Debates of Feb. 8th, 2023

Public Services and Procurement

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the past years, we have made significant investments to support Canadians, not only through the pandemic but also in the years before it, when we were investing and creating jobs. We were lifting Canadians out of poverty and preparing for a clean-energy future, which Canadians know is around the corner.

We will continue to be there to support Canadians, whether it is with rental investments, with dental care or by doubling the GST rebate for low- and middle-income Canadians. We are going to continue to be there to invest in and support Canadians. Unfortunately, the Conservatives continue to push for cuts and austerity.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years under this Liberal Prime Minister, the close ties between McKinsey and the Infrastructure Bank of Canada are undeniable.

Led by former employees of the multinational McKinsey firm, the Infrastructure Bank of Canada awarded contracts to the firm that recommended its creation, all untendered. This is yet another scandal. Canada is broken.

Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for the loss of trust Canadians have in our institutions, so we can begin fixing everything he has broken?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are continuing to do what they have always done in difficult times, which is to be there for one another, to roll up their sleeves and work to help build a better future for everyone. Rather than throwing their hands in the air and saying everything is broken, Canadians are working hard together. We will continue to be there to help them do just that, with investments in dental care and rental assistance.

That member voted against those two initiatives in the House. We will continue to be there to help families with a better health care system. We know that investing in the future is the right way to help Canadians.

Carbon Pricing

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Conservative leader launched radio attack ads across Atlantic Canada against carbon pollution pricing. That is preying on people's fears by spreading mistruths. The Conservatives know it, and they owe Atlantic Canadians an apology.

Can the Prime Minister update the House on what the government has been doing to support Atlantic Canadians?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to thank the member for St. John's East for her hard work and her leadership on this file.

What the Conservative Party still does not realize is that one cannot have a plan for the economy if one does not have a plan for the environment.

On this side, we are focused on creating good jobs, helping families with the cost of living and fighting climate change. We are doing so through our climate action incentive rebates, which are putting more money back in families' pockets. We are also helping households with retrofits and switching from oil furnaces to heat pumps, which are saving energy and money while protecting the planet.

Labour

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, workers across Canada and Quebec continue to be left out in the cold on picket lines, while their bosses replace them with non-contract scab workers. New Democrats fought to end these union-busting tactics.

The member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie has already introduced anti-scab legislation. The minister just has to pass it. There is no need to delay things any longer.

Why is this minister delaying the rights for workers to have the ability to collectively bargain?

Why?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we mandated the Minister of Labour to create a fairer collective bargaining process in federally regulated workplaces by putting forward legislation to further limit the use of replacement workers. We launched consultations, which have now wrapped up, and the results of those consultations will determine the legislation that will be tabled by the end of this year.

We support and we have faith in the collective bargaining process, because the best deals are always the ones that are made at the negotiating table.

Housing

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost a year since the governing party promised to bring in a homebuyers' bill of rights, to end blind bidding in home sales and to tackle large corporate investors in the housing market. All of those actions would help make housing more affordable, but the federal government has not implemented any of them yet.

What are they waiting for? We need urgent action on the housing crisis.

When will the Prime Minister finally deliver on these promises?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to levelling the playing field for young and middle-class Canadians looking to buy a home.

That is why budget 2022 announced that we would work with provinces and territories to develop and implement a homebuyers' bill of rights and a national plan to end blind bidding. The homebuyers' bill of rights would tackle unfair practices in the real estate market, and it could include measures to ensure the right to an inspection and transparency in sales history.

We will not rest until we ensure that the dream of home ownership is protected.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Ato Tagesse Chaffo Dullo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand that there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

I now invite hon. members to rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for La Prairie on a point of order.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question from the Bloc member from La Pointe-de-l'Île, the Prime Minister said about Bloc members that “they do not give a damn about francophone minorities across the country.”

I have to say that was unparliamentary language and, as everyone would agree, absolutely false. I therefore demand an apology from the Prime Minister.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I noticed that MPs in the House today were a little agitated and worked up.

I would remind all members to choose their words carefully. Members must use parliamentary language, in other words, language that will not cause offence. I urge members to be careful about what they say.

The House resumed from February 7 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Carbon Tax

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Carleton relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #253

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion defeated.

The House resumed February 3 consideration of the motion that Bill C-226, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice, as reported (without amendment) from the committee, be concurred in.

National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in Bill C-226 at report stage under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #254

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried.

The House resumed from February 6 consideration of the motion that Bill C-293, An Act respecting pandemic prevention and preparedness, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-293 under Private Members' Business.