Debates of Dec. 11th, 2018

Chipman Youth Centre

[Pat Finnigan, Liberal, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Chipman Youth Centre is nothing short of amazing. Its small staff, led by Faith Kennedy, is truly changing lives for the better in that community.

The Chipman Youth Centre offers many opportunities to the children of this rural area, such as low-cost after-school care, dance classes, crockpot cooking, a girls self-esteem program, a library program, a babysitting class, and an adopt-a-grandparent program, just to name a few.

Village youth team members volunteer with not-for-profit organizations in the area. The program is designed to keep the young people of Chipman active in their community and to help them develop excellent work ethics and leadership skills while gaining valuable experience. This past summer, this amazing group of just 17 youth volunteered 1,119.5 hours.

I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding the Chipman Youth Centre and all its volunteers.

Vestshell

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to recognize the consistently remarkable work being done by Vestshell, a company that recently won a Performance Québec 2018 award in the independent manufacturing SME category.

Since 1964, Vestshell has been serving various industries, including the aerospace, nuclear and medical sectors, to name just a few. Vestshell is well known in Canada, the U.S. and Europe for the quality of its products.

This is the highest distinction Quebec can award to outstanding companies. I am of course very pleased that this honour has been bestowed upon a company located in Montreal North, in the riding of Bourassa, which I represent here.

I congratulate the president of Vestshell, Joseph Laflamme, and the employees for their energy and enthusiasm. Well done.

Christmas

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 'tis the season for traditions. In my home, it is opening the stockings and funning and feasting with family. In my riding, it is Santa Claus parades, Christmas concerts and the lighting of the parks that mark this special season.

Here at work, we celebrate with Santa for the kids, trees in our offices and flipping the switch on the spectacular Parliament Hill lights show. The halls of Centre Block sparkle with red-ribboned trees and garlands, and of course, there is always the MP for Cape Breton—Canso's annual irreverent version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. They are all part of what makes this House feel like a home. As this will be the last Christmas in this chamber for most of us, let us hope that many of these traditions we hold dear will continue in the new place.

I wish all my colleagues here and all my constituents, from Long Point to Lowbanks, from Caledonia to Kelvin and Courtland, a happy Christmas, happy holidays, and a wonderful new year.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with apologies to my Irish colleagues,Bon Echo clean, our highland scene,
the prettiest riding you've ever seen.
It's Christmas in Cloyne,
with all the folks at home.

The Bright Light Show, reflects on snow,
and all the people of Napanee go,
to celebrate downtown of course,
because they feel at home.
Rural doors are always open,
at Christmas time in Tweed.
And Mr. Speaker, before you go,
to Marmora I'll lead!
Bancroft's hearts are light,
Bath's spirits are bright,
Madoc celebrates with joy tonight,
It's Christmas in my riding,
with all the folks at home.
We'll decorate our Christmas trees,
in Stirling and Denbigh,
All round Stone Mills township,
and Greater Napanee.
There's gifts to bring
and songs to sing,
and laughs to make Deseronto ring,
It's Christmas in my riding,
with all the folks at home.

Merry Christmas.

Élites Football Team from Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur in Granby

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Élites youth football team from Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur in Granby crowned an exceptional season by winning the Eastern Townships league finals for the first time in its short history.

I would like to congratulate these young athletes, who demonstrated intensity, discipline and great execution in this game. Their teamwork was incredible. The final game was really spectacular, and the close score throughout the game had fans on the edge of their seats.

I want to highlight the support of all the college staff involved in the football program, including executive director Claude Lacroix, program founder Benoit Penelle, current team manager Réal Brunelle, and head coach Claude Lessard.

I would like to thank the parents for their support. Once again, congratulations to the champions of the Eastern Townships football league, the Élites from Granby's Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur.

