SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 119

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 27, 2022 10:00AM
  • Oct/27/22 10:23:21 a.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-31 
Madam Speaker, the member rightfully points out that housing costs are very expensive now for Canadians and in fact have been for some time. Many Canadians find themselves in the situation where they cannot find secure, safe and affordable housing. The $500 one-time benefit is something that the NDP absolutely supports and has pushed the government to go forward with, and we are pleased about that. Regarding the ultimate goal of ensuring that housing is in fact a basic human right, which the government agrees with in the national housing strategy, would the member then support action in the upcoming fall economic statement and budget to reflect that, with resources and investments in affordable housing and co-op housing?
120 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 10:24:14 a.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-31 
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Vancouver East for the very constructive role she played at the health committee to present amendments that would improve this bill. The $72-billion national housing strategy has been critically important in increasing the housing stock in Charlottetown and right across the country, without a doubt. Her direct question was whether I would support further investments in the upcoming fall economic statement. The answer is unequivocally yes.
77 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 10:36:13 a.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-31 
Madam Speaker, talk about being out of touch with what Canadians expect of the government. Here we have supports at a time when Canadians are looking for leadership in Ottawa, and the Conservative Party continues to want to frustrate Canadians through these tactics and the policy flip-flopping that takes place. Why does the member not support children under the age 12 having support in getting dental care? This would prevent children from having to go to the hospital. This would allow children to get the dental work they need. Why is the Conservative Party opposed to these children under the age of 12? Shame on them.
107 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 1:27:56 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-31 
Mr. Speaker, I know children in Quebec have dental care, and this is great. The NDP is pushing for a plan so that all people across Canada can have dental care. I know many people in Quebec who do not have dental care plans would benefit from it and support this plan. Does the member not agree with me that he needs to support Quebec adults who do not have dental care?
72 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 1:44:27 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-31 
Mr. Speaker, in his speech, I heard the member for Huron—Bruce had various critiques of the dental support that would be provided through this bill. Sure, there may be some criticisms to be had of it, but I am also of the mind that something is better than nothing. In Huron—Bruce, as is the case in Kitchener Centre, kids under the age of 12 do not have access to any dental support for their parents right now. Would the member not agree that this bill has dental supports in it that would ultimately support folks in his riding, just as they would those in mine?
109 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:20:58 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, there is a very clear difference on this side of the House with respect to what we are doing to support Canadians. Since we were elected in 2015, 1.3 million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty, and that includes over 450,000 children. We will not take any lessons from the Conservatives, who are looking to cut benefits, who are voting against supporting Canadians and who today actually have an opportunity to do the right thing, if they care about Canadian families, and vote to support dental and rental supports.
94 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:22:15 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition seems to have amnesia, because over the past two and a half years it has been this government that has supported Canadians in their darkest hour. We supported nine million Canadians with the Canada emergency response benefit. We supported millions of Canadians with the Canada emergency wage supports. We supported thousands of businesses and organizations with the CEBA. I only can imagine that the Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that we would not have done that and we would have seen a tank in our economy. We did not do that. We will not take any lessons from the Conservatives and we will continue to support Canadians.
115 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:26:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is going to help the families who need it most. Dental support is more than just dental support. Imagine a child who cannot afford to go to the dentist and who feels too embarrassed and shy to approach their friends or another little boy or girl in the schoolyard. Imagine a senior who had to get their teeth removed but did not have enough money to get dentures, so they isolate themselves. When a person does not have enough money to go to the dentist, that has real consequences, but the Bloc Québécois could not care less.
107 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:28:31 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. It is clear that we take this issue very seriously. That is why, when we were elected in 2015, we were there for families and for children and why 1.3 million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty since 2015, including 450,000 children. We will continue to be there for Canadians. Today, all members of the House have the opportunity to support Canadian children. I hope Conservative members will do the same.
87 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:36:11 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we understand that the cost of living is really high for Canadians right now. That is exactly why there is an opportunity today for all members of the House to support Canadians and Canadian families with the dental benefit and rental support. It is important that all members do that. Why? It is because the cost of living is high right now. I hope that we can count on the Conservatives to stand with us in supporting families and Canadians across the country.
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:37:24 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, let us review what happened. In 2015, when we introduced the Canada child benefit, what did the Conservatives do? They voted against it. When we introduced support for child care, what did the Conservatives do? They voted against it. We have lifted 450,000 children out of poverty since 2015. If the Conservatives really want to support families now, they have an opportunity to do so with the dental benefit. Can we count on the Conservatives? Are they going to be there for families for the first time ever? I do not know.
95 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 2:55:51 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, it is hard to believe that the Conservatives are really concerned about the state of poverty here in Canada. Their record shows that, every time we introduce a measure to help people in need, they vote against it. Today, they have the opportunity to support measures that help people cover the cost of dental care and rent. Will the Conservatives join us in supporting those measures? We hope to be able to count on them today.
80 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/27/22 3:01:33 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, for the past two and a half years, the world has been going through an unprecedented global pandemic. What did this government do throughout that period of time? We supported Canadians. We supported Canadians who lost their jobs, nine million in fact, with the Canada emergency response benefit. We supported businesses that had to close their doors because of public health measures, through the CEBA. What else did we spend on and support Canadians with? It was with vaccines that made sure we saved lives in Canada. We are not going to apologize for—
97 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border