44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 6, 2022 10:00AM
Madam Speaker, it is nice to see all of my wonderful colleagues today as we debate the opposition motion from the New Democratic Party. I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Hamilton Mountain.
After reading the opposition day motion, it struck me that there were many things in it that related to what is called corporate concentration. As most of my colleagues know, I grew up in small-town Canada. I am the son of immigrant parents who worked hard, saved and provided a great future for their family and children. I went to university and then worked on Bay Street and Wall Street for over 20 years of my life. I am a big supporter of capitalism and free markets, which have lifted the tides and literally billions of people out of poverty across the world. However, I will also call out crony capitalism, excess corporate concentration and practices that are deemed uncompetitive and detrimental to consumers and individuals here in Canada and across the world.
When I worked in New York City, there was a point in time when there was an announcement that Canadian banks would merge and go from the five big banks, as they were referred to then, to three. At the time, there were arguments put forward that the banks needed to compete with the U.S. banks in size, and they were too small and needed efficiencies. The Liberal government, under then prime minister Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin subsequently, said no. When I think back to that decision, I think of how important it was for today. There are some members in the House currently who were members of Parliament during that time. Consider how anti-competitive that would have been for the Canadian marketplace.
When we think about corporate concentration today, it is why the Retail Council of Canada is working on a retail code of conduct for retailers. In other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, this is much easier to do because it can be done at the federal level of government and that is that. However, here in Canada, we have a fiscal federation and the federal government must do it in unison with all the provinces, as our Minister of Agriculture is doing. She is working prudently and expeditiously with the provinces so that we have a retail code of conduct to deal with a lot of the issues relating to corporate concentration in the Canadian marketplace when it comes to retail.
In a prior budget, we also introduced, under the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the hon. member from Shawinigan and my dear friend, changes to the Competition Act. These changes are related to wage-fixing, drip pricing, private right of access for abuse of dominance allegations and expanded information-gathering powers. For these changes, as I have argued for a very long time, we need to give the Competition Bureau more teeth and more resources to ensure that we have a competitive marketplace in a number of our industries. It is very important that we as a government undertake these policies, because corporate concentration is an issue.
The Biden administration actually set up a White House Competition Council, led by Janet Yellen, to deal with these issues, and I would say that we are treating it as seriously as the Biden administration. It is very important. It showed up in relation to our budget with changes to the Competition Bureau. If members go to the August 8, 2022, release from the Competition Bureau, they will find a wonderful summary of the changes that are being recommended to ensure that we have competitive practices.
Members can look at the continuum of our agri-food industry. When I first joined Parliament, we had the Barton reports, which were developed by our government to identify industries of growth for our economy. The agri-food industry was one of them. As many know, the agri-food industry is a continuum. There are farmers, processors, retailers and distributors, and we need a competitive place for farming. We need our farmers to be rewarded for the product they produce, and we need our processors to have the resources they need in terms of workers and so forth. Again, we need a competitive marketplace. However, we also need a competitive retail marketplace for our agri-food industry to sell in, and we have seen issues with that. The motion identifies the issue of the price-fixing on bread that occurred a few years ago, so we need to ensure a competitive marketplace.
Now I will move on to inflation.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to elaborate on the concrete measures taken by the government.
Our government is well aware that we are going through a period of high inflation worldwide. Canadian families feel the effects when they fill their tanks with gas and go to the grocery store.
For all Canadians families this is a tough period of time.
The fact remains that Canada is faring better than other countries.
With regard to the inflation rate, we are actually doing better. Still, we need to help Canadians, and that is what our government is doing. I am glad to see the opposition join and assist us in passing Bill C-30 and, hopefully, Bill C-31 with regard to GST.
I also want to point out to the House that inflation is a global phenomenon that can be attributed in large part to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and China's zero-COVID policy.
While our problems may have originated outside our borders, there are certainly things we can do here right now to help Canadians. That is why we are bringing in measures totalling $12.1 billion to make life more affordable for millions of Canadians in order to help them make ends meet and provide for their families.
Our government has introduced an assistance plan to make life more affordable for Canadians across the country. We introduced two pieces of legislation last month, specifically Bill C-30 and Bill C-31, to implement important measures to help Canadians.
Bill C-30 doubles the goods and services tax credit for six months. The credit for low and modest-income individuals and families is paid in quarterly payments in January, April, July and October, with the benefit year beginning in July. The GST credit is indexed to inflation annually, based on consumer price index data published by Statistics Canada.
