44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 7, 2023 10:00AM
- Feb/7/23 2:57:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member represents communities that are very much similar in kind to the ones that are in my backyard, and the reality is that the policies we have introduced over the last seven years in government are making a meaningful difference. We can look at the Canada child benefit, which puts more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families. We changed that program, so we would stop sending cheques to millionaires, as the Conservatives had. We can look at the middle class tax cut. We raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% and cut them for the middle class. We increased the guaranteed income supplement. We continue to improve the Canada pension plan.
Every step of the way, we are focused on low- and middle-income families to better support them. Every step of the way the Conservatives voted against them, and I am happy to take that message to the polls next time.
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- Feb/7/23 2:57:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely fascinating, because my office receives hundreds of emails, phone calls and letters outlining the extreme difficulties people are having with their finances because of the Liberal government's terrible carbon tax and its terrible inflationist policies. They are the worst in 40 years. Even the premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston, has put forward a comprehensive plan to reduce emissions and actually save Nova Scotians money, where that minister lives. How can he vote against such craziness? This makes no sense.
When will the Liberal government allow Canadians to keep the heat on and axe the tax?
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- Feb/7/23 2:58:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it baffles the House that the Conservatives continue to undermine the fact that climate change is real. It baffles the House and all Canadians that Conservatives continue to vote against measures that are actually supporting Canadians. Time and time again, when we have put forward measures that are helping low- and middle-income Canadians, the Conservatives have voted against them. Not only do they have no plan, but they obstruct, deny, deflect and make it harder for Canadians to get the supports they need.
We are going to be there. Conservatives—
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- Feb/7/23 2:59:10 p.m.
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The hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville.
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- Feb/7/23 2:59:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, hundreds of Canadian Labour Congress workers are on Parliament Hill today. Among them are the United Steelworkers members employed by Océan Remorquage in Sorel‑Tracy. They are here because the federal government supports the use of scabs in their labour dispute. Even today, Quebec workers are still being replaced by scabs who are paid three times their wages because the federal government is 50 years behind the times.
The minister has held his consultations. There are no more excuses for failing to take action. Will he immediately introduce an anti-scab bill?
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- Feb/7/23 2:59:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in my mandate letter, I committed to further restrict the use of replacement workers. We held consultations, and the bill that the government will introduce in the House by the end of the year will reflect the results of those consultations.
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- Feb/7/23 3:00:17 p.m.
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What is the minister waiting for, Mr. Speaker?
Quebec has had anti-scab legislation since 1977. This government is 50 years behind the times. It is consulting, thinking and putting things off. As a result, the Océan Remorquage labour dispute is still dragging on because of the use of replacement workers. Real workers with real needs are here today because the minister's inaction is harming their families and the free right to collective bargaining.
What is he waiting for to introduce—
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- Feb/7/23 3:00:21 p.m.
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The hon. Minister of Labour.
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- Feb/7/23 3:01:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a ban on replacement workers would be the most significant progress that we have seen for workers in this country. It is something that unions and labour leaders, for years, have been asking for. We on this side of the House will make sure that we get it right.
Far from inaction, we have just finished thorough consultations with employers and with labour unions, and on this side of the House, on such an important piece of legislation that has been asked for by labour for decades, we will get it right.
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- Feb/7/23 3:01:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal government, business is skyrocketing at the high-priced consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The government has given McKinsey & Company over $100 million in contracts, including $1.4 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, an organization that is chalk full of former McKinsey strategists.
Why is the government so hell-bent on giving $100 million to close Liberal insider friends while average Canadians are just struggling to get by?
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- Feb/7/23 3:02:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I explained to the government operations committee yesterday, there has been absolutely no political interference in the award of contracts to McKinsey. We are, of course, looking very carefully to ensure that all processes, rules and policies have been followed by the department, by PSPC. I know that my colleague, the President of the Treasury Board, will also be examining the policies in that department as well.
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- Feb/7/23 3:02:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in other words, the government's approach to the Liberal-McKinsey scandal is to ask the minister to investigate herself. However, we found out yesterday at the government operations committee that she lacks a basic understanding of the record and experience of this company, including its relationship with Purdue Pharma.
Conservatives have said Liberals investigating themselves is not good enough, which is why we need an independent investigation by Canada's Auditor General, an Auditor General, by the way, who has been disparaged by the Minister of National Revenue.
With so many Canadians struggling, will the government support our call today for an independent investigation by the Auditor General into why over $100 million of contracts went to—
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- Feb/7/23 3:03:36 p.m.
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The hon. government House leader.
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- Feb/7/23 3:03:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on this issue, the official opposition has cast all kinds of aspersions that have already been demonstrated to not be true, saying relationships exist that do not exist and, furthermore, holding out that these decisions are made by the government when they know that they are made by the independent, non-partisan public service.
Canada is known around the world for the quality of the contracts that we engage in. We have incredibly rigorous processes that govern these. The reality is that contracts allow government to expand its services without it permanently expanding the number of employees. It is an intelligent way to use resources.
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- Feb/7/23 3:04:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, inflation is through the roof. Housing costs have doubled; families will pay $1,065 more for food this year, and 1.5 million Canadians are visiting food banks. That is where eight years of the Prime Minister's government has gotten us.
What is his government doing? It is giving over $100 million in contracts to a single firm, ignoring all the expertise of the public service.
Can the Prime Minister clearly explain how this spending will help Canadians?
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- Feb/7/23 3:04:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is hard to listen to Conservatives who say they want to help Canadians when, at every opportunity, they vote against measures that will help Canadians.
On this side of the House, we are committed to helping Canadians because we understand that the cost of living is high. That is exactly why we are taking action.
If the Conservatives were sincere in their desire to help Canadians, they could do something very simple, and that is vote with us to help them.
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- Feb/7/23 3:05:32 p.m.
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- Re: Bill S-5
Mr. Speaker, all Canadians are entitled to a healthy environment and safe communities.
Chemicals have grown increasingly prevalent in our daily lives and our economy since the last time the Canadian Environmental Protection Act was reformed.
Canadians want environmental protection legislation that addresses 21st-century problems with 21st-century science.
Would the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell us why it is important to pass Bill S‑5?
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- Feb/7/23 3:06:05 p.m.
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- Re: Bill S-5
Mr. Speaker, I thank parliamentarians for their hard work on this bill. Ensuring we have the right tools to protect human and environmental health is a key element of our government's plan.
For the first time ever in Canadian law, Bill S‑5 recognizes the right to a healthy environment for all Canadians across the country. This is a big step forward for both health and the environment.
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- Feb/7/23 3:06:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister's incompetence, Canadians are out of money. Now we learn of more Liberal ineptitude.
Medicago closed its doors after receiving more than $173 million of Canadian taxpayer money to develop vaccines. The Liberals prepurchased $600 million of these vaccines that have yet to be produced or delivered. This week government officials said that Canadians are on the hook to pay for these vaccines.
Why is the Prime Minister paying millions of dollars of taxpayer money to a foreign company for vaccines we did not receive?
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- Feb/7/23 3:07:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I respect the member a lot. He is my critic. However, this is not the time for recrimination. This is the time for solutions. That is exactly what we are doing on this side of the House.
Yesterday, I spoke with the CEO of Mitsubishi Chemical in Japan. We all understand, in the House, what we should care about is preserving jobs, preserving the plant in Quebec City and making sure we keep the technology. That is exactly what we are doing. We are going to fight for the workers, because we know this is a technology that could save lives in the future.
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