House of Commons Hansard #226 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-49.
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, what is really shocking is that members opposite do not really understand how it works in this country. We have—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. I am sure members understand that they need to hear the answers and I need to hear the answers. We need some order.
The hon. Minister of Finance has the floor.
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, for the 338 members of this House, for the ministers of this government, for the ministers of the previous government, and for the ministers of the government before that, we work with the Ethics Commissioner to disclose all of our assets, as I have done. We get recommendations from the Ethics Commissioner on how we can ensure we do not have conflicts of interest, which I did. Then we follow the recommendations of the Ethics Commissioner to make sure that we actually execute that on an ongoing basis, without conflicts of interest, which is what I did. That is—
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister of Finance does not know how our government works, and this is why we are in deep problems now.
Canadians are interested in knowing what assets the finance minister holds for the simple reason that he is the finance minister. That is all. The finance minister is the man behind all of these tax measures. That is why, before he sold his shares, every decision he made placed him in a conflict of interest. The problem is that he still owns companies we know nothing about.
Can the minister tell us what he is holding in 1446977 Ontario Inc.?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as I said, I will continue to focus on the numbers that really matter to Canadians, such as the 300,000 children no longer living in poverty, and the fact that we have the highest growth rate in the G7 and the lowest unemployment rate in the past decade. These are the numbers that matter to our country and to us as a government.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, this minister's government is running a deficit of over $20 billion, which is twice as much as the Liberals promised during the election campaign. We know that this minister takes action only when he is caught. That is what he did with his shares and his private companies, and that is what he must do now with his numbered companies.
I have another question. Can the finance minister tell us what he is holding in 2135042 Ontario Inc.?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I have the same answer to the same question. It is very important for us to consider how we can improve the lives of Canadians. That is our goal. It is a very important goal. Fortunately for Canadians, our economy is in great shape. As we said, we now have the highest rate of economic growth and the lowest unemployment rate in a decade. That is very important for us now and for our children's future.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, as the current government lobbies the Senate to pass Bill S-3, indigenous women and the Feminist Alliance for International Action are again calling on the Liberals to accept a Senate amendment to end all sex discrimination. This amendment, similar to one proposed by my NDP colleague but voted down by the Liberals on National Indigenous Peoples Day of all days, would fully remove sex discrimination from the Indian Act. Why would the feminist Prime Minister, whose most important relationship is with indigenous peoples, not remove all sex discrimination from the Indian Act?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring gender equity for all women in Canada. We are committed to ensuring adequate time for a meaningful debate of Bill S-3, particularly in the context of the new court deadline of December 22. Our government is committed to working with first nations communities, impacted individuals, experts, and parliamentarians to remove all sex discrimination from the registration provisions within the Indian Act.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, legal discrimination against women is unacceptable in 2017, unless apparently they are indigenous women, because colonial Ottawa still maintains the power to decide who has indigenous rights in this country and it has disenfranchised thousands of women. Now the courts have ordered a remedy, and what a sight. Our feminist Prime Minister is saying he needs more time to consult. Come on, governments have had 150 years of time to obstruct the rights of indigenous women. Time is up. Will the Prime Minister amend Bill S-3 and end sex discrimination against indigenous women once and for all, yes or no?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, we are the first government ever in the history of Canada to make all efforts possible to eliminate sex discrimination for women within the Indian Act. That is our intention. That is our commitment. We are working with first nations, with individuals, and with Canadians to ensure that we remove all sex discrimination from the registration provisions of the Indian Act. That is a commitment that we stand by as a government.
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have watched in horror as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people have been forced from their homes and murdered in Myanmar over recent months in what is being described as ethnic cleansing.
Last week, the government announced major initiatives to help put an end to the violence in the region.
Can the minister give us an update on the additional measures our government has taken to allow Canadians to help the Rohingya?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of International Development and La Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Scarborough—Rouge Park for his involvement in this important issue.
Our government remains deeply concerned by the crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya. That is why I just launched a Myanmar crisis relief fund, a matching fund.
