44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 28, 2024 02:00PM
- Feb/28/24 2:26:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservative leader's desperation and penchant for personal attacks are on full display as he brings up problems that were completely resolved four years ago.
The truth of the matter is that we take the ArriveCAN matter extremely seriously. That is why authorities are responsibly following up on it. Anyone who took advantage of a situation where everyone was there to help Canadians in a global pandemic crisis will face the consequences.
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- Feb/28/24 2:27:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while common-sense Conservatives fight to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or corruption.
We found yesterday that his government is under RCMP investigation again, this time for arrive scam. The commissioner of the RCMP revealed, however, that the last time they were investigating him for criminal activity, in the SNC-Lavalin affair, he blocked them from getting cabinet documents.
Will he lift cabinet confidentiality and hand over all the documents to the police so they can investigate any of his potential crimes?
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- Feb/28/24 2:27:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the situation around ArriveCAN is obviously unacceptable, which is why authorities are looking into this procurement process. Anyone who took advantage of everything we were doing to try to keep people safe during COVID to get rich will face consequences. That is the way our system works.
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- Feb/28/24 2:28:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is not the way the system has worked since he took office eight years ago.
According to the RCMP commissioner, not only did he refuse to be questioned in the SNC-Lavalin criminal investigation and in the Aga Khan billionaire island investigation, but he blocked key cabinet documents from being included in those investigations.
We now know that an app that was supposed to cost $80,000 went up to $60 million after the NDP helpfully voted for those extra funds. We do not know who criminally benefited from that, so once again, will the Prime Minister waive cabinet confidentiality and turn over all the documents, yes or no?
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- Feb/28/24 2:28:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is digging into the past to try to bring up things that were settled many years ago.
If he really wants to talk about the past, he should talk about the fact that the Conservative leader was at Transport Canada, working hand in hand with the minister, as the founders of the company involved in ArriveCAN were getting millions of dollars in contracts from the department he was working for.
We are taking seriously any concerns around procurement. The authorities are looking into it. There will be consequences for anyone who took advantage of our COVID protection efforts to get rich.
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- Feb/28/24 2:29:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that answer proves again that he is not worth the cost or the corruption.
We know that after eight years of the Prime Minister, the cost of everything has gone up, in part because he has given away money for nothing.
Arrive scam, an app that was supposed to cost $80,000, was actually $60 million at least, and counting, because the Auditor General said she does not have the documentation to do the full calculation today.
We have a common-sense Conservative motion that requires the Prime Minister to release the full cost of the app and recover the money for Canadians within the next hundred days. Will he vote for that common-sense motion, yes or no?
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- Feb/28/24 2:30:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is choosing to fling mud at a question that I have said is unacceptable. The authorities are looking into it.
He does not want to talk about the housing investments that we are making across the country. He does not want to talk about the fact that he voted against dental care that seniors are going to be benefiting from as of May. He does not want to talk about child care. He does not want to talk about Ukraine. He does not want to talk about all the things where Conservatives are out of line with Canadians.
We are going to continue focusing on the things that matter to Canadians, every single day.
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- Feb/28/24 2:30:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government and the NDP want to bring in a pharmacare plan that does absolutely nothing for Quebec, since we already have such a plan, which was actually the inspiration for their program. I have no problem with this, as long as Quebec has the right to opt out with full financial compensation and no strings attached.
The member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, a member of that alliance, says that Quebec can opt out. The minister says it is not all that clear-cut.
The Prime Minister must know the answer. Which is it?
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- Feb/28/24 2:31:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the reality is that too many Canadians across the country are still being forced to make impossible choices between paying for groceries or paying for the medication they need.
We are here to make sure that people everywhere can pay for their medication. We will work with the provinces, including Quebec, to make sure that Canadians have the coverage they need.
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- Feb/28/24 2:31:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree that there are likely many Canadians who do not have this service, but Quebeckers do. That is why Quebeckers are talking about the right to opt out with compensation.
