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Oct/5/23 1:52:03 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, where the NDP is at is this: Unlike the Conservatives, New Democrats are here to fight for the people and to get more for the people. We are not just here to talk about how great we are and then deliver nothing, having been part of a previous administration that cut housing programs for the people in need. We are creating affordability through different means, and that is why we fought tooth and nail to get the dental care plan. Yes, the leader of the Conservatives has had access to dental care services all his life through the public service, but most Canadians do not. We will fight tooth and nail on affordability on all fronts.

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Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Oct/5/23 1:52:54 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, I have heard Conservatives talk about selling 6,000 buildings and 15% of public lands. We only need to look at Ontario, where the Doug Ford Conservatives did a deal for the greenbelt; they sold public lands and put $8.3 billion into the pockets of developers. In my home province of British Columbia, the B.C. Liberals sold private lands to benefit their friends, who were donors to the B.C. Liberal Party. What policies and framework would the member like to see put in place to protect Canadians from Conservatives, their friends and their donors?

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Ms. Jenny Kwan

Oct/5/23 1:53:43 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, for the federal government to make available federal lands for the development of housing, first and foremost, we need to ensure there is a public return to the community. The Conservatives do not want to put any requirements in place, because they only want to line the pockets of their pals, the investors and developers. For the NDP, there has to be a return to the community. In the spirit of reconciliation, we have to make land available by returning land back to indigenous people, first and foremost. Second, for buildings that are made available for development, to turn it into social housing, it has to be social or co-op housing. The rents have to be reduced to below market, so that people can access it and it is truly affordable for the community.

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Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/5/23 1:54:44 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, I am originally from Nova Scotia, and I look at a history lesson that I think we can all learn from. The private sector does not build housing when we really need it and does not build it in a hurry. The first public housing ever built in Canada was in the wake of the Halifax explosion in 1917, when thousands lost their homes, and governments, including as far away as the U.K., created a fund. The government moved in and built, to this day, some of the nicest and most sought-after housing in Halifax, in the Hydrostone district. It was the first public housing effort ever in Canada. Within months of the Halifax explosion, the governments had created apartments, temporary but serviceable, for 832 people. They had a roof over their heads. It was done quickly and affordably. We are lacking the sense of emergency, particularly for those who are acutely homeless, living rough or living in tents. Does my hon. colleague from Vancouver East think we should adopt a strategically different approach to the emergency for people who are homeless?

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Ms. Jenny Kwan

Oct/5/23 1:55:54 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, there is no question that the urgency is real. This housing crisis is a chronic crisis. It has been more than 30 years since the government walked away from building social and co-op housing. To speak to the member's point, it can be done. We just need the political will to do so and for government to say that it will build social and co-op housing, with the models it used to use. When veterans returned from the war, we built victory homes; Canada, at that time, said it would not allow—

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Oct/5/23 1:56:34 p.m.
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We have to resume debate. The hon. member for Kenora.

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Kenora

Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)

Oct/5/23 1:56:40 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-56

Madam Speaker, it is great to rise today and join the debate on this very important topic. I just want to start by saying that, in Bill C-56, I am pleased to see that the Liberals finally seem to be admitting that Canadians are struggling. Over the last number of years, they have been telling us everything is fine and that the government has a great credit rating with all the agencies. However, we have been raising concerns about the housing costs, the cost of groceries and the cost of living for quite some time now, and I think that the bill being brought forward shows that the government is finally admitting that there is a housing crisis and that its inflationary policies are driving up the cost of groceries for Canadians. It is also clear to me that it is a tired government that is out of ideas. Within the bill, of course, it is looking to remove the GST from purpose-built rentals, but that is something that has been brought forward by our current common-sense Conservative leader, the leader of the official opposition. As well, the bill aims to help address grocery costs by removing the efficiencies defence, which currently allows anti-competitive mergers to survive challenges if corporate efficiencies offset the harm to competition, even when Canadian consumers would pay higher prices and have fewer choices. This is another Conservative idea. It was brought forward by my friend, colleague and seatmate, the member for Bay of Quinte. I want to thank him for bringing that forward. He is a very smart guy and a decent hockey player, but he brought forward this idea, and it is another one that the Liberals have now adopted. I want to be clear that I am happy that the government is trying to take some of our Conservative ideas. I will highlight a few other ideas that I would like to offer the government to bring forward, if it is serious about addressing the housing crisis and the cost of groceries. As we know, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, housing prices have doubled. Nine in 10 youth say they will never afford a home, and many families cannot even pay the interest on their mortgages. Now the government's solution is to bring forward more photo ops and, as I mentioned, plagiarize Conservative messaging. The bill takes the Leader of the Opposition's idea from his building homes not bureaucracy act: to remove the GST on purpose-built rentals. It is a good idea, of course, but it is missing a key piece. Our leader's bill would incentivize more affordable homes, because in order to qualify for the removal of GST, the rental price must be below market value, meaning that more homes would get built and prices would come down. As new homes were built, they would continually bring those prices down in order to qualify. The Liberals' version would not do that. It would allow prices to continue to skyrocket. I look forward to sharing some more ideas on this after question period.

