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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Alain Rayes (Richmond—Arthabaska, CPC)
  • May/19/22 2:33:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that inflation has reached 6.8%. The last time it was that high was 31 years ago in 1991. This year, Canadians are paying 10% more for groceries than they did last year, and that is not to mention skyrocketing gas prices. Will the Liberal government take real action now to address the rising cost of living that all Canadians are currently experiencing?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Larry Brock (Brantford—Brant, CPC)
  • May/19/22 2:36:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week's diesel prices averaged $2.30 per litre, compared to just $1.45 last year, and prices are still on the rise. Diesel is a fuel that powers our economy and powers our critical supply chain from coast to coast. This is going to impact the cost of food, clothing and other goods. This is going to lead to an economic catastrophe. When will this tone-deaf government provide immediate relief to Canadians by cutting the taxes and ending the crippling and punitive carbon tax?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey—White Rock, CPC)
  • May/19/22 2:52:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are seeing 30-year-high inflation. A single dad in my riding tells me he was looking at an illegal 18-by-18 foot rental unit for $1,500 a month and competing with dozens of others. My daughter and her husband rent in east Vancouver. Their small one-bedroom has no storage and no parking for $2,200 per month. How can young people save for a down payment on a house when their entire pay is going to rent and food? When is the government going to get serious and help working Canadians with this cost-of-living crisis?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Bernard Généreux (Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, CPC)
  • May/19/22 2:53:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the price of houses in Canada has jumped from $434,000 to $868,000. That is basically double. Young families who hope to one day buy a reasonably priced home close to work and near schools to raise their children find themselves in a completely impossible situation. The dream of home ownership is being shattered by the exorbitant cost of housing. However, the government keeps repeating the same line: This is a global problem. It is the same old story. Can the minister explain why families have to pay for their failures?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 6:49:58 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the cost of everything is skyrocketing right now. None of the contracts involve fixed costs. A number of witnesses told the committee that many businesses in many countries had fixed costs. The witnesses suggested signing fixed-cost contracts. Does the minister agree?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 6:51:00 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I have another point that was raised by officials from Public Services and Procurement Canada. On April 7, these bureaucrats told the committee that we can expect further cost overruns and delays regarding the delivery of new ships for the navy and the Coast Guard, and that the multi-billion dollar shipbuilding program faces significant challenges. Will the minister admit that billions of dollars in cost overruns are already expected?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 6:54:58 p.m.
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Madam Chair, let us talk about some of projects that are currently being delivered or have been delivered, particularly the Arctic and offshore patrol ships. A witness who appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates last week, Mr. Kendrick, said he really could not understand why the cost of the seventh and eighth ships to be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard will exceed $1.5 billion, while Norway is building three larger, more powerful ships for a total of $700 million. Can the minister explain that?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 6:55:41 p.m.
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Madam Chair, obviously it depends on the ships. In the case of these ships, however, we understand that the contract for the first five ships was for $400 million each, but the sixth ship is going to cost $800 million, bringing the total to $2.8 billion. We have learned that the total bill for all the ships would be $4.3 billion. The cost per ship normally goes down, but instead it is going up. The seventh and eighth ships ordered are going to cost $1.5 billion. After gaining experience from building the first two ships, we should be improving, not regressing. Can the minister explain why this is costing more, not less?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 6:59:26 p.m.
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Madam Chair, let us talk about transparency again. An article in the April 19, 2021, issue of the weekly newspaper The Hill Times discusses the secrecy surrounding the fees that the federal government has paid to Irving, the prime contractor for the construction of these 15 surface combatants. We know that Canada is paying Irving fees, but the Department of National Defence refuses to disclose the cost of these fees. Out of respect for taxpayers, how much has the government paid for this?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus
  • May/19/22 7:00:27 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who we are lucky to have, by the way, estimates that the polar icebreakers announced by the government will cost $7 billion, or $3.5 billion each. However, the Government of Canada only announced the purchase of two polar icebreakers, not how much they will cost. Does the Parliamentary Budget Officer have the right figures? If not, what should we expect?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:20:42 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am not by any means questioning the work of officials. I am simply asking why it is hard to get the figures. Nevertheless, earlier, you were saying that spending is tracked very meticulously, you mentioned it just now. Why is it always so hard, either for a committee or for the Parliamentary Budget Officer, to get detailed expense reports and get clear answers to simple questions, such as explanations for cost overruns?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:40:59 p.m.
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Madam Chair, many Canadians who want access to a safer supply cannot get it, so that answer falls short. Does the minister have any idea of the cost of substance use issues in Canada, factoring in health, social services, policing, the justice system, lost productivity and other relevant costs?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West, CPC)
  • May/19/22 8:05:03 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what is the expected life cycle cost to purchase, operate and maintain the F-35 aircraft, assuming a 30-year life span?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley
  • May/19/22 8:05:29 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what is the expected purchase cost?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley
  • May/19/22 8:05:42 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Canadians deserve better than that. This is a multi-billion dollar project. What will the purchase cost be?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley
  • May/19/22 8:08:06 p.m.
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Madam Chair, for $19 billion, we would hope that we would at least know what the block number, model or type we would be getting of the F-35. What is the expected 30-year cost to purchase, operate and maintain the combatants—
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley
  • May/19/22 8:08:27 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is generally a two to three to one cost ratio to operate and maintain. The PBO said it is about $70 billion for the purchase, which leads to almost a quarter trillion dollars for the maintenance and operation over a lifespan. Does the minister agree?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Kelly McCauley
  • May/19/22 8:10:09 p.m.
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Madam Chair, at no point in the Order Paper does it say it is an estimated cost. It says the cost provided by the government. Irving, the shipbuilder, says it is considerably less. Again, who is telling the truth?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:10:35 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that is a non-answer. The government's future surface combatant program has grown in cost from $60 billion to an estimated $100 billion. Has the government given any thought to an off-the-shelf, foreign purchase?
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Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ)
  • May/19/22 9:38:04 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I would like to know the official cost of the Arctic and offshore patrol ships and whether it is possible to break down those costs.
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