House of Commons Hansard #214 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was families.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, the NDP and the Liberals have only one plan on jobs, and that is to raise taxes on those who create them. We have the opposite approach. Through tax cuts, training and trade, our economy has generated 1.2 million net new jobs since the recession, and 80% are full-time, 80% are in the private sector and two-thirds are in high-wage industries.
We will continue to keep taxes down to create more jobs for Canadians.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, crocodile tears are not going to help those who have lost their jobs. We want the government to do something about this.
The truth is that the manufacturing sector in Quebec has lost 102,500 jobs since the Conservatives came to power. Now, with Bombardier, 1,000 more families, 850 in Dorval and 150 in Ville Saint-Laurent, are out of work and will have a hard time making ends meet. What does the government do? It brings down a budget that contains nothing new and only helps its wealthy friends.
When will the government truly stand up to defend jobs and prevent future job losses in Quebec and across Canada?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, the only plan the NDP and the Liberals have is to raise taxes on Canadians and job creators.
Our plan does the opposite. We are lowering taxes for job creators, consumers and families. This will allow people to spend money in the economy and save for their future and small businesses to start hiring. That is why we have created 1.2 million new jobs since the recession and 80% are full-time and two-thirds are well-paying.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' approach does not work. We continue to lose jobs across Quebec and Canada.
Here are the facts. Since the Conservatives came to power, Quebec has lost 102,500 jobs in the manufacturing sector. In Montreal alone, 27,000 jobs have been lost in the last six months. Today, it is 1,500 jobs at Bombardier. The Conservatives have been in power for 10 years. They are completely out of touch with the reality of everyday Canadians.
When will they take meaningful action to help our workers and families and create jobs in this country? When will they take action?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, we have already done so. That is why we have 1.2 million new jobs, 80% of which are full-time, 80% of which are in the private sector and two-thirds of which are in high-wage sectors.
The New Democrats would implement a carbon tax, which would destroy factories and other employers in Quebec and all across Canada. That is why Canadians would never run the risk of voting in a New Democrat government.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, bad news for the manufacturing sector just keeps on coming.
As we all know, this morning Bombardier announced that 1,500 jobs here in Canada would be cut, 1,000 of them in Montreal. That means 1,500 lost jobs here in Canada. Last month, 20,000 jobs were lost across Canada. This government's laissez-faire approach is totally irresponsible. It is time to do something.
Why is the government doing nothing to create jobs here in Canada?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, we have taken action to create jobs. For example, we have reduced the tax rate for small-and medium-sized businesses from 11% to 9%.
The Liberal leader has already stated his intention to reverse those tax cuts for our small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Liberal leader said that he wants higher taxes for our entrepreneurs and small businesses.
That would be the absolute worst thing to do because it would kill jobs and jeopardize our economy.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, more nonsense answers from the minister.
The Conservatives say “cheer up” and “things could be worse, though”, so Canadians cheered up and, yes, they got much worse. They are worse for 1,500 workers just laid off at Bombardier today, with 1,000 in Montreal and another 500 in Toronto. That is on top of the hundreds of thousands about whom we have heard. Good jobs have been lost because of government inaction.
While the minister continues to sell his phony 1.2 million jobs line, unemployed families know better. Will the minister finally admit that the Conservative fiscal policies have failed?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, our plan for trade, training and tax cuts has created 1.2 million net new jobs since the recession, and 80% are full-time, 80% are in the private sector and two thirds are in high wage sectors.
The worst thing we could do at this juncture is follow the Liberal leader's plan to raise taxes on small businesses. He announced, on the day of the budget, while we were cutting taxes on small business job creators, that if he got the chance, he would raise them. That would kill jobs and send shockwaves through our economy. That is why Canadians will never give him the chance.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the plan is not working.
Let us look at some of the closed or closing plants in and around Toronto. CIBA Vision in Mississauga has lost 300 jobs. Automodular in Oakville has lost 525 jobs. Premium Brands in Toronto has lost 200 jobs. The Wrigley plant in Toronto has lost 400 jobs. There were 1,000 jobs lost at GM in Oshawa, and now 500 jobs lost in Downsview.
The track record of the Conservatives is clear. They have abandoned the manufacturing sector and the Canadians it employs. This is the question. Why?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, under our low-tax plan, we created 1.2 million net new jobs since the recession, and 80% are full-time and two thirds are in the private sector.
The last thing we want now is to follow the Liberal plan to raise taxes on small business. That would compound the disastrous provincial Liberal policies of tax and borrow. The payroll taxes, the carbon taxes and the other tax increases of the Ontario Liberal government have been disastrous. The last thing we want is to see them compounded by a high-tax Liberal leader in Ottawa.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, five years after Nortel went bankrupt and 20,000 pensioners had their incomes dramatically slashed, a bankruptcy court has ruled that they are entitled to an equitable share of Nortel's assets.
The battle is still not over for these pensioners, as appeals may drag on, and their lawyer is warning that they may not receive the full amount.
Why have the Conservatives failed to protect workers and left these pensioners to the mercy of the courts?
Ed Holder ConservativeMinister of State (Science and Technology)
Mr. Speaker, of course, our thoughts are always with the workers and their families.
Let me say that our government has been very encouraged by this week's decision. In fact, the member opposite may not know, but the lawyer for the Nortel pensioners said that he was “very pleased” with the decision, because it upheld the interests of pensioners.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, if they take a haircut on their pension, my guess is they will be less pleased about it.
