Debates of Dec. 8th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, my next question will be for the Minister of Tourism because he tried to give me an answer that had to do with inflation.

What is the government going to do to address the inflation that everyone is dealing with right now?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, inflation is at 6.2% in Mexico this year. If the opposition party really wants to claim that our government is causing inflation, he should explain how we caused it—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I have a simple question. I want to know what the government is going to do to help families combat inflation and the rising cost of living. I do not want to know what is happening in Mexico. I am asking what the government is going to do to help Canadian families.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, we have committed to investing $30 billion in child care to make life more affordable for people. That is what we are going to do.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I invite the minister to come to Quebec. It has taken 25 years to put the child care system in place, put up the buildings and train the staff. However, families need help today.

I will repeat my question for the minister: What is he going to do to lower the cost of living for Quebec and Canadian families?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I will quickly provide two examples.

The first is the Canada child benefit, which continues to be increased in line with the cost of living and lifts nearly 400,000 children out of poverty every month.

The second is the increase to the old age security pension. I know that he is less interested in that than his other colleague, but it is one—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to ask the following question on behalf of the families, seniors and the poor who are grappling with an increase in the cost of gas and groceries, the likes of which we have not often seen in the past 30 years in Canada, an increase that for the most part stems from the government's decisions.

What will be different in the upcoming budget, in the $17.4 billion that the government has put on the table, that will ensure that the rise in the cost of living for families decreases and will bring it back down to 2%, which would be reasonable?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, we can take the following example. A single mother with two children will receive $13,600 from the Canada child benefit. The average family in Saskatchewan will almost $1,000 from the carbon price rebate.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, those measures were already in place before. At this time, we are grappling with the skyrocketing cost of living, which was created by all of this government's spending.

What will the government do today to change the situation and improve the cost of living for all Canadians?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, we are committed to making life more affordable, and that is what we will do.

Seniors received an extra $500 this summer. A student will save $3,000 through our plan to eliminate interest on federal student loans.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, are the seniors listening to us right now to understand that the cheque they received before the election was to buy their vote, that all their problems have now been solved, and that the cost of living is no longer an issue, yes or no?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, we obviously value seniors. We increased the guaranteed income supplement and sent them a cheque for $500. We will continue to support seniors.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I have a very simple question for the Minister of Seniors, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Minister of Tourism or the President of the Treasury Board.

As of what age is someone considered a senior?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, that is a great question. I have a colleague who already considers himself a senior at the age of 60. I think he is still in good shape, at least physically—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I repeat, as of what age does the government consider a person to be a senior who is eligible for tax measures?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, all seniors are entitled to the measures I mentioned earlier. The indexation based on the increase in the cost of living applies to all seniors. It is for old age security—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, how old did someone have to be to get the $500 you sent to seniors just before the election?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, I am happy to hear a mention of the election, since I did not see anything in the Conservatives' platform on—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Chair, I repeat my question. How old did Canadians need to be to receive the $500?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Madam Chair, in our platform, the age is 65 for the increase in the guaranteed income supplement—