Debates of Dec. 1st, 2022

Public Safety

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he is doing nothing to take dangerous guns off the street. In fact, 82% of guns used in crime in Toronto, according to the city's police, come smuggled across the border. He has done nothing about that, but he wants to spend another billion dollars going after rifles and shotguns that are specifically designed and used by hundreds of thousands of law-abiding and licensed Canadians for hunting. These are law-abiding people who have been vetted by the RCMP.

Why does he keep targeting the lawful people rather than keeping the illegal guns out?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague from the Conservative Party can continue to spread disinformation, but I will tell members very clearly that on this side of the House we are targeting those AR-15 style guns that have been used in mass casualties. This is part of a broader plan, a plan that will actually eradicate gun violence.

He talks about supporting CBSA. This government put $138 million into the CBSA to stop illegal smuggling. What did the Conservatives do? They voted against that. That is wrong. They should support frontline law enforcement so we can stop illegal smuggling of guns at our borders.

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, National Bank came out with staggering housing statistics today. It now takes 67% of the average monthly income to pay bills on the average home. In fact, the average mortgage payment for a new home in Toronto is now $7,000, and that is if one can afford the home, because it takes now 27 years for the average person to save up for the down payment on that home.

How is it possible that the average Canadian cannot afford the average home here in the nation with the second biggest supply of land anywhere on earth?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Mr. Speaker, we know that one of the main challenges facing the housing market is enough housing supply. We have the fastest growing population in the G7 but very little supply.

That is why we introduced the housing accelerator fund, to work directly with municipalities to increase and double the new construction of housing in the country. We are also introducing a new, innovative rent-to-own program and putting together a first-time homebuyer tax-free savings account of $40,000, as well as doubling the first-time homebuyers' tax credit. Those are real actions that those members voted against.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing they doubled is the cost of housing. House prices have doubled since this Prime Minister came to power. Inflationary spending with printed money inflated the price of houses. Now, rising tax rates are making mortgage payments more expensive too. The vast majority of Canadians cannot even dream of owning a home these days.

When will the government change its inflationary policies and encourage municipalities to allow large-scale housing construction so Canadians can have a home to live in?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Mr. Speaker, the biggest gatekeeper against municipalities building more housing supply is the leader of the official opposition because he voted against the housing accelerator fund, a fund designed precisely to invest in more housing supply. When we were talking about the first-time homebuyers' $40,000 tax-free savings account, the leader of the official opposition directed his team to vote against it.

These are real efforts at making sure more and more Canadians can access the dream of home ownership, but the fact of the matter is that, while the Conservatives talk about gatekeepers, they are the biggest gatekeepers. They are not serious about this issue. They do not have a plan. It has been 300 days since he became leader—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

Democratic Institutions

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government seemingly does not realize that it has put Canada in a very precarious situation by provoking the Chinese government. China is more powerful economically, demographically and geopolitically speaking, yet Canada, instead of aligning itself with the United States, even if it means hiding behind it, is showing just how weak it is. Worse, it is showing how vulnerable it is. China is getting the impression that it can do whatever it wants in Canada. By not revealing which ridings allegedly received illegal funding and by not clearing the air about the $70,000 in his own riding, the Prime Minister is making us vulnerable.

Which ridings were targeted?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, our government takes all allegations of threats of foreign interference very seriously. That is why we established two panels to review all allegations. The panels confirmed the integrity of the 2019 and 2021 elections.

We will continue to provide all the tools that the national security community needs to protect our democratic institutions.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that may be why the Prime Minister put on a show in front of the Chinese president. It is because nothing happened.

Quebeckers and Canadians must stop accepting superficial answers. The government needs to be held accountable. It claims to be protecting institutions, but it is actually protecting the Prime Minister, the Liberal Party and Chinese interests by remaining silent. It is only natural that we are asking questions about financing in the Prime Minister's riding.

To put all of this behind it, is the government prepared to ask for an investigation into financing in the Prime Minister's riding in 2016?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows that we created an independent, non-partisan panel to examine all allegations of foreign interference and that the panel confirmed that the 2019 and 2021 elections were free, fair and just. That is why we will continue to protect our democratic institutions.

Health

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for weeks now, doctors have been sounding the alarm about the catastrophic situation in Quebec's emergency rooms. People have even died while waiting. Just yesterday, Dr. Guylaine Larose, a pediatrician at Sainte-Justine Hospital, said she had never seen so many children in respiratory distress. Doctors and nurses are exhausted, and parents are worried. We are in the middle of a crisis, but it appears the Liberals do not sense the urgency. Our seniors suffered during the pandemic. Now our children are suffering and are at risk.

