Debates of Feb. 11th, 2022

Government Business No. 7—Proceedings on Bill C-12

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is incredibly important. It is frustrating to be in the House debating a motion that is already too late. Seniors have already lost their homes and are already struggling and unsure. One group said to me that a lot of seniors are borrowing money from loved ones, which is completely humbling as they are used to looking after themselves. They are borrowing money from churches. Those are the lucky ones. How about the people who are borrowing from those predatory lenders?

We are seeing something that is absolutely unprecedented and something I hope the government takes into consideration. Seniors in this country have lost everything because of this clawback. Seniors in this country have lost their lives directly linked to this clawback. That is the country we live in. We should not live in that.

Here we are debating and it is already too late. I can only say that I hope the government will listen to Campaign 2000 and get that advance payment out as quickly as possible. Let us see if we can save lives. Seniors need the money now. They cannot wait.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Madam Speaker, as I said earlier, we met with the minister about 21 months ago to fix the guaranteed income supplement problem.

Then the Liberal government decided to call an election. After the election, it decided not to recall Parliament, not to sit, essentially. Can my colleague explain that problem?

Why would the government have done that?

I am having a hard time understanding.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Madam Speaker, a lot of Canadians are wondering why we had this election, especially when the NDP was committed to working with some concise guidelines with the government to continue the work that needed to be done. We knew so many vulnerable people had been challenged by the pandemic. We knew Canadians were exhausted and frustrated, so we wanted to provide that stability. The government chose to call an election instead of dealing with the urgent requirements they really should have been facing, which was seniors and poverty.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join the debate on this late Friday. It is always an honour to rise in the House, even for only two minutes. I will need to find a Yiddish proverb by the end of my two minutes.

Again, I want to thank my constituents for sending me back here. I said that last year after we returned briefly for a session, but it truly is an honour. All of us should recognize, no matter how difficult it is for us outside of here with family and constituents unhappy with positions we sometimes take, what a great honour it is to serve the people of Canada and our great country.

We have returned to our hours of work. I now have to wake up at about 5 a.m. in order to ensure I can get ready for question period every day. I truly recognize that fact, so I want to thank my constituents.

This is an important bill. This is one of the top issues I hear about in my riding with emails and phone calls. People are always asking what we are going to do for seniors in this country, or they are seniors themselves and they remind me they helped build this country and are looking to ensure the government meets its obligations toward them.

It has become harder. Let us recognize the fact that over the last several years it has become more difficult with the cost of living going up. Seniors are typically on a fixed income and do not have the means to make up the difference. This piece of legislation would be closing a legislative hole that was created by the government.

My time is up, so the Yiddish proverb for the week is actually not Yiddish. I wish the Speaker a very good weekend. To all those who helped us during this difficult week, I thank them for contributing to this great nation of ours.

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

The motion that the House do now adjourn is deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until next Monday at 11 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2:30 p.m.)