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House Hansard - 175

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 29, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce C-328, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy on student loan debt. He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to introduce the student debt relief act, with thanks to the great member for Edmonton Griesbach for seconding this legislation. Far too many Canadian students have been forced to assume a crushing debt load simply to receive an education. In Canada, the average student loan debt is now $28,000 for a bachelor's degree and $15,300 for college graduates. This legislation provides for the development of a national strategy to address student loan debt by cancelling debt from government-provided students loans, permanently eliminating interest from all government-provided student loans, increasing nonrepayable student grants and protecting future students by reducing the cost of post-secondary education across Canada. In fact, in my view it should be free. New Democrats believe that every student who studies hard should be able to access a world-class education without going into debt. I call on all parliamentarians to work together to make debt-free, accessible post-secondary education a reality for all students across Canada.
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Context: House Hansard - 175 - Mar/29/23
Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)
  • Mar/29/23 5:31:59 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I enjoyed working with my hon. colleague on the health committee. I am a bit disappointed in my friend's pessimistic view of the efficiency of government. He seems to think government is not capable of delivering programs. He was highly skeptical that the federal government could deliver insurance for a dental plan. However, we know the federal government administers employment insurance for millions of Canadians. It administers the Canada pension plan for millions of seniors. It administers old age security for millions of citizens, and these programs include many people in the province of Quebec. I know he is a separatist, so it seems strange that he thinks the Province of Quebec could form a nation, but does not seem to think a nation-state is competent to deliver programs for citizens. My question is on dental care. The NDP's dental plan would mean that about two million Quebeckers at the end of this year, including seniors, children and people with disabilities, would be able to go to the dentist and have the federal government pay 100% of that cost. Can he tell the House why he is opposed to having people who are suffering in Quebec get the dental care they need at zero cost to the Government of Quebec?
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