Debates of Oct. 24th, 2023

Charitable Organizations

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight long years of the NDP-Liberal government, we have out-of-control spending, record-high inflation, doubled housing prices, skyrocketing grocery prices and the highest levels of food bank use in Canadian history.

Thankfully, charities in Manitoba are stepping up. Niverville Helping Hands and South East Helping Hands food bank volunteers went door to door, and the response was overwhelming: 19,000 pounds of food. The Southland Church Annual Thanksgiving Food and Clothing Drive provided hampers for more than 1,000 families, with over 30,000 pounds of food and 20,000 pounds of clothing. In Steinbach, local businesses and individuals have contributed almost $1.5 million to support The Bridge, a 24-unit low-income housing project. Where the NDP-Liberal government has failed Canadians, charities are bringing it home.

How does the Prime Minister respond? He punishes charities. Through the CRA, he has now imposed increased administrative burdens for charities that hold internal express trusts. The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many constituents about their concerns regarding the recent events in the Middle East. Canada is a nation of peace and must do everything it can to find a way to end the bombardment of Gaza and the current conflict and continue to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those devastated by the violence.

Innocent Palestinians living in Gaza have the right to the essentials of life and the right to live in dignity. We support Israel in its drive to free hostages held by Hamas and to protect itself from further terrorist attacks within the limits of international and humanitarian law. At home, we must not entrench ourselves in positions pitted against one another. Reports of hate crimes, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia hurt us all. This is not the way to find peace and promote security, not in Israel and Palestine and certainly not here in Canada.

Peace be with us all. Shalom. Salaam.

World Polio Day

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize World Polio Day and the efforts of Rotary International. Over 700 Rotary clubs across Canada, including my own club in Langley, carry the vision of a polio-free world and continue to work tirelessly toward this goal.

Since 2006, the federal government has contributed over $200 million to support polio eradication efforts. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused millions of children to miss their polio vaccinations, resulting in outbreaks threatening this tremendous program. Sustained action is critical to protecting global health. If we stop now, we risk the paralysis of 200,000 children worldwide each year.

I ask members to please join me today in marking World Polio Day by thanking all who contribute to eradicating polio in our local communities and internationally. Our work is not yet complete. We must remain steadfast in our support to end this terrible disease once and for all.

Carbon Tax

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this government, the cost of living is only going up. Inflation is at a record level. People just cannot get by.

This government's inflationary spending has impoverished Quebeckers. Considering the fact that one in two Canadians lives paycheque to paycheque, it is clear that things are not going well. However, this government is clinging to power thanks to its agreement with the NDP and has just found a new ally, the Bloc Québécois. The Bloc wants to drastically increase Quebec's second carbon tax, which adds 17¢ per litre of gas. Contrary to what the Bloc members would have us believe, when the government taxes the prairie farmer who grows the food and taxes the trucker who transports it, it is also taxing everyone who buys it. The last time I checked, in Quebec we consume products from other Canadian provinces.

We can never say it enough: It will be costly to vote for the Bloc.

Member for Vancouver Centre

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 30 years is how long the member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre has served in the chamber. She is the longest-serving female MP, but she is so much more. For all of us who grew up in Vancouver, she is an icon. Her energy, passion, wit and intellect, and, of course, her commitment to being truly fabulous, putting many of us to shame in the process, are second to none. Her dedication to public service and improving the lives of those around her is unwavering and something for which we should all strive. She has been a long-time inspiration for young women, people of colour and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Tomorrow, the City of Vancouver is proclaiming October 25th as Hedy Fry Day, an honour she richly deserves. I am honoured to serve with her and grateful to call her a friend. I know that every member of this place, particularly her colleagues—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like to remind all members that this is one of those grey area situations. That is the reason why I did not pick it up right away. We should refrain from using current members' names, even if it is a designated day, in the House. We refer to each other by our riding names.

The hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

Housing

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of failure, Canadians are paying the price for Liberal waste and corruption.

The socialist coalition is not taking Canada's housing crisis seriously. Under the NDP-Liberal government, seniors are being forced from their homes. They cannot afford the mortgage payments. Canadians cannot afford their mortgages because interest rates have soared.

The Prime Minister bragged that he did not even think about interest rates.

While the Liberals and their media allies were gaslighting Canadians with inflation denialism, our Conservative leader was clear-eyed. He warned Canadians that out-of-control NDP-Liberal spending would drive inflation. Higher inflation leads to higher interest rates.

This is not rocket science; it is arithmetic. The NDP plus the Liberals equals a government that is spending more than we can afford. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Only common sense Conservatives will bring the solutions that Canadians need by building homes they can actually afford.

