Debates of Feb. 3rd, 2022

The Economy

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, that is a disappointing answer.

The Prime Minister's policy is causing the price of everything to soar, but he smugly brushes that away, just as he brushes away almost every other challenge that Canadians are facing. He looks at single moms, for example, who are struggling, and seems to smugly not understand that they are just trying to put nutritional food on their kids' plates. He looks at families who are trying to pay their rent. Does he understand how difficult rent is to pay right now? Rent is soaring.

What is the Prime Minister's plan to stop runaway inflation?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to irresponsibly push a false economic narrative. The truth is that Canada is resilient, and our economy is strongly recovering from the COVID recession.

Our GDP grew 5.4% in the third quarter. That was stronger than the U.S., the U.K, Japan and Australia. We have replaced 108% of jobs lost to COVID, and S&P and Moody's have reaffirmed our AAA credit rating.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here is an indisputable fact: Yesterday, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem issued a warning that, unfortunately, directly affects all Canadian families.

He said that there is certainly uncertainty about interest rates before they can return to normal levels. It is not just anyone saying this, it is the Governor of the Bank of Canada who is issuing a warning.

The best way to control inflation is first and foremost to control spending.

Why is the Liberal government refusing to do what any responsible government must do, which is to control spending?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, Canadians understand that inflation is a global phenomenon.

The latest inflation rate stood at 4.8% in Canada, 7% in the United States, 5.3% in Germany, and 5.4% in the United Kingdom. Our inflation is below the G7, G20 and OECD averages.

Health

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to a Leger poll that came out yesterday, Quebeckers and Canadians have made it clear that health is their priority.

They have made it clear that the health care system is getting worse, the pandemic has had a negative impact on health care, Ottawa is not contributing its fair share of funding, and Ottawa needs to do more. They have been clear about all of this.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister also be clear and tell us whether she will increase health transfers to 35%?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

I can be very clear. I want to be very clear about the fact that $8 out of every $10 spent to fight this pandemic came from our federal government.

Bill C-8 outlines our government's plan to continue to support the provinces and territories, and that includes allocating $1.7 billion to provide over 180 million additional rapid tests free of charge.

We are doing more, but I do not have time to talk about everything the government is doing.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister is not capable of being clear. We are talking about health transfers.

I will show her what it means to be clear. A total of 85% of Canadians and 86% of Quebeckers agree with the provinces and Quebec, which are calling for the federal government to increase health transfers from 22% to 35%. That is clear: 85%.

It is not just the Bloc Québécois, Quebec, the provinces or the government who are calling for this. It is everyone.

Will the minister respond positively to everyone's request and increase health transfers to 35%?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I can be very clear. It is the federal government that is supporting Canadians across the country today. It is supporting the provinces and territories and also our health care system in the fight against COVID-19.

The federal government has provided $8 out of every $10 spent on rapid tests, vaccines and therapeutics in Canada. We continue to spend money because we know that it is necessary.

Human Rights

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Madam Speaker, many indigenous community members, racialized community members and Black community members are raising a very serious question. When indigenous land defenders protect their land, their sacred lands, or when racialized people and Black people protest against police brutality that strips communities of loved ones, they receive a very different treatment by the police than the convoy in Ottawa.

Their question is simple. Why are indigenous, racialized and Black community members treated so differently when they are protesting for their rights?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for his hard work in supporting racialized and indigenous Canadians.

Earlier today I quoted what for me were very powerful and deeply moving comments made by my colleague, the member for Hull—Aylmer. When we consider the protests that are happening right now in Ottawa, we need to be very mindful of the impact they are having on racialized Canadians, new Canadians and indigenous Canadians. I certainly am.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, indigenous, racialized and Black communities are raising a very serious question. When indigenous communities defend their land or when Black or racialized communities protest against police brutality, they receive very different treatment by the police than the convoy in Ottawa.

Their question is simple. Why are they treated differently?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our colleague from Hull—Aylmer explained what it means for a Black Canadian to see swastikas and the Confederate flag at a protest in our nation's capital.

He told us how these horrible emblems have Black Canadians wondering who among us would diminish their equality and freedom. His powerful words remind us that every member has a responsibility to stand up to a movement that tolerates such symbols.

Housing

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, do we remember the Liberals' election promise from 2015, “real change for the middle class”? It was a winning election slogan for them. To give credit where it is due, things have certainly changed for the middle class. Those looking to break into the housing market, for example, have seen the average home price in 2015 of $430,000 go to now over $798,000. As a result, most young people will never own a home.

