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House Hansard - 131

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 21, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • Nov/21/22 3:54:52 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-32 
Madam Speaker, winter is coming, and many Canadians are worried they will not be able to afford to heat their homes. Conservatives suggest removing the carbon tax from home heating as a way to make life more affordable for Canadians. The New Democrats know that in provinces and territories that have their own carbon pricing, like in British Columbia, and the carbon tax in B.C. was brought in by the right-wing B.C. Liberals, the carbon tax does actually apply to home heating. Removing the GST on home heating would be a better way to offer Canadians financial relief from coast to coast to coast. We have suggested amendments to Conservative motions to this effect, and they have rejected those amendments. Why are the Conservative gatekeeping mechanisms that would help Canadians heat their homes this winter with their own litmus test on climate policy?
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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • Nov/21/22 4:23:37 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-32 
Madam Speaker, I do appreciate my colleague talking about lapsed spending and ensuring the men and women who serve in Canada's military get the right equipment. When he talks about lapsed spending, I remind my colleague that the Conservatives left $1.2 billion unspent that was dedicated to veterans. He just scolded the Liberal government when it was the Harper government that cut a third of Veterans Affairs, which led to the backlog today. The Liberals are just as guilty for not fixing the mess the Conservatives created. My question is about young people and students. This legislation includes a framework for removing the interest on the federal portion of student loans, which is something New Democrats have been fighting for. Can the member explain to—
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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • Nov/21/22 4:55:09 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-32 
Madam Speaker, in relation to diseases caused by mental illness, compared to G7 and OECD peers, Canada is underspending on mental health. France spends 15% of its health care budget on mental health and the U.K. spends 13%. My colleague, whom I respect a lot, talked about having no strings attached on mental health transfers, but currently, mental health spending makes up between 5% and 7% of health care spending depending on the province or territory. Mental health care stakeholders are saying we need a target of at least 12%. Last week, the Bloc voted against a unanimous consent motion I put forward for universal mental health care. Does my colleague recognize the economic and social costs of underinvesting in mental health?
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