44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 20, 2023 02:00PM
- Sep/20/23 2:43:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government is subsidizing rich oil companies that have absolutely no need of subsidies. At the same time, it is withholding money needed for social housing and refusing to adjust seniors' pensions, who are being hard hit by inflation. This inflation has been exacerbated by oil company profits.
Why does Ottawa not take the money it gives to oil companies and invest it in social housing and seniors' pensions instead?
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- Sep/20/23 2:44:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but what my hon. colleague said is untrue.
We established a framework to reduce and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. Obviously, this is a very important issue. We have to move faster on developing an economy that can prosper in what must be a low-carbon future.
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- Sep/20/23 2:44:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the government taxes vegetable growers, the truckers who transport those vegetables and the processors, then Quebec families are bound to have higher grocery bills.
While half of Canadians are surviving paycheque to paycheque, the Liberal-Bloc coalition seeking to drastically increase taxes thinks that Canadians are not paying enough. Not only does the Bloc Québécois support the carbon tax, but its members want to drastically increase it.
Why have the Liberals and the Bloc joined forces to impoverish Quebeckers?
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- Sep/20/23 2:45:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing for Canadians to hear a question like that.
This week, Canadians saw that we, on this side of the House, are taking action. What have we done for Canadians? We met with corporate CEOs from across the country to share with them the frustration felt by millions of Canadians and to tell them that enough is enough and that we need to do something to stabilize prices in Canada.
Rather than coming up with slogans, the Conservatives should unite with the Liberal caucus to act in the interest of Canadians. That is what people expect of them.
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- Sep/20/23 2:45:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we hear all sorts of excuses from the Liberal-Bloc coalition for drastic tax increases.
They say that the carbon tax does not apply to Quebec, but that is false. The second carbon tax, which the Bloc Québécois supports, will add 20¢ to the cost of a litre of gas.
After eight years, the Liberals have managed to convince the Leader of the Bloc Québécois to take more money from Quebeckers and send it to Ottawa. That is totally irresponsible if the goal is to help families who are struggling. Voting for the Bloc Québécois is costly.
Why is the Prime Minister endorsing the Bloc Québécois's wish to drastically increase taxes at Quebeckers' expense?
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- Sep/20/23 2:46:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what is drastic and irresponsible is denying that climate change exists.
What the Conservative elites have been doing for years now is telling the 80% of Canadians who are keeping more money in their pockets that they do not deserve to have us make their lives more affordable. What is irresponsible and unacceptable is that just two years ago, the Conservative Party was proposing a price on pollution. Now, in 2023, they are changing their minds.
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- Sep/20/23 2:47:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what Canadians want right now is for inflation to come down and for interest rates to fall, not to pour fuel on the fire of inflation. That was what the finance minister promised last year. Instead, mortgage interest rates are up 31%. Inflation is up 4% this month alone. After eight years, the Liberal-NDP government refuses to be the financial steward this country so desperately needs. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
Will the Prime Minister finally stop his inflationary spending so Canadians can keep a roof over their heads?
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- Sep/20/23 2:47:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be specific about what they are talking about when they are talking about cuts. When they are talking about dealing with global inflation, they want to do it on the backs of the most vulnerable, as if cutting from the most vulnerable people in Canada is going to somehow fix global inflation. That means, as an example, with the dental care program that we are rolling out, 3.5 million seniors would lose their dental care. That means 181,000 people with disabilities would lose their dental care. That means one million children would lose their dental care. That is what they are talking about. Let us be clear about what their real plan is.
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- Sep/20/23 2:48:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is completely false and is empty, condescending rhetoric. Let us quote former Liberal finance minister John Manley: “This is a bit like driving your car with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake generally, especially if there's slushy conditions under your tires. That’s not a good plan for controlling the direction of your vehicle, not a good plan for controlling the direction of the economy either.”
After eight years, the Liberal-NDP government is still not able to address the housing and living crisis that it helped create. Again, will the Prime Minister finally stop his inflationary spending so people do not go bankrupt, yes or no?
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- Sep/20/23 2:49:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were in government, they had higher unemployment, lower wages and stagnation when it came to poverty rates. When they are talking about cutting, they are talking about cutting things like child care. They are talking about cutting things like dental care. They are talking about rolling back pensions, just as they did when they were in government.
