House of Commons Hansard #103 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.

Topics

National Day for Truth and ReconciliationStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON

Madam Speaker, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I would like to recognize Kalley Armstrong.

Kalley is the owner and founder of Armstrong Hockey, a skills development program that works with indigenous youth on the ice and promotes the benefits of hockey outside the rink. Kalley draws her inspiration from her late grandfather, George Armstrong, Toronto Maple Leafs legend and first indigenous player to hoist the Stanley Cup. Due to the Indian Act, the Armstrong family are non-status. Armstrong Hockey has been a resource that lets Kalley connect with her culture while being a mentor for indigenous youth on and off the ice.

This Friday, while wearing orange, we need to honour the survivors and the children who did not return from the residential school system. We must recognize the effects of colonialism and those who lost their culture, and support individuals like Kalley, striving to create a better future for indigenous people.

Gender-Based ViolenceStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON

Madam Speaker, “Say her name.”

Social media continue to call on us to name the women who have been murdered. In Iran, they are Mahsa Amini and Neda Agha Soltan, and there are many more whose names have not yet been said. These murders and other violence perpetuated against the women of Iran are in part due to restrictions of their rights and freedoms. In Afghanistan, freedoms that were entrenched in law for decades have been stripped away from women. Closer to home, we need only look south of our border to see women’s rights being rolled back. Unfortunately the list of countries and regions where women are currently being targeted is too extensive to list here, and the trend is getting worse.

We applaud the Iranian people who are protesting these atrocious and misogynistic policies. They are bravely protesting at their own peril, and we and others around the world are joining them in their indignation and anger. I am proud that our Prime Minister has spoken out against and placed sanctions on those responsible for the murder of Mahsa Amini.

I am asking that all of us in this House take a stand against the gender-based violence and repression being perpetuated against them in Iran and everywhere. We must all speak up and say their names.

Jonathan Beaulieu‑RichardStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honour Jonathan Beaulieu‑Richard, a former Montreal Alouettes player who passed away from cancer at the age of 33.

I also want to recognize his wife, Émilie Renière, who supported him to the very end.

Jonathan was a good man with a positive attitude who wanted to give back to his community, which is why he created the Jouer Bouger Rire foundation. When Jonathan found out about his illness, he and his wife had just had a child.

Because the EI system does not recognize the weeks of parental leave, Émilie was not eligible for the caregiving benefits. Even in the case of a serious illness like cancer, the system still only provides 15 weeks of benefits. These people were under incredible stress while dealing with the illness, and financial anxiety does not in any way help healing.

It is urgent that the minister do her job. We must overhaul the EI system.

Émilie, our hearts go out to you.

Emilia De IacovoStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Emilia De Iacovo's 20 years of service to several MPs in the House of Commons of Canada.

Emilia worked for the hon. André Ouellet and the hon. Pierre Pettigrew. At the provincial level, she worked for ministers Lise Thériault, Yolande James, Monique Jérôme‑Forget and the hon. Clément Gignac.

I have had the privilege of working with Emilia since 2007. She is an expert in immigration and in electoral campaigning. She has an excellent relationship with seniors' clubs. She greets citizens in French, English, and Italian, and even speaks a little Arabic and Creole.

[Member spoke in Italian as follows:]

Caro Emilia De Iacovo, grazie mille per la vostra collaborazione, la vostra dedizione e i vostri fedeli servizi. Al vostro fianco.

Adopt-a-Grad Foundation of CanadaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Mr. Speaker, I stand to recognize Mike and Lori Reist, the co-founders of Adopt-a-Grad Foundation of Canada. Initially known as “Project Jack & Jill”, the charity was formed by Lori and Mike after a single mother reached out to Mike in 2016 to see if he had a suit that her son could use for his high school graduation.

When Mike reached out to the community through social media, the community rallied around the young man, getting him a suit and some formal wear gift cards. This became a template that has helped hundreds of other students at the high schools in Airdrie. Further fundraising sponsorships from local businesses and cash donations have allowed the program to cover grad-related costs that otherwise would have been a barrier to students and their families from being able to fully experience this milestone.

The program continues to grow and has now become Adopt-a-Grad Canada. Mike will remain as a board member, along with Jack Lumley, Marc Smith, Brittney Whatley and Jen Ebear, while Lori is taking on the role of executive director as a volunteer. Our community is made better because of people like Mike and Lori Reist.

Human Rights in IranStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in the wake of the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a beautiful 22-year-old woman who was arrested by the morality police on September 13. She was accused of violating the country’s strict codes on modest dress for women, and she was beaten to death while in detention.

Mahsa’s killing sparked a nationwide uprising that is continuing. Protests have spread to over 100 cities across Iran, demonstrating unprecedented solidarity among men and women, students and teachers, farmers and workers, and politicians, who are protesting side by side to demand accountability and justice.

No woman should be persecuted for choosing what to wear or standing up for her rights. Mahsa's murder is a symbol of 44 years of repression and brutality in Iran. Despite the Internet shutdown and the blocking of social media in the country, the uprising continues to this day. We stand, all of us, with the people of Iran, and we pray for them and their families. Godspeed to them.

Carp FairStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend the best little fair in Canada returned for its 159th rendition. Thousands of participants, young and old, joined in the fun and fairground festivities at the four-day-long Carp Fair.

However, this year’s festivities featured a special event and the first of its kind in Carp Fair history. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, the lights were dimmed, the music was hushed, and the Carp Fair welcomed over 100 participants with disabilities and their families for an inclusive hour of fun.

Fair organizers worked hard to ensure that visitors with disabilities could avoid the long lines, flashing lights and loud sounds that often preclude them from being able to join the other children. It is thanks to the work of the Carp Agricultural Society’s presidents, Brent Palsson and Krista Jefferies, its board of directors and hundreds of volunteers that the Carp Fair remains a staple in the Kanata—Carleton community.

I thank them all for making the best little fair in Canada even better.

Energy WorkersStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their paycheques, their homes, their retirements and their country, unlike the current government. The people of Saskatchewan are sick and tired of the government promising support and then offering them absolutely nothing. Rural communities are going to be decimated because of it.

While the minister talks publicly about his government's support for the workers who will be out of a job following the shutdown of coal-fired power in 2030, he has taken zero steps to provide them and their communities with the resources needed to avoid this catastrophe. A study showed that the town of Coronach in my riding stands to lose $400 million in GDP, have a 67% loss in population and an 89% loss in household income, yet of the funds provided by the government, only 3.5% were for economic development activities.

The minister put out an op-ed last week on how these workers need certainty, but he needs to put his money where his mouth is. He says he wants to kill the emissions but he is killing an entire industry and communities instead.

Smart MobilityStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, last week in my Nepean riding, Invest Ottawa’s Area X.O, in collaboration with our federal government, hosted an epic Canadian smart mobility demonstration day. It was the first of its kind in Canada and brought together hundreds of innovators, entrepreneurs, technology developers, smart mobility partners and stakeholders from Canada’s capital and across the country. They experienced more than 30 interactive smart mobility demonstrations hosted by Canadian entrepreneurs and companies, from connected and autonomous vehicles to drones, low-speed automated shuttles, the Internet of things and smart city solutions.

I was on the board of Invest Ottawa before entering politics. Invest Ottawa is doing a great job in promoting the knowledge sector in Ottawa and keeping Canada at the forefront of advanced technologies.

HousingStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their retirements, their paycheques, their homes and their country. On home ownership specifically, we need to restore hope. Right now, youth and newcomers cannot get a home, partially because local government gatekeepers block housing with heavy fees and long delays for building permits, leaving us with the fewest houses per capita of any G7 country.

A Conservative government will require big cities that want federal infrastructure money to speed up and lower the cost of permits and approve affordable housing around all new transit stations. We will sell off 15% of the underutilized 37,000 federal buildings, turn them into housing and use the proceeds of sale to reduce our ever-large deficit. We are committed to giving indigenous Canadians more control over their housing needs.

