Debates of Dec. 9th, 2021

Opposition Motion—Housing Supply

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am listening to a government that has the worst housing crisis this country has ever had. If we want to talk about government support, we are giving it that support tonight. We are talking about fixing that and, as with trade and the other failed promises this week, looking at made-in-Canada solutions. We want all parties to agree to go forward to fix this today. We need to swing hammers. We have to stop talking. We need less conversation and more action.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Madam Speaker, this year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer reported on how the federal government has spent less than half of the funding earmarked for its two main housing programs. He also talked about the limited impact of the Liberals' national housing strategy.

More and more people in my community of Victoria are struggling to pay rent. They are unable to afford a home, and the pandemic has only made things worse. The Liberals are failing Canadians when it comes to housing and at the same time patting themselves on the back.

My colleague, the NDP critic for housing, obtained data showing how the Liberals are failing to help provinces like British Columbia and prioritizing provinces like Ontario. I understand the member represents a riding in Ontario, but, especially with B.C. facing a housing crisis and the impacts of the climate emergency, which is making the housing crisis even more dire, can the member speak to the need for the government to prioritize housing across the country and make sure B.C. is getting its fair share?

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Madam Speaker, I could not agree more. We have to prioritize housing and start prioritizing action on housing. This motion, and it sounds like the member should be agreeing with it, gets units that are existing or standing in government coffers into the housing supply system. We need 1.8 million homes. We should be making sure we take as much land and as many buildings as we can to convert into all kinds of housing for everyone who needs it. If we do not take action, we are going to be in a heck of a mess in little time. We are already in it.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Madam Speaker, I listened to the Liberal question, and over and over again, all throughout this debate, all that was said on that side was how much money the government is spending on this project, yet the problem is getting worse. That is what we have been trying to explain all day long, that the problem is growing. However, the government is saying it is going to spend more. Then it said it was going to fix it with yet another government program.

Does my friend from Bay of Quinte recognize, I know he has, that the government just continues to fail and cannot figure out how to get out of this?

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Madam Speaker, absolutely. Cash is being handed out, and right now we see that people cannot make their mortgage payments or pay for groceries. They are having trouble with the next month's rent, and that is because of more cash. If the government's solution is more cash, what is going to happen three months from now? I will still be unable to feed my family because groceries will have gone up another $200.

We need action. The best part about this plan for housing is this. If we can get tradespeople in to build units, we create jobs. What do jobs create? They create paycheques. That is what would fix this problem once and for all.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot is rising on a point of order.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to be able to rise to ask for unanimous consent to table some documents. I hope these documents will be of particular interest to every single member in this House, because they have to do with the very foundation of what our democratic system is, and specifically the impacts that has in the province of Alberta.

Today I ask for unanimous consent to table, in both of Canada's official languages, the results for the 2021 senatorial election race that took place in the province of Alberta on October 18. This is an opportunity to make sure these results are represented on the record here in this place.

I ask for unanimous consent to table these documents.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to table the documents?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Madam Speaker, on a point of order, let it be noted the contempt for democracy that those Liberals who shouted down—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

This is a point of debate.

It being 6:27 p.m. and this being the final supply day in the period ending December 10, 2021, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the business of supply.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I would request a recorded vote, please.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #11

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion defeated.

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-2022

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

moved:

That the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the amendment be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #12

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-6, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

moved that the bill be read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the amendment be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

The hon. chief government whip.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find agreement to apply the results from the previous vote to this vote, with Liberal members voting yes.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we agree to apply the vote, with Conservative members voting no.