The government's economic strategy is failing Ontario. Under the Conservative government, more than 275,000 manufacturing jobs in Ontario have disappeared. Today we learned that another 480 jobs are lost at Bombardier's Downsview plant in Toronto.
In spite of the crocodile tears opposite, our hearts really are with the workers who are facing an uncertain future in that plant. The question is simple. Why do the Conservatives refuse to support manufacturing jobs in Ontario?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, if that were true, why would the NDP, along with the Liberals, propose devastating new taxes on the manufacturing sector in Ontario? That would drive up costs for employers and drive Canadians out of work.
Our approach is tax cuts, training, and trade. That is why, across Canada, we have had a net increase in employment of 1.2 million jobs. That is 80% private sector, 80% full-time, and two-thirds in high-wage sectors. We will continue to keep taxes low and employment high.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister needs to stop burying his head in the sand. The workers in our aerospace industry who are losing their jobs are sick and tired of hearing the Conservatives' empty rhetoric. One thousand workers in our aerospace industry in Montreal got bad news this morning. After Bell Helicopter two weeks ago, Bombardier just announced another round of layoffs. Some 150 workers in Ville Saint-Laurent and another 850 at the Dorval plant will be unemployed.
What do the Conservatives plan to do, apart from losing jobs, to protect jobs in my region, in Montreal?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, our economic action plan is working. We have created 1.2 million new jobs since the recession, 80% of which are full-time and two-thirds of which are in high-wage sectors. We are doing this by increasing international trade, training our workers and lowering taxes for those who create jobs and those who are working.
The only plan the NDP has is to raise taxes and bring in a carbon tax, which will kill jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, 102,000 jobs have been lost in Quebec's manufacturing sector since 2006. I did say 102,000. That is the Conservative record. In Dorval, 850 workers at Bombardier's aircraft finishing plant will have to look for work along with 150 workers in the borough of Saint-Laurent who will be laid off. They support hundreds of businesses, boutiques and restaurants in the Montreal area.
Do the Conservatives have a plan for these workers or do they only have more presents for the most wealthy?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, we have a plan. It is the economic action plan, which cuts taxes, increases international trade and provides training for our workers. It has created 1.2 million new jobs: 80% of them are full time and two-thirds are in high-paying sectors.
The NDP's only plan is to introduce a carbon tax that will kill jobs in Quebec and throughout Canada. We are opposed to that plan because we will protect jobs and stimulate employment.
Denis Blanchette NDP Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, enough with these inaction plans.
Tomorrow, 200 workers at the Davie Canada shipyard will lose their jobs, all because the Conservative government refuses to make up its mind about the short-term renewal of our fleet of supply ships.
The Government of Quebec is calling on the federal minister to get off his butt. We are talking about 200 families without well-paying jobs.
When will the government make a decision about Canada's navy? When will it make a decision for the Canadian economy? When will it make a decision for the people of Lévis?
Public Works and Government Services CanadaOral Questions
Peace River Alberta
Conservative
Chris Warkentin ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the Davie shipyard has been successful in pursuing federal shipbuilding opportunities, including important shipyard work to retrofit the Louis S. St. Laurent and the Des Groseilliers icebreakers. Recently Davie also obtained important federal government contracts to prolong the life of the Canadian Coast Guard ship the Earl Grey.
Davie will have the opportunity to bid on further publicly tendered work, including for smaller ship construction, ship repair, retrofits, and maintenance work. Moving forward, Davie is welcome to bid on these upcoming shipbuilding projects.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, job losses just keep piling up, and workers are suffering from the lack of a government plan to protect Canadian jobs. Last month Ontario lost over 14,000 jobs, and many are worried that there is more to come. GM workers in Oshawa are concerned that the 1,000 jobs cut may signal trouble for the future of the entire plant.
Why did the Conservatives sell off billions in GM shares without doing anything to secure the thousands of good Canadian jobs that may very well be at risk?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that every single company the New Democrats have listed in their questions today is a company that the New Democrats admit they will raise taxes on. They say they will raise business taxes on companies like Bombardier and GM to punish those businesses for hiring people in Canada.
Our approach is exactly the opposite. We have a low-tax plan that focuses on training, trade, and tax cuts and that has created 1.2 million net new jobs since the recession. Eighty per cent of those jobs are full-time. Two-thirds are in high-wage sectors.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the good people of British Columbia have been feeling the hit from failed Conservative policies for years. Far too many are working harder than ever but are falling further behind. Nearly 29,000 jobs were lost in British Columbia just last month alone.
However, while Conservatives have billions for the wealthy and well connected, they have no plan whatsoever to kick-start the B.C. economy.
Western Canadians are sick and tired of being taken for granted by these Conservative MPs while the job losses mount and families pay the price. Is there even one Conservative MP from British Columbia who is willing to stand up and fight for our province?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, by delivering trade, training, and tax cuts, our British Columbia MPs stand up and fight for their constituents every single day.
That member would betray British Columbia's interests by imposing higher taxes on businesses there, forcing them to lay off people and sending shockwaves throughout their economy. The anti-trade agenda of the NDP would put a big wall around the Pacific coast and prevent goods from going in and out of the economy. That is the last thing British Columbians need. They need a low-tax plan, and that is what they are getting.