The hon. Prime Minister.
House of Commons Hansard #113 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was right.
House of Commons Hansard #113 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was right.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada Act First reading of Bill S-208. The bill recognizes the essential role of artists and creative expression in Canada, promoting their respect, intellectual property rights, freedom from cultural appropriation, and accessibility of their work for all Canadians. 100 words.
Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act Second reading of Bill S-5. The bill updates environmental protection and chemical regulation, aiming to recognize the right to a healthy environment, consider cumulative effects, and minimize risks to vulnerable populations. While Liberals highlight its significance and commitment to reconciliation, New Democrats raise concerns about enforcement mechanisms, mandatory labelling, and the limited scope of the right. Conservatives question the vague definition of this right and criticize changes to the precautionary principle, arguing for a balanced approach that considers trade-offs. 15900 words, 2 hours.
Criminal Code Second reading of Bill C-289. The bill amends the Criminal Code to make it a criminal offence to provide false or misleading information about identity or corporate structure to financial institutions. Its proponent, a Conservative MP, argues this will make it easier for authorities to prosecute and convict money launderers, who currently face a lower rate of conviction in Canada compared to other countries. While the Bloc Québécois supports the bill, the NDP opposes it, arguing it is too narrow and redundant given the extensive recommendations from the Cullen commission on money laundering. 7600 words, 1 hour.
Adjournment Debate - Health Martin Shields raises concerns about carbon tax increases, fertilizer reduction targets and warning labels. Adam van Koeverden defends front-of-package labeling and government efforts to fight climate change. Shields reiterates the impact of rising costs on ag producers' mental health, while van Koeverden emphasizes farmers' commitment to environmental stewardship. 4700 words, 30 minutes.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to Amy and families like hers across the country who are dealing with the rising cost of living. However, we also know that Amy will now have access to significant savings in child care for her little one. We know that our move to get down to $10-a-day child care, to see child care costs slashed in half across Ontario and indeed across the country, will make a huge difference in her ability to afford the other things that are necessary for her family.
My question is this. If the Conservatives are so filled with compassion for those families, why are they standing in the way of support for families and even in the way of—
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, in January, the Prime Minister decided to invoke emergency measures during the trucker protests without any attempt at dialogue and, as we have learned, without anyone asking him to. In so doing, he exacerbated the crisis rather than resolving it.
Would he admit, at his convenience, that his actions were either very heavy-handed or politically motivated? If he did it for political reasons, what were they, for heaven's sake?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we invoked the Emergencies Act in a responsible, targeted and time-limited manner that fully respected the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Canadians. We did so because the situation demanded it. I am very pleased that a public inquiry is now taking place to allow all Canadians to see what we were seeing, namely, that these illegal occupations were a real problem, not just for the residents of Ottawa and people across the country, but for our economy and for the well-being of our democracy. We did what we had to do, in a responsible way.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure Canadians see it that way. I think that, instead of swearing an oath to the King, we should get with the times and swear an oath to the truth. If people here told the truth a little more often, that would completely change the work we do in the House.
In the space of a few days, the government granted 28 million dollars' worth of contracts to a friend. The government engaged in racial discrimination against African students. The government imposed emergency measures that were in no way, shape or form necessary.
Does the Prime Minister often lead the House down the garden path?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is talking about oaths and royalty, but, at this point in time, our priority and that of Quebeckers is the cost of living. We will continue to focus on that, and we will do it with legislation that helps people pay their bills. Our proposed legislation will put hundreds of dollars back in the pockets of Canadians, give children the dental care they need and help families pay the rent. That is what we will keep working on for all Quebeckers and all Canadians.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, a programmer has shown that the ArriveCAN app could have been designed in a single weekend for less than $250,000, but the Prime Minister paid $54 million for an app that did not even work and forced more than 10,000 people to quarantine unnecessarily.
Will the Prime Minister provide a list of all the companies that were contracted to develop that app, which did not even work?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservative Party continues to play political games, we on this side of the House have been working hard to protect the health and safety of all Canadians throughout the COVID‑19 pandemic, including with the ArriveCAN app.
The figure quoted obviously includes a lot more than just the initial design costs. It includes additional services, IT call centre services, updates and future costs.
We will continue to deliver value for Canadian taxpayer dollars while protecting them around the clock.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Well, Mr. Speaker, it is good to know, but no surprise, that the Prime Minister thinks that $54 million is just a petty matter. A programmer demonstrated that the ArriveCAN app could have been designed in a single weekend for less than a quarter of a million dollars. Instead, the Prime Minister paid $54 million. Ten thousand people were wrongly sent into quarantine by that app when they should not have been, and many of the contracts went to companies that have home addresses as their headquarters.
Will the Prime Minister supply Canadians with a full list of all the contractors who got the money?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as Canadians well know, since day one of the pandemic we were focused on providing them the support and the safety necessary in this unprecedented time, despite the political games the Conservatives chose to play throughout the pandemic. Obviously, the amount cited includes far more than just the initial development of the app. It includes services like cloud storage, IT call centre services, upgrades and future costs.
