House of Commons Hansard #2 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was need.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, last month, 71,000 Canadians went home, looked their families in the eye and said, “I lost my job”. Half of all Canadians are $200 away from insolvency, and the rate of insolvency is up 13% in just one year, a decade-old record. Government taxes and regulations have driven investment out, jobs down and the cost of living up.
When will the Liberals reverse course, get off the backs of Canadian workers and businesses and let our economy get back on track?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, in fact, we will continue on the course of investing in Canadians. We know that what we have done over the last four years in creating jobs has been important. We also need to recognize that as the economy goes through changes, we need to continue making those sorts of investments.
The first action of our government will be to recognize some of the challenges that Canadians face by reducing taxes for middle-class Canadians and ensuring that people actually have more money in their pockets. I am looking forward to the member for Carleton voting for that, recognizing that Canadians do need more money and that tax reductions are in order.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister was patting himself on the back. He should have spoken directly to the 71,000 Canadians who lost their jobs. Insolvency rates are the highest we have seen in a decade. Rates have increased by 13%.
When will the Minister of Finance get out of his dream world and face reality?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we need to think about how to improve our economy and make things better for Canadians. That is our approach.
We are investing in the future and in families, and it is important that we continue with our approach. We have had success in recent years, but we certainly face more challenges. This is why we will look at how to lower taxes to help families in the future.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was found guilty by the Ethics Commissioner of politically interfering in the criminal prosecution of his friends at SNC-Lavalin. He blocked an investigation into his own corruption at the justice committee and again at the ethics committee. Now the Prime Minister is continuing to block the RCMP by refusing to co-operate with its investigation.
Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and end his cover-up?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility of any prime minister to stand up for jobs across the country while upholding the rule of law. We have accepted the Ethics Commissioner's report, taking full responsibility. We have already begun to implement the recommendations made by former attorney general Anne McLellan.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I am sorry, and maybe the Speaker is getting old and his hearing is going, but I am having a hard time hearing the government House leader. I would ask him to continue so that I may hear it.
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker we want to ensure that, going forward, governments never face this type of situation again.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am back facing a minority government that is under close scrutiny.
We on this side of the House are not the only ones keeping an eye on the Prime Minister. The RCMP is, too.
The Prime Minister is blocking the RCMP from obtaining documents on his political interference in the SNC-Lavalin case.
When will the government finally co-operate and let the RCMP have the documents?
Canadians want the truth.
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, some things never change. My colleague says the government is under scrutiny. Well, all parliamentarians are under scrutiny by Canadians. On October 21, Canadians sent us a very clear message. They want us to work together and try to move forward together on matters of common interest. On that note, it is the responsibility of every prime minister to stand up for jobs across the country, while respecting the rule of law. We accepted the Ethics Commissioner's report and took responsibility. We have already started implementing the recommendations of former attorney general Anne McLellan.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, in yesterday's throne speech, the government reiterated its commitment to strengthening old age pensions. That is a good thing, something we advocated for during the last election campaign. However, there is something unclear that I would like the government to clarify right away.
Does the government want to increase old age pensions for people 65 and older, or does it want to create two classes of seniors?
Deb Schulte LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, given this is the first time I have had the chance to stand and speak in the 43rd Parliament, I want to thank the people of King—Vaughan for electing me again to represent them here in the House. I also want to thank the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve a very important demographic in our country, our seniors, as Minister of Seniors.
I want to assure the member that our government has been working on behalf of seniors since the first day it was elected. As members are aware from our platform, we will be looking at increasing the OAS and at how we will do that. We committed to do that in our platform. We will be working forward on a 10% increase at age 75. That is what we promised in our platform.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot in the throne speech about seniors, but not all seniors. The Liberals' promise is for seniors 75 and older, not all seniors. Poverty does not wait until people hit 75. For too many seniors, it is a reality as soon as they retire.
Will the government commit to increasing old age pensions for everyone 65 and older, or does it want to create two classes of seniors?
Deb Schulte LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, I did hear the question and I did answer the question.
I want to make sure that I reiterate the work that we have been doing on behalf of seniors. Earlier in our mandate, we were focusing on more vulnerable seniors. We have restored the age of eligibility for old age security and the guaranteed income supplement to 65, and that kept 100,000 seniors out of poverty.
More recently, we supported low-income seniors who work by increasing their earnings exemption for the GIS from $3,500 to $5,000. We raised the guaranteed income supplement for single seniors, helping 900,000—
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, agriculture was not even mentioned in the throne speech but why should we be surprised? The Prime Minister is responsible for Canadian farmers losing their most important canola market.
Liberal failures are crippling Canadian farm families and it is only getting worse. Three million acres of canola are buried under snow, and because of the Liberal carbon tax the cost of drying grain is skyrocketing.
When is the Prime Minister going to stand with farmers, stand up to China and regain market access for our canola?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
As we promised, Mr. Speaker, we are standing with our ranchers and farmers. This is very important. We are working with them through a working committee, with the provinces and with industry. We are doing different things to support them and to reopen the market in China.
We have started conversations through the WTO. We are having technical discussions with Chinese officials. Ambassador Barton is working hard in the field, and we keep working with our industries here in Canada as well.
Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, our beef farmers are hurting in Ontario. Farmers are being left in the dark about the ongoing dispute between the CFIA and three specific beef processing plants in Ontario. The shutting down of these plants has caused many farmers to go into crisis.
What immediate action is the minister going to take to help these farmers impacted by the closures?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, we understand the resulting loss of processing capacity that the closing of Ryding-Regency has had on the beef sector and the impact this can have on farmers' income. I can assure the member that we are working with the industry to find other ways to support the industry. Food safety is obviously a top priority for our government and for CFIA. We have different programs ongoing and are supporting the industry.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has completely abandoned farmers.
Farmers across the country have many reasons to be concerned: dairy, egg and poultry producers still have not received full compensation; inaction on China, which continues to ban imports of western canola; uncertainty in fuel transport, which led to a propane shortage and nearly caused a disaster in Ontario and Quebec.
What does this government plan to do to stand up for our farmers?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, the agricultural industry is extremely important to our government. We are working with every sector.
Take supply management, for example. I would remind hon. members that we promised to give our dairy farmers $1.75 billion. The first cheques have already gone out to our farmers. The process is under way. I invite all farmers who have not completed their claims to do so as soon as possible in order to receive their money.
On the issue of canola, talks with China are ongoing.
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me express my gratitude to the residents of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity for re-electing me as their member of Parliament.
The offshore industry provides many opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to stay in the province and find good, well-paying jobs. It is an industry that builds our communities and has turned our province into a hub for the creation of new technologies and innovation.
With recent news of an expected uptake in exploration activity, including multi-billion dollar investments, can the Minister of Natural Resources please inform the House on his priorities for Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore industry?
Natural ResourcesOral Questions
St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, Canada's offshore industry has created economic benefits that reach families in communities right across the country through sustainable and responsible development. We do this through strong investments, regulatory stability and meaningful relationships with stakeholders. We are ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore remains an attractive place to invest and create good jobs.
Telecommunications IndustryOral Questions
Michelle Rempel Garner Calgary Nose Hill, CPC
Mr. Speaker, today Canadians pay the same amount for five gigabytes of data as an American pays for 12 gigabytes, and the difference is even more stark compared to what a European pays. It is not fair to Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet and it makes us uncompetitive.
Over four years, the Liberals have always put Canada's big wireless companies first, as opposed to lowering costs for Canadians with innovative spectrum licence designs or other ways of getting low-cost wireless access for Canadians. Why?