44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 20, 2023 02:00PM
- Sep/20/23 2:23:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see so much enthusiasm from my colleagues on both sides of the House.
During the summer, we did something important. We listened to Canadians. They told us three things. They want help with the cost of groceries and the cost of housing. One thing that Canadians did not tell us was to stop helping families, youth and the most vulnerable members of our society.
The Canadians who are watching us today know that we will always be there for them, and they are beginning to understand that the Conservative leader is just too risky for Canada.
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:24:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it seems to me as though, for once, the Liberals are actually happy with the person leading them in question period. I would like to congratulate the hon. member on his new duties. He is a little guy from Shawinigan. Perhaps we will have another little guy from Shawinigan as Prime Minister one day.
I can understand why even the Liberals want to fire the Prime Minister. He costs too much and is not worth the cost or effort.
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:24:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservative leader is busy ranting, Canadians are clearly telling us one thing: They need our government's help.
That is why we are here to help on the grocery front, for example. We called in the CEOs of the major grocery chains this week. We are going to lower the GST on housing. We are going to take action to help Canadians.
If there is one thing Canadians are tired of, it is hearing the Conservative leader's slogans. One thing they understand is that he is just too risky for Canada. We will be there for Canadians every step of the way.
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:25:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, at his recent retreat in Charlottetown, the Prime Minister said that life is really tough for politicians. Today he is off on another trip to New York for three days to give a couple of speeches and burn a whole lot of fuel, at the same time as he raises carbon taxes on Canadians for the crime of driving to work and feeding their families.
Yesterday, inflation was way up. It is accelerating. It is higher than in the States and in Japan, which could drive up interest rates.
Will the Prime Minister balance the budget and axe the tax to bring inflation and interest rates down?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:26:12 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
8 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:26:24 p.m.
- Watch
Order. I realize it is Wednesday, everybody is excited and emotions are running high, but we have to get through question period. Let us see if we can just calm down and hear the questions and answers.
The hon. minister.
40 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:26:54 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that affordability is, of course, the top priority for the government. It is very clear that it is a huge concern on the minds of many Canadians. It has caused us to look at programs such as removing the GST from the construction of new rental units, providing money for home efficiency, the grocery rebate and a range of other things.
However, I would say that it is also important that while we are addressing affordability, we do so in a manner that actually will allow us to also address the climate crisis. It is an existential threat to the future of our children. Shame on the Conservatives for having no climate plan. On this side of the House, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can do both.
140 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:27:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, they are prepared to thunderously applaud anyone, other than their own leader, who stands up in the House of Commons. No wonder the Prime Minister says that it is a really hard time to be a politician.
Right now, speaking of hard times, he is off in New York for another three days, burning a lot of jet fuel while he applies a carbon tax, which he wants to quadruple to 61¢ a litre, on farmers, single parents and struggling working-class families who have to choose between eating and heating.
Will the Prime Minister park the plane, end the high-carbon hypocrisy and axe the tax?
110 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:28:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, our government actually has a plan to support Canadians during this time. We have, for example, the grocery rebate helping 11 million Canadians. We are helping 4.2 million Canadians with the workers benefits and over six million Canadians with indexed old age security.
What is the Conservatives' plan? That is right; they do not have one.
62 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:28:58 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our plan is to axe the tax and use technology, not taxes.
It is really incredible that this high-flying, high-carbon hypocrite is jetting around the world at the expense of Canadian taxpayers at the same time as he raises fuel taxes on everyday Canadians. The NDP supports him 100% in the 61¢-a-litre carbon tax they want to impose. That and the inflationary deficits have driven inflation back up.
Will the government finally end the inflationary taxes and deficits so we can bring down rates before Canadians go bankrupt?
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:29:49 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, over nearly two decades of Canadian politics, the member has not seen a program that helps Canadians that he does not want to cut. Over the course of my time in the chamber, I have watched him attack the programs that support my constituents, programs like employment insurance and the Canada pension plan.
We are going to continue to put forward measures that are going to support Canadians during their time of need. He may dismiss them as big, fat government programs; I call them programs that put food on the table for families who live in my community.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:30:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, too many Quebeckers and too many Canadians are having to choose between impossibly high rent and the threat of homelessness.
Removing the GST on rental housing cannot hurt, but it may also do nothing to help tenants, who so desperately need it.
Will the government agree to stop wanting to encroach on the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces, and does it recognize that the ideal solution for everyone would be to release the $900 million it is withholding for social housing in Quebec?
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:30:57 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have had many conversations with the people of Quebec. I have spoken with my counterpart, and my team is speaking to his team. We exchanged messages this morning. I hope to get a call this evening.
The fact of the matter is we both see building housing in Quebec and across the country as a priority. We must work together to achieve those objectives. I will keep working on this. I will continue to work with my counterpart and with Quebec.
85 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:31:31 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as long as Canada is bent on interfering, it should help the least fortunate cope with the rising cost of living and housing. It should also rein in its own spending so that it does not further contribute to inflation, yet Ottawa is giving billions of dollars to the oil industry.
Would it not be better for Ottawa to end oil subsidies and use that money to increase seniors' pensions, end discrimination against people between the ages of 65 and 75, and support social housing?
87 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:32:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, of course we have to fight climate change. Of course, we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors of the economy.
Regarding the oil industry, we ended fossil fuel subsidies two or three months ago, and we are going to build an economy that will make a major contribution to a low-carbon future.
58 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:32:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister admitted that he could have and should have done more to build affordable homes in Canada. Now, the reality is that we have a situation where we are losing more affordable homes than we are building as a nation.
What does the Prime Minister have to say to a renter who is living in a home he can afford right now but who lives in fear that one day that home will be renovicted or demovicted and he will lose it? What does the Prime Minister have to say to ensure that people will be able to stay in the homes they can afford?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:33:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I share the hon. member's concern about making sure some of the most vulnerable Canadians have a safe and affordable place to call home. That was in fact the motivation for the national housing strategy where our government re-entered the social housing space after decades of governments, I should say of different partisan stripes, vacated it.
In reality, we know we need to do more. That is why we moved forward with eliminating GST on apartments that are going to be rented to Canadians. Part of the solution to the housing crisis is to build more homes, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:33:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, “I should have” is not what people want to hear. People want the job done.
Right now, finding affordable housing is impossible because there is none. Affordable rent for someone looking for housing or an apartment is non-existent.
What is this Prime Minister going to do to ensure the construction of housing that people can afford?
61 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:34:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, people unable to find a home they can afford are struggling. That is why we started implementing national housing strategies decades ago. These investments are necessary. We are starting to build affordable homes again.
In addition, he wants to see action. Last week, we eliminated the GST on the construction of apartments in this country. This is going to add to the supply. This is going to reduce the cost for people to rent and will provide protection for people who are struggling to find a place to call home. It is the right path forward. We are going to continue.
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/23 2:34:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals came up with the carbon tax and now the Bloc Québécois is proposing to drastically increase it. The Bloc Québécois claims to stand up for the interests of Quebeckers, but let us be clear, the Bloc wants to take money from Quebeckers and hand it over to the federal government. Voting Bloc is costly.
Will the Prime Minister reject the Bloc's request to drastically increase the carbon tax at Quebeckers' expense?
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