Should the NDP and the Liberals not have made sure that they were on the same page? Before deciding whether to go into a tango or a nice slow dance, maybe partners should renew their vows by being clear with each other.
Can the Prime Minister, in one of his oh-so-clear answers, tell me whether Quebec has a right to opt out, yes or no, as my friend from Richmond—Arthabaska would say?
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- Feb/28/24 2:32:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, across the country, including in Quebec, people are dealing with inadequate prescription drug coverage. That is why we are there to work hand in hand with the provinces and ensure that people can pay for their drugs from coast to coast to coast.
We are always there to work constructively with the provinces to ensure that there is support and coverage for all Canadians.
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- Feb/28/24 2:33:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have long said that corporate greed is driving up the cost of living. It is also hurting our health care system.
Galen Weston's Shoppers Drug Mart, which the corporate-controlled Conservatives love, is now ripping off our health care system. That means more money in the pockets of Galen Weston and less money for frontline health care workers.
Why does the Prime Minister continue to let Galen Weston get richer while Canadians cannot get the health care that they need?
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- Feb/28/24 2:33:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will let the Leader of the Opposition answer why he has a high-profile lobbyist for Galen Weston sitting in his caucus meetings.
We are focused on creating more competition for lower prices, more choice, and more innovative products and services for Canadians. Our government recently passed new legislation that empowers the Competition Bureau to hold grocers accountable and prioritize consumers' interests.
The fall economic statement would also crack down on predatory pricing, and I urge all parties to vote in favour.
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- Feb/28/24 2:34:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not have to choose between parties that are both controlled by corporations.
The Prime Minister allocated over $4 billion to the Northvolt plant, a project that poses serious environmental risks and that will not generate any economic spinoffs until 2037.
Before he committed to spending so much money, did the Prime Minister conduct environmental assessments or did he just listen to the CEOs?
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- Feb/28/24 2:34:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is the largest private investment in the history of Quebec. We are talking about a company that is creating not just jobs but also the products of the future.
We do need to continue to fight climate change and protect our environment. We are doing that hand in hand with the Government of Quebec and companies like Northvolt. We are building careers, building a future, and fighting climate change at the same time.
I would expect the NDP to understand that fighting climate change and building a strong economy go hand in hand.
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- Feb/28/24 2:35:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, common-sense Conservatives want to axe the tax. The Prime Minister wants to hike the tax. First of all, he wants to quadruple it between now and 2030, and on April 1 he plans to hike it by 23% with the support of the NDP. The tax hike will be bigger than increases in the rebate, and therefore the average families in all the provinces will be bigger net losers under the tax than they were before.
With Canadians unable to eat, to heat, and to house themselves, will the Prime Minister cancel his plan to hike the tax on April 1?
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- Feb/28/24 2:36:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I do believe this might be one of the first times the Leader of the Opposition has ever recognized that there is a Canada carbon rebate that he would cancel: cheques that he would prevent being delivered to Canadians right across the country.
Eight out of 10 Canadian households get more money than they pay in carbon pricing in the provinces in which it applies. In Alberta it is $1,800 a year to a family of four. It is $1,200 a year in Manitoba, and even in Ontario it is $1,120 to a family of four. That is money in their pockets that he wants to take—
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- Feb/28/24 2:36:48 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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- Feb/28/24 2:36:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am glad he mentioned his phony rebates, because $1,800 in Alberta is the rebate. That is what he said; we heard him. Here is the gross cost: $2,943. Therefore he is going to take away $2,943 but give back $1,800 and then ask them to be thankful for it.
Is that not just proof that the carbon tax is just like him: not worth the cost?
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- Feb/28/24 2:37:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer himself recognized that the $1,800 in rebate that we are sending, for example to a family of four in Alberta, is more than that family of four pays in the price on pollution. That is the calculation that is done right across the country that shows that eight out of 10 families are better off with the Canada carbon rebate than what they pay in the price on pollution in areas in which it is brought in.
We are both fighting climate change and delivering more money to households across the country, money that he wants to take away.
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