House of Commons Hansard #106 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was dental.

Topics

TaxationOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I know math is not the Conservative Party of Canada's forte. I do not understand how going from $50 to $65 is a tripling, tripling, tripling.

TaxationOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB

Mr. Speaker, this government will triple the tax on gasoline, triple the tax on energy and make everything Canadians buy more expensive. Liberals do not have a plan for the environment; they have a bone-crushing tax plan. The carbon tax is costing families more and more each day, and Canadians know it.

A carbon tax is a tax on everything. The Liberals are pushing Canadians to the brink of financial dissolution with their high-tax agenda. Will the government cancel its plans to tax gasoline, energy and home energy fuels?

TaxationOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, in fact, B.C. has had a price on carbon for the last 10 years, and its pollution level has gone below 2007 levels. Quebec is 3% below its 1990 levels since it has had a price on pollution. The European Union countries are 24% below their 1990 levels, and they have had a price on pollution for the last 15 years.

In fact, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that Canadians would be getting more money from the price on carbon this year, next year, the year after that and the year after that.

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's tourism industry is sounding the alarm. The decision to end temporary EI measures without a comprehensive reform of the system is putting Quebec's regions at risk.

For example, let us take a seasonal worker. Ten days ago they qualified for EI with 420 hours of employment. Suddenly, they must now have 700 hours. We are talking about whole industries in the regions where accumulating more than 500 hours in a season is exceptional. Workers have been betrayed.

Will the Minister of Employment and Workforce Development fix this before it is too late?

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why we decided to extend the pilot project for seasonal workers and why we have committed to fully modernizing Canada's EI system.

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, if the tourism industry is sounding the alarm it is because it is also at risk. It is afraid of losing its workers, as are all of Quebec's seasonal industries.

If the federal government takes away their employees' EI this winter, how many will be able to return next summer? If the employees do not return, where will their replacements come from in the middle of a labour shortage?

When will the minister finally understand that by making workers suffer she is also making seasonal industries suffer?

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, we understand the unique challenges facing seasonal workers. That is why we have extended our pilot project for seasonal workers, and that is why we are modernizing our employment insurance system.

We will always be there for workers.

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, the pilot projects do nothing to fix the eligibility criteria. By reverting to the old EI rules without any reform, the minister is putting both workers and employers at risk.

This is a recipe for decline in the regions. The first step is to deprive workers of employment insurance, forcing them to change jobs or move. The next step is to deprive business owners of labour, forcing them to close. This is why Quebec's regions are failing to thrive.

Does the minister realize what she is becoming a party to?

Employment InsuranceOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, we are always there for workers.

We have made many changes to our EI system, including extending sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks and completely modernizing the EI system.

I will be able to share more details shortly.

TaxationOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Warren Steinley Conservative Regina—Lewvan, SK

Mr. Speaker, because of Liberal incompetence, the average Canadian family pays more in taxes than it spends on food, shelter and clothing combined. Families across the country are struggling to just get by, and the out-of-touch government just does not care. Our people need a break, so on behalf of Canadians, will the Prime Minister cancel his triple tax hike on gas, groceries and home heating?

TaxationOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we absolutely understand that Canadians today are struggling with the cost of living, and that is why we have put forward a plan to give vulnerable Canadians a double GST tax rebate. That will mean nearly $500 for Canadian families, and 11 million Canadian households will get that support. I am really glad that the Conservatives have come around to support this important plan.

Now is the time for them to also support our program for Canadians struggling to pay their rent and to support Canadian kids under 12 with dental care.

TaxationOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Warren Steinley Conservative Regina—Lewvan, SK

Mr. Speaker, what an arrogant and condescending response. That rebate will be eaten up by home heating costs in a week. Canadians need much more help. It is too little, too late. As we near the coldest months of the year, the incompetent Liberal government is tripling the tax on gas, groceries and home heating. Canadians will have to decide between heating their homes and buying healthy food for their families.

My question is simple: When will the out-of-touch government stop triple-taxing Canadians?

TaxationOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Burlington Ontario

Liberal

Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Families

Mr. Speaker, I see the Conservatives are doubling down on their bad math today.

Let us be clear. The government, in partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan, where that member is from, is helping families right now. In fact, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that through the Canada-wide early learning and child care initiative it has reduced child care fees by up to 70%, well ahead of schedule. In fact, that helps families with the high cost of living, whether it is buying nutritious food, getting winter clothes or whatever it is they need. We are helping families.

