44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 30, 2022 02:00PM
- Mar/30/22 2:13:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when I was eight or nine years old, my father drove me past the University of Montreal and said, “Look, Sophie, that will be your school one day”. A world of possibilities was open before me.
Unfortunately, that is not the case for many girls around the world. That is why I would like to emphasize that education is a human right for all women in the world, including Afghan women.
The Taliban's refusal to allow girls and women to receive an education not only violates their rights, but, as Michelle Bachelet said, it leaves them more exposed to violence, poverty and exploitation. We need to put more international pressure on the Taliban.
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- Mar/30/22 2:14:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a fundraising supper at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The event, which included a Ukrainian feast, raised $12,000 for Come Back Alive: a charity supporting members of the Ukrainian forces with protective equipment, medical care and mental health services. The charity began operating seven years ago, when tensions between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists first erupted.
The event also featured a silent auction by the Veselka Ukrainian Cultural and Heritage Club. It raised $3,500 towards the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which is involved in several humanitarian projects in Ukraine.
Residents of my constituency stand with Ukraine, with the people of Ukraine and with the over one million Canadians who have ties with Ukraine. They are our neighbours, our friends and our family. They are an integral part of Saskatchewan. Their concerns are our concerns.
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- Mar/30/22 2:15:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, five weeks ago Putin unleashed a brazen attack on Russia's sovereign, peaceful and democratic neighbour Ukraine. Since then, the world has witnessed murderous Russian attacks on civilians and awe-inspiring acts of dauntless courage and determination by Ukrainians.
Putin's war of conquest threatens the comfortable peace that Canada has taken for granted for decades. We must immediately and significantly increase our capacity to defend ourselves and our allies. The sovereignty of Canada's Arctic land, water and air space is threatened. Democracies from the Baltic to Taiwan fear invasion, while Ukrainians are fighting for their very lives and freedom.
We are witnessing the undoing of 30 years of progress toward peace, prosperity, collective security, law and order and democracy as Putin pummels Ukrainian cities into dust. Canada must do more to help stop Putin now, because the price of stopping a murderous dictator always goes up.
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- Mar/30/22 2:17:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share a wonderful story of perseverance and collaboration between the communities of Châteauguay and Kahnawake.
This joint effort, spearheaded by the regional federation of municipal housing offices in Montérégie and the Eastern Townships and by the Kahnawake band council, led to the announcement on Friday of the creation of 31 housing units, in a former motel, for homeless people or people at risk of being homeless in both communities.
This project may see the light of day thanks to our rapid housing initiative. Health partners, our government, and the Government of Quebec have supported this amazing project, which could be used as a model for addressing housing concerns across the country.
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- Mar/30/22 2:18:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the International Transgender Day of Visibility. It is a day to celebrate our transgender neighbours, friends and family members.
Trans individuals overcome formidable challenges. They face pressure to conform or change to please others. They are forced to manoeuvre in our health care system and our government services, which often refuse to see them for who they truly are, and they are too often subjected to hate and violence.
The International Transgender Day of Visibility is not just about seeing transgender people and understanding the sometimes brutal challenges they face. The Transgender Day of Visibility is an opportunity to thank people for leading a human rights revolution. They are heroes. We thank them for not giving up. They are not alone. We thank them for being themselves. They are power.
Let me say it today. Let us repeat it tomorrow. Let us remember it every day. Trans men are men, and trans women are women.
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- Mar/30/22 2:19:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the “Surfe la vague”, or ride the wave, kindness challenge came to an end on March 27. Over the course of 21 days, people were asked to show kindness and empathy by taking care of themselves and others and sending messages of compassion and support to help everyone's mental health.
This initiative was created by the Haute‑Yamaska regional county municipality, the City of Granby, the Corporation de développement communautaire de la Haute‑Yamaska, the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie, the Granby CEGEP, the Centre de services scolaire du Val‑des‑Cerfs and the Haute-Yamaska users' committee.
In short, many people were involved in creating this project developed by Haute-Yamaska, which brought together over 75 partners from different sectors who wanted to raise awareness about the collateral effects of the pandemic in order to enhance the resilience of communities and individuals facing this new pandemic reality.
I am proud to wear this button in support of creating a huge wave of kindness and positivity in our communities after two years of COVID-19. Let us hope that “Surfe la vague” will spread elsewhere in Quebec. Congratulations to all those who worked on and participated in this challenge.
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- Mar/30/22 2:20:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday the environment minister released a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, which is being called “insane” by some in Alberta. This new plan is a direct attack on the energy sector, on Alberta and on Canada. Even the far left-leaning opposition party from Alberta has called the Liberal-NDP government's emissions goals a fantasy.
The energy policies introduced by the government are detrimental to our economy, yet on April 1, the government will also be increasing the carbon tax. Canadian families are struggling with the highest levels of inflation in 30 years. They are struggling to pay their bills, buy food and commute. These are essential needs that Liberals, supported by the NDP, are making more and more unaffordable.
The government needs to stop attacking Alberta's energy sector, and it needs to stop making life more unaffordable.
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- Mar/30/22 2:21:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I am rising in honour of those affected by cancer, in honour of those who give hope to others battling cancer, and in honour of folks like Jim and Judie Edgar. Their incredible vision to create something meaningful, and hard work to create a special place for others, has led to the beautiful Daffodil Garden for Cancer Survivors in my riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour.
