House of Commons Hansard #142 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was spending.
Pascale St-Onge LiberalMinister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question.
Obviously, today, everyone's thoughts are with the families of the victims, the 14 women who were murdered in the École Polytechnique massacre. Obviously, our government wants to do more to better protect women. That is why we have a very important bill to get more assault weapons off the streets.
We invite all parliamentarians to work with us to strengthen this bill and better protect women across the country.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, today the Auditor General showed that there was terrible waste. According to her, the government wasted at least $4.6 billion. Moreover, it is believed that another $27 billion was wasted, and that should be investigated. The government even paid 1,500 inmates with CERB money.
Why did the government waste that money and cause massive inflation on the backs of Canadians?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the government did not hesitate to take action to help Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic and we made the right choices. We thank the Auditor General for her work and we thank her for confirming that our COVID-19 benefits were well targeted and effective. The report clearly indicates that these benefits helped the economy bounce back quickly and contributed to fighting poverty. Canadians know that we had their backs and will continue to be there for them.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the government is now exposed for having wasted massive sums over the last several years. According to the Auditor General, there is $4 billion of known waste and another $27 billion of suspected waste. There is $60 million of spending that is under criminal investigation. There were 190,000 people who quit their jobs and therefore were not eligible to receive the CERB benefit but did anyway. They even sent the CERB to 1,500 prisoners.
Why did the government waste so much and make Canadians pay the price?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General found, very clearly, that CERB and our individual benefits achieved their intended goals of getting money to Canadians quickly, of allowing Canadians to stay home safely and of avoiding severe social and economic consequences.
We, as a Parliament, approved an attestation-based approach. We knew from the beginning that there would be postpayment verification. We are working methodically through that, and I can assure all Canadians that we are on top of this.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we already knew that the government paid billions of dollars in wage subsidies to profitable corporations that were able to pay out dividends to their wealthy executives. Now we know they also paid $15 billion to companies that did not have a significant revenue drop, so they were able to pocket the cash at the expense of the Canadian people. This is the same government that gave money to Loblaws and other wealthy corporations, always at the expense of the working class.
Why do they always take from the have-nots and give to the have-yachts?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, our government made decisions that unquestionably saved lives and the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the past several months, the CRA has been verifying recipients' eligibility. The Auditor General's findings are consistent with what the CRA has said. The verification and recovery process will take years.
While the Conservatives are left to deal with their leader's ridiculous advice about cryptocurrency, we will continue to deliver for Canadians.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the government is delivering for inmates. It sent CERB cheques to 1,500 inmates who were serving time in prison for committing crimes. They were not eligible for the CERB. The Liberals also gave the CERB to 190,000 people who had voluntarily left their jobs and were not eligible. The government wasted $30 billion, and we also know that criminal investigations are under way.
Will the government finally launch an investigation to recover the money that Canadians lost?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, in a recent CBC article, the member for Edmonton West agreed with the government, saying that verification and recovery would be “a several year process”.
My question is very simple. Does his own leader agree with him?
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, on this day, December 6, we commemorate the terrible femicide that took place at École Polytechnique.
Compassion must guide all of our efforts, including the study of the bill to control assault weapons. The government has tabled an amendment that is unusual, huge and complex, so much so that the minister and the Prime Minister admit that it is an issue that should be dealt with by experts.
Will the government agree to add two committee meetings so experts can analyze the amendments very quickly, but rigorously?
Pascale St-Onge LiberalMinister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Bloc and the NDP for their co-operation and their reasonable and responsible approach to working together to strengthen the bill at committee. It is truly important that everyone work together on this matter.
Today we talked about the École Polytechnique massacre. The objective of the bill really is to get assault weapons off our streets and to protect the rights of hunters and indigenous communities. That is what we are working on. The Prime Minister has made a commitment, and I encourage everyone to work together.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what I am trying to get at with my question.
Obviously, I share the concern that sport hunters may be used as pawns in this matter, but this does not in any way help ensure the safety and sense of security of the victims' families, of women in general, or of civil society as a whole.
We want to truly understand, because clarity is at the heart of the matter, and we are simply asking to add two committee meetings with experts to study the amendment.
Can we do that?
Pascale St-Onge LiberalMinister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to working with all parliamentarians, with our colleagues in the Bloc and the NDP, to ensure that this bill is well balanced and that it achieves the objectives we have set, specifically, to get rid of the assault weapons used in massacres like the ones at the Quebec City mosque and École Polytechnique, while at the same time protecting the rights of hunters and indigenous communities.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, the army had to be called into long-term care homes in this country, and now the Red Cross has been called into children's hospitals in Ottawa. It is clear that our health care system is in crisis, but the Prime Minister has been missing in action. Leadership is not looking for excuses. It is showing up and finding solutions.
