Debates of Oct. 18th, 2023

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Persons Day

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to recognize the fact that, on October 18, 1929, the highest court in Canada recognized women as persons under the law. That may seem strange to us, but it is indeed the case. That is why we celebrate Persons Day on October 18.

This day makes me think of all the women in our beautiful country who became pioneers to make sure that a person like me can rise in the House today. It makes me think of my grandmother, who owned a business in Montreal in the 1940s. She did not even have the right to have a bank account even though she owned a business.

Today, it is important to remember that our rights as women are never guaranteed. We need to always protect them and, most importantly, never lose ground.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is running our country like he is the captain of the Titanic. He justified his record-high spending because interest rates were at historic lows. He encouraged Canadians to keep borrowing because those rates would stay low. He may as well have said that our country's finances were unsinkable.

The captain of the crew of this ship ignored all the warnings about icebergs and look where we are today. Inflation and interest rates are hitting record highs. Canadians are now running to the lifeboats as the cost of food, fuel and home heating continues to climb. Too many people are losing their jobs, their homes, their savings and any hope they had for the future. It was hubris that sunk the Titanic, but it is the arrogance and entitlement of the Prime Minister that is sinking Canadians now.

Conservatives will right the ship by axing the tax on gas and groceries. We will end inflationary deficits. Let us give Canadians a lifeline and bring it home.

Street Art Seniors of Stouffville

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government's New Horizons for Seniors program provides funding for projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. Last year, the Street Art Seniors of Stouffville, also known as SASS, received support from the New Horizons for Seniors grant. SASS is exactly the kind of initiative New Horizons for Seniors was created to support. It provides seniors with an opportunity to express themselves, supports their inclusion in the community, and addresses social isolation and ageism.

A few weeks ago, Street Art Seniors of Stouffville received a community impact award for elevating the spirit and quality of life in the community. It is a wonderful example of the incredible talent and innovative initiatives happening in Stouffville.

My thanks to Margaret Wallace, Jennifer Onlock and the team at the Latcham Art Centre for their leadership and hard work.

My thanks go as well to the seniors who took part and everyone who helped make this project a reality.

Mike Bossy

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste recently honoured the memory of Mike Bossy, one of the greatest hockey players in the history of Quebec, who sadly passed away too soon last year. It would be hard to find a candidate more deserving than Mike Bossy of the Maurice Richard award, which is bestowed upon Quebec's greatest athletes.

What he accomplished will unlikely be seen again. He was the first player since the Rocket to score 50 goals in 50 games, and the first rookie to score at least 50 goals in a year. His record nine consecutive seasons of scoring 50 goals or more stands unbroken. With four Stanley Cups and countless trophies to his credit, the New York Islanders right winger earned his place in the Hall of Fame.

The son of Ukrainian immigrants, Mike Bossy won a place in the hearts of all Quebeckers, both on the ice and over his long media career in French. In more ways than one, this star goal scorer has had a profound effect on Quebec.

Hats off, Mike Bossy.

Small Business Week

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand in the House today to recognize all the incredible small business owners in the community of Orléans and across Canada as we are celebrating Small Business Week.

Whether it is local young entrepreneurs like Maissa Zemni of Makeup by Maissa Zemni; Elizabeth and Jordan, founders of Art of Bean Coffee Co.; or a small family business such as Beyond Café located on St Joseph Boulevard and owned by Ela, Vahid and Hasti Meschi, small businesses are the heart of our communities, the backbone and the engine of our local economy. Let us celebrate each and every one of them for their achievement and their hard work.

Let us continue to support our small businesses and the people behind them.

I hope that all of the small businesses in Orleans and Canada have a great Small Business Week.

Community Organizations in Louis‑Saint‑Laurent

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you on your election.

All across the country, requests for food assistance are skyrocketing. People who were donating food just a short time ago are now being forced to ask for help in turn.

Thankfully, community organizations continue to stand strong and are working miracles to help families in Quebec City and, more specifically, in my riding. I am thinking about Frigo Val Bon Coeur, Boîte à FringAL, Frigo-partage de Loretteville, Frigo Amélie et Frédéric, Société Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Rayon de soleil, Comptoir Agoshin, Wendake, Accueil Saint-Ambroise de Loretteville, Solidarité Familles de Duberger—Les saules, Piolet and Popote Multi-Services.

These organizations provide direct assistance to people in need. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the dozens, even hundreds of volunteers who help the less fortunate.

