Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2022

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, immigration drives Canada's economy. Newcomers help businesses find the workers they need and enrich our communities, including beautiful Yukon. No matter where they come from or why they are here, Canada has always warmly welcomed newcomers.

Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship update us on our government's immigration plan?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that Canada needs more people. We need to look at immigration as a strategy to increase Canada's workforce, reunite more families and fulfill our humanitarian commitments. That is why I have introduced Canada's next immigration levels plan. It is an ambitious plan that brings an increased focus on attracting newcomers to different regions of the country.

Canada is a country that was built on immigration. It is at the heart of who we are as Canadians.

The Economy

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal-NDP coalition's policies and resulting higher interest rates have fanned the flames for this cost of living wildfire. Given the debt that the Prime Minister has accumulated, how can Canadians now trust him to control spending? After all, does one trust the arsonist to put out the fire? We cannot inflate our way out of this mess, out of debt either, because that just erodes the purchasing power of Canadians. The only positive action is to unlock investment from the private sector.

Will the Prime Minister stop his new spending, and no more taxes?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the other side rising in the House today talking about being compassionate for Canadians is a bit rich, given the history of that government. When it had a $13-billion surplus in 2006, it frittered it away. Then, to try to get some sort of fiscal semblance of responsibility, it cut veterans services, closed embassies, raided EI, forced working Canadians to work for two more years and had a systematic destruction of social services.

That is not the future Canadians want. They want our supports. They want us to have their backs. That is what we have.

Small Business

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a recent survey from the CFIB indicated that 60% of small businesses would increase the paycheques of workers if the government reduced its tax burden. Instead, on January 1, this costly coalition is planning to increase payroll taxes for workers and employees.

My question is simple. Will the Liberal-NDP coalition government rescind its plan to increase payroll taxes on January 1 and give small business owners and their employees the break they need?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, it is on this side of the House that we have supported small businesses and entrepreneurs every single day. It is those contributions that are made by both the employer and the employee that are going to provide for those very workers these small businesses employ.

It is on this side of the House that we work for small businesses. We stand for small businesses. We are the ones cutting taxes for small businesses and helping them thrive in communities from coast to coast to coast.

The Economy

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling to pay their bills. They are lying in bed at night wondering how they are going to survive the devastating effects of the Liberal government's inflationary spending. Canadians simply cannot afford anymore of this costly coalition. Today, the Liberal government is presenting its economic update.

The Conservatives have a very clear demand. Will the Liberals commit to no wasteful spending and no new taxes?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, what this side is committed to is being there for Canadians in their time of need, just as we were throughout the pandemic, where we supported nine million Canadians with the Canada emergency response benefit. We supported hundreds of thousands of Canadian businesses and organizations and ensured that we were there for them the whole time and—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I will have the minister start over. What I am getting from people way in the back is that they are having a hard time hearing because of some noises in the forefront. I will ask everyone to listen quietly, although I think everyone is quiet already so there is no need for more instruction.

The hon. minister from the, top please.

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are committed to being there for Canadians in their time of need. Whether that was through the pandemic, when we were there with income supports and business supports for both individuals and organizations that needed to get through those dark times, we were there; or whether it is for ensuring that we are there for families that are struggling with the high cost of living, be it through the Canada child benefit, the Canada dental benefit, the Canada housing benefit for low-income renters as well as affordable housing.

We are going to continue to do that and we are not going to take lessons from the Conservatives, whose whole objective right now is to cut and cut important social services and supports for Canadians.

Public Safety

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a Scarborough—Agincourt constituent recently emailed me because he was distressed after reading about alleged illegal Chinese police stations in Scarborough and Markham. These alleged police stations or administrative centres are used to exert pressure on Chinese nationals located in Canada. How can we reassure Canadians who feel intimidated or coerced?

Could the Minister of Public Safety provide an update on what actions are being taken?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, protecting the public from the threat of foreign interference is precisely what Canadians have mandated our government to do. I want to assure her and all members of this chamber that the RCMP are actively investigating these alleged so-called Chinese police stations. I also want to assure members that any harassment, intimidation or coercion by a foreign power will be investigated and appropriate charges will be pressed independently by police.

Finally, Canadians can rest assured that we will continue to make investments in our national security apparatus, which the Conservatives cut the last time, because we have—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.

Passports

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 300,000 people live in northern B.C., yet there is not a single passport office. Residents are having to drive up to 17 hours to pick up their passports in Vancouver. One person had to spend $2,000 to fly all the way to Victoria to pick up his family's passports. It is not acceptable.

The government has added passport pickup services at 13 locations across the country, yet nothing in our region. Therefore, my question for the minister is a simple one. When will the government finally add a passport office in northern B.C.?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the fact that over the summer we added 13 passport pickup locations across the country, including, for the very first time, in Canada's north, in Whitehorse in Yukon, which is really important.

We are continuing to ensure that we are delivering passport services for Canadians in a timely manner. I can assure my colleague that we are looking across the country to make sure those services are available and accessible to all Canadians.

The Environment

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, an independent analysis of the Liberals' second carbon tax, the clean fuel standard, has found that it will actually increase net international greenhouse gas emissions. Canadians are struggling to make ends meet and are trying to heat their homes and put food on the table. Why does the government want to add $1,277 to annual household energy costs?

What is being cleaned here are the pocketbooks of Canadians, without any environmental benefit. If the government insists on proceeding with this high-cost hypocrisy, will it at least delay the clean fuel standard by six months?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, we are working on many fronts to reduce oil and gas emissions. We, of course, are going to be capping emissions from the oil and gas sector. We are going to be investing in carbon capture. Yes, we are going to be implementing a clean fuel standard. We are also going to be phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2023, two years ahead of schedule. We have already got a good start. We are phasing out eight.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is all the time we have for Oral Questions today.

The hon. member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski.

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

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, there have been discussions among the parties and, if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That, given that billionaire companies like Irving have been using captive insurance scams for almost 50 years; the CRA recently identified more than $76 billion in unpaid taxes in the Panama and paradise papers, including from Irving; out-of-control inflation is making it hard for Canadians to afford basic—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to interrupt. We have a whole side here who is saying that they were not consulted and will not be giving unanimous consent, so I am going to have to stop it there. I am sorry.

Alleged Unparliamentary Language from a Member—Speaker's Ruling

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The Chair would like to address the point of order raised yesterday by the member for La Prairie concerning alleged unparliamentary language heard from the sidelines during Oral Questions yesterday.

Since the alleged events, the Chair has confirmed what was said. The Chair is of the view that these were indeed disrespectful comments.

Exchanges between members of the House are sometimes heated and intense, but the Chair expects everyone to conduct themselves in a dignified manner and to choose their words carefully.

As I explained in my decision of March 29, 2022, found on page 3739 of the Debates, and I quote: “We are all here as elected representatives and each of us is entitled to respect. Personal inflammatory language has no place in our debates.”

We have been duly elected to fulfill our mandate and represent our constituents. Our presence in this chamber is legitimate and appropriate.

I thank the members for their attention.

The House resumed from November 2 consideration of the motion that Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill S-5.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #210