44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 20, 2023 02:00PM
- Sep/20/23 3:07:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member for Pontiac is quite right. Tourism is the economic engine of our regions. That is why, through Canada Economic Development, the government has allocated $700,000 in financial assistance to eight businesses in the Outaouais region to increase lodging availability, because we want people to come and stay for more than just a day.
I would encourage everyone to visit the Outaouais region because there are so many recreational and tourism activities. I thank the member for Pontiac for all the work she does for the economic development of our regions.
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:07:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, new documents show the Liberals billed Canadians more than a quarter of a million dollars for a three-day cabinet meeting supposedly focused on tackling inflation. Instead of coming up with any real plans to make life more affordable, the out-of-touch Prime Minister and his cabinet spent their time eating expensive meals at high-end restaurants. Inflation is out of control, but the Liberals will not stop living large.
Will the Prime Minister take the silver spoon out of his mouth, axe the carbon tax and show respect to Canadian taxpayers?
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:08:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, what the government has been focused on for the last eight years is making sure that we are advancing measures that help Canadians. We increased the Canada child benefit, and instead of sending cheques to millionaires, we made sure that the poorest and most vulnerable were getting the maximum they could have. When it comes to child care, we have cut fees in half by over 50%. When it comes to child poverty, we have lifted 450,000 children out of poverty.
What the Conservatives do not understand is that we have been not only listening to Canadians, but also acting on their behalf, and we continue to work hard for Canadians every single day.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:09:02 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, somehow life is less affordable than it has ever been because there is this punitive thing called the carbon tax, which the Liberals have applied to every single heating bill of Canadians, every single grocery bill of Canadians and every single fuel cost that Canadians incur at the pump. Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, and the government does not care.
There is a very tangible action that could be taken on behalf of Canadians, and that is to scrap the tax. When will the government find itself on side with the Canadian public and finally get rid of the punitive carbon tax?
106 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:09:42 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is incredibly disappointing to hear from the members opposite when it comes to being there for Canadians because, over the past summer, there have been hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have been displaced from their homes due to wildfires and climate change-related disasters. In fact, an entire community in Yellowknife was evacuated because of unprecedented wildfires.
The Conservatives can continue to bury their heads in the sand. We will continue to act to fight climate change because this is existential. Our job as a government is to protect Canadians, and we will continue to do that.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:10:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the hon. member concede that, despite the carbon tax, nothing is being accomplished in taking care of the environment and getting us to a better place. Canadians are certainly worse off.
They are struggling to afford the basic necessities of life. They are going to the grocery store, literally spending hundreds of dollars and walking out with nothing more than a couple bags of groceries. That is not okay, and after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadians are fed up. They cannot afford the cost anymore.
When will the government finally make the right decision, axe the tax and give Canadians hope?
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:11:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is 2023, and if one does not have a plan to address climate change, one does not have a plan for affordability or for the economy either. It is clear that every single idea the Conservatives put forth makes it clear that they are out of touch. In fact, the only recommendations those Conservatives have put forward would cut social programs.
I am talking about things that actually support Canadians, such as the Canada child benefit, child care, dental care and the guaranteed income supplement. The Conservative plan to fix global inflation by cutting people's services and benefits is no plan at all. It is irresponsible, and it is risky. It would put Canadian families at risk.
121 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:11:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of communities across our country, making up 98% of all businesses and employing two-thirds of Canadian workers, but many Yukon business owners have reached out to me over the past few months outlining their struggles with rising costs while still trying to recover from the pandemic.
Could the Minister of Small Business outline how we are continuing to support small business in Canada, including CEBA loan holders, at this time?
78 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:12:15 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I was also a small business owner during the pandemic, and I really understand the struggles many continue to face. That is why we are offering additional flexibilities for small businesses to repay their CEBA loans, which are both balanced and fiscally responsible. This includes a full one-year extension on the repayment deadline, more flexibility on refinancing and more time to access the loan forgiveness.
We will keep listening to small businesses across the country, and that includes all Canadians.
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:12:51 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, farmers in northern B.C. have been hit hard by extreme drought, another symptom of the worsening climate crisis. Hay harvests are down as much as 90%, and many farmers are struggling to feed their animals. We are seeing herds sold off, and we are seeing family farms lost.
For months we have been calling on the government to provide support to source hay from other parts of Canada and the United States. Local governments and the provincial government are waiting, and farmers are waiting for the minister to finally come to the table. How long will they have to wait?
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:13:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question and fully understand the stress farmers are under. As he is fully aware, his provincial government in B.C. has sent the papers to my department. We are analyzing the situation, and as soon as that is done, we will make sure the farmers are compensated. This is what the business risk management plans are for: to make sure we help farmers in difficult situations. We will continue to do so.
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:14:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, since last fall, I have been pressing the federal government to provide emergency support to the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, which may have to close its doors because ticket sales have not returned to prepandemic levels.
I was told in question period back in February that a solution would be found. When nothing was done, two months ago, four other Waterloo region MPs and I wrote to the Prime Minister, imploring the federal government to step in with a one-time support. We have not heard back, and on Monday, the symphony cancelled its entire upcoming season. Will the federal government step in to ensure the symphony avoids insolvency?
110 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:14:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are actively in touch with the organization about its ongoing financial struggles. Recovering from the pandemic remains a challenge for performing arts organizations, which is why we took extraordinary measures to support them during the pandemic. We continue to support arts organizations through a range of programs, and we will work with the organization to see how our programs could support it.
65 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:15:28 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.
I move:
That whereas all parties have agreed on the parameters for the establishment of a public and independent commission of inquiry into foreign electoral interference on Canadian soil,
whereas all parties have agreed to the appointment of Judge Marie-Josée Hogue as Chief Commissioner of this inquiry,
all parties and parliamentarians pledge their full cooperation to this inquiry.
78 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:15:57 p.m.
- Watch
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
It is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
37 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:18:26 p.m.
- Watch
It being 3:16 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C‑318.
Call in the members.
35 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:35:03 p.m.
- Watch
I declare the motion carried.
Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
The Speaker: I wish to inform the House that, because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 16 minutes.
51 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:37:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Addressing Port Infrastructure Expansion in Canada”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
51 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:37:35 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to table a supplementary report on behalf of my Conservative colleagues on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
I would echo the words of the committee chair and express our gratitude to the analysts, staff and witnesses, as well as the staff of the seven ports that we did visit during this study.
While we agree with some of the recommendations in this report, we must note our opposition to some of the recommendations. For example, we oppose the recommendation that adds binding emissions targets to our ports, because that just creates more red tape and bureaucracy for no productive outcome, and stretches our supply chains. Ports have actually had a good record in meeting their emissions targets while the Liberal government has not. In fact, there was a UN study that found that the government ranked 58 out of 63 in meeting its own emissions targets.
More details on this and other recommendations are in our supplementary report.
170 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 3:38:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food entitled Bill C-280, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (deemed trust – perishable fruits and vegetables).
Sometimes Canadians watch this House and think that we cannot get along, but I want to give special credit to the sponsor of this bill, the member for York—Simcoe. During the opportunity for the member to come to our committee, he is in the soup and salad bowl of Canada, and he brought a whole bunch of vegetables to the committee as a sign of goodwill.
We are in full support of this legislation. It is a great opportunity for the parties to work together in the House. I would like to congratulate the hon. member.
149 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
