44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 19, 2023 10:00AM
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, a majority of members in the House voted to support Bill C‑319 in principle. The bill endeavours to end the two-tiered approach to old age security benefits. All seniors who are 65 years of age or more require more help from the federal government to cope with runaway inflation and their drastically reduced purchasing power.
The outstanding contributions that seniors have made to developing Quebec and Canada cannot be overstated. At a time when they need the federal government's support, they are separated into two classes: the one that we help and the other that we turn our backs on. The lack of acknowledgement and compassion this shows is appalling.
The battle for Bill C‑319 is not over, but a first step has been taken. If the government pays attention to the work ahead, it will hear what seniors have to say, their complaints and their calls for help, and it may finally see reason. We hope so. We are heading in the right direction. The only thing missing is support from the Liberals.
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- Oct/19/23 2:17:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this NDP-Liberal government favours insiders and friends rather than transparency. The current international trade minister helped her friend receive government contracts with no oversight. The current public safety minister granted a licence worth $24 million to a company linked to his wife's cousin. The former finance minister and this Prime Minister pushed through an untendered contract worth more than $540 million with their good friends at the WE Charity. The list goes on and on, and now there is the $54-million ArriveCAN App, which is under police investigation for criminal activity in the highest offices of this government.
After eight years of this Prime Minister, corruption has reached outrageous levels. What is his response? Covering up the mess by hiding documents and making it impossible for the RCMP to properly investigate. He is not worth the cost, he is not above the law and he must co-operate with the RCMP.
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- Oct/19/23 2:18:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I had the honour of hosting a Polish youth summit on Parliament Hill. Over 30 young leaders from across Canada gathered to talk about issues important to Polish Canadians and to discuss strategies for getting more young people engaged in politics.
There are one million Polish Canadians in Canada working hard to build communities that are vibrant, generous and prosperous. For our Polonia, the torch is being passed to a new generation, and I am excited for what the future holds.
Let us remember that it was young people who peacefully drove the solidarity movement that brought democratic change to Europe. This week, 70% of Poland's young people turned out and voted in the national election. Young people have the power to change the world.
I want to thank the Canadian Polish Congress, the Polish Canadian Business and Professional Association of Windsor, and the Embassy of Poland for working together to organize the summit and to empower Canada's young eagles.
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- Oct/19/23 2:20:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, he is not worth the cost.
The cost of housing has doubled since he came to power. The situation is out of control. A middle-class couple in Ontario was able to sell their 2,000-square-foot home to buy a 6,000-square-foot chateau in France on 37 acres. Now the couple is saying that they could not sell their chateau to buy a house in Ontario.
Why does it cost more to be a member of Canada's middle class than to be an aristocrat in France?
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- Oct/19/23 2:20:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question.
There is one thing the Leader of the Opposition can do. There are not many, but there is one thing he can do to help Canadians. He can vote to support our bill on affordability. Why? First, because we want to reform competition, and second, because we want to reduce the GST on new housing construction.
Will the opposition finally vote in favour of Canadians for once, yes or no?
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- Oct/19/23 2:21:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is clear that after eight years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Another bill will not change that.
For example, yesterday, the Conservatives asked a question of the Minister of Environment's director general. It was a simple yes or no question. We asked whether the department had warned the government that the so-called clean fuels regulations would raise prices and disproportionately impact low- and middle-income Canadians. The answer was yes, and yet the Bloc Québécois wants to drastically increase this regulation, which is a tax.
Will the government finally eliminate this tax so Canadians can buy food and afford housing?
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- Oct/19/23 2:22:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Leader of the Opposition that, in its platform for the 2021 election campaign, his party proposed implementing a clean fuels standard.
The difference between the Conservative Party and us is that they just talk about these issues while we act. Thanks to this standard, billions of dollars are being invested in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland to help Canadians reduce their ecological footprint when they use their cars.
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- Oct/19/23 2:22:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that after eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost of housing, which has doubled since he took office. It has gotten so crazy for the cost of a house in Ontario that one couple sold their 2,000 square-foot home in that province and was able to buy a 6,000 square-foot castle on 37 acres of land in France. They have now said that they could never sell the castle and afford to move back to Canada.
Why does it cost more to be a member of the middle class in Canada than it does to be an aristocrat in France?
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- Oct/19/23 2:23:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives, and Canadians will take no lessons from the Conservatives. There is one thing, and there are not many, I agree, but there is one thing the Leader of the Opposition can do for the Canadians watching at home, and it is to vote for the affordability bill, which would empower more competition in this country and reduce GST in new housing.
