House of Commons Hansard #213 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition
On Monday, Mr. Speaker, the House voted unanimously for the NDP motion to end the discriminatory tax on feminine hygiene products. The New Democrats will be moving to amend the budget implementation act to include the change immediately. Getting rid of this fundamentally unfair tax represents exactly one hundredth of 1% of the federal budget.
Will the Prime Minister do the right thing, support the NDP amendment and end this discriminatory tax against women right now?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I think the NDP leader was very revealing in that comment in that he only supports this tax cut because he sees it as very very small. The fact of the matter, of course, is that the NDP's real agenda may be to give tiny tax cuts like that while raising the GST by some $10 billion on Canadian consumers. That is obviously not acceptable to this government. That is why we cut the GST from 7% to 6% to 5%, and we are going to ensure it does not go—
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, for a middle-class family earning $90,000, with two kids, the Liberal plan automatically provides a tax-free child benefit of $490 every single month. That is $2,500 more than the Prime Minister's plan provides every single year.
Why is the government providing more benefits to those who need it the least instead of investing in our middle class and those working hard to join it?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Liberal Party says that benefiting every single Canadian is not what is fair. That is why, of course, he wants to take away from every single family their universal child care benefit; why he wants to take away income splitting, which has benefited both families and seniors; and why he wants to take away tax-free savings accounts.
Even after he does all those things, his numbers still do not add up. Canadians are going to be smart enough not to be fooled by that and stick with the benefits they actually know are in their pockets.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister thinks that wealthy families like his and mine should be getting new benefits, then I look forward to the debates.
Our plan increases benefits to $6,400 every year, tax free. It has been called a new guaranteed income for children in low-income families. That is over $1,000 more, tax free, per child to the Canadians who need help the most.
Why have the Conservatives instead given more to those who need help the least?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, what the Liberal plan means is tax hikes and massive deficits, plans that do not add up and will result in even more benefits being cut, just like they were when the Liberals were in office. That is why, on this side of the House, we are proud of our record of cutting taxes, balancing the budget, and making sure we deliver for Canadians.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, fairness means giving more to those who need it and less to those who do not.
With our plan to give money back to the middle class, a single-parent family with one child would receive $533 tax free every month. A family earning $90,000 a year with two children would receive $490 tax free.
Our plan is much more generous than the Prime Minister's plan.
Why does the government continue to help the wealthy instead of helping middle-class families and people who are working hard to join the middle class?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Liberal Party wants to eliminate the universal child care benefit. He wants to eliminate income splitting, which benefits seniors and families. He wants to eliminate tax-free savings accounts, and his numbers do not even add up. This will be disastrous for families.
Families will vote to keep money in their pockets, money we delivered for the Canadian public.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, we have repeatedly asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether a status of forces agreement has been reached with Iraqi authorities. However, he remains evasive and refuses to give a clear answer.
We have just learned that, in fact, there is still no agreement in place.
What is taking so long? How does the minister explain that we still do not have a status of forces agreement with the Iraqi authorities?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, the government has been working closely with its counterparts in Iraq.
The Prime Minister and I met with the Prime Minister of Iraq last week in Bagdad. We have very close ties, and Iraqi authorities are very grateful for the Canadian Forces' contribution to defending their country and their people.
We continue to work on a status of forces agreement.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, a status of forces agreement is critical to ensure that there are clear rules that protect our soldiers and surround our military involvement in a foreign country. We have asked repeatedly when this agreement would be concluded with Iraq, as far back as September. Now it turns out that there is no agreement at all, and a meeting last week just does not cut it.
We are not talking about a one-month training mission. We have already been there eight months, and Canada is going to be in Iraq, including on the front lines, for at least another year.
Why has the minister failed to secure such a vital and basic agreement?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, our government has worked closely with the Government of Iraq to ensure appropriate protection for Canadian Armed Forces members participating in coalition operations against the genocidal terrorist organization of the so-called Islamic state.
The status of forces agreements, of course, are binding treaty level international commitments that often take years to develop, and we do not have years to wait to save the Iraqi people from genocide, to save those women from sexual slavery, and to work with two dozen other countries in reinforcing this critical aspect of international security. That is why we are there acting rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Americans have one, but we do not. The women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces deserve better.
Canadians were shocked today to find out that the Chief of the Defence Staff issued orders precluding the adoption of key recommendations of the Deschamps report. This would be a betrayal of the victims of sexual assault and harassment who came forward, shared their experiences, and called for change.
The minister needs to exercise his authority and take responsibility. Will he guarantee that the Canadian Armed Forces will establish an independent body to handle sexual misconduct, yes or no?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, this kind of attitude on the part of the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff is simply unacceptable.
The directive sent by General Lawson clearly shows that, in order for attitudes to change within the armed forces, the minister needs to intervene and take responsibility, instead of passing the buck. He must accept the 10 recommendations of the Deschamps report immediately.
How does the minister justify his failure to act? When will he finally implement all of the report's recommendations?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, military officials received Justice Deschamps' report only last week, and they have already implemented some of the recommendations. They agreed in principle with all 10 recommendations. General Lawson appointed Major-General Christine Whitecross two months ago to lead a team to address this very important issue. Now, that is action.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives hide their heads in the sand, a million children still do not have access to regulated child care spaces.
Spring into Action for Child Care is in full swing. Across the country, parents are organizing gatherings, stroller brigades and forums. They are asking for quality, affordable public child care.
Will the Conservatives finally get on board with the NDP's plan to create a million child care spaces for $15 or less per day?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, there is the difference between the NDP plan and our plan. Our plan gives benefits to every family in Canada, regardless of how they decide to care for their children, whether they decide to stay at home with their children, whether they decide to use licensed day care spots, or whether they decide to use another family member. Whatever their choice is, we respect it. We believe that it deserves support. We are going to continue giving direct support to Canadian families. The NDP would create a multibillion-dollar plan that would help fewer than 10% of Canadian families. Ours helps all Canadian families.
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, there are more than one million children without a regulated child care space. That is nothing to be proud of.
It is child care week, and across this country, moms and dads are participating in stroller brigades, picnics, pop-up play groups, and kitchen table conversations calling for more affordable child care. Parents are tired of paying fees that break the household budget.
Will the government listen and adopt the NDP plan to provide affordable child care at no more than $15 a day?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are tired of being insulted by the NDP and being told that if they do not use regulated daycare spaces, they do not deserve support. Canadian families are tired of being told that if a parent decides to stay home, they are not really incurring a cost.
The NDP members are wrong. They are not listening to rural Canadian families. They are not listening to Canadian families doing shift work. They are not listening to families who are staying home with their children.
We are listening to all Canadian families and giving every family support, regardless of their choice, because we respect and we trust Canadian families.
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is real Canadian families that are calling for regulated child care space. It is child care week and all across the country--
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. We have moved on to the next question.
The hon. member for Newton—North Delta still has the floor. Members need to hold off and let her ask the question.
The hon. member for Newton—North Delta.