Debates of June 1st, 2022

Taxation

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.

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

Mr. Speaker, inflation is always some else's problem to solve, not the Prime Minister's, and leadership is everything. Germany has given a $16-billion break on fuel taxes. The United States has opened up the strategic reserve. The Prime Minister has asked Canadians to forgive him for not thinking about monetary policy, but inflation is hitting them hard and we are seeing zero leadership from him.

The Conservatives are not asking the Prime Minister to pay for his own meals, to pay for his own gas and to pay for his own housing. Will he act today and give Canadians a break at the pumps so they can pay for theirs?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know the current challenges around the cost of living are hitting Canadian families hard, which is why we are continuing to step up on supports for them, whether it is supports for seniors, supports for families through the Canada child benefit, with increases linked to inflation, or moving forward on historic child care deals that are saving Canadian families across the country thousands of dollars this year because of reduced costs.

We are going to continue to support Canadians during this difficult time because we know they need it.

The Economy

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's goal to make everything more expensive is punishing Canadians at the grocery store. My constituency survey on inflationary grocery prices had this response from a resident: “When is it going to stop? How much more do you think people can afford to spend on set incomes!” Another said that with the cost of food now so high, they cannot afford medicine anymore.

When is the Prime Minister going to wake up to how his made-in-Canada inflation is putting basic necessities out of reach for so many people?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know the global inflation caused first by the pandemic and second by Vladimir Putin's illegal war in Ukraine is putting pressure on families, including with high gas prices. Canadians deserve support, which is what we are giving, but the Conservatives have opposed policies that put money back into Canadians' pockets. They voted against cutting taxes for the middle class, they voted against cutting child care fees in half this year and they voted against more support for families, seniors and students. They are also opposing our price on pollution, which means they are opposing giving more money to eight out of 10 Canadian families. We will be—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is incredibly sad that the Prime Minister is so out of touch with what people are going through. However, it is not only individuals; it is small businesses as well. The total number of insolvencies in Canada in March 2022 compared with March 2021 was 33.1%. The Liberals' comments that business is back to prepandemic levels and that it is all sunny ways for everyone are false.

When will the Prime Minister just acknowledge that everything is more expensive, that people are struggling, that he blames everything on everyone else and that he really has no solutions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, during the past two years of the pandemic, we have been there for small businesses, with help in the way of CEBA loans, the Canada emergency wage subsidy and direct support for families. We were able to continue to ensure that small businesses would be able to hold through the darkest times of this pandemic.

Unfortunately, this pandemic continues, and with it we see record inflation around the world. We see a rise in the cost of fuel and groceries. That is why we continue to be there to support families that are squeezed by this, by investing in them and making sure we are making the kinds of investments that support them without adding further inflationary pressures. That is what we will continue to do.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, yesterday, the Prime Minister refused to give Quebec the immigration powers it is asking for. He justified it by saying that it was “because protecting French and francophone immigration is very important”. Of course it is important. That is exactly why Quebec wants to be responsible for all its immigration. Quebec's future as a nation, where French is the common and official language, hinges on protecting French and francophone immigration.

Does anyone here seriously believe that the federal government is in a better position than Quebec to provide this protection?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as a Quebecker, I know that the federal government has an important role to play in protecting French, not only in Quebec, but also throughout the country. It is precisely for the sake of those French-speaking communities across the country that we must continue to work to ensure francophone immigrants settle everywhere in the country.

As far as Quebec is concerned, we are very happy to work hand in hand with the Quebec government to increase francophone immigration. If that is what the Quebec government wants, we are there to work in partnership with it. Our government is there as a partner to protect the French language and increase Quebec's population.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us recap. The Prime Minister says that he will challenge Bill 21 and that Canada must be able to dictate Quebec's vision on state secularism. He then says that he wants to limit the scope of the notwithstanding clause to ensure that Quebeckers will never again have the right to adopt legislation that upsets Canada. He is saying that Quebec will never get the immigration powers it is calling for so that it can better integrate newcomers.

