goes to their coffers to feed their out-of-control inflationary spending. The government cannot simultaneously say it understands the pain of Canadians and raise taxes on them.
I will ask this again. Will the government cancel the January 1 tax hikes?
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- Sep/28/22 2:38:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that EI premiums are the lowest they have been in decades, and that is a direct result of our government's investment in programs for workers. Special benefits are more generous. The maximum for insurable earnings is more generous. Workers get more now and pay less.
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- Sep/28/22 2:39:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance tax hike means Canadians will have to give up another $2.5 billion from their paycheques. That will not help the unemployed; it will only pad government coffers.
That money should stay in Canadians' pockets to help pay for gas, groceries, heating, and everything else that costs more because of this government's unjust inflationary policies. We can no longer afford this unjust inflation.
Canadians have done their part since 2015. Will the government cancel its plan to raise taxes?
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- Sep/28/22 2:39:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians certainly understand that CPP and EI contributions are how we save for retirement and create a safety net for all Canadians.
In this time of global economic uncertainty, it is completely irresponsible of the Conservatives to suggest that our country should stop setting money aside for Canadians' retirement and a rainy day.
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- Sep/28/22 2:40:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is coming from the finance minister who has run up the biggest deficit in Canadian history, more than all previous prime ministers combined. She wants to lecture us on that. She has no credibility with Canadians.
The cost of groceries is at its highest level in 40 years. It has risen more than 10%. What is even worse is that now, the Liberals want to take even more from workers' paycheques as of January 1, 2023.
Rather than hurting everyone, will the Liberals end “Justinflation”, yes or no?
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- Sep/28/22 2:41:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives had bothered to read the latest financial monitor, they would know that so far this fiscal year, the federal government is running a $6.3‑billion surplus. We have the lowest deficit in the G7. We have a AAA credit rating.
What Canadians should be worried about is the fact that the Conservatives want to slash pensions.
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- Sep/28/22 2:41:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, $2.29 is the price of gas in Surrey. Families and workers in B.C. are struggling to make ends meet because of the “just inflation” cost-of-living crisis, but the Prime Minister and the NDP say they are not paying enough. They are forcing the people of my province to pay triple in carbon taxes and take gas close to three dollars a litre.
Will the Prime Minister allow British Columbians to fill their tanks and put food on the table, and cancel his unaffordable carbon tax hike?
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- Sep/28/22 2:42:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government is certainly taking action to address affordability by, for example, doubling the GST tax credit.
With regard to the price on pollution, the hon. member knows where the federal system is in place, and I would tell her that it is not in place in British Columbia. Rebates are issued quarterly, and most Canadian families get a direct rebate and will continue to get a direct rebate that is more than what they pay.
Let us be very clear. If we want to ensure affordability on an ongoing basis with respect to climate change, we need to ensure that we have a robust climate plan to ensure that we are dealing with the cost of the future. That is something that, for over six months, the Leader of the Opposition has refused to talk about. Where is his climate plan?
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- Sep/28/22 2:43:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about today. We are talking about April 1, when triple the carbon tax will be imposed on British Columbians.
The Liberals believe that made-in-B.C. solutions do not work, so they are forcing families, workers and businesses to pay three times more in carbon taxes. The Conservatives will give control back to British Columbians over their paycheques, their savings and their lives.
Tomorrow, gas goes to $2.50 a litre in Vancouver. It is shattering all North American records, but that is not enough for the Prime Minister and the NDP. Cancel the tax.
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- Sep/28/22 2:43:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as a bit of history, British Columbia was the proud implementer of the first carbon price in Canada. It was implemented by a Conservative premier in British Columbia. British Columbia continues to have its own approach to carbon pricing because it knows it is the most efficient way to address pricing going forward.
I would note it is pretty perplexing that every member of the opposition—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Sep/28/22 2:44:17 p.m.
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Order. I am going to ask the minister to start over so the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock can hear the answer she asked for.
The hon. minister.
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- Sep/28/22 2:44:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I note that this is a bit perplexing given that every member of the opposition sitting in the House campaigned on a platform in their last campaign, less than a year ago, on the basis of implementing a price on pollution. Were they telling the truth to citizens then or are they telling the truth now?
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- Sep/28/22 2:44:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday it was clear that the Minister of Public Safety did not know the difference between an asylum seeker and a human smuggler. Let me explain it to him.
Asylum seekers are families who migrate to Canada to claim refugee status. Human smugglers are people who exploit these families and take all their money in exchange for getting them across Roxham Road. Human smugglers are criminals. Making the crossing at Roxham Road permanent makes their crime profitable.
Now that the minister understands who is who in this story, will he stand up for asylum seekers instead of human smugglers?
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- Sep/28/22 2:45:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the work our government has done to protect the rights of refugees who contribute so much, in such a positive way, to our economies in Quebec and across Canada. That is why we must continue to make investments at the border and give more resources to the Canada Border Services Agency. That is why we must work in close collaboration with the Government of Quebec to protect the rights of refugees and the integrity of our system.
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