44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 9, 2022 10:00AM
- Dec/9/22 11:08:43 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this week, a panel of Canadian sports journalists chose the winner of the Northern Star Award, which is given annually to Canada's athlete of the year. This year, this prestigious award goes to Beauce's own Marie‑Philip Poulin, who proudly wore the letter “C” at the last Olympic Games and, along with her entire team, brought home gold for women's hockey.
She is now one of four legendary Quebec hockey players to have won this award, along with Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux and Maurice Richard. Also this week, Ms. Poulin became the very first member of the women's hockey team to be inducted into the hall of fame at Boston University, where she played with the Terriers for four years.
Marie-Philip Poulin continues to be an inspiration for young and old alike, not only in Beauce, but across the country. She proves day after day that passion and hard work can lead to greatness.
Congratulations once again to our beloved number 29. To Beauce, she will always be number one.
Bravo, Marie‑Philip Poulin.
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- Dec/9/22 11:09:39 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute two teachers in my community of Parkdale—High Park, Katy Whitfield and Ian DaSilva.
During Remembrance Week they conceived a simple goal: making national sacrifice locally relatable. The project that emerged is called “They Walked These Streets”.
On two lawns in Bloor West Village, Katy and Ian mounted signs dedicated to the Canadian men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in both world wars. The signs captured the names of these military heroes, where they served and where they passed. The information also lists where these soldiers lived and which local school they attended, and in that, Canadian soldiers became instantly relatable to generations of my constituents. Schoolchildren would pass by and exclaim, “She went to my school,” or “He lived on my street.” Seniors would visit and pay homage to relatives who served.
There are 235 soldiers' stories depicted this year, and over 1,000 neighbours visited to learn and pay their respects. I thank Katy and Ian for helping this important history come alive in our community. We will indeed remember them.
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- Dec/9/22 11:10:44 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Montrealer Sarah Kazemi, national wrestling champion Navid Afkari, 176 people including 55 Canadians on flight 752, Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini, and so many more have been killed by a murderous regime. Now Mohsen Shekari has been executed, in the first execution by hanging, for simply participating in recent protests in Iran, for simply exercising his universal and fundamental human right to free speech.
The people of Iran have been brave and tenacious in standing up to a oppressive autocratic regime. Canadians, too, have stood up in solidarity with the people of Iran. It is now time for this government to stand up with the people of Iran.
The government came to office promising to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen Canada's embassy in Tehran, and while it has backed off those promises, it has still not done what our allies have done and what the House has insisted the government do, which is to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
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- Dec/9/22 11:11:59 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this week's interest rate hike means that the prime rate of Canada's chartered banks is 6.45%, the highest in 22 years.
Half of Canadian homeowners with a mortgage are worried they will not be able to afford their own home when their mortgage comes up for renewal. A typical homebuyer from five years ago, renewing a $400,000 mortgage, can expect their payments to go up by $400 or $500 a month or more when they renew, and new buyers, at today's rates and prices, have all but given up hope.
Canadians already face higher prices from Liberal tax increases on gas, groceries and home heating. They cannot afford higher mortgage payments too. The Liberals justified their out-of-control spending and borrowing since 2015 by saying that interest rates would never go up, but they were wrong. Liberal spending and borrowing drove up the cost of credit, and now Canadians have to pay more for their mortgages, and their kids are saddled with a legacy of Liberal debt.
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- Dec/9/22 11:13:00 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, on December 7, which also marks 101 years of women MPs in Canada, I had the honour to attend the Equal Voice fundraising gala.
People gathered from across the country to recognize and celebrate women who have made a significant impact in politics. Since 2001, Equal Voice has been advocating for equal representation of women in Canada's Parliament, focusing on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
I truly want to recognize the leadership of Equal Voice in advancing women's participation in the political arena.
Yesterday, December 8, I also had the pleasure of attending a breakfast hosted by the Cooperative Council of Ontario to mark the official opening of their new offices, which are located not far from us here at Parliament. It was truly a great opportunity to discuss, in the presence of important stakeholders, how valuable they are to our community.