At this point, what does the Prime Minister have to say to the Quebeckers who want to make their own democratic choices? Is the only option independence?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think my esteemed colleague in the Bloc Québécois skipped a step. All Quebeckers are also Canadians, and as Prime Minister of all Canadians, I have a responsibility to protect every individual's fundamental rights. This is something that I will always do, knowing that protecting my beautiful French language is a central priority for our government and for myself, as a Quebecker.

Therefore, yes, we will assume our responsibility of protecting the fundamental rights of Quebeckers, who are also Canadians.

Canadian Heritage

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the heritage minister was not able to answer any of my questions on Monday, so I am hoping that perhaps the Prime Minister might be able to assist me today.

The heritage minister has claimed repeatedly that Bill C-11 does not capture user-generated content, but the chair of the CRTC, Mr. Scott, has said that, in fact, user-generated content is captured within Bill C-11.

Both of these men cannot be correct. I am wondering if the Prime Minister could clarify this for the sake of Canadians watching today: Should they believe his minister, or should they believe the chair of the CRTC?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that Bill C-11 applies to platforms, not to users.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my riding is home to two great online content creators. Julia Westlin and David Michaud get millions of views on YouTube and are known throughout the world. They make a living from their art.

Under Bill C-11, as it now stands, the CRTC could regulate their content, which would have a major impact on their livelihoods.

Can the Prime Minister categorically assure us that the content that is generated by all social media users, including Julia and David, will be exempt from this bill, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to acknowledge the work of Julia and David and say that their content will be protected. We are here to ensure that platforms protect Canadian content and that our content generators, our creators, are supported. That is what the Conservatives still do not understand. We, on this side of the House, will always stand with creators and artists. As for the Conservatives, we are all too familiar with their track record.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, just because the Prime Minister says something does necessarily make it true. The bill states in black and white that the CRTC can regulate any content that directly or indirectly generates revenues, which includes content created by artists who do not ask for any subsidies and who want to live off their art. It is not the Conservatives but rather experts in the field who have raised red flags.

I repeat my simple question for the Prime Minister. Will he exempt all creators who post online and on social media from this act, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, yes, individual creators are protected under this legislation. It is the platforms that we are targeting.

Let us not forget that we have been able to protect Quebec and Canadian culture by making Canadian creators more discoverable on platforms, including radio, TV and now the Internet.

We want to ensure that Canadian creators are seen, heard and appreciated. That is exactly what Bill C-11 does, and that is what the Conservatives still do not seem to understand.

Tourism Industry

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with summer just around the corner, people around the world are starting to plan their summer vacation.

As we know, measures at the borders are being eased and Canada is getting ready to welcome the world.

Can the Prime Minister tell us what the government is doing to promote Canada on the world stage so as to encourage people to come enjoy our country from coast to coast to coast?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Alfred‑Pellan for his question and his hard work.

The past two years were extremely difficult for the tourism industry. On this national tourism week, I would like to thank the tourism industry for its resilience and for promoting Canada around the world.

Whether it is about dancing to the music at the Montreal International Jazz Festival or watching Belugas in Churchill, let us showcase Canada and make it the top tourist destination for people around the world.

Health

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, nothing says, “Happy Tourism Week” like the arbitrary, unjustified extension of the restrictions and mandates in Canada's airports. Airports, airlines, chambers of commerce and health experts have all called for an end to mandates, and, this week, even members of the Prime Minister's own caucus said that these restrictions do not make sense anymore.

What was his response? He doubled down. What more will it take for him to finally do the right thing, do his job, clear the backlogs in our airports and give Canadians their rights back?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I wish we were able, like the Conservatives think we are, to simply wish away a pandemic, wish away the thousands of deaths, and wish away the people dying every day, who continue to do so, in this pandemic. Yes, we all want it to be over, but the best way to make sure that it is over—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. Are we ready?

The right hon. Prime Minister can begin from the top, please.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we see the Conservatives in denial about the reality of this pandemic. We continue to have a pandemic in this country. We continue to need to take measures to keep Canadians safe, and we will continue to be informed by the best public health advice and the advice of experts to get us through this.

We know that Canada was able to do the right things across the country to minimize the impacts of the pandemic both on Canadians and on our economy. We will continue to make sure we are putting the health of Canadians and the health of our economy first and foremost because nobody wants another wave of this COVID-19.