44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 15, 2023 02:00PM
- Feb/15/23 2:25:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary has apologized. The parliamentary secretary wrote a note in support of a business in his constituency, a business that supports Black and multi-ethnic communities across Canada. While it is admirable that all of us want to support local enterprises or businesses in our constituencies, the parliamentary secretary recognizes that it was inappropriate for him to write a letter supporting that agency and business in his riding. He has apologized.
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- Feb/15/23 2:26:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we see zero accountability, zero consequences and a zero on ethics.
We hope the Prime Minister's upcoming trip to the Carribean is more productive than the last one, which resulted in his own law-breaking. That, of course, was not the only time. He stepped in on SNC-Lavalin, and the only person who was fired in that case was the first female indigenous Attorney General. The trade minister refuses to pay back taxpayers for giving tens of thousands of dollars to her best friend in an illegal contract.
Will anyone over there who broke the law get fired?
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- Feb/15/23 2:26:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that, every single day, we show up and do our utmost to serve Canadians. The reality is that this government has done that in all of its actions. The reality, as I have said on many occasions, is that there are almost two million Canadians today who have jobs who did not have jobs when the Conservatives were in government. There are 2.7 million fewer people in poverty today than when they were in office.
I know they are focused on us. I know they are focused on politics. We are focused on delivering results for Canadians and improving their lives.
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- Feb/15/23 2:27:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are focused on the Liberals who broke the law. There is one set of rules for the Liberals and another set of rules for everyone else. Do not take it from me. This is what the outgoing Ethics Commissioner said yesterday: “Over the last five years and on several occasions, I have observed senior officials being unaware of their obligations and mistakenly making assumptions.” For insiders, it is cushy contracts, special access and special treatment to get ahead, while Canadians get record inflation, record home prices and record despair.
I will ask this for the third time: Is anyone over there going to take responsibility for breaking the law?
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- Feb/15/23 2:28:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear, hyperbole aside. The reality is that this side of the House is focused on helping shepherd the country through some of the most difficult times it has faced since World War II. While it is true that we have a lower inflation rate than Europe, the G7 average, the G20 average, the U.S., the U.K. or elsewhere, leading in difficult times is not enough. That is why we have concrete measures to actually help on issues like housing, as the member talked about, which the Conservatives voted against. We will help in areas like child care, which they voted against, and help vulnerable people. Unfortunately, those are actions they did not take when they had the opportunity.
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- Feb/15/23 2:28:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. After eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, Canadians have never been in worse financial shape. After eight years of this Liberal government, 44% of Canadians say they could not afford an unexpected $500 expense. After eight years of Liberal promises, nearly half of 35- to 44-year-olds are worried and struggling to pay their bills.
Will the Prime Minister understand that he and his inflationary policies are responsible for this crisis? When will he stop hurting Canadians?
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- Feb/15/23 2:29:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since this government took office in 2015, we have lifted over 2.7 million people out of poverty by implementing measures that support those who need it most. That is what we continue to do.
We know that times are tough right now. That is why we are providing support so that families can take their children to the dentist and so that there is cheaper child care across the country. We are here to support Canadians.
The Conservatives vote against these measures every single time.
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- Feb/15/23 2:29:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, does this Prime Minister understand, after eight years of not answering questions in the House, that blaming the Conservatives is not the way to help Canadians? Inflation is at an all-time high. Food is so expensive that some Canadians are going without meals. Middle-class workers are being forced to turn to food banks because they cannot afford to pay their bills. That is all to say nothing of the rising cost of gas and housing, including rent and mortgage rates.
Will the government assume its responsibilities rather than spending its time blaming everyone else?
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- Feb/15/23 2:30:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservative opposition has had many opportunities in the House to vote with Canadians.
When we lowered taxes for the middle class, what did the Conservatives do three times? They voted against it. What did the Conservatives do when we introduced a $500 top-up to the housing benefit for Canadians? They voted against it. What did the Conservatives do when we gave more money to Canadian workers from coast to coast to coast? They voted against it.
We are taking action to ensure the well-being of Canadians, and they are voting against that.
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- Feb/15/23 2:31:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the territories, the provinces and Quebec asked for $28 billion a year for health care, but they got $4.6 billion. I fully understand that they did not have a choice. It was that or nothing.
