SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 298 - Apr/11/24

Mr. Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:07:51 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, today marks World Parkinson's Day. In Canada alone, more than 100,000 people live with the disease, and there are hundreds of thousands more Canadians who are friends, family and caregivers of those living with Parkinson's. They are deeply impacted, too. Recently, my own family suffered a great loss with the passing of my uncle Robert, my dad's brother, following a 20-year courageous battle with Parkinson's. Last week, my colleague, the member for Milton, and I joined his dad Joe, my cousin David, Tim Hague of U-Turn Parkinson's, Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets and others to raise awareness as the Jets played in front of a sold-out home crowd. Thanks in large part to the leadership of Kevin Donnelly and Mark Chipman from the Jets' organization, nearly $100,000 was raised at that game to help U-Turn Parkinson's deliver services with a focus on physical activity to support those impacted. I am proud that U-Turn Parkinson's operates in my riding of Winnipeg South Centre. I am incredibly grateful to the Winnipeg Jets, and people such as the member for Milton's dad, Joe, and my uncle Robert, for their courage and commitment to ensuring more Canadians learn about this debilitating disease.

216 words

Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:08:58 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, as members of the House, we are all given the remarkable gift of having our words etched in time. I believe the highest honour we can bestow upon someone is to say their name in the House. I rise today to speak of my dear friend and longest-serving staff member Malcolm Montgomery, who passed away in November after 31 years of service to Parliament. He was my first campaign chair and a big reason a riding held by Liberals for over 80 years fell to the upstart of the Canadian Alliance. Malcolm put in long hours and put up with a demanding boss because he was filled with passion. He was passionate about politics, policy and Parliament. He was passionate about Canada, Canadians and our history. He was passionate about his community, his friends and above all his family: his wife Debbie and his children, Gord, Cameron and Neil. To meet Malcolm was to experience the full force of his enthusiasm for life. While Malcolm is no longer with us, the House will remember him eternally.

179 words

Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Milton, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:10:04 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, ever since my dad Joe's Parkinson's diagnosis, he has made it his personal mission to improve the lives of Canadians living with Parkinson's disease. When he moved to Winnipeg, he met the legendary Tim Hague from U-Turn Parkinson's. It uses physical activity programs to improve the daily lives of people living with Parkinson's disease. My dad is also a huge Winnipeg Jets fan, and it turns out that the Jets' top scorer, Kyle Connor, also has a family connection to Parkinson's disease. Through the leadership of Kyle, Kevin Donnelly, Mark Chipman and everyone at True North Sports and Entertainment, the Winnipeg Jets supported U-Turn Parkinson's with its fifty-fifty raffle draw last week. I was able to join with my colleague, the MP for Winnipeg South Centre, to watch the Jets clinch their playoff spot. My buddy even leant me his favourite Teemu Selanne jersey, and we participated in the cheque presentation of almost $100,000 to U-Turn Parkinson's. Today, I am wishing everybody in the PD community a productive and happy World Parkinson's Day, and I hope the advocacy continues throughout April. I thank Tim Hague and U-Turn Parkinson's for everything they do for people living with Parkinson's, and I thank the Jets for being awesome corporate sport citizens. I wish them luck in the playoffs.

234 words

Mr. Richard Lehoux (Beauce, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:11:11 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the costly Bloc-Liberal coalition is not worth the cost. This coalition continues to display contempt for farmers by radically increasing the carbon tax and voting to amend our common-sense Bill C-234. From the outset, this government has shown Canadians that it simply does not see farming as a priority. In my opinion, it is simple: no farmers, no food. Farmers are being ignored in favour of a higher and higher carbon tax on heating their buildings, drying their grain and feeding our cities. I am talking about government regulations and taxes. As the Journal de Montréal reported this morning, carbon pricing in Quebec is adding to the cost burden faced by farmers. Unfortunately, the carbon tax is not the only thing that is crushing our farmers. The government's failure to enhance support programs for farmers is also taking a toll. The Conservatives will continue to fight and support farmers, starting with passing Bill C‑234 in its original form in order to lower the cost of food and help our farmers stay afloat.

