SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 339 - Sep/19/24

Sep/19/24 12:51:06 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the mortgage crisis, despite what the Liberals will tell us, was caused by them. They allowed the bank governor to jack up the money supply by 23%, and the $600 billion in cash printed spiked inflation. It was not the war in Ukraine that caused inflation. It was not supply chains. It was the watering down of the value of our currency that spiked inflation, which directly led to this mortgage crisis. Now, on top of the affordability problems and on top of everything else, we will start to see people lose their homes. It is catastrophic and very sad.

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Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC)

Sep/19/24 12:51:48 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House. It is not my first time rising in the House in this new session, but it is the first time I do so with a lengthy intervention. This is an important debate. I do not think there is a member of Parliament, whether from the Liberal side, the Conservative side, the Bloc side or the NDP side, who can go out into their communities, into their ridings, and say that things are good. If they are being truly honest, taking a look in the mirror and taking a look around, they are seeing that our communities look like war zones. There are encampments we did not have nine years ago. That is the honest-to-goodness truth. I ask Canadians paying attention to this debate today and all those in the gallery to really ask themselves if we are better off today, nine years after the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party came to power. The housing crisis in Canada is no longer just a crisis; it is a catastrophe that has robbed a generation of hope, stability and the dream that home ownership is within reach. Let me start by addressing the stark reality. Canada's housing market is broken, and it is broken because of nine years of inaction, empty promises and failed policies from the NDP-Liberal government. For the last nine years, the Prime Minister has promised time and time again to solve the crisis. For every election he has been a part of, he has stood in front of the cameras, put his hand on his heart and promised to sell off federal lands, to build new homes, to build millions of homes for Canadians and to end homelessness. Every time, he has broken that promise. The Prime Minister and his government have failed at housing. They can try to cast blame on the leader of the Conservative Party or the former Conservative government. They can try to deflect and deny and give some obscure, convoluted answer as to why this crisis is happening. However, at the end of the day, they have had nine years and they have failed. Let us talk numbers; numbers do not lie. They paint a disturbing picture of just how badly the Liberals have let Canadians down over the last nine years. In Vancouver, one of our largest cities, it now takes over 100% of a person's average household income to afford a home. We should think about that for a moment. People would need to spend their entire income, and more, just to get out of their parents' basement. That is before taxes, which have risen to a level that is crushing our middle class under the Liberal government. This is not only unsustainable but also absurd. How can we expect our children or our grandchildren to ever afford a home in these conditions? Toronto is not far behind Vancouver. These two cities are now among the most overvalued housing markets in the world. This is not just a Canadian problem; rather, it is an international embarrassment. Housing bubbles in Vancouver and Toronto have made headlines globally, but the real stories, the ones that matter, are the stories of the people who live in these cities and every other city and town across Canada. They are the stories of the young professionals who work hard and save diligently; still, they look at the housing market and feel nothing but despair. They are the stories of paramedics who live in their vehicle. They work a nine-to-five or a 12-hour shift serving our communities but cannot afford a home and have to shower at the local pool or recreation centre. This is a real story. They are the stories of young families forced to live hours away from their jobs because they cannot afford a home in the city where they work. They are the stories of seniors who, after a lifetime of contributing to society, now find it impossible to downsize because the cost of housing is skyrocketing everywhere. They are the stories of dozens and hundreds of homeless encampments that have sprung up in our communities, where such encampments were unimaginable just nine years ago. Rest areas along our public highways have turned into mobile home camps, with trailers and RVs, where people are forced to live because they cannot afford a home. A staggering 63% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 now believe that they will never be able to afford a home. Can we imagine? There is a generation of Canadians who no longer see home ownership as part of their future. It is more than just a statistic. It is a reflection of broken dreams and lost opportunities. When young people lose faith in their future, we lose the backbone of our community, of our society. We lose innovation, creativity and growth. We lose what makes Canada, Canada. How did we get here? The answer is clear; it is failed leadership. Since taking office in 2015, the Prime Minister has promised time and again to address housing affordability. He claimed that housing was a priority and his government was taking action, but the facts tell a different story. Housing prices have doubled since the Prime Minister took office. Rent prices have doubled, and in some cases, tripled. Mortgage payments have doubled. Meanwhile, the measures that the government has introduced have been nothing more than band-aids on a wound that requires surgery. Under the Liberal government's watch, foreign speculators have been allowed to buy up homes, driving prices skyward, which has pushed middle-class Canadians out of the market. Now, the Prime Minister is grandstanding, saying we are going to build four million new homes by 2031. That equates to a new home every 57 seconds, every day of the year, for the next seven years. That means the Liberals should have built over 236,000 homes since the 2024 budget was tabled on April 16. I wonder how they are doing on that. I can say it has not happened. In fact, housing starts are now down by 13% across this nation. I know math is not the Prime Minister's strong suit, but how can he possibly expect Canadians to believe him when he uses such blatant fantasies to try to cling to power? It is not just about the numbers related to new home builds. It is about the experience of Canadians. People are seeing their rent increase by 20%, 30%, 50% or 100% in some cities. A single-bedroom apartment in Vancouver that was $1,300 in 2015 now rents for over $3,000 a month. A two-bedroom apartment in Toronto is unaffordable for most middle-income families. For many Canadians, home ownership is no longer the dream; it is just about surviving. In my riding, in Prince George, the average home price jumped by 140% from 2016 to 2020, and it is even worse now. Alia Landry, a single mother of two from Prince George, “used to be able to rent a [whole] house with a backyard for $800 a month.” Sadly, under the NDP-Liberal government, rent has skyrocketed, forcing her and her children out of their home into a smaller unit, where she was forced to share a bedroom with her daughter. She said this: “There were nights I went to bed crying because I just didn't know what I was going to do”. I heard the same story from Prince George resident Dara Campbell, whose mental health suffered after being forced to move. At that time, she and her partner strained to find an affordable home on a limited budget. She said this: “I was really, really anxious.... I would cry in my car. It was really hard, just not knowing [where I was going to live].” Over 5,000 new homes are needed in Prince George by 2031 just to meet the projected population growth. If we do not get them built, people will end up homeless. Prince George already has the highest homelessness rate in British Columbia. My constituents are calling out for help from the federal government, only to be met with empty promises and soaring costs. However, hope is on the horizon. When Canadians get the carbon tax election they deserve, they will be able to vote for a prime minister who will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, finally stop the crime and bring home a Canada that they can be proud of.

