Bill C-30

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 1 (Targeted Tax Relief)

An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit)

This enactment amends the Income Tax Act in order to double the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit for six months, effectively increasing the maximum annual GST/HST credit amounts by 50% for the 2022-2023 benefit year.

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Last week the Parliamentary Budget Officer appeared before the Senate—you talked a little bit about that—to discuss Bill C-30. He was quoted as saying it would not affect materially the fiscal sustainability of the federal government. Can you give us a more broad definition of what he meant by that?

[Jason Jacques]

Certainly historically other governments have performed that type of activity.

I would mention as well that next week we are releasing our economic and fiscal update. With it, we will be responding to questions raised by parliamentarians on this point with respect to the inflationary impact of the government's affordability agenda, looking precisely at Bill C-30 and Bill C-31. Those numbers will be released in all their glory next week.

[Jason Jacques, Director General, Costing and Budgeting Analysis, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer]

Good afternoon Mr. Chair, vice-chairs and members of the committee. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today.

I am Jason Jacques, chief financial officer for the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. With me today, I have Nasreddine Ammar.

We are pleased to be here today on behalf of the office. Mr. Giroux sends his regrets. Unfortunately, he had pre-existing travel commitments that he was unable to cancel.

Consistent with our mandate to provide independent non-partisan analysis to Parliament, our office released a cost estimate of Bill C-30 on September 29.

As you know, this bill proposes temporarily doubling the GST credit to support those most affected by inflation. As you've read in the very good analytical background material generated by the Library of Parliament, our office estimates that Bill C-30 will cost approximately $2.6 billion, benefit about 11.6 million individuals and provide an average household benefit of approximately $225.

Nesreddine and I would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have regarding our analysis of Bill C-30, as well as other questions you may have regarding related PBO reports.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, Madam Minister and Ms. Chatel.

Of course, Minister, thanks also to your members.

That, actually, is our time, Minister.

We do want to thank you for coming before the finance committee to answer many questions here on Bill C-30, but you also answered many on other pieces of legislation, as well as on inflation and the cost of living, so we thank you for that.

Members, we're going to suspend before we bring in the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the officials who will be coming in for our next panel.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon, Madam Minister. It's a pleasure to see you at the Standing Committee on Finance.

As you said, all colleagues here support Bill C‑30. We think it's a good, targeted measure. The fact that the Standing Committee on Finance will likely spend only one sitting on it shows that. My hat is off to you. This was part of our pre-budget request, so I'm very happy to see that this has been put together.

At the Bloc Québécois, we also agree on the principles of Bill C‑31, except for a few reservations. I have a few questions for you on this subject. Frankly, I think it has been poorly drafted. When I read it, I wonder if Quebec exists.

I'll start with the part about rental assistance.

I am sincerely concerned that the people of Quebec are not getting their due under this program. The assistance is a supplement, as you said, to the Canada Housing Benefit, but no one in Quebec is receiving that benefit. We have had our own program since 1997, under the right to opt out with compensation. Our program is more generous, but the eligibility criteria are completely different.

How are you going to match the reality and the Quebec program with the program put in place by Bill C‑31? There's not a word in this one about any possible tie‑in.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the minister for being here with us today to speak on Bill C-30.

I also want to note that I very much appreciate that you've mentioned that you're very happy to take questions on inflation. Inflation is indeed an extraordinarily important study that is before our committee right now. I'm also very happy that my colleagues on the other side are taking the opportunity to ask questions.

You've been talking a bit about the pandemic and you've mentioned some of the positive track record that we have as we're coming out of COVID. We indeed have had a remarkable return to growth coming out of the lockdown days of COVID. You've mentioned the top GDP growth of the G7 this year, the recovery of over 100% of our jobs, and our low debt-to-GDP ratio, but I will say to you, despite all of this, that if I talk to people in my riding of Davenport, they will say that they continue to be worried. They see the rising costs of food. They see that in general their cost of living is going up. They're a little worried because it's unpredictable for them and it seems like there is no end in sight.

