House of Commons Hansard #236 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was anaphylaxis.
Shelly Glover ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as the Liberals continue to fight for special breaks for Chinese companies and other booming economies, let us listen to what the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters had to say about this very issue:
The government's decision to modernize this foreign aid program by removing some countries from the GPT list is a good decision....
These are new industrial powerhouses, and treating them the same way that we do our other trading partners just makes a lot of sense.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government just announced a tax hike on consumer goods to the tune of over $300 million a year at a time when the economy is fragile, household debt is at an all-time high, the unemployment rate is up and salaries are stagnant. This is the worst time to be raising taxes on almost 1,300 products that Canadians need in their everyday lives.
When will the government wake up? When will it give Canadian families a break and cancel these tax increases?
Shelly Glover ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as I already said, on average, Canadian families have an extra $3,200 in their pockets thanks to our government's tax cuts.
The Liberals voted against every one of those cuts. In fact, they want to fight to give special tax breaks to Chinese companies.
Members should listen to what Michael Hart, Carleton University, said about this very issue:
Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand really aren't developing countries and should have been graduated long ago.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, I loved the damage control on hockey helmets on Friday morning, after clearly forgetting about it.
The Conservatives have increased the taxes on Canadian consumers by over $300 million a year: paints and varnishes, shampoos, deodorant, tricycles, kitchenware, tableware, ballpoint pens, toothbrushes. I could go on forever. There are 1,300 items.
When will the government give Canadian families a break and cancel these tax increases on those products?
Shelly Glover ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, once again, that is completely false. It is this government that has voted time and time again to reduce taxes on Canadians. We will let the record speak for itself.
When we created the deduction for tool expenses for tradespeople, the Liberals voted against it. When we created the medical expense tax credit, Liberals voted against. With the first time home buyers tax credit, Liberals voted against it.
I could go on and on. The Liberals will fight for Chinese companies. We will fight for Canadians.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, Conservative inaction is pushing aboriginal communities to the brink. In Labrador, the NunatuKavut have waited 22 years for solutions.
New Democrats know that Canada is stronger when we work together in partnership, so we are calling on the government to finally do the right thing and vote yes to our motion to provide all communities in Labrador with the control they deserve over their own future.
Will it listen?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I had the chance this morning to speak to this very issue, but obviously she does not want to understand. This claim was submitted in 1991, long before we came into office. The Liberals sat on this for 13 years.
Right now, we are reviewing the facts that support the claim. When a decision is made, the decision will be announced.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, a broken promise is all we have heard from the Conservative and the Liberal governments.
They promised action on land claims and treaty implementation. The Prime Minister himself committed to direct oversight of this important issue for the future of Canada, but three months after he made this promise to first nations leaders, nothing has been done.
Let us try this again. Will the Prime Minister agree to make treaty implementation and land claim settlement a priority by voting yes on our motion?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, it takes some nerve to stand in the House to talk about rights of aboriginal Canadians when that member, at the instructions of the leader of her party, just as the leader of the Liberal Party instructed his own caucus, refused to vote in favour of aboriginal women getting the same basic rights she enjoys.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the real fact is that for too long Liberal and Conservative governments have dragged their heels. First Nations, Metis and Inuit deserve way better. Canadian women in the workforce also deserve better.
Conservative changes to employment insurance would make it harder for women to access the program. They ignore the fact that many women rely upon part-time or seasonal work and that women already have a harder time qualifying for EI.
Are the Conservatives aware that their reforms may lead more women into poverty?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, this government will take no lessons from the NDP on finding women roles in the workplace or for finding women jobs, whether they are professional women, women who are looking to become apprentices, or women who are looking to get those skills they want so that they can move out into the workplace and have a great job.
We are supporting the Canada jobs grant. We put in place a whole series of initiatives to ensure women can become apprentices. Why does the NDP not get on board and help those women find those jobs?
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, this government loves grandstanding, but when it comes to finding the truth, they have absolutely nothing to say.
The truth is that women will end up footing the massive bill for the government's cuts to EI.
The Fédération des femmes du Québec and other women's groups are sounding the alarm. The Conservatives' changes to EI will force women to accept lower-paying jobs and to travel further from home for a job, at the minister's whim.