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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)

Oct/5/23 2:00:03 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, yesterday was the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People. In the spring, the NDP led the call to have the House declare the continued loss of indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people as a Canada-wide emergency and to commit to providing immediate and substantial investment. This included the red dress alert. Families and organizations such as Sisters in Spirit and the Native Women's Association are calling on the federal government to invest in this alert system to save lives. This is a matter of life and death. There is no more time to wait. The NDP calls on the Liberal government to take this emergency seriously and immediately act on the call for a red dress alert.

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Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

Oct/5/23 2:01:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, almost 20 years ago, shortly after immigrating from Lebanon, Majdi Bou-Matar founded MT Space, an incredible arts organization in the Waterloo region that centres racialized and marginalized artists and stories in our community. His goal was to establish an international theatre festival within 10 years. Sadly, Majdi passed away suddenly last June, and our community continues to grieve his loss. MT Space has shifted what we consider mainstream theatre in our community, and the festival that he envisioned years ago continues to grow. This year marked MT Space's full return to live and in-person theatre, with IMPACT 23. Over the course of six days, they pretty much took over downtown Kitchener, bringing together artists from eight different countries to stage 20 productions indoors and outdoors. My thanks go to Pam and the entire MT Space team and board for their leadership, for challenging our preconceptions of theatre and for their tireless work—

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The Speaker

Oct/5/23 2:02:01 p.m.
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The hon. member for Markham—Unionville.

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Mr. Paul Chiang (Markham—Unionville, Lib.)

Oct/5/23 2:02:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my warmest wishes to my constituents in Markham—Unionville on this special occasion of Thanksgiving. Across this great country, Canadians are bound together by our shared values of gratitude, unity and compassion. This Thanksgiving, let us reflect on the blessings we enjoy, the moments we cherish with loved ones and the prosperity that our great nation provides. In Markham—Unionville, we are fortunate to celebrate our cultural diversity, where traditions from around the world enrich our lives and bring us closer together. This Thanksgiving, I encourage all of us to embrace this spirit of inclusivity and share the abundance of our community with those in need. May this Thanksgiving be a time of joy, reflection and generosity as we come together, support one another and remember that we are stronger when we stand united. From my family to your family, I say happy Thanksgiving.

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Mr. Colin Carrie (Oshawa, CPC)

Oct/5/23 2:03:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Thomas McBride. Tom was a beloved employee of mine and a fixture on Parliament Hill since 2006. His sudden departure has left a deep void in my office, one that will not be easily filled. Tom proudly received his B.A. in political science and moved to Ottawa to fulfill his aspiration of working on Parliament Hill, where many will remember him for the roles he fulfilled and the assistance he provided to members and their staff. We remember his love of sports and his passionate support of Canada. Perhaps that is how Tom developed his sense of fairness and fair play. Sadly, life is not always fair. All Tom's friends across party lines who respected, appreciated and loved him will miss his presence on the Hill. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to his mother, Barbara, his sister, Julie, and the rest of his family and friends. May the Creator accept our prayers on his behalf. My thanks go to Tom for his friendship and service.

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The Speaker

Oct/5/23 2:04:24 p.m.
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I hope that hon. members will permit me to extend my sympathies for his loss. The hon. member for Kitchener—Conestoga.

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Mr. Tim Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga, Lib.)

Oct/5/23 2:04:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the maple syrup industry has deep roots in Kitchener—Conestoga. It is more than just a tradition; it is a symbol of our strong agricultural heritage. Maple syrup producers craft one of Canada's most iconic commodities. It is about not only the delicious sweetness that graces our pancakes and waffles but also protecting the environment and embracing sustainable practices. I was reminded that maple syrup producers are stewards of the forests when I visited Snyder Heritage Farm in Breslau, a fifth-generation farm. I met with Kevin Snyder, president of the Waterloo-Wellington chapter of maple syrup producers. One thing we discussed was our government's announcement of the maple production improvement initiative. This program will support purchasing equipment that increases productivity and efficiency. It will provide funding to cover woodlot management activities, helping maple syrup producers, such as the Snyder family, strengthen their businesses and continue to sweeten our lives.

