House of Commons Hansard #148 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-23.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to going after tax evaders, tax evasion, and tax fraud. That is why we invested over $440 million in budget 2016, so the Canada Revenue Agency could continue to press against any tax fraud or evaders.
We will continue to work very hard to ensure everyone pays their fair share of taxes. That is what Canadians expect. That is what we expect.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, we know that this government is spending recklessly, and now another organization is warning the Liberals.
The Financial Post is reporting today that the Bank for International Settlements has given the Canadian government a serious warning: if nothing changes, we might be heading towards a major financial crisis. It mentioned vulnerabilities and warning signs that must not be ignored.
As we have been telling the government for months now, we need to stop living beyond our means. Does the Minister of Finance finally understand that he needs to manage public funds more judiciously?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, our goal is to improve the lives of the middle class and those working hard to join it.
That is why we are investing in our economy in order to increase growth and create more opportunities for Canadian employment. That is our plan. We will continue with our plan to improve the lives of Canadians across the country.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance speaks excellent French. He has certainly polished the same old answer he keeps repeating over and over again. The problem is that Canada is in a precarious financial situation. Why is the Minister of Finance not even listening to his own officials, who told him in a report, which he kept hidden for 10 weeks, that if nothing changes, we are heading for a $1.5-trillion debt and will not balance the budget until 2055? It makes no sense, and that is why the Bank for International Settlements is calling him to order.
Who is going to make the Minister of Finance realize that enough is enough, that it is time to manage Canadian public finances properly?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, our current situation continues to improve. Over the past six months, we have seen improvement in the job situation across the country. It is the best it has been since 2002. There were more jobs in the past six months than there have been since 2002.There were more jobs in the past year than in 2013, 2014, and 2015. We are continuing to invest in Canada to ensure that there are jobs for Canadians across the country.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, on the carbon tax cover-up, a barista earning $35,000 a year does not earn enough to get anything from the so-called middle-class tax plan, but does earn enough to pay a new Liberal carbon tax on gas, groceries, and electricity. To get some of that money back, she would need to buy a $150,000 electric car in Ontario.
Will the government end the carbon tax cover-up and release its calculation on the cost of this new tax to the middle class and those working to join it?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to creating a cleaner, more innovative economy, one that reduces emissions and protects our environment, while creating good middle-class jobs.
After a decade of complete inaction on the climate change file and on the innovation file from the previous government, we are focused on taking real action to address these issues. Our government has posted the results of the consultations and the work of the working group that relates to carbon pricing online. I would encourage the member to go there to review the information.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, during the debate last week on my motion with respect to the carbon tax cover-up, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation said, “Revenue neutrality...is something that will be determined by each province and territory”. In plain English, that means in Ontario the Prime Minister has handed the spoils of the carbon tax to Kathleen Wynne who is spending it on rebates for millionaires who can afford $150,000 electric cars.
The government has data on the effect of the tax and the gap between the rich and the poor. Will the Liberals end the carbon tax cover-up and release that data today?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would repeat what I said to the hon. member with respect to this question last week. The document he is actually referring to was prepared under the previous government and released in October 2015. If he wants proper and relevant information relating to carbon pricing, he should review the document that is posted on the Environment Canada website.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, whose department is responsible for the carbon tax cover-up, said that releasing the costs ”could cause confusion for Canadians, industries, provinces and territories, and our partners around the world about Canada's actual plan and the cost associated with it”. However, there is no confusion. This new tax is devastating. Small businesses like Fargo Ventures in Bonnyville have to pass on cost increases to their customers.
Will the Minister of Finance release his department's report and end the carbon tax cover-up?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, this government remains focused on and committed to creating and generating innovation and reducing our emissions concurrently. Pricing of carbon pollution will provide certainty and predictability to businesses. Pricing pollution will also drive innovation in the country.
After 10 years of a government doing nothing, this government is focused on ensuring we both reduce emissions, we drive innovation, and we create good middle-class jobs.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals claim to be open, transparent, and fair, but it is clear they are deliberately covering up the harmful consequences of their carbon tax.