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Mr. Ken Hardie (Fleetwood—Port Kells, Lib.)

Sep/19/24 1:01:28 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the federal government is usually just the ATM that helps make things happen. The actual policy, regulation and control usually rest with provinces and municipalities. Would the hon. member reflect on the share of responsibility between provincial governments, municipal governments and the federal government? Maybe he can spread the news around about who needs to do what and do so a little more equitably than he has today.

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Municipal

Mr. Todd Doherty

Sep/19/24 1:02:06 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the government has continued to funnel billions of dollars to municipal gatekeepers. Municipalities, in turn, have raised the prices on permitting and the length of time to get homes built. Our colleague from the NDP is right. We need more affordable homes. A government led by our hon. colleague, the member for Carleton, would incentivize municipalities to build more affordable homes. That is how things are going to get done under our Conservative government.

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Sep/19/24 1:02:47 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am happy to hear the member talking about the importance of affordable housing. I also think it is important that we focus on this. I want to point this out, though: When the Conservatives were in power, they lost 800,000 affordable homes. I also want to point out that, when the current leader of the Conservative Party was the housing minister, he built zero affordable homes in British Columbia. Exactly how would the member suggest we do it? Why does he never talk about the fact that both the former Conservative government and the current Liberal government have allowed rich CEOs to swoop in and buy up affordable homes, leaving people without the basic human right and dignity of a home, a roof to put over their head?

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Mr. Todd Doherty

Sep/19/24 1:03:38 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I wonder how this member is going to reconcile the fact that, for the last nine years, she has propped up one of the most costly and corrupt governments, under her leader and the Liberal leader, the Prime Minister. She is going to have to answer for this on the doorsteps when she goes door to door, asking for votes in what is looking like a Tory seat, coming up. Through you, Madam Speaker, I would just say that the member is casting stones right now, and she should really look inwards and look in a mirror.

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Tory

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Sep/19/24 1:04:24 p.m.
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It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings at this time and put forthwith the question on the motion now before the House. The question is on the 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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Participating

Mr. Scott Aitchison

Sep/19/24 1:05:07 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I request a recorded division.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Sep/19/24 1:05:09 p.m.
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Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division stands deferred until later today, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

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Mr. Dan Mazier (Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:05:47 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-5

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition for the first time in the fall on behalf of constituents. I rise for the 44th time on behalf of the people of Swan River, Manitoba, to present a petition on the rising rate of crime. The rural region of 4,000 is overwhelmed by the out-of-control crime caused by the Liberal government's soft-on-crime laws, such as Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. Jail has become a revolving door for repeat offenders as Bill C-75 allows violent offenders to be in jail in the morning and back on the street the same day. Bill C-5 allows criminals to serve their sentences from home. The people of Swan River are calling for jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders. They demand that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies, which directly threaten their livelihoods and their community. I support the good people of Swan River.

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Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Sep/19/24 1:06:49 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise today and present a petition from constituents concerned about the question of how people who are dealing with addiction, in need of rehabilitation and treatment, are handled by society. The petitioners note that there is a policy of treating those who suffer from drug abuse as criminals. That policy has proven ineffective in alleviating the burden of drug abuse on our society; instead, it has driven those with a potential to be rehabilitated into the streets and exacerbated issues of mental health and homelessness. The petitioners call for the government to cease incarceration of those who suffer from drug abuse and rehabilitate them as quickly as possible with wraparound treatment programs. They cite Portugal as an example.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Sep/19/24 1:07:47 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to table a petition about international flights signed by a number of my constituents. They are looking to encourage airlines or different levels of government, those who have an impact on flights, to ensure that we see more direct international flights, ideally between Canada and India and particularly from my home city of Winnipeg. There is a growing population and a growing demand to go to India. Failing that, petitioners would like see more direct flights to Europe, just more international flights, particularly out of Winnipeg.

