House of Commons Hansard #201 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Department of Public Works and Government Services Act Report stage of Bill S-222. The bill requires the Minister of Public Works and Government Services to consider environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, when developing requirements for federal construction. It aims to promote the use of wood and other sustainable building materials, highlighting its carbon sequestration and potential for job creation in the forest industry. While widely supported, some desire stronger language to give preference to wood. 8000 words, 1 hour.
Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act Third reading of Bill S-5. The bill, which updates the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, aims to strengthen environmental protection by recognizing the right to a healthy environment and enhancing the management of toxic substances. Key amendments include a commitment to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a focus on vulnerable populations, and a strategy to reduce animal testing. The Conservatives oppose the bill due to an amendment on tailings ponds and hydraulic fracturing, which they view as an intrusion into provincial jurisdiction, while the NDP and Bloc Québécois support the bill, despite some reservations. 31000 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24 Members debate the Department of Finance's main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, focusing on the government's economic policies. Discussions include the impact of the carbon tax on inflation and household costs, the government's fiscal responsibility and debt-to-GDP ratio, and investments in climate action and the clean economy. Members also discuss affordability measures like the grocery rebate and dental care plan, as well as housing initiatives and tax fairness. 34300 words, 4 hours.
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, the answer was $2,780,000,000.
How much was the Bank of Canada surplus for the receiver general in 2022?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, again, this is what David Dodge said: “The Harper government unnecessarily contributed to a slower, rather more muted recovery in Canada through to 2015”—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, the answer is zero.
How much did the Bank of Canada lose in 2022?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, “...to a slower, rather more muted recovery in Canada through to 2015 than a more appropriate”—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, the bank lost $705 million.
When was the last time the Bank of Canada had a loss before 2022?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, the Bank of Canada, together with the government, supported Canadians during COVID. We did what we had to do, and it worked.
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, the answer is that the bank never had a loss before 2022.
On a prospective basis, how much does the Bank of Canada project these bank losses will be over the next few years?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, the member opposite is seeking to undermine Canadian faith in the bank and in our central institutions. That is irresponsible. It hurts Canada and it hurts Canadians.
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, the bank has announced that it expects up to $6 billion in losses over the next few years.
Why are taxpayers bailing out the Bank of Canada?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, we learned the lesson that these Conservatives have still not learned, which was that Harper economics failed us in 2008. We were not going to repeat those mistakes—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, how much is the bank's policy interest rate?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, what is astonishing to me is that these Conservatives refuse to learn the lesson of previous failures, and they have the gall to try—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, how much was Canada's inflation rate in April?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, Canada's inflation rate is going down: 8.1% in June—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, it was 4.4%. How much was it in March?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, as I said, inflation is coming down. It is lower in Canada than in the U.S. and in the U.K., and it is lower than the G7 average and the euro average.
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, it was lower. It was 4.3% in March.
What is the bank's main job?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, yet again, we are hearing from the Conservatives the old recipes, which hobbled Canada after 2008. We are not going to repeat those mistakes—
Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2023-24Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Chair, its main job is to keep inflation at 2%.
How much does the minister's budget project inflation will be this year?