What Canadians need right now is a government that is there for them, and what they cannot afford are the risky ideas of the Conservative Party of Canada.
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- Sep/20/23 2:49:47 p.m.
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Before we go to the next question, I just want to compliment the hon. members for South Shore—St. Margarets and Dufferin—Caledon, who are very quiet during the questions. If they could just carry that through the answers, I would really appreciate it.
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
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- Sep/20/23 2:50:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Conservatives and Liberals caused the housing crisis by cancelling the national co-op and social housing program 30 years ago. Canada is now among the lowest of the G7 countries in social housing stock. Seniors, families and everyday Canadians need a home that they can afford.
Under the Liberals' national housing strategy, it will take at least 125 years to build the community housing that we need. Talk is cheap. Bold action is needed. Will the Liberals put people before profits and commit to building two million units of co-op and social housing?
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- Sep/20/23 2:50:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I share my hon. colleague's perspective that we need to build more housing in this country, including subsidized housing for low-income families. I also agree with the NDP that the reason we find ourselves with such an extraordinary housing shortage is that federal governments of different partisan stripes for decades have vacated the space.
We re-entered the sector in 2017 with the advancing of the national housing strategy. We are seeing hundreds of thousands of subsidized homes provide safety and security for low-income families. We will continue to advance more measures to build housing stock, including tax incentives to get builders building and to change the way that cities build homes, but we will not forget the most vulnerable along the way.
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- Sep/20/23 2:51:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as Canadians, we should be making sure that all our kids feel safe, loved and supported. However, right now, anti-trans demonstrations across Canada are making this impossible, especially for trans kids.
In June, the Conservatives blocked an NDP motion calling on all Canadian leaders to condemn this rising tide of hate and violence. Will the Liberals join New Democrats in condemning this anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate by supporting our motion when it comes back to the House? Will they join us in demonstrating that Canada is truly a country where there is no space for hate?
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- Sep/20/23 2:52:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I give a special thanks to the member across for his work, his advocacy and his lived experience.
Absolutely we stand with trans and queer youth. As I reflect on what has happened outside these walls today and the marches that we see, I remind everybody that as a parent I understand the need for parents to be at the centre of their kids' lives. However, I also very much understand the need to centre trans and queer kids and make sure they are heard and make sure they have safe spaces.
To those kids, we are with them and we hear them. I have spoken to them across—
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- Sep/20/23 2:53:01 p.m.
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The hon. member for Etobicoke Centre.
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- Sep/20/23 2:53:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as we speak, the Ukrainian people are risking everything and sacrificing their lives to defend their homeland against Russia's genocidal invasion. Russia's invasion is not just an existential threat to Ukraine. It is also the primary reason for food and energy price inflation here in Canada and around the world. It is a major threat to global security and to Canada's security. Canada must stand with the Ukrainian people until they win.
Could the Minister of National Defence share with Canadians what Canada is doing to support the brave people of Ukraine?
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- Sep/20/23 2:53:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Etobicoke Centre for his exceptional leadership in support of Ukraine.
In the face of Russia's unrelenting brutality and aggression, Ukrainians have fought back with remarkable strength and courage. Canada continues to stand with them.
Canada has already provided over $1.8 billion in military aid, and earlier this week, while visiting our soldiers in the United Kingdom, who are training Ukrainian soldiers, I announced that Canada will contribute $33 million to a British-led air defence partnership. This investment will equip Ukrainians with the tools they need to defend their skies and protect critical infrastructure.
Canada, our partners and allies will always support Ukrainian friends, and the comprehensive military—
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- Sep/20/23 2:54:26 p.m.
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The hon. member for Dufferin—Caledon.
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- Sep/20/23 2:54:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was at the International Plowing Match, which was in my riding, and I spoke with farmers from all across Canada. What is their number one concern? It is the carbon tax.
Whether it is drying grain or driving their combine, the carbon tax is crushing Canadian farmers. When farmers pay more, Canadians pay more at the grocery store.
After eight years of paying more, Canadians cannot afford the Liberal government. Will it come to its senses and axe the tax?
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