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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 249

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 8, 2023 02:00PM
  • Nov/8/23 2:57:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, no, because people in the Prairies who heat with home heating oil already are benefiting from a pause on the carbon price. That is because this pause we put in applies right across the country, so the tens of thousands of Canadians in rural Canada, in the Prairies, are going to be able to benefit from the transition to heat pumps. That is why we are going to continue to step up, including in doubling the rural top-up on the carbon price rebate. We will continue to deliver for Canadians right across the country, and we will continue to be there for all Canadians, including women and— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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  • Nov/8/23 2:57:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister only divides to distract. That is all he ever does when he gets into trouble. He divides people along every possible battle line. He did that with the carbon tax carve-out for only some in a region where his support is plummeting and his caucus is revolting. For 10 days, he refused to condemn the comments of his own Liberal minister who said this policy was applying based on how people voted, and now he signs on with the separatists to divide Canadians again. Will the Prime Minister, instead of dividing Canadians, reverse the policies that are driving them to the food bank?
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  • Nov/8/23 2:58:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we see the Conservatives' approach to partisan politics and to personal attacks. The reality is that when we stood with the 80% to 90% of Canadians who chose to get vaccinated, they called us divisive. When we chose to stand with women across this country who want to control their own bodies, they called us divisive. When we stand with the 2SLGBTQI+ kids who are being discriminated against in schools across this country, they call us divisive. I ask Canadians: Who is dividing Canadians more than Conservatives with their attacks, with their choices, with their politics? Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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  • Nov/8/23 2:59:21 p.m.
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I thank the hon. opposition whip for helping. I would ask all members to please exercise restraint so that we can hear the next question. The hon. member for Burnaby South.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:00:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, people are struggling to find a home they can afford and the federal government has the power, the land and the resources to end the housing crisis. On one side, we have the corporate-controlled Conservatives who want to sell off our public land to their rich investor friends, which helps no one, but on the other side, we have Liberals who are openly admitting that their plan is to use public lands to build luxury homes. How can the Prime Minister justify using public lands to build homes that people cannot afford?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:01:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is simply not true. We know Canadians are worried about paying their rent, finding an apartment or buying a home. That is why we are working on housing affordability right across the country. It is why we put forward the affordable housing and groceries act, which would help build more affordable apartments by cutting the GST on construction. Housing advocates and developers have described this move as a game-changer that will get more affordable housing built. It is why it is essential that all members work with us to move these important measures forward.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:01:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every single Canadian deserves to have health care when they need it, public, universally accessible health care, but Conservative leader Danielle Smith just got caught trying to make health care more chaotic and more bureaucratic. She is not hiring more health care workers, not treating health care workers with respect and leaving the door wide open for more privatization. Does that sound familiar? This is right out of the Conservative playbook and on the Liberals' watch. Why is the Liberal government sitting on its hands while Alberta has its health care privatized?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:02:28 p.m.
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The Chair will soon be issuing some reflections upon the issue raised by several House leaders from different parties, who questioned the relevance of questions in terms of the administration of government or questions that should be directed to committee chairs. That will be coming shortly. In the meantime, I will ask all members to make sure they ask questions that are relevant. The Right Hon. Prime Minister.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:03:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a relevant question because we have taken actions in the past to claw back transfers to provinces that have not been obeying the Canada Health Act, and we will continue to do that. Let me be clear. We will always defend Canada's access to health care and will not hesitate to use all available tools under the Canada Health Act to protect this right. We expect all provinces and territories to adhere to the act when they make decisions regarding Canadians' access to health care. The Minister of Health will be closely reviewing the details of the Alberta premier's plan, but we remain unequivocal that when it comes to access to our health care system and access to pension supports, we will always stand with Canadians.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:04:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the planet is burning and 72% of Canadians are worried about climate change. Sadly, the Leader of the Opposition does not appear to be one of them. He stated that he will do nothing to reduce our emissions, nor work with the global community within the Paris accord to protect our future. In fact, just like Donald Trump, the Leader of the Opposition will take Canada out of the Paris accord. The federal government is committed to net zero and has invested over $120 billion in a greener future. Will the government stand for future generations, unlike the reckless Conservatives with their— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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  • Nov/8/23 3:04:50 p.m.
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Fortunately, the Speaker was able to hear the question. The right hon. Prime Minister.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:05:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the MP for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill for her great question on this important file. It is shameful that the Conservative leader has no plan to address the crisis facing all of humanity. His emphasis on technology to fight climate change means nothing, because he is somebody who has been opposing the development of offshore wind technology in Atlantic Canada. While our government has a serious plan that addresses affordability and the climate crisis, that leader has no plan and no vision. Perhaps he should put his glasses back on.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:06:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, with or without glasses, I will not lose $54 million on an app that does not work. This is a Prime Minister whose government is now under RCMP investigation again for giving out contracts to firms that did absolutely no work. Now senior members of the bureaucracy are blowing the whistle and saying that his top officials lied about it before committee. Will the Prime Minister personally co-operate with the police in this latest criminal investigation?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:07:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but wonder how many millions of dollars Canadians would have lost if they had followed the Leader of the Opposition's advice and bought Bitcoin so they could opt out of inflation. When it comes to serious matters, both the RCMP and the CBSA's professional integrity division are investigating. The CBSA has also launched an internal audit to look into contracting at the agency and has increased oversight processes when it comes to contracting.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:07:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the former director of the CBSA, our principal border authority, said that he felt “incredibly threatened”, in his words, by the former president of the organization, and members of the Prime Minister's bureaucracy lied, according to this testimony, in order to cover up this $54-million scandal. The matter is now under Auditor General and RCMP investigation. Will the Prime Minister co-operate with the police, yes or no?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:08:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, obviously the reports coming out are extremely concerning, and I know that the respective authorities will be taking this extremely seriously. We expect our professional public servants to always conduct themselves with the utmost integrity, and I am sure that will continue to happen.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:08:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, well, the entire government only takes direction from a guy who has two convictions for breaking the law. In this case, it is not just $54 million. There was $11 million given to a two-person IT firm to do absolutely nothing. The same firm has gotten $60 million from the Liberal government since 2017 alone. The entire matter is under criminal investigation, so for a third time, will the Prime Minister personally co-operate with the police, yes or no?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:09:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, members can understand that I will not take overly seriously accusations from an individual who was minister of elections when he was found to have broken elections law. When we see matters of wrongdoing, we ensure that the proper authorities are looking into them. Of course, our government will always ensure full co-operation with investigating authorities.
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  • Nov/8/23 3:09:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is a man of conviction. He has had two of them. He actually doubled the amount of money spent on outside consultants after promising to bring it down. We pressured him on this. He said, “I know what I'll do. I'll pay $670,000 to another consulting firm to find out how we can spend less money on consulting firms.” Here is some free common-sense advice. Will he take it? Why not just stop spending on juicy contracts for his friends?
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  • Nov/8/23 3:10:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, of course, we need to ensure that we are getting the best value for funds spent in the public service. The minister agrees and is looking into it. Let us talk about being a person of conviction. I am convinced that we need to fight climate change. I am convinced that the only thing we can do to build a strong economy for the future is protect the environment and fight climate change while putting more money in people's pockets. These are my convictions. I have continued to be consistent on them over the past 15 years that I have been in politics. We look forward to hearing what the Leader of the Opposition believes in, because right now it sure is not clear.
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