185 words

Mr. Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon—Grasswood, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:12:18 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the government just slapped Canadians with a 23% carbon tax increase on April 1. It did this while food banks are servicing a record number of hungry Canadians and farmers are struggling to keep up with crippling taxes. The government needs to pass Bill C-234 in its original form to remove the carbon tax on farmers and help bring down the cost of food for all Canadians. Conservatives have sent a letter to the Prime Minister with three demands to fix the budget. Common-sense Conservatives will not agree to support the budget unless Liberals axe the tax, build homes and cap spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down interest rates and inflation. The government must find a dollar of savings for every dollar of spending. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

140 words

Spending

Ms. Yvonne Jones (Labrador, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:13:27 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, as members know, I am a proud Labradorian and Canadian. This year marks a significant milestone as we pay tribute to the Labrador flag and its 50-year legacy, a testament to our shared identity and resilience as Labradorians. It is with deep appreciation that we commend Michael and Patricia Martin of Cartwright, Labrador, who, 50 years ago, had the innovation and foresight to create the enduring symbol of Labrador pride. Since its inception, the Labrador flag has transcended boundaries, embodying unity, remembrance and celebration of Labradorians across the globe. Its iconic design and vibrant colours serve as a constant reminder of our collective heritage and the unwavering spirit of Labradorians. Today, we rejoice in 50 years of the Labrador flag. Labradorians join me in thanking Pat and Mike Martin for this wonderful gift and to say: fly the Labrador flag with pride.

145 words

Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, NDP)

Apr/11/24 2:14:40 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the nightmare in Gaza continues. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 14,500 children. Families have gathered for Eid. They have gathered in the rubble, hungry, and mourning their loved ones who have been killed. Just last week, we were horrified by Israel's killing of seven workers with World Central Kitchen, including one Canadian. More than 200 aid workers have been killed by Israel. It is clear that the Netanyahu far right government will continue the killing, in large part because of the complicity and the empty words of countries like ours. We are witnessing a dystopian nightmare that is all too real, with AI drones and cold-blooded calculations of how many innocent civilians it is okay to kill at one time. We now hear that former prime minister Stephen Harper heads up one of the AI firms used by Israel. We are also hearing about Canadian tax-deductible charities that are fuelling the war on Gaza. Canada must end its complicity on all fronts. It starts with recognizing Palestine as a state, including full membership at the UN, bringing in a real two-way arms embargo. It means taking a stand against genocide and standing up for peace and justice.

208 words

Mr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, BQ)

Apr/11/24 2:15:41 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Quebec cares about its relations with Taiwan. We announced last December the opening of an office in Montreal, which will undoubtedly facilitate exchanges between this fascinating, technologically advanced nation—particularly in the field of semiconductors—and our city, which a great sovereignist premier, Bernard Landry, once saw as a leader in this same field. The Bloc Québécois unreservedly supports Taiwan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership. While we had and continue to have reservations about the substance of this massive trade deal, any nation wishing to take part in such a pact should be able to do so as long as it meets the admission criteria. Another of Quebec's great sovereignist premiers, Jacques Parizeau, was fond of saying that a country's size mattered little as long as the country belonged to a large marketplace. This small island will prove an invaluable asset in the global supply chain, and the entire world will be the better for it.

168 words

Mr. Mel Arnold (North Okanagan—Shuswap, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:16:53 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister has shamelessly delivered record high deficits, driving up inflation and causing sky-high interest rates. His government has doubled rent, mortgage payments and down payments. Food banks received a record 2 million visits in a single month last year, and a million more are expected to use food banks this year. He has added more to the national debt than all previous prime ministers combined. While life has gotten worse for Canadians, the PM is spending more than ever. Now, a leading economist says that rate cuts may be delayed because of high government spending. We saw that this week, when the Bank of Canada held its rate in efforts to maintain its policy of quantitative tightening. Canadians are seeing that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Will the Prime Minister cap his spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule and bring down interest rates and inflation, or will he continue to make Canadians pay for his failures?

168 words

Mr. Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:18:02 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim and Abou Fayssal, a Lebanese businessman who helms an association industrialists from Zahlé and the Beqaa, are leading humanitarians in their country. These men care about the environment. They have planted 128,000 trees for the sole purpose of protecting the environment, and they will continue to do so. Philanthropists dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim and Mr. Fayssal offer support to widows and orphans. They pay hospital bills for the poor and offer medical equipment to their regional hospital that treats people in need free of charge. They are recognized for their creativity. As I am a chair for the Canada-Lebanon Friendship Group, I thank both of them.