Tragedy in Sault St. Marie

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I address the tragic news out of Sault Ste. Marie. Five people are dead, including three children, ages six, seven and 12, all shot and killed in an act of domestic violence. These innocent lives were ripped away by someone who was supposed to protect them. This is an unimaginable and devastating loss.

On behalf of the official opposition, I extend condolences to the victims' loved ones. Our hearts go out to them as they grieve this loss.

As a family lawyer who has helped women navigate difficult and violent relationships, I must point out that this is not an isolated incident. This government must do more to protect women and children from domestic violence.

On average, a woman is killed every six days by their partner. The justice minister admits that this type of violence is an epidemic, but they failed to protect this family.

The Prime Minister cannot continue to sit on the sidelines while women and children lose their lives.

United States Consulate

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 190th anniversary of the United States consulate in Halifax, which marked the birth of diplomatic relations between our nations as the first U.S. consulate in British North America.

Over the years, our diplomatic ties have grown stronger as we have weathered challenges together, from historic events to evolving geopolitical dynamics. From the Halifax explosion of 1917 to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we have stood together in times of need.

Today, the U.S. consulate in Halifax continues to foster economic, cultural and educational co-operation in the Atlantic region.

I would like to recognize, in particular, the remarkable contributions of Lyra S. Carr, who assumed the role of consul general in July 2021, becoming only the second female consul general in the post's history.

As we celebrate this enduring partnership, let us remember the words of President Biden in this very chamber:

Canada and the United States can do big things and stand together, do them together, rise together. We are going to write the future together, I promise you.

Foreign Affairs

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart as the most horrific violence continues in the Middle East. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, investigation of war crimes by the ICC and ICJ, an arms embargo and the provision of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

I am also alarmed by the rise in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism. Not only are people worried about the safety of family members in Palestine and Israel, they worry about their own safety as hate incidents multiply.

Let us be clear: Canadian Jews are not responsible for the actions of Netanyahu's government, and Palestinian, Arab and Muslim Canadians are not responsible for the actions of Hamas. Targeting people because of their faith or ethnic background is not activism; it is racism.

People are hurting and afraid. We must come together and recognize each other's common humanity. We must speak up loudly together against rising hate.

Decline of French

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, once again, the Liberals refused to acknowledge the decline of French in Quebec and Canada. However, Canada's census provides the relevant figures.

From 2016 to 2021, the percentage of francophones in Canada, based on the first official language spoken, dropped from 22.2% to 21.4%. The percentage of Quebeckers who speak mainly French at home dropped from 79% to 77.5%. In the workplace, it slipped from 81.9% in 2011 to 79.7%. Those are the facts. Any denial of the facts by the government or by its Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is a political denial.

Clearly, the only way to reverse the decline of French is for Quebec to have exclusive authority over its language policy. It is equally clear that the best way to achieve that is to make Quebec a country.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the NDP-Liberal government will stop at nothing to cover up its corruption. Yesterday, in a brazen effort to shield the Prime Minister, Liberal and NDP MPs voted to shut down committee to block the RCMP commissioner from answering questions about the Prime Minister's obstruction of an RCMP criminal investigation into his conduct during the SNC-Lavalin scandal.

This is the same Prime Minister who obstructed justice to protect SNC-Lavalin and when his former attorney general stood up to him, he fired her. This is the same Prime Minister who has been found guilty of multiple ethical violations. Now we learn that this is the same Prime Minister who thwarted a criminal investigation into his own wrongdoing.

The record of the Prime Minister is one of corruption and cover-up. After eight years he is not worth the cost.

Parkinson's Disease

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every day in Canada, 30 individuals are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson Canada has identified key priorities for the Parkinson's community to consider to better improve overall health and quality of life for those living with this degenerative brain disease.

By identifying gaps and improving training and knowledge transfer with qualified health care professionals, we can allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment. Examining the systemic issues and barriers in our health care system will determine the steps we can take to increase the number of health care practitioners available to support the people who are living with this disease. By advancing equitable access to care and improved treatments, we will ensure better quality of life for all Canadians living with Parkinson's.

Today, I am joining our member from Milton and Senator Stephen Greene to host Parkinson Canada on the Hill to hear from the voices of those working to help those diagnosed with Parkinson's and improve outcomes, in Wellington room 310, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has doubled the national debt, doubled the cost of housing, fuelled inflation faster than anyone in the past 40 years and raised interest rates faster than anyone in monetary history. This impacts not only Canadians' wallets, but also national unity.

The Parti Québécois has just released the first budget of an independent Quebec, justifying it by saying that this Prime Minister is putting the country and Quebec into debt.