Doubling this credit would provide an additional $2.5 billion in support to Canadians who need it most. Single Canadians without children will receive up to $234 more while a couple with two children will receive up to $467 more this year. The proposed extra GST credits would be paid to all current recipients through the existing GST credit system as a one-time, lump-sum payment.
I encourage all Canadians to please file their taxes to receive this GST payment. We know that about 10% to 12% of Canadians do not file their taxes. I encourage them to please file their taxes. That is how they receive so many of the credits and benefits that our government provides, which help them and their families. Again, it is $2.5 billion, and 11 million Canadians would be assisted.
Our government continues to help Canadians. We will deliver $27 billion over five years for a transformative early learning and child care system for Canadians. I know it is going to help my family in approximately a month and a half when our little daughter enters child care. It is something great. It is high-quality child care.
The first province that signed on was British Columbia, in July 2021. The federal government's plan for affordable and high-quality child care was signed by the Government of B.C. It came into effect for people to receive reductions in their child care costs. Again, it is benefiting families in British Columbia, which is my home province and where I grew up. These are after-tax dollars that families are saving, which is a big help to those families. In addition, we are aiming to create 250,000 new child care spaces across Canada with these agreements with the provinces and territories.
As always, I look forward to questions and comments.
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- Oct/6/22 1:47:54 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, my friend from Vaughan—Woodbridge noted a number of current government initiatives that he feels address some of the affordability challenges we are seeing out there in Canada, yet all measures of economic inequality show that this phenomenon is hitting in the wrong direction.
I wonder, first of all, if my friend would agree that economic inequality is something we want to see reduced, and, further, whether he can discuss what it means that all the initiatives to date from the government have failed to reverse the trend of worsening economic inequality.
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- Oct/6/22 1:48:38 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, Skeena—Bulkley Valley is the riding or area that my parents and family immigrated to 50-odd years ago and that I grew up in. It is a beautiful part of Canada.
There is a measure called the Gini coefficient, which measures inequality in our country and throughout the world. It is a standard measure used by economists. Our Gini coefficient has actually improved in Canada. We have seen less inequality by a number of measures, and we have, on a very tangible basis, lifted hundreds of thousands of children and families out of poverty since we came into power in 2015, through the Canada child benefit, the OAS increase, the GIS increase and two middle-class tax cuts. Our goal is to drive inclusive economic growth and that is exactly what our government is doing.
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- Oct/6/22 1:49:30 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, here is my concern. In my riding of King—Vaughan, we have 41,000 acres of farming, nurseries and tree farms, which help with carbon capture. The region is also home to the Holland Marsh, which is a recognized producer of a significant percentage of vegetables grown in the province. Unfortunately, the high cost of the added carbon tax, which has increased operational costs for all our farmers, has impacted the cost of production.
When is the Liberal-NDP government going to recognize that punishing farmers is not the way to go? Without our farmers, we have no way of feeding not just our country but the world. The survival of humans depends on the survival of our farmers.
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- Oct/6/22 1:50:30 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is great to see the hon. member today.
I am a big supporter of the agri-food industry and the whole continuum of the agri-food industry in Canada. We must always put in place policies that support our farmers, whether they are grain farmers, chicken farmers, beef farmers or dairy farmers. We have been there. I visited many of these farms in the area that the hon. member has identified, and we need to be there to continue to listen, consult and work with Canadian farmers from coast to coast to coast.
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- Oct/6/22 1:51:03 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I mentioned in my remarks earlier this morning, I have concerns with the way the text of the motion is reading. It is almost like the inquisition has already happened, there is absolutely corporate greed and there is price-fixing in the grocery market here in Canada.
I asked a question of some members of the House about whether Canadians were buying more groceries from the grocery market as opposed to going to restaurants. Maybe the high number of pharmaceuticals that were being bought during the pandemic or the fact that some retailers, such as Sobeys, Loblaws and others, were helping administer vaccines could help account for some of the corporate profit and higher prices we have seen.
Does my hon. colleague think that this particular question might be a little more nuanced than the NDP is putting in the motion today?
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- Oct/6/22 1:52:03 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, during COVID-19, when all restaurants were closed, Canadians shifted their spending habits. I think the real factor we look at for how corporations are doing, as I did in the days I worked on this, for 20-plus years, is what we call their EBITDA margins, operating profit margins or cash flow metrics. We do this to see if a large bump in revenues from Canadians shifting their spending habits is translating into higher profits and if their margin is staying the same.