118 words

Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:19:21 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, we already know that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost, and after eight years, the Prime Minister is no longer even listening to Canadians. There is a 23% carbon tax hike when Canadians cannot afford to eat. Yesterday, the House passed a Conservative common-sense motion calling on the Prime Minister to convene an emergency televised carbon tax meeting with all 14 premiers. The Prime Minister is hiding, but maybe someone over there can tell us this: What day will the televised carbon tax meeting be?

90 words

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:19:56 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, today, we are debating Bill C-50, the sustainable jobs act. The Royal Bank of Canada says there are 400,000 jobs that would come to Canadians if we were just to unlock the kind of prosperity envisaged in this very progressive piece of legislation. Instead, the Conservatives put forward 20,000 amendments generated by artificial intelligence. The robo-caucus needs to stop its robo-work with its robo-amendments and stop gatekeeping the opportunities that are coming to Canadians.

82 words

Robo
Jobs

Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:20:35 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, this is false, and that was not an answer. Canadians need relief, not more Liberal taxes. Seventy per cent of Canadians are now saying so. One in 10 people in Toronto is now relying on a food bank, and more than half of Canadians are $200 away from missing their bills. If the Liberals are not going to listen to Canadians and if they are not going to give us a date, can the member tell us what channel the carbon tax meeting will be on?

88 words

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:21:08 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the channel is that they should be plugged into, but it is the reality channel. Back here in the real world, there are real jobs at stake; there are real opportunities at stake, and there is affordability at stake. These members of the robo-caucus with its robo-amendments are in the way of opportunity and the way of progress and clean technology in this country. They need to get out of the way, stop the gatekeeping and let Canadians create the wealth that we need to succeed.

95 words

Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:21:46 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, once again, the member did not answer the question. I am not really sure what that was. He will not listen to Canadians; the Liberals will not listen to their NDP caucus. The Prime Minister will not listen to his successor, Mark Carney, who also wants him to meet with premiers. They will not give us a date, they will not give us a time, and they will not tell us what channel to watch. The Prime Minister will not even show up here in answer to this motion. The Prime Minister is being defiant when Canadians are lining up at food banks in record numbers. What are they covering for?

113 words

Hon. Anita Anand (President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:22:24 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has repeatedly said he is all ears and, if there is a better plan, to put it on the table. Premier Moe himself said that this is the most cost-effective plan, and that is why our government will keep going with it while maintaining our AAA credit rating, while maintaining the lowest deb-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and while maintaining historically low unemployment. On this side of the House, we will always vote with Canadians and support them along the way.

89 words

Mrs. Dominique Vien (Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:23:01 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, we have a passport crisis on our hands, violent crime is on the rise, the cost of housing has doubled, millions of people are using food banks, and criminals are cozy at home. What a fabulous record. Quebeckers are suffering because of his mismanagement. What is more, he is interfering in provincial jurisdictions. Will he listen to the Premier of Quebec, who is asking him to mind his own business?

79 words

Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos (Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:23:31 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, during his entire tenure, six affordable housing units were built for the entire country when the opposition leader was the minister responsible for housing. With the collaboration of the Government of Quebec and the leadership of Quebec's municipalities, 8,000 affordable housing units will be built over the next few months. I would like to invite my colleague, the member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, to join me for a visit to the Boisé des Fillion project being carried out by Lévis' municipal housing office. This project alone involves 23 affordable housing units, three times more than were built when her leader was the minister responsible for housing.

118 words

Mrs. Dominique Vien (Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, CPC)

Apr/11/24 2:24:14 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, to the already overly long list of this Liberal government's failures, we can add extravagant use of public funds and squandering of Quebeckers' dollars. This government spends Canadians' money like water. For the past eight years, it has had no budgetary discipline, causing the debt to double. It has not balanced a single budget, yet it wants to handle provincial issues. Quebec Premier François Legault has made it clear that this government needs to mind its own business. Will it listen, yes or no?

89 words

Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Apr/11/24 2:24:52 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about a former premier of Quebec, Mr. Charest, with whom this member served and voted in favour of a price on pollution. I think the hypocrisy coming from the other side of the House is quite striking, especially in a context where, today, we are talking about the 400,000 jobs that could be created in Canada thanks to green technologies and the new economy. This member is against these opportunities in battery plants in Quebec. Be that as it may, on our side of the House, we support opportunities for Quebeckers.

97 words