House of Commons Hansard #145 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was process.

Topics

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Madam Speaker, the government continues to roll out programs with a lack of controls. We saw that recently in the Auditor General's report, as more than $32 billion went to people who were not able to apply for programs or who need to be investigated. That was due to a lack of controls in pandemic programs.

We know that the Governor of the Bank of Canada said that inflation is homegrown. We know that the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that hundreds of billions of dollars that went out the door during the pandemic were not for pandemic programs.

Again, will the government stop its wasteful inflationary spending so people can put food on their tables and heat their homes?

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Windsor—Tecumseh Ontario

Liberal

Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment

Madam Speaker, when the pandemic hit, we acted quickly to get recovery benefits into people's bank accounts without delay. To achieve that goal, we planned to verify eligibility on the back end, after the fact. This approach kept workers attached to their jobs and positioned our economy to come roaring back, which it did.

The Auditor General's report found that our individual support programs achieved their intended goals of getting money to Canadians quickly, allowing Canadians to stay home safely and avoiding severe social and economic consequences. The Auditor General also noted that lower-income workers and groups most impacted by the pandemic were able to benefit from these programs.

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Speaker, Canadians were advised by the Deputy Prime Minister that they should cut their Disney+ accounts in order to help them make ends meet. Meanwhile, the government has no problems spending $6,000 on a single hotel night, $54 million on a failed arrive scam app and, more recently, $32 billion on altogether illegitimate or suspicious funding with regard to COVID. The worst part is that Canadians are actually on the hook for all this spending, the Canadian people, who work incredibly hard.

When will the Liberals show them some respect and stop their wasteful spending?

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Windsor—Tecumseh Ontario

Liberal

Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment

Madam Speaker, when the pandemic hit, our government acted quickly to ensure that Canadians had the support they needed to get by. We were clear from the outset that we would do post-payment verifications in order to get money out the door quickly when it was needed, while also ensuring support went to eligible individuals. This work is ongoing and being done in a responsible and compassionate manner. We were also clear that fraud would not be tolerated and that individuals who made good-faith mistakes would not face penalties. We are taking a responsible approach to ensure a fair process.

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Speaker, this is the problem with the Liberals: They make excuse after excuse. They are spending a whole lot of money to accomplish a whole lot of nothing. At the end of the day, it is Canadians who pay the bill.

The cost of living is going up. Meanwhile, the government has no problem spending. Canadians are facing inflation at a 40-year record high, grocery prices have skyrocketed and 20% of Canadians are forced to skip meals. Meanwhile, those across the way continue to chat with one another and maybe even laugh in mockery. Twenty per cent of Canadians are forced to skip meals, 1.5 million Canadians are going to a food bank—

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

FinanceOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Madam Speaker, the policies and programs we put in place helped Canadians weather the storm of the pandemic, and that was incredibly important. We would do it again if we had to.

I would like to point out that the investments we made in Canadians during the pandemic also resulted in our economy rebounding much more quickly and much more strongly than those of other countries around the world. We made responsible choices at a time of emergency in this country, and the result is that the Canadian economy is better for it.

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Dan Muys Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

Madam Speaker, wasteful Liberal spending is up again, as we heard from the Auditor General, and includes sending cheques to prisoners and dead people. This only adds more fuel to the raging inflationary fire. As a result, here is what is also up: grocery prices, interest and mortgage rates and, sadly, food bank use in the GTA.

When will the Liberal government end its wasteful inflationary spending so Canadians can afford to put food on the table and heat their homes?

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we know the programs we put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic helped nine million Canadians weather the storm, stay safe and keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Since that time, we have continued to invest in Canadians. Over two million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty in this country since this government came into power. May I remind members that 450,000 children are now living better than they were before. We have put in dental care for children under 12. We are putting in rental supports for low-income families. The opposition—

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

The hon. member for Huron—Bruce.

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Madam Speaker, gradually and then suddenly, from 2015 to now, the Liberals have added $800 billion in debt. They nearly doubled the debt. What was the inflation rate in October 2015? It was 1%. What was it earlier this year? It was over 8%. Now they have tripled the carbon tax on every single thing we need for living our lives.

If the Liberals want to help Canadians, what can they do? How about cut the carbon tax? When will the Liberals get rid of the wasteful carbon tax?

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Winnipeg South Manitoba

Liberal

Terry Duguid LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Conservatives had the opportunity to vote for affordability and they failed. The other thing they failed on is fighting climate change. However, there is good news coming to Ontario: The price on pollution is increasing, yes, but the climate action rebate is also increasing. For our citizens from Ontario, the average family of four will get $244 a quarter. That is $1,000 in people's bank accounts.

We can fight climate change. We can help affordability. They do not have the plan for—

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

The hon. member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert.