The daffodil, a resilient little bulb that survives in the frigid ground throughout the harsh winter and emerges in spring with a bright burst of yellow, is a symbol of strength, courage and hope. April is Daffodil Month, and hard-working volunteers such as the Edgars are helping the Canadian Cancer Society with its annual daffodil campaign in support of Canadians living with cancer.
Soon, the Daffodil Garden for Cancer Survivors will turn into a vibrant sea of yellow. It is a beautiful symbol of hope. I am asking all Canadians to join me in supporting Daffodil Month to help raise awareness and to help support Canadians affected by cancer.
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- Mar/30/22 2:22:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance finally announced an important date. On April 7, we will witness the presentation of the first NDP budget in the history of Canada.
We can expect three things, namely more spending, more taxes and a bottomless deficit. It will certainly be a dark day for all the Canadians who did not vote for that and who are struggling to make ends meet.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Were former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien and then finance minister Paul Martin consulted about this budget?
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- Mar/30/22 2:23:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy and spin economic fiction.
I would therefore like to share with the House some very important facts.
First, according to StatsCan, our GDP grew at an annualized rate of 6.7%. Second, we are poised to be the fastest growing economy in the G7 next year. Third, our economy is the second fastest growing in the G7 this year, and fourth, despite the omicron variant, our GDP is back to prepandemic levels.
Those are the facts.
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- Mar/30/22 2:24:09 p.m.
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Let us talk about that, Mr. Speaker.
The NDP Prime Minister and the leader of his moderate wing signed a secret agreement that seeks to implement the NDP's $200-billion spending plan, which goes against supposedly Liberal values.
As Jean Chrétien said, “The time to reduce deficits is when the economy is growing.” Paul Martin said, “Not to act now to put our fiscal house in order would be to abandon the purposes for which our Party exists and this government stands”.
Are there any fiscally responsible Liberals left in this government or did they all join the NDP?
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- Mar/30/22 2:24:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this government has made historic investments in the lives of Canadians and Quebeckers, in all communities and in all provinces, to prevent the worst depression since the 1930s.
The other side of the House can vote for Bill C‑8, for $1.8 billion for rapid COVID‑19 tests, for $100 million to improve ventilation in our schools and to help businesses and teachers.
When will the other side of the House vote in favour of Bill C‑8?
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- Mar/30/22 2:25:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I suspect that many Liberal members were not consulted on this NDP budget.
Inflation is at record highs. Small businesses are struggling with the price of gas. Families are struggling to pay the grocery bill.
In 1995, finance minister Paul Martin said, “If our purpose is to get the economy right, we need to redesign the role of the government in the economy to fit the size of our pocketbook and the priorities of our people.”
Does the Minister of Finance now realize that selling her soul to the NDP in exchange for a majority will hurt the Canadian economy?
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- Mar/30/22 2:25:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is refreshing to hear the other side of the House talk about taxation after their terrible record over their 10 years in government.
On this side of the House, we are focused on supporting Canadians. We are on the verge of voting on Bill C‑8 and we have introduced day care benefits to help Canadian families, increased the additional support for seniors and increased the Canada child benefit.
On this side of the House we are focused on affordability. Who knows what is going on across the way.
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- Mar/30/22 2:26:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the spend-DP-Liberal coalition has never seen a rule on tax it did not like, regardless of how inflationary it would be. Take, for example, making an energy rating mandatory when selling a home. The Ontario Real Estate Association calls this a crazy thing to do in the middle of a historic housing affordability crisis, as it would only increase the cost of buying a home.
Why is the spend-DP-Liberal coalition even thinking about doing this crazy thing that would only price out more millennials and first-time homebuyers?
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- Mar/30/22 2:26:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have prioritized giving more Canadians access to their dream of home ownership. We are moving forward with a housing accelerator fund that would increase the housing supply across the spectrum, we are moving forward with a rent-to-own program that would turn more Canadian renters into homeowners, and we are also moving forward with a 1% tax on non-recreational property owned by foreigners. What did the party opposite do with respect to that measure? It voted against it.
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- Mar/30/22 2:27:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the only thing progressive about the spend-DP-Liberal coalition is that people are progressively paying more for everything. Inflation bleeds the purchasing power of every single Canadian.
The Governor of the Bank of Canada has confirmed that the carbon tax is inflationary. Some point to rebates, but the Parliamentary Budget Officer says the government will collect more than it rebates to Canadians.
Will the spend-DP-Liberal coalition finally give millions of Canadians a break from their inflationary policies and cancel the April 1 carbon tax hike?
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- Mar/30/22 2:28:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is no surprise to hear this from the Conservatives when their top candidate for leader, the member for Carleton, is campaigning against real action on climate change. The PBO's report confirms that the price of pollution has a progressive impact that gives eight out of 10 Canadians more money through the climate action incentive, which goes back into their pockets. In the last week, we announced climate incentives in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
While members on that side of the aisle fight each other, we fight for Canadians.
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- Mar/30/22 2:28:41 p.m.
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The first three questions were great. Everybody was listening and it was awesome.
The hon. member for La Prairie.
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- Mar/30/22 2:28:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have spent a lot of time talking about what is in the NDP-Liberal agreement, but we should also talk about what was left out, and that is seniors.
This agreement leaves seniors by the wayside. Even though rising grocery prices are hitting them harder than anyone else, nothing will be done to protect their income until 2027. That is especially true for seniors between the ages of 65 and 74, who are also not entitled to an OAS increase. This agreement makes the creation of two classes of seniors a done deal.
I would like to know one thing. Whose decision was it to dump seniors? Was it the Liberals, the NDP or both?
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