44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 19, 2023 10:00AM
- Sep/19/23 2:41:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his important question.
One thing that was clear yesterday with the major grocery chains from across the country is that we must not allow any measure to affect our farmers, the small and medium-sized businesses across the country that contribute to the food chain. Speaking of yesterday's event and the federal government's unequivocal demand, it is up to the large grocery chains to stabilize prices in Canada. We are here for supply management. We are here for our farmers. We will continue to support the little guy in the supply chain.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:42:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, this situation is particularly urgent, especially for fruit and vegetable growers in Quebec. The rains this summer have been disastrous for their crops.
Produce growers urgently need the federal government's help. If the federal government does not intervene, some farms will disappear, and that will have an impact on food prices.
Will the government act responsibly and step up to help our fruit and vegetable growers before it is too late?
74 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:42:43 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, my sympathy certainly goes out to the farmers with the weather we are facing in Quebec and right across this country. We have the CAP program and the business risk management programs, which we worked on with the provinces and the territories right across the country. My hon. colleague is well aware that the province applies tabulations sent in to the federal government and we make sure we compensate the farmer. We will continue to do that, working hard with farmers to make sure they are able to continue.
91 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:43:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, just two months ago the finance minister said, “Canada's plan to bring down inflation is working.” Clearly, the Liberals are experiencing inflation differently, because it is not going down; it is up again today. After eight years of the current Prime Minister, mortgage payments are up 151%, and Canadians are suffering. He is not worth the cost.
When will he admit that his inflationary spending is leaving Canadians homeless?
74 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:43:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, with great respect to my hon. colleague, she would recognize the disastrous consequences that would have befallen Canadian households if we had not been there for them during their time of need. Their argument ultimately boils down to the fact that we should not have provided support to families to keep food on the table and that we should not have provided support to Canadian employers so workers could remain on the payroll. That is what would have caused Canadians to be without homes, but the Conservatives want to talk about housing plans. The only plans they have are to raise taxes on the people who build homes, and that is just foolish.
We are going to continue to put forward programs that will allow us to build more homes, and we are going to put forward measures to support Canadians during their time of need.
148 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:44:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have heard repeatedly from the Prime Minister that the cost of living is not a priority, and Canadians are feeling the consequences. Here are a few quotes from the Prime Minister. “You'll forgive me if I don't think about monetary policy.” Or how about this: “We took on debt so Canadians wouldn't have to.”
When will the Prime Minister admit that it is not his debt; it is taxpayers' money? More importantly, when will he start caring about monetary policy so Canadians can afford to live?
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:45:13 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I find it fascinating the Conservatives' new-found interest in making life more affordable for Canadians. What is funny is she does not realize that many of her colleagues voted against the Canada child benefit, which puts more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families and stops any child care cheques from going to millionaires. They opposed increases to old age security for seniors when they turn 75. They opposed increases to the Canada student loan and Canada student grant programs, and they opposed increases to the Canada workers benefit.
We cannot be fooled. Their record in government was lower wages and higher unemployment. We have turned the ship around and we will be there to support Canadians in their time of need.
129 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:45:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, these are failed plans. After eight years of the Prime Minister, finding an affordable place to live is a crisis. Under the NDP-Liberal government and its out-of-control spending, inflation and interest rates are both skyrocketing.
Rents have doubled, mortgages have doubled and people are becoming homeless. Will the Prime Minister stop his inflationary spending so Canadians can keep a roof over their heads?
68 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:46:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, with great respect, our plan to make sure that Canadians have a roof over their heads is to build more homes. We advanced a plan that is going to cut the GST for people who are building homes for Canadians. We are changing the way that cities build homes. We will grow the capacity of the workforce to build those homes. Realistically, when we dig into the housing plan, if we can call it that, that they put forward the other day, they plan to cut funding for home building and put GST back on some homes that need to be built.
We will be there to build the homes Canadians need, and we will be there to support people during their time of need when it comes to addressing the cost of living.
136 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:47:02 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, two months ago, the finance minister declared victory over inflation. However, just today, inflation went up again: over 43% since that declaration. Even former Liberal finance ministers Bill Morneau and John Manley agree deficits lead to inflation, yet the government keeps piling more and more on the inflationary fire, which is costing more and more Canadians their homes.
