44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 15, 2023 11:00AM
- May/15/23 2:21:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relentlessly talk down Canada and the Canadian economy, but on this side of the House, we believe in Canada and we know that Canada has the best economic performance of any country in the G7. Let me give some facts to back that up.
After we tabled the budget, S&P reiterated our AAA credit rating. That makes Canada one of only three countries in the G7 with an AAA credit rating—
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:22:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is important to refer to the figures and to understand that Canada has the strongest economy in the G7. Let me provide some facts to back that up. For example, in the first quarter of this year, Canada's economic growth was 2.4%. Canada has now recovered 129% of the jobs that were lost during the pandemic, while the United States has recovered only about 115%.
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:24:12 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, last week I was very proud to be in Japan at the G7 finance ministers meeting. It is important for Canadians to understand that Conservatives seem to think that Canada's Minister of Finance should not attend international meetings. If that is what the Conservatives think, they should tell Canadians the truth.
As for the Canadian economy, we have the strongest economy in the G7 thanks to the hard work of Canadians and our government.
77 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:25:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, let us be really clear on what the Conservatives are insinuating. The Conservatives are trying to insinuate today that there is something elitist, that there is something that goes against the interests of regular Canadians when Canadian leaders attend G7 meetings. I want to ask Canadians, do they think it is wrong for the Prime Minister to go to a meeting with the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of the U.K., the Prime Minister of Japan?
82 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:27:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, someone who lives in government-provided accommodation in a multiroom residence with a chef and a chauffeur and someone who has been on the public payroll his entire professional life should not suggest that our government is acting against the interests of Canadians when we attend meetings of the G7. We are proud to represent Canada at the top table in the world and we are going to continue to do that.
74 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:31:05 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our government believes in good-paying jobs in the auto sector, and we have shown that time and again. We showed that when we fought for and secured a NAFTA deal that protected our auto sector. We showed that when we fought for and secured Canada's being carved into the U.S. EV incentives, which protected our auto sector. We showed that with the historic VW investment, which creates an auto sector for the future, and we are showing that in Windsor, but we are going to fight for the best deal for Canada, and we are proud of that too.
104 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:33:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, coming from a leader and a party that are on record opposing the historic, transformational VW investment made by our government, that question is frankly ridiculous. I will tell the House who could not get TMX built: It was the members opposite. I will tell the House which government is going to get that pipeline built: Our government is going to get the job done, like we did on NAFTA, like we did with VW and like we will do with—
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:35:09 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am really looking forward to appearing before the finance committee, as scheduled, tomorrow. Of course, it will require the Conservatives to end their frankly childish temper tantrum to give me the chance to appear, but I do really look forward to it, and the reason I look—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
56 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:36:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, one might say that shouting down a woman speaking in the House is a childish temper tantrum. One might say that, but I do look forward to appearing before the committee tomorrow as I have always been scheduled to do.
42 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:37:03 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our government is not going to let Conservatives get away with ridiculous and transparent efforts to mislead Canadians. The fact is that the presence of Canadian ministers, and this week the presence of our Prime Minister, at a G7 meeting, is doing our job for Canadians, and Canadians know it.
When it comes to the budget, do colleagues know whom I trust to rate our fiscal responsibility? The rating agencies and S&P reaffirmed our AAA rating.
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:39:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, I have a question for the Conservatives.
Are they considering an isolationist policy for Canada? Are they proposing that Canada not attend G7 meetings? With regard to Washington, are the Conservatives proposing that we not attend meetings at the White House? Is that the Conservatives' policy?
On this side of the House, we understand that Canada exists in an interconnected global economy and we must—
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:41:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, there is a big difference between our government and the Conservatives. The difference is this. Yes, we are proud of Canada and we are proud of Canada's economy. On the fiscal front, I want to point out that S&P reaffirmed Canada's AAA credit rating after we tabled our budget.
I believe that Canadians are intelligent enough to believe S&P rather than the Conservatives' anti-Canadian rhetoric.
74 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:46:34 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to Canada's debt and debt-to-GDP ratio, let me quote someone whom all members of the House should trust, and that is the Parliamentary Budget Officer. At the finance committee a few weeks ago, he said, “When looking at G7 countries, Canada compares very favourably on net debt-to-GDP.” Furthermore, in his testimony, he described a conversation he had with someone from Moody's, who said that Canada's deficit should make us “quite happy because by European standards that's very low.” That is not me talking; that is the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
106 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:47:52 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, let me tell members who pays the price for Conservative economic policies. The people who pay the price for Conservative so-called economics are the most vulnerable among us.
Since we formed government, 2.7 million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty. The government introduced the CCB, which has lifted more than 400,000 children out of poverty, and the GIS has helped over 900,000 seniors. We believe in a balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility, and that is what—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
90 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:49:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, here is the question the Conservatives have to answer. They have to tell Canadians what they would cut. Would they cut the $200 billion we have invested in the health care system? I sure hope not, because Canadians rely on our health care system and are proud of the federal government that is supporting it. Would the Conservatives cut the $300 billion we have invested in early learning and child care? Again, I think the Conservatives kind of want to cut that. I sure hope the Conservatives never form government, because Canadian families need the support that we are providing.
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Mississauga—Malton for his hard work for his constituents and for all Canadians.
He is right: Last week, Bill C-46 received royal assent. This is good news for his constituents and for the constituents of every single member of this House. It is going to deliver the new grocery rebate to the most vulnerable Canadians who need that support that most and a $2-billion top-up to support our health care system. That is the Liberal government in action.
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 2:54:03 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am not a virtual reality creation here. I am standing up in this House and very glad to answer questions about economic policy, which is delivering results for Canadians and which has Canada as the strongest economy in the G7.
Let me share some facts, rather than overheated, torqued Conservative rhetoric. Canada has a AAA credit rating, which was reaffirmed by S&P after we tabled our budget. Canada has the strongest economic growth and the lowest debt-to-GDP—
85 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 3:00:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we should not be too troubled by not hearing the question from the Conservatives. It is the same nonsensical question we have heard and answered repeatedly. Let me assure everyone that I am looking forward to appearing before the finance committee tomorrow, as I have enjoyed questions today.
As to what Liberal economic policy is delivering for Canadians, I can say this: jobs, jobs, jobs. We have the strongest job market in Canadian history, and that is what matters to hard-working Canadians.
85 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 3:01:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we understand how important it is to get a fair price for our resources on international markets. The government has no intention of owning the pipeline for the long term. A divestment process will be launched when the project is farther along.
44 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 3:02:26 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our government is very proud of our green industrial plan. This plan is investing $120 billion into the green transition. It is an historic measure that will protect the climate globally and create good jobs for a generation of Canadians.
We are very proud to be the government carrying out this plan.
55 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