Does the Prime Minister recognize that his policies are not worth the cost or worth dividing our country?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will respond to my hon. colleague in a moment.

First, though, I want to express my deep sorrow at the deaths of five Canadians, including three children, in Sault Ste. Marie this morning.

It is a senseless tragedy that occurred after intimate partner violence escalated into a shooting rampage at two homes. I want to extend my deepest condolences to the grieving families, friends and loved ones of the victims, and for them to know that they are not alone.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we too extend our condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.

The Parti Québécois has once again stated it wants independence for economic reasons. That party would never have said such a thing during the Conservative years because taxes were low, debts were low, income taxes were low, inflation was low and growth was high. The Prime Minister turned all that around, and now some people in Quebec want to separate as a result.

Does he acknowledge that his policies are not worth the cost, nor are they worth dividing our country?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while the opposition parties rekindle old sovereignty disputes, we will remain focused on helping Canadians by investing in housing, supporting child care and early learning centres, and investing in our seniors and workers.

We will continue to be there to help people put food on the table by tackling grocery prices and increasing competition. We will remain focused on creating benefits and opportunities for Canadians while other people talk politics and pick fights.

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in part because of the excellent low inflation, low tax, low debt record of the Conservatives, the separatists were a dead cause not so long ago, but his inflationary policies have brought them back.

The Prime Minister said it was justinflation when food prices went up, but then there was shrinkflation, smaller sized servings for higher prices. Now we have skimpflation, where food processors, in order to pay the carbon tax, actually strip out the nutritional value of the food.

How much health and nutrition will Canadians have to lose before the Prime Minister reverses his plan to quadruple the carbon tax to 61¢ a litre?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite likes to play word games. I suggest he is conflating all the issues together to try to scare Canadians.

The reality is that while he is reaching for new boogeymen to try to make Canadians fearful and angry, we are delivering supports for Canadians, with historic announcements on housing across the country, with municipalities stepping up, to respond to the needs of Canadians; moving forward with greater competition to bring down or stabilize grocery prices; to continue to be there for seniors and young people.

We know the cuts the Conservative leader is proposing are not the answer. We are going to continue to be there for people.

Public Service and Procurement

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are living with Liberal cuts every day. They have to cut how many meals they eat. They have to cut the portions they eat. Now they are cutting the nutrition out of that food, because, after eight years, the Prime Minister's carbon tax and his inflationary policies are clearly not worth the cost or the corruption.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister's toadies in the NDP and Liberal committee blocked the RCMP commissioner from testifying about the Prime Minister blocking a criminal investigation into his SNC scandal. Now the ArriveCAN app is under criminal investigation, after wasting $50 million.

Will the Prime Minister agree to personally co-operate with this criminal investigation into his arrive scam app?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when the opposition is bringing up matters that were settled four years ago, we see the point at which they are trying anything they can to distract from the fact that they have no plan and no approach. They are proposing just cuts and more cuts for Canadians, while we step up with such things as dental care for kids, supporting child care spaces across the country, and investing in supports for families and better homes, as we accelerate the rental home initiative.

These are things that the Conservative Party campaigned against. It continues to propose cuts and fights while we deliver for Canadians.

Foreign Affairs

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after the Prime Minister amplified disinformation on the subject last week, he went into hiding, refused to answer questions and then sent out his public safety minister to offer a midnight answer.

The Prime Minister needs to speak about himself. Does he believe that the State of Israel fired a rocket or missile at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to issues that have such a serious impact on Canadians and on people around the world, we need to make sure we are grounded in facts. That is why I asked our defence experts and military specialists to analyze open-source and classified data to come to a conclusion. The conclusion is that, according to the best evidence they have, Israel did not fire a rocket at that hospital.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my friend Paul in Quebec City will be happy to know that the year one budget has brought the debate on Quebec independence to the Parliament of Canada, and that even the Leader of the Opposition is talking about it.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister has put himself at odds with the United States, U.S. intelligence and the U.S. President on the issue of the hospital in Gaza. According to the information available to us, he has not spoken with the U.S. President in 17 days. What does he plan to do to convince the U.S. to rally to the consensus reached by the UN, the European Union and France for a humanitarian truce in Gaza?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I spoke with President Biden this weekend, and we continue to do everything necessary as allies to ensure that humanitarian goods and aid are delivered through access corridors into Gaza. We will continue to push for that and for humanitarian truces that will allow aid to reach innocent civilians.

The hostages must be released, and we need to protect the lives of innocent civilians. Canada is fully involved, including with shipments of humanitarian aid that are much bigger than average.