Debates of Oct. 19th, 2016

Health

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the main difference between the approach the previous government had on health care and ours is that we expect that any federal dollars invested in health care actually be spent on health care for Canadians. That is what Canadians expect and if the members opposite disagree with that condition, I think they need to explain that to Canadians.

The Economy

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Albertans continue to struggle under the weight of a bad Liberal economy. In communities like Medicine Hat, thousands of people are looking for work and families are deeply worried about paying their bills and staying in their homes. The Prime Minister's response is to impose a carbon fuel tax, which will hit our province the hardest. Albertans justifiably feel abandoned by the Prime Minister. He is hitting Albertans with a fuel carbon tax at the worst possible time. When will the Prime Minister admit that it is not a lifeline he is throwing Albertans, but an anchor?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, for 10 years the members opposite pretended to be the defenders of Alberta, but they were not able to get our resources to market. They were not able to deliver the growth and the opportunities Albertans need. That is why Albertans voted for a change at the provincial level, and that is why they are looking to a federal government that is going to actually be able to demonstrate that leadership on the environment actually leads to opening up new markets for our resources, that putting more money in the pockets of middle-class families right across the country, including in Alberta, is exactly what communities need, and that bringing in investments and jobs for ordinary Canadians matters.

Ethics

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week the finance minister took a break from drafting the next budget to host a private fundraiser in Halifax with wealthy developers, bankers, and mining executives. Each paid $1,500, the maximum allowed, for the privilege of access to the minister. When it comes to getting the ear of the person overseeing billions of dollars in public spending, that is quite a bargain.

The Prime Minister knows that this sort of cash-for-access fundraising is wrong, so the question is: Why does the Prime Minister continue to allow it, and when will they repay the money?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the federal level has the most stringent election financing rules among provinces and jurisdictions in Canada. Canadians expect us to follow all those rules, and that is exactly what we have done.

Health

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, #realchange.

The provinces believed they had a new partner who was ready to listen to them on issues such as health and the environment. Instead, they are on the receiving end of threats and ultimatums. After health ministers met yesterday, it was clear that the parties have reached an impasse on health care funding.

Will the Prime Minister meet with the premiers for good-faith discussions about health care, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am very much looking forward to meeting with the premiers to discuss a number of issues in the weeks and months to come. We will talk about the things that matter to Canadians.

In terms of health care, Canadians are concerned about the fact that federal health care dollars do not always flow to our health care system.

We expect money invested in health care to be spent in our health care systems. That is a perfectly reasonable condition, and if the deputy does not agree with me, he should say so.

Democratic Reform

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, did he just say “deputy” instead of “member”? We are starting to see the root of the problem.

A year ago, the Prime Minister made a formal commitment to put an end to the current voting system, which creates false majorities.

My question is simple. Will the Prime Minister keep his promise to make the 2015 election the last election under our old, unfair voting system, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the spring the member was very worried that we were not respecting the opinions and perspectives of all members of the House and all Canadians when it comes to changing our voting system.

What we did was form a committee that is going to make thoughtful, responsible recommendations, and we are going to pay very close attention to what comes out of the work done by that committee, which is what he wanted.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Here is the problem, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that while he liked the idea of getting rid of our unfair first past the post system, now that he has been able to get elected using that very system, it might not be so bad after all.

Canadians have been clear that in 2019, every vote should count. A year ago, the Prime Minister said he agreed with them. Instead of inventing excuses and backing away from his solemn promise to Canadians, will he work with us in good faith to deliver the fair proportional electoral system voters deserve?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the spring, the member opposite was tremendously worried that we would use our majority to ram through changes to Canada's electoral system, and we worked with them to demonstrate the hard work a committee could do, hearing all perspectives and giving a report on our electoral system.

Now he has changed his mind, and he wants us to use our majority to ram through electoral change. Saying one thing and then its opposite was exactly what landed that member in that seat in this House.