The Liberals should be straight with Canadians, but it is obvious why they are not. They do not want us to know they are making everything more expensive for everyone and they are hurting the most vulnerable the most. This tax will hit low-income Canadians, the working poor, and people with low incomes and on fixed incomes the worst.
How can the minister say this carbon tax cover-up is open, transparent, and fair to all Canadians?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous government, we are focused on supporting middle-class Canadians in every phase of their lives.
When it comes to the middle class, our government has reduced taxes for nine million Canadians. We have implemented a child benefit that benefits nine out 10 Canadians and raises 300,000 Canadian children out of jobs. We have enhanced the student loan programming that will—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. I know members want to applaud the hon. parliamentary secretary, but they should wait until he finishes his answer.
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
That will raise 300,000 Canadian children out of poverty, Mr. Speaker.
With respect to the environment, we worked actively with the provinces and territories, something the previous government did not do, to come up with a comprehensive plan—
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, the KPMG affair is again haunting the Minister of National Revenue as a result of the airing of the most recent episode of Enquête.
The KPMG scheme was used in the early 2000s and no criminal charges have yet been laid against the thieves.
The minister has been on the job for 18 months and we have yet to see any action. The problem is that the minister does not walk the talk. Words are no longer enough.
Will the minister undertake to launch a full inquiry into the secret agreements signed with these white collar criminals? In particular, will she promise today to file criminal charges against these thieves, not just against the KPMG accountants but also against the fraudsters themselves?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, it was the Canada Revenue Agency that discovered KPMG's offshore tax avoidance scheme. My colleague knows very well that this is an active file and that the CRA's work is before the courts. Discussing the matter would compromise our efforts.
Since some of my colleagues seem to have a short memory, I would like to remind them that, last March, the matter was reviewed by an independent third party, which found that the CRA's actions were consistent with its policies and procedures and based on the facts.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, $444 million has been invested, yet no charges have been laid. White collar criminals must be shaking in their boots.
People who go to work every day pay their taxes. They do not have a choice. However, if they are late to file their tax return, the CRA cracks down on them right away and charges them interest. It is funny how the same rules do not apply to millionaires. Millionaires can hide their money in the shade of the palm trees of some tax haven, and that is fine. If they are caught, they can enter into secret agreements so that they do not have to pay any fines.
When will the Liberal government stop being so spineless? When will it stand up? When will it do away with tax loopholes? When will it renegotiate the bilateral conventions? When will it punish fraudsters?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, our government is firmly committed to combatting tax evasion and tax avoidance and to ensuring that our tax system is fair for all Canadians.
Over the past year, our government has recovered $13 billion thanks to our commitment to combat tax evasion. The CRA has increased its capacity for intelligence gathering and now has access to a lot more information.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, today, the innovation minister was forced to stand in this House and acknowledge that he had misled when he said that the company he is selling our B.C. retirement homes to was Canadian. He confirmed what we have been saying all along. It is going to be under Chinese ownership.
In the minister's desire to be transparent, will he confirm who owns Anbang Insurance? Is it the Chinese company he agreed to sell our facilities to or , as one of the residents in my riding says, “Who will own my home?”
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, we think investment is a good thing. Global investment into Canada is good for our economy. It will create opportunities. It will create jobs.
On this specific transaction under the Investment Canada Act, we made sure that we put forward a proposal that focuses on growth and opportunities for seniors, as well.
With regard to Retirement Concepts that are managed and operated by Canadians, they have now the ability to expand, which will provide better services for seniors and more job opportunities, and that is good for the economy.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have no faith in the minister at all. He said he did his due diligence, but he did not even know who owned the company that is going to be taking care of our seniors. We want to know who owns Anbang Insurance. Two weeks ago, he said it was Canadians. Who owns it? Will he put the sale on hold until he assures people throughout Canada that he has done his due diligence and this is not a hasty political sellout.
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, the British Columbia government has approved operating licences for Retirement Concepts. I want to make it very clear. We are open to trade and we are open to investments, because they are good for the economy.
When it comes to seniors, we do not need any lessons from the member opposite. It is our government that increased the guaranteed income supplement for seniors. It is our government that reduced the old age security age from 67 to 65.
We will continue to help seniors and we will continue to find economic opportunities that will create growth and jobs.