SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 315

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 22, 2024 02:00PM
  • May/22/24 2:57:13 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Vancouver Centre for her decades of leadership. We will always support a woman's right to access reproductive health care, both in our words and in our policy. The Leader of the Opposition pretends to be pro-choice, but supports his Conservative caucus members tabling anti-abortion legislation. He cannot have it both ways. If the opposition leader truly believed in the right to choose, he would condemn any effort to restrict reproductive choice and freedom, including from within his own caucus.
89 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 2:58:00 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after nine years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of housing, which has doubled because of his inflationary spending and because the bureaucracy he is funding is blocking construction. In today's edition of Le Soleil, we learned that, since mid-May, panic has been starting to set in for those who have not yet found a place to live. One worker has warned that a large number of people may be forced to camp outside. After doubling the cost of housing, is the Prime Minister's plan to provide tents for those who will be forced to camp outside?
104 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 2:58:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have an opportunity to talk about our plan, which ensures fairness for every generation. Our housing plan will build 3.87 million new housing units across the country by cutting red tape, reforming zoning, lowering construction costs and using public lands and vacant government offices. We are going to put the dream of home ownership back within reach of young Canadians by helping them to save up, tax-free, for a down payment and by allowing renters to use their monthly payment history when they apply for a mortgage. We will help those who are struggling to afford housing and put and end to—
111 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 2:59:22 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 2:59:24 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister's inflationary and centralizing spending caused the inflation that is hurting Canadians. That is no surprise. The surprising thing is that the Bloc Québécois voted for $500 billion of that spending. These budget appropriations are not going to health care or to seniors, since those expenditures are already set out in legislation. No, that money is being spent on bureaucracy, or to double up on payments to consultants, as in the arrive scam case. Does the Liberal Party realize that more money for the federal level means less money for Quebeckers?
100 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:00:05 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservative leader completely ignores the facts and the data in every political argument he tries to make. In reality, the global inflation phenomenon has not hit Canada as hard as it hit many other countries, and inflation has remained within the Bank of Canada's target range for the past four months in a row. That is due to this government's investments and prudent, responsible fiscal management. We will continue to be there to invest in Canadians while working to lower inflation. That is something that the Conservative leader does not understand.
98 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:00:47 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, housing inflation in Canada is the worst of all the G7 countries. Among the nearly 40 OECD countries, Canada ranks second last. However, the question was about the inflationary and centralist spending that the Bloc Québécois keeps voting for. The Bloc Québécois has become a socialist party that wants to expand the government, but its main focus is the federal government. That means a bigger federal government and less autonomy and money for Quebeckers. What is happening? Are the Conservatives the only ones standing up for Quebeckers?
97 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:01:31 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, can anyone remember what the Conservatives did in Quebec? They cut care and social services. They cut transfers. They cut arts and culture. For the Conservatives to rise today to attack the Bloc Québécois for not standing up for Quebec is a bit much. The reality, as we know, is that the Bloc Québécois is there to stand up for Quebeckers. They do not do it as well as we in the government do, but the Conservative attacks against Quebeckers are a bit ridiculous.
94 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:02:14 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Bloc is a beautiful coalition. The Prime Minister, supposedly a federalist, is saying that the Bloc Québécois stands up for Quebeckers. Then we have the Bloc Québécois voting for centralist spending here in Ottawa. What is going on? Everything is backwards. Is it not time to forget about this senseless coalition and replace it with a common-sense Conservative government?
72 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:03:02 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the leader of the Conservative Party thinks, I fundamentally believe that every member of this House is here to defend their constituents' interests. That is our individual and collective responsibility, and every single person here is doing that. People know very well that I do not agree with the aims of the Bloc Québécois. At the same time, we find opportunities to work together, respectfully, to protect the French language and create economic growth in Quebec. We are here to work together, not to play political games and attack each other, which is what the Conservatives do every time.
108 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:03:50 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, only one fishery is still operating fully in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, specifically, shellfish, in other words, crab and lobster. All the others are in serious jeopardy, and now even that fishery is in crisis too. The industry is in distress, but the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of Fisheries is closing vast fishing areas off Chaleur Bay, the Gaspé Peninsula and Acadia. What does the Prime Minister have to say to the fishers who have to remove their traps, return to port and see yet another season compromised?
