44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 30, 2024 10:00AM
Mr. Speaker, I really enjoyed my colleague's speech, especially when we consider the expression “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. He spent most of his speech making completely valid attacks against the Conservatives. Just before I ask my question, since we are joking around here, I want to say “hello, bonjour” to you, Mr. Speaker, and wish you a happy new year. I am saying that because we are all Quebeckers and we, on this side of the House, also speak for Quebeckers.
I wanted to point out a few contradictions. When he was the environment minister for the Parti Québécois government, the leader of the Bloc Québécois approved oil exploration off Anticosti Island. He also approved other things that I believe go against the principles that the Bloc Québécois is advocating for today.
Why did the members of the Bloc Québécois vote against our budget? By so doing, they voted against the investments in housing that we made for Quebec.
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Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat surprised that the member for Châteauguay—Lacolle is happy to hear me say that the Conservatives are as bad as the Liberals. Apparently, they take compliments any way they can.
I did my Ph.D. in Ontario. I am bilingual. In Quebec, we greet people in French. I think that is one of our selling points, something that makes us valuable. I understand that the member is very comfortable with the fact that her government will be pouring $800 million of public money, including Quebeckers' money, into English-speaking organizations to defend English in Quebec over the next few years. She may have political reasons for doing so. I think it is appalling.
I will conclude by saying that I am very proud that Quebec's CO2 emissions trading system was implemented by our leader when he was the environment minister, and I think history will remember that.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his attacks on the Conservatives, on the next government. He got some good practice in. It will come as no surprise that the Conservatives may very well form the next government.
I would like my colleague to lay out the costs of all the demands he made in his speech so we can have an idea of where to head with future budgets.
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Mr. Speaker, when his leader was attacking all the mayors in Quebec over the holidays, my colleague went into hiding.
Sometimes we have to bug them a bit to get a reaction.
I will take just a few seconds to tell my colleague that Bill C‑59 provides two years' worth of equalization payments in subsidies for the oil companies. I will give him a chance to think about that.
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[Member spoke in Inuktitut ]
[English]
Mr. Speaker, what I just said in Inuktitut is that I am always so happy to rise and speak in Inuktitut in the House.
As we all know, most MPs here are settlers or are ancestors of settlers, Quebec included. I wonder if the member has, or if anyone in his party has, consulted with the indigenous peoples in Quebec, the Cree and the Innu, who most likely would wish to stay in Canada as opposed to what the member shared in his intervention.
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Mr. Speaker, I think that the member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert did a good job earlier explaining what might happen if there were a referendum. If one is called, there will be a national conversation in Quebec. Thank goodness it will be far away from this Parliament.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish you a happy 2024. I will be sharing my time with the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge.
My speech today will be on the economy, which is very important, but also on our government's position on the economy. I will talk about affordability and, of course, housing, an important topic.
I want to underline that we are in a great position economically right now as country. I want to share some of our strengths, and this comes not just from me but from other sources around the world. Let us keep in mind that Canadians created 1.4 million jobs before COVID. We recaptured that 1.4 million, built on it and Canadians now have an extra one million jobs.
The International Monetary Fund predicts that this year Canada will have the strongest economy in the G7. The OECD also said that Canada received the third-most foreign direct investment in the world last year. Also, on labour, when we took power in 2015, the unemployment rate was at about 7%. Now the unemployment rate is down to 5.7%. These are facts.
Before COVID, inflation was at 2%. COVID pushed it to 8.1%. Today it is down to 3.4% and it continues to drop. We continue to have our AAA credit rating, which is extremely important.
When it comes to affordability, there are two pieces. The first is what we have done since the last election in 2021. We have made some great investments for Canadians because we know that affordability is challenging and that we need to be there to support them.
We doubled the GST credit for two payments for those receiving it, which helped 11 million people. It also helped over 300,000 Nova Scotians. We added supports for a grocery rebate, which again helped 11 million people and over 300,000 Nova Scotians.
On the Canada workers benefit, which represents about $2,461 per year, we made adjustments so they receive three quarterly payments. This helps with affordability as well.
We have of course eliminated the interest on Canada student loans, helping young Canadians in dealing with affordability.
We have indexed, and this is crucial, key benefits to inflation. If another government takes over some day, it will not be able to stop it, unless it brings legislation to the House. We indexed the Canada child benefit, ensuring that young families will continue to prosper. We have also indexed the GST and the Canada pension plan, which we made major changes to with the provinces back in 2017. The OAS and the GIS have both been indexed and will ensure seniors can continue to prosper as well.
We also brought in dental support for children under 12 years old, of which over 1,200 Nova Scotians have taken advantage.
These are some investments we made in the past two years. What the fall economic economic statement brings to the table today is also key areas of investments.
We are expanding the dental benefit to not just children 12 and under, but to 18 and under. For seniors, January, February, March and April are important months because they will have access to dental care, which is very important. People with disabilities will also have access starting this year. Next year, all Canadians who make $90,000 or less and are not part of a dental plan will be able to receive dental care. Those are major investments supporting Canadians and affordability.
