44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 25, 2023 02:00PM
- Oct/25/23 2:38:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, two million Canadians had to use the food bank in one month alone. This is the direct result of Liberals and Conservatives who continue to distract from what is going on. The real reason for what is causing this, as Canadians knew really well when they were asked the question, is greedy CEOs.
Why will the Prime Minister not understand what Canadians already do?
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- Oct/25/23 2:39:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand and we see first-hand how Canadians are struggling with the cost of food, groceries and housing. That is why we are taking concrete actions to support them through this, whether it be with the grocery rebate, whether it be with $10-a-day child care, whether it be with dental care that is going to support young children, whether it be with the initiatives we are taking across this country to create good jobs and economic growth, whether it be with the GST rebate cheques, or whether it be with the climate action rebate that is putting money in people's pockets right across the country.
We are going to continue to be there for Canadians, as we have been in years past, as we lifted hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty and as we lifted over a million Canadians out of poverty.
We know that there is more work to do, and we are going to continue to do it.
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- Oct/25/23 2:40:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while Liberals and Conservatives continue to distract, Canadians know that corporate greed is driving up the cost of food.
Two million Canadians used food banks in a single month while large corporations showed profits of almost $4 billion.
When the Conservatives and Liberals have a choice, they always side with CEOs over Canadians. That is why we forced the CEOs to come back before the committee to answer questions that the Conservatives and Liberals refuse to ask.
Will the Prime Minister admit that their approach is a failure?
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Mr. Speaker, our goal is to make life more affordable and ensure that companies pay their share.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry met with the CEOs of the big grocery chains and of domestic and international food producers to clearly explain the need for a more affordable grocery basket and improved competition.
I hope that all members will join us in expediting the passage of Bill C‑56 on affordable housing and groceries to improve competition in the food sector, among others.
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- Oct/25/23 2:41:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is like a parallel universe every time the NDP leader stands up, attacks the very government he is a part of and laments how miserable life is for Canadians. This is after two years of his being part of voting for quadrupling the carbon tax, driving up inflationary deficits and, of course, driving two million people to the food banks in a single month. He blames greed for all this hunger.
He is right. It is the greed of Liberal and NDP politicians who keep taking more and more from Canadians.
Will they reverse these disastrous policies?
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- Oct/25/23 2:42:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, all of us in the House see how Canadians are struggling. We just have different responses to it.
The Conservative Party is proposing cuts to government services, cuts to investments that are going to support seniors and cuts to investments that are going to support families, whether dental care or child care.
The Conservative Party thinks one can cut one's way to prosperity, when the reality is that our investments in child care, in dental care, in supports for seniors and in supports for students have actually helped Canadians through some difficult times. We will continue to be there for them into the coming years.
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- Oct/25/23 2:42:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he is not being there for Canadians. He is taking money out of their pockets. If members do not believe me, they can listen to the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who today said, “government spending will be adding to demand more than supply is growing. And in an environment where we’re trying to moderate spending and get inflation down, that’s not helpful”. That adds to the voice of former Liberal finance minister John Manley, who has accused the Prime Minister of pressing on the inflationary gas pedal.
Will the Prime Minister tell us if he agrees with the bank governor that his government spending is not helpful for inflation?
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- Oct/25/23 2:43:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians know we need more supply on the housing crisis. That is why we are there investing with municipalities to deliver more housing.
In Brampton, our housing agreement was for the construction of more than 24,000 homes over the next decade. That is an investment that the Leader of the Opposition would cut. In other cities, such as Richmond Hill, Moncton and Ajax, just this week, they are passing more ambitious housing plans at their local councils in response to the federal housing accelerator.
While the Leader of the Opposition would rip up these agreements, we are focused on building solutions that will work for communities right across the country.
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- Oct/25/23 2:44:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the question was not about his housing photo ops. The question was about the rate of inflation and its link to government spending. I am going to quote the Governor of the Bank of Canada on this point. He said, “government spending will be adding to demand more than supply is growing. And in an environment where we’re trying to moderate spending and get inflation down, that’s not helpful.” He is now clearly saying that government spending is driving up inflation.
I have a very simple question: Does the Prime Minister agree with the bank governor that deficits are driving inflation? Yes or no?
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- Oct/25/23 2:45:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, inflation is steadily coming down, even as we continue to sign agreements with communities across the country.
By the way, if the opposition leader cared so much about getting more homes built, he would support our affordable housing and groceries act. That legislation would remove the GST on the construction of rental homes, which housing advocates and developers have described as a game-changer. That is the relief that Canadians need. Let us keep moving these important measures forward, and let us keep getting Canadians the housing relief they need, instead of political attacks and cuts from the Conservatives.
