House of Commons Hansard #91 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-11.

Topics

The EconomyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

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

Madam Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. Canadians are feeling it. They are feeling increased prices at the grocery store and at the pump, which is why as prices are increasing, so are our benefits. Many, if not all, of our important benefits supporting Canadians right now are indexed to inflation, which means that they will continue to increase as inflation increases.

Also increasing this year is our support for seniors with the old age security benefit. Also increasing is the Canada workers benefit, and I could go on and on.

The EconomyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Madam Speaker, yesterday, we were looking forward to hearing the Minister of Finance provide details on her plan to help citizens and businesses deal with inflation.

What a letdown. There will be no increase in the GST tax credit for people with low incomes and no monthly payments. There will be nothing for industries affected by fuel prices, such as the trucking, agricultural and taxi industries. There will be no increase in old age security for those under the age of 75, and nothing will be done to address the labour shortage. All the minister did was repeat measures that had already been announced in April's budget.

Why did she show up empty-handed when people are struggling?

The EconomyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Bloc Québécois's question.

What was announced yesterday is still very important. It is a plan to help Canadians who are dealing with the rising cost of living, whether it be through the increase to the Canada workers benefit, the increase to old age security, or the one-time payments to Canadians facing housing affordability challenges.

It is a real plan that ensures that we do not add fuel to the fire and that we manage our economy properly here in Canada.

The EconomyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Madam Speaker, it was the same old talking points.

There is no one in this government to listen to Quebeckers. Ever since the Minister of Finance started covering for both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, there is no one we can talk to about making progress on the issues that matter to businesses and citizens. The minister's three jobs, coupled with her refusal to delegate to colleagues, has made this government blind to what is happening on the ground.

Is there anyone left in this government who realizes that inflation is a real problem with real consequences that requires a response now, not in six months?

The EconomyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

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

Madam Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is accusing us of serving up the same lines. Would he have us add fuel to the fire and spend billions of dollars at a time when inflation is the issue?

We already spent $300 billion during the pandemic to help Canadians. Now is not the time to spend more. Yesterday was simply an opportunity for us to explain the support measures we put in place in the April budget that are there to help Canadians this year.

PassportsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON

Madam Speaker, the chaos at Passport Canada and Service Canada is past being temporary. It is worse than ever. The lawn chair lineups are now starting at 4 a.m., 3 a.m. or 1 a.m. in many cities.

Our office alone is handling dozens of transfer requests, each and every day, of people who are going to leave the country in the next day or two and still do not have their passports, despite applying months ago. Each time people call, they are on hold for a minimum of two to three hours. The chaos never had to happen in the first place. Each time the Liberals offer a remedy, we get longer lines and longer phone call delays.

Can the Liberals even admit what their actual service standard is now or are they too afraid to tell Canadians?

PassportsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Madam Speaker, since December, Service Canada and our passport agents have been preparing for what we have now. The surge is unprecedented, and we continue to work through the process. Just as an example, 600 new employees have been hired and are on the job. Another 600 employees are in the process of being put into place. Every counter across this country is open.

We know there are long lines, and that is why Service Canada agents are going through those lines, checking passports and travel plans and making sure that seniors, those who have children and those who have work times are being accommodated within two business days for immediate travel.

PassportsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC

Madam Speaker, let us talk about those new employees. It now takes nine weeks to get a passport. Let me repeat that: nine weeks. Someone who submits their application today can expect to get their document in mid-August, if they are lucky.

The minister says she has already hired 600 people, and another 600 are coming to the rescue. There is a labour shortage at the moment. Businesses in my region are struggling to hire a single person. The minister expects us to believe that she has found 1,200 people in the blink of an eye.

When will the minister take immediate action to address this unprecedented crisis?

PassportsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned before, additional processing facilities have been opened and initial staff have been hired, but this is not unprecedented, just here in Canada. It is around the world. Wait times in countries like Australia, the U.K. and elsewhere are anywhere between nine and 11 weeks for expedited passports. Here, we are meeting the challenge for Canadians, both in the lines and in our application process, to make sure that those who have immediate travel needs are being addressed so they can get on their way.

PassportsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Madam Speaker, my staff tell me that the passport backlog is an absolute horror show. People are crying and freaking out when they call us, distressed that they are about to lose thousands of dollars of money spent on upcoming trips. At committee, the minister responsible for Passport Canada said, “Have thou no fear, MPs have a direct hotline to passport services.” Well, the hotline is cold. My assistant waited five hours on Wednesday to get through.

Will the minister responsible acknowledge the Liberals' absolute incompetence?

PassportsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Madam Speaker, after two years of travel restrictions, the surge is unprecedented. We know Canadians are frustrated. We know case workers are frustrated, which is why we are doing everything we can. The minister continues to work with officials to look at every opportunity to improve processing times, whether it is by phone, in person or every other application process that we can do.

We continue to work with our colleagues across the way if there are immediate needs. Some have already reached out to me, and we continue to collaborate.

HealthOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, a senior from my riding said, “We do not have a smart phone, or the technical knowledge to figure it all out, it discriminates people like us.” People cite technology cost. They are talking about the “ArriveCAN'T” app. Businesses are waiting months instead of weeks for deliveries from the U.S. due to vaccine mandates affecting truckers. The Liberals' reducing some travel and vaccine mandates does not help either of these situations.

Why are the Liberals keeping the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app and keeping Canada closed?

HealthOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Eglinton—Lawrence Ontario

Liberal

Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Public Safety

Madam Speaker, ArriveCAN has been a very important tool in helping to keep Canadians safe against the virus. We continue to work with our stakeholders and we continue to work with travellers to improve their experience on ArriveCAN by making it more accessible.