I know that we have a number of new targeted measures that we're introducing to help with the increased cost of living, but can you spend a minute or two to tell us why it continues to be important for Canadians to be contributing to the Canada pension plan and to employment insurance?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Most families, when they balance their own budget, know when they will come back into balance, Minister. I really would hope that you would start doing the hard work, because both Conservative and Liberal ministers of finance have worked very hard in the past to come to the Commons with a balanced budget, and if you can't even give us a date, that's says to me that it's still just talk.

Let's talk about Bill C-30 as it is.

This one-time help, which Conservatives do support, is welcome relief for families. As you said, it's about $467 of support through this bill. Now, contrast that with the fact that the average family of four is now spending over $1,200 more each year to put food on the table, and that's not to mention the rising costs of heat, gasoline and rent. Do you acknowledge, Minister, that this bill is not enough to fill that shortfall for these Canadians who would be targeted by Bill C-30?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

It's curious, Minister, that you only seem to want to show up here when you're asking for $2.6 billion in taxpayers' money. It's just odd that you would only come for that. I do hope you will be coming back for the full inflation study, because I think there are a lot of issues outside BillC-30 that we need to have a discussion on.

Minister, given the hard work that should have been done over the summer, there's been a lot of criticism about the spending of this government, particularly from a macroeconomic viewpoint. You alluded to this in your own opening comments about adding fuel to the fire.

In chapter 9 of your own budget 2022, you talked about a pause on certain spending of up to $3 billion, as well as a strategic policy review by Treasury Board.

Why, Minister, did you not use the summer to say that we're going to be giving more supports to Canadians through GST tax relief but at the same time shelving or postponing or stopping spending so that you would lessen the issue of inflation? Why did you not do that work?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I believe Nick is also of Ukrainian descent.

I think maybe one of the things we are all united on is our support for Ukraine, whether you are of Ukrainian descent or not. Thank you for starting there.

Mr. Chair, it's my pleasure to appear before you and members of the committee to discuss Bill C-30, the cost of living relief act, which would deliver targeted tax relief to the Canadians who need it most by doubling the goods and services tax credit for six months.

That would mean up to an extra $234 for single Canadians without children, nearly $500 for a family with two children, and an extra $225 on average for seniors.

This is additional support for roughly 11 million eligible people and families.

And Bill C‑30 is just one element of our new support package. As members of this committee know, Bill C‑31 includes a Canada Dental Benefit and a one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit.

If we pass these two further pieces of legislation, up to half a million children under 12 will be able to go to the dentist. Low-income renters, some of the most vulnerable among us, will receive a little extra breathing room.

These measures are part of our affordability plan, which has already been putting more money back in the pockets of Canadians this year. We've enhanced the Canada workers benefit and we're cutting child care fees in half by the end of the year. In July we increased OAS by 10% for seniors 75 and older, and we doubled Canada's student grants until July 2023.

Mr. Chair, our plan is targeted, fiscally responsible, and supports the most vulnerable Canadians: our lowest-paid workers; low-income renters; families who can’t afford to have their kids see a dentist. And we are doing it in a way that will not pour unnecessary fuel on the fire and allow inflation to become entrenched— something that would make life more expensive for everyone for years to come.

But we cannot compensate every single Canadian for rising costs driven by a global pandemic and by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. To do so would only make inflation worse. Canadians are smart, and I know they understand that.

And so as Canadians cut back on costs, so, too, will our government. We will do our part to not pour fuel on the fire.

We committed to a $9-billion cut in government spending in our spring budget. Canada does have the lowest deficit this year in the G7. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Our AAA credit rating was reaffirmed this year by Moody's, S&P and DBRS, and our new targeted inflation relief measures have an incremental cost of just 0.1% per cent of Canada's GDP, an incremental cost of $3.1 billion.

This legislation is about finding a balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility. This support is the right thing to provide to Canadians now, when they need it. Canada can afford to be compassionate to the most vulnerable among us, and we will be.

I'm happy to take your questions now.

