Debates of Oct. 25th, 2023

Intergovernmental Affairs

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when I spend time in my riding in Montreal, when I spend time across Quebec, and speak with people about their concerns, whether it is about climate change, affordability, the cost of housing or the extremely difficult and unstable international situation, they no longer want to talk about sovereignty. They no longer talk to me about wanting Quebec to be its own country. What they want to talk about is how we can work together to really make their lives better.

I understand that the raison d'être of the Bloc Québécois is to pick fights and keep raising the issue of sovereignty, but we, as proud Quebeckers and proud Canadians, will continue to work hard every day for all Quebeckers and all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am bit like those people. I am reluctant to talk to him about things he does not necessarily understand, but I have no choice. He does not want to provide an answer so I will answer for him. Quebec can and should become independent as soon as possible. He may agree or disagree, but he cannot deny that there are 125 members of the National Assembly of Quebec who have said that Quebec can be a viable country economically. The Prime Minister of Canada is too spineless to say anything.

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

I would like to once again remind members of something I said during my statement last week. It is very important not to question the courage of each hon. member here.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Bloc Québécois, sovereignty is urgent. They have been here in Ottawa for 30 years, and it has been urgent for 30 years. They keep trying to bring this up.

The reality is that we all have to work together to deliver for Quebeckers, to deliver housing, to deliver affordable groceries, to deliver a safer, cleaner planet. That is what we are working on. I work very well with the Government of Quebec and we will continue to do so. We will focus on Quebeckers' desire to build a better world, not the Bloc Québécois's desire to bicker.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years in office, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of inflation and interest rates.

Today, the Governor of the Bank of Canada noted three things in his report. First, inflationary risks have increased. Second, he is considering raising interest rates again, and third, the government's deficits and spending are driving up inflation, which is also increasing the risk of interest rate hikes.

Will the Prime Minister finally reverse his inflationary policies before Canadians start losing their homes?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the Leader of the Opposition and I strongly disagree. At a time when Canadians are struggling and suffering, he is proposing cuts to services and to the help that we are offering. We will continue to be there for Canadians.

The Conservative Party will always choose austerity and budget cuts in difficult times. Such cuts would lead to longer wait times in emergency rooms, higher fees for child care services, uncertainty for seniors when they retire, and no action against climate change. That is an irresponsible approach, but it is the one the Conservative Party continues to offer.

We will be there to support people, to invest in their future and to help them now.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the disagreement is not with me, but with the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said today that government spending is driving up inflation. I know the Prime Minister loves to spend money. He has doubled our national debt and he is forcing Canadians to make the decision to cut their own spending.

Does the Prime Minister agree with the Governor of the Bank of Canada that this government's spending is driving up inflation? Yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we will always respect the independence of the Governor of the Bank of Canada.

As is clear from the public accounts, we have reduced the deficit without cutting the supports Canadians depend on. We have the lowest deficit in the G7 and the best net debt-to-GDP ratio, and we have maintained our AAA rating, all while inflation continues to fall.

We do not need the Conservatives' budget cuts. We can be there in a responsible way to help Canadians, create growth and maintain our fiscal responsibility. That is exactly what we are doing.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, people are already making budget cuts in their personal lives. Given the 150% increase in monthly mortgage payments since this Prime Minister came to power, people are being forced to either leave their homes, live on the street or cut back on food. People are having to make these kinds of cuts because of the Prime Minister's policies.

Would the Prime Minister agree that this government's deficits are driving up inflation and interest rates on the backs of Canadians, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are facing a housing crisis. The Conservatives' solution is to reduce the government's investments in housing.

We are choosing a different solution. We are saying that in order to bring down housing prices, we need to build more housing. That is exactly what we are doing. For example, today the City of Kelowna will simplify its building permit process and allow for greater density near public transit, which will stimulate the construction of 20,000 new housing units over the next decade.

We are here to invest and create more housing, while the Conservatives are proposing austerity and budget cuts.

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, again we hear all of the Prime Minister's expensive promises that have not completed a single home. He mentions that I spent only $300 million on housing, but he had the number of houses built wrong. It was actually 200,000 homes that were built in the year I was housing minister, but we know that numbers are not his strength. This is the guy who thinks budgets balance themselves, who does not think about monetary policy and who doubled the debt, doubled housing costs and doubled rent.

What else is going to double before the Prime Minister realizes that he is just not worth the cost?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows full well, and he can look in the history records, it was a $300-million program that delivered 99 homes.

The reality is that we are continuing to work hand in hand with municipalities, community leaders and non-profits across the country to move forward on building more homes and responding to the supply challenges. That is why, for example, we are removing GST from new apartment buildings. Unfortunately, the members opposite refuse to allow that bill to move forward, are continuing to block it and do not want to vote for it either.

