44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 17, 2024 02:00PM
- Apr/17/24 3:16:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government is making the choice to invest in a fairer future for all Canadians, for every generation. That is the choice we are making.
The Conservatives are continuing to choose to stand with the wealthiest in this country and to do less to invest in child care, less to invest in solving the housing crisis and less to support young people across the country, who need to feel the opportunities they can build in the future again.
We will continue to be there to put money in the pockets of Canadians, to put homes in their communities and to build a stronger future for them and their families, while the Conservatives continue to promote cuts and austerity.
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- Apr/17/24 3:17:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have been hearing from young people in my riding that home ownership is just out of reach—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Apr/17/24 3:17:20 p.m.
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I would ask hon. members to please listen to their whips, so that we can listen to the question.
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- Apr/17/24 3:17:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have been hearing from young people in my riding that home ownership is just out of reach. The 2024 budget puts forward the government's housing plan to build more affordable homes faster and to make it more affordable to buy or rent.
Can the Prime Minister please share with the House how the government plans to support young people?
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- Apr/17/24 3:17:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Calgary Skyview for his continued advocacy and hard work.
We have put forward the most ambitious housing plan in generations. Our plan will help build more student housing on or by campus, link infrastructure dollars to housing conditions to ensure new apartments are built near public transit, make it easier to save up for a down payment and qualify for a mortgage.
While the leader opposite has no real plan, we are delivering for Canadians.
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- Apr/17/24 3:18:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, $200 a month is what the Liberal government thinks Canadians with disabilities are worth. The Liberals said that their long-overdue Canada disability benefit would end poverty for persons with disabilities, but what they have offered is not even enough for groceries for a month, yet the Liberals did manage to keep giving $60 billion to rich corporations, just like the Conservatives before them. It is unacceptable.
Will the Prime Minister use his power and increase the Canada disability benefit immediately?
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- Apr/17/24 3:19:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Canada disability benefit is a major milestone in our strong and unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive and fairer Canada. There is always more to do, but $6.1 billion over the coming years is going to make a measurable difference in the lives of some of Canada's most vulnerable people. Hundreds of dollars a month, tax-free, will help with the cost of living.
We recognize there is more to do. We will be working with provinces and territories to make sure, first of all, that this disability money is not clawed back and, secondly, that we can do even more in partnership with provinces and territories for Canadians with disabilities.
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- Apr/17/24 3:19:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in line with the question just asked, we were also shocked to see $200 a month, as if that could lift people living with disabilities out of poverty. In what world is $200 a month enough? At the same time, the red dress alert initiative will be given $1.3 million over three years. When we have stolen sisters versus stolen cars, the cars get $47 million right away.
Can the Prime Minister explain: Is this fair? Is this just?
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- Apr/17/24 3:20:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this government has recognized for many years that Canadians living with disabilities are facing extreme challenges and disadvantages in our economy and in our communities. That is why we have stepped up regularly over the past years with initiatives to reduce barriers in Canada and to create a Canada disability benefit. We are now moving forward with that at the cost of over $6 billion over the coming years to put hundreds of dollars a month, tax-free, in the pockets of individuals with disabilities.
The reality is that there always more to do, but this will help.
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- Apr/17/24 3:21:21 p.m.
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It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, April 8, the House will now proceed to the appearance of Kristian Firth at the bar of the House.
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- Apr/17/24 3:22:17 p.m.
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Colleagues, the Chair would like to make a brief statement in regard to the historic moment that is about to take place. Indeed, the last time an individual was summoned to the bar of the House to answer questions dates back to 1913, well over a century ago.
Pursuant to order made on April 8, 2024, once Mr. Firth is escorted to the bar of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Chair shall read the admonishment. Following this, the House shall proceed to a question-and-answer session with Mr. Firth.
The process for questioning, specified in the House order, is as follows.
First, questions and answers shall be addressed through the Speaker.
Second, 10 minutes will be allocated to each recognized party for the first and second rounds in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party.
Third, during the third round, five minutes will be allocated to each of the recognized parties with an additional five minutes for the Green Party. Fourth, within each 10- or five-minute period of questioning, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members.
Fifth, in each question and answer period, answers shall approximately reflect the time taken by the question. In addition, should Mr. Firth require a moment to consult with his counsel prior to responding to a question, or for other delays of a similar nature, the Chair will stop the clock.
As well, as discussed with House leaders, provisions are in place for brief suspensions between the rounds of questioning to allow Mr. Firth a pause, if he chooses to avail himself of them.
Furthermore, as with any proceedings of the House, the Chair will decide procedural matters as they may arise.
Upon completion of the questioning, the Chair shall excuse Mr. Firth from further attendance at the bar, after which he will withdraw, and the House shall resume its usual business for the remainder of the sitting.
Finally, colleagues, I wish to remind members that it is incumbent upon all of us to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting of this occasion and to uphold the dignity of the House. I therefore ask for everyone's co-operation in respecting our rules of decorum.
I now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to admit Mr. Firth at the bar of the House.
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- Apr/17/24 3:26:06 p.m.
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Mr. Kristian Firth, please remain standing until I invite you to be seated.
You are attending the bar of the House for being found in contempt for your refusal to answer certain questions and for prevaricating in your answers to other questions before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
You are here today, by order of the House, for the following purposes: First, to receive an admonishment for your refusal to respond to questions posed to you by the committee; second, to provide responses to the questions referred to in the committee's 17th report; and third, to response to supplemental questions.
The privileges of the House of Commons are enshrined in The Constitution Act, 1867, and in the Parliament of Canada Act. This includes the right to institute inquiries and to require the attendance of witnesses. Under the Standing Orders of the House, they are also exercised by its committees within their respective mandates.
These privileges, enjoyed by the House collectively and by members individually, are essential in the discharge of our duties. The House has the power, and indeed the obligation, to reaffirm them when obstruction or interference impedes the House's proceedings and the ability of members to carry out their parliamentary duties.
That is precisely what the House has ordered the Speaker, as the guardian of these rights and privileges, to do today: to reprimand you, to reprimand your contempt for refusing to answer questions put to you by the committee and for prevaricating other questions.
For all these reasons, on behalf of the House of Commons, I admonish you.
In addition, the House orders you to respond to the questions you refused to answer in committee, in whole or in part, and to respond to any supplementary questions.
Mr. Firth, I would like to remind you that you must answer all questions that are posed to you. I would also like to remind you, and everyone listening, that everything you say as part of these proceedings is protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot be used against you in any other forums.
The Chair is aware that you have been briefed on this process.
You may now be seated.
The House will now proceed with its questions.
The House will now proceed to the first round of questions. Each recognized party will have 10 minutes.
I wish to remind hon. members again that all questions are to be addressed through the Chair.
The hon. Leader of the Government.
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- Apr/17/24 3:33:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, could Mr. Firth inform the House as to whether he consulted with a medical professional, prior to his appearance today, regarding answering questions from the House?
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- Apr/17/24 3:33:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yes, I did. I consulted yesterday.
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- Apr/17/24 3:34:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, is Mr. Firth comfortable sharing what the doctor told him?
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- Apr/17/24 3:34:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yes, I am.
I am not supposed to participate in any activity that would call any undue stress to myself, being diagnosed with having acute mental health flare-ups, being actively under therapy and being on medication.
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- Apr/17/24 3:34:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?
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- Apr/17/24 3:34:55 p.m.
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Sorry, Mr. Speaker, could the member ask the question again, please?
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- Apr/17/24 3:35:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, certainly, by all means.
Was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?
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- Apr/17/24 3:35:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we shared it with the Clerk.
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