44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2024 10:00AM
- Jun/13/24 9:49:42 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the estimates are generally put together around January and, of course, tabled later. Between January and when the most recent supplementary estimates (A) came out, the government found out that it owed an extra $1.9 billion in interest on the debt, so it has come to Parliament asking for this money.
How is it that the government is so out of touch and so bad at math that, within just a short two-month period, it miscalculated $1.9 billion in interest payments on the debt?
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- Jun/13/24 9:50:25 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I know that Conservatives often have trouble understanding that the world changes and things evolve over time.
I would answer the member's question by saying this: Our government has paid a lot of attention to refocusing government spending, which amounts to a refocusing of $15.8 billion in spending by 2027-28. That is a pretty significant amount of refocused government spending, which I think we can all agree is a good thing. It is good, prudent fiscal management to look at how the government is spending its money and to ensure that we are refocusing those funds in areas where we can get better results for Canadians. That should be acknowledged by all parties as a positive thing.
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- Jun/13/24 9:51:33 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, my colleague talked about many things, obviously, including international trade. He talked about the importance of improving our performance in international trade and increasing our markets. That is good. There is Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy. I think it is important to make every effort to diversify our markets.
My question has more to do with respecting existing international trade agreements. It is good to invest money in developing markets, but when we sign agreements, it is also important to stake one's claim and stand up for oneself when things are not working.
For many years, the agreement with Europe put us at a disadvantage with respect to agriculture, when supply-managed quotas were being offered freely. At that time, we were supposed to make gains, by selling meat, beef and pork. However, that did not happen because the Europeans do not accept our way of cleaning the carcasses even though it amounts to what they do over there.
Will his government finally come up with something tangible, not just fine words, to free up these markets? The situation is outrageous.
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- Jun/13/24 9:52:48 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member opposite. We both served on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food for quite some time, and I always appreciated working with him.
At the time, we had talked about international trade and the impacts on the supply-managed sector. I note that, in the study we did, we saw that there was very little impact at the time. I think there was some concern with respect to the dairy industry, which did not amount to being a whole lot of impact, but we did a study on it. I know the member felt strongly about that work, and we undertook that work together.
It is important that we protect our supply-managed sector for sure. Obviously, Canada is one of the top countries in the world in terms of having the most international trade relationships and agreements. I think this serves us all well with respect to being able to access those markets.
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- Jun/13/24 9:53:56 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, one thing my colleague talked about was the health transfer to the provinces. Health care is something I am hearing about from my constituents more than anything else, and they are worried about its privatization.
The original plan under the Canada Health Act was that the federal government would pay 50% and the provinces would pay 50%. It has been a long time since that has been the case, yet the member is making it sound as though it is a really great thing that we are hitting 26% or 30%. That is not what we were supposed to do.
Is there a plan within the government to increase the health transfers so we can make sure that health care remains a public, universally delivered program?
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- Jun/13/24 9:54:47 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I will say that our government certainly stands behind wanting to preserve a publicly funded health care system. Obviously, we have renegotiated the Canada health transfer, which was increased quite significantly, to the tune of approximately $200 billion. It is a significant increase from past iterations of that agreement. I note that we also signed bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, which added additional funds on top of that, with four main priorities. I could go into those if the member wanted.
I would just say that we are very much aligned with the intentions of the member's remarks, and we look forward to seeing provinces and territories use those funds—
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- Jun/13/24 9:55:38 p.m.
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Resuming debate, the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.
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- Jun/13/24 9:55:53 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as we approach the end of this session, I am reflecting on where we were nine years ago.
I was a Conservative candidate in Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. We only had one child; how easy life was then. Moreover, we were getting ready for a fall election. At the time, Stephen Harper was prime minister. He was a steady hand, an economist in office, but Liberals were promising real change. Well, it turned out that real change was the only promise that the Prime Minister kept.
After nine years, how different our country looks. There are tent cities everywhere; there is crime, chaos and a dramatic increase in drugs, as the government pursues radical and dangerous policies that give away taxpayer-funded drugs to those struggling with addiction. The national debt has more than doubled. There has been dramatic growth in public spending both inside the public service and on external contracting.
There was a time, nine years ago, when it was unheard of for a prime minister to be convicted of breaking ethics laws. Now we are at a point where RCMP investigations into government corruption seem to be the norm. After nine years under the Prime Minister, with the escalation in violent crime, in debt, in a dramatic growth in inflation and costs that people face, yes, indeed, he brought real change. However, it is not the kind of real change that anyone wanted.
The Liberals are trying to create fear around what a new government would mean. Would a new government mean lower taxes or a return to common-sense criminal justice policies? Would it mean restoring Canada's principled stands and respect in the world, where we do not just make announcements but actually follow through on commitments to our allies? I think Canadians are now looking for a principled government that restores common sense and reverses the dramatic, debilitating real change agenda of the extreme Prime Minister.
Members across have asked what the Conservatives would cut. We would cut McKinsey, the green slush fund and arrive scam. We would cut the corrupt middlemen who are taking money for doing nothing. We would cut Canadians' taxes so that they could keep more of their hard-earned money. We would reverse the government's extreme tax-increase agenda. We would make taxes lower, simpler and fairer. This is what we would cut: We would cut the crime, we would cut the corruption, and we would cut Canadians' taxes. This is exactly what a Conservative government would deliver.
After nine years of the extreme, radical, so-called real change agenda of the Prime Minister, which has doubled our debt, increased violent crime and undermined our credibility in the world, we need a restoration of common sense in this country. We need it now more than ever.
I am pleased to be voting against the government's agenda and looking forward to another election where we can restore the Conservative common sense that this country had nine years ago.
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- Jun/13/24 10:00:03 p.m.
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Before continuing, I would like to thank the pages for being here this evening. Without them, we would be a very sorry lot.
I also want to thank the Journals staff who are helping, IT helping to keep our voting app going, and catering.
We cannot forget the interpreters, whom I would like to thank. Then there is the security personnel and maintenance staff. Without them, we could not function.
As well, I want to thank anybody else I may have forgotten who keeps us going, some of the staff.
We need to give them a round of applause for sure.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear!
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- Jun/13/24 10:00:41 p.m.
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It being 10 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the business of supply.
Call in the members.
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- Jun/13/24 10:32:02 p.m.
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The first question is on the amendment to the opposition motion relating to the business of supply.
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- Jun/13/24 10:45:21 p.m.
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I declare the amendment defeated.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The next question is on the main motion.
If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
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- Jun/13/24 10:45:59 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I request a recorded division.
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- Jun/13/24 10:58:08 p.m.
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I declare the motion carried.
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- Jun/13/24 10:58:46 p.m.
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moved:
That the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, less the amounts voted in the interim supply, be concurred in.
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- Jun/13/24 10:58:46 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I request a recorded division.
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- Jun/13/24 10:58:46 p.m.
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If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
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- Jun/13/24 11:10:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, unfortunately there are two members from Alberta, the member for Foothills and the member for Banff—Airdrie, whose photos are not showing, so we will not be able to count their votes.
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- Jun/13/24 11:10:27 p.m.
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That is unfortunately the case, and they do not seem to be online. I am afraid their votes will have to be withdrawn.
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- Jun/13/24 11:11:10 p.m.
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I declare the motion carried.
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