SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 60

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 28, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:22:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the illegal blockades of essential corridors and the occupation of Ottawa were harming our economy and jeopardizing public safety. Our government was prudent and careful, but we also understood that we had a responsibility to protect Canada's economy and Canadians. We look forward to receiving Justice Rouleau's report.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:23:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government took appropriate, targeted measures that were terminated as soon as possible. We had a duty to protect Canadians and Canada's economy. We fulfilled that obligation, which is the central responsibility of any federal government. We look forward to receiving Justice Rouleau's report.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:25:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The opposition is talking about something that happened in 2016, more than six years ago. The Ethics Commissioner conducted a thorough investigation and released a report in 2017. Our government feels that Canadians are facing much more urgent issues these days.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:26:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The opposition is talking about something that took place in 2016, more than six years ago. This matter has been throughly investigated by the Ethics Commissioner, who published a report in 2017. Our government absolutely understands that Canadians want and need us to focus on more pressing challenges, such as affordability, climate change, housing and, of course, Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:27:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me tell the member what I hear Canadians demanding. Canadians are demanding action on climate change. Canadians are demanding action to build more houses for a growing country. Canadians are demanding that our country act urgently to support Ukraine and oppose Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Those are the urgent issues facing Canada today, and that is what our government is focused on.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:28:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in December we proposed a reasonable and responsible solution. The ad hoc committee of MPs that we proposed, in co-operation with a group of three former justices, would have access to uncensored documents regarding the Winnipeg lab. Yes, we will work with the NDP to create this committee, but we have spoken with the Bloc, and we would be very happy to have the Bloc participate in this committee as well.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:30:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, members are responsible for doing their work on behalf of the Canadians they represent, and that includes work on matters of public interest. At the same time, the government is obligated to protect Canadians from damage that could arise as a result of national security details being made public. Yes, we will work with the NDP to create the ad hoc committee, but we would be very pleased to work with the Bloc as well.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:31:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, no one should have to choose between paying for prescriptions and putting food on their table. That is why we announced an agreement with P.E.I. last August to take the first steps towards implementing a national, universal pharmacare program. This is an important first step, but there is more work to do and we will get it done.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:32:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government puts workers first and absolutely believes in the importance of unions defending workers and ensuring a productive and effective economy. That is why our government, for the first time in Canadian history, will ensure that all Canadian workers have the right to 10 paid sick days. It is the right thing to do, and we are going to do it.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:55:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we might think that the Conservatives are criticizing a fictitious budget and not the one that they read. Maybe they should take note of what Stephen Harper's former director of communications said, and that is that the budget is prudent and reasonable. He believes it is a budget for an economy in full swing, one that will achieve a near zero deficit in five years.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:56:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yet again the Conservatives seem to be attacking a budget they invented and not the one we actually delivered. Maybe they should read the National Post, which described the budget as “prudent and responsible”. The Post went on to say, “The efforts to expand Canada's productive capacity and hold the line on spending are welcome, as are the new commitments to defence spending.”
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 2:58:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable Canadians with the cost of living. It was our government that introduced the Canada child benefit, which is indexed for inflation and has lifted almost 300,000 children out of poverty. Our government increased the GIS, which is also indexed to inflation and has helped over 900,000 seniors. When we formed government, more than five million Canadians lived in poverty. Today, that number is below 3.8 million.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 3:17:08 p.m.
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moved that a ways and means motion to introduce an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022, and other measures be concurred in.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:02:20 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-19 
moved that Bill C-19, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 and other measures, be read the first time and printed.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • Apr/28/22 4:02:52 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
moved: That in relation to Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the report stage and five hours shall be allotted to the consideration at third reading stage of the said bill; and That, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders on the day allotted to the consideration at report stage and at the end of the five hours provided for the consideration at third reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill then under consideration shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:07:32 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
Madam Speaker, what Canadians want from all of us, Canadians across the country and who vote for all of the different parties represented in the House, is for us to get down to work and do the work of the country. That is what the measures in Bill C-8 do. These measures, frankly, should be receiving unanimous support in the House. These measures include a tax credit for businesses to improve their ventilation to keep COVID at bay. Is that not a good idea right now, as we are facing a sixth wave? They include an expansion of the school supplies tax credit for teachers, who bought additional supplies during COVID and are now working so hard to get our kids back up to speed. Bill C-8 includes $1.7 billion for rapid tests, which again are so essential as we get down down to living with COVID. They include a tax on underused housing, which is such an important part of our housing strategy. I would urge everyone to set aside partisan games and partisan posturing and pass this essential legislation.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:09:42 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question about small craft harbours, because they are absolutely essential for our country. We absolutely understand their importance, particularly, but not only, in the amazing province of Nova Scotia. That is why, in the 2021 budget, we put forward a historically unprecedented investment in small craft harbours of literally hundreds of millions of dollars. Our job now is to deploy that money and to execute on those investments, and I can say that I was so glad we put forward that historic investment. It is making a difference, and it will continue to make a huge difference in small craft harbours across our amazing country.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:11:34 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
Absolutely, Madam Speaker, and I am very glad to have the issue of tax credits to teachers for school supplies brought up. I raised this in my first answer, and it is one of the reasons that it is really astonishingly wrong that this legislation has been held up for so long. All of us know how hard COVID was on our children and how hard it was on teachers across the country. Yes, it was hard in B.C., but let me say teachers in my province of Ontario have been knocking themselves out as well. They have really gone the extra mile to help kids learn virtually, and now they are working really hard too, because kids struggled during COVID and there is a lot of work to make up. I absolutely believe we have a responsibility for the more than 45,000 teachers across this country. It is a priority of our government for teachers to get their tax credits. We are working hard to make it happen. I would urge all members of the House to get to work. Let us support our teachers and really let us not have dilatory tactics to delay this essential legislation.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:13:52 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
Madam Speaker, let me just say it is a bit rich for the Conservatives to be talking about action on housing, particularly action on foreign buyers, when they have blocked our historic efforts in this space at every turn. The member is quite right: One of the essential elements in Bill C-8 is the historic underused housing tax act. This is an important step. It is an important step for affordability for Canadians, yet this legislation has been repeatedly blocked by the Conservatives. When it comes to foreign buyers, I was very glad that in the budget we presented earlier this month we were able, again historically, to introduce a two-year ban on foreign purchases. I would say that if the Conservatives actually support this measure, which I think they should, let us see them support Bill C-8. Let them move it through quickly and support the budget.
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Context: House Hansard - 60 - Apr/28/22
Hon. Chrystia Freeland
  • Apr/28/22 4:15:43 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-8 
Madam Speaker, once again, I am pleased that all members support the measures in Bill C‑8 and, of course, the budget. That is a good thing. However, if the members really think that these measures are necessary, and I definitely agree with this idea, then they have to help us pass this bill. We need real support, not a hypocritical stance that, on the one hand blocks our efforts to help Canadians and, on the other, asks critical questions about why these measures are not in place. If the members opposite want them, and that would be a good thing, they have to support the government and vote in favour of these measures if necessary
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