When will the Prime Minister show leadership, step up, call for an emergency meeting of the first ministers and solve the crisis in our health care system?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member. Urgent actions are indeed required to address the current health workforce crisis. That is why we have taken significant steps forward by establishing a coalition for action for health care workers to inform immediate and long-term solutions to address these challenges, by introducing measures to facilitate the entry of foreign national physicians and permanent residents, and by announcing a national nursing officer to provide strategic advice from a nursing perspective.
Our government's priority remains working together for better outcomes for Canadians, and that includes the youngest patients in our hospitals. I appreciate the attention to this very important matter.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, doctors, nurses and health care workers are sharing horror stories about what is happening in our health care system. This is a crisis, that much is clear. We have children who are getting sick and cannot access health care services. This Prime Minister lacks leadership.
When will this Prime Minister show some leadership and do what it takes to save our health care system?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of the NDP for his important question. We obviously share his concerns about the issues we are seeing in the public health care system across Canada. He talked about the difficulties in children's hospitals. The shortage of health care professionals is an important issue, and it is exactly what we are discussing with the premiers and the ministers of health.
We are really encouraged by these conversations. We are going to increase federal resources to ensure that these challenges end as soon as possible.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Mr. Speaker, today, the Auditor General released a damning report confirming that Liberal mismanagement led to at least $32 billion in inflationary spending. This is more costs and no control. The Liberals' lack of transparency contributed to the affordability crisis. The Auditor General is deeply concerned by the lack of controls, and her report shows the Liberals are going to keep their failed approach for current and future programs.
Why are Canadians continuously on the hook for Liberal failures?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, it bears repeating that the Auditor General found we achieved the goals we set out. We kept Canadians safe, we made sure Canadians were paid quickly and we averted significant social and economic hardship for our country.
This Parliament approved the attestation-based approach. We knew when we committed to this, and we were very transparent from the beginning, that we would do post-payment verification. We are methodically going through that and will continue to do so, working individually and with Canadians to make sure we have a fair and equitable response to this.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals' goals were to lack transparency, lack accountability and lack control, the Auditor General confirmed that in her report today. The Liberals' legacy of mismanagement has made life more unaffordable, sending more Canadians to food banks than ever before. Record high food, rent and mortgage costs are being driven up by the Liberals' inflation. The more the Liberals fail, the more Canadians have to pay.
How many more Liberal failures are Canadians on the hook for?
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, we took important action when we understood that the high cost of living was having an impact on Canadians. In fact, yesterday the Financial Post noted that our child care policy has been a success. It said, “government policy has played a role in getting women back in the workforce...especially when it comes to child care.... Women feel more confident going back into the workforce because they won’t be spending their whole paycheque on child care.”
We are there for Canadians and we are delivering.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government will blame everyone else for its inflationary spending, but when the Auditor General confirms that a minimum of $32 billion in COVID overpayments and suspicious payments need more investigation, there is little argument that this mess added to inflation. The Auditor General has sounded the alarm bells on the lack of control on COVID spending. There are lots of checks and no balances, and the government is continuing the same approach with current legislation and current programming.
How can Canadians trust the government?
Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I will get to the hon. member's question in a moment.
I want to add my voice to that of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and others in the House today on this 33rd anniversary of École Polytechnique. I was a 19-year-old student at the U of A when word got to us that 14 women were gunned down at École Polytechnique. It became worse when we realized it was motivated by hate and misogyny. We must do everything in the House to protect women and end violence against women.
On the substantive question the hon. colleague asked, millions of mothers who received CERB benefits did not cause inflation, and neither did the businesses that took supports so they could keep their doors open.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about those cases. Canadians deserve transparency about the $32 billion the Auditor General says is just the tip of the iceberg of people who got money, and it needs to be investigated. Canadians deserve to know that there was no control when the money was going out, and now they have learned there is no control or accountability for taxpayers to get that money back.
As food bank use is at its highest rate and one in five Canadians is skipping meals, I will ask this again: How can Canadians trust the government?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the CRA does not agree with the Auditor General's calculations concerning recipients who were not eligible for the wage subsidy. The CRA's actual audits indicate that compliance with the subsidies was high and that the Auditor General's figure is exaggerated. This is not the Auditor General's fault. We all know that she was pressured by the opposition to produce this report. Political games notwithstanding, let us not forget that the wage subsidy saved the economy.