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Madam Speaker, Ottawa imposed a moratorium on the herring and mackerel fisheries two days before the season opened.

In committee, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard offered a solution for fishers deprived of income. She suggested they change jobs. The minister gave people two days' notice that they would not be allowed to work. When they asked for help, she told them to change jobs.

When the government decides to prevent people from earning a living, it owes them something. When will the minister drop the condescension and announce compensation for pelagic fishers?

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Cape Breton—Canso Nova Scotia

Liberal

Mike Kelloway LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries

Madam Speaker, I sit on committee and let me correct the record: That is not what the minister said.

Our goal is to grow Canada's fish and seafood sector, and the science has been clear that mackerel stocks are in the critical zone and have been for more than a decade. Without this forage fish, other fish do not survive. That also goes for lobster and crab.

We are taking action. We want, on this side, not just for the mackerel to survive, but for it to thrive for fishers and coastal communities.

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Madam Speaker, protecting fishery resources is very important. Fishers would be the first to agree.

However, the Minister of Fisheries never thinks of fishers. She has no compensation plan, and no plan to redirect them toward other fisheries. Her only plan, until this week, was to tell fishers to apply for EI. However, they are ineligible because the minister has prohibited them from working. The minister must not improvise like that when it comes to people's livelihoods.

Will the minister come to her senses and announce compensation for fishers before the holidays?

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Cape Breton—Canso Nova Scotia

Liberal

Mike Kelloway LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries

Madam Speaker, saying it twice does not make it more true. The fact of the matter is that we are focused on the stock. We are focused on creating a healthier stock.

As I mentioned, the stock has been in the critical zone for the past 10 years. Our focus is on fishers and also on fishers' communities. That is what we are about on this side. We will continue to work with fishing communities and we will continue to work with fishing associations because that is the right thing to do for the stock and it is the right thing to do for fishers.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Speaker, the Liberals awarded a contract to protect sensitive RCMP communications systems from espionage to the subsidiary of a company charged with espionage. No security review was undertaken. No consideration was given to Beijing's ownership of the company.

The Liberals claim that vigorous security processes are in place. Where were those security processes when this contract was approved?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Yasir Naqvi LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness

Madam Speaker, that is an important question. I want to make it very clear to all members of the House that our government takes foreign interference very seriously.

We are aware of the concerns around the RCMP's contract with Sinclair Technologies, and it is our understanding that the RCMP has suspended that contract. We are also undertaking a review to ensure that never at any point is Canadian national security jeopardized.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Speaker, the only reason this contract was approved is that we have an incompetent Liberal government that has repeatedly failed to protect our sovereignty and security from Beijing, from illegal police stations to interference in our elections to now this.

The contract has been suspended, but it should never have been approved in the first place. Why do the Liberals only do the right thing after they get caught failing Canadians?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Yasir Naqvi LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness

Madam Speaker, let us be very clear, and I am sure all members of the House agree on this. Safeguarding our democracy and our national security is of paramount importance. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that we all agree on, and we need to make sure that we remain vigilant when it comes to protecting our national security.

That is why the contract with Sinclair Technologies has been suspended by the RCMP. That is why we are reviewing all mechanisms to ensure that such contracts are never awarded. Once again, safeguarding our democracy and national security is of paramount importance.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Speaker, despite the Prime Minister's claims, his admiration for the basic dictatorship of the regime in Beijing speaks louder than his actions on national security. Canadians have every reason to be worried because the Liberals only take action when they get caught. The briefing documents of the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, or CISC, revealed this week that China is the most dangerous source of threats linked to foreign interference in Canada. Parliamentary committees, CSIS and the United States have been warning the Prime Minister since 2015.

Is this wilful blindness or China's influence on the Prime Minister's Office?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Madam Speaker, my colleague asked an important question. Indeed, it is very concerning. Also, our independent public service never should have signed that contract. Under the circumstances, we expect national security issues to be at the heart of every decision we make. That is why, in the Indo-Pacific strategy, we mentioned that we will view things through a national security lens when it comes to all these decisions.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Speaker, things will be viewed through a lens, she says.

Reports have been coming out since 2015. The Prime Minister would have been briefed several times. CSIS warned about the risk of foreign interference by China. Public servants, and the government who is responsible for them, awarded contracts to companies with nearly direct ties to the communist Chinese regime. What the minister is proposing today is a lens.

Why is Beijing's interference important only when it is in the media?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Madam Speaker, I think that my colleague should read Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy. It clearly seems as though he has not read it.

I think that, if members are going to ask us questions, they should be informed about the government's foreign policy and, of course, its national security policies.

As I mentioned earlier, matters of national security must be taken into account in all of the decisions made by the independent public service, and the contract never should have been signed.