44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 16, 2023 10:00AM
- Feb/16/23 2:24:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired of those Conservatives talking down our economy and talking down Canada.
In terms of good news, let us celebrate. This morning I was celebrating project arrow, the first 100% Canadian-built electric vehicle. That is what we are capable of in Canada. It is about innovation. It is about leadership. It is about bringing Canadians up as opposed to bringing Canadians down, as they do every day.
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- Feb/16/23 2:25:16 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government is facing mounting criticism over Bill C-5, and for good reason.
Quebec's justice minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, tabled a motion in the National Assembly with the support of all members. The motion calls on this Bloc-centralist-Liberal government to amend the law stemming from Bill C‑5 to make sexual assault offences ineligible for community sentences. We are in this position because of the complicity of the Bloc Québécois.
Will they do the right thing and protect women instead of helping criminals?
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- Feb/16/23 2:25:51 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, as a government, we have acted on several fronts to ensure that victims of sexual assault are treated with dignity and respect.
Several bills, including Bill C-3 and Bill C-51, have made substantial reforms to Canada's sexual assault laws to do just that, protect victims. These are some of the most progressive laws in the world. We have invested in programs that help victims of sexual assault.
That is our priority. We will continue to support victims of sexual assault.
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- Feb/16/23 2:26:30 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, it is as though the minister always does things right.
Yesterday, the media reported on the case of Sobhi Akra, who pleaded guilty in January 2022 to sexually assaulting eight women between October 2017 and November 2018. Bill C‑5, the brainchild of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice, who got some help from our Bloc Québécois friends, could make it possible for this criminal to serve his sentence in the comfort of his own home.
Quebec has also pointed out that Bill C‑5 is a setback for the fight against sexual violence. I do not know where the minister is going with his answers, but it is obvious that there is a serious problem with Bill C‑5. We have said so from the outset. The Bloc Québécois supported the Liberals, but it is time to reconsider.
Is the Minister willing to change Bill C‑5 for the sake of the women?
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- Feb/16/23 2:27:13 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-5
Mr. Speaker, as the Attorney General, it would be inappropriate for me to comment not just on a case that could be appealed, but on a case where there is not yet a final decision. I will not speak about that case.
What I can say to Canadians is that the purpose of Bill C‑5 is to address systemic racism against indigenous and Black people in the system, and to set aside a system that did not work under the Conservatives.
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Mr. Speaker, in today's episode of West Island story, the Liberal house is burning.
It just keeps going. Every day, we learn that another Liberal member from Quebec is opposed to modernizing the Official Languages Act. It is even spreading to cabinet. At first, it was just a smoke show, but now it is a fire. The suspense is killing me.
Will there be a free vote on this bill or will all Liberals have to vote as one? If they vote as one, will they vote for or against? We are confused.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear: Our commitment has not changed. Our government stands firm. We will do everything to protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec, and protect our official language minority communities.
I am following the work of the committee closely. Our bill will expand the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages. It will ensure that employees will be able to work and obtain service in French in federally regulated private companies in Quebec as well as outside the province in regions with a strong francophone presence.
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Mr. Speaker, the “West Island story” actors keep spouting nonsense.
Canada is an anglophone country, says the member for Westmount. French is not in decline in Quebec, says the member for Saint-Laurent, in between two trips to Greece. I cannot support Bill C‑13 because it contains certain Conservative and Bloc amendments, says the member for Mount Royal.
These are Liberal government members. Will they vote in favour of the Liberal government's Bill C‑13?
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Mr. Speaker, I do not see what he is worried about, because the Bloc members will vote against a bill designed to strengthen French in Quebec and across the country and give the Commissioner of Official Languages more powers.
The Bloc Québécois-Conservative coalition is going to try to bring down a bill that is good for French everywhere.
We will take a stand and continue to fight for French everywhere in Canada.
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- Feb/16/23 2:30:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, everyone in our country should be able to find a job that pays the bills, a home that is in their budget and build a good life for themselves and their families, but sadly that is not the case—
Son hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Feb/16/23 2:30:25 p.m.
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I am going to ask the hon. member to maybe wait a moment. I will ask everyone to calm down a bit. I am having a hard time hearing the question, and we will want to hear the answer of course, so I am going to ask everybody to take a deep breath and relax a bit.
The hon. member for Burnaby South, from the top, please.
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- Feb/16/23 2:30:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, all Canadian should be able to find a job that pays the bills, find a home that is in their budget and build a good life for themselves and their families. They reality is that this is not the case. The cost of living continues to rise, and paycheques are not keeping up.
When times are tough, that is when the government needs to step, and it is tough right now for people, particularly with their rents. We are seeing rents rise across the country. In my riding of Burnaby South, rents have gone up as much as 30%. We have forced the government to double the GST rebate in the past year. We need that to happened again.
Will the government do that in the upcoming budget to give people some hope?
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- Feb/16/23 2:31:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are a government that has introduced the groundbreaking Canada housing benefit that is delivering almost $2,500 to vulnerable renters across the country. In partnership with the members of the party opposite, we introduced a top-up to the Canada housing benefit of $500, which is going to almost two million vulnerable Canadian renters.
On this side of the House, we will always have the backs of Canadian renters.
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- Feb/16/23 2:31:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I know it is difficult because we have forced the government to do so many things. I was talking about the GST rebate that we forced the government to do, not just the rental subsidy that we forced it to do.
The reality is that the cost of living is going up, and it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet. When times are tough, it is the government's responsibility to help people. We forced the government to double the GST rebate.
Is the government prepared to do that again in the upcoming budget, to give hope to people who are really struggling because of the cost of living?
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- Feb/16/23 2:32:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the efforts of the NDP leader who worked with us on doubling the GST credit, as I acknowledge the support of the House for the one-time $500 top-up to the Canada housing benefit.
My colleagues in the House know very well that I cannot comment on the budget. What I can say is that we will be there for Canadians, as we have been in the past, and we will be there to build a strong economy that benefits everyone.
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- Feb/16/23 2:33:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Liberal Prime Minister is scaring newcomers away. When they are not stuck in this Liberal-made backlog mess, one in five are saying that they are already planning on leaving. The number one reason, according to a new poll, is the high cost of living.
This Liberal inflation is driving up the cost of everything and the Liberals will make things even worse for newcomers when they triple their failed carbon tax.
When will the Liberals show some compassion and axe the failed carbon tax so newcomers actually want to stay, stop forcing them to leave, and keep the heat on?
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- Feb/16/23 2:33:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, dreams do come true. In March 2022, the member for New Brunswick Southwest said, “The backstop will kick in“ and “cheques will begin to roll out to New Brunswick.” Today, Premier Higgs of New Brunswick decided to go with the federal plan on carbon pricing. He said that they needed to make a choice that was in the best interests of New Brunswickers. We agree with Premier Higgs.
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- Feb/16/23 2:34:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister continues to peddle misinformation. His own budget watchdog has proved that Canadians get less in their pockets than what they have to pay for this failed carbon tax. He has missed every single emissions-reduction target that he set for himself, and emissions have gone up. That sounds like a failed tax plan to me.
When will he stop with the misinformation, stop the virtue signalling and axe the failed carbon tax so Canadians can keep the heat on?
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- Feb/16/23 2:34:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have been Minister of Environment and Climate Change for a year and emissions are down 9% below 2005 levels. Let us keep going. If I may quote again, the premier of New Brunswick, Premier Higgs, talking about—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Feb/16/23 2:34:54 p.m.
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The hon. Minister of the Environment, from the top, please.
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