Other investments include removing the GST from psychotherapy and counselling. This is important for affordability for people who have challenges with their mental health.
We are going to crack down and make major changes to the Competition Act. This will ensure that we can bring prices down and ensure competition is strong in Canada, that no anti-competition happens. We need to do a major review of that area and make improvements, which is exactly what we will be doing as we move forward.
Another area I want to touch on is housing. We are focused on four areas. The first one is new, increased and continued investments in housing, which is important. There are going to be challenges with labour in the building sector, so we are going to make changes that would allow workers to move from province to province and territory to territory. We will prioritize workers for permanent residency in key areas of need, with construction being one and education being another.
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- Jan/30/24 2:00:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the history of the oldest religion in the world, January 22, 2024, marked the beginning of a new era for 1.2 billion Hindus across the world, including a million Hindus in Canada.
After centuries of anticipation and immense sacrifices, the divine temple at Ayodhya was inaugurated with Bhagwan Shri Ram’s “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony, an act that transforms an idol into a deity.
Like Hindus across Canada at about 115 Hindu temples and events, I witnessed the live coverage of this emotional moment at Ottawa's Hindu temple.
The birthplace of Hindu Dharma, India, that is Bharat, is rebuilding its civilization to emerge as a major global economic and geopolitical power. Canada and India are natural partners for sharing economic opportunities and addressing global challenges.
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- Jan/30/24 2:01:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Federal Court of Canada could not be clearer in its 190-page ruling. In 2022, there was no justifiable reason to invoke the Emergencies Act.
The Liberal government's use of the act directly violated Canadians' most essential rights to freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. The decision to invoke the Emergencies Act was unnecessary from the start. For Canadians to have any faith in our democracy, the Liberals must show that they understand the court decision and have learned their lesson. They should drop their plans to appeal and should promise to abide by the Constitution instead of breaking the law. When will the Prime Minister admit that he was wrong, apologize to Canadians for his actions and drop the appeal?
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- Jan/30/24 2:02:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to share today that Taiwan successfully completed presidential and legislative elections on January 13, 2024. This marks the eighth milestone in Taiwan's history, and I would like to congratulate the new President of Taiwan, Mr. William Lai. With a proven track record of dedication to public service and a deep commitment to the values that define Taiwan, President Lai embodies the spirit of progress and inclusivity.
As Taiwan embarks on this new chapter, let us rally together in support, embracing the shared vision of a Taiwan that thrives on innovation, justice and the unwavering spirit of its people. These elections are another testament to Taiwan's strong commitment to democracy and freedom. The democratic process is the heartbeat of the people of Taiwan.
Once again, congratulations to President Lai and the people of Taiwan.
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- Jan/30/24 2:03:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it came as a shock to everyone in the riding of Trois‑Rivières when my friend, Guy Rousseau, executive director of the Société Saint‑Jean‑Baptiste de la Mauricie, announced his retirement.
Guy Rousseau has been a fixture in Trois‑Rivières for 40 years. He served the Conseil central de Trois‑Rivières for a decade, first as a union representative, then as president. He was on the front lines of every battle. It was quite a journey for a liberation theologian.
Guy devoted all of his skill and energy to promoting Quebec culture and the French language. Nary a borrowed word or anglicism was tolerated in his presence, nor in his absence, for that matter.
In 2015, Guy was awarded the Rosaire-Morin prize for individuals whose writings and actions have made a significant contribution to enhancing Quebec's national conscience and championing Quebec's interests.
Guy Rousseau has organized national holiday celebrations in Mauricie and is a tireless advocate for Quebec independence. He leaves a lasting legacy in Trois‑Rivières.
On behalf of myself and of everyone in Trois‑Rivières, I thank him for his years of service to the community.
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- Jan/30/24 2:04:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, many seniors in Alfred-Pellan and across Canada are neglecting their oral health because they cannot afford dental care.
Untreated dental problems can escalate, causing a person's general health to deteriorate and putting even more strain on an already overburdened health care system.
That is why our government introduced the Canadian dental care plan to help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadians.
I invite seniors in Alfred-Pellan and across Canada who have an annual family net income of less than $90,000 and who do not have access to dental insurance to apply for the plan today. Once registration is confirmed, coverage can start as early as May 2024.
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- Jan/30/24 2:05:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister and his NDP coalition, Canada is in the midst of an unprecedented addictions crisis, one that continues to get worse. Last year, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions assured Canadians that the Liberals would end their decriminalization experiment if public health and public safety indicators were not met. One year in, there are out-of-control crime and chaos and unprecedented deaths: nearly seven a day in British Columbia alone. It is time to end this dangerous experiment.
Many leading addictions physicians from across the country have stated that the Liberal-NDP's so-called “safe supply” continues to fuel new addictions. These courageous physicians demand an immediate end to the programs that are flooding the streets with taxpayer-funded narcotics.