As you said, Mr. Chair, we have finance department officials here who can answer questions too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 59 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the committee is meeting to discuss Bill C-30, an act to amend the Income Tax Act.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House Order of June 23, 2022. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.

I'd like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mike, and please mute yourself when you are not speaking. For interpretation for those on Zoom, you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of either “floor”, “English” or “French”. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.

I remind everyone that all comments should be addressed through the chair. For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as well as we can, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.

I'd now like to welcome before us the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Welcome, Minister.

The minister is accompanied by officials from the Department of Finance. We have with us Nicholas Leswick, assistant deputy minister, and Lindsay Gwyer, director general, legislation, tax legislation division, tax policy branch. They are here by video conference, members, so if you are asking a question to one of the officials, you may want to look at the screens.

Also here is Pierre Leblanc, director general, personal income tax division, tax policy branch.

Minister, before your remarks, just on a personal note, I know how strong you have been in supporting Ukraine. We do have a number of Ukrainian—well, my wife is of Ukrainian descent, and I know Julie is also of Ukrainian heritage, and of course Yvan Baker is. I'm not sure about any other members. On behalf of all of our committee, I want to thank you for the great support that you have provided to Ukraine, and I think I speak for all of us here when I say that we are celebrating the gains that Ukraine has made in the last while. Thank you, Minister.

The floor is yours for your opening remarks.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 1

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions amongst the parties and, if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order or special order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-30, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit), be disposed as follows:

(a) the bill shall be deemed concurred in at report stage without further amendment upon presentation of the report by the committee;

(b) a motion for third reading of the bill may be taken up during Government Orders that day; and,

(c) if the bill has been reported back, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at the conclusion of the time provided for Government Orders or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, all questions necessary for the disposal of the third reading stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment provided that, if a recorded division is requested, it shall be deferred to the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to Bill C-31, an act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing. This legislation would help address some of the concerns that many of my constituents have shared with me around the rising cost of living and the increasing difficulty they are facing in making ends meet.

All of us in this House and in this country are seized with the issue of inflation. Indeed, the world is seized with the issue of inflation because it is a global phenomenon. Forces like high oil prices ripple through the supply chain and so do supply chain disruptions, leading to a scarcity of goods and rising prices for them. The economy is still recovering from the pandemic. We are all feeling the pinch.

Canada has done better than most G7 countries and is doing better than our American neighbours and peers, such as the United Kingdom and Germany. We have seen prices come down at the pumps, but according to the latest Statistics Canada numbers and what we are seeing at the grocery store, food inflation remains a serious problem.

While inflation is, as I said, a global phenomenon and a temporary one that will ease in time, that does not make the burden on Canadians today any less real and any less serious. While my colleagues and I in this place can afford to absorb the temporary higher prices, not all Canadians are that fortunate. They need our help, and just as we always have been, since the first act of our government after the 2015 election to lower taxes for the middle class and those working hard to join it by asking the top 1% to pay just a little more, we will be there for Canadians who need help the most.

Canadians are looking to their elected representatives for help, and I was pleased to see Bill C-30 receive speedy support and passage at second reading so that it could go to committee for further study. This is an important part of our government’s response to the affordability challenges that Canadians are facing.

If passed, Bill C-30 will double the goods and services tax credit for six months, delivering $2.5 billion in additional support to roughly 11 million lower-income Canadians. For a typical family, this could mean up to $612, plus $161 for each child under the age of 19. I hope the co-operative spirit continues and we see this legislation passed soon so that Canadians can get this much-needed help to cope with higher prices. I also hope that this same co-operative spirit can prevail in this place with Bill C-31, because it delivers much-needed help for lower-income Canadians struggling with higher prices. They do not want to see politicians stalling on the help they need with political games.

There are two main components in Bill C-31, and the first relates to dental care. While we here in this place benefit from generous employer-provided dental plans that cover us and our dependants, many Canadians are not so lucky. They are forced to pay for needed dental services out-of-pocket, including for their children. Beyond the cost of a regular cleaning for their children, dental emergencies can become financial emergencies and force very hard choices.