As I said in my remarks, the changes to the Competition Act with the Competition Bureau are very important. Crony capitalism has no place in my world. It has no place in our society. It is detrimental to consumers. We always need to tackle that and have better enforcement measures for the Competition Bureau.
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to address this topic. The inflation we are experiencing is a global phenomenon, and unfortunately Canada is not immune. My riding of Hamilton Mountain is not immune. We know Canadians are feeling the rising cost of living, particularly through higher grocery bills, rent and gas prices.
While this motion calls for many measures that the government has already done or is actively doing, we welcome the opportunity to highlight our work to support Canadians and describe how we will continue to do so.
The government is helping families weather this global challenge through our affordability plan, which is a suite of targeted measures totalling $12.1 billion in new support this year to help make life more affordable for millions of Canadians. This plan is putting more money in the pockets of Canadians who need it the most, when they need it the most, and without adding fuel to the fire of inflation.
The government's affordability plan is particularly targeted to help address the needs of low-income Canadians who are most exposed to inflation. Because of investments our government has already made in the last two federal budgets, many of the measures in our affordability plan are in place right now to help Canadians.
In budget 2021, our government enhanced the Canada workers benefit, putting as much as $2,400 more into the pockets of low-income families starting this year. Many recipients have already received this increased support through their 2021 tax returns. This enhancement of the Canada workers benefit is extending support to about one million more Canadians and helping lift nearly 100,000 people out of poverty.
We also implemented a 10%-increase to old age security for seniors over 75. That began in July this year. This is the first permanent increase to the OAS pension since 1973, other than adjustments due to inflation. It will strengthen the financial security of 3.3 million seniors by providing more than $800 in the first year to full pensioners automatically.
In addition, our government continues to work with provinces and territories to build a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. Thanks to a historic investment of up to $27 billion over five years, regulated child care fees will be cut by an average of 50% by the end of this year.
We also increased the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and indexed it to inflation, making it now $15.55 an hour. Furthermore, the key benefits Canadians rely on, including the Canada child benefit, the GST credit, the Canada pension plan, old age security and the guaranteed income supplement, are already indexed to inflation. These measures are providing real and much needed support to Canadians right now, although of course we know there is always more to do.
Through Bill C-30 and Bill C-31, new legislation our government tabled, we are proposing to provide $3.1 billion in additional support in 2022 on top of the funds previously allocated in budget 2022 to help make life more affordable for millions of Canadians. This includes doubling the GST credit for six months, which would provide $2.5 billion in additional targeted support this year to the roughly 11 million Canadians who already receive the tax credit. Single Canadians without children would receive up to an extra $234, and couples with two children would receive up to an extra $467 in their pockets this year. Seniors would receive an extra $225 on average.
We will also be providing a payment of $500 this year to 1.8 million low-income renters who are struggling with the cost of housing through a one-time top-up to the Canada housing benefit. This more than doubles our budget 2022 commitment, reaching twice as many Canadians as initially promised, and will be in addition to the Canada housing benefit currently co-funded and delivered by provinces and territories.
We will also be providing dental care for Canadians without dental insurance who are earning less than $90,000, starting this year with hundreds of thousands of children under 12, with direct payments totally up to $1,300 per child over the next two years for dental care services. This is only the first step outlined in the supply and confidence agreement to develop a national dental care program.
Taken together, here is what the affordability plan looks like for Canadians we represent. A couple in Thunder Bay with an income of $45,000 and a child in day care could receive $7,800 above their existing benefit in this fiscal year. A single recent graduate in Edmonton with an entry-level job and an income of $24,000 could receive an additional $1,300 in new and enhanced benefits. A senior with a disability in Trois-Rivières could benefit from over $2,700 more this year than last year. Simply put, our plan is putting more money in the pockets of the Canadians who need it the most, at a time when they need it the most. They are our lowest-paid workers, our low-income renters and the families who cannot afford to have their kids see a dentist.
Our government is fully aware that Canadians are feeling the effects of elevated inflation, particularly when they reach for items at the grocery store or go to the gas pump. Canadians can be confident that they have access to support when they need it the most. Since 2015, the government has delivered real improvements to make Canadians' lives more affordable, including introducing the Canada child benefit, which has helped lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty since 2015; providing 10 days of paid sick leave for all federally regulated private sector employees; and making post-secondary education more affordable by waiving interest on Canada student loans until March of 2023 and ensuring no one making less than $40,000 will need to make payments.