In other words, we have to get government out of the way and let Canadians build so that we can have some chance of affordability once again.

Cost of LivingStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Gerald Soroka Conservative Yellowhead, AB

Mr. Speaker, our new Conservative leader will put people’s paycheques, homes, retirements and country first. Canadians have lost hope in this government on affordability and service levels. By choosing to retain and increase the carbon tax, the government has failed to secure a brighter future for Canadians, much less to remedy the ongoing affordability crisis. This gross mismanagement has resulted in long lineups at airports and passport offices, delays in processing immigration and firearms' applications, and the list goes on.

The Liberals have managed to hike the cost of everything, while offering nothing to serve Canadians' needs. Limiting farmers’ fertilizer use and imposing the carbon tax will mean less food production and higher costs for Canadians, who are already struggling to afford groceries. Why is the government choosing to decrease the availability of food altogether?

The government can deflect, deny and blame all they want, but the facts remain: It has insufficiently addressed the cost-of-living crisis. It is too little, too late.

Hurricane FionaStatements By Members

September 27th, 2022 / 2:10 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Speaker, people in Atlantic Canada and some parts of Quebec are struggling to get back on their feet after hurricane Fiona destroyed the area.

The devastation is everywhere. The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of Canadians. Roads have been closed, residents have been displaced, there is lots of debris and, unfortunately, there have been a few deaths.

People watched their homes get swept away into the ocean.

In the wake of hurricane Fiona, the immediate need is to provide food and shelter for those displaced by the storm. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces are being deployed to help with recovery efforts. Utility crews are working around the clock to repair downed lines and the government is matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible hurricane.

With this help, people in our region will pick up the pieces and rebuild.

I commend all those back home for their resilience.

Management of Genetically Modified SeedsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, who in the Liberal government is in charge of managing genetically modified seeds and pesticides? Is it the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Health or the Minister of Agriculture? No, it is not even that complicated. The companies that manufacture GMOs are directly responsible for making the regulations. According to a document obtained by the CBC, the lobbyist for CropLife Canada, who represents the industry, was one of the authors of the new guidelines. This is not without consequences.

If nothing changes, Health Canada could end up exempting a whole new generation of genetically modified seeds from assessments. This will sell even more pesticides, which will end up on our plates, and the Liberals want to let companies assess themselves. It is ridiculous.

No exception, no exemption. We want a rigorous, transparent and independent process for the Monsantos of the world. The government needs to step up and protect the health of Quebeckers and Canadians.

Bullying Because of Political BeliefsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with the wife of the leader of the official opposition and all who have been bullied because of their political beliefs. We are all here in the House because we want to change things. We have different visions. Some of us see Canada as a postnational society, others as a prosperous oil state. We see Canada as a good neighbour to Quebec. We may disagree, stand our ground and debate. It is normal for parliamentarians to feel anger, outrage and opposition, but not fear. We should not have to fear for our loved ones or ourselves. Democracy does not give people the right to say they are going to physically attack someone, burn down their house or assault their loved ones. That is an assault on democracy. It is not okay. Let us all, regardless of our political stripe, condemn these actions, which must not go unpunished.

This has to stop, and now.

Indigenous AffairsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their paycheques, their homes, their retirements and their country. It is time for action and it is time to return a sense of self-sufficiency to a people who have had it stripped away by the paternalistic, archaic and broken Indian Act.

Canada's Conservatives, under our new leader, would restore to indigenous people more control of their land, money and decision-making. We would remove the bureaucratic gatekeepers and barriers in legislation and have a robust dialogue with indigenous communities who want to develop their resources and invite commerce to fight poverty.

The time has come to have a national dialogue with indigenous and non-indigenous people of Canada on autonomy, taxation, capacity, transparency, accountability and property rights. We would repeal the current government's anti-energy laws and replace them with a new law that would protect our environment, consult indigenous people and get things built. Indigenous people would find, under a Conservative government led by our new leader, that they have an ally rather than an obstacle to reconciliation.