Once and for all, will they vote for Canadians, yes or no?
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- Oct/19/23 2:24:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, none of the bills are affordable after eight years of the government. I asked why it is that one can buy a castle in France for a lower cost than a middle-class home in Ontario, and his response was basically “let them eat cake”. The fact is that people cannot even afford bread after eight years of inflationary policies.
Will the Liberals reverse their inflationary deficits and their tax hikes so Canadians can eat, heat and house themselves?
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- Oct/19/23 2:24:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, the Leader of the Opposition refuses to explain to Canadians why he will not support legislation that would make housing more affordable, build more rental units for Canadians and make groceries more affordable. It has been clear that, over the past eight years they have been opposition, the Conservatives have not done anything to support Canadians. We do know they have constantly voted against measures that support Canadians, such as child care, the Canada child benefit and this legislation. They have an opportunity to do the right thing and vote for Canadians.
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- Oct/19/23 2:25:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been promising for eight years that their bills would lower the cost, but since that time housing costs have doubled. They promised their carbon tax would make people better off, and then they brought in a second carbon tax.
We asked the government's own officials at committee yesterday if their analysis showed that the cost would rise for energy and if these costs would be borne disproportionately by the poor and middle class, and a government official confirmed they would.
Why is the government taxing the people who can least afford it? Will the Liberals admit that after eight years, they are simply not worth the cost?
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- Oct/19/23 2:26:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, according to a study that came out two days, in Canada, 60% of small and medium-sized businesses across the country have been affected by extreme weather events this year alone, and 44% of them say that it has had a direct hit on their revenue.
What is the response from the Conservative Party? They want to make pollution free again, have more climate change, more air pollution and more water pollution. Canadians cannot take any of the propositions that the Conservative Party has for them.
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- Oct/19/23 2:27:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on day 13 of the war between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian needs are more urgent than ever. The United States announced $100 million in humanitarian aid, while Canada announced too little. Even more important than money is assurance that the aid will reach the civilians who so desperately need it.
As we speak, only 20 trucks have been permitted to enter Gaza. According to the UN, 100 trucks a day is the minimum required. The current number does not even come close. Has the Prime Minister spoken with Israel and with Egypt to urge better access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance?
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- Oct/19/23 2:27:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in fact, the Prime Minister has spoken with the President of Israel and the President of Egypt. At every opportunity, we have called for humanitarian access to Gaza. Right now, Gaza is one of the worst places to live on Earth, which makes it all the more important for humanitarian aid to reach it. We will continue to engage with different countries in the region to make that happen.
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- Oct/19/23 2:28:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is one thing that Canada can do on the world stage: show some humanitarian leadership. I know that it is a lot to ask Egypt to open its border even more to a territory occupied by Hamas and I know that it is a lot to ask Israel when Hamas is holding 203 hostages, but humanity can only come from them. It cannot come from the monsters of Hamas.
Humanitarian aid needs to be directed to the civilians. What is the Prime Minister doing to ensure that this is done quickly?
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- Oct/19/23 2:28:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned about the current humanitarian situation because civilians are the primary victims of this tragedy. Canada's commitment to provide vital humanitarian aid remains unwavering. The protection of civilians is essential. We are calling on all parties to protect the civilians and meet their obligations under international humanitarian law at all times.
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- Oct/19/23 2:29:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Toronto's housing crisis is out of control, worsened by the loss of thousands of affordable homes by both Conservative and Liberal governments.
Asylum seekers were left homeless this summer, while the City of Toronto had to carry the weight of housing them. The federal government promised $97 million in assistance, but Toronto has not yet received it.
Why are all the Toronto Liberal MPs so ineffective and unable to convince their own Prime Minister to deliver the help Toronto needs?
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- Oct/19/23 2:30:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to speak to Mayor Chow to address the interim needs, obviously, with winter coming, to make sure people have roofs over their heads.
It is work we need to do with the Ontario government, the City of Toronto and with the GTA generally because we know that asylum seekers have spread out into all of those areas. They need to have a roof over their head for winter.
Clearly, what we need to see from the City of Toronto are the receipts. We have asked Mayor Chow for the receipts. We are glad to pay those receipts, once we receive them.
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- Oct/19/23 2:30:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister should try that answer on someone who has to live on the streets.
The story of 76-year-old Jeannette Chiasson, who was evicted from her home and forced to move into a smaller, less suitable and more expensive apartment, is unacceptable. The Conservatives and Liberals let more than one million affordable housing units slip through the cracks, and this is the result.
Why is the Prime Minister turning his back on Jeannette Chiasson and thousands like her?
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