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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 281

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 13, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
Mr. Ryan Williams (Bay of Quinte, CPC)
  • Feb/13/24 3:07:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we had devastating news today out of Bay of Quinte. Cascades, a company that has been operating a plant that has been in existence in Quinte West for 100 years, is closing its doors and axing 230 jobs because of high inflation and interest rates under eight years of the Liberal-NDP government. Now, Canadians who already face high costs to eat and heat their homes have to worry about a paycheque. People in Belleville who are still reeling from a major overdose epidemic now have to worry about unemployment. When will the government fix the budget, cut inflation and cut interest rates, so companies do not have to close and employees do not have to lose their jobs?
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Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:07:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the most important thing to every Canadian family is having a job, and every time someone loses their job, it is a disaster for that family. That is why we were so glad to see the strong job recovery across Canada, 1.1 million more jobs since before COVID. It is also why we have support in place, like early learning and child care, and like a social safety net, that the Conservatives would cut.
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Mr. Ryan Williams (Bay of Quinte, CPC)
  • Feb/13/24 3:07:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that tone-deaf answer will give little comfort to the residents of Quinte West who have just lost their jobs. Let us look at the reality of what is happening in Canada right now. Over the last four months, TD has slashed 3,000 jobs; Canadian Tire has slashed 3% of its workforce; Enbridge has slashed 650 jobs; Rona has slashed 300 jobs; and Manulife has slashed 250 jobs. After eight years of this high-spending Liberal-NDP government, the only job Canadians want to see slashed is that of the Prime Minister. When will the government fix the budget, cut inflation and cut interest rates so Canadians can keep their jobs?
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Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:08:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable among us. Since we have formed government, 2.3 million Canadians are out of poverty. Poverty in Canada was at 14.5% when the Conservatives left office. Today, it is down to 7.4%. We know there is a lot more work to do. That is why we are pointing out to Canadians that all the Conservatives want is to cut the programs the most vulnerable need the most.
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Ms. Lena Metlege Diab (Halifax West, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:09:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, with the high cost of living, it is a struggle for many women to buy menstrual products. This government recognizes this problem and recently launched the menstrual equity fund pilot to provide free menstrual products to those who need them most through Food Banks Canada. During this Sexual and Reproductive Health Week, can the minister provide an update on the progress of the pilot in my province and throughout Canada?
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Hon. Marci Ien (Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:09:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her advocacy and hard work, and for the chance to give an update on this. Menstrual products are a basic need, but not everyone has access to them. Since launching the menstrual equity fund pilot last September, almost 400 locations, including 14 in that member's province of Nova Scotia, have helped pull more than a million Canadians out of period poverty. That is 35 million products out the door in six months. We are providing real solutions to real challenges: menstrual products for those who need them, when they need them, period.
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Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)
  • Feb/13/24 3:10:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in a three-bedroom apartment near the Verdun metro station, there is a leak in the bathroom, the balconies are about to fall off the building, the ceilings are full of holes and there is mould everywhere. That is where Isabelle Gagnon and Maxime Pilon live with their new baby. That is the result of decades of Conservative and Liberal cuts to social housing. Rather than proposing solutions, the Conservative leader would rather insult mayors in Quebec, and the Liberals are dragging their feet on the housing crisis. Why are the Liberals abandoning people like Ms. Gagnon and Mr. Pilon?
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Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:11:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his concern for the quality of accommodations that families are living through in this country. He is right to point out that, for several decades, governments, both Liberal and Conservative, failed to invest in affordable housing, but that changed with the introduction of the national housing strategy in 2017. We have been investing to help build or retrofit several hundred thousand homes that people are living in today. In the fall economic statement, we have recapitalized the affordable housing fund with an addition billion dollars and another $300 million toward co-operative housing. We are going to continue to make the investments necessary to ensure that every Canadian has a roof over their head.
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Mr. Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Griesbach, NDP)
  • Feb/13/24 3:11:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as Netanyahu bombed Rafah, the supposed safe zone, over 75 Palestinians were killed overnight. We are witnessing a crime of unproportionate horror in Gaza every day. Children are left orphaned as entire families are wiped out in this onslaught. Meanwhile, the Liberals continue to arm Netanyahu with over 28 million dollars' worth of military exports since October alone. How many more Palestinian children have to be killed before the government ends arms exports to Israel?
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Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:12:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is an important question. What is happening in Gaza is a complete tragedy. Netanyahu's military operation in Rafah is devastating Palestinians and others who are seeking shelter. Gazans have nowhere else to go, and as the minister said, asking them to move again is totally unacceptable. This violence must stop. We must have a sustainable peace. Hostages must be returned, and we must find a way forward to get humanitarian assistance to the people who need it the most.
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Hon. Andrew Scheer
  • Feb/13/24 3:13:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent. I move that the House express its solidarity with the parishioners of— Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 3:13:26 p.m.
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I am afraid the hon. member, even before asking his question, is soliciting noes in the House. Once again, I encourage all members to please try to negotiate their requests for unanimous consent so we can make sure we use our time most efficiently.
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Mr. James Bezan
  • Feb/13/24 3:13:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move that the House condemns Russia's illegal— Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 3:13:58 p.m.
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The hon. member does not have unanimous consent.
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Mrs. Jenica Atwin
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties— Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:15 p.m.
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There is no consent. I see we are going to be playing this game again today.
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Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, during question period, I was reflecting on a unanimous consent motion that I would like to bring— Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:33 p.m.
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The hon. member does not have unanimous consent.
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Mr. Dan Albas
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I move that given, after eight years of the Prime Minister, housing costs have doubled, that the CMHC itself admits that housing starts have— Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:59 p.m.
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The hon. member is also soliciting noes in seeking unanimous consent.
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