Debates of Dec. 9th, 2019

Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I stand for the first time as the member of Parliament for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon.

During the election I asked voters to consider the following, which bears repeating:

Was I open, transparent and accessible? Did I do my honest part to build positive relationships with indigenous communities? Did I fight for key sectors of our economy, such as the struggling forestry sector? Did I advocate for needed infrastructure such as the Mission sewage pipeline? Did I fight for a cleaner environment to protect the Fraser River for future generations? Did I fight for a more accountable federal government? Was I there when people really needed my help?

I ask the entire electorate of my riding to hold me to these standards. I stand here to serve them. I thank them for this honour.

Hull-Aylmer

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we begin this 43rd Parliament, where 338 women and men take their place to better represent Canadians across the country, I would like to make a modest proposal.

To all of my parliamentary colleagues: we need to listen more carefully to one another. Too often in the House, we cut each other off and bicker, when we should be taking the time to listen to each other more.

Being an MP is one of the greatest privileges one can have. We all worked very hard to earn our place here in the House of Commons, where legendary figures have stood before us.

Let us honour the choices made by our constituents and respect each other more. Let us listen to each other. It is only by doing so that we will all build a better Canada.

The Economy

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that the economy is doing well, but that is not true. Last month, 71,000 Canadians lost their jobs, and personal bankruptcies were at an all-time high. Half of Canadians are less than $200 away from insolvency.

Will the economic statement include tax cuts for small businesses, reductions in red tape and a plan to balance the budget?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize just how much families have suffered and how many people have lost jobs in recent years.

This is why we will continue to invest in helping these families. We realize that even though the economy is doing well and we have created more than one million jobs over the past four years, not everyone has benefited.

This is why we have chosen to invest in families, invest in communities and cut taxes. This is the first thing we did when we came to power in 2015, and it is the first thing we are going to do now. We will cut taxes for the Canadians who need it most.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the last time the Prime Minister promised to lower taxes, he actually raised them for the majority of the population.

The failed economic policies of the Prime Minister have left Canadians with an economy that is not working for anyone. Businesses are leaving Canada and foreign direct investment has dropped by 56% under the government. Government spending is out of control. Canada's debt is blooming and we are on the edge of a recession.

Will the Prime Minister act and provide a fall economic update that includes a plan to balance the budget so that businesses will stay in Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, instead of talking down the Canadian economy, on this side of the aisle we are focused on investing in it. The very first thing we did in 2015, and the member opposite remembers it well, was to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%.

Today, we are doing exactly the same thing. We are lowering taxes for tens of millions of Canadians that will lift tens of thousands of Canadians out of poverty and let hundreds of thousands more no longer have to pay any income taxes. We know that supporting Canadians, investing in the economy and lowering taxes for people who need it is the way to continue serving this great country into the future.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is the Prime Minister who is actively working to constrain Canada's economy and this approach has left Canada on the brink of a recession. Canada's productivity and competitiveness continue to decline. Wages have barely increased, the U.S. economy has outgrown Canada's in three of the last four years, five of the G8 countries have lower unemployment rates than Canada and we lost 71,000 jobs last month.

When will the Prime Minister open his eyes, stop doubling down on failed policies and just change course?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the decision we made four years ago and the decision we continue to make is to invest in Canadians who need support, invest in our communities and invest in a brighter future for all. That is exactly what we have been doing. It is what we will continue to do.

The next step of that is the very first thing we are doing today is announcing that we will be lowering taxes, as promised, for tens of millions of Canadians, lifting 40,000 people out of poverty, making sure that hundreds of thousands of Canadians no longer have to pay any income taxes. This is help for Canadians at a time when they need it.

Foreign Affairs

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are mindful that this could be the second Christmas that Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig spend in a Chinese prison. All Canadians stand in solidarity with their families and friends and we must send a signal that such conduct by the Chinese is unacceptable.

What steps will the Prime Minister take to show that diplomatic hostage-taking is unacceptable for a world power?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our heart goes out to the two Canadians detained in China unjustly. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have spent a long time in detention in China. We think of their families, we think of their communities. We think of their loved ones, but we also stay focused on them, as we have over the past year.

We have continued to engage directly, including myself directly with President Xi, to highlight how important it is to bring these Canadians home. We will continue to work very hard, as I know all Canadians will, to send that clear message that those Canadians must be returned home.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members that the hon. member for Durham is asking questions and is trying to hear the answers. I do not want him to be disrupted, so I do not want anybody to shout from either side while the question is being asked or the answer is coming forward.

