44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 4, 2023 02:00PM
- Oct/4/23 2:28:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, eight long years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of food. In today's news, we read that inflation is preventing Quebeckers from eating as healthy as they should because of high grocery store prices. Sixty-three per cent of Canadians are afraid for their health because of the outrageous cost of groceries after eight years under this Prime Minister.
Will the Prime Minister keep his promise to lower the cost of groceries by Thanksgiving, which is this Monday, yes or no?
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- Oct/4/23 2:34:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister can pass any bill he wants anytime he wants because he has a majority in coalition with the NDP. That is why he promised a month ago that he would make food affordable by Thanksgiving in a big, blustery photo op.
My question for the Prime Minister is this: By this Monday, Thanksgiving, will he reverse the 22% inflation in the price of peas, the 33% inflation in the price of green salads, the 37% price inflation in the cost of frozen turkeys and the 74% price inflation for potatoes? Will he keep his word? Will he bring the prices down, yes or no?
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- Oct/4/23 2:42:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister pretends that he is not in a majority coalition with the NDP when in fact he is. He can pass any law he wants at any time. That is why he promised a month ago that we would have an affordable Thanksgiving. I know it was a ridiculous promise. I hate to have to hold him to something so absurd after he caused prices to rise so quickly, but it was his promise.
Will he reverse the food price inflation he caused by Monday so that Canadians can have an affordable turkey dinner, yes or no?
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- Oct/4/23 2:48:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I know that Canadians will not be taking any condescending economics lessons from the Leader of the Opposition after he proposed to Canadians that a good way of avoiding inflation was to buy crypto. That was his economic counsel to Canadians. If they had followed it, they would have lost almost half of their life savings.
One can understand that we will not be taking any economics lessons from that guy.
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Madam Speaker, I apologize.
In my riding, a young man named Alessandro and his mother Mary started a not-for-profit organization that provides free lawn maintenance and snow removal for seniors who cannot perform these functions themselves, either due to physical or financial issues. Liberal financial policies have led to higher inflation. This has been stated by the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
Seniors' retirement income is simply not keeping up with the pace of the cost of living crisis, which is cutting into the savings of seniors. High inflation rates, interest rate hikes and the tripling of the carbon tax, which affects the price of groceries, gas and home heating, are the real record of the Liberal-NDP government on seniors. Many seniors feel increasingly isolated in their own towns and cities, and many have struggled with financial insecurities due to the record inflation.
According to a survey by the National Institute on Aging, 72% of Canadians age 70 years and older became more concerned about their financial well-being in the last few years. Inflation has risen to 4%, and the cost of groceries has gone up by 6.9% since last year. The price of housing continues to skyrocket, with mortgage costs up over 30%. The Liberal-NDP government hit Canadians with a double tax hike this year by raising the cost of its first carbon tax and then imposing a new second carbon tax on Canadians. In fact, Nova Scotians saw a 14% increase at the pump between June and July. We know that the Prime Minister continues to bring in his 61¢-a-litre tax. He will drive gas prices back to record highs. The Prime Minister's tax grabs are directly increasing the cost of gas and groceries, driving inflation higher.
In a country as prosperous as Canada, it is inexcusable that the heaviest burden of the government's failure is falling on the most vulnerable. Many seniors who live on fixed incomes have no other choice but to make sacrifices to get by. Some are being forced to postpone their retirement so they can make ends meet. Others are taking on new debt to cover the cost of housing, which has doubled under the Liberal-NDP government.
Let us do a little math. A couple who has contributed the full amount toward their CPP would receive a monthly benefit of just under $2,700. We know that the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $2,100. That leaves them a little over $500 per month for groceries, utilities, medication and any other essentials they will require.
I want to recap. Conservatives are committed to our seniors, and to ensure that they have the financial security and support they need to enjoy their retirement, we believe that increasing the guaranteed income supplement, the GIC earning exemption, is one step in reaching this goal. This would help seniors who are able to, choose to and want to work, such as through having a part-time job, to keep more of their money in their pockets without affecting other benefits. This increase would help—
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