Our affordability plan builds on these successes and is providing more money to the most vulnerable Canadians this year to help make life more affordable. A tax system in which everyone pays their fair share requires actions on multiple fronts, including addressing aggressive tax-planning schemes, aligning our rules with evolving international norms, ensuring that digital service providers pay their fair share of taxes, and strengthening the government's ability to crack down on tax evasion. We are committed to continuing to build an economy that works for all Canadians and leaves no one behind.
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- Oct/6/22 2:00:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on the eve of Canada's Fire Prevention Week, I rise today to recognize the tireless work of all the firefighters in my riding of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, the majority of whom are volunteers who assist and serve their communities every day as they respond to fires, medical emergencies and other traumatic events.
Every fall, many towns across Bonavista—Burin—Trinity recognize the service and sacrifices of these firefighters at awards banquets and receptions. They bring together the volunteers, their families and community members. Many volunteers are recognized for significant milestones, such as five, 10 or even 30 years of service. I am so grateful to be invited to many of these banquets every year. I always try to get to as many of them as I can because I value and respect the great work of these tireless volunteers.
I want to acknowledge all firefighters in Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, as well as those across Newfoundland and Labrador, and across the country. I thank them all, on behalf of the residents they serve, for their bravery and hard work.
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- Oct/6/22 2:01:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, northern Saskatchewan is home to the most compassionate people in Canada. In Meadow Lake, Eve Danilkewich and her family donated land to build the NorthWest Community Lodge, a 72-bed long-term care home. Mrs. Danilkewich’s additional $100,000 contribution to the lodge’s fundraising campaign has helped ensure that this new home will create an environment to deliver quality care and comfort for seniors in Meadow Lake for decades.
In La Ronge, the generosity is from La Ronge Petroleum Ltd., which along with residents Denis and Lynda Renaud, has raised more than $100,000 for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon. They wrapped a semi-trailer with the children’s hospital logo as a visual reminder of the work the foundation is doing. Donors’ logos are then added to the side of the trailer as it travels all around Saskatchewan.
These selfless acts of generosity speak to the heart of northern Saskatchewan, where hard-working and supportive people make our communities always feel like home.
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- Oct/6/22 2:03:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark World Cerebral Palsy Day. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that affects movement and posture. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement. There are over 17 million people in the world living with cerebral palsy, and approximately 80,000 of those individuals live in Canada.
As we celebrate this day and support everyone living with cerebral palsy, I want to highlight the tremendous work done by families, loved ones and caregivers in making sure that people with cerebral palsy are supported in their daily lives and that their wellness remains at the forefront.
I would like to end my statement by emphasizing the continuous need to create a more accessible and inclusive future for everyone here in Canada, especially for people living with disabilities.
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- Oct/6/22 2:03:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Louiseville buckwheat pancake festival is back in its entirety this year, and the 43rd edition is in full swing, making the Mauricie region and all of Quebec proud. It started out as a meal put on for those in need known as the “souper des gueux”, or supper for the poor, with a menu consisting of buckwheat pancakes, roast pork, cretons and hash browns.
Who would have thought that a meal for the poor would grow into such a rich tradition?
President André Auger and his energetic team have created a fantastic event that brings together people from all over Quebec and beyond.
I invite everyone to enjoy our diverse programming. Come join us for the many shows by local artists, the super bingo, the live auction and the historical parade, and get to know our miller and our people and discover our region and its history.
Hurray for buckwheat country.
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- Oct/6/22 2:05:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the local rink is the heart of every Canadian community. It is where our kids learn to skate or curl, learn important skills and life lessons such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Perhaps most importantly, they create lifelong friendships and cherished memories.
After a fire burned down the rink in Pense 30 years ago, people rallied and built its replacement in just 15 months. Recently, the arena needed upgrades. People may remember that Pense was up for the Kraft Hockeyville contest. They did not win, but that did not stop them. This small town was able to raise more than $500,000. This past weekend, I was honoured to attend the grand reopening.
This is exactly the kind of story that makes me proud to represent Pense and other communities across rural Saskatchewan.
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- Oct/6/22 2:06:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that the leader of the official opposition and the Conservative Party have been using tags to promote, connect with and target incel, right-wing, anti-women, violent rhetoric for their own personal and political gain. These incels promote the murder of single women and men who date them. They want to decriminalize marital rape. They have very real-life consequences, including followers like the Toronto van attacker.