To rebuild a decent health care system, reduce emergency room and surgical wait times, and help people grappling with mental health issues, the provinces asked for $28 billion. My question is simple: Is $4.6 billion enough?
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- Feb/15/23 2:31:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
Under our plan, the premiers of the provinces and territories must agree to three key commitments to obtain funding through tailored bilateral agreements, in addition to an immediate top-up to the Canada health transfer, or CHT.
These commitments include collecting, sharing and using vital information on health to guarantee the CHT top-up and entering into tailored bilateral agreements that strengthen the Canada Health Act.
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- Feb/15/23 2:32:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member is quite welcome for the question, and just to show that there are no hard feelings, here is another.
We were talking about $28 billion in new money, but I want to know this. If $4.6 billion is not enough, why give only that much? If $28 billion is too much, someone needs to explain why it is too much. If it is not enough, someone needs to explain why it will remain not enough for 10 years.
Is the legacy of the fiscal imbalance that, over time, Ottawa will run surpluses and, over time, the provinces will financially suffocate?
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- Feb/15/23 2:33:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the worst thing that can happen to the Bloc Québécois is for the provinces and Quebec to agree with the federal government. That is what happened. We have an agreement with Quebec and all of the provinces to help the pediatric hospitals, to reduce waiting lists and to cut wait times for mental health services.
This is a good deal for Quebec and Quebeckers. It is bad for the Bloc Québécois.
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- Feb/15/23 2:33:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, under the government's watch, people across this country are spending money out of pocket for surgeries. It costs $30,000 for hip surgery and $70 to see a family doctor. In fact, one of the corporations making this happen, Maple, is owned by Loblaws, so Loblaws is not only ripping off Canadians when it comes to their groceries, but is also exploiting the desperation of Canadians who need to see a family doctor.
On top of all this, it is actually against the law. According to the former minister of health under the Liberal government, it is clearly against the law.
When will the government finally stop American-style health care from entering our country?
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- Feb/15/23 2:34:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we believe that all one should need to get health care is a health card, not a credit card. Canadians are proud of this system, and they should be. Our discussions with the premiers included the importance of upholding the Canada Health Act, which means making sure services are based on need and not someone's ability to pay.
We will always protect Canadians' equitable access to universal public health care services, because the role of Canada's Minister of Health is to ensure the Canada Health Act is respected.
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- Feb/15/23 2:34:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the government really wants to defend public health care, it should stop American-style health care from entering our country.
The facts are clear. Thousands of people are paying thousands of dollars to have operations. This is clearly against the law. Their former health minister said so herself.
The government has a choice: Will it let American-style health care continue, or will it stop it?
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- Feb/15/23 2:35:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree. We believe that all one should need to get health care in Canada is a health card, not a credit card.
Canadians are proud of our system, which is based on need, not ability to pay. Canadians should have access to medical services based on their need, not their ability to pay.
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- Feb/15/23 2:35:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister, it has never been more expensive to grow or buy food.
A Saskatchewan farmer told me yesterday that his carbon tax bill just to dry his grain was $2,000 in one month. The Liberal tariff on fertilizer costs eastern Canadian farmers more than $34 million. Under the Prime Minister's watch, we have lost hundreds of farms to bankruptcy, and food prices are up 12%.
Will the Prime Minister help Canadians put food on the table and axe his farm-killing carbon tax?
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- Feb/15/23 2:36:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House of the facts: 70% of the prices we are seeing at the pump are related to crude oil prices going up, largely because of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
Hon. Steven Guilbeault: Mr. Speaker, I am getting there. Another 25% is a result of provincial taxes and refining margins. We recycle 100% of the revenues to Canadians, with 10% specifically to small businesses and agricultural industries in Canada.
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- Feb/15/23 2:37:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I guess the minister did not understand I was asking a question about agriculture, not about oil prices.
What the Liberals have to understand is their carbon tax has very real consequences. What it is doing is suffocating Canadian farm families and giving Canadian families sticker shock when they go to the grocery store.
It is only going to get worse. When the Liberal-NDP carbon tax coalition triples its carbon tax, a farmer will be paying $150,000 a year in carbon tax. There are consequences. The consequences are that produce is up 13%, bread is up 16% and pasta is up more than 20%.
Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for this food crisis and axe this farm-killing carbon tax?
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