Debates of March 30th, 2022

Housing

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the spend-DP-Liberal coalition has never seen a rule on tax it did not like, regardless of how inflationary it would be. Take, for example, making an energy rating mandatory when selling a home. The Ontario Real Estate Association calls this a crazy thing to do in the middle of a historic housing affordability crisis, as it would only increase the cost of buying a home.

Why is the spend-DP-Liberal coalition even thinking about doing this crazy thing that would only price out more millennials and first-time homebuyers?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have prioritized giving more Canadians access to their dream of home ownership. We are moving forward with a housing accelerator fund that would increase the housing supply across the spectrum, we are moving forward with a rent-to-own program that would turn more Canadian renters into homeowners, and we are also moving forward with a 1% tax on non-recreational property owned by foreigners. What did the party opposite do with respect to that measure? It voted against it.

Taxation

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing progressive about the spend-DP-Liberal coalition is that people are progressively paying more for everything. Inflation bleeds the purchasing power of every single Canadian.

The Governor of the Bank of Canada has confirmed that the carbon tax is inflationary. Some point to rebates, but the Parliamentary Budget Officer says the government will collect more than it rebates to Canadians.

Will the spend-DP-Liberal coalition finally give millions of Canadians a break from their inflationary policies and cancel the April 1 carbon tax hike?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is no surprise to hear this from the Conservatives when their top candidate for leader, the member for Carleton, is campaigning against real action on climate change. The PBO's report confirms that the price of pollution has a progressive impact that gives eight out of 10 Canadians more money through the climate action incentive, which goes back into their pockets. In the last week, we announced climate incentives in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

While members on that side of the aisle fight each other, we fight for Canadians.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The first three questions were great. Everybody was listening and it was awesome.

The hon. member for La Prairie.

Seniors

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have spent a lot of time talking about what is in the NDP-Liberal agreement, but we should also talk about what was left out, and that is seniors.

This agreement leaves seniors by the wayside. Even though rising grocery prices are hitting them harder than anyone else, nothing will be done to protect their income until 2027. That is especially true for seniors between the ages of 65 and 74, who are also not entitled to an OAS increase. This agreement makes the creation of two classes of seniors a done deal.

I would like to know one thing. Whose decision was it to dump seniors? Was it the Liberals, the NDP or both?

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, our government has delivered on its commitment to increase OAS by 10% for all seniors aged 75 and up. This helps with Canadians' extra needs later in life. Older seniors face increased care expenses and are at greater risk of running out of savings. As seniors age, their health and home care costs rise, all while they are more likely to be unable to work, have disabilities or be widowed. Seniors are living longer today. Life expectancy for Canadians has increased by seven years, to 82 in 2019 from 75 in 1980. We have the backs of our Canadian seniors.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one need not be good at math to understand that, when the cost of living goes up, the first to suffer are people on fixed incomes, the seniors aged 65 to 74 who have been denied the OAS increase by the NDP and the Liberals.

Food prices have gone up by 7.4%. That is not as bad for seniors aged 75 and over whose OAS has gone up by 10%, but for those 74 and under, there are some groceries they can no longer afford. That is their reality.

Why did the NDP and the Liberals sign a contract that abandons these seniors?

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, our government's priority has always been to support seniors, especially the most vulnerable. When it comes to supporting seniors, we are proud of our record. One of the first things we did for seniors was restore the age of eligibility for OAS back to 65 from 67, which was moved forward by the Conservatives. We raised the GIS for single seniors. We introduced a special tax-free payment for those who receive OAS and GIS. We provided a one-time $500 payment to seniors 75 and over, and this year we are increasing the OAS by 10% for them.

The Economy

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when the cost of living goes up it hurts families, but it certainly benefits some corporations like big banks. In the upcoming budget, the Liberal government has a choice. Will it side with families and get them the help they need, or will it side with large corporations and continue to protect their record profits?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, building a fairer, more inclusive economy that works for all Canadians has been a central focus of our government from the beginning, and while we appreciate the intent behind the previous NDP motion and the hon. member's question, let us remember all the things we have done for the middle class. We provided more pandemic supports for Canadians and businesses in Bill C-2, and the NDP voted against it. We raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% and lowered them for the middle class. We stopped the Canada child benefit from going to millionaires and it benefited nine out of 10 Canadians.

There is much that we have done for Canadians on affordability. We will keep doing more.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when the cost of living goes up, it hurts families, but it helps big corporations like banks.