I am pleased to report to members in this chamber that compliance is up well over 90%, which, in the long run, will make travel more efficient and, of course, we will continue to improve that app as we go forward.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU

Uqaqtittiji, food insecurity in Nunavut is a major issue. The cost-of-living crisis is making a bad situation even worse. In budget 2022, the Liberals did not mention food insecurity in the north once. My constituents are being left behind by the government. Food has expired by the time it reaches shelves in Nunavut. This is not how people in Canada should live.

Why has the government not taken steps to make sure all people in the north can access fresh, affordable food?

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Saint Boniface—Saint Vital Manitoba

Liberal

Dan Vandal LiberalMinister of Northern Affairs

Madam Speaker, I absolutely agree with the member. There is nothing more important than food security in Canada and around the world.

All Canadians, regardless of where they live, deserve access to safe and affordable food. Through budget 2021, we have added another $170 million to the nutrition north program. We have added the harvester support grant so indigenous groups can have help harvesting traditional country food. There is more to do, but we are in the right direction.

The EconomyOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Madam Speaker, rents will continue to rise and things will only get worse for people already struggling to pay for groceries. Rent for a one-bedroom unit in Vancouver is over $2,300 a month, in Toronto over $2,100, and in Halifax almost $1,700. The Liberals' response to struggling Canadians is an extra $7 on GST cheques. The government is so out of touch with reality.

Will the Liberals double the GST rebate and increase the Canada child benefit by $500 so families can get an additional $500 to $1,000 back in their pockets?

The EconomyOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Hochelaga Québec

Liberal

Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing)

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

We fully agree that it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to pay the rent. That is why our budget includes the Canada housing benefit, as my colleagues know. That investment will total more than $4 billion.

We are also adding another $475 million this year. That is an additional $500 on top of what we have already introduced, just to help families pay the rent, which is becoming increasingly difficult.

The EconomyOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Madam Speaker, in my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga and across Canada, we have seen the effects that global inflation has had on the everyday lives of Canadians, inflation caused in part by the illegal war in Ukraine and China's zero-COVID policy.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance tell this House what the government is doing to help Canadians deal with this global phenomenon?

The EconomyOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

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

Madam Speaker, just yesterday, the Minister of Finance released our affordability plan in order to tackle exactly what my colleague is addressing, and that is the increased cost of living. What we have presented is our plan to increase the Canada workers benefit, to increase old age security, to provide a one-time payment to Canadians finding it difficult to access affordable housing and, of course, our programs are indexed to inflation so they continue to rise. This is a concrete plan.

The member of Parliament for Kitchener—Conestoga is an excellent musician and I would like to tell him, “Rock on, my friend.”

HealthOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Warren Steinley Conservative Regina—Lewvan, SK

Madam Speaker, we have already seen the steepest 52-week rise in the price of meat since Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and we have producers across the Prairies reeling because of dry conditions. With the government's insistence on pushing through front-of-package labelling on beef and pork, it is further hamstringing producers and consumers without solid evidence that this expensive change is necessary.

With Canada set to become the only country on earth to impose this policy, is the government using the same top-secret scientists it used to defend its unnecessary COVID mandates to now defend kneecapping our ag producers?

HealthOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Milton Ontario

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport

Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we are alarmed and concerned about the rising rates of illnesses, and particularly chronic illnesses, that are impacted by poor diets. These labels are widely recognized by health organizations and the scientific community as an effective tool to help counteract the rate of diet-related chronic disease that continues to rise in Canada.

More information for consumers is always a good thing. During our engagements with industry stakeholders, Health Canada experts and Canadians across the country, Health Canada analyzed the feedback it received and has made adjustments to the proposal where supported by science.

On this side of the House, we will always be there for Canadians when they are making good decisions at the grocery store.

HealthOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Gary Vidal Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Madam Speaker, residents in northern Saskatchewan travel great distances to attend medical appointments in Saskatoon.

From Meadow Lake, it is three hours; from Pierceland or Goodsoil, it is over four hours; from La Loche or Creighton, over six hours. Depending on road conditions, from Stony Rapids it can be 14 hours.

These are one-way trips. Can the minister tell us if the rising price of gas is threatening his constituents' ability to receive the medical care they need, as it is my constituents?

HealthOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Milton Ontario

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his commitment to his constituents and his consistent advocacy, particularly for lower-income families in his riding.

The health committee just concluded a study on the health care human resources crisis in this country. We are going to make sure that every Canadian has access to a family doctor, including through telehealth in remote ridings, such as my friend's riding. The cost of living is rising across the country. We will be there for Canadians to support their health.

HealthOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Madam Speaker, after stridently defending it, the government has suspended the vaccine requirements to travel domestically or outbound internationally. Provinces have acted to lift COVID-related mandates, citing high vaccine rates, reduced hospitalizations and lower COVID case counts. Even Liberal caucus members want all federal pandemic restrictions lifted.

The Prime Minister's Office is acting alone, and using these mandates as political weapon of choice. When will the Prime Minister put an end to divisive mandates that do not follow the science?

HealthOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Milton Ontario

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport

Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we agree that Canadians want to get back to normal, and we all want to get back to normal but we have to be honest. The COVID pandemic is not over yet.

At every step, we have adapted our COVID-19 measures based on the current situation. This week, we were able to announce that we are lifting the travel mandates. We are pausing them because this pandemic is not over. Because of our strong vaccine rates, we are able to relax some of those requirements, but Canadians continue to die from COVID-19 and we cannot take our foot off the brake just yet.