We are going to be there to support Canadians every step of the way.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis in this country is deeply concerning. People are living in tents. People are living in cars. Now, in Saskatchewan, people are resorting to living in apartment lobbies. This is a direct result of the Liberals and the Conservatives, who have lost a million affordable homes over the past number of years. Even the Saskatchewan Landlord Association is calling for action.

When will the Prime Minister fix the mess he created and house people this winter?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are working very closely with municipalities across this country on housing and homelessness, on building more homes and on improving supply.

In the member opposite's hometown of Brampton, our housing agreement will spur the construction of more than 24,000 homes over the next decade by allowing higher density housing near public transit. Other cities, like Richmond Hill, Moncton and Ajax, just this week are passing more ambitious housing plans at their local councils in response to federal leadership. In Moncton, Halifax, Kelowna and other places across this country, we continue to invest in agreements that are going to build more homes quicker to support Canadians and build a brighter future for everyone.

Foreign Affairs

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is getting worse by the minute. This collective punishment has now claimed the lives of over 6,000 people. The 12-year-old daughter of one of my constituents remains stuck in Gaza, separated from both of her parents, and we have no information on her whereabouts.

We need more humanitarian aid and a response that is fair to both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. When will the government join New Democrats in calling for a ceasefire now?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we unequivocally condemn Hamas's terrorist attack against Israel. We support Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law.

We are deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. As I said, there are ongoing diplomatic conversations about the consideration of humanitarian pauses, and that is something Canada supports.

Desperately needed humanitarian aid must reach vulnerable Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and Canada is working closely with partners to build a humanitarian corridor. Hamas must immediately release all hostages, and Canadians and foreign nationals who wish to leave Gaza must be allowed to do so.

Indigenous Affairs

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, since it was imposed upon them, indigenous families and children have experienced racist and discriminatory treatment by Canada's family and children's services. Communities in Yukon and across the nation have always known that self-determination and truth are key to healing and making sure future generations thrive.

Thanks to the advocacy of first nations leaders and communities, calls for accountability have been answered by the highest courts. Can the Prime Minister tell us what the Federal Court's decision means for first nations children and families?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Yukon for his leadership.

Yesterday's announcement represents an important milestone. This historic court settlement is the largest in Canadian history and will provide $23 billion to those impacted. While no amount of money can make up for the incredible pain that was caused, this is an important step toward affirming the voices of those affected and our commitment toward reconciliation. It could not have been achieved without the leadership of first nations, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them to deliver for indigenous people across this country.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister is neither worth the cost nor the corruption. We know he illegally interfered to block the criminal prosecution of a multinational Liberal-linked corporation that had stolen from Africa's poorest people. Now we know that he was involved in blocking the RCMP from investigating the criminality of his conduct. He held back cabinet documents, so we invited the top Mountie to testify on this cover-up, and he and his co-conspirators in the NDP silenced the RCMP commissioner and prevented him from testifying.

Will the Prime Minister stop the cover-up and let the Mounties testify?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows well that the RCMP and the CBSA's professional integrity division are investigating. The CBSA has also launched an internal audit to look into contracting at the agency and has increased oversight processes when it comes to contracting.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the question was about the SNC-Lavalin criminal investigation, not the ArriveCAN app criminal investigation. I can understand that there are so many criminal investigations he can get confused sometimes, but he sure managed to know enough about them to block them from any scrutiny.

He deprived the police of cabinet documents that may have led to criminal charges against him, and now he is depriving a parliamentary committee from investigating it. Yes or no, will he let the commissioner of the RCMP testify about his blockage of cabinet documents in the criminal investigation of the SNC-Lavalin scandal?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when the opposition leader is bringing up matters that were duly settled four years ago, it is obvious they have no vision for the future of this country, no plan to move Canada forward and nothing to offer Canadians except cuts, austerity and partisan attacks.

Public Services and Procurement

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, one thing we will cut is the ArriveCAN app. That matter is also under criminal investigation. It was an app we did not need and did not work, and it was about 500 times more expensive than it should have been. We now know that one of the contractors who was paid submitted detailed documentation on a company that did not even exist.

We know the Prime Minister blocked criminal investigations into his SNC-Lavalin scandal. Will he agree, yes or no, to co-operate with the police in the ArriveCAN criminal investigation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said to the opposition leader, when it comes to contracting, investigations are ongoing and processes have been updated.

He does not much care about facts or process, just his hidden agenda driven by ideology, an ideology rooted in denying that the government had to act fast in a once-in-a-century moment to keep Canadians safe. He does not want to talk about the pandemic. He does not want to talk about his behaviour during the pandemic and following it. He will continue to try to distract and deflect based on his ideology and based on the members of his team. It is very telling that the Conservative Party would choose not to prioritize Canadians' safety.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he accuses me of distracting. The question was about the criminal investigation into the ArriveCAN app, and what does he do? He tries once again to divide Canadians in order to distract from the costs and corruption he has imposed upon them.

I asked a very simple question. We now know that a program he created is under criminal investigation. Will he, yes or no, co-operate with the police?