SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 290

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 18, 2024 11:00AM
  • Mar/18/24 2:36:17 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal-NDP coalition, food has never been more expensive. In fact, food is so unaffordable that 50 active serving military families from CFB Gagetown are using the Oromocto Food Bank. This is outrageous, shocking and unacceptable. For the hundredth time, on behalf of all Canadians and 70% of the premiers in this country, will they spike the hike, axe the tax and make food more affordable?
73 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:36:49 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is an extraordinary comment. I would like to commend the member for being able to say it with a straight face because the fact is that we gave members of the Canadian Armed Forces a very significant raise just last year. When it came before the House for a vote for the money for that raise, every single Conservative on that side of the House voted against it. Perhaps they should scrap the crap. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
82 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:37:21 p.m.
  • Watch
I am going to ask members to be very judicious in their use of words, and I would ask the hon. minister to be very judicious in his choice of words.
31 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:37:50 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is exactly the lack of a classy response I would expect from the Liberals. The reality is that he does not know what is going on because he clearly does not listen. These are 50 real families accessing a food bank under that Prime Minister's watch. It is $700 more in groceries a year for Canadian families. Low-income families are most impacted. There are a million more users of food banks this year. They are students, seniors and low-income families. Those are the facts. That is what we will keep fighting for. Spike the hike. Axe the tax.
104 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:38:32 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, many people in the House profess to support members of the Canadian Armed Forces, yet when it came time to put their money where their mouths are, they were not there. When it came time to vote for a pay raise for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, every single Conservative voted against it. That is the height of hypocrisy.
62 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:39:12 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the word of the day in Ottawa is “no”. They are saying no to sole jurisdiction for Quebec over immigration, but they are also saying no to the right to opt out with full compensation from the federal dental care program. They are saying no to the right to opt out of the federal pharmacare program with full compensation. They are saying no to advance requests for medical assistance in dying. Even in health care, where Quebec has full authority, the answer is no. Even for programs created by Quebec, the answer is no. Why not respect Quebec's expertise instead of making it harder or even impossible to receive care?
116 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:39:54 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to hear our colleague talk about dental insurance, the new Canadian dental care plan, for which over 1.4 million seniors have already applied and been approved. Over one-third of those 1.4 million seniors are Quebeckers. I hope our colleagues from Ontario are not hearing this, but more Quebec seniors have been approved than seniors in Ontario. It is all happening because we really need this plan to help patients get the dental care they need. It will help dentists and hygienists provide care to these people, and as an added benefit, it will also help the Government of Quebec.
111 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:40:35 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, even when Ottawa and Quebec agree on health care matters, the federal government threatens to say no. Quebec has reluctantly accepted the inadequate health transfer increase, but Ottawa is still threatening to turn off the tap if Quebec does not comply with its conditions within 13 days. Even when Ottawa and Quebec have the same goals and agree on things, Ottawa threatens to withhold the money if Quebec does not sign off on each of its conditions. Does the federal government want Quebeckers to get down on their knees and beg for their money?
96 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:41:12 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is the one saying no, no to collaboration, no to discussion, no to partnership, no to everything. In contrast, our government is working with the Government of Quebec toward a fair and equitable agreement. We believe that can be achieved by the end of the month. Why is that? Because it is good for all Quebeckers. It is good for everyone except the Bloc Québécois.
78 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:41:38 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, this government is a broken record of “no”. “No” is its answer to everything, all the time: no to Bill 21, no to full powers over immigration and no to Quebec's ability to manage health care, an area under Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction, on its own. Today, it is saying no to Quebec's autonomy in managing areas under its authority, contrary to a principle recognized in Canada. Do the Liberals realize how disrespectful they are being to Quebec?
87 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:42:14 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, does the Bloc Québécois realize how disrespectful it is being to Quebeckers and to the Premier of Quebec? The Bloc Québécois leader gave a big speech attacking the Premier of Quebec instead of sitting down and talking with him. The member wants to talk about “no”. Bloc members are the “no” champions: no to negotiations, no to discussion, no to consensus and no to co-operation. That is what the Bloc Québécois is all about. We will reach an agreement by the end of the month. It will be a good agreement for all Quebeckers, but not for the Bloc Québécois.
123 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:42:49 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, Saturday's poll by the Voice of the Common Man revealed that 90% of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are against the April 1 increase in carbon tax by 23%. Even Liberal Premier Furey pleaded with the Prime Minister to pause the April 1 tax hike. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are sick and tired of these cruel April Fool's Day jokes, so after eight years, will the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister heed the plead and spike the hike, or will he once again prove that he is simply not worth the cost?
92 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:43:30 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will continue. We are absolutely driven to impart upon the people of Canada cold, hard cash in their pockets. That is what this rebate will do. This is not something that is made up. This is not something that is trivial. This is something that Canadians feel in their bank accounts, in their wallets and in their pockets four times a year. This is real cash that we will not deny to the people of Canada.
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:44:04 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Liberal Prime Minister is just not worth the cost for Canadian farmers. On April 1, the Prime Minister is going to increase the carbon tax 23%. The impact on Canadian food production is staggering. A grain farmer in Simcoe County paid $36,000 in carbon tax in one month. The carbon tax cost a poultry farmer in Alberta $180,000 last year. The food professor, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, advised the Liberals to spike the hike or see wholesale food costs go up 34%. Food production is no joke. Will the Prime Minister spike the hike so farmers can afford to grow food?
108 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:44:44 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is well aware that farmers are on the front line of climate change. He is also fully aware that we have a climate change environmental plan. He is also aware that his constituents receive $1,800 a year in their bank accounts. Is that what you want to cut, $1,800 out of your constituents' bank accounts? I disagree.
64 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:45:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Once again, I would like to remind ministers and all members to make sure their answers go through the Chair. That is done is so there is always a sense that there are no personal attacks when members are asking questions or giving responses.
44 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:45:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, my constituents are fully aware that Liberals are taking away $2,900 and giving them back $1,800. That is not revenue-neutral. Here are the facts. The Liberals are increasing the cost of food, yet again, on April 1 by increasing the carbon tax by 23%. This is driving Canadians to food banks in unprecedented numbers. The Caring Cupboard food bank in Prince Edward Island is struggling just to keep its doors open. It cannot handle the increase in demand, which is up 70%, 5,500 families. I know the Prime Minister is bored, but will he listen to Canadians and axe the tax so that Canadians can put food on the table?
116 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:46:20 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is very surprising to hear the member opposite talk about support for the most vulnerable Canadians. I am glad he is turning his attention there. If he cares about the families of P.E.I., I want to understand if he supports our early learning and child care system, which P.E.I. has been enthusiastically a part of, and which is putting money back in the pockets of P.E.I. families. Does he support that? Does he support dental care that the seniors of P.E.I. are enthusiastically supportive of? That is real support—
101 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:46:59 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Mar/18/24 2:47:03 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, after two months, I am aware of nearly 2,000 loved ones in Gaza who are still waiting to receive a code from IRCC to reunite with their families in Canada. Clearly, the 1,000 arbitrary cap is a problem. Even for those with codes, not one person has made it to safety, and not even people whose biometrics are completed. Meanwhile, families are reporting that their loved ones have been killed in an air strike. Why can Canada not get people across the border when other countries can? What will it take for the minister to lift that cap?
102 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border