The government will match every dollar Canadians donate between now and November 28 to support the efforts of our humanitarian partners on the ground. I urge Canadians to be generous and to visit Canada.ca/myanmarcrisis.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister continues to insist she has made no changes to the policies that govern the disability tax credit. We have letters that prove that is not right. However, the most convincing proof is that 80% of those with type 1 diabetes who used to be approved for the credit are now being denied. Who told the minister to raise taxes on those suffering from type 1 diabetes?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, no changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the disability tax credit and for people with diabetes. The concerns raised by the groups are important, but I can say that for 10 years, the former Conservative government made cuts to scientific research. Our government has invested $41 million in research into diabetes. We will continue to work with our partners to eradicate diabetes in Canada.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, we have seen the new documents, and 80% of applicants for the disability tax credit were approved before May of this year. Now, that same 80% who were approved are being denied.
The revenue minister continues to say that Canadians will get the disability tax credits they deserve. Therefore, my question is, does she think people with type 1 diabetes deserve the disability tax credit, yes or no?
TaxationOral Questions
October 31st, 2017 / 2:50 p.m.
Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Québec
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, again, no changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the tax credits. Our objective remains the same. We want people to receive the credits and benefits to which they are entitled.
We are working with our partners. We have invested $41 million in research. We have simplified the forms for the tax credit. We have hired clinical nurses. We are doing the work the public is asking us to do.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Minister of Finance says, we know how the Liberal government operates. The Minister of National Revenue has to find money to pay for the Liberals' deficits.
Unfortunately for Canadians, she is taking her mandate a bit too seriously. She has chosen to take money from the most vulnerable, people with diabetes, mental illness, and other health problems.
On this side of the house, instead of defending ministers who hide their family fortunes, like in an episode of Dynasty, we will always stand up for the least fortunate.
Which side will the minister choose? Will she finally stop attacking the most vulnerable?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as a former social worker, I am very proud to say that I have always worked for society's most vulnerable and least fortunate.
I have some good news for my colleagues opposite too: total tax credit approvals for people with mental illness reached unprecedented levels last year.
We are making mental health care credits easier to get, we are simplifying the forms, and we are hiring clinical nurses. We are continuing to work with our partners. That is what our government promised, and we intend to continue delivering on that promise.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in question period, the revenue minister continued to pat herself on the back by saying “Our government is fully committed to ensuring that everyone receives the tax credits to which they are entitled”.
These words are cold comfort to those who suffer from type 1 diabetes, mental illness, or autism who are suddenly being denied disability tax credits, all because these Liberals need more money to fund their out-of-control spending. Is the denial of the disability tax credit on a massive scale this minister's idea of ensuring that all Canadians get the tax credits to which they are entitled?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, all Canadians should get the tax credits they are entitled to. I would suggest that my colleagues opposite stop telling Canadians things that are not true. We invested $41 million in diabetes research. We invested $5 billion in mental health. That money will enable us to help 500,000 young people under the age of 25. We have simplified our forms, we are hiring clinical nurses, we are working with our partners, and we will keep doing all those things because that is what we promised Canadians.
Sheri Benson NDP Saskatoon West, SK
Mr. Speaker, reports from The Globe and Mail state that this government is failing to track workplace fatalities in Canada. It is critical that the Liberals lead and collect new data to support evidence-based interventions in dangerous work to protect Canadian workers. Does the government know how many worker fatalities there have been in Canada this year? Of course not, as they do not have the information.
Will the Liberal government work with us, take leadership, and collect data to keep Canadian workers safe and alive?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, we agree with the member opposite that it is tragic whenever a worker loses their life in the workplace. That is why we are taking action to make sure that the health and safety of Canadian workers is first and foremost in what we do. Everyone has the right to a safe workplace and a healthy working environment.
In budget 2017 we announced new compliance and enforcement tools that include new administrative monetary penalties and the authority to publicly name violators. We are also currently working with provinces and territories to harmonize occupational health and safety regulations.
We agree data is important. We will move forward.