Christmas

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker,'Twas the month before Christmas and all through this House
Canadians miffed, Liberals quiet as a mouse
Taxpayers hung stockings by the chimney with care
With fear that the carbon tax soon would be there.
The Cabinet were nestled all smug in their beds
While visions of deficits danced in their heads.
When out on the borders there arose such a clatter
PM says, “Open the borders, what does it matter?”
To the window the Finance Minister flew like a flash
He tore open the shutters and threw out more cash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a ministerial sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, could it be St. Nick?
No, it was little Gerry Butts, it was just a trick.
With his sleigh full of handouts, in they came
Gerry whistled and shouted and called them by name.
On deficits! On spending! On with the fiscal mess!
All of this contributing to Canadians' stress.
'Twas the night before Christmas, October 19 is near
We'll throw them out and replace them with Andrew Scheer.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Of course, the hon. member knows that we do not refer to members by their personal names.

The hon. member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River.

Parliamentary Personnel

[Don Rusnak, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of the year and the closing of Centre Block, I would like to take this time, on behalf of all members of this House, to thank the dedicated parliamentary personnel who work hard to make our jobs possible. All parliamentary staff embody a high level of professionalism, such as Constables Robert Poirier and Michelle Renaud of the Parliamentary Protective Service. Both will be retiring this January after 30 years of service. I think I speak for all members here when I thank them for their hard work and dedication to duty and wish them all the best in the future.

I would also like to thank the staff and the supervisor of catering services, cafeterias and the Parliamentary Dining Room, Dino Storti.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Don Rusnak, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Dino has provided over 14 years of excellent service to members of all parties in both Houses. It is because of him and his team's tireless efforts that events and receptions here can go off without a hitch. We appreciate his hard work.

The parliamentary personnel's excellence is a service to all Canadians and this country. On behalf of all of us here, I thank them very much. May they all have a very merry Christmas and an extraordinary new year.

Christmas

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I would like to read my letter to Santa.

Dear Santa,

My name is Wayne, and I live in Kootenay—Columbia. I have tried to be a good boy this year, did not heckle even once in question period, but I did shake my head a lot of times. My Christmas list is short, but it means a lot to me.

I would like fair and timely settlements of labour agreements for our postal workers, our parliamentary protective service officers and our border security officers;

That in the future, all trade agreements would make agriculture the number one priority;

That the federal, provincial and municipal governments and all Canadians will work together to fight climate change;

That in our new House of Commons in West Block, we will always put principles ahead of politics;

And that all of our parliamentary family will stay safe over the holiday season.

I know that is a lot to ask for, Santa, but maybe if you team up with a higher power, the two of you can deliver on it.

Thanks Santa, and merry Christmas.

P S. I am only leaving out carrots for both you and the reindeer this year. I am a little concerned about your weight.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I trust the member does not think that I am Santa.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.

Government Record

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 2018 is drawing to a close, and it is time to take stock. This has been a year of failure for the Liberal government, and that is putting it mildly.

The Liberal government has failed when it comes to sound management of public funds. For the third year in a row, it has presented a budget that is not balanced, it is running astronomical deficits, and it has no idea when it will balance the budget.

The Liberal government has failed when it comes to respect for our borders. Roxham Road still exists because of the Prime Minister's ill-considered tweet, which is going to cost us $1 billion.

The Liberal government has failed when it comes to the full development of our natural resources. Not an inch of pipeline has been built. However, the Prime Minister did accomplish two things: he insulted pipeline workers, and he sent $4.5 billion in taxpayers' money to Houston.

The Liberal government has failed when it comes to our international relations. The Prime Minister took a trip to India that was particularly embarrassing and shameful for Canada. What is more, despite the trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, the tariffs on steel, aluminum and softwood lumber are still in place and are directly affecting 80,000 Canadian workers.

Fortunately, 2019 is just around the corner, and Canadians will be able to say bye-bye to the Liberal government.

King's Daughters

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have some special guests in the House today. We have the immense honour of welcoming 14 Filles du Roy who made Canada, more specifically the seigneury of Laprairie, their home from 1663 to 1674.

