Debates of Oct. 6th, 2022

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government refuses to discuss immigration powers with Quebec. Let us look at what happens when the federal government is in charge. It is responsible for refugees, and 64% of refugee claims in Canada are made by people who come through Roxham Road. In other words, becoming a refugee in Canada in 2022 means being exploited by smugglers at the border and being arrested by the RCMP. Just this morning, the federal government was dragged before the Supreme Court by refugee advocates for its inaction on Roxham Road.

How can it give lessons when this is how it deals with the people it is responsible for?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, our system for asylum seekers must be robust and humane. There is no magic solution, and closing Roxham Road is not a realistic solution. Suspending the safe third country agreement would likely have the opposite effect of what we are looking to do. What we need to do is modernize the safe third country agreement, and that is what we are doing. We are working with the United States on a permanent, sustainable solution.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us continue to look at what happens when the federal government is in charge of immigration. The federal government is the one that takes care of temporary foreign workers. It is always the same thing. Businesses pay for workers who never arrive because their file is languishing in Ottawa. Just today, the newspaper Le Journal de Montréal reported that businesses such as Nationex have been waiting for workers since November of last year. It quotes discouraged businesses that say that the investment is not worth it, since the process takes anywhere from six months to a year and a half.

Why is the federal government refusing to transfer the temporary foreign workers program to Quebec if it is unable to take care of it itself?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, when the federal and provincial governments work together, men and women join Quebec society, succeed, perform, work and learn French. Children go to school, make friends, play hockey, participate in and contribute to society. That is a positive thing. Let us stop talking about immigration like it is just about numbers. These are men, women, children, human beings who come here to contribute to Quebec and Canada.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the members opposite will have to change their tone because we are saying the same thing as they are. However, asking these people to wait three years for a work permit is not helpful.

Let us continue examining what is happening with immigration. Do members know how long it takes to process the file of a francophone skilled worker in Quebec who wants to become a permanent resident? Two years. At least workers fare better than francophone students from Africa who want to come to Quebec, because they face a refusal rate of 88%. That is more than twice the norm. When it comes to immigration, either the federal government is incompetent or it is acting in bad faith. In both cases, it should let Quebec take responsibility.

When will it do so?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows very well, the Canada-Quebec accord gives Quebec the exclusive authority to select the majority of its immigrants. We have always respected Quebec's jurisdiction with respect to immigration, and we will work closely with Quebec to support its objective of welcoming the immigrants it needs to deal with the shortage and ensuring the development of businesses and the vitality of the French language. Here, we will work with the Province of Quebec today and in future.

Taxation

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the average Canadian family will have to pay $1,200 more for food this year. This is simply impossible for some families. Parents are going without meals in order to feed their children properly, and demand for food banks is skyrocketing across the country. The Liberal government is about to triple the carbon tax and increase the EI tax. As a result, the cost of food, goods and services will triple for consumers.

Will the government cancel its tax increases, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the hon. member for supporting our plan to provide inflation relief payments. That was a good decision, one that will help families across the country.

Now I want to sincerely ask all members of the House to also support our plan to help children, young children, get dental care. We need to get this done.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, every day I get another letter from my constituents in Calgary telling me about the challenges they are having making ends meet.

Inflation rises, taxes rise, but their paycheques do not. Eight per cent inflation has the effect of cutting a full month of purchasing power from the annual family budget. Many Canadians are worried about how they will eat and stay warm this winter.

Will the Liberal government cancel its plans to triple taxes on gas, groceries and home heating?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, let me start with a small point. On inflation, the latest number was actually 7%. That is still too high and that is still causing real challenges for Canadian families. That is why I am really sincerely pleased that the Conservatives swallowed their pride and are supporting our GST tax credit, which would get nearly $500 to Canadian families. I would like to urge them now to take the next step, although it is hard, to swallow their pride again and to support dental care for children under 12 who need it.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, everything is getting more expensive as the government drives up inflation with its tax-and-spend policies. Now it is planning to triple taxes on gas, triple taxes on groceries and triple taxes on home heating. This is all while Canadians are struggling to get by and are just barely able to afford the basic necessities.

Will the finance minister, today, finally announce a plan to cancel her tax hikes that would triple these costs?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives said that today they would put forward a private member's bill promoting crypto, but earlier this week, and for the third time in a row, they pulled the bill. I hope that means the Conservatives are collectively embarrassed by their leader's reckless advice to Canadians to invest in crypto. I really hope that is the case, and I hope that now they will have the good grace to publicly recant and apologize to Canadians for that reckless, dangerous advice.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we have a government of fakers. The Liberals fake standing with working people, and they may even believe it, which is shocking given their record of corporate giveaways and their refusal to make the wealthy pay their fair share to the tune of $30 billion in 2021 alone. The reality is that billionaires have it easier under this Prime Minister—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to interrupt the hon. member for a moment. I want to remind everyone that just because someone is here virtually and it is nice and loud over the speakers it does not mean we can all talk. I want to remind everyone to keep it down. For those watching remotely, please do not cut in. It is really not polite.