Luce CousineauStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour a member of our Hill family who recently left us. For over 33 years, Luce Cousineau served us diligently and faithfully in the parliamentary restaurant. Her warm smile and laugh greeted us and her impeccable service took care of MPs, senators and staff from all sides of the House.

She had discerning taste, earning her the nickname “Chef Cousineau” with her colleagues. She sampled new menu dishes and sent them back. Clearly she knew better was always possible. She was French Canadian, hailing from Rouyn-Noranda, and anyone who knew her knew she was a big fan of Leonard Cohen.

What many of us did not know was that Luce was in the battle of her life with an adversary that ultimately won: cancer. Luce never complained. She always showed up and had that warm smile on her face, welcoming and accepting everyone with open arms.

She will always be part of our Parliament Hill family. Her heart of gold and generous spirit will live on.

Luce CousineauStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Before continuing, I just want to remind the hon. members that S. O. 31s are 60 seconds, not much more, not much less. I would not want to cut any of them off.

This is very important for every one of us and our ridings. Consider this a gentle reminder.

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has added more to our national debt than all previous prime ministers combined. The $500‑billion inflationary deficit has increased the cost of everything we buy and the interest that we pay.

The finance minister has admitted that she wants to raise EI taxes by $2.5 billion. This will take earnings off of workers' paycheques.

Will the government cancel these tax hikes so that workers can keep more of their money?

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, it seems that the Conservatives finally understand that they need to support Canadians with inflation relief payments. Better late than never.

I have a suggestion for the next Conservative flip-flop. It is time that they also supported our one-time payment of $500 to help vulnerable Canadians who are struggling to pay their rent.

It is never too late to do the right thing, even for the Conservatives.

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, it is never the right time to raise taxes on the working poor, yet that is exactly what the minister admits she will do. She admits that raising the EI premiums, the EI payroll taxes, will take $2.5 billion extra out of the hands of Canadian workers, and not to fund EI. She also admits through her own public filings that the government will take $10 billion more in EI taxes than it will pay out in benefits, money the Prime Minister will raid from the account and spend however he likes.

Will the Prime Minister get his hands off the EI fund and the paycheques of our workers?

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the EI contribution rate today is $1.58. Next year, it will go up to $1.63. Both of those rates are lower than the EI contribution rate was in every single year when Stephen Harper was prime minister, yet the new Conservative leader, who was actually the employment minister during those years, now wants to slash our contributions.

Who do the Conservatives think was the better economic manager: Prime Minister Harper or their new leader?

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, we were terrific economic managers together, and we will be again. I am just getting a little practice on answering questions. We will be doing more of it when we are in government soon.

EI payments have gone up for the average $60,000-a-year worker, from $930 when I was the minister to $948 now. That is a small increase, but the big $2.5-billion tax increase is just ahead. The minister admits the money will not even go to EI; it will go to government spending.

Why will the Liberals not get their hands off the EI fund and the paycheques of our workers?

TaxationOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, a Canadian earning $49,500 a year paid $931 in EI premiums. Next year, that same Canadian will pay $807. That is nearly $125 less than she paid when the Conservative leader was the minister in charge.

Yet again, Canadians really need to understand this: Whose policies do the Conservatives support: Stephen Harper's or their new leader's?

TaxationOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, it is both. The total payroll tax of a $60,000-a-year earner went from $3,400 under the previous Conservative government to $4,168 today. The reality is that none of that was necessary and the Liberals want to use the money for anything but EI.

On top of that, now they plan to triple the carbon tax, raising gas, heat and grocery costs and killing jobs for many people in many sectors. Their policy is paycheques down and costs up, and in fairness they are succeeding at both.

Will they stop that policy and cancel their tax hikes?

TaxationOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I have already explained that Canadians earning around $50,000 a year next year will pay $125 less in EI premiums. However, now I want the Conservatives to come clean on what they want to do to our pensions. Their proposal is an irresponsible scheme to eviscerate our pensions. As Rob Carrick pointed out, “Canada Pension Plan premiums are not a tax” and “the CPP is the bedrock of a Canadian retirement plan”.

The Conservatives want to undermine all of our pensions, but we will not let them.