On this side of the aisle, we will continue to put the safety and security of Canadians at the centre of everything we do, both in unprecedented pandemics and in regular times.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, creating a $54-million app, well over budget, that could have been created in a weekend for under a quarter of a million dollars does not protect anybody's safety; nor does an app that sends 10,000 people wrongly into quarantine. However, the strangest thing is that there are these roughly dozen companies that got the contracts to supply this app.
The Prime Minister does not want to give all of the names of the subcontractors who got that money. I challenge him now: Will he commit to supplying this House with the list of all the subcontractors who got the money? Who got rich?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Canadians well remember that during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, we had a government that was stepping up to do everything we could to keep them safe and keep them protected. That is exactly what we—
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
The Speaker Anthony Rota
I am just going to interrupt for a moment, if I can have members' attention. Order. I just want to remind the hon. members of the role of the whip. Sometimes, if members look to them, they will be giving them instructions. I believe some of the whips are gesturing in a way that means to calm down.
The right hon. Prime Minister, from the top, please.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians well remember that when this unprecedented pandemic hit us, as a country, we pulled together. We had a government that stepped up to work with other orders of government to deliver all the protections we possibly could for Canadians in an unprecedented time. We were there to have Canadians' backs. While Conservatives were peddling vaccine misinformation and refusing to follow public health directives, we stepped up and made sure Canadians had all the tools to deliver safety for them. That is what we will continue to do.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, they stepped up to put money in the pockets of their friends. We do not forget the WE Charity.
Someone got rich here. Someone designed an app that did not work, that sent 10,000 people wrongly into quarantine, and that had home addresses as the headquarters of the companies that received the money. Many of the subcontractors are still secret. If the Prime Minister will not tell us the identity of those companies, then maybe the genius who spent $54 million on an app that could be designed in a weekend could please stand up now.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, our focus throughout this pandemic was being there to support Canadians. Before the member of the opposition criticizes me again for that, we spent billions, tens of billions, hundreds of billions of dollars to support Canadians through this pandemic with direct income supports and with supports for small businesses. We did that because we knew that being there for Canadians through an unprecedented difficult time would ensure that our economy would come back faster after it. That is exactly what happened. We were there for Canadians, while Conservatives can criticize us every step of the way.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, the CLC put out a report by Jim Stanford that highlights some serious concerns with the Bank of Canada's approach to inflation. It lays out two mandates that the Bank of Canada must follow: one, to keep inflation in check, and two, to encourage maximum sustainable employment.
Given the fact that the increased interest rates of the Bank of Canada will not address the root causes of inflation, they are certainly going to create a self-induced recession, which will result in massive job losses. Does the Prime Minister agree with the Bank of Canada's approach?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we support the integrity and independence of our institutions. Canada has a long and storied history of strong institutions, from the Supreme Court to the Bank of Canada, that manage in counterpart with the work that is done in this House to serve Canadians. We will continue to defend the integrity and the independence of those institutions, unlike, apparently, multiple parties on the other side of the aisle.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have a rich tradition of calling out institutions that end up exploiting or hurting people. It is clear that the Government of Canada sets the mandate. Now, this very same Bank of Canada's governor has stated to employers that they are discouraged from increasing wages to keep up with inflation, which is ludicrous because there is absolutely no evidence that high wages have in any way contributed to inflation. In fact, wages have not kept up with inflation historically.
Does the Prime Minister agree with the Bank of Canada's discouraging employers from increasing wages to keep up with inflation?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, allow me to pause right now to salute and thank all the union leaders across the country who have been strong in fighting for better wages for their workers, working in partnership with the government in an unprecedented way to ensure that we are growing the middle class and helping the people working hard to join it.
We will continue to make sure that we are working with labour, that we are working with bargaining agents, that we are working with workers to ensure that they are getting paid well for the work they are doing, so that they can support their families and their communities. We will do so in a way that Canadians expect us to.
George Chahal Liberal Calgary Skyview, AB
Mr. Speaker, we recently learned the good news that over 2.5 million Canadians have now been lifted out of poverty since 2015, yet some of my constituents are still concerned about the rising cost of living.
What are the latest actions our government is taking to help my constituents and all Canadians make ends meet?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Calgary Skyview for his question and for his hard work.
This week our GST credit top-up received royal assent, meaning Canadians will receive more support this fall as a result. Even as we fight climate change, we are putting more money back into Canadians' pockets. A family of four in the member's riding has received over $800 in climate action incentives so far this year.
Unlike the Conservative approach of Bitcoin and buzzwords, we are talking about real action to make life more affordable for all Canadians.
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, something has gone seriously wrong in this country. There has been a 32% increase in violent crime over the past seven years, and Canadians are feeling the impacts across the country.
The fact is our neighbourhoods are less safe now than they were seven years ago when the Liberals first formed government. The Prime Minister is failing to act to protect Canadians. Why?