SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 173

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 27, 2023 11:00AM
  • Mar/27/23 2:59:50 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, yet another day, another Conservative stands up and pretends to care about seniors. Just in case that member forgets how many times the official opposition has forgotten about seniors and voted against them, let me remind him. On GIS for single seniors, the Conservatives voted against an increase. They voted against increasing the OAS for those 75 and over. They voted against providing rent relief for vulnerable Canadians. Those members stand up on a regular basis, and I am looking forward to seeing how they vote on the budget when we do more things for all Canadians, including seniors.
101 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:00:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, former bank governor, Stephen Poloz, now says that Liberal deficit spending drove up inflation. The current bank governor said the same thing last fall. If he will not listen to us, maybe the Prime Minister will listen to the bank governors. Inflationary Liberal spending and taxes drive up the cost of everything. People cannot afford to eat or even heat their homes. To make matters worse, now the Liberals are going to triple the carbon tax. I have a simple question. Will the Prime Minister commit to no new taxes?
99 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:01:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know that inflation has been challenging for Canadians. That is why we are focused on a legislative agenda that makes life more affordable for Canadians. However, it is important for members opposite, everybody in the House and Canadians across the country to understand that this is a global phenomenon. Fortunately, inflation has been coming down. It is down to 5.2%. It is much lower than our peer economies, such as the United States or in Europe. It is actually positioning us quite well to invest in further measures that will make life more affordable, but will also make an economy that works well for everybody.
109 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:01:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, reckless spending, record debt and tax increases is a result of eight years of this Prime Minister. With the cost of living climbing higher and higher and the economic outlook more bleak than ever, many Canadians are at their breaking point. In tomorrow's budget, the government should reassure all Canadians that it will stand behind them, exhibit some fiscal responsibility and help restore stability in the country. Will the Prime Minister commit to cancelling the planned carbon tax hike and no new taxes in tomorrow's budget?
90 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:02:17 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am surprised the member is not talking about the record of our government for eight years. Just this morning, there is a company right here in Ottawa, Ranovus, $100 million of investment in the top semiconductor in the world. We are becoming the silicon valley of the north. Not only are they going to be the most powerful, but they are going to be the greenest in the world. That is how investment is translating into jobs and jobs into growth. That is the way forward.
89 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:02:52 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are almost halfway through tax season. As MPs, it is our responsibility to help our constituents, especially members of vulnerable populations, file their income tax returns so they can receive the benefits and credits they need. Could the Minister of Revenue inform the House of what we can do to help them?
55 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:03:22 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle for her excellent question. I want to point out that during this tax season every riding has several free tax clinics, which help hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Canadians file their tax returns every year. I invite my colleagues to promote these clinics to help their constituents obtain the benefits and credits to which they are entitled. I also want to take the time to thank the volunteers for the fantastic work they do in their communities.
89 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:04:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have a shortage of affordable housing across Canada for which seniors are unable to qualify. After eight years of this Prime Minister, housing has become unaffordable and rent has skyrocketed. Shirley is already struggling to pay for the 11% increase in grocery prices and cannot afford to pay for her rent. Will the Prime Minister listen to our seniors, show some compassion and commit to no new taxes?
71 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:04:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, seniors are actually a priority population in the national housing strategy. We have invested billions of dollars to make sure that vulnerable groups, including seniors, have access to safe and affordable housing that meets their needs. In addition to that, seniors are eligible for the Canada housing benefit in addition to the top-up that the Conservative members of Parliament voted against. Not only did they vote against that help for seniors, they actually played procedural games in the House to delay that help that seniors needed to pay the rent.
93 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:05:13 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, let us imagine being $200 away from bankruptcy. After eight years of this Prime Minister, most Canadians, in fact half of all Canadians, do not have to imagine it because that is their reality. The cost-of-living crisis is destroying families across the country. Housing has doubled under this Prime Minister, and the out-of-control food costs are forcing people to skip meals. Andrea wrote to me and said, “We normally skip lunch, even my three kids, because I just can't afford three meals a day right now.” We have a chance, right now, today, and it is long overdue, for the Prime Minister to show compassion and to actually support Canadians. Will he today commit to no new taxes—
128 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:05:53 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. Minister of Families.
5 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:05:57 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take my hon. Conservative colleagues at face value when they say they care and want to show compassion to Canadians, but when they have had the opportunity over the past eight years, every single time they have voted against Canadians. Whether it was the Canada child benefit that has helped lift 450,000 children out of poverty, they voted against. Whether it was lowering taxes on the middle class that helped millions of Canadians across the country, they voted against. Whether it was the Canada workers benefit that helped low-income Canadians stay in the workforce, they voted against. I would like them to show that compassion—
114 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:06:36 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.
16 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:06:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, everything is getting more expensive. Successive interest rate hikes have doubled mortgage payments in Canada. One family in four will have to pay $1,065 more for groceries this year. The cost of heating, energy, food and even alcohol will continue to increase with this government. After eight years, this Prime Minister's policies are only making things worse. Will the Prime Minister commit to no new taxes in tomorrow's budget, yes or no?
77 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:07:16 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, people will have to excuse me for not revealing the details of the budget now. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will present the budget tomorrow. I am delighted that everyone in the House is so excited about our upcoming budget. In the meantime, I would like to say how hard our government has worked to ensure that we will always be there for Canadians.
69 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:07:52 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as we continue to face increasing global uncertainty, our relations with our friends across the border are now more important than ever. Last week, we welcomed the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to our nation's capital, where he addressed Parliament. Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on the outcomes of this historic visit and our respective governments' commitments with our closest friends and neighbours?
72 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:08:23 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, President Biden's visit last week provided an opportunity to make very important announcements: historic investments in our Great Lakes; expanding the safe third country agreement to cover the full border; additional commitments to NORAD to protect our skies; and creating good jobs, including union jobs, on both sides of the border. When it comes to our closest friend and ally, we can count on this government to get the job done.
74 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:09:04 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, Veterans Affairs has been clawing back pensions from women RCMP veterans. These women experienced extreme brutality while protecting our country, and the government is denying what they are owed as directed by the Merlo Davidson lawsuit. The New Democrats have been calling for these clawbacks to stop and, after months, finally the minister agrees. These women deserve action. Will the minister apologize to these women, stop the clawback and reimburse the money they are rightfully owed from their pensions?
81 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:09:39 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the work that the ombud and her office is doing to provide recommendations to government and thank her for highlighting this issue. The women who came forward and disclosed their experience in Merlo Davidson did so with incredible courage. We will contact the veterans who have had their disability pensions reduced by the Merlo Davidson settlement to give them an opportunity to submit additional information for recalculation, and correct the payment if appropriate.
77 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/27/23 3:10:12 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, something pretty shocking happened in this place last week. I refer to the statement made by the hon. member for Don Valley North. I am pretty scandalized that anonymous smears from CSIS end up destroying reputations with no real opportunity to respond. It is not like CSIS ever gets anything wrong. Just ask Maher Arar. What the heck is going on here? Will an inquiry find out who in CSIS thinks it is okay to leak to the media? It is wrong.
84 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border