House of Commons Hansard #138 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-38.

Topics

Pooled Registered Pension Plans ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC

Mr. Speaker, thank you for your kind warning.

My speech will be very similar to that of the hon. member for Pierrefonds—Dollard. The simple reason is that the public consultations that she carried out in Quebec with the hon. member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin were also held in my riding. Many of the comments that she heard about the problems facing our seniors or those retiring soon are the same comments that I have heard. And when we think about it, this affects everyone.

I would like to use the short time that I have to talk about that and to explain why we think the measures proposed in Bill C-25 are not appropriate.

That is basically it. We are not saying that this bill is a travesty. We simply want to provide people who are going to retire or who already have retired with better tools.

What this bill is proposing is very similar to what we already have, such as RRSPs. What is more, we have been given very little information. We do not know the administrative costs associated with this plan. The employer is not required to contribute to the plan, something that is done in many other countries. The pension plans of the largest corporations require the employer to make a certain contribution. There are many problems with all this.

The NDP believes that these measures are not appropriate at this time, especially when the eligibility age for old age security is being increased from 65 to 67.

We saw with RRSPs what can happen when people are asked to invest their pensions in the stock market. That is what happened in 2008.

Many Canadians were rather fortunate compared to Americans. Nonetheless, people have been seriously affected. At the very least, we cannot downplay the importance of all this. People invested in RRSPs for 10 years and saw their investments dwindle. When it comes to retirement security, that is not the norm in a country such as ours. Members will recall the case of Nortel, where there were no provisions in place to guarantee people's pensions.

In the last minute I have left, I would like to say that in talking to people, their main complaint was that they were tired of investing in the market and not having retirement security. They said that they want to have the support of a system in which they can invest, such as old age security and the guaranteed income supplement.

The guaranteed income supplement is a very important tool. We in the NDP would like to increase the GIS. With a very small investment, we could lift most seniors living below the poverty line above that line and enable them to live in dignity. That is what the people in my riding and many other ridings told us.

We oppose this bill because it is not the right tool in the current economic situation. There are much better tools. That is what the NDP would do if it formed the government.

Pooled Registered Pension Plans ActGovernment Orders

6:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

The hon. member for Chambly—Borduas will have six minutes to finish his speech and another five minutes for questions and comments when the House resumes debate on the motion.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

6:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

It being 6:30 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion for the third reading of Bill C-31.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #276

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I declare the amendment defeated

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

All those opposed will please say nay.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

(The House divided on the motion which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #277

Protecting Canada's Immigration System ActGovernment Orders

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion by the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. The question is on the amendment.

(The House divided on amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #278

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I declare the amendment defeated.

The next question is on the main motion.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

All those opposed will please say nay.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Extension of Sitting HoursGovernment Orders

7:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

In my opinion, the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen: