SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 12:06:28 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, I think some facts are in order. Already with this very important piece of legislation, which will get much-needed support to Canadians, we have had 18 hours of debate and 120 interventions, and there will be a lot more opportunity at second reading for members in all parties to debate this really important piece of legislation. The time has come for us to get to the next stage, because Canadians I have talked to are very much looking forward to having no more interest on their student loans, and they are looking forward to the supports in the fall economic statement, which is why we need to get to second reading.

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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Hon. Randy Boissonnault

Nov/21/22 12:10:47 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, my colleague asked a very good question. We are grateful for the NDP's support in the House to move this bill forward to the committee stage. This is a serious situation. The supports in this bill will help Canadians at a time when they need it most. As my colleague said, we need to eliminate interest on student loans, cut taxes for small but growing businesses and make it more affordable to buy a first home. My constituents have asked me to take action here in Parliament to provide that help, and that is what we are doing today.

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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Hon. Randy Boissonnault

Nov/21/22 12:19:02 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, the point of the matter is that the fall economic statement would do three things: It would provide supports to Canadians who need it the most at a time when they need it the most; it would give us extra fiscal firepower so we can manage whatever the world throws at us in the coming months; and it would also put generational investments in the competitiveness of our economy and the ability of our economy to grow, so we can grow and see inflation reduced over time. We are talking about families that want the ability to save for their first home. That is embedded in this legislation. Students and apprentices have already asked us to please get rid of the interest on their student loans. Apprentices and students want the interest gone. We would also make it easier for companies to grow and scale in this country, paying lower taxes.

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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Hon. Randy Boissonnault

Nov/21/22 12:29:44 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, as members know very well, we have indicated very clearly in the fall economic statement that we want to continue to double the GST credit. Millions of seniors across the country could benefit from that. We have also made it very clear that conversations are taking place with the provincial health ministers. The thing that matters today is that we lower the interest on federal loans for apprentices and students, reduce taxes for small and medium-sized businesses that want to grow here in Canada, and make it more affordable for people to buy a home. These are very important measures for Canadians. That is why we want this bill to move on to third reading stage.

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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

Hon. Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 4:36:37 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, I listened to the member's comments and really appreciated the range of topics he was able to cover. I hear him on the fact that we have a lot more work to do, and I am committed to doing that work. We have heard from the Conservatives time and time again today about Canada student loans and interest, and that students should be paying their fair share and paying interest on student loans. They would be paying back the principal, and this is a policy that many students in the riding of Waterloo and I have been fighting for. I would like to hear the member's comments on the affordability crisis and removing interest from the federal portion of Canada student loans. What kind of benefits and impacts would this have on students? I am sure he can relate to some within his riding.

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Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Mr. Blake Desjarlais

Nov/21/22 4:37:23 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, it is important to remind members of the House that students have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Paying tuition is another double whammy on their lives and is simultaneous to the issues of inflation. The least we can do is ensure they are not paying interest on those loans. I would go further, though, to add that it is important to begin the process of ensuring that the government looks at the principal of those debts so we can find ways to actually reduce the debt load that many Canadians are suffering with right now by forgiving $20,000.

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