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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 205

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 2, 2023 10:00AM
  • Jun/2/23 11:37:16 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the hon. member opposite knows full well that if he wants to make life more affordable for Canadians, the Conservatives need only stop filibustering and simply support our budget implementation bill, which will ease the cost of living for Canadians. As for the price on pollution, I recommend that people look at the Conservatives' 2021 election platform. It says that the low-carbon fuel standard is something the Conservatives will adopt if they form government. What is happening on the other side?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:37:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this side of the House wants to remind the Liberals that even though they formed government, we garnered many more votes than they did. Also, the fact is that, just a few months ago, someone said that deficits and out-of-control spending add fuel to the inflationary fire. Who said that? It was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. However, a few months later, she presented a budget that increased the deficit and increased spending. Seriously, can the minister say that taking another $436 out of Quebec families' pockets with a new tax is a good idea?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:38:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this question touches on several things and there is very little time. I will answer what I can. The former parliamentary budget officer, Kevin Page, clearly said that our budget is very balanced, very responsible and will not create inflation in Canada. The Conservatives' election platform states, “We will assess progress...to set...carbon prices on a path to $170/tonne”. What is happening on the other side? They swept it off and cleaned house. They now have a new leader, and that is finished for them.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:39:13 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, on Saturday, it will be two years since all of the parties in the House recommended, in a report, a comprehensive EI reform. All the parties, including the Liberals, made that recommendation. Two years later, absolutely nothing has been done, and yet, in that report, all the parties found that “the EI program no longer reflects the realities”—
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  • Jun/2/23 11:39:37 a.m.
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I must interrupt the member for a point of order. I think it has to to with the interpretation. Can the hon. member for Northumberland-Peterborough South confirm whether it is working now?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:39:56 a.m.
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I would be happy to, Madam Speaker. On Saturday, it will be two years since all of the parties in the House recommended, in a report, a comprehensive EI reform. All the parties, including the Liberals, made that recommendation. Two years later, absolutely nothing has been done. However, in that report, all the parties found that the “program no longer reflects the realities of today’s labour market”. In other words, the Liberals have known for two years that they are leaving workers to deal with an outdated system. They admitted as much. When will they take action?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:39:56 a.m.
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The hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville can start her question again from the beginning.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:39:56 a.m.
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Yes, it is working, Madam Speaker.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:40:44 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, EI is currently one of the oldest and most complex systems across the Government of Canada. That is why we made a commitment to fully modernize the system. In the past two years, the minister has led more than 35 virtual national and regional round tables with workers, employers and academics. We have also engaged the provinces and territories as well as indigenous organizations in separate consultations. We have already extended sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks and with a board of appeal in budget 2023, we will put EI appeal decisions back in the hands of workers. EI reform is a priority. We are on it and we are going to get it done.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:41:23 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, corrections will need to be made, but what I wanted to say is that this is not the only anniversary to mark when it comes to Liberal dishonesty. Let us not forget that the Prime Minister himself ordered an EI reform by the summer of 2022. The hot weather we have been having over the past few days reminds us that it has already been a year and the Liberals have done nothing. Two years after promising this reform and a year after the date set by the Prime Minister, nothing has changed. Keeping one's word is the most basic sign of respect. When the Liberals—
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  • Jun/2/23 11:42:07 a.m.
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The hon. Minister of Sport.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:42:11 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am very proud that during the pandemic our government supported workers who were not covered by employment insurance. We made sure that self-employed workers, just as an example, had some money coming in, so they could continue to feed their families. As for EI reform, we prioritized things in the budget to make life more affordable and to provide health transfers, but we have also held consultations, and the work continues.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:42:47 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are not just hungry, they are hangry at the price of groceries. The Minister of Finance is pouring an additional $60 billion over the inflationary fire. The Food Professor says that overspending by government is to blame. He said, “when a government injects more money into the economy, the excess liquidity can drive up demand for goods, including food, which, in turn, can lead to higher prices.” Does the Minister of Finance feel guilty that her large deficits are hurting Canadians' ability to feed themselves or is she secretly trying to start a national weight loss challenge?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:43:25 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I know personally that I could maybe lose five or 10, but when it comes to that member's question if they really want to help Canadians they would stop the filibuster in this chamber today. They could show up for work and make sure that the budget implementation act passes and that supports get to Canadians who need them. The hypocrisy on that side is making things smell in this House. It is not just the heat, it is the Conservatives who are blocking this Parliament. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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  • Jun/2/23 11:43:52 a.m.
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We were doing not too bad. All of a sudden it just picked up. I would ask members to please keep it down because we would not want to have to change the speaking order. The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:44:08 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the minister is clearly misinformed. The committee has already passed the bill and there is no filibuster. On the topic, inflation is like a bad houseguest that just will not leave. No matter how many hints the Conservatives, economists and even the Governor of the Bank of Canada drop to stop spending so much, the Minister of Finance is pumping another $60 billion on top of last year's record deficit, which only increases inflation, the houseguest, to stay and make an even bigger mess to the economy. Will the Minister of Finance finally take a hint and reduce spending, or is she so tired of her job that she wants voters to show her and her unwanted houseguest the door?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:44:53 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, if the Conservatives read the budget, they would see that there are measures to make sure that we reduce spending by $15 billion over the next years. Also, in the budget implementation act, we would be able to make sure that Canada worker benefits go to Canadians faster. It would improve the education savings plans and it would lower the tax burden for tradespeople. The Conservatives do not like that we stabilized health care for a generation, that we are making historic investments to grow the economy and that we are also helping those Canadians who need it the most. They want to use dilatory tactics. We are going to keep delivering for Canadians.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:45:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, our national holiday, Canada Day, will be observed by Canadians in less than one month. This is a day when we all gather to celebrate our nation. However, most Canadians are more concerned with the high cost of living. If the first carbon tax was not harsh enough, the Liberals' birthday gift to Canadians is a second carbon tax, which will intend to destroy Canada Day festivities. Will the government show some compassion and give all Canadians the gift they deserve and axe this costly carbon tax?
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  • Jun/2/23 11:46:10 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, yes, July 1 is a great day to celebrate in Canada. There is another reason to celebrate, because that is the day when the climate action rebate will come out. Those payments will come quarterly. In my home province, it is $1,000 a year, $250 a quarter. It is going to fight climate change. It is going to support affordability and it is going to be a great day for Canadians indeed.
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  • Jun/2/23 11:46:44 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this Liberal government has no shortage of imagination when it comes to making life miserable for those who drive their car to work or take a summer road trip with their family. They have already imposed a carbon tax that adds 41¢ to a litre a gas and now carbon tax 2 will add another 17¢ to that same litre of gas. Compounded with GST, that is an extra 61¢ per litre during the worst cost of living crisis since Pierre Elliott Trudeau. When will these Liberals show some decency and scrap both of these punitive carbon taxes?
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