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Mr. Stéphane Bergeron (Montarville, BQ)

Oct/5/23 2:05:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the 57th Sainte‑Julie Scout Group, which was celebrated on September 9. For half a century, the 57th group has been teaching young people in Sainte‑Julie the positive values of the movement, namely respect, trust, justice and achievement, but also practical knowledge that they can use for the rest of their lives. What about the lasting friendships that are developed there? Half a century in the history of a people who have been around for 400 years is simply remarkable and deserves to be properly celebrated. I thank the visionaries that founded this group 50 years ago and all the facilitators who have come and gone throughout the years. Congratulations and long live the 57th Sainte‑Julie Scout Group.

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Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans, Lib.)

Oct/5/23 2:06:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and my constituents in Orléans, I would like to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of the House. I would also like to thank the Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l'histoire d'Orléans for its leadership in organizing the third edition of the art and crafts market at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans. It was a wonderful opportunity to discover and appreciate new arts and crafts creations from the people of Orléans. As part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I had the honour of attending the unveiling of the children's sacred forest at Beechwood Cemetery. The children's sacred forest and its commemorative stone will serve as a focal point for reconciliation and for the long journey that lies ahead in memory of the thousands of children who never made it home. I would like to close by wishing my colleagues, all House of Commons staff and especially the people of Orléans a happy Thanksgiving.

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Mr. Bob Zimmer (Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, CPC)

Oct/5/23 2:07:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, Nunavut residents cannot trust the Prime Minister on housing. At a campaign stop in Iqaluit in the last election he promised, “We're going to try and maximize what we can do in the next construction season.” The sad reality is that housing projects last year were cancelled or delayed due to the rising costs from the Prime Minister's rising inflation and carbon taxes. All the bids came in well over budget, at around $1.1 million per unit. It is unbelievable. The Nunavut minister said, “They were just all way too expensive. The housing corporation just doesn't have that type of money.” In 2019, the Prime Minister said that he made housing a priority. In 2021, he reconfirmed that the federal government has a role to play in housing. However, after presiding over creating housing hell across Canada, with housing costs doubling under his watch, he stated, “I'll be blunt as well — housing isn't a primary federal responsibility.” After eight years, northerners are learning the hard way that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

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Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, Lib.)

Oct/5/23 2:09:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the unfortunate and deeply embarrassing events in this House a couple of weeks ago have provided us an important reminder of the need for Holocaust education. For those of us from metro Vancouver, the work of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre in my riding of Vancouver Granville seeks to do exactly this. Through education and remembrance it engages students, educators and the broader public with respect to the history of the Holocaust, the Shoah, and its ongoing relevance. As a teaching museum that stewards programs and collections initiated by Holocaust survivors, the VHEC honours and supports those who survived and remembers those who perished. Every year, the centre's Holocaust education programs reach British Columbia classrooms, teachers and more than 25,000 students. Its efforts will help build a world free of anti-Semitism, discrimination and genocide. I encourage everyone to visit the centre as we each embark on our own journeys of remembrance and education.

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Hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Lib.)

Oct/5/23 2:10:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the passing of the Honourable Selwyn Romilly. He was the first Black student to graduate law at UBC, the first Black provincial court judge and the first Black justice on the B.C Supreme Court. Indeed, he had many firsts. Three years ago, at 81, he was the first Black retired justice to be handcuffed in public by the Vancouver Police who had mistaken him for a 40-year-old Black felon. True to form, Selwyn did not use that humiliation for bitter retaliation, but worked with police to change handcuffing procedures. Justice Romilly was recognized by his peers as a wise and eminent jurist, and a trailblazer and advocate for civil rights and justice in his judgments. He was a role model to young Black lawyers. He was a Trini like me, a year ahead of me in high school. He was a friend, teacher and mentor to many. We will miss him.

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Mr. Corey Tochor (Saskatoon—University, CPC)

Oct/5/23 2:11:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, everything feels broken in Canada. The costly coalition of the NDP-Liberals has shattered the Canadian dream. Unaffordable, unsafe, divided: everything feels broken after eight long years because, increasingly, everything is broken. We can put the pieces back together. Imagine a government that lives within its means, leaves more money in one's pockets, lets one get ahead, protects our streets and unites people. It can happen and it will happen. This Prime Minister is not worth the cost, but soon enough he will be replaced. Common-sense Conservatives will fix what he has broken in the Canada that we and know and love. One's home, my home, our home: let us bring it home.

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