44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 5, 2023 10:00AM
- Oct/5/23 2:17:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, during the last election campaign, the Liberals promised to establish a national school nutritious meal program. They promised $1 billion in funding over five years for a school food program throughout Canada, which is the only G7 country that does not already have one. Since then, we have heard nothing.
Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise, making this measure even more urgent. I have personally written to the Minister of Finance to remind her of this promise on behalf of all the organizations that are now compelled to demand it. Organizations such as the Breakfast Club are no longer able to manage the task of ensuring food security for our children in schools.
We know that direct services to citizens are one of the federal government's weaknesses, but this money was promised. It is time to transfer that money to Quebec and the provinces so that programs can get under way. Our children have been waiting more than two years for their lunch.
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- Oct/5/23 2:18:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today is World Teachers' Day. Teachers are at the front lines of creating safe and inclusive spaces for kids. Today I am sending a shout-out to all of the amazing teachers and educators in Coquitlam School District No. 43, who do just that and make a real difference in students' lives.
Port Moody—Coquitlam has benefited from teachers like Megan Leslie, who empowered her students to advocate for equity in our community. Under her care and leadership, the students of Dr. Charles Best high school have achieved free menstrual products in city facilities, the raising of the pride flag at city hall and an impactful annual red dress awareness day that has meant so much.
To all teachers and educators, I thank them. I see them and I see the amazing work they do. They deserve to be celebrated today and every day.
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- Oct/5/23 2:19:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about shrinkage.
This Thanksgiving, prices up 30%. Let us talk about corn, turkey, gravy, stuffing and all of the fixings Canadians have. Under the Liberal-NDP government, we are also seeing decreases in products. We are seeing all of these items decreased. We are seeing less corn, less turkey and less chicken, even though we are paying more.
Not only do we have shrinkage, the government is starting to apply more hidden taxes at the grocery store. HST and GST are being added to everyday items and often hidden at the bottom of the grocery receipt. I encourage Canadians listening at home to pull their grocery receipts out this Thanksgiving and look at the hidden GST and HST taxes on the bottom. Groceries are supposed to be tax-free, but this Thanksgiving we are seeing turkey, corn, potatoes and other foods being taxed.
This Thanksgiving, Canadians are paying more and paying a hidden tax on shrinking grocery items. The Prime Minister and the NPD-Liberal government are simply not worth the cost.
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- Oct/5/23 2:21:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just last week, we learned of 15 potential gravesites at the Choutla Residential School grounds in Carcross, Yukon, echoing the stories and whispers of children who never came home.
Last Friday, I attended a potlatch to honour Kaska missing and murdered women. The people of Liard First Nation and Watson Lake gathered in a ceremony that included an achingly beautiful fashion show of young women in red dresses, evoking the unspeakable loss of women and girls, daughters, aunties and moms to many of the people gathered.
Saturday, I walked in Whitehorse with survivors and families and those who simply came to commemorate the lost children and lasting trauma that residential schools have left.
I am proud to be part of a government that has put reconciliation into action, including the creation of this national day of remembrance and reflection. Reconciliation is a long road marked by mileposts, where we can, over time, witness the healing of generations. In this time of truth and reconciliation, let us continue to commit to the work that indeed every child matters.
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- Oct/5/23 2:22:13 p.m.
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Colleagues, before we proceed, being the new Speaker, I sometimes do not know where everybody sits in the House. For Statements by Members, I would like to remind all members to please be in their seat to make their declaration.
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- Oct/5/23 2:22:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, he is not worth the cost.
For example, after a big photo op a month ago, he promised he would bring down the cost of Thanksgiving dinner, but today we see nothing but another photo op. Canadians cannot eat photos. They need turkey or other food to eat. Costs have risen by nearly 70% since his government took office.
Will he be able to reverse these increases in the next four days before Thanksgiving?
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question.
Canadians know not to take advice from the Leader of the Opposition when it comes to the economy. The last time he advised Canadians, he told them to buy cryptocurrency. Now he is suggesting that Canadians buy $120 turkeys. I have news for him. I found a Butterball turkey for $30, and I think I can deliver it to his official residence.
If the Conservatives want to do something for Canadians, they should vote in favour of Bill C-56 to help Canadians now and bring down prices in Canada.