Making life more affordable for families across the country must include making oral health care accessible for all. Dental care is an important part of overall health, yet in Canada, one-third of the population cannot afford it.

Creating a proper national dental system from coast to coast to coast that is integrated as part of Canada’s health care system will take time, co-operation and coordination with the provinces and territories. However, in recognizing that we need to start helping Canadians with these costs now, this legislation proposes a new, temporary Canada dental benefit. The benefit would provide dental care for uninsured Canadians with a family income of less than $90,000 annually, starting with children under 12 years old in 2022.

The Canada dental benefit would allow all eligible parents to access direct payments totalling up to $1,300 per eligible child under 12, up to $650 per year, to support the costs of dental care services. Once the program is live, Canadians will be able to access the Canada dental benefit through their CRA accounts. The CRA is prepared to deliver and make it as easy as possible for eligible Canadians to get the money they need for oral health care.

Dental health is an important part of our overall health and should not be sacrificed for financial reasons. With this bill, we would be taking an important first step and putting more money back in the pockets of Canadians who need it the most.

The second major component of Bill C-31 relates to housing. Affordable housing and the high cost of safe and suitable housing is one of the biggest issues for the residents of my riding of Scarborough Centre. This legislation addresses one of the major components of housing that is so often ignored by the official opposition: rental housing. While they have a lot to say about home ownership, they have little to say and little to offer to those who rent their homes.

I have a lot of renters in my community of Scarborough, and many of them are trapped in inadequate and substandard rental housing that does not meet their needs. I say they are trapped because they cannot afford to move to a bigger unit or a nicer unit that could better suit their needs because market rent is now well beyond their means. If they were to leave their current unit, it would be rented out for many hundreds of dollars a month more.

Even within the guidelines, rent increases, in combination with all the other high prices families are facing, are difficult to manage. As part of the national housing strategy—

Opposition Motion—Moratorium on New Taxes

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our government is well aware that we are going through a period of high inflation around the world. Families are feeling the pinch at the pumps and at the grocery store. It is not an easy time. However, the fact remains that Canada is doing well compared to its peers, with a slightly lower inflation rate. Inflation is 7% in Canada, but it is about 8.3% in the United States, 7.9% in Germany and 9.9% in the United Kingdom. Things are really not going well in Great Britain these days.

I also want to point out to the House that inflation is a global phenomenon that can be attributed in large part to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and China's zero-COVID policy.

Although the causes of inflation are outside Canada's control, there are certainly things we can do here right now to help Canadians. That is why we are bringing in measures totalling $12.1 billion to make the cost of living more affordable for millions of Canadians in order to help them make ends meet and provide for their families.

Our affordability measures are a key part of the government's assistance plan to make life more affordable for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Thanks to our plan, in July of this year, we increased old age security by 10% for people aged 75 and up. This will mean over $800 in additional benefits in the first year for seniors who receive the full benefit and increased benefits for over three million seniors.

We are also strengthening the Canada workers benefit with investments of $1.7 billion a year. That means a couple earning minimum wage could receive up to $2,400 more in support this year, and we estimate that this could put more money into the pockets of about three million Canadians.

In collaboration with the provinces and territories, we are putting in place a new universal system of affordable early learning and child care services. Thanks to this system, Canadian families will see their child care costs reduced by 50% on average this year.

Last week, our government introduced Bills C-30 and C-31 to implement three important measures to help Canadians. With Bill C-30, we will double the GST credit for six months, which will provide an additional $2.5 billion in support to those Canadians who need it most. Single Canadians without children will receive up to $234 more, while couples with two children will receive up to $467 more this year. I would like to point out that the official opposition said last week that it would support Bill C‑30. That is excellent news.

With Bill C‑31, we are moving forward with a one-time top-up of $500 to the Canada housing benefit for 1.8 million renters who are struggling to pay their rent. That is more than double the amount allocated in budget 2022.

With Bill C‑31, we are also proposing to create the Canadian dental benefit for families that do not have access to private dental insurance and make less than $90,000 a year. Oral health is so important to overall health for children and Canadians.