I would like to thank the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la capitale nationale for their collaboration and partnership.
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- Dec/9/22 11:14:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, many people believe that the first NDP MP in Quebec was the former NDP leader, Thomas Mulcair. While Tom won an impressive victory in the 2007 byelection in Outremont and was subsequently re-elected three times, he was not the first. Phil Edmonston was the first.
Phil won the 1990 byelection in Chambly with 67% of the votes. His background leading up to that was an unusual one. Born in Washington, he decided to immigrate to Montreal. He was a keen francophile, and initially worked as a writer and journalist.
He founded the Automobile Protection Association. As a tireless consumer rights advocate, he was involved in a number of battles to defend individuals against big corporations. For years, he published Lemon-Aid, a new and used car buying guide.
Sadly, Phil Edmonston left us a few days ago. He was an architect of Quebec's social democratic movement, an American who found a home here, in French, and who dedicated his life to standing up for others.
He will not soon be forgotten. We salute him. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
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- Dec/9/22 11:15:23 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, December 9 is the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. More importantly, it is an opportunity to resolve once again, as parliamentarians, to do everything we can to stop this heinous crime.
December 9 is also a day to remember the Uighur genocide. Just yesterday, I reminded the House that nearly two million Uighur and Turkic Muslims are currently imprisoned. These men, women and children have been abducted, raped and tortured, while others have been callously murdered.
I cannot stress this enough. As I stand before my colleagues in the House, the most horrific crime a government can perpetrate against its own people is taking place: genocide.
It is hard to hear that word. It is an unbelievably brutal crime, one that the Government of Canada stubbornly refuses to name. That is why, once again, I rise before my colleagues to stand up for human rights but, more importantly, as a matter of principle and justice. It is high time that justice prevailed for my Uighur friends.
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Madam Speaker, it is clear the Prime Minister and his Liberal front bench have again been caught trying to divide Canadians for political gain.
Adding hunting rifles to Bill C-21 proves that the Prime Minister and his cabinet govern for themselves. First nations leaders from across our country are voicing their concerns with the sneaky and underhanded amendments to Bill C-21. Where was the consultation? Are constitutional rights to hunt and harvest for sustenance to be protected? Why is the Liberal government criminalizing a way of life?
Every time questions like these are put to Liberals, they claim Conservatives are spreading misinformation. Yesterday, the Assembly of First Nations' Special Chiefs Assembly passed an emergency motion opposing the Liberal hunting rifle ban. Are the Liberals going to stand up today and accuse the AFN of spreading misinformation, or will they just admit to all Canadians that they are guilty of covering their incompetence with deception?
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Madam Speaker, child care is not a luxury; it is a necessity. That is why our government is establishing a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. All families should have access to high-quality, affordable and inclusive early learning and child care, no matter where they live, today and into the future.
As a single mom of two kids, I know from personal experience what a universal child care system means for a parent's ability to start a career, provide for their family and contribute to their community.
Bill C-35, introduced yesterday by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, would enshrine the principles of our Canada-wide system into federal law. Families and child care educators like Anna Care, the director of Blaydon day care in York Centre, have been advocating for a national child care system for decades.
I encourage all my colleagues from all parties to join me in passing Bill C-35 quickly so that we can continue to work together to make life more affordable for families and give every child in Canada the best possible start in life.
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- Dec/9/22 11:18:59 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Liberal government constantly votes to increase taxes on Canadians. It voted to increase taxes on fuel. It voted to increase taxes on home heating. At a time when Canadians are struggling to put food on the table for their families and with 1.5 million Canadians visiting food banks in a single month, the Liberals voted to increase their carbon tax on food production.
When will they finally quit forcing their failed carbon tax on struggling Canadians?
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- Dec/9/22 11:19:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I understand that the Conservatives are still debating whether the climate crisis is real. I understand their economic policy can be summed up as cancelling the price on pollution. What I do not understand is that yesterday the Conservatives voted against a tax cut for small businesses. They voted against eliminating interest on student loans.