When will the minister admit that these changes will widen the gap between the wages earned by men and women?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, the changes that we have to employment insurance are to better connect Canadians to available jobs. What we put forward in economic action plan 2013 is just that: opportunities for Canadians to gain the skills that they need to enter into the workplace.
I do not understand why the NDP continues to vote against these initiatives, whether the Canada jobs grant, opportunities for apprenticeships, or the 5,000 new internships that are available for postgraduates. I wonder why the NDP continues to talk about how it wants to create jobs but never ever actually supports an initiative to do that.
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, our government firmly believes that parents know what is best for their children. That is why we have given parents the choice in child care, despite the objections of the opposition parties.
It appears the Liberal Party is once again looking to dictate to parents on how children should be raised. It is promoting a private member's bill in the Senate that could turn parents into criminals.
Would the Minister of Justice please inform this House about the government's position on Bill S-214?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the government opposes this unnecessary and unreasonable legislation. We do not believe that parents, teachers, and others responsible for the well-being of children should be criminalized for discipline that is undertaken in a reasonable way.
The fact is that the Supreme Court has already clarified it and provided guidance on the Criminal Code in this area.
We are focused on cracking down on real threats to children, such as tougher sentences for child sexual offences. Unfortunately, the Liberal Party voted against that legislation. This is an another example that Liberal priorities are not the priorities of the people of this country.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, women are being hit particularly hard by the Conservatives' massive cuts to employment insurance. Women already earn less than men. Most seasonal and part-time jobs are held by women. With the Conservatives' cuts, they will be forced to accept 30% less pay.
Of course, the minister would have known all of this if she had conducted a study. Why did she not do one?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, this government is focused on ensuring that Canadians have the skills and the training they need to be able to take on the jobs that exist today. Whether that be through the Canada jobs grant, our new apprenticeship initiatives to ensure we have harmonization across the country, or an investment in individuals who have disabilities to ensure that they can attach themselves to the workplace, these are all initiatives that this government supports and has driven forward.
The New Democrats continually vote against these opportunities for Canadians. Shame on them.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, these changes hurt seasonal workers, regional economies and provinces, but the Conservatives' mismanagement has disproportionately hurt women, and that is a fact.
For example, a woman taking maternity leave—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. Order.
There seems to be a steady stream of chatter when other members have the floor. I would appreciate it if members would listen to the member putting the question and in turn listen to the minister answering.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
For example, a woman taking maternity leave can become ineligible for EI because the government does not consider looking after a baby to be work. Experts have said 2,000 women every year are denied EI benefits because of this unfair policy.
Is the minister really going to stand by an EI program that says looking after a baby is not work?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, this government supports families, whether it be through the children's fitness tax credit, the universal child care benefit or increases and augmentation to the national child benefit. We support families, we support parents, we support mothers. That party does not. The New Democrats have always voted against these initiatives.
I encourage them to step up when they have the opportunity to support mothers and parents, who are doing a great job. Why do they not support them?
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is clear to anyone who is paying attention that the Conservative cuts to EI are totally inappropriate. Even the IMF, infamous for its austerity programs, reported this week that austerity is the wrong way for Canada to go and that the Conservative Government of Canada should be using EI to its full capacity.
Canada's rate of unemployment is up, and it is getting worse. Rather than giving the unemployed people of Canada a hand up, why is the Conservative government continually kicking them when they are down?
Shelly Glover ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, once again I implore my colleagues across the way to actually read the reports that come out. In fact, the IMF said the following: “...Canada is in an enviable position.... The policies that are being deployed are, in our minds, broadly appropriate...”.
That is what the IMF said about Canada, because Canada has led the way in job growth, creating over 900,000 net new jobs since the recession. We have led in economic growth, which we continue to do through our economic action plans.
Unfortunately, we see the New Democrats and the Liberals intent on providing special breaks to Chinese companies and booming economies, which would in fact lower our ability to succeed.
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Mr. Speaker, there are still 1,450,000 unemployed people in Canada. Because of the Conservatives, Canada has gone from the top of the class to being the slacker that everyone is talking about. Against everyone's advice, including that of the IMF, they decided to keep slashing services offered to Canadians, gutting employment insurance and cutting infrastructure investment. The results are in: growth is slowing. That is what happens when the Conservatives decide to crack down without doing their homework.
When will the Conservatives admit that economic austerity does not work and that they need to foster economic growth?