Does the Prime Minister have any plans to keep his promise to balance the budget so Canadians can keep their homes?
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:47:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in response to global inflation that is felt in every corner of the planet, what is the Conservatives' solution? It is to slash support to the most vulnerable people, as if that is going to help global inflation.
What is their plan on dental care? We have an opportunity. For the nine million Canadians who do not have the opportunity today to have good oral health, we can make sure that this is not only a matter of dignity for them but also a matter of prevention, and the Conservatives are going to fix global inflation by taking away dental care. No, it is the same old Tory plan: Make the most vulnerable pay and pretend that global problems are not actually what is at fault.
128 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:48:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, families and advocates took to Parliament Hill to demand that the government search the landfills in Winnipeg. This is a human rights issue. It is a dignity issue. While the Manitoba Conservative government and the Liberal government sit by, human remains of loved ones remain in a garbage dump.
Will the government stop playing jurisdictional games, uphold its international human rights obligations and provide the much-needed resources to search the landfills?
76 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:49:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, this is a heart-wrenching issue and is part of our sad reality of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
I had the opportunity in Ottawa yesterday and in Winnipeg last month to meet with the family members, along with members of the Assembly of Manitoba Chief as well as the Long Plain First Nation chief. I understand the deep frustration that exists with families and communities.
Our approach must be victim-centred, trauma-informed and indigenous-led in order to support healing, and we look forward to working with the families to reach that end.
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:49:43 p.m.
- Watch
Uqaqtittiji, meeting with those agencies does not equal action. Why do we still end up in landfills? The government's response to the MMIWG2S+ crisis is not enough. The NDP is working with families, survivors and advocates to push for a red dress alert, because should we go missing, we must be found.
When will the government stop stalling and implement a red dress alert system to save lives?
69 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:50:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to working with the opposition and all parties to implement the red dress alert. We know that it will save lives. It is so important in order to address the national tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. We will continue to work to ensure that women and indigenous women are protected across the country.
62 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:50:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I commend the Minister of Labour for his leadership during the longshore workers strike in British Columbia. Workers in Surrey—Newton and across the country have been loud and clear that they support legislation to ban the use of replacement workers. This morning, workers gathered on Parliament Hill to call for legislation as soon as possible.
Can the minister tell us if and when this government will prohibit the use of replacement workers in federally regulated industries?
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:51:28 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member of Parliament for Surrey—Newton can tell his constituents exactly what I told workers who gathered on Parliament Hill this morning. We will table legislation to ban replacement workers this fall because we believe in collective bargaining, because replacement works distract from the table, because they prolong disputes and because they poison workplaces for years afterwards. I hope that all parties in this House, as they did for paid sick leave, will join us and vote unanimously to ban replacement workers.
86 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:52:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, farmers cannot afford the Prime Minister. On Friday, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that by 2030, Canadian farmers will be paying close to $1 billion in carbon taxes alone, carbon taxes that are driving up inflation. Do members know who is paying for that inflation? It is Canadians. Canadians are literally paying the price. The cost of apples is up 61%, carrots are up 72% and potatoes and oranges are up 77%.
Will the Prime Minister axe his plans to quadruple the carbon tax so that Canadians can afford to feed their families?
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:52:45 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question, but I think my hon. colleague realizes that when hurricane Fiona hit eastern Canada, it destroyed barns, it killed cattle, it destroyed wharves and it cost an enormous amount of money.
It is quite obvious that we have to do something about the environment, and we are doing something about the environment. I know my hon. colleague is well aware that farmers stand with us to do something about the environment.
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/19/23 2:53:17 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the new Minister of Agriculture still believes that farmers support the carbon tax. He is up for a rude awakening.
The previous agriculture minister said it is not like we can pass a law that will reduce the price of food. I have great news: She was wrong. The Prime Minister can reduce the cost of food right now by axing his inflationary carbon tax, which is driving up costs for farmers, processors, truckers and Canadian consumers.
Inflation is up another 4%, and a quarter of Canadian families are skipping meals because they cannot afford food. How much will Canadians have to pay to feed their families when he quadruples the carbon tax?
118 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