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- Oct/5/23 2:24:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, clearly, the minister is the turkey here.
I check the flyers. In the last year of Conservative government, a turkey cost $1.49 a pound. Now it is $2.49 a pound. That is a 67% increase. After eight years under this Prime Minister, his carbon taxes are driving up costs for the farmers who produce food and for the truck drivers who transport it. Everyone who buys food ends up paying more.
Will the Prime Minister bring down these exorbitant costs before Thanksgiving, yes or no?
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- Oct/5/23 2:25:04 p.m.
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Before I let the minister answer, I would like to remind all members that, in order to maintain order in the House, it is important not to compare a member to something.
The hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
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- Oct/5/23 2:25:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, thank you for your intervention. I would also like to congratulate you on your new role. This was my first opportunity to say so.
This is not a joke. I hope that the Canadians watching today, and there are many, see that this is not a joke. What we have presented is a five-point plan. First, we have asked the big grocery chains in the country to work together to help Canadians. Second, we created an office specifically to help Canadians on issues of skimpflation, also known as shrinkflation. These are issues that affect Canadians every Thursday.
The third thing we told people is that the grocery code of conduct needs to be signed. The fourth thing is that we are going to gather more data from people to better negotiate between the small and large manufacturers. Fifth, we are going to advance—
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- Oct/5/23 2:26:18 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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- Oct/5/23 2:26:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost of food. For example, the price of a turkey is up at Loblaws by 67% after eight years of the Prime Minister's carbon taxes. All the Liberals have offered since they promised to bring prices down by Thanksgiving is a code of conduct, an office and a photo op. We cannot eat any of those three things. They will not be on the Thanksgiving dinner table.
What will the Liberals do in the next four days to reverse the 67% increase in the cost of a turkey at Loblaws, just like they promised they would?
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- Oct/5/23 2:27:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from this Conservative. The last time the Conservative leader advised Canadians, it was about buying crypto. Now he is suggesting to Canadians to buy a turkey at $120. I found a Butterball for him for $30 and—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Oct/5/23 2:27:40 p.m.
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Order. We have the first scratch. I would like to remind all members that props are not acceptable in the House of Commons; it is about the debate.
The hon. minister.
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Mr. Speaker, I was shopping for the Leader of the Opposition to help him.
If the Conservatives want to do something for Canadians, not just ask questions but do something, they should vote for Bill C-56. It is going to help Canadians. It is going to stabilize prices in Canada. It is going to bring competition to this country. What we need is for them to act.
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- Oct/5/23 2:28:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, prices have risen so fast that Canadians did not want champagne for Thanksgiving; they just want some food. I did a little price shopping on that for him.
In the last days of the Conservative government, the price for a pound of turkey was $1.49. The flyers today show it is $2.49, a 70% increase. I might add that the picture of the turkey during the Conservative years was a big plump beautiful bird, whereas right now it is a skimpy, shrimpy little thing that looks like it has been taxed to death.
Why will the Liberals not get off the back of the turkey so we can have a nice dinner for Thanksgiving?
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- Oct/5/23 2:29:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition can have as much as he wants, but one thing I can say is that Canadians have no fun these days because they know—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Oct/5/23 2:29:51 p.m.
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Settle down. Order.
The hon. minister.
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Mr. Speaker, I hope they have this much energy to support our bill to make a difference in the lives of Canadians, because this is not a joke.
Canadians expect action. That is what we took this morning with a five-item action plan to help stabilize prices in Canada. If the Conservatives want to keep laughing and making jokes, they should tell them to Canadians, who expect them to approve Bill C-56, reform competition, lower prices in Canada and make sure that Canadians can have what they deserve in this situation.
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- Oct/5/23 2:30:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister accidentally told the truth there for a second. He said Canadians are not having any fun. He has that right, because after eight years the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
The minister says we should energetically support his bills. He and his Prime Minister have been forcing Canadians to support Liberal bills for eight years. The bill is way too high. Food prices are up more than 20% in two years, with the fastest increase in interest rates in monetary history.
Why will the Liberals not stop sending Canadians the bill and let Canadians afford to eat and heat and house themselves this Thanksgiving?
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