44th Parl. 1st Sess.

March 22, 2023 01:00PM

Context: House Hansard - 171 - Mar/22/23

Mar/22/23 10:25:09 p.m.
Watch

That is not really a point of order, but the hon. member will have questions and comments after he finishes his speech in two minutes and 53 seconds. I would ask everyone to come to order. The hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader has the floor.

48 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Mar/22/23 10:25:21 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I am glad we are talking about budget priorities. I believe that at the end of the day, we will see things in the budget that will be there in a very real and tangible way for Canadians. I say to my Conservative friends across the way that we all know there is a great deal of consultation that takes place, whether it is the individual member of Parliament, the work members do within their constituencies and talking to constituents or meetings and discussions within caucuses. There are discussions held virtually throughout the year, but in particular, there are the pre-budget debates. At the end of the day, I believe we will see a budget that reflects the interests of Canadians. As I indicated—

128 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Hon. Andrew Scheer

Mar/22/23 10:25:25 p.m.
Watch

I'm here to ask you a question.

8 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Mar/22/23 10:25:55 p.m.
Watch

And I'll stay here for your question. Mr. Speaker, I can say that I am going to be looking in areas that really concern the constituents of Winnipeg North. I know my colleagues will be doing likewise for the ridings they represent. We have been advocating to the appropriate ministers, including the Minister of Finance, in different ways. These areas may be the bigger issues of our health care system, what is taking place in our environment or the importance of many of those infrastructure programs at the local level. We will continue to advocate where we believe the government should be establishing its priorities in terms of budgetary and legislative measures. For those following the debate, as I mentioned at the beginning, we take the ways we can use our taxation policies to ensure we have a healthier economy and society very seriously. We can see this in the tax breaks for the middle class, the tax hike on Canada's wealthiest 1%, the GST rebate and the enhancement to the Canada workers benefit. We can also invest in the CRA to ensure, for example, that they stop the people who are trying to avoid paying their fair share.

201 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)

Mar/22/23 10:29:06 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I come from New Westminster—Burnaby, the heart of some of the best breweries and wineries in all of Canada. I will mention the award-winning Steel and Oak Brewing Co.; Another Beer Co., or ABC, which has terrific products; the Dageraad Brewing in Burnaby, which has a lot of innovation in its products; and Pacific Breeze Winery, which provides excellent wines. There is no doubt that the tax increase would have a big impact. The government is aware of this. We have been speaking of this for hours. The simple question is this: Why will the government not stop the price increase? Why will it not just halt it, so that it does not increase on April 1?

122 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Mar/22/23 10:29:58 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to speculate about anything in regard to the budget, but what I can say is that I believe it works out to 14¢ or 15¢ for a case of 24 bottles of beer. That is less than a penny per bottle of beer. That is the essence of what we are talking about. Canadians from coast to coast to coast are concerned about a wide spectrum of issues, whether it is health care, the environment, what is happening around the world today and in Ukraine, how we can continue to support Canadians or how we ensure that there is ongoing transparency and accountability. There is a wide spectrum of things that are out there. I do not know to what degree 12¢ or 15¢ for a case of 24 beers rates as the top priority of Canadians. I suspect it does not.

152 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Hon. Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC)

Mar/22/23 10:30:54 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I heard the hon. member just lamenting the fact that he did not have the opportunity to ask me a question, so I am happy to stand here now and give him the opportunity to at least answer a question, which is something that his leader never does, so maybe he will break that mould. It is a bit ironic after the many, many weeks at committee when Liberal MPs embarrassed themselves and demeaned themselves in their theatrical filibuster to try to prevent senior officials in the Liberal Party from testifying. However, we are talking about an escalator tax, an automatic tax increase, on beer, wine and spirits. I did hear the hon. member say it is a few pennies, but we can add it all up and add up the increase on the carbon tax and add up the increased mortgage payments that people have to make as interest rates go up. If the Liberals say that it is not a big deal and it is just a few cents a bottle, the obvious question is, well, then why raise it? When the Liberals talk about the cost of living and when they talk about all the costs that are falling onto Canadians, why do they believe that Canadians should pay even more, when they come home from work, to enjoy a cold beer after an honest day's work or to bring friends over to celebrate a birthday? Why do they believe that Canadians should pay more for that while the Prime Minister jets around on vacation, billing taxpayers for flights all over the country, sometimes thousands of dollars to avoid driving just an hour? Why do the Liberals believe that Canadians should pay more while they bill taxpayers so much?

295 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Mar/22/23 10:32:30 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I am still focused on how the member started the question. He was being critical of the Prime Minister because he was saying he was not happy with the answer when he asked a question. At least the Prime Minister hangs around and answers the question. He stays to respond. The very same member, when I attempted to ask a question, evaporated into thin air. I am not going to say where he was, but he totally refused to answer the question. Therefore, I would suggest that he is consistent with the Conservative policy in general. It is very hard to understand because, at the end of the day, someone would say there is nothing to it. There is no—

123 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

The Deputy Speaker

Mar/22/23 10:33:13 p.m.
Watch

Let me get in one more question. The hon. member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue.

16 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Sébastien Lemire (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, BQ)

Mar/22/23 10:33:21 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know what my colleague from Winnipeg North thinks of the lobbying of interest groups that want to limit alcohol consumption to two drinks per week as recommended by their research. This could have consequences for the profitability of many of the regional microbreweries and craft distilleries in our regions. I want to salute Éduc'alcool, which conducted studies and has promoted responsible consumption habits for Quebeckers consisting of two drinks a day for women and three for men, and 10 drinks per week for women and 15 for men. This approach has been adopted in Quebec and keeps our local economy going. Will the government respect the Éduc'alcool guidelines or will it adopt those of the lobbies that essentially encourage prohibition?

130 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Mar/22/23 10:34:10 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, one of the things I do respect is provincial jurisdiction, where liquor stores and so forth are administered through provincial governments. They do have all sorts of programs out there dealing with drinking responsibilities. I would think the stakeholders, the provinces and Ottawa all play a role in responsible drinking.

52 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, CPC)

Mar/22/23 10:34:52 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I move: That the honourable member for Calgary Rocky Ridge be now heard.

22 words

All Topics

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

The Deputy Speaker

Mar/22/23 10:35:14 p.m.
Watch

The question is on the motion. If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

46 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

Mr. John Nater

Mar/22/23 10:36:01 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded division.

8 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

The Deputy Speaker

Mar/22/23 10:36:07 p.m.
Watch

Call in the members. During the ringing of the bells:

10 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

The Speaker

Mar/22/23 10:51:09 p.m.
Watch

It being 10:50 p.m., I have no choice but to interrupt the bells. Pursuant to order made on Friday, March 10, and this being the final supply day in the period ending March 26, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings on the opposition motion and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the business of supply. The question is on the motion. May I dispense? Some hon. members: No. [Chair read text of motion to House]

81 words

Hear!
Rabble!
add
star_border
share

The Speaker

Mar/22/23 10:53:47 p.m.
Watch

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable.

51 words