I appeal to all charitable individuals who are in a position to donate. Every dollar counts. Every canned good counts. Let us give generously.

Persons Day

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, on this Persons Day, I walked over to the truly powerful Famous Five statue in front of the Senate building to reflect on the progress made since these pioneering women fought to have women declared as persons.

I think they would be proud. There is now parity of women in our Senate, parity of women in cabinet and the House of Commons is 30% women. Women have pensions, medicare, child care and dental care. There are almost 60% of women in the workforce, the highest in the OECD. We have made serious efforts to address violence against women, the original goal of the Famous Five and their temperance movement colleagues.

Today we remember the clarion call of the formidable Nellie McClung, “...never retract, never apologize. Just get the thing done and let them howl.” Today we honour and thank the Famous Five. We will get the equality thing done and let the misogynists howl.

Foreign Affairs

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House to condemn the attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7 and I call on Hamas to release and safely return the Israeli hostages to their loved ones. I condemn the air strike on the Al Ahli Hospital yesterday.

What we are witnessing in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe. Over one million people have now been displaced, 3,000 have been killed and a third of them are children. I implore us to exhaust all tools that will allow humanitarian corridors to open for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians. Now, more than ever, we need governments to work together to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and ensure the safety of innocent civilians.

My deepest condolences go out to every single person who has lost a loved one on either side of this conflict. Jewish and Palestinian communities are looking for leadership to see their humanity. That is our job as leaders.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister has added more to Canada's national debt than all other previous prime ministers combined. The Prime Minister told Canadians that his government would take on debt so Canadians would not have to, but now Canadians are paying the price for the Prime Minister's massive deficits and inflationary spending.

After half a trillion dollars of inflationary deficits, the Bank of Canada was forced to hike interest rates 10 times in just 19 months, and now monthly mortgage payments have increased by 150% since the Prime Minister took office. To keep up with the Prime Minister's inflationary spending, Canada will spend $240 billion over the next five years to service our debt.

The Prime Minister is wrong. It is not the government that is taking on debt; it is Canadians. Canadians will not be fooled. They know that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Small Business Week

[Bryan May, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week, we celebrate the 44th annual Small Business Week. Small business owners are the backbone of Canada's economy and the heart of our communities, and every October we celebrate their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

Over the last few years, the challenges of running a small business have changed dramatically, but entrepreneurs across Canada have recovered, innovated and adapted. Through it all, our government has been there to support them, from the Canada emergency business account keeping doors open during the pandemic to the Canada digital adoption program helping businesses compete in the digital era to programs helping under-represented groups fulfill their entrepreneurial goals, our government has been there for small businesses.

As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after eight long, miserable years, Canadians are sick and tired of the NDP-Liberal government. The Liberal ministers were happy for a photo op with grocery CEOs, and then they promised that prices would go down before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the prices continue to climb. This is yet another broken promise by the Liberals. Canadians just cannot trust anything they say. First, the industry minister met with the grocery CEOs and said that he has a plan to lower food prices. Then he said that prices are stabilizing and that Canadians should look for this in their local grocery flyers. Now he seems to have no idea what is going on.

What the Prime Minister needs to realize is that, just like budgets, grocery bills will not balance themselves. All Canadians know that the Prime Minister simply is not worth the cost.

Cost of Living

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, housing costs have doubled, and people are struggling to pay their mortgages and make rent. This is something that affects small towns and big cities across Canada and Canadians both young and old.

In a series of town halls and meetings I hosted last week, the number one concern I heard about was the cost of living's leading to a genuine fear about the future. After eight years, the Liberal Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost. Conservatives demand that the Liberals bring back a balanced budget, since we have painfully learned that budgets do not balance themselves.

Goldy Hyder from the Business Council of Canada recently said, “With long-term interest rates at the highest they have been in years, it is irresponsible to suggest that economic growth will be higher than interest rates for years to come. Governments can no longer run permanent large deficits without fear.” It is time to balance the budget to bring home lower prices for Canadians.

Persons Day

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we mark Persons Day by paying tribute to the Famous Five, I would like to highlight the contribution made by Thérèse Casgrain, another great Canadian whose struggle not only gave Quebec women the right to vote in 1940, but who fought throughout her life to improve conditions for women in Quebec.

Her political work, commitment and achievements are examples that inspire many of us to this day. When she became leader of the Parti social démocratique, she also became the first female leader of a political party in Canada. In 1970, she was appointed, as a person, to the Senate.

