44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 17, 2023 10:00AM
- Oct/17/23 2:28:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again we see that the Conservatives are all about cuts, not about investing and building a stronger future. I recommend that the Leader of the Opposition take a ride on the great REM in Montreal, which the Canada Infrastructure Bank helped build. It has helped thousands of Canadians see themselves being part of the future in a responsible way.
We are going to continue to build a stronger future for Canadians by making the right investments, by keeping fiscally responsible and by staying away from the kinds of cuts that the Conservatives continue to put forward.
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- Oct/17/23 2:29:26 p.m.
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Once again, I am going to ask colleagues to please restrict their comments to when they are recognized to have the floor.
The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.
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- Oct/17/23 2:29:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of co-operation, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister a few questions yesterday. Perhaps this came as a surprise to her, because the answers we received left much to be desired and were rather vague. I would like to put them directly to the Prime Minister this time.
The Quint group, which is made up of the United States, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, has become quite a force, with a tremendous capacity for diplomatic and political intervention. It is surprising that Canada is not part of it. I asked the Deputy Prime Minister about it yesterday, and now I am asking the Prime Minister. Has he spoken with President Biden about being added to the group?
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- Oct/17/23 2:30:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues are well aware, Canada is working very closely with all of its allies around the world. We had a call with the G7 foreign ministers this morning to better coordinate our efforts and ensure that aid gets into Gaza. We must be there to provide humanitarian assistance while this terrible crisis continues in the region.
We have evacuated Canadians. We have been working with our allies. We continue to push for evacuations of civilians from the affected areas. We will continue to work with all of our allies and we will keep the lines of communication open.
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- Oct/17/23 2:31:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we agree that this is very much a humanitarian situation. The international community must take humanitarian action, but it must do other things too. The Prime Minister's answer was long, but what he meant was that, no, he will not be part of the group, which has a lot more power to influence and intervene than even the G7 does in this context.
Because I want to know more and understand better, yesterday I suggested that the Prime Minister invite all party leaders to meet and discuss these matters privately so we can all be on the same page and more easily build consensus around this crisis, which is bigger than our debates here and our current political issues. Will that happen?
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- Oct/17/23 2:31:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that was a very good suggestion. I have asked my team to follow up, which they will do in the coming days, to make sure the party leaders have access to all the necessary information. This is a time for Canadians to stand united. I know people in various communities across the country are worried. They fear for their loved ones. They also fear for their children and their communities.
Our job is to try to reassure people. I think all 338 members of the House have a responsibility to reassure people, to focus on our shared values and to be there for one another.
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- Oct/17/23 2:32:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, hundreds of Canadians are stranded in Gaza. We have heard the distressing accounts of Canadian citizens who have been told to evacuate but have nowhere to go. Water, food and medicine are running out. Canadians waiting at the closed Rafah border crossing are pleading for help, saying they are looking for any glimpse of hope. Lives are at risk. We cannot abandon them or the hostages.
Will the Prime Minister ensure today that all Canadians can safely get out of Gaza?
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- Oct/17/23 2:33:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for the past 10 days, we have been directly focused on the safety of Canadians and all innocents in the region. We have effectively airlifted out over 1,300 people from Tel Aviv. We have seen more buses come out of the West Bank, and we continue to be extremely concerned about the hundreds of Canadians and their families in Gaza.
We are working with the international community. I spoke with President al-Sisi about the Rafah border crossing. I spoke with many allies about that. We are working directly to ensure humanitarian corridors into Gaza and exits for civilians, particularly foreign nationals like Canadians.
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- Oct/17/23 2:34:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have to put a stop to the death and destruction going on in Israel and Palestine.
We just learned that a hospital may have been hit in Gaza. The New Democrats have called for the release of hostages and a ceasefire. Some Liberal members also called for a ceasefire, but the Prime Minister rejected these calls.
Is the Prime Minister willing to agree today that Canada must now push for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire?
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- Oct/17/23 2:34:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have called for the release of hostages from the start. The situation is devastating. We are also calling for compliance with international and humanitarian law. Being there to help civilians is important.
The news about the hospital is shocking and unacceptable. We are there to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to make sure international law is upheld, civilians are protected and hostages are released.
