House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Shelby Kramp-Neuman Conservative Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, understanding and doing something about it are two entirely different things.
Behind this record inflation and rising interest rates are real people facing a real and harsh reality. They are exhausted, worried and broke, and the Liberal government is intent on piling on even more financial burdens.
I asked this question last week and I will ask it again. Will the government listen to Canadians and cancel its plan to triple taxes on gas, groceries and home heating?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, we waited 416 days for the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle's climate pamphlet when he was leader.
The member for Carleton has now been leader of the Conservative Party for 47 days, and Conservatives still do not have a climate plan. Maybe his new director of communications can help his climate-denying boss to get with the program.
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Mr. Speaker, the cost of living has gone up in the past few months in Canada. Canadians have to tighten their belts to make ends meet.
Can the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance tell the House what the government is doing to help Canadians with the rising cost of living?
Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for the question and for her hard work.
Inflation in Canada has shown signs of slowing down. That said, we understand that the cost of living remains a concern for Canadians. The current inflationary period is the result of the war in Ukraine, problems with the supply chain and the zero COVID policy in China.
That is why we took action by bringing in bills C‑30 and C‑31. We have passed Bill C‑30 in the House and we are close to passing Bill C‑31.
We hope the Conservatives will support Canadians and vote in favour of Bill C‑31.
Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Mr. Speaker, the bill is coming due for the Prime Minister's inflationary spending, and Canadians got clobbered by another massive rate hike. This is the most expensive government in Canadian history. The Prime Minister has added more to the national debt than every Prime Minister combined. Even his own Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that 40% of this deficit is not even related to COVID.
Will the Prime Minister end his inflationary spending today?
Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we know Canadians are facing a rising cost of living, but let us state the facts. Every time we have lowered taxes for Canadians, the Conservatives have voted against. How did they vote on the federal minimum wage? Against. How did they vote on cutting taxes for working Canadians? Against. How did they vote on affordable child care for Canadians? Against. How did they vote when we lowered taxes on small businesses? Against. Are they going to vote for or against today? We will see.
Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals did not have the backs of Canadians, they went behind their backs: $54 million on arrive scam, $237 million for a former Liberal MP for unused ventilators, $150 million for SNC-Lavalin for unused field hospitals and $12 million for Loblaws for new fridges and freezers despite record profits.
Will the Liberals finally end the friends and family program and give Canadians a break by ending this wasteful spending?
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, for the past two and a half years, the world has been going through an unprecedented global pandemic. What did this government do throughout that period of time? We supported Canadians. We supported Canadians who lost their jobs, nine million in fact, with the Canada emergency response benefit. We supported businesses that had to close their doors because of public health measures, through the CEBA. What else did we spend on and support Canadians with? It was with vaccines that made sure we saved lives in Canada. We are not going to apologize for—
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Mr. Speaker, the fact they seem to miss is that they spent $600 million supporting high school kids during COVID living at home, while Giles in my riding, who heats with oil, had his tank filled up yesterday for $1,600, which is more than the $900 last year—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
Order, please. I am having a hard time hearing the question.
If I could hear the question from the top, please, so we can all hear it, then hopefully we will be able to hear the answer as well.
The hon. member has the floor.
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Mr. Speaker, they would like to hear it again: They spent $600 million supporting high school kids with CERB, while Giles from my riding heats with oil and had to fill up yesterday and it cost $1,600 to fill the tank. It was $900 last year. This is just incredible. That is a 68% increase in his heating as a result of the government's policies, and they still want to impose another $360 in new carbon taxes on his oil tank. Many people in my community have to choose between heat and eating.
When will these Liberals stop their triple—
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, the lack of compassion being demonstrated on the other side for Canadians who lost their jobs, for Canadians who lost their income—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
Order, please. We took the time and listened to the question. Now let us do the same thing with the answer given.
The hon. Minister of Families will begin from the top, please.
Karina Gould Liberal Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, the lack of compassion being heard from the other side about pandemic supports that supported families, that made sure parents could put food on the table, that parents could pay their rent or their mortgage and that families could ensure they knew they would be able to get through to the end of the month because of the Canada emergency response benefit is unbelievable from the Conservatives. If they truly had compassion, if they truly cared about supporting Canadian families, they would vote with us today on Bill C-31 and provide—
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini, 40 days ago yesterday, has sparked a feminist movement in Iran and across the globe. The women-led freedom movement began with Iranian girls and women marching in the streets in defiance of the IRGC and in defence of freedom and democracy. Women across Canada and all corners of the world recognize these women and stand with them.
In light of the courage and the tenacity of Iranian women, can the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth share what our government is doing to fight for women's rights around the world?
Marci Ien LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her extraordinary leadership. At the G7, I called on our allies to sign a joint statement to condemn the Iranian regime. I said then and I said—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
We were doing well before. I am going to ask hon. members to please calm down.
We will let the hon. minister start from the top.
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her extraordinary leadership. At the G7, I called on our allies to sign a joint statement to condemn the Iranian regime. I said at that point, and I am saying now, that this is not about head scarves. This is about human rights. I stand by that. Our government stands by that
I have to say, it takes immense courage to speak one's truth, and I was so moved last night when women did just that. They shared their stories at a vigil for Mahsa Amini. I want women here and around the world to know that we stand with them.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, on top of sky-high prices for food and rent, Canadians struggle to pay massively high cellphone bills each month. The announcement this week on the Rogers-Shaw merger proved there is a place to regulate gouging. Despite the minister's new position, the Competition Bureau still wants the merger stopped. Instead of blocking the merger in its entirety, the minister told the companies to go back to their drawing boards and their CEO tables. The government needs to stand up to the corporate greed from big telecom companies that also get public money.
When will the government act to stop the Rogers-Shaw merger so Canadians can get some relief on their monthly bills? When will he finally side with consumers?