The hon. member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, from the top, please.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we have a government of fakers. The Liberals fake standing up for working people, and they may even believe it, which is shocking given their record of corporate giveaways and their refusal to make the wealthy pay their fair share to the tune of $30 billion in 2021 alone. The reality is that billionaires have it easier under this Prime Minister than they did under Stephen Harper.

It is time for fair taxation. It is time to make the rich pay. Which will it be, more faking or will the Liberals make the ultrarich pay their fair share to deliver the support Canadians need now?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government absolutely is committed to ensuring that everyone in Canada pays their fair share. We have shown it with concrete measures.

Let me remind all members in the House that we are permanently raising the corporate income tax by 1.5% on the largest, most profitable banks and insurance companies. We are introducing a Canada recovery dividend of 15% on banks and insurance companies to do the right thing and help pay for the cost of COVID. Of course, our luxury tax on superexpensive cars, yachts and planes is already in force.

Financial Institutions

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, families dealing with the rising cost of living are worried about what they can afford. Canadian financial institutions already charge some of the highest credit card fees in the world while making record profits. Now Canadian consumers will have to pay those charges directly, simply for using their credit cards.

New Democrats have urged both Conservative and Liberal governments to cap credit card fees at 1%, but governments keep protecting corporate profits. When will the Liberals finally defend Canadians by capping credit card merchant fees?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I spoke just a moment ago about our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Canada pays their fair share, and I listed some of the very concrete tax measures that are coming into force, some of which have come into force already. We are going to keep going.

When it comes to credit card fees, I am very much in agreement with the member opposite. We need to support consumers. We need to support small businesses. We are committed to doing that and we will.

Disaster Assistance

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, like many other Atlantic-Canadian communities, Malpeque was hit extremely hard in the province of Prince Edward Island. Jobs, livelihoods and infrastructure were destroyed.

Can the Minister of Rural Economic Development tell me and the rest of Atlantic Canada how this government is going to help rebuild?

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, on the ground at home last week, I saw what we know about eastern Canadians: We come together during difficult times.

I want everyone to know that the federal government has come together in these difficult times to help everyone get through this. On top of the disaster financial assistance arrangements, which are administered through the province and cover up to 90% of the cost of this terrible storm damage, we announced, this week, the hurricane Fiona recovery fund. It is an additional $300 million to help people and businesses whose situations may fall through the cracks under the DFAA.

The federal government will be there with every person, every community and every business as we build back stronger and get back on our feet in Atlantic Canada.

Taxation

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the price of everything has gone up, and now almost half of Canadians are $200 away from insolvency. Jennifer and Kristen are two moms in my riding who recently reached out to me to stress that they cannot afford to pay one dollar more.

Will the Prime Minister cancel his plans to triple the taxes on gas, groceries and home heating?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, when we compare our record with that of the Conservatives, there is a clear difference on which side of the House has been there on behalf of Canadians, whether it is with the Canada child benefit, the middle-income tax cut, child care, which in Alberta is now reduced by 50%, or dental. We are trying to get it through this House, but for some reason the Conservatives do not want children to have access to dental care.

We continue to stand for families. We will continue to do that, and we hope the Conservatives get onside.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, daily, Westman residents tell me it is getting tougher to make ends meet. Under the Liberal government, Canada is the only G7 country to raise taxes on energy. This drives up the cost of everything, particularly for those in rural Canada. It is not just; it is inflation.

Will the Prime Minister leave these dollars in the pockets of cash-strapped seniors and families by cancelling the plan to triple the taxes on gasoline, groceries and home heating fuels?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, our record on supporting children, families and seniors is an important one. Do members know the first thing we did? We lowered income taxes for middle-income Canadians. Do members know what else we did? We reversed the age increase on pensions for seniors while the Conservatives wanted to raise the age of eligibility to 67. We increased the GIS, we increased the OAS and we created a generous Canada child benefit.

We have been there every single day for Canadian families and Canadian seniors, and we are going to continue to do that.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the inflation and affordability crisis facing Canadians right now is a direct result of the Prime Minister's failed economic policies. When the Prime Minister of a G7 country admits that he does not even think about monetary policy, it is Canadian families and businesses that pay the price, and they are. They are paying the price with higher payroll taxes and higher costs for the necessities of life, like food, shelter, heating and clothing, and it is getting worse. Families need a break.

Will the Prime Minister stop his planned tax hikes on Canadian paycheques and his plan to triple the carbon tax?