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- Oct/25/23 2:46:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he is very determined to avoid discussing the growing evidence of the link between his deficits and the inflation Canadians pay.
Let us review what the bank governor said today. He said that, one, inflation risks are rising; two, inflation will not get back to target until the year 2025, which is two years out; and three, the bank is now leaving its door open to further rate hikes, probably spurred on by the deficits of the government.
With mortgage payments up 150%, for God's sake, why will he not get rid of these inflationary deficits so Canadians can keep their homes?
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- Oct/25/23 2:46:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what the Leader of the Opposition is proposing is to cut spending and supports for Canadians in the hopes that Canadians will somehow do better that way. We disagree. What Canadians need is greater investment in the supply of housing. That is why, through our agreements, we are unlocking new homes and opportunities for growth in the city of Hamilton by spurring the construction of thousands of homes over the next decade, just as we are across the country. The mayor of Hamilton actually said our housing agreement was “absolutely a big deal”, and I could not agree more.
When we work together with a strong and ambitious plan, we can get more homes built faster. While the Leader of the Opposition's plan would see these agreements ripped up and stalled, we will keep moving forward to help Canadians.
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- Oct/25/23 2:47:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, do members know the one word he never used in that big, rambling, read-off answer? It is “done”. That is because none of those houses are done. They are all promises. He has been promising to build affordable homes for eight years. Since he first made that promise, housing costs have doubled and none of the promises have come to fruition.
Yes, other levels of government have politicians who are thrilled to have more money to bloat their bureaucracies. When will he realize that we do not make housing affordable by building bureaucracy, but we have to build homes?
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- Oct/25/23 2:48:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are working hand in hand with municipalities across this country, whether it is Kelowna, Hamilton, Ajax, or now Halifax, where we are continuing to move forward with investments that are going to respond to people.
I have to say that I was in Brampton just last week. As we were making another announcement about new homes coming up, we were standing on the site of a building that we announced two years ago, which would be opening its doors to new residents today.
This is what we are doing after that member was housing minister and got nothing done. We are there to invest in Canadians and build a stronger future.
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- Oct/25/23 2:49:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he has the best photo ops in the history of photo ops. We will give him credit for that.
He wants to know what I got done. When I was housing minister, the average rent was $950. It is now over $2,000. When I was housing minister, the average mortgage payment was $1,400. It is now well over $3,500. When I was housing minister, the average needed down payment was 20 grand and one could own a home, on average, by age 29. Now, those numbers have skyrocketed.
I deal in the world of results; he deals in the world of photo ops. I know which ones Canadians prefer.
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- Oct/25/23 2:50:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while he continues to insult and slag cities and municipalities across this country, we are going to continue to work with them, just as we are working with the City of Halifax to build more homes so that locals can thrive in their community. Recently, we announced an agreement with Halifax to fast track 2,600 permitted units over the next three years, spurring the construction of thousands of homes over the next decade.
However, he wants to talk about what happened when he was housing minister. When he was housing minister, he announced $300 million and got 99 homes built. That is his record as housing minister. We are building homes right across the country, and we are doing it for real.
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- Oct/25/23 2:51:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister proudly makes funding announcements in Quebec with the member to his right, he is actually talking about money that belongs to Quebeckers. Those are our tax dollars. With respect to the motion, if he says he agrees, he is in trouble. If he says he does not agree, he is in trouble. Since he is in trouble either way, and because he will be asked about it the next time he is next to the Premier of Quebec, why will he not simply tell us what he really thinks for once?
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- Oct/25/23 2:52:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when I spend time in my riding in Montreal, when I spend time across Quebec, and speak with people about their concerns, whether it is about climate change, affordability, the cost of housing or the extremely difficult and unstable international situation, they no longer want to talk about sovereignty. They no longer talk to me about wanting Quebec to be its own country. What they want to talk about is how we can work together to really make their lives better.
I understand that the raison d'être of the Bloc Québécois is to pick fights and keep raising the issue of sovereignty, but we, as proud Quebeckers and proud Canadians, will continue to work hard every day for all Quebeckers and all Canadians.
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- Oct/25/23 2:53:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am bit like those people. I am reluctant to talk to him about things he does not necessarily understand, but I have no choice. He does not want to provide an answer so I will answer for him. Quebec can and should become independent as soon as possible. He may agree or disagree, but he cannot deny that there are 125 members of the National Assembly of Quebec who have said that Quebec can be a viable country economically. The Prime Minister of Canada is too spineless to say anything.
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- Oct/25/23 2:53:42 p.m.
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I would like to once again remind members of something I said during my statement last week. It is very important not to question the courage of each hon. member here.
The right hon. Prime Minister.
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