Is that the “real change” they were planning for the middle class?

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

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to respond to that important question.

This is the change we implemented: We brought federal leadership back into the housing sector. We brought in the national housing strategy. We brought in the first-time homebuyer incentive. We brought in the rapid housing initiative. We brought in the co-investment fund. We brought in the greening homes initiative. On all of those measures that help middle-class Canadians, what did the Conservatives do? They voted against them each and every time.

The Economy

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, with all that Liberal spending, we have only seen housing prices in Canada become the most expensive in the world. Maybe that is what is influencing it.

Just as housing has become unaffordable since that fateful 2015 election, so have basic necessities. Milk is up 12%, eggs are up 14%, and baby food has seen an astounding 79% increase since the current Prime Minister took government. The price of gas was $1.03 back in 2015. Now it is $1.40. How are people supposed to feed their families, fuel their cars and get to work on that? I will ask again: Is this the “real change” the Liberals were promising the middle class?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting for me to hear the Conservatives today criticize government spending, because I remember just a few months ago on the campaign trail they proposed government spending that was actually higher than what we proposed. They proposed a $168 billion deficit, while we proposed a $156.9 billion deficit. I wonder if the party of flip-flops could tell Canadians what they stand for today.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the price of gas is at an all-time high since the Liberal government first came to power. In most parts of the country, it is over $1.50 per litre, and it shows no sign of stopping.

The Liberal government's war on Canadian energy combined with out-of-control spending has created an inflationary spiral. The government is printing money to finance unnecessary deficits, which is just making matters worse.

Will the government admit that its policies are directly responsible for Canadians' misery?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to irresponsibly push a false economic narrative. The truth is that Canada is resilient, and our economy is strongly recovering from the COVID‑19 recession.

Our GDP grew 5.4% in the third quarter, surpassing the U.S., Japan, the U.K. and Australia. We have replaced 108% of the jobs that were lost.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals can say whatever they want, but the fact is, Canada's inflation rate is among the worst in the G7. The government is putting off dealing with the problem, apparently hoping that inflation will sort itself out. Unfortunately, we are going to need a course correction to stop inflation.

The Bank of Canada has to rethink its interest rates, contract monetary policy and regain control over spending. When will the Liberals stop selling Canadians a dream and give them the straight goods?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, again with the false narrative. The member talked about inflation in G7 countries. Let me share those numbers. Our inflation rate is 4.8%. In the U.S., it is 7%. In Germany, it is 5.3%. In the U.K., it is 5.4%.

The G7 average is 5.3%. That is the truth.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Alberta families are feeling the squeeze as the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise. The cost of groceries and housing is through the roof, and with record high prices at the pumps, just getting to work is becoming unaffordable. Not everyone can work from home, and when people have to decide between putting gas in their cars and putting food on their tables, something has gone seriously wrong.

When will the government get a grip and realize that the more it spends, the less Canadians can afford?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich to hear the Conservatives presume to offer any kind of economic advice. After all, let us remember that just before Christmas, when the omicron wave was rising, it was the Conservatives who voted against Bill C-2 and the lockdown support that is providing such essential support for Canadian workers and small businesses across the country, supports the CFIB says are essential.

I am so glad the Conservatives failed in their economic effort.

Natural Resources

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is about time the government actually does start to listen to some of the Conservative economic advice. As if the cost of living crisis was not hard enough for Alberta families, the government is also attacking their livelihoods. Canadian-made natural resources are a cornerstone of our economy and our Canadian identity.

Alberta's oil and gas workers keep us warm, support our families and keep our economy running, yet the government continues to rely on high-carbon Saudi oil tankers over our own environmentally friendly Canadian energy.

Will the Liberals finally start supporting Canadian energy, or will they just continue to treat our oil and gas sector as the enemy?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, certainly I agree with parts of what the hon. member said. Certainly the energy sector in the country is an important part of our overall economy and will continue to be as we move forward toward a lower-carbon future. We are working actively with companies and with governments to ensure that we are creating the jobs and the economic opportunities for families in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and every province and territory in this country.

COVID-19 Protests

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I heard the Prime Minister say again this morning that the Ottawa police need to do their job against these occupiers, but the police have been doing their job since day one. It is the feds who are hiding.

From day one, the Prime Minister has been adding fuel to the fire and then hiding behind the police, like a little boy in a schoolyard. The Ottawa police are exhausted. Yesterday the police chief said that this is a national problem, not a City of Ottawa problem, and he is right.

When will the federal government take responsibility? Where is the Minister of Public Safety in this whole mess?