Status of Women Committee on March 19th, 2024

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you very much.

Thanks for all of that in getting this done.

I'm going to table a motion here today. With April 1 just around the corner, I'm going to ask for my colleagues support on what I'm going to table. April 1 is April Fool's Day, but a lot of Canadians are struggling. In fact, 70% of Canadians are. There's going to be a planned 23% increase in the carbon tax. What I'm asking here today in the status of women committee is for support of the following motion:

Given that,

a) Canadians are facing food insecurity in record numbers, and that one of the groups at the highest risk of facing food insecurity are single mothers;

b) According to the “Food insecurity among Canadian families” report, using data from the 2021 Canada Income Survey, 48% of single mothers living below the poverty line struggle with food insecurity;

c) Increasing the carbon tax by 23% on April 1 will only make food more expensive.

In order to help single mothers afford groceries for their children, the committee report to the House its recommendation to immediately cancel the Liberal Government’s 23% carbon tax increase by April 1.

That motion was sent in on Friday, March 15, to everybody. I think the reality is that life has never been more unaffordable, particularly food. I came back last week from a tour in New Brunswick, and I travelled to a few food banks. Not only are numbers at least doubled and in some instances tripled, but the demographics of those actually accessing these food banks is what is most concerning.

In Oromocto, 40 to 50 actively serving military families are accessing the food bank. This absolutely floored me. I had no idea. I guess, as the status of women committee, it is our duty, and this is something that we can do right now today. I'm asking my colleagues directly to help make life more affordable with regard to food. It is unbelievable the messages that are coming through across this country of people genuinely struggling to eat, particularly moms and families who are trying to feed their kids.

I would ask this status of women committee today to approve this motion that we cancel the Liberal government's 23% carbon tax increase on April 1.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I have a speaking list. Next are Anna and Anita, followed by Andréanne.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Michelle, because this is a very important cause.

This is dear to my heart, because I spent New Year's Eve day at a food bank in Toronto. I saw the lineups. I'll be honest and say that I was appalled. A lot of the individuals in that lineup were mothers with children. I will tell you that this particular food bank, by the name of Sai Dham, supports everyone in the community. In one month alone, they served 3.17 million meals. They also served 3,000 food baskets to seniors. These are individuals who can't afford to eat. These are single mothers who are too ashamed to go anywhere else. It really appalled me.

If we really care, we need to pass this motion so that we can continue to feed our communities. This is Canada. The number of people who have to use food banks is appalling. I think we need to make sure that this doesn't go on.

I'm supporting this motion, Madam Chair. I would like to see it go forward so that we are here for all single mothers and everyone to ensure that they don't go to bed hungry and nobody goes to bed with an empty stomach.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you very much.

I know that there have been some questions on this. Yes, it was sent on Friday, and it's being moved today. It's debatable at this time.

Go ahead, Andréanne. I know that there had been a change. It's your turn.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, it is currently 12:58. I don't know how much time you set aside for the debate, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Can you stop for a moment? We need some translation.

Okay. Got it.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, it is 12:59. I do not know if you set aside time for the debate, but we could extend the committee meeting. As I understand it, the motion on food banks was sent on Friday.

The Government of Quebec asked the federal government to conduct a study on coercive control. Furthermore, Ms. Ferreri moved a motion on transportation safety. So, there's a great deal more work to plan. I think we are going to run out of time to debate this motion right now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Yes, Anita.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Following on that, as it's the common practice in this committee to discuss these things in the subcommittee, I move to adjourn debate.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 3)

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Are we seeing anything else under committee business?

Seeing none, today's meeting is adjourned. We'll see you on Thursday.