44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 27, 2023 10:00AM
- Apr/27/23 2:40:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, a lot of energy is being spent on talking about all the things the Conservatives want us to do for Canadians.
Let us look at all the things that the Conservatives will oppose in the budget. They are going to vote against a tax credit that will boost investment in critical minerals projects. They are going to vote against workers and their tax deductions. They are also going to vote against dental care assistance for Canadians. It is shameful.
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑13 acknowledges that French is under threat in Quebec.
However, the Liberals introduced an action plan yesterday that gives Quebec $140 million per year to promote English. That is $700 million over five years for English in Quebec and nothing, or a few crumbs, for French.
Today, Quebeckers are wondering if the federal government has some statistics to prove that English is under threat in Quebec. If not, why are the Liberals funding English in Quebec when it is French—
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:41:51 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. Minister of Official Languages.
6 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:41:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a historic day for this country's official languages.
The action plan makes a historic $4.1-million investment to support our official language minority communities and reverse the decline of French across the country, including in Quebec.
The funding we announced yesterday does not include funding for English in Quebec. On the contrary, we are funding the vitality of Quebec's English-speaking community with French courses and the help these people need to find jobs.
Once again, yesterday was a good day.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:42:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is some logic.
The Quebec government official said, “I have not yet seen in the plan any measures that are consistent with the declaration of [the] Prime Minister...namely that French in Quebec is threatened”.
In other words, there is nothing in there for French in Quebec, but there is $700 million for English. If French is threatened in Quebec and not English, then why not use this $700 million for French at work, for promoting French?
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:43:18 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, again, yesterday, we announced and unveiled a truly historic action plan with $4.1 million to protect and promote our official language minority communities and reverse the decline of French in Quebec and across Canada.
We are not funding English in Quebec. On the contrary, we are supporting the vitality of English-speaking communities with employment assistance services and French as a second language programs.
We will always be there to support our communities and we will do everything we can to reverse the decline of French in the country.
93 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals acknowledge that French in Quebec is under threat; it is even in Bill C‑13. That is nice, but they have not changed a single thing in the federal strategy for promoting English in Quebec.
Despite their lofty words, their action plan for official languages 2023-2028 is basically crumbs for French in Quebec and $700 million for English.
What will have more impact, the rhetoric or $700 million invested directly in the anglicization of Quebec?
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:44:54 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite.
With our investment in official languages, we are doing everything we can to protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec, as well as to support our official language minority communities.
Yesterday, we unveiled a plan. We had conversations with thousands of Canadians across the country. They told us about their priorities: francophone immigration, continued investment in education, support for organizations on the ground, and assurance that the government is showing leadership.
That is exactly what we are doing with our bill and our action plan.
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:45:31 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years under the Prime Minister, many Canadians cannot afford a place to live. The Liberals have committed $90 billion to housing, and what do they have to show for it? It is a record of unprecedented mismanagement and ineffective governance.
Mortgages and rents have doubled. It now costs an average of $2,500 a month to rent one room in a townhouse. Where is the Prime Minister during the crisis? He would rather be gallivanting to New York City. I cannot wait to see the outrageous bill he will foist on struggling Canadians for this junket.
When will the Prime Minister and the government get serious and get back to work?
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:46:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been working for Canadian renters, and we have been putting in place groundbreaking programs, such as the Canada housing benefit, which the party opposite voted against.
When we proposed the top-up to the Canada housing benefit to help vulnerable renters during this difficult period, what did the party opposite do? Not only did it vote against this badly needed help, but it also played procedural games in the House to delay the passage of much-needed support.
Canadians can see through their rhetoric. The Conservatives can come here and talk about supports for renters, but when it comes time to actually do the work, they are MIA.
112 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:47:34 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years under the Prime Minister, Canadians cannot afford a home of their own. It costs $2,500 a month for a couple to rent a room in a townhouse. That is not for the townhouse; that is just for a room.
