SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 179

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 18, 2023 10:00AM
  • Apr/18/23 10:59:08 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I can say that there is no deficit in Canada. Our position is that we are investing in the well-being of Canadians. Let us take the pandemic as an example. This government helped all Canadians from coast to coast to coast, so it is an investment. If we abandoned Canadians during the hard times, like the pandemic was, half the country could go bankrupt. The Canadian government did not abandon anyone. That is what we did, and that is what we will continue to do to serve Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
98 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Apr/18/23 11:17:44 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, as many of us in the NDP have indicated, we are very proud that certain key commitments are made in this budget around dental care and other key areas. However, one area that requires much more support and certainly with greater urgency is investment in indigenous housing. I represent many first nations that are facing a housing crisis. There is a housing crisis that particularly impacts indigenous peoples in urban centres. While this budget commits funding, much of that funding is flowing in the back end of the commitment, so not on an urgent basis as is required. Does the member agree that urgent investments are needed to deal with the housing crisis in indigenous communities?
118 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Apr/18/23 1:16:57 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, we are all concerned about inflation. We are all concerned about affordability. That is why the measures not only in budget 2022 but also in budget 2023 have clearly focused on the most vulnerable who are impacted by the rising costs of food as well as issues with affordability. As it relates to the so-called deficit, as my colleague from Nepean indicated before, this is an investment that we are making. This is very similar to the decision that any parents make when they make an investment in their home, when they make an investment in children's education, when they make an investment for a better future, not only for themselves but their families. This is indeed exactly what our government has done. It has made a conscious decision to make an investment in Canadians and that is what we are doing.
146 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Apr/18/23 1:19:21 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, Joe Biden has just announced a dramatic shift in EV investment, that they will have 67% of American cars running electrical within nine years. That is extraordinary, but what that is also going to mean is that if Canada does not keep up, we will be left behind. However, this government continues to put massive investments into the Trans Mountain pipeline, over $30 billion. If we are looking at 67% of vehicles in the United States going to electric within nine years, we are going to have a lot of stranded assets. I want to ask my colleague why the government continues to subsidize Trans Mountain when it has been proven to be a money loser. This is taxpayers' money that we are not going to get back and we are now $30 billion-plus and rising on Trans Mountain.
142 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Apr/18/23 1:20:12 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, well, yes, there is an investment made in the Trans Mountain pipeline. However, let us talk about the investment that has been made in hydrogen. Let us talk about the investment that we are making in critical minerals. Let us talk about the investment that we are making in ensuring that there are electrical batteries being developed close to the facilities where these critical minerals are being extracted. The most important thing: let us talk about other countries and other organizations from across the world that are making the conscious decision to come to Canada and set up their leading clean tech and EV battery plants here, such as Volkswagen.
112 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border