SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 119

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 27, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 119 - Oct/27/22
Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Joliette, BQ)
  • Oct/27/22 2:38:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the year ahead is going to be rough. A further rise in the key interest rate yesterday will increase household debt. The cost of living remains astronomically high, and there are fears of a recession. The government will have to make some tough choices in the economic update it is supposed to deliver a few weeks from now. Spending money left and right would add fuel to the fire. For the government to turn its back on its fundamental responsibilities would be a mistake. It has to choose between discipline and austerity. Controlling spending is discipline. Turning its back on our most vulnerable is austerity. Will the government side with our most vulnerable?
115 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:38:45 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question. He knows very well that the Bank of Canada is an independent institution in this country, an institution that has helped Canadians through tough times. Our responsibility is to manage the country's fiscal plan properly. We have gotten through the pandemic. We have a concrete plan to lower the cost of living, and it includes supporting the most vulnerable people. We hope that the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Conservatives will vote in favour of Canadians and vote for Bill C-31.
100 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Joliette, BQ)
  • Oct/27/22 2:39:21 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, that was not clear. Some of the most vulnerable that the government cannot abandon are seniors. According to Food Banks Canada, the number of visits this year has shattered records. The number of Quebeckers who needed to use food banks was up 33% compared to 2019. The first people the organization sees in line are seniors who can no longer cope with inflation. Seniors cannot take any more. Will the government stop discriminating based on age and increase old age security for everyone 65 and over?
88 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:39:58 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenges seniors are facing with paying their bills and with grocery costs. That is precisely why we have been there for them from the very beginning. That is exactly why we are doubling the GST tax credit, putting more money in their pockets. That is precisely why we are helping nearly two million low-income renters who will receive financial relief. That is precisely why we increased the old age security for seniors. We are going to continue to be there for seniors and Canadians.
90 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ)
  • Oct/27/22 2:40:27 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, they are forgetting half of them. Abandoning seniors is not an act of discipline, it is austerity. We are talking about people who worked for decades and then end up going to a food bank for the first time in their lives. It is not true that the rising cost of living affects 74-year-olds and 75-year-olds differently. There are not two classes of seniors in real life. The only place there are two classes of seniors is in the federal government's support programs. When will the government realize that the cost of living does not discriminate on the basis of age?
108 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Pablo Rodriguez (Minister of Canadian Heritage, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:41:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is a matter that is extremely important and worth debating. Indeed, the Bloc Québécois had an opposition day to debate a subject that was truly important. I am very surprised and also disappointed that the Bloc Québécois chose a subject other than seniors or the fight against poverty. Now it can make up for it. Will it support the government with respect to dental care and housing assistance?
79 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Raquel Dancho (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC)
  • Oct/27/22 2:41:37 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, throughout this RCMP political interference scandal, the minister has been using very specific legal words concerning ministerial directives to the RCMP, but whether or not he directed the RCMP commissioner does not preclude political interference or inappropriate pressure. It does not rule it out. Did he or his staff have any conversations with the commissioner concerning the release of weapons information or the pending Liberal gun control legislation after the massacre and before the April 28 press conference, yes or no?
83 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:42:10 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite's assertions are completely incorrect. The independence of police operations is a key principle in our democracy. It is one that our government deeply respects, one that I have always respected and one that I have always vigorously defended—
45 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Speaker
  • Oct/27/22 2:42:27 p.m.
  • Watch
I am going to interrupt the member for a moment. It is pretty bad when I see people on one side who are trying to listen and are holding onto their earpieces because they cannot hear. I want everyone to be able to hear the answer. The hon. minister will begin from the top, please, so that everyone can understand and hear what he is saying.
66 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair
  • Oct/27/22 2:42:42 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the member's assertion on this matter is completely incorrect. It is not surprising that the members opposite do not actually want to hear the facts, but here they are. At no time did I or any member of our government attempt to interfere in police operations. To be very explicit and clear with words I hope the member might understand, I did not direct, I did not ask and I did not suggest to the RCMP commissioner to release information. When she testified under oath before the Mass Casualty Commission, she said, “I did not receive direction and I was not influenced by government—
112 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Speaker
  • Oct/27/22 2:43:22 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul.
8 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Raquel Dancho (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC)
  • Oct/27/22 2:43:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have on the audio recording the commissioner saying the minister's office requested that she do this. That is irrefutable. I am going to ask him again. Did his office or he have any conversations with the commissioner concerning the Liberal gun control policy after that tragic massacre that killed 22 Canadians? Did his office politicize their deaths, yes or no?
64 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:43:53 p.m.
  • Watch
No, Mr. Speaker.
3 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Dane Lloyd (Sturgeon River—Parkland, CPC)
  • Oct/27/22 2:44:00 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, former Liberal insider and RCMP director of issues management Dan Brien recorded the April 28 meeting with Commissioner Lucki. When investigators came for the recording, he claimed that his phone had been stolen and that he had deleted the recording. We now find out that the phone was not stolen and that the recording had not been deleted from his personal phone: an honest mistake, I guess. Did the minister's office communicate with Dan Brien about this recording, and when and how did the minister become aware of its existence?
93 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:44:34 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, neither I nor my office communicated with Mr. Brien about any aspect of this matter. I have absolutely no knowledge about that except what I have read in the papers.
32 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, NDP)
  • Oct/27/22 2:45:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, a 15-year-old in Red Sucker Lake First Nation took his life in his own schoolyard following another suicide and 17 attempts. Red Sucker Lake's Chief Knott is clear: This is a crisis. Young people need hope. It is time to fix their half-finished arena, deliver the new school they have been promised, build the regional treatment centre they need and ensure people in poverty can afford basic necessities in the face of sky-high prices. It is time to end the third world living conditions. There can be no true reconciliation without action for communities like Red Sucker Lake. When will the Liberals step up?
111 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Patty Hajdu (Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:45:34 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we completely agree with the member opposite that it is unacceptable to have such levels of disparity across this country for first nations people. It is why we have committed to closing the socio-economic gaps by 2030. It is why we have redoubled our efforts on investing in infrastructure and mental health and wellness and in supports for communities like Red Sucker Lake. Across this country, we will continue to do more with first nations partners, because every child deserves a fair chance to succeed.
94 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)
  • Oct/27/22 2:46:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, in June the minister said it would take three years for people living with a disability to get the Canada disability benefit; last week she told media it would take 12 months, and yesterday her public servant said they cannot set a timeline. This lack of commitment from the Liberals is hurting people who are suffering and cannot wait any longer. When will the Liberals deliver meaningful help to lift one million Canadians living with a disability out of poverty?
82 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Karina Gould (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:46:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud that this House unanimously supported the bill that would bring forward the Canada disability benefit. There is so much work to do, but what is important is noting that every member of this House believes sincerely that we need to ensure we are supporting Canadians living with disabilities. We are going to continue doing that work, and we are going to ensure that we are enabling Canadians with disabilities to live with dignity.
79 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, Lib.)
  • Oct/27/22 2:47:19 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I quote: Carbon pricing is a remarkably elegant market solution to reducing emissions. Pricing would enable the reduction of a wide array of regulations and government interferences in the market. Pricing would give consumers and companies clear signals about the cost of the negative externality, and allow them to figure out for themselves the best way to respond. Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell us if he agrees with this, and also who said this?
80 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border