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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 142

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 6, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 142 - Dec/6/22
Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 2:59:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we respect the Auditor General and welcome her report. However, let us take a look at some of the—
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The Speaker
  • Dec/6/22 3:00:04 p.m.
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I just want to remind the hon. members that the rules are that they ask the question and then they wait. They do not keep asking the question over and over again. The hon. minister, from the top please.
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Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/6/22 3:00:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me state once again that we thank the Auditor General for her report and that we respect her work, but let us look at what her report said. The pandemic benefits prevented an increase in poverty that would almost have doubled without our investments, and they helped the economy bounce back from the effects of the pandemic. CERB allowed 8.9 million Canadians to be supported through the depths of the pandemic, and the wage subsidy kept 5.38 million people on the payroll. We have already recuperated $2.3 billion. The system will continue to work, and we will continue to have the backs of Canadians.
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Mrs. Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster, CPC)
  • Dec/6/22 3:00:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General did take a look, and more than $30 billion in payments went to ineligible applicants. We know in this House that the Auditor General is a respected officer of Parliament. It was Parliament that asked for the report from the AG. The minister is now calling into question the independence of the AG. Will the minister apologize?
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Hon. Carla Qualtrough (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:01:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her report. We worked closely with her to make sure she had all the data she needed to make her findings, and we are also working hard on the post-payment verification to ensure that we work with individual Canadians. Over 150,000 Canadians have already worked out agreements with CRA for payment, and we will continue methodically pursuing this work until it is done.
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Mrs. Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster, CPC)
  • Dec/6/22 3:01:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that definitely was a non-answer. The Liberals say they worked with the Auditor General, but they will not accept the recommendations from the Auditor General. Will the Minister of National Revenue stand up and apologize for her remarks, which seem to be that her government does not trust the Auditor General and the work that was done?
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Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:02:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government trusts and respects the work of the Auditor General. Let me just share with members— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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The Speaker
  • Dec/6/22 3:02:29 p.m.
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Are we done? Very good. The hon. minister, please proceed.
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Hon. Randy Boissonnault
  • Dec/6/22 3:02:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that our government respects and honours the work of the Auditor General, and that we accept her report. Let me share point 10.23 from the report. I quote: We found that the COVID-19 programs achieved their objective to help Canada avoid a more severe contraction of the economy and the social consequences of, for example, a significant increase in poverty. This financial support allowed the economy to rebound and return—
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The Speaker
  • Dec/6/22 3:03:22 p.m.
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The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.
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Mr. Patrick Weiler (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:03:28 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-13 
Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes that French is in decline in Canada, as the census showed. That is why it is important to pass our ambitious bill. Could the President of the Treasury Board explain to us how Bill C-13 will improve French in the federal government?
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Hon. Mona Fortier (President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:03:54 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-13 
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and especially for his hard work. We are firmly committed to promoting both of our official languages. With Bill C-13, Treasury Board will play an enhanced role in monitoring and evaluation. For the first time, that will include monitoring federal institutions to ensure that they meet their obligation to take positive measures, including in areas where they work with their provincial and territorial counterparts. We need to move forward with Bill C-13 to strengthen official language minority communities, among others.
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Mr. Rob Morrison (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC)
  • Dec/6/22 3:04:35 p.m.
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Mr Speaker, Mary called me on the weekend. She is a senior on a fixed income, and her doctor is 230 kilometres away. She cannot afford the fuel inflation. The Auditor General today revealed $32 billion in questionable spending, including $54 million to build a $250,000 app, billions in wage subsidies to wealthy corporations, and issuing cheques to prisoners and organized crime. Will the minister apologize for questioning the independence of the Auditor General?
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Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:05:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenges seniors are facing. The government has been there for them, unlike the party opposite, which has opposed every single measure we put forward to support seniors, whether it was the doubling of the GST credit, which will help 11 million people, rental and dental support, increasing the old age security by 10% for those 75 and over, or the fact that we are increasing the guaranteed income supplement, which has helped over 900,000 seniors. We are going to continue to make sure we support seniors, now and into the future.
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Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, CPC)
  • Dec/6/22 3:05:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there has to be some sort of limit to what we are going to hear from the Minister of National Revenue today. It is one thing to attack the Auditor General and say that she doubts her integrity, but she even had the gall to say that managing the pandemic as a minister was more difficult than managing the Second World War. Does the minister have the courage to stand up today and apologize on behalf of the 40,000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives between 1939 and 1945?
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Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:06:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her report and we have great respect for her work. Let us look at a few facts from that report. The supports provided during the pandemic prevented an increase in poverty. The CERB program supported 8.9 million Canadians and the wage subsidy kept more than 5.3 million people employed. It was the compassionate thing to do. We did it for Canadians, and it was the right thing to do.
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Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, CPC)
  • Dec/6/22 3:06:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very disappointed in the Minister of National Revenue's lack of courage. She is the member for Gaspésie, and I would remind the minister that there were people from my regiment, the Régiment de la Chaudière, who landed at the beaches in Bernières‑sur‑Mer in 1944. Those soldiers were courageous people. Can the minister from Gaspésie demonstrate as much courage as the Régiment de la Chaudière soldiers from Gaspésie by standing up and apologizing on their behalf?
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Hon. Diane Lebouthillier (Minister of National Revenue, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:07:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, allow me to reassure my colleague. If there is anyone who does not lack courage, it is most certainly the people of Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands. That said, CRA is working very hard to make sure that everyone who collected COVID‑19 benefits was eligible to do so. Our robust audit and recovery strategies will be thorough and compassionate. This report only goes to show that our estimates were correct.
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Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:07:49 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-32 
Mr. Speaker, whether it is because of bad crops or extreme weather, Putin's illegal war in Ukraine or supply chain issues, food prices in Canada and around the world are on the rise. Canadians are having a hard time putting food on the table, and they are looking to us. Can the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance tell the House what the government is doing to help Canadians with the cost of living?
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Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Dec/6/22 3:08:17 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-32 
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and hon. colleague from Vancouver Granville for his hard work on the file and his dedication to his residents. We are always here to support Canadians, and the measures we have in place put more money in the pockets of Canadians. In the fall economic statement, we propose to eliminate student loan interest, to make housing more affordable and to increase the Canada workers benefit. The Conservatives can do the right thing and see their hearts grow not one, not two, but three sizes, and vote for Bill C-32 and to support Canadians.
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