103 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:04:24 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we understand the difficulties and distress facing fishers in eastern Canada. People are going through some extremely difficult times because of climate change and dwindling marine populations. We will always be there to support fishers. Part of that support also means protecting our international markets and fulfilling our scientific responsibilities in accordance with the laws and rights that have been put in place. We will be there to help fishers, but we will also be there to protect species at risk as well as our trade for the future.
91 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:05:05 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are going to give him a chance. The fishing areas were closed because of right whales. Everyone wants to protect the right whale. The government is actually endangering it more by opening up areas to offshore oil drilling. Fishers have suggested ways to protect whales, and so have scientists and the Bloc Québécois. The department is not listening, the minister is not listening and the fishing industry is facing an unprecedented crisis. Some people have doubts, but does the Prime Minister still think that his minister is worthy of fishers' trust and of the role he assigned her?
105 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:05:43 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are working closely with industry, scientists and our international partners to manage an extremely unique situation. We understand how difficult this is for fishers. We will continue to be there for them. We will ensure that the steps we are going to take and the decisions we are going to make will be in the interest of the industry, the fishers and, of course, the environment and species at risk. This is a complex issue, but we will be there, not with simplistic solutions, but with the necessary assistance to ensure the sustainability of our resources.
99 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:06:26 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Prime Minister and the Bloc Québécois, Canadians are exhausted. They are out of money, and some are going hungry. They need a vacation, but it costs too much. When the Prime Minister doubled the national debt, he inflated prices across the board. Interest rates also went up. That is why the common-sense Conservatives are suggesting that he suspend the taxes on gas and diesel to give Quebeckers a break. Will the Prime Minister have enough common sense to agree to this cost-cutting measure?
96 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:07:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers know only too well what Conservative austerity leads to when it comes to affordability and the cost of living. That is why we will continue investing in families. We will continue to be there to help our seniors. We will continue to be there to help children with a school food program. We will be there to create more child care spaces. These are all proposals the Conservatives voted against. They will cut programs, services and family benefits in the name of austerity ideology. We will continue to make investments for Quebeckers and for all Canadians.
99 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:07:52 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister has implemented a wacko and radical drug decriminalization and handout program. He has literally handed out tax-funded opioids. The result has been tragic, with nearly a tripling in the number of overdose deaths. Where the policy has been most deeply implemented, in B.C., there has been a 300% increase in overdose deaths. The Prime Minister did a last-minute reversal on decriminalization in that province, only to vote back in favour of decriminalization yesterday. Is it not the Prime Minister's plan to decriminalize across Canada if he is re-elected?
100 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:08:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the fact is we will continue to be there responsibly with a science-based, evidence-based approach that works with jurisdictions on the tools they need to counter the growing opioid and toxic drug epidemic. I understand the ideological desire by Conservatives to simply look at every problem as if it is a nail because all they have is a hammer. We are going to continue to be there to invest in community supports. We are going to be there to continue to work with jurisdictions that want to help people struggling with addictions. We will continue to be there, grounded in science and evidence.
107 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:09:20 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, imagine a young couple in a hospital welcoming their newborn into the world, and all of a sudden they smell meth or crack smoke coming from down the hallway. That was the reality up until just a few weeks ago in British Columbia because the Prime Minister and the NDP decriminalized crack. If those parents had asked the nurse to stop it, the nurse would have said no and that it cannot happen. These drug uses are now legal. Conservatives are introducing the safe hospitals act to ban all hard drugs from hospitals. Will the Prime Minister support it, yes or no?
104 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/22/24 3:10:02 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, to be clear, those things are already illegal in hospitals. We know that nurses and hospital staff need to feel safe in their work environment, and it is our government that has invested billions of dollars into the health care system to ensure Canadians have access to the best care possible, and into supports for our frontline health workers. The important difference between the Conservatives and us is that while they look to criminalize the most vulnerable struggling with addictions, we are rolling up our sleeves and working with all levels of government to put an end to this crisis and help the most vulnerable Canadians.
108 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border