SoVote

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

Dec/7/22 3:06:16 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for her question and her hard work. With the increase in the cost of living, our government has been quick to act and provide support to Canadians who need it. We are continuing this support with our fall economic statement and Bill C‑32 by including the elimination of interest on student loans. This will help students and new graduates. We will ensure that Canadians have money in their pockets. The Conservatives can support us here within the hour by voting in favour of Bill C‑32.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mr. Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, CPC)

Dec/7/22 4:18:39 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the House that we are debating the fall economic statement. I always notice, and I mean this in the nicest way, that the Liberal speakers know very little about the economy when we are debating economic matters like the economic statement. I listened to the member across the way, with intent, because he did bring up some historical context here about inflation. I wonder if he knows that the rate of inflation and how it is measured in Canada is historically lower than it is in the United States because of the way we measure owners' equivalent rent. Most Canadians are asking, “How come it is always lower in Canada than it is in the United States?" Since he referenced some history about one time when it was actually higher in Canada, according to his interpretation, I will ask him this. Did that measurement change during those years, or did that measurement change to manipulate the inflation rate that we are showing right now? It is an open question. I actually do not know the answer.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mrs. Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, Lib.)

Dec/7/22 4:20:34 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today during the third reading debate to support Bill C-32. I am one of the final speakers on this important legislation that would implement some of the key measures from our government’s fall economic statement and bring needed help to Canadians who need it the most, including in my riding of Scarborough Centre. I have spoken several times in the House about inflation and the impact it is having on families in my riding. It seems like everything is more expensive. For families in Scarborough, which is one of those communities where people are working hard to join the middle class, it is not like it was easy for many families to make ends meet already. The lack of affordable and suitable housing is a long-standing issue. Rising interest rates are not helping. Add in the higher cost of groceries and seemingly everything else, and it leaves many families having to make very difficult choices every month. With housing, transportation, groceries, school outings and clothes for children, paycheques never seem to go far enough. For too many families, it is harder than ever to get ahead.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Ms. Kristina Michaud (Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, BQ)

Dec/7/22 4:31:37 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, my riding likely has one of the fastest-aging populations in the country. We just learned that groceries are going to cost even more next year and that the Bank of Canada increased its key interest rate for the seventh time. Given these circumstances, it seems to me that the economic update would have been the right time for the government to finally announce that it is increasing the old age security pension for all seniors. Regardless of whether a person is 65 or 77, I think that it would have been good news for them to find out that seniors would be getting an increase in their OAS starting at age 65. One in four people in the Lower St. Lawrence region is 65 or older. My question is simple. Why did the government not use the economic update as an opportunity to stop creating two classes of seniors and provide financial support to all of them, regardless of age?

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Ms. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné

Dec/7/22 5:35:01 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, I thank my esteemed colleague for his comment, which gives me a chance to finish my speech. The economic statement contains nothing in the way of impactful, innovative measures. At best, it rehashes things we have seen before, such as the FHSA. Worse still, the Government of Quebec has to make up for Canada's lack of vision. This economic statement is just like the government that issued it: weak and ill adapted to the changing economic reality. If Canada does nothing, there is no doubt it will miss the boat.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Ms. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné

Dec/7/22 5:37:39 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her wonderful question, which gives me an opportunity to talk about a third measure that was conspicuously absent from the economic statement, and that is a major EI reform. The government is saying that we are entering a recession, so why has it not already reformed the EI system to make seasonal workers eligible? Why has it not helped those who are receiving EI sickness benefits? We need EI reform. It was promsed a long time ago, but the government still has not done anything about it. That was conspicuously absent from the economic statement, the budget and the federal government's policy measures.

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