Nobody believes the Leader of the Opposition did not know. This has been going on for more than four and a half years. Will the leader of the official opposition and the women in his caucus stand up against this hate, apologize and denounce it? Who in this House is going to stand with us and—
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- Oct/6/22 2:07:17 p.m.
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The hon. member for Sherbrooke.
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- Oct/6/22 2:07:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week.
The last two years have been hard on Canadians, exacerbating existing health inequalities and gaps both in Sherbrooke and across the country.
However, the pandemic has also facilitated open, authentic conversations about mental health and substance abuse. It is incumbent upon all of us to keep those conversations going and to make sure that everyone who struggles with mental illness gets the support they need.
More and more, across Canada, the concept of mental health is being integrated into our institutions. That is certainly true at the University of Sherbrooke. I want to take this opportunity to salute Professor Guillaume Rousseau and his students, who have come to see us in Ottawa today.
In the past few years, the University of Sherbrooke has launched many initiatives to support students and now offers a wide range of services, thanks in part to the RBC centre for university expertise in mental health.
Together, let us continue to break taboos and increase our knowledge of mental health issues.
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- Oct/6/22 2:08:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in 1847, the first running of the Woodbridge Fair was organized by John Gamble, the first mayor of Vaughan township and a parliamentary spokesperson for Ontario farmers, millers and merchants who believed that the agricultural sector and its workers were at the heart of a community’s success. True to these values, for 175 years the fair has been a place to come together and celebrate the joy of autumn, community agriculture and our local history.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Woodbridge Agricultural Society’s volunteers, this year’s fair promises to be the most entertaining one yet. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Woodbridge fall fair and everyone celebrating this community mainstay on its 175th anniversary. This Thanksgiving weekend, they should come and visit the fair with us. I will be there, and I look forward to seeing many of the residents of the city of Vaughan and beyond.
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- Oct/6/22 2:09:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the last two years have been difficult for Canadians. This is especially true for Canadians who made a personal medical decision that the Prime Minister disapproved of. Because they disagreed with him on this issue, he called them extremists, racists and misogynists. He also questioned whether they should be tolerated. If people did not agree with the Prime Minister on their personal health choices, he said they held “unacceptable views”. That is why he supported the firing of these folks. At the same time, he took away their employment insurance benefits. Then he banned them from travelling on planes and trains. This happened here in Canada.
If that was not enough, he introduced a discriminatory border surveillance scheme that ended up being a logistical nightmare. This was the ArriveCAN app, the app that also ended up destroying many businesses in the travel and tourism industry, including in my region of Niagara.
I believe the Prime Minister’s comments and actions will echo in history and will be judged very poorly by future generations. He should be held accountable for those actions.
Through you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the Prime Minister that enough is enough and he should let folks live their lives.
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- Oct/6/22 2:10:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of World Spine Day, which is taking place this year on October 16.
The purpose of World Spine Day is to raise awareness around back health and spinal disorders. Musculoskeletal conditions like low back pain are a leading cause of disability, impacting 11 million Canadians each year. These conditions are more prevalent than cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s combined. One in eight Canadians suffer from chronic low back pain, and it is responsible for almost one-third of lost time at work. This is an important issue that impacts the health and economic well-being of our communities, large and small.
This year's theme is “Every Spine Counts”, which emphasizes the diversity of the underserved communities impacted and the need for improving access to regulated essential spinal health services, like chiropractors.
Today and on World Spine Day, I call on all members to recognize the importance of spinal disorders and spinal health in our communities.
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- Oct/6/22 2:12:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark National Catholic Health Care Week and celebrate the impact of Catholic health care in our communities. This year's theme, “Building Bridges”, underlines the importance of creating connections, addressing gaps and working together to improve the health and well-being of all Canadians.
In my riding of Edmonton Mill Woods, the Grey Nuns Community Hospital provides a full range of health care services. In 1988, during the transfer of acute services, staff walked from the Edmonton General to the Grey Nuns, carrying a torch as a symbol of continuing the sisters' legacy of compassionate care at the new facility. The sisters were instrumental in establishing palliative care services, mental health programs, and care for pregnant mothers and babies. In fact, my daughter was born at the Grey Nuns.
During this week, the Covenant family will share many stories that show their impact and mission in action. I hope we can all find opportunities to build bridges, create connections and improve the well-being of all those around us.
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