Very few people are aware of the history of these women. Sponsored by King Louis XIV to populate the colony, the Filles du Roy played an important role in the demographic and socioeconomic development of New France. Just 10 years after the arrival of 764 Filles du Roy in 1673, Canada's population tripled. That says it all.

In that sense, we might consider them, and rightly so, Canada's daughters. Next year, the Société d’histoire des Filles du Roy would like to organize an exhibition that would include a replica of the log cabins the Filles du Roy lived in. The organization would also like to make September 22 a commemorative day in Canada to mark the arrival of the first contingent of the Filles du Roy.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my colleagues, the pages and all staff very happy holidays.

The Economy

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that the budget would be balanced in the coming year. Now he is admitting that there will be a giant deficit instead.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer announced today that the deficit could be $11 billion more than what was announced by the Prime Minister. If that is true, the deficit will grow by about $30 billion a year.

Not only did the Prime Minister say that the budget would be balanced, but he misled Canadians about the deficit. Why?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, here are the benefits of a real economic plan: we have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years, we created 700,000 new jobs in the past three years, and every family has an average of $2,000 more a year than under the Conservative government.

We have a plan to invest in the middle class and to grow the economy. For 10 years, the Conservatives' growth stagnated. We focused on what is important to Canadians and we met their expectations.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not the case.

Here is what the Prime Minister said about deficits during the last election. He said that his plan to get back to balanced budgets was “very” set in stone, and that he was looking straight at Canadians and being honest, that the budget would be balanced in 2019.

We found out a couple of weeks ago that that was not the case. The Prime Minister had smashed through his promise and had racked up massive deficits of almost $20 billion.

If that were not bad enough, today we find out that it is going to be even worse, at almost $30 billion next year. Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians in the last election?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, we made a promise to Canadians that we would invest in the middle class and grow the economy, because for 10 years they had had a Conservative government under Stephen Harper that gave benefits and advantages to the wealthiest and did not have growth to show for it.

We took a 1% growth rate under the Conservatives and turned it into a 3% growth rate. We created 700,000 new jobs over the past three years, and right now we have the lowest unemployment rate in recorded history in Canada.

We are moving forward in a way that invests in Canadians and builds for their—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's record is actually very clear. He has raised taxes on the middle class, but for those who have inherited great wealth through trust funds, he has protected their assets.

It is no wonder that the Prime Minister does not worry about the impacts of his irresponsible spending, because he has never had to worry about money. Canadians are worried about the legacy of deficits that he is placing on their shoulders.

Does Prime Minister really believe that Canadians do not understand that they are on the hook for his irresponsible spending?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if they want to talk about the legacy of debt, the Conservatives added $150 billion to Canada's national debt, and this is the kicker, with nothing to show for it, with the lowest growth rate since the Great Depression.

We came forward with a positive plan to invest in Canadians, and that is what we did. It is working. Our plan has delivered the lowest unemployment in 40 years and has created 700,000 new jobs. The Conservatives have no plan, other than the failed policies of Stephen Harper.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knows that is just not true.

The previous Conservative government got through a global recession and came roaring back with the greatest job growth in the G7. That is the situation he inherited. He inherited great fortune, and not just personally, a global booming economy, lifting up Canada.

What did the Prime Minister do with that? He squandered it. He has racked up, now, almost $30 billion worth of deficits alone. Canadians are going to have to pay that back.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit that his budget is spiralling out of control, and that under his watch deficits are here to stay?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what the Conservatives continue not to understand is their phony efforts to balance the budget just in time for the election, cutting millions from veterans by closing their service centres, cutting millions from hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast, whether it was the Canada Border Services Agency or hard-working Canadians getting short shrift because of their cuts to programs. The Conservatives' obsession with providing a phony budget balance before an election hurt Canadians.

We invested in Canadians and have the positive results to show for it. They had no plan—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, you are darned right that we are obsessed with treating taxpayers' dollars responsibly.