The hon. member for Durham.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago this week, thousands of Canadians were fighting to defend Hong Kong in the Battle of Hong Kong during the Second World War. In the last few months, millions of Hong Kongers have taken to the streets to protest the erosion of their rights under the one country, two systems agreement with mainland China. Canadians value liberty. We have 300,000 Canadian citizens in Hong Kong and we have spilled blood there as a nation. Will the Prime Minister stand in this House today to show his support for the civil liberties of Hong Kongers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear over the past months in our support for the people of Hong Kong in defence of their human rights. We have been long-standing supporters of the one country, two systems principle and the rule of law. We have been calling consistently for a de-escalation of violence and hostilities and have asked the authorities to engage in a respectful and non-violent manner with the citizens of Hong Kong, including those 300,000 Canadians for whom we are very concerned.

Employment Insurance

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I hope you have a great week.

Let us imagine that I have a cousin named Marcel who works in a plant. The plant closes down. Marcel has paid into EI and is entitled to up to 50 weeks of benefits, assuming he paid the necessary premiums.

Émilie is with us today. She is sick. She has cancer. She is entitled to 15 weeks of benefits, even though she too paid into EI. There is some talk of making it 26 weeks, but that would still be unfair, because fairness would mean 50.

Does the Prime Minister agree that this situation raises serious issues of compassion and fairness?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know that far too many Canadians are grappling with serious illnesses and are worried about being able to get the treatment they need and relying on family. We know that it is important to increase EI benefits for the sick. We know that many, many families are suffering because of this. We are going to work to increase EI sickness benefits, as we promised.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given the time that could be allocated to us, we may end up doing something that might not be sufficient. I am asking the Prime Minister clearly whether he will consider 50 weeks in order to be fair.

Talking about 35 million people does not prove that a person is compassionate, but talking to one person can. I therefore invite the Prime Minister to meet with Émilie this afternoon. She has travelled to Ottawa to meet the Prime Minister. Will he meet with her?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before I recognize the Prime Minister, I would like to remind members, many of whom are new, that they are not to make reference to people in the gallery.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are all doing our job here in the House of Commons to properly represent and especially serve millions of Canadians, who all have their own challenges. I am always very happy to meet with people we can serve better, to listen to their priorities and to learn from their stories.

I will do everything I can not only to meet with her, but also to help her with the problems that she and many other Canadians are currently experiencing.

Taxation

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal tax plan will not help 47% of Canadians, but we have a plan that will help them.

By targeting the measure to help only those who need it most, we can free up $1.6 billion to fund a national dental care program. This would help 4.3 million Canadians and save our health care system millions of dollars.

Will the Prime Minister do what is necessary to help those most in need?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the middle-class tax cut we are putting forward today will not only lift tens of thousands of people out of poverty, it will allow hundreds of thousands more to not have to pay income taxes at all. We know that by lowering taxes for around 20 million Canadians, we will make an appreciable difference in the lives of many people. This is the focus we are taking. This is the commitment we made to Canadians during the election campaign. We certainly hope to see support from all sides of the House on this measure.

Health

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, fine words cannot hide the facts.

In opposition, the Prime Minister condemned Stephen Harper's cuts to health care.

Now he is making the same cuts to health care, and he has given $14 billion to the richest corporations.

We are in a health care crisis right now. Will the Prime Minister commit today to increase health care funding to help out people, or is he too busy helping out his corporate friends?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the last mandate we were pleased to work out health transfers with the provinces. We signed agreements with all 10 provinces and three territories to move forward on funding for health care on things like home care, mental health services and others.

We know there is more to do, which is why we allocated $6 billion in our electoral platform for investments in our health care system, including things like universal pharmacare. We will continue to work with the provinces and invest. This year, we are spending $40 billion in health care transfers to the provinces.

Natural Resources

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, families in western Canada are desperate. Jobs are being lost and people are feeling completely hopeless. The throne speech was a chance for the Prime Minister to show western Canadians that he understands the struggles they are going through, that he cares and that he was prepared to act, but that did not happen. Not only is the Prime Minister ignoring the crisis, but he is moving ahead with destructive policies like his no-more-pipelines bill.

Does the Prime Minister realize that the path he is on when it comes to addressing the concerns of western Canadians is taking all of us in this country in the wrong direction?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, through you, I would like to assure the members opposite and all Canadians that our government takes very seriously the economic challenges that the Canadian Prairies are facing. If I may, I would like to quote Premier Kenney, who said at lunchtime today that he believes a strong Alberta is essential for a strong Canada, and I would add a strong Manitoba and a strong Saskatchewan.

We will achieve that if all of us in this House—