Health

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the relationship between this government and the provincial health ministers continues to deteriorate. After the Prime Minister said that the provinces were misusing their money, the minister added insult to injury by commenting on how the provinces manage the transfers. Now she is saying that she was misquoted.

Why did the minister have to apologize? What did she have to apologize for?

I would like to hear what she has to say about that.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are proud of their public health care system, but we know there is room for improvement.

Yesterday, I had a meeting with my counterparts and I said that we would invest in health. However, health investments need to go toward health care. That is what Canadians expect.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

That may very well be, Mr. Speaker, but I would still like to talk about they are doing today.

If the minister wanted to keep practising medicine, then that is what she should have done. Today, she is trying to tell the provinces how to manage health care, but that is their responsibility. The provinces were told that they were mismanaging the money that is transferred to them.

Which provinces are mismanaging the money, Madam Minister? Please name the provinces that are mismanaging the money.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would remind the hon. member to address the chair.

The hon. Minister of Health.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that I am a doctor. I worked as a doctor in Canada for more than 30 years. Even though Canadians are proud of their health care system, I know that it is in need of improvement and could serve Canadians better.

That is why I am working with my counterparts. We are going to make investments in health and we want that money to truly be invested in health.

Finance

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the last thing we need is for the federal government to interfere in provincial jurisdictions given how it manages its own finances.

When I read in this morning's paper that the Prime Minister was not ruling out higher deficits, even though he promised a small deficit during the election, I had some serious concerns. The deficit is now out of control.

Deficits are amounts of money borrowed at the expense of our children and grandchildren, especially when there is no repayment plan.

How can the Prime Minister—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please.

The hon. Minister of Finance.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's economic growth in the past decade has been too low. That is why we decided to invest in infrastructure and to make investments that will increase our growth rate in the future for our children and grandchildren. That is how we can grow our economy at this juncture and in the future.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in an attempt to justify this huge deficit, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance keep telling us that they are spending money to drive the economy.

In addition to the thousands of jobs that have been lost over the past year, just this morning, the Bank of Canada released another report downgrading the country's growth outlook. Where is the Liberal's economic plan? They do not have one. It is with the dozens of consultations that this government has undertaken since the beginning of the year.

Can the Minister of Finance tell us what new tax he is going to create to eliminate this future deficit?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, growth is very important to our economy.

After a year, we can say that we have done many things to help Canada's middle class. The tax relief we provided to middle-class families has really changed the course of their lives.

Nine million Canadians and nine out of ten families with children are now better off. What is more, Canadians will benefit from improvements to the Canada pension plan and a higher growth rate.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of their children, the Liberals have done nothing but hurt hard-working Canadians since taking office. Their spending is out of control, they have raised taxes on everything, and they have made it harder for Canadians to save. Now they are changing the mortgage rules, which will make it harder for first-time home buyers to get their first home.

How can average Canadians believe that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, who have inherited millions, understand the challenges young Canadians face when buying their first home?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we take our responsibilities to Canadians and Canadian families very seriously. We know that the housing market is something Canadians have a rightful interest in. We know that the investment in housing is, in most cases, the most significant investment for a Canadian family. That is why we want to ensure that the market is stable over the long term.

The measures we have taken will ensure that Canadians, now and in the future, can be assured that their investment is safe and secure, because we have taken the responsible action to help the market be secure for the long term.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my friends Tony and Noel, from my riding, have saved for six years for their dream of owning their very first home. The finance minister just recently released changes with regard to mortgage rules, and now these same friends no longer qualify for the same amount they once did.

ThePrime Minister claimed that he would help the middle class out, but instead, over the last year, 1.4 million Canadians are without jobs, small businesses are struggling and failing, and now young Canadians have to wait even longer to be able to buy their first home.

How can young Canadians trust the Prime Minister, when his policies make it even more difficult for them to succeed?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take us back to a year ago, when the party opposite was saying that it would balance the budget--