44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 8, 2023 11:00AM
- May/8/23 3:07:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yes, the Prime Minister took a vacation with his family at Christmas. Is the opposition member's position that it is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to take a vacation at Christmas with his family? Is that the position of the member across the way?
The vast majority of the cost was for security. Does the member think that the Prime Minister does not need security?
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- May/8/23 3:07:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, inflation remains at a 40-year high, and gas prices are unaffordable and intentionally being made worse. Under the government, housing costs have doubled. Seniors are having to sell their home just to get by. Canadians struggle, while the Prime Minister continues his jet-setting ways, with a couple of days in New York with some celebrities and a week in Jamaica with a Trudeau Foundation donor. It is a good life for anyone who does not have a country to run.
When is the Prime Minister going to stop his wannabe celebrity ways and get serious about the affordability crisis?
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- May/8/23 3:08:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy, but the reality is that Canada is the best country in the world and is coping better with the challenging global economic environment than any country anywhere on the planet. Our economy grew by 2.5% in the first quarter. Last month, we added 41,000 jobs. That means we have added 900,000 jobs since the pandemic, with 129% of the jobs recovered in Canada, compared to 115% in the U.S.
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- May/8/23 3:09:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal government, Canadians are now desperate. Many are struggling to decide which bill to pay first. The government has driven up the cost of living, making everything more expensive. Vacations are simply out of the question for most Canadians, yet the Prime Minister spends enormous amounts in taxpayers' dollars taking luxurious foreign vacations.
Here is a novel idea: Would the Prime Minister consider staying home to actually help Canadians?
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- May/8/23 3:09:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what Canadians are desperate about is the gloom and doom and the talking down of Canada and the Canadian economy that they are relentlessly hearing from the grouchy members opposite.
An hon. member: Oh, oh!
Hon. Chrystia Freeland: The reality is that Canada is a fantastic country and Canada is doing really well. Inflation in March was 4.3%. It has been going down for nine consecutive months, and the Bank of Canada is forecasting that it will be at 3% in the summer and below 3% by the end of the year. Canada is recovering remarkably.
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- May/8/23 3:10:38 p.m.
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I just want to remind the hon. members that we are in Parliament, and calling each other names really does not help the argument on either side.
The hon. member for Calgary Skyview.
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- May/8/23 3:10:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, over 100 wildfires are burning in Alberta right now, threatening communities and forcing nearly 30,000 people from their homes. The situation has become so severe that the provincial government has declared a province-wide state of local emergency. While we are expecting more favourable conditions over the next few days, this will likely continue to be a major crisis.
Can the minister update the House on the government's conversations with Alberta and what is being done to help those affected?
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- May/8/23 3:11:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank my hon. colleague, the member for Calgary Skyview, for his question on behalf of the people of Alberta. If I may, I would like to express my gratitude to the firefighters, first responders, emergency management individuals and indigenous leadership right across Alberta.
Canadians are there for each other. We have been working very closely with the Province of Alberta throughout this event. This afternoon, we received a formal request for assistance, and we have been working all weekend to identify the appropriate resources.
If I may, I would also like to point out that this week is Emergency Preparedness Week, and we urge all Canadians to know their risks and be prepared.
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- May/8/23 3:12:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the human rights tribunal ordered the government to ensure that indigenous children are given access to care and services they deserve in a timely manner, upholding Jordan's principle.
However, the government is evading that obligation by simply refusing to pay. We have had child therapists and speech pathologists who have been pushed to the point of bankruptcy because the government refused to pay the bill. The backlog in one of the latest cases is $450,000 of deadbeat non-payments. These are children's lives that we are talking about.
Why is the government ignoring its legal obligations under Jordan's principle?
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- May/8/23 3:13:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this question is a really important one. Jordan's principle continues to offer important services all across Canada, but it is important for us to focus on the investments that we are making for children across Canada. That is why I am really happy to talk about the $43-billion indigenous settlement, the largest that we have had, to make sure that we are getting it right when it comes to children moving forward.
I continue to want to work with the member opposite to make sure that we are not only supporting Jordan's principle but also supporting the children of indigenous communities all across Canada.
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- May/8/23 3:13:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this weekend, Liberals overwhelmingly supported a policy motion that is very similar to and consistent with Motion No. 76, put forward by my colleague, the hon. member for Kitchener Centre. This is extremely positive news, but the Prime Minister is quoted as saying that it would, despite the support of his party, never be a priority for the Prime Minister, because, he says, “The fact is, there is no consensus”.
This motion calls for a national, non-partisan citizens' assembly to find that consensus.
Is “consensus” defined by the Prime Minister as including himself, and otherwise, there is no consensus?
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- May/8/23 3:14:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government will continue to look for ways to increase Canadians' participation in the democratic process. We have a number of suggestions. The leader of the NDP and the Prime Minister, in the supply and confidence agreement, agreed to a number of elements that will improve access to voting. We are working on those kinds of issues, constructively, and the government has made it clear that there is no consensus in terms of the kind of reform that my hon. colleague is talking about.
We are focusing on issues that matter to Canadians in terms of affordability, fighting against climate change and other issues that we think are very important.
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- May/8/23 3:15:01 p.m.
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It being 3:15 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for St. Albert—Edmonton relating to the business of supply.
Call in the members.
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- May/8/23 3:29:34 p.m.
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I declare the motion carried.
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- May/8/23 3:29:57 p.m.
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I believe the hon. member for Don Valley West is rising on a point of order.
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- May/8/23 3:29:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to inform the House that the Government of Canada has declared the individual in question today, a diplomat from China, Mr. Zhao Wei, persona non grata.
Our government has been clear we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has taken this decision carefully after considering all factors. Diplomats have been warned that any type of engagement in interference in Canada—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- May/8/23 3:30:27 p.m.
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I will interrupt the point of order, because I have another point of order regarding the information.
The hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle has the floor.
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- May/8/23 3:30:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this sounds awfully like a political speech. The government had multiple opportunities to respond to questions in the House of Commons and has not.
I would just point out there is a rubric coming up in Routine Proceedings called statements by ministers. If they have something to say, that would be the time to say it.
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- May/8/23 3:30:49 p.m.
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I am afraid the hon. member has a good point, and I am going to go along with that.
As the Chair, I thought maybe somebody would want the information, but we will wait for it to come forward.
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- May/8/23 3:31:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to five petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.
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