44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 18, 2022 10:00AM
- Nov/18/22 11:26:02 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, one thing that needs to be recognized is that never before in the history of Canada have we seen a government that has invested so much in infrastructure in every region of our country. We want to continue to work with the different stakeholders, provinces and municipalities in order to get shovels in the ground.
With regard to the specifics, I will ensure that the minister is very aware of the situation.
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- Nov/18/22 11:26:33 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, if the minister is so very aware of the situation, he should cancel his decision.
The federal government does not understand the implications of moving up the deadline by two years. Its job is to announce funding and show up at the ribbon-cutting when the work is done.
The fact is, there is a labour shortage in the construction industry, contractors are fully booked, and most municipalities do not have people to write specs. That all has an impact on planning infrastructure projects for the people who build them, and that is why the Union des municipalités du Québec is asking the government to honour the agreed-upon 2025 deadline.
Will the government tune in and listen to our cities? Hello?
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- Nov/18/22 11:27:11 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for asking a very important question.
I think that my colleague would agree that if there is a government that works well with the municipalities, including the Union des municipalités du Québec, it is the Liberal government.
As the former minister of infrastructure, I can say that we have always been attuned to the needs and we understand the construction season. That is why we have always worked hand in hand with the municipalities. That is how this government does things, and that is how we will continue to work.
I invite my colleague to continue raising these questions. For our part, we will continue to work with the Union des municipalités du Québec.
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- Nov/18/22 11:27:50 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Liberals have been failing veterans for years. The minister refused to hire staff and now he is delegating the task to a private company to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is not even clear that they will be able to provide adequate services in French.
Veterans want capable people to help them get better services, not a company whose primary goal is to make a profit.
When will the minister do the right thing? When will he help veterans and their families, not the CEOs of wealthy companies?
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- Nov/18/22 11:28:27 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am surprised to get that question from my hon. colleague.
The fact is that we have a new contract that will go into effect at the end of November. There will be 9,000 health professionals in 600 locations across the country. What we are doing as a government is providing the services for veterans where veterans need the services. It would be totally irresponsible to cancel that contract.
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- Nov/18/22 11:29:00 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, our nation's veterans deserve respect and that answer was anything but.
Suspension of services is happening now. There is no transition plan and the government is outsourcing contracts to a company owned by none other than Loblaws. This boondoggle will cost 25% more than just adequately funding the department. Liberals want to spend more money for fewer services.
Why is the minister putting Loblaws' profits ahead of veterans and their families? Will he halt moving forward on this badly botched plan?
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- Nov/18/22 11:29:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, again, I am surprised to receive the question from my hon. colleague.
In fact, what we are doing is taking two contracts and putting them into one. We are making sure that we have 9,000 health professionals across the country in 600 different areas to ensure veterans can receive rehab and health services in towns, cities and rural areas across the country. We are not opposed to that. We want to provide the services for our veterans and we will.
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- Nov/18/22 11:30:13 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Liberal government offers Canadians more debt, more taxes, more spending, more inflation and higher interest rates.
Its out-of-control spending added $100 billion in debt before COVID, plus $205 billion in non-COVID debt that triggered an inflation crisis, which leaves Canadians unable to afford basic necessities.
When will the Liberals end their inflationary spending and cancel their plan to triple the tax on gas, groceries and home heating?
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- Nov/18/22 11:30:50 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, our government absolutely believes in compassion, and that is why I was happy to share, at the beginning of this question period, the good news that Bill C-31 has received royal assent. Struggling families will get $500 to pay their rent, and kids under 12 across the country will be able to go to the dentist.
However, I also want to underscore for Canadians listening that our approach is fiscally responsible. Our AAA rating has been reaffirmed by Moody's with a stable outlook. We have the lowest deficit and the lowest debt-to-GDP—
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- Nov/18/22 11:31:27 a.m.
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The hon. member for Calgary Rocky Ridge.
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- Nov/18/22 11:31:30 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, that answer is cold comfort to the millions of Canadian families that are going to struggle to heat their homes this winter.
The Liberals said that inflation was transitory and that interest rates would never go up. Now interest rates and mortgage payments are through the roof, and millions of Canadians are going to struggle to make their payments. The Liberals are also going to raise the payroll tax. Canadians cannot pay higher mortgage payments and a higher carbon tax with a smaller paycheque.
When will the Liberals cancel these tax increases and the inflationary spending?
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- Nov/18/22 11:32:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I think the Conservatives should be a little cautious about purporting to offer advice on handling inflation to Canadians. After all, it was their leader who advised Canadians to invest in crypto as a way of opting out of inflation. Had Canadians done that, they would have lost 65% of their savings or been totally wiped out. I hope the Conservatives will apologize to Canadians for that reckless advice.
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- Nov/18/22 11:32:45 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this is from the woman who said that we would have deflation and interest rates would remain low for decades. The highest inflation in 40 years means Canadians cannot pay their bills, yet this costly coalition continues their out-of-control tax-and-spend agenda.
Will the Liberals have some compassion, end their inflationary spending and cut their plan to triple taxes on gas, home heating and groceries?
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- Nov/18/22 11:33:19 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we learned this week that inflation in Canada had been stable or fallen for four months in a row. That is good news.
We also recognize that we need to take a fiscally responsible approach. I discussed that in a previous answer. We know Canadians need compassion too. That is why we are really glad to be able to send cheques for $500 to families who need it. We are glad to finally be able to say in Canada families are not going to have to choose between buying groceries and taking their kids to the dentist.
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- Nov/18/22 11:33:59 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, that is the Liberals: Give a little with one hand and take a lot with the other. Half of Canadians cannot pay their bills. They have lost hope. The Liberal government is out of touch and Canadians are out of money.
Again, will the Liberals end their inflationary spending and cancel their plan to triple taxes on gas, groceries and home heating?
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- Nov/18/22 11:34:28 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, our government will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable Canadians.
It is our government that introduced the CCB. That is a policy that is indexed to inflation. It has lifted two million Canadians, including 450,000 Canadian children, out of poverty. That is good, important policy all Canadians can be proud of. The GIS, also indexed to inflation, is helping 900,000 Canadian seniors.
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- Nov/18/22 11:35:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, people are skipping meals and going hungry because they can no longer make ends meet.
It sounds like I am talking about people somewhere else in the world but no, I am talking about Canadians, people in Canada, in a G7 country. Every month, 671,000 Quebeckers, a third of whom are children, use food banks. The reasons are obvious: inflation and rising food prices.
Will this government stop impoverishing Canadian families and promise them that it will not raise taxes?
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- Nov/18/22 11:35:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I definitely agree that today's global economic situation is difficult, and Canadians are struggling with affordability. That is why I find it astonishing that the Conservatives opposed two measures that we will be putting in place, namely the $500 payment to help vulnerable Canadians who are struggling to pay their rent and dental care for Canadian children.
How do the Conservatives justify their position?
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- Nov/18/22 11:36:23 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it might be more important for people to have something to sink their teeth into before we worry about dental care.
Food insecurity is not even something we should be talking about in Canada, and yet one out of two employed people are experiencing food insecurity. Men and women who get up every day to go to work are going hungry. Things have gotten that bad in Canada. We have workers who are poor.
Will the government stop impoverishing families and guarantee them that it will not raise taxes?
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- Nov/18/22 11:36:56 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I think it is worth recapping the Conservatives' plan and approach. What the Conservatives want to do is gut the employment insurance system, jeopardize seniors' pensions, make pollution free and leave children without dental care. They do not want to give $500 to the less fortunate who are having a hard time paying their rent. That is a problem.
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