Mortgage payments have doubled. Construction of new housing is actually in decline. The Liberals' $90-billion transformational housing scheme is making the situation worse. Of course, the Prime Minister would rather be hobnobbing with his rich friends in other places while Canadians are struggling and cannot afford a house.
When is the government going to get back to work for Canadians?
106 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:48:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I actually get along really well with my critic. He recently said he is looking for literature to figure out how to build housing policy. I am happy to share our national housing strategy. Not only that, but I am also happy to share the new, groundbreaking housing accelerator fund. This is about adding more housing supply and working with municipalities to make sure that we unlock more housing supply, including affordable housing and purposefully built rentals, as well as tying federal dollars of infrastructure to housing while also making sure that we are taking care of the most vulnerable. The Conservatives voted against every one of those elements.
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:48:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have news for the minister. I have read his national housing plan, and it is not working. It is making the situation worse. Every member on this side of the House can be very proud of the fact that we did not write a blank cheque for Liberal failures when we voted against it. The housing minister does not seem to even understand that we are in a housing crisis. The Liberals' expensive schemes are making the situation worse and worse.
My question is simply this: When will the government learn that in a housing supply crisis, photo ops and talking points simply do not get more homes built?
112 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:48:54 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Conservative gatekeepers simply are not serious when it comes to housing. When his leader was the housing minister, he did nothing to help Canadians with affordable housing opportunities. The Conservative position on housing is now to do nothing, cut funding and magically hope that things will get better. It is the same kind of thinking that underpinned his leader's call for the embrace of cryptocurrency to deal with inflation. That is not a serious plan. Our national housing strategy is serious, and it is getting help to Canadians.
91 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:49:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in committee, we found out that the former chief of staff to the past minister of defence provided a senator an altered official government document to bring Afghans to safety. We found out that the minister was copied on all communications. Shockingly, the minister said he was too busy at the time to check his personal government email account. Almost two years later, he says he still has not checked.
How is this even possible? Does the Prime Minister really think this is acceptable?
86 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:50:14 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the evacuation of Kabul was an absolute crisis situation. The response by the Government of Canada during that time saved thousands of lives. I am pleased to share with members of the House that, today, there are more than 30,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees who have received a second lease on life.
When it comes to the issuance of facilitation letters, we used those to move people through Taliban checkpoints. They were not intended for people to arrive in Canada. When we became aware of the use of inauthentic letters, we shared them with law enforcement to conduct an independent investigation. It was the responsible thing to do.
110 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:50:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the National Day of Mourning, a day when we remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job, such as Troy Pearson and Charlie Cragg. They were killed when the tugboat MV Ingenika sank near Kitimat.
It has been a month and a half since the Transportation Safety Board issued four recommendations to prevent similar deaths; every single day, workers board vessels just like the Ingenika up and down our coast.
Will the minister stand in the House and commit to finally implementing all four recommendations?
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:51:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his constant advocacy on making sure that we increase the level of safety in our transportation industry.
I recently met with Ms. Cragg. I expressed our government's condolences to her for her loss. I looked her in the eye, and I told her that we are going to take action based on the recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board.
We are currently examining our options, but we will take action, because one loss of life is too many.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:51:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve to have access to a fair and efficient passenger airline sector and to travel with relative ease and without major inconvenience and disruption. Many travellers, however, have experienced delayed and cancelled flights over the past year. They deserve to be compensated accordingly.
Can the Minister of Transport inform the House on actions our government has taken to ensure that air travellers' rights are respected and protected?
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/27/23 2:52:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his leadership.
Last year, we saw significant disruptions in the air sector as it was recovering from COVID. We promised Canadians that we would further protect passenger rights. This week, we delivered on that promise.
We are reversing the onus on airlines to make sure that compensation will be mandatory. We are putting into place new standards of service and new rules for delayed and lost luggage. Plus, we are simplifying the complaint process at the CTA.
Protections for passengers in Canada will be the toughest in the world.
98 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