The Famous Five, Thérèse Casgrain and the women of that era who fought for our rights opened doors for us. Let us make sure we keep them open.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, despite the harsh colonial and genocidal policies my mom was forced to endure, she had the strength to have faith and to teach me about love and forgiveness, as many indigenous people have done.

I am comforted in knowing that my mom is finally at peace. If she had had access to great programs like those provided by Dechinta, I think she would have worked harder to stop intergenerational trauma from being passed on to her great-grandchildren. Organizations like Dechinta are important because they show the benefits of first nations, Métis and Inuit leadership in helping each other. Their funding is running out, and we must ensure sustainable funding for healing and cultural programs to continue without interruptions.

I call on all members to be champions of organizations like Dechinta in their ridings. Together, we can break systemic racism and act on reconciliation.

Violence Around the World

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

Mr. Speaker, in one of their great songs, Beau Dommage sings, “Tous mes cauchemars passent à six heures, à la télévision” or “all my nightmares appear on the six o'clock news”.

Sadly, those words ring true during these terrible times we are living in. Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Gaza, war is sowing grief and desolation everywhere. No one will come out a winner.

Who wins when children die? Who wins when the bodies of civilians are strewn across deserted streets, when hospitals or the sick and injured seeking care and refuge are bombed? Who wins? What god rejoices at the death of a child? What government will proudly avenge the death of a grandmother? What cause justifies these tears, this pain and this mourning? Who is proud of humanity?

Who would look at our spineless approach to the climate crisis next to our fiery determination to kill each other and say, “keep up the good work”?

I do not know how all of this is going to end and I have no desire to see the outcome of these dark days. I know that humanity must get its act together. I know that we must get our act together. I know one thing: We need to do better.

Small Business

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, small business owners are the unsung heroes of the Canadian economy. These entrepreneurs make up almost 98% of all employer businesses, employing nearly two-thirds of the private labour force, and they provide meaningful paycheques to millions of Canadians. However, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, I doubt that small business owners feel like unsung heroes. Higher inflation, higher payroll taxes, higher carbon taxes, a labour crisis, higher rent, more red tape and increased crime rates are hurting main street businesses across Canada. Business insolvencies continue to rise at alarming rates year over year and month over month. More businesses are closing than opening. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

This Small Business Week, I want small business owners to know that Conservatives are hearing their challenges and that we are committed to axing the carbon tax, lowering business taxes and fostering an environment where small businesses are able to grow, innovate and create powerful paycheques once again.

Persons Day

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

Mr. Speaker, today is a special day for all of the women in this room and, indeed, across Canada. It is Persons Day.

On October 18, 1929, the Privy Council of England ruled that women are indeed persons under the law. This victory was the result of a long and courageous legal battle by Canadian women known as the Famous Five. This ruling allowed women to fully participate in political life. However, not all women were included. Indigenous, Black and Asian women were not included until much later, and women from diverse backgrounds faced discriminations that limited their ability to participate.

The struggle persists. Although we have made progress, women as a group, and, even more so, marginalized women, continue to be under-represented. Persons Day reminds us to continue the fight begun by the Famous Five until we achieve equal representation for all women and gender-diverse people, because there cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are clearly heard.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

As promised before the constituency week, the Chair would like to make a statement on order and decorum in the House. In a very simple way—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this government, the inflation rate in Quebec is the highest—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member will have an opportunity to start Oral Questions once I make this statement to the House. Question period will follow immediately after the statement.

[An hon. member]

It is question period.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I will ask the hon. member to please take his seat for a moment while I consult with the table.

Colleagues, the Speaker has the choice as to when to start question period. There will be a full question period that will follow after this declaration from the Speaker. It is important for us to make this declaration.

The hon. opposition House leader is rising on a point of order.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to remind the Chair of Standing Order 30(5) under “Time for Statements by Members, Oral Questions and orders of the day”. It states, “Not later than 2:15 p.m...as the case may be, Oral Questions shall be taken up.” It does not say, “may be taken up”; it says, “shall be taken up”. It is well past 2:15 p.m.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Following a consultation with the table officers, it is important to realize that we have deviated from the custom of commencing exactly at 2:15 p.m. due to Statements by Members.

The Chair will make this statement.

I do not intend to make this a habit. However, the Standing Orders allow me the option of starting Oral Questions after my statement.

The hon. opposition House leader.