In the upcoming budget, the government has a choice. Will it help families and support families in need or will it continue to protect large corporations' profits?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question on the need to build a more just and more inclusive economy for all Canadians. That has been the focus of our work ever since we formed government.

We only have to look at all the measures we have taken to make life more affordable for Canadians: We provided support to Canadians during the pandemic with Bill C‑2; we raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% and we cut them for the middle class; we increased the Canada child benefit. That is making life more affordable.

Taxation

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while government members drone on about making life more affordable for Canadians, they ignore their self-selective, industry-killing ways of tax and spend. They will claim to offer affordable day care and housing, but a person would have to lose their job and their neighbours to get it. In the meantime, they will buy less at the grocery store and put off the next trip to the gas station.

Could the government show one small act of mercy to its citizens and axe the carbon tax?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to answer my colleague's question because, in fact, we now have national child care across the country. In provinces like Alberta, that means families have already received a 50% reduction in fees. That is a huge help when it comes to paying for gas and when it comes to paying for groceries. It means more money in the pockets of Canadians to do what they need to do to support Canadians. This government will be there for Canadians every single time.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government promises the moon and the stars, but it will take the shirts off the backs of Canadians to pay for it. It tempts Canadians with shiny things in the window, but it cannot cash the cheques it writes. The losers are everyday Canadians. They can drop off their kids at day care, but their tummies will be empty, and they better be in walking distance, because Canadians cannot afford gas.

Will the government find it in its heart to show one small act of compassion and axe the carbon tax?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from parents in Alberta who talk about how important the reduction in fees in child care is, and how it means they are able to look for full-time employment because now they are able to afford it. It means they can now pay for the things they could not for their children.

We know that affordable day care is not only good for children and families, but also good for the economy, and there are 25 years of experience in Quebec to show just that. This is a program that more than pays for itself. It is good for Canadians, it is good for our children and it is good for the economy.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is tax time in Canada and millions of Canadians are filing their tax returns. Last year, many Canadians received their carbon tax rebate in full, but this year they have to wait three more months just to get a quarter of what they received last year.

With inflation at generational highs, the Liberals' move to quarterly payments means less money for Canadian families. Canadians want their money now. Why is the government nickel-and-diming Canadians on their carbon tax rebates?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, while the members on the other side have been fixated on April 1, I have been fixated on July 15. Of course, that is the date when Canadians will receive the climate action rebate cheques. It will be a double payment, and they will receive these quarterly cheques for months to come. We are fighting climate change and we are promoting affordability.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the PBO has put to rest the NDP-Liberal government's bogus claim that the carbon tax is revenue-neutral. The St. Albert Legion wrote to me and said that the carbon tax will cost it $6,000 this year. That is $6,000 that could have been spent to support veterans in my community.

When will the NDP-Liberal government just admit that the carbon tax is not revenue-neutral and axe the tax?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member is getting his numbers from, but under our plan, the majority of families will continue to receive more money back in a rebate than they pay. Members have heard these numbers before from our associate finance minister. This year it is $600 in Ontario, $700 in Manitoba and $1,100 in Saskatchewan and Alberta. This is more money in the pockets of Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are two days away from April 1. If the government wants to know what is on Canadians' minds on April 1, the fact of the matter is that in two days, the Liberal carbon tax will go up.

For weeks we have been calling on the government to give Canadians a break, to give them some breathing room and not increase the Liberal carbon tax. There are two days left.

Can the government understand the goodwill behind this and, more importantly, could it give Canadians a break by not increasing the Liberal carbon tax?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before in the House, pricing pollution is recognized as one of the most efficient ways to fight climate change. It will not only reduce pollution, but drive innovation to help create a clean-growth economy and the jobs of tomorrow.

Once again, as the Parliamentary Budget Officer has said, eight out of 10 families will be better off. Those families will receive the cheques quarterly, starting July 15.

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

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that for months and months inflation has been on the rise in Canada. The fact is that inflation is now at more than 5.7%. The fact is that all Canadian families are paying more today than they were several months ago.

In two days, the Liberals are increasing the Liberal carbon tax. Do they understand common sense? Raising the Liberal carbon tax will increase inflation, and Canadian families will pay even more.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the facts. First, we cut taxes for the middle class twice and increased taxes for the wealthiest 1%. The Conservatives voted against it. Second, we created the Canada child benefit, which is indexed to inflation. The Conservatives voted against it. Third, we gave seniors aged 75 and over a one-time $500 payment. What did the Conservatives do? They voted against it. We are taking action. We are not sure about the Conservatives.