We have been there for Canadians. We have a strong and prudent fiscal policy in this country. I just do not understand why the Conservatives consistently oppose it.
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- Dec/9/22 11:20:08 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, what we oppose is their failed carbon tax plan. It is not an environmental plan. What we are voting against is, like the Auditor General saw, $27 billion in misappropriated COVID funds. What we are going to continue to vote against is the wasteful spending of these inflationary arsonists. The Liberals have not found a tax they do not love.
When will they finally get rid of their tax-and-spend ways and give Canadians a well-deserved break?
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- Dec/9/22 11:20:50 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am not sure who the Conservative member is referring to when he calls people “arsonists”, but clearly the facts and the numbers do not seem to matter to the Conservatives.
If they bothered to look at the facts, they would see that we have the lowest deficit and the lowest debt of all G7 countries. They would also see that we continue to have a AAA credit rating, which means, and the the numbers bear this out, business investors are finding Canada to be the most prudent and responsible investment. Business investment is up in this country. I just wish the Conservatives would stop denigrating our economy.
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- Dec/9/22 11:21:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, because of the Liberal government, Christmas will be more expensive for Canadians than ever before. Of Canadians, 52% are worried about buying gifts this Christmas, 61% are worried about putting gas in their cars to go visit loved ones over the holidays, and 53% are worried about buying groceries for Christmas dinner.
This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. When will the Liberal government give Canadians a break and axe the carbon tax?
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- Dec/9/22 11:22:04 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, nobody is believing this feigned compassion on behalf of the Conservatives.
It is the government's policies that ensured that two million fewer Canadians are suffering from poverty in this country. It is the policies that we have we put in place that are helping Canadians make ends meet, whether it is the rental benefit that will become available in a few days' time, whether it is the dental subsidy that is already available to Canadian families, whether it is the supports for child care or whether it is doubling the GST tax credit. We have been there for Canadians, and we will continue to be there.
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- Dec/9/22 11:22:45 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Christmas holidays are two weeks away. Families will gather around the table. However, all families are worried about inflation right now. What is more, inflation is hitting them where it hurts the most: food, which is a basic necessity.
There is one thing that the government could do immediately that is entirely within its control. I am talking about taxes.
Will the government promise not to increase taxes in 2023, yes or no?
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- Dec/9/22 11:23:24 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the tax my colleague is referring to is the carbon tax, the price on pollution.
Quebeckers agree that polluters must pay. I must clarify, however, that the price on pollution does not apply to Quebec.
I would simply like to remind my colleague that we must be mindful of the facts. We must also ensure that the votes reflect the Conservatives' position. Yesterday, once again, the Conservatives voted against measures that would help Canadians.
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- Dec/9/22 11:24:02 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am talking about facts. I just want to point out that I did not mention the carbon tax at all. The member, who is not a minister, should know that she is the one who brought it up. Indeed, she knows full well that the Liberals are going to increase the carbon tax in 2023. This is not going to help anyone. While I am at it, I would like to remind her that her government, after seven years in power, is ranked 58th out of 63 for its effectiveness in fighting climate change.
I will repeat my question. Is her government going to increase taxes in 2023, yes or no?
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- Dec/9/22 11:24:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, that is not fair. Yes, I made reference to the carbon tax because that is the only tax the Conservatives could be referring to. There is no federal tax on the price of food, and the member across the way knows it. The compassion my colleague seems to be displaying in the House today does not reflect reality, because yesterday, he voted against measures that are going to help Canadians.
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- Dec/9/22 11:25:20 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, the Chief Justice of the Quebec Superior Court, Marie‑Anne Paquette, criticized the fact that many trials have had to be postponed over the past few months because the Minister of Justice is taking too long to appoint judges. In one judicial district in the Montreal area, no hearings could be held for a month because there were no judges available. When the minister's office is asked about this, it responds that the appointments will be made in due course. Will the minister admit that due course has come and gone?
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