What will it take for the Liberals to do something and invest so that kids can get the care they need?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. Urgent action is needed to address the current health care worker crisis. That is why we have taken significant steps like creating the coalition for action for health workers, which will provide immediate and long-term solutions to address significant health workforce challenges. We also announced the appointment of a chief nursing officer to provide strategic advice from a nursing perspective to Health Canada on priority policy and program areas.

Indigenous Affairs

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the fight to block justice for first nation children, the government has put up 23 non-compliance orders, spent millions on lawyers and are now back again fighting in federal court. It has lost every single legal action.

Fixing the broken child welfare system is possible, but it requires trust and good will. Will the minister just call off his lawyers, take the arbitrary deadline off the table, sit down with the communities and the child welfare experts, and put an end to the systemic discrimination and underfunding facing first nation children once and for all? Will he do the right thing?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, we are so encouraged by the historic work that we have done with indigenous first nations partners to arrive at an agreement in principle, a final settlement agreement that is historic in a number of ways, not just for the sum of money that first nations children who have been harmed by a systemically discriminating system would receive but also in the nature at which we arrived at that final settlement agreement.

It was, indeed, led by first nations, and I am proud to work with partners on ensuring that we complete this work.

The Economy

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada was seen as a country of prosperity. That is why my family came here. Like so many newcomers, we came here with very little, but with hard work we were able to succeed.

Today, that dream for so many newcomers and citizens has gone up in smoke because of Liberal mismanagement of the economy. We have 40-year highs in grocery prices. Home prices have doubled under the Prime Minister, and now mortgages cost Canadians 64% of their income. The Liberals plan to pile on even more pain.

Will the Liberals stop their inflationary spending and stop driving up the cost of gas, groceries and home heating?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we have shown that we are there for Canadians, particularly vulnerable Canadians.

I would like to start off by saying that the Conservatives voted against a dental benefit that is becoming available to Canadian parents today. Today, Canadian parents can apply for $650 in support per child. There is also the Canada workers benefit, which is already benefiting Canadian workers across the country. In 10 days time, they will be able to apply for the rental benefit.

We are there for Canadians.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that member is clueless. She knows the vast majority of Canadians will not see a penny from those announcements.

What they will see is the Liberals' reckless spending, which will cost each Canadian $3,500, according to the Governor of the Bank of Canada. They will continue seeing their home heating costs soar because this “leave it in the ground” Liberal government cancelled pipelines across the country. The Liberal government's greed knows no bounds, and it will continue to charge Canadians even more.

Why will the Liberals not stop their reckless spending, get off the backs of Canadians, and axe their failed carbon tax?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I know that I am successfully countering the disinformation on the other side when they insult me.

Today Canadian families are able to apply for the dental benefit. We will continue supporting vulnerable Canadians while ensuring that Canada maintains the lowest deficit and the lowest debt of all the G7 countries. We have been extremely fiscally responsible, and the AAA credit rating proves it.

Carbon Pricing

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a new Ipsos poll shows that 26% of Canadians say that they will be accessing charitable services over the next six months for basic essentials, such as food, clothing and shelter.

The survey also says that 25% of Canadians will be donating less to charities, and they cite the biggest reason being the increase in inflation and the effects of their personal finances, yet the Liberal government continues to make it worse by increasing their taxes.

When will the Liberals stop their forced carbon tax on people, and stop charging them for—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we understand how challenging life is for Canadians right now.

As my colleague mentioned, we have been putting forward significant benefits to help them, whether it is the Canada child benefit; the dental benefit, which is accessible today; or the increase to the Canada workers benefit. As of next week, low-income renters can also access benefits.

We have been there for Canadians at every single stage of their life, and we continue to be there. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for my colleagues across the way. The Conservatives keep voting against supporting Canadians each time. If they would like to—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there is an obvious disconnect between the Liberals and what people are actually going through. The Governor of the Bank of Canada said that the average Canadian will be paying $3,500 more because of inflation. That represents $14,000 for the average family of four.

No wonder more people are saying that they will be accessing charitable services. No wonder more people are saying that they will be donating less, yet the Liberals continue to make things worse by charging more people on their taxes.

Again, will the Liberals stop forcing their failed carbon tax on Canadians?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that Canadians, even if they are having a tough time, are seeing that, around the world, global economic instability is causing inflation to be much higher elsewhere. Higher inflation among our peers can be seen around the world. We are continuing to invest to support vulnerable Canadians.

I would also like to remind the member that it was a policy of our government that lifted over two million Canadians, including 450,000 children, out of poverty. When she talks about her concern for children and families, her voting record should prove it.