It would provide financial support to parents with children under the age of 12 starting this year. Families will receive direct payments of up to $650 per year for the next two years, for a total of $1,300 per child, to cover dental costs. This is the first step in the government's plan to provide dental care for families in need.

I hope that the official opposition will support Bill C‑31 as it supported Bill C‑30.

I want to remind the leader of the official opposition that, through the climate action incentive payment, our government is returning a significant amount of money to Canadians living in the provinces that do not have their own pricing system that meets the Canada-wide standard, which are Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. I should note that Quebec has had its carbon exchange for a long time.

Approximately 90% of the fuel charge proceeds go straight back to residents of these provinces through the climate action incentive payment. In 2022-23, a family of four will receive $745 in Ontario, $832 in Manitoba, $1,101 in Saskatchewan, and $1,079 in Alberta. In most cases, the recipients will be getting more back than they paid.

We have a plan to help Canadians that puts more money into the pockets of those who need it most, when they need it most. I am very proud of our government's plan to make life more affordable for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Canadians can continue to count on our government to support them as we move through this inflationary period.

As Bills C‑30 and C‑31 show, we continue to make progress in offering Canadians the measures they need to help them make ends meet.

Business of the House

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, before I begin, let me thank the member opposite and all Conservative members for their support in advancing Bill C-30, which is critical support at this time on the issue of affordability. I want to thank them for helping to move it to committee and for their work to move it through committee. It will be our priority next week to ensure that those critical supports are passed.

In response to the question of whether we will cease taking action on climate change, I note we will never stop fighting for this planet. We recognize that the climate and the economy are intricately bound. However, I would suggest, as my hon. colleague has suggested, that we have critical supports for vulnerable people. An example is Bill C-22. It needs to be adopted so that those who are disabled in this country can be lifted out of poverty. I would suggest there are families that need dental care, and that is covered in Bill C-31. I would suggest there are people who need support on housing, and that is also covered in Bill C-31.

The good news for the member opposite is there are many ways he can help as we work through the affordability crisis that is hitting across the globe.

On Monday, we are going to continue with second reading of Bill C-31, which I referenced earlier. It is an act respecting the cost-of-living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing.

On Wednesday, we will call Bill S-5 concerning the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

I would also like to inform the House that next Thursday shall be an allotted day.

Opposition Motion—Moratorium on New Taxes

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I like to think of what is being proposed by the Conservative Party as another opportunity for us to really express the contrast. What a difference there is between the Conservative Party and the governing party, the Liberal Party of Canada. We have a Prime Minister, ministers and in fact an entire Liberal caucus who are very much focused on ensuring that we have an economy that works for all Canadians. That is our priority.

It should be no surprise that back in 2015 when we formed government, we made a commitment to Canada's middle class and those aspiring to be a part of it. If we take a look at the policies, whether they are budgetary measures or legislative measures, members will find that we have been consistent virtually from day one.

When we had the worldwide pandemic, and I emphasize “worldwide”, we responded by supporting Canadians. We supported them in a big way. For millions of Canadians, small businesses and individuals, we were there. We spent billions of dollars in support, and the Conservatives actually voted in favour of many of those billions of dollars. However, today, they criticize us for spending that money. There is a word in the dictionary that would best describe this but it is unparliamentary so I will not say it. However, I can tell members that the Conservative Party of Canada is all over the map on all sorts of economic and environmental issues. The Conservatives are not consistent.

Last Tuesday, in an emergency debate, they talked about taxes, and they used the example of the price on pollution. Members will remember that Stephen Harper was supportive of a price on pollution, but the Conservatives back then said, “No, we don't support a price on pollution.” They were jumping up and down in opposition saying that it was not a price on pollution but a tax. Then the former Conservative leader, the one before the interim leader, indicated very clearly that he supported the principle of having a price on pollution. That leader was the one who led the entire group, and every Conservative candidate in Canada campaigned on a price on pollution. However, again, we see members of the Conservative Party taking a massive flip. They have changed their policy, even though they campaigned on it, and now they do not support a price on pollution. Now they are talking about other taxes.

We can think of the leadership of the Conservative Party and the need to be consistent. What did the Conservative leader talk about? My colleague from Kingston and the Islands has raised this on a couple of occasions and the Minister of Finance has raised it. Many of us in the Liberal caucus do not understand why the leader of the official opposition today, as a leadership candidate, said to all those who wanted to listen to invest in cryptocurrency. He said that was the way to fight inflation. He encouraged Canadians and his followers to invest in it.

We have to feel for the individuals who followed the advice of the Conservative leader. Who knows? Maybe it was not his personal idea; maybe it was from another Conservative. I do not know. The bottom line is that it was a stupid idea. At the end of the day, how many Canadians lost thousands of dollars because they listened to today's leader of the Conservative Party just a few months back?

We can think of the Bank of Canada, an institution recognized around the world for its independence and good stewardship on the issue of Canada's money supply and the impact it has on our economy. Well, the leader of the Conservative Party had an idea: He would fire the Governor of the Bank of Canada. How bizarre is that?

There were even Conservatives who did not support that. I can recall at least one who was somewhat displaced from the front bench and the role he was playing because he was vocal that this was a dumb idea. He spoke truth to power, many would ultimately argue.

The Conservatives talk about wanting tax relief and wanting to give relief to Canadians because of inflation. There are two things that come to mind. Number one is that they need to take their collective heads out of the sand and recognize that inflation is taking place around the world. In the U.S.A., the inflation rate is higher. In Europe and in England, the inflation rate is higher. It does not mean that Canada should not be doing anything.

We have a progressive government that has consistently, from 2015, been there for Canadians in a very real and tangible way. In fact, we have brought forward two pieces of legislation that would provide virtually immediate relief for Canadians. We all know, in regard to the GST rebate, that Bill C-30 has passed into committee. That was to give 11 million Canadians money in their pockets to assist them in dealing with inflation. Originally, the Conservatives opposed it. That is hard to believe. How do they oppose something when they are saying they want tax breaks and that is what we would be providing? We would be providing cash in people's pockets, and originally the Conservatives opposed it.

I am grateful. I do not want to come across as being ungrateful all the time. I am grateful the Conservatives actually changed their minds again. This time, 11 million Canadians are going to benefit, because of the Conservatives changing their minds and supporting sending the legislation to committee. I am an optimist, with my fingers crossed and all. I am hoping it will go through the committee and get through third reading, and hopefully we will be able to do that in a relatively quick fashion. We have to do it before they change their minds again, but that was an encouraging sight.

We have Bill C-31, which would do two things. One is that it would establish, for the first time in history, here in Canada, an opportunity for parents to collect support for dental care for children under the age of 12. Who would oppose that? At a time when we are experiencing inflation and have children who are going into hospital for emergency services in order to get dental work done because they cannot afford to get it done, and we have a government that is bringing forward legislation that would assist them in doing that, it is hard to believe the Conservatives would oppose that.

Tied into that legislation is additional support for people who are having a difficult time making rent payments. It is hundreds of dollars, and millions across the country, and the Conservatives, again, are indicating they are not going to be supporting Bill C-31. It is unfortunate.

On the one hand, they say to support Canadians. On the other hand, if they are ashamed, we can convince them to make a flip-flop, as with Bill C-30, but we still have a little more work to do to get them convinced that providing a service to our children under the age of 12 to get dental work is a good thing and they should support it, and that the support for rental payments is worthy of support. Hopefully we will see Bill C-31 pass.

There are so many things the Government of Canada is doing to support our economy and the people of Canada. The emphasis is on ensuring that we have an economy that is working for all Canadians. At the same time, we understand the importance of health care, whether it is long-term care, mental health, dental or working with the provinces, and it does not mean being an ATM. What it means is ensuring there is a higher sense of accountability.

Canadians deserve the best quality health care, and this is a government and a minister who are committed to delivering that.