Debates of Dec. 8th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, pre-pandemic business confidence was high during the pandemic and it is back to pre-pandemic levels. Businesses have already included the CPP increases in their forecasts. They can afford this.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I am a little in shock with that answer considering how much small businesses have been through over the last two years.

How many small businesses has the government consulted regarding the 2022 payroll tax increases?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the CEBA helped over 898,000 small businesses survive. We will continue to support small businesses.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I was not referring to the CEBA. I was talking about CPP payroll tax increases. How many business groups has the government consulted on these increases?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the Canada pension plan, or CPP, addresses significant challenges facing young Canadians who are saving for retirement.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, will the minister commit to freezing the payroll tax hikes for 2022?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the CPP strengthens one of our government's most successful social programs.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, this is an unprecedented difficult time for entrepreneurs. Will the government freeze payroll tax hikes for 2022?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, we have invested billions of dollars in small businesses and we will continue to see them through the end of this pandemic.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, being in this House most of today listening to a lot of debate, there were a lot of comments from the government side about the fact that we are still in a pandemic and it is a really difficult time. Based on that, will the government commit now to not increasing the payroll taxes for 2022?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the Conservatives continue to undermine the CPP. They try to block the progress our government has made. What is it that they have against future generations having a good retirement and making sure that—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, the finance minister's office said they will review EI contribution rates. When is this review going to be completed?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, that is a reasonable question and the EI rate is under review.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, back to the minister, when does he expect the review to be completed?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, in due course.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, does that mean January, February, March, April, three years from now, 10 years from now? Give us an estimate.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, it means in due course.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, that is not overly reassuring.

How many small businesses has the government consulted so far regarding the review of the EI contribution rates?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the government consults with businesses on a full range of matters and I am happy to get that number for my hon. colleague from officials.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, how many people were on CRB in September?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, the CRB helped nine million Canadians who lost their jobs. I am happy to get the September numbers.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have actually got them here, but obviously the minister does not know. Approximately how many job vacancies were there in September?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, let me reiterate the CRB helped nearly nine million Canadians who lost their jobs when COVID hit.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, it is really amazing that we have five ministers here and apparently the minister who knows the most is answering the question and we have had no answers here.

This is my last question for the minister. Can the minister list the top three ways the government is addressing the labour crisis?