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Mr. Frank Caputo (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:08:32 p.m.
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Re: Bill S-210

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people from Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo. I have a petition to present today. It is respecting the general thrust of Bill S-210, which looks at the pernicious effects of the consumption of pornography, particularly for young people who have not yet reached adulthood. The petitioners advocate for online age verification.

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Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)

Sep/19/24 1:09:13 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have here an important petition signed by thousands of people who are telling us that the state of Palestine, governed by the Palestinian National Authority, currently does not have membership in the United Nations. Since the State of Israel currently has illegal settlements in the West Bank, there are concerns regarding potential illegal occupation of Gaza. As of 2024, the state of Palestine is recognized by 75% of the United Nations member states, which amounts to 145 out of the 193 member states, recently joined by Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia. These people are calling on the Government of Canada to formally recognize the state of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

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Mr. Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:09:54 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have four petitions to table today. My first petition relates to one of my favourite issues. The Calgary Co-op is unable to use plastic compostable bags. The petitioners want to draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following points. The Calgary Co-op has successfully kept over 100 million plastic bags out of landfills with the use of its compostable shopping bags. The City of Calgary supports the use of the Calgary Co-op's compostable bags, stating that they do fully break down in their composting facilities. Further, the federal ban, as it stands now, allows for Calgary Co-op to sell its compostable bags on store shelves but prevents it from selling these same bags a few feet away at the checkout. This makes little sense and does very little to limit their actual use. The Calgary Co-op says the unnecessary ban could send signals that would stifle the adoption and development of environmentally responsible products. Petitioners call on the Government of Canada to recognize that compostable bags do not constitute single-use plastics and are therefore worthy of an exemption to the upcoming ban.

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Mr. Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:11:08 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the next petition, e-4937, has over 15,000 petitioners, who note the following for the government. The permanent residence pathway for Hong Kong residents took effect on June 1, 2021, and expires on August 31, 2026. The petition draws the attention of the House to the fact that more than 8,000 Hong Kong citizens are in Canada and are awaiting PR processing as of April 2024. The target number for permanent residents based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds will be reduced by the Government of Canada to 13,750 in 2024 and then lowered to 8,000 in 2025. This reduction raises a significant questions about whether Hong Kong citizens would still be accommodated. Petitioners call for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to accelerate processing, ensure that Hong Kong citizens' applications for PR will not be rejected due to target restrictions and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and renew stream A and stream B applicants as they apply if they are found to meet the criteria eligibility.

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Mr. Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:12:18 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, my third petition is on medical assistance in dying. There is now a delay on this but not a complete ban. The petitioners are asking for Parliament to reconsider it as a priority issue and to ensure that there are supports for people with mental health illnesses for everyone in Canada. They are calling on the Government of Canada to definitively stop the expansion of medical assistance in dying for those who solely have a mental illness as an underlying condition.

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Mr. Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:12:49 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, this final petition is signed by petitioners I met at their doors. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to have a vote of non-confidence and a federal election within 45 days of that successful vote.

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Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:13:04 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the first petition that I am tabling today is in support of the recognition of the universal dignity of the human person. The petitioners contend that it is always wrong to will the death of a child. Regardless of age, stage or circumstances, it is always wrong to intentionally kill a child. That basic moral proposition did not used to be controversial, and petitioners were horrified to hear a proposal from Dr. Louis Roy of the Quebec college of physicians recommending the expansion of euthanasia to babies from birth to one year of age who come into the world “with severe deformities and very serious syndromes”. This proposal for the, in effect, legalized intentional killing of children is deeply disturbing, and petitioners call on the Government of Canada to block any attempt to allow the killing of children in Canada.

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Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)

Sep/19/24 1:14:11 p.m.
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Re: Bill S-210

Madam Speaker, the next petition is in support of Bill S-210, a common-sense bill that would protect very young children from exposure to violent sexual images online. Petitioners recognize that exposing young people to violent sexual images is a form of abuse, yet we know that the average age of exposure to pornography in Canada is 11. It is very common for very young children to access this material because there are no meaningful checks on that access. Petitioners note that Parliament should recognize the harmful effects associated with exposure to pornography at a very young age, including the development of pornography addiction, the reinforcement of gender stereotypes, the development of attitudes favourable to harassment and violence, including sexual harassment and violence, and particularly an increase in violence against women. Petitioners further note that online age verification technology is increasingly sophisticated and can effectively ascertain the age of the user without creating concerns for privacy rights. Anyone making sexually explicit material available on the Internet for commercial purposes should have a responsibility to ensure that that material is not accessed by young persons, and this is precisely what Bill S-210 would do. Online age verification was the primary recommendation made by stakeholders during a 2017 study by the Standing Committee on Health. The issue has been extensively studied before. The bill has also been extensively studied, particularly by multiple committees in the Senate. Therefore, petitioners are calling upon the House of Commons to adopt Bill S-210,, the protecting young persons from exposure to pornography act.

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