I hope the member opposite knows we and the Government of—

TaxationOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

TaxationOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is reported that one in six small businesses are having such a tough time that they are considering closing. Restaurants Canada reports that 85% of restaurants have taken on new debt, yet the Liberal government defends forcing payroll tax increases on small businesses. The associate minister of finance said, on payroll tax increases, that small businesses “can afford” this, and the finance minister herself admitted that raising EI premiums would bring in an extra $2.5 billion.

Will the government end its planned tax hikes on small businesses?

TaxationOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Parkdale—High Park Ontario

Liberal

Arif Virani LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for her persistence on this issue about supporting small businesses.

We share that persistent prioritization. What we have been doing for the past two and a half years is supporting small businesses through the pandemic with targeted wage supports and supports for rent. What we have been doing since the pandemic is launching a women's entrepreneurship strategy and a Black entrepreneurship strategy, and we are empowering indigenous businesses. We know the power of small businesses will be unleashed through inclusive growth, and that is what we are prioritizing.

HealthOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are suffering and even dying, because getting help for their mental health is not affordable and wait lists are months or even years long.

This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and mental health organizations are once again calling for the government to recognize that there is no health without mental health. During the last election, the Liberals promised to spend $4.5 billion over five years to expand mental health services and address backlogs. They still have not delivered.

When will the Liberals follow through on their funding promises to improve mental health services for struggling Canadians?

HealthOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Toronto—St. Paul's Ontario

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his ongoing advocacy, particularly during Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Mental health is health, as he said, and our government has made mental health a priority. Since 2015, we have made historic investments in support: $5 billion to the provinces from 2017, $600 million every year still ongoing, and almost $600 million for a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy for indigenous people. We know that we need to do more, and we will do more.

COVID-19 Economic MeasuresOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are clawing back the Canada child benefit for parents who needed pandemic support, but do members know what they are not clawing back? It is the wage subsidy from corporations that gave out executive bonuses or shareholder dividends, like Air Canada, which got $554 million and gave out $10 million in bonuses, or Imperial Oil, which got $120 million and paid out $324 million in dividends.

Why are the Liberals clawing back child benefits from single moms trying to feed their kids while letting big corporations off the hook?

COVID-19 Economic MeasuresOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, our government absolutely believes in supporting Canadian children and Canadian families. That is why we have worked so hard to put a national program on early learning and child care in place. That is going to help families with affordability and help our economy. That is why the Canada child benefit, which has lifted hundreds of thousands of Canadian children out of poverty, is such an important program.

We know that everyone in Canada has to pay their fair share. That is why we are imposing a COVID recovery dividend on our banks and insurers.

HousingOral Questions

October 3rd, 2022 / 2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Mississauga—Malton, rent and housing costs have risen for so many, especially working individuals, families and our most vulnerable. They need help, and they need it immediately.

Could the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion please tell the House what our government is doing to help renters and those struggling with the cost of housing through this difficult time?

HousingOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

York South—Weston Ontario

Liberal

Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Mississauga—Malton for his important question and hard work on this important file.

We know that the cost of affordable rent is increasingly out of reach for many Canadians. That is why we introduced legislation to introduce a one-time top-up of $500, which would help 1.8 million renters and would be on top of the existing average $2,500 as part of the Canada housing benefit.

I urge Conservative members to stop getting in the way and to help us pass this important legislation so that we can get this important rent relief to Canadians as soon as possible.

TaxationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, constituents in B.C. are tired of the Liberal government cutting into their paycheques, yet the Prime Minister plans to triple the carbon tax, raising fuel, heat and grocery costs, and to increase paycheque taxes, killing jobs.

The finance minister even admits that the money would not go into EI but to cover out-of-control government spending. The paycheque taxes would take $2.5 billion extra out of the hands of hard-working Canadians.

Will the government end its planned tax hikes on Canadians' paycheques?

TaxationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, it is really important for us to be clear and honest with Canadians about their pensions and about EI.

Right now, at a time of real uncertainty and volatility in the global economy, it would be the height of irresponsibility to cut our contributions to the Canada pension plan and to EI. Too many Canadians depend on both. That is why our government is absolutely committed to supporting Canadian seniors and to supporting Canadian workers who depend on EI.

TaxationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, the inflation crisis in B.C. is exploding. It is not only food and shelter costs that are taking a hit. Vancouver's gasoline prices are now the highest in North America, yet the Prime Minister wants to force B.C. to triple the carbon tax on everything, making life completely unaffordable for families.

While the Prime Minister fiddles around, life has become hopelessly expensive and Canadians are now losing hope. Will the Prime Minister now cancel his plan to triple the carbon tax on gas, groceries and home heating, yes or no?