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- Oct/17/23 2:35:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, do members remember the middle class and those working hard to join it? Do they remember that the Liberals would take on more debt so Canadians did not have to? Do they remember that the budget would be balanced in six years? Those were the promises, and after eight years there is no talk of the middle class anymore because it is underwater from Liberal-NDP spending sprees. Now the budget will be balanced in the year never.
Has the finance minister completely lost control of the books, or is there a new promise this week about when she will actually stop the inflationary spending so that Canadians do not lose their houses?
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- Oct/17/23 2:36:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am always happy to work for the middle class. We are always happy as a government to continue supporting the middle class. The Conservatives, on two occasions, voted against a tax break for the middle class, and now they pretend to care about the middle class. I am confused. We have legislation on the floor of this House that would stabilize grocery prices and would help build more homes from coast to coast to coast in this country. I know that many Conservatives are voting in favour of that bill; they have said so publicly. What about the leader of the Conservative Party? Will he vote for this bill?
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- Oct/17/23 2:36:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is not working. It has been eight years, and the only thing Canadians know after eight years is that the Liberals are not worth the cost. Canadians are struggling, and the Liberals are continuing their ballooning deficits that drive up inflation. Even the Liberals are saying that deficits increase interest rates.
Will the finance minister finally confirm for Canadians that she will balance the budget in a specific year so that interest rates can come down and Canadians can keep their homes?
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- Oct/17/23 2:37:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would remind my colleague opposite that Canada continues to have the lowest deficit among all G7 countries. I would also advise her, in case she missed the news this morning, that Statistics Canada announced inflation has come down in Canada. That is because our plan is working.
However, we know that Canadians still need support, which is why, before this House at this very moment, we have legislation that would help to reduce grocery store prices for Canadians. Why are the Conservatives playing partisan games with the interests of Canadians and of the middle class?
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- Oct/17/23 2:38:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, the federal deficit is projected to exceed $46 billion this year according to the independent budget officer. This spending is driving up interest rates and mortgage costs to the point where people are worried they will not be able to afford to keep a roof over their head.
We know the Prime Minister is not worth the cost, so when will he finally stop his inflationary spending and reduce the deficit so that Canadians can afford to keep their homes?
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- Oct/17/23 2:38:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the questions coming from the Conservatives, but I wonder if they are keeping up with the announcements made by our government. About an hour ago, we announced new measures that will help reduce costly banking fees, which Canadians have told us are a very real irritant for them. This is real support for Canadians.
We are going to enhance low-cost and no-cost chequing accounts for Canadians. We are going to make sure that Canadians get repayment relief from their banks. We are acting every single day in the interests of Canadians in order to help them meet the moment. Where are the Conservatives? They are nowhere.
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- Oct/17/23 2:39:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, after eight years of the government, it is too little, too late for many struggling people. We know the government's housing crisis brings with it a generational divide. According to a survey reported on by BNN Bloomberg, nearly 70% of young people have chosen to delay their home purchase. Why is that? They cite rising interest rates and rising home prices. That is why people are overpaying for an individual room or are simply trapped in their parents' basement.
I ask this again: Why does the government not stop its inflationary spending so that Canadians can afford a home?
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- Oct/17/23 2:40:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, an example of recklessness is the Conservatives' record on housing. There was $300 million spent when they were in power on housing, and less than 100 homes were built. What is also reckless is the fact that they would abandon municipalities that want to build more homes.
We have put on the table $4 billion for municipalities to assist them in building more units. The cities of London, Hamilton and Vaughan have signed on. Other communities are coming to the table. Halifax is there.
We have more to do. We are serious on this agenda. The Conservatives have no plan on this issue.
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- Oct/17/23 2:40:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years under this Prime Minister, the situation in Canada continues to deteriorate. That is what the Parliamentary Budget Officer says. It is hard to believe that things could get worse, but they can. Spending and the deficit are even higher than projected. That is nothing new with this government, which only knows how to do one thing: waste taxpayers' money.
Will the government finally admit that the budget will not balance itself? Will it be responsible and stop this inflationary deficit?
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- Oct/17/23 2:41:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it seems the Conservatives once again failed to look at what we presented. We presented an action plan to stabilize prices in Canada. The first thing the plan will do is ensure that Canada's grocers are accountable to Canadians, something that the Conservatives would never have considered. We also helped consumer groups, another thing that the Conservatives would never have considered.
Will the do-nothing Conservatives at least vote for Bill C-56 to help Canadians for once?
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