Conservatives would listen to the experts and shut down government-supplied drug programs. We would bring hope, with a common-sense plan for treatment and recovery. Conservatives believe recovery is possible, and that should be the goal. We believe that every Canadian with an addiction deserves the treatment—
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- Jan/30/24 2:06:17 p.m.
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The hon. member for Toronto—Danforth.
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- Jan/30/24 2:06:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate a special first. I am asking everyone in the House to please join me in wishing a special 100th birthday celebration for East York. It is an important part of the community that has played an important role in Canadian history.
Agnes Macphail, the first female MP in this place, came from East York. Our first honouree of the East York Hall of Fame, John Candy, was from East York. He was not only an important actor and comedian but also a great supporter of the Argos. Let's go, Argos!
Let us say that East York is such an important place, and every day we see that spirit. In fact, East York has the longest-running Canada Day parade in all of Toronto. We celebrate year after year, bringing a small-town feeling to a big city. There is also the East York Historical Society, which helps to preserve and keep telling that history.
I thank community members for keeping that spirit alive. Happy birthday, East York.
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- Jan/30/24 2:07:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, at St. John Fisher Elementary School in Pointe-Claire, music is deep. The school is one of 13 schools to win the 2023 Canadian Music Class Challenge, a competition that salutes music education in Canada, sponsored by CBC Music in association with the music charity MusiCounts.
St. John Fisher's grade 3 class, under the direction of music education specialist David Arless, claimed top prize in the primary vocal category with their rendition of Turning the Tide by Luke Wallace. Competition judge and Canadian musical artist Victoria Duffield said of the students’ performance that it captured her ears and heart right from the opening chorus and that the musicality displayed through the vocals and instruments showed a great degree of skill and teamwork.
I ask all members to join me in congratulating St. John Fisher's grade 3 class on this truly wonderful accomplishment.
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- Jan/30/24 2:08:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government's soft-on-crime policies, crime, chaos, drugs and disorder are ravaging communities across our country.
Under the Prime Minister, crime is up 39%. Shootings are up, extortion is up, car thefts are up and homicides are up. Canadians do not feel safe walking down their own streets anymore. They are waking up to find their cars stolen and shipped out of the country. Car thefts have increased by 34% nationally. What is the government's response? It is more photo ops, large summits, more talk and no action. The Prime Minister is not worth the crime or the chaos.
Only a common-sense, Conservative government would bring back jail and not bail for repeat violent offenders. We would secure our ports to stop stolen vehicles from being shipped out, and we would bring back mandatory jail time for serious violent crimes that were repealed by the government. It is time to support victims and put them first, not the criminals. That is just common sense.
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- Jan/30/24 2:09:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last December I had the opportunity to lead the Canadian delegation to the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Accra, Ghana. It was encouraging to hear so many countries talk about the importance of women, peace and security and, in particular, the Elsie initiative.
Known as the “Queen of the Hurricanes”, Elsie MacGill was the first woman in the world to earn an aeronautical engineering degree and did much to make Canada a powerhouse in aircraft construction. She was a champion of gender equality in an industry that had, up to that point, been entirely dominated by men. The Elsie initiative carries forward her legacy.
Since its launch, the Elsie initiative has created interest globally as a unique, bold and insightful policy intervention that seeks to ensure that military and policewomen are represented in UN peacekeeping, across all ranks and functions, in an environment that is conducive to their meaningful participation.
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- Jan/30/24 2:10:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, here is a question: How many Canadians stayed in a $9,000-a-night resort owned by a friend over Christmas for free? The answer is very likely none, but there was one, and that was the Prime Minister.
At a time when two million Canadians are using food banks, the carbon tax is punishing families and businesses, housing is unaffordable for young Canadians while those in their houses can barely afford them as mortgages become due for renewal, and seniors cannot afford groceries and are not eating nutritiously because of the NDP-Liberal government, the Prime Minister did not for a second think that maybe an $87,000 free vacation to a luxury resort was not a good look right now. He clearly did not care.
What about the 100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions put into the atmosphere from the not one but two private jets he needed for the trip? We can understand why Canadians are upset about his lack of judgment and his hypocrisy.
It is clear to everyone that after eight years of the Prime Minister, he is not worth the cost. Canadians see that everything is about him, and that while we live in his world, the rest of us are just squirrels looking for nuts, nuts that not many can afford anymore.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians across this country are paying a high price for the NDP-Liberal government's tax-and-spend agenda.
After eight years with the carbon tax-obsessed Prime Minister, Canadian families are struggling to put food on the table, put gas in their tanks and keep a warm roof overhead, yet the Prime Minister only wants to punish them more. His April 1 carbon tax is only going to make things worse for the two million Canadians who are already lined up at food banks.
Bill C-234 is a common-sense piece of legislation that would remove the carbon tax on farm operations to help lower our grocery prices. However, the Prime Minister is hell-bent on quadrupling the carbon tax on farmers and on Canadians.
It is clearer than ever that the Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost.
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