Evidence of meeting #17 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
—you can't continue saying, “Oh, but we're giving all this money to families.”
We need to deal with the root cause of the problem. The root cause of the problem is that food is too expensive. Baby formula is not replaceable for families who rely on it. It is absolutely irreplaceable.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Chair, in fact, the Canada child benefit, for which that party has voted against any increase in since 2016, has kept up with inflation. It is one measure that has deeply alleviated poverty for children in this country.
In fact, between 2015 and now—2019, actually—child poverty rates declined by 42%, and we continue to see an alleviation of poverty through a number of measures.
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
You have an opportunity, member of Parliament, to stop fighting against families. Families know that there are challenges—
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
With all due respect, Minister, an 84% increase in eight years on baby formula is far higher than the CPI, so no, you have not done what you need to do.
The real problem is that we are reliant on massive imports for baby formula in Canada. It took Health Canada months to get its act together to allow us to import baby formula from Europe when we were in crisis. Families were scraping by.
There are families right now who are buying baby formula in open tubs because that is the cheapest way for them to do it. I've had families contact me saying that they are buying what they know is stolen formula. Baby formula is one of the number one stolen food items. It is kept under lock and key in Canada.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
So why are you, as a Member of Parliament, against the increases to Canada child benefit, against things like early learning and child care? As we pointed out—
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Because they're not working. If they were working, one in three kids would not be clients at food banks.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
In fact, if they're not working, their Canada child benefit is actually even higher. For zero to three, those children—
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
—would be receiving up to $7,000 or more a year in Canada child benefits, and indexed to inflation, and you vote against it time and again.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I'm curious why you think that extra money wouldn't be helpful to a family that you're describing.
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
What I am saying to you, Minister, is that the inflation on baby formula...because your government has refused to take any real action to make anything better on this file. When I ask about this in the House of Commons, do you know what I get? The school food program. Babies don't go to school.
Families who rely on this do not have another option. There are countless families, whether they're adoptive, whether they can't breastfeed for some reason or they choose not to.... This is their only option for feeding their kids. Your government just keeps saying, “We're giving all this money. Why can't families figure this out?” This is a failure on your government, period.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Well, actually, in fact, one of your members of Parliament derided our socialist programs just the other day when we were talking about things like the Canada child benefit. We understand that the school food program doesn't—
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Natilien Joseph Liberal Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I have a point of order. They're both talking at the same time.
There are too many interruptions, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
Continue.
I would ask all members to please respect the translators who have to translate your comments and to conduct yourself accordingly.
Ms. Goodridge, you have the floor.
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
I guess I'll go in a slightly different vein.
Have you discussed this issue with the Prime Minister, yes or no?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
The Prime Minister and I regularly discuss affordability. In fact, I am grateful that the Prime Minister has kept affordable programs, all of the care programs—
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Have you specifically talked to him about baby formula?
Liberal