Bill C-31

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2 (Targeted Support for Households)

An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

Part 1 enacts the Dental Benefit Act , which provides for the establishment of an application-based interim dental benefit. The benefit provides interim direct financial support for parents for dental care services received by their children under 12 years of age in the period starting in October 2022 and ending in June 2024.
Part 2 enacts the Rental Housing Benefit Act , which provides for the establishment of a one-time rental housing benefit for eligible persons who have paid rent in 2022 for their principal residence and who apply for the benefit.
Finally, Part 3 makes related amendments to the Income Tax Act , the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act, 2001 .

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-31s:

C-31 (2021) Reducing Barriers to Reintegration Act

C-31 (2016) Law Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

C-31 (2014) Law Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1

C-31 (2012) Law Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act

Votes

Oct. 27, 2022 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing

Oct. 27, 2022 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing

Oct. 27, 2022 Passed Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing (report stage amendment)

Oct. 19, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing

Oct. 19, 2022 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing (reasoned amendment)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-31 proposes a one-time $500 housing benefit for low-income renters and establishes a Canada Dental Benefit, beginning with children under 12, aiming to provide financial assistance for dental care. The bill seeks to address affordability concerns for vulnerable populations, though some argue it is insufficient or unfairly distributes benefits across provinces, particularly Quebec. Concerns have also been raised about the bill's potential inflationary effects and the limited parliamentary scrutiny it received.

Liberal

Supports Bill C-31: The Liberal party supports Bill C-31, arguing it will provide financial relief to Canadians across the country. They criticize the Conservative and Bloc parties for opposing the bill, especially given concerns about inflation.
National dental care program: The bill establishes a child dental care program to prevent children from needing hospital care for dental issues. This is seen as a step towards a true national dental care program, assisting families with the costs of dental work.
Rental support: The legislation includes rental support for 1.8 million people, providing up to $500 to help with rental payments. This is highlighted as a direct way to help Canadians facing financial difficulties due to inflation.
Government's role in healthcare: The Liberal party emphasizes the national government's role in healthcare, referencing the Canada Health Act. They see the dental care program as an example of the government providing necessary support, directly and indirectly, to Canadians.

Conservative

Bill worsens inflation: The Conservatives believe the bill will add inflationary fuel to the fire. They argue that the government's spending and borrowing policies are the root cause of inflation, and this bill will only exacerbate the problem.
Failed policy: The carbon tax is a failed policy that is not working. Canadians are getting all of the pain and none of the environmental gain, and the government has not hit a single target it has set for itself.
Power grab: Bill C-31 is not about providing access to dental care or making rent more affordable, but rather about maintaining power for the Prime Minister and the NDP leader, who are both struggling with internal party politics.
Committee disrespected: The government gave committee members only two hours to study a piece of legislation that will commit the Canadian government to $10 billion of spending. This was a sham and did not allow parliamentarians to do their best work for Canadians.

NDP

Strong support for dental care: The NDP strongly supports Bill C-31, which aims to provide dental care support to families with incomes less than $90,000 and children under 12 without existing dental coverage. They view dental health as critical to overall health, and are fighting to ensure Canadians can access it.
Housing support is important: The NDP is in favour of the bill's provision of a one-time $500 housing benefit to low-income individuals and families. They believe that everyone deserves safe, secure, affordable housing and that the government should provide support to those in need.
Criticism of Conservatives: The NDP is critical of the Conservative Party's opposition to the bill, accusing them of prioritizing money over the well-being of Canadians. They argue that the Conservatives are out of touch with the needs of ordinary people and are unwilling to support measures that would benefit low-income families.
Step towards universal dental care: The NDP views the Canada dental benefit as the first stage toward universal dental care in Canada. They are committed to building a comprehensive dental plan that would ultimately be integrated into the public health care system as a universal, publicly insured benefit.

Bloc

Bill C-31 flawed: Bloc members feel that Bill C-31 was poorly drafted and that they were prevented from contributing to the process of improving the bill, due to the government's use of closure and super closure. This resulted in a bill that does not adequately consider Quebec's specific circumstances and penalizes the province for its existing social programs.
Penalizes Quebec: The Bloc argues that the bill does not account for Quebec's existing social programs, such as rental support and dental care, leading to Quebeckers being excluded from and penalized by the bill. They contend that Quebec is essentially being punished for having chosen to pay for its own social measures.
Process was unacceptable: Bloc members believe that the government's decision to short-circuit the normal legislative process, including limiting debate and committee studies, has resulted in a flawed bill that will create inequities for Quebec. For these reasons they will vote against it, despite supporting the principles of the bill.

Was this summary helpful and accurate?

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:30 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, I do not disagree with my colleague. I said in my intervention that Canadians need a leg up, that single parents and families that are living dollar to dollar and are having a hard time making ends meet need a leg up. They need a plan. They get this top-up, but then what? How do they live for the rest of the year?

In my intervention, I said that a plan needs to be in place. While this money may make things better at the moment, there is not a long-term plan in place that can truly make a difference. That is something we have been struggling to get the government to do.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:30 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, sometimes there is a lot of invective thrown around in the House.

Earlier, those on the NDP side of the House said we were playing politics with families. The experience I had at the Standing Committee on Health was that the Bloc Québécois wanted to hear witnesses and work for Quebeckers. The Bloc wanted the bill to include people who had been left behind by the NDP. We were prevented from doing our job.

I would like the member who sits with me on the Standing Committee on Health to confirm whether it was us, the real opposition parties, who obstructed the bill or whether it was the Liberals with the NDP who prevented us from being inclusive and doing our work properly. Who has hindered the parliamentary business of the House, them or us?

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:30 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have taken part in a lot of committees. As our colleague can attest to, I absolutely lost my mind the night that this was taking place and that what we were witnessing was taking place. It was so unparliamentary.

Clearly, as I stated in my speech, the deal was done, and anybody who brought forward any type of amendment, who was not part of the NDP-Liberal coalition, was going to get shut out. We offered to bring more witnesses to the table. We asked for more time to study the bill. We asked to do our job. We offered to sit through the weekend to study this bill and bring witnesses, but we were shut down every step of the way.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:30 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

There being no further members rising for debate, pursuant to order made Tuesday, October 18, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the third reading stage of the bill now before the House.

The question is on the motion.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried, or carried on division, or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

The hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:35 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, we would request a recorded division.

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 6:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

Call in the members.

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

Vote #205

Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2.Government Orders

October 27th, 2022 / 7:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

It being 7:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Tuesday, October 18, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7:18 p.m.)