44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 23, 2023 11:00AM
- Oct/23/23 2:23:59 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, he is absolutely right that he has a problem, a problem that he and his government created.
After eight years, the Prime Minister has doubled rent and doubled mortgage payments, and now his plan is a $4-billion program that two years in has not built a single, solitary home. He also wants to target tax benefits for the construction of $10-million penthouse apartments.
Will the Liberals instead reverse their inflationary spending so we can bring down interest rates and let Canadians keep their homes?
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:24:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, if the member wants to talk about housing program delivery, when he was the minister, he had $300 million go toward building only 99 homes over years. We are continuing to roll out programs that are literally changing the ways that cities build homes. We have helped build or repair nearly half a million homes through the national housing strategy, which his party voted against. He is now opposing measures that will make it cheaper to build the homes that Canadians need. We are going to get it done by continuing to incentivize home building and supporting the people who are going to put roofs over the heads of our neighbours. It is the right thing to do. It is a shame that he opposes it.
128 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:25:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the national housing strategy of which he speaks has doubled housing costs. It doubled the cost of mortgages, rent and down payments. Yes, it cost many billions more than what we spent when we were in government, but we delivered housing that was half the cost of what it is today.
Now, on to restaurants: Today, we learned that one-third of restaurants are losing money. That leaves them three choices: shut down, cut wages or raise prices for Canadians.
Will the government reverse the carbon taxes and the inflationary increases to interest rates that are forcing our restaurants to go under and costing waitresses and servers their jobs?
114 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:26:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as a former small business owner myself, I know that small businesses are the backbone of these communities. As a small business owner, I am glad the Conservatives are not in charge. Small businesses would not be saving $1 billion in credit card transaction fees. Women entrepreneurs would not have $7 billion of investment through our women entrepreneurship strategy, nor the $10-a-day child care that has put more women into the work force.
The Conservatives have been voting against these efforts to support small businesses, including women entrepreneurs. They are not worth the risk.
98 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:26:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, 250,000 businesses are at risk of closing as early as 2024 if the government does not extend the repayment deadline for the CEBA loans. Imagine if we were to lose a quarter of a million businesses all at the same time.
It is not surprising that, on Friday, the premiers of Quebec and the provinces all wrote to this government. They are calling on the government to extend the repayment deadline for our businesses by one year, without the loss of the forgivable portion of the loan. The premiers are responsible.
Will the government grant their request?
100 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:27:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are offering additional flexibilities for small businesses to repay their CEBA loans. They include a full one-year extension on the term loan repayment deadline, more flexibility on refinancing and more time to access loan forgiveness, which is both a balanced and fiscally responsible approach.
We will continue to listen to small businesses across the country.
59 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:28:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, the government cannot see beyond the end of its nose. That is not what the premiers are asking for. They are asking for a one-year extension.
Do the Liberals really think that the 250,000 businesses will be able to pay the money back faster if they close? How many workers will end up on EI if these businesses close? Have they calculated that?
The premiers of Quebec and the provinces are unanimous. They understand that it is not right.
When will this government understand that it is not right?
95 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:28:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. As he well knows, most companies have told us that if our government had not been there during the pandemic, many companies would have closed.
We came up with a flexible solution that fits with our fiscal framework. We are going to continue to be there for companies, for all kinds of things. We have again made historic investments in companies in Quebec, and we are going to continue to do so.
81 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:29:12 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, for two weeks, Israeli families have lived with the pain of loved ones either killed or still held hostage. In the last two weeks, the situation in Gaza has grown dire. Humanitarian aid is trickling in. Thousands have been killed, many of them children. Diverse voices are calling for a ceasefire, including the head of the UN, Canadian aid agencies and even some Liberal MPs.
Will the Prime Minister join the NDP's call for a ceasefire now?
80 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:29:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza was dire before these last weeks. We are doing everything we can to support Canadians on the ground. We are also committed to working diplomatically to prevent the conflict from spreading. We are working with our allies to ensure the protection of all Israeli and Palestinian civilians. We have been consistently calling on international humanitarian law to be respected.
We were the first government to move to provide substantial humanitarian aid to both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and we will continue our efforts in that regard.
94 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:30:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Hamas terrorist attacks continue. Rockets are being deliberately fired at civilians. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening. More and more innocent Israelis and Palestinians are losing their lives in this horrific war.
When will the government get serious about protecting the innocent and call for a ceasefire?
51 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:31:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been active from the very beginning. We are the first western country to provide an initial amount of $10 million to go to humanitarian assistance. Recently, we announced an additional $50 million, bringing the Canadian total to $60 million.
We have been consistent in the call to respect international humanitarian law by all parties in this conflict. We have been consistently working very hard with our friends and allies in the region to make sure that the humanitarian corridors are not only open, but that they are maintained and that the essential life-saving supplies get through on a daily basis.
105 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:31:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, nearly half of all Canadians with a mortgage say that they are having a tough time paying it. The Prime Minister told us that interest rates would stay low forever, but his reckless spending and higher taxes have caused rates to skyrocket faster than ever.
Now struggling families are paying the price. Young people cannot even imagine getting in. There is a mortgage crisis on the horizon until the Prime Minister reins it in.
When will he stop the inflationary deficits and balance the budget so Canadians can keep their homes?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:32:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, when I hear the Conservatives make arguments that we should be spending less in the context of housing, I would point out to them that it takes investments to build the housing necessary to put a roof over the heads of the same Canadians whom she seems concerned about.
In this regard, we are cutting the tax on new apartment construction in the country. The Conservatives want to put it back on. We are moving forward with a plan to fund cities so they build more homes. They plan to cut it.
When we put measures on the floor of the House of Commons to support some of society's most vulnerable, they vote against them. Every step of the way, the Conservatives try to block progress for people. We are going to advance at all costs.
139 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:33:12 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is false. The Liberals act like everything is okay. They have not built a single home with their accelerator fund. The number of people who say that paying their mortgage is very difficult has doubled in six months. As mortgage payments and anxiety go up, Canadians cut back on essentials like food and home heating. One should not have to choose between heating one's home and putting food on the table, but that is the reality after eight years of the Prime Minister. Canadians are realizing that he is not worth the cost.
Will the minister finally realize that too?
104 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:33:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, part of the reason it is difficult to find affordable housing in the country is because, for 30 years, federal governments failed to make the investments necessary, including the previous Conservative government. When the Conservatives were last in power, the country lost 800,000 homes that were on the market at affordable prices.
We are going to continue to make the investments necessary to get more homes built. I would ask the hon. member, in response to her question, why she wants to raise taxes on home building and cut funding for home builders.
We need to make the investments necessary to build homes, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
116 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:34:28 p.m.
- Watch
I will ask all members, even those who are not sitting in their normal seats, to please listen to the response. When they have the floor, they will be able to ask their questions.
The hon. member for Simcoe North.
40 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:34:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, spending is out of control and inflationary deficits are pushing up mortgage costs. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that the deficit this year will increase to over $46 billion. Everyone now agrees that spending is driving interest rates.
Every month, 70,000 households are renewing their mortgage and they are realizing that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
Will the government rein in inflationary deficits and put forth a plan to balance the budget so Canadians can keep their homes?
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:35:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I can speak to the fact that Canada has created over one million more jobs compared to pre-pandemic levels, has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio, the lowest deficit in the G7 and lower inflation than our comparative partners around the world. The IMF and OECD project the strongest growth in 2024.
We know that Canadians are struggling right now, but the real difference between us and the Conservatives is that our government will not abandon people in need like the Conservative leader has made abundantly clear time and time again.
94 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Oct/23/23 2:36:02 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, maybe the government has not received the memo. Nobody cares about meaningless G7 comparative statistics. After eight years of prolific spending, the bills are finally coming due.
The government borrowing is driving interest rates. This year, the government has to borrow $421 billion. Next year, the government has to borrow over $350 billion. That pushes up mortgage costs for everybody.
Once again, will Liberals acknowledge that they need to rein in their spending and produce a plan to balance the budget so Canadians can keep their homes?
89 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
