Debates of June 2nd, 2023

Employment Insurance

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, corrections will need to be made, but what I wanted to say is that this is not the only anniversary to mark when it comes to Liberal dishonesty.

Let us not forget that the Prime Minister himself ordered an EI reform by the summer of 2022. The hot weather we have been having over the past few days reminds us that it has already been a year and the Liberals have done nothing. Two years after promising this reform and a year after the date set by the Prime Minister, nothing has changed.

Keeping one's word is the most basic sign of respect.

When the Liberals—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

The hon. Minister of Sport.

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Madam Speaker, I am very proud that during the pandemic our government supported workers who were not covered by employment insurance. We made sure that self-employed workers, just as an example, had some money coming in, so they could continue to feed their families.

As for EI reform, we prioritized things in the budget to make life more affordable and to provide health transfers, but we have also held consultations, and the work continues.

The Economy

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, Canadians are not just hungry, they are hangry at the price of groceries. The Minister of Finance is pouring an additional $60 billion over the inflationary fire. The Food Professor says that overspending by government is to blame. He said, “when a government injects more money into the economy, the excess liquidity can drive up demand for goods, including food, which, in turn, can lead to higher prices.”

Does the Minister of Finance feel guilty that her large deficits are hurting Canadians' ability to feed themselves or is she secretly trying to start a national weight loss challenge?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, I know personally that I could maybe lose five or 10, but when it comes to that member's question if they really want to help Canadians they would stop the filibuster in this chamber today. They could show up for work and make sure that the budget implementation act passes and that supports get to Canadians who need them.

The hypocrisy on that side is making things smell in this House. It is not just the heat, it is the Conservatives who are blocking this Parliament.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

We were doing not too bad. All of a sudden it just picked up. I would ask members to please keep it down because we would not want to have to change the speaking order.

The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, the minister is clearly misinformed. The committee has already passed the bill and there is no filibuster.

On the topic, inflation is like a bad houseguest that just will not leave. No matter how many hints the Conservatives, economists and even the Governor of the Bank of Canada drop to stop spending so much, the Minister of Finance is pumping another $60 billion on top of last year's record deficit, which only increases inflation, the houseguest, to stay and make an even bigger mess to the economy.

Will the Minister of Finance finally take a hint and reduce spending, or is she so tired of her job that she wants voters to show her and her unwanted houseguest the door?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, if the Conservatives read the budget, they would see that there are measures to make sure that we reduce spending by $15 billion over the next years.

Also, in the budget implementation act, we would be able to make sure that Canada worker benefits go to Canadians faster. It would improve the education savings plans and it would lower the tax burden for tradespeople.

The Conservatives do not like that we stabilized health care for a generation, that we are making historic investments to grow the economy and that we are also helping those Canadians who need it the most.

They want to use dilatory tactics. We are going to keep delivering for Canadians.

Carbon Pricing

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Madam Speaker, our national holiday, Canada Day, will be observed by Canadians in less than one month. This is a day when we all gather to celebrate our nation. However, most Canadians are more concerned with the high cost of living. If the first carbon tax was not harsh enough, the Liberals' birthday gift to Canadians is a second carbon tax, which will intend to destroy Canada Day festivities.

Will the government show some compassion and give all Canadians the gift they deserve and axe this costly carbon tax?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, yes, July 1 is a great day to celebrate in Canada. There is another reason to celebrate, because that is the day when the climate action rebate will come out. Those payments will come quarterly. In my home province, it is $1,000 a year, $250 a quarter. It is going to fight climate change. It is going to support affordability and it is going to be a great day for Canadians indeed.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, this Liberal government has no shortage of imagination when it comes to making life miserable for those who drive their car to work or take a summer road trip with their family.

They have already imposed a carbon tax that adds 41¢ to a litre a gas and now carbon tax 2 will add another 17¢ to that same litre of gas. Compounded with GST, that is an extra 61¢ per litre during the worst cost of living crisis since Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

When will these Liberals show some decency and scrap both of these punitive carbon taxes?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, it is indeed puzzling that every single person on that side of the aisle supported putting a price on pollution in the 2021 campaign. The member for Wellington—Halton Hills, much admired in this chamber, made it the centrepiece of his Conservative leadership campaign in 2017.

Get this, the MP for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge actually introduced the first carbon tax in North America.

I have a good report. It was a success. The economy grew and more money was put into B.C. pockets.

Housing

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, the NDP leader and I just joined a rally for Webster Street tenants last week. After living in their apartments for years, they are facing renovictions by a new corporate landlord. When the tenants organized, the owner threatened to tag and tow their cars for not paying a new $200 parking fee.

This Liberal government has allowed corporate landlords to drive up London rents. The average cost for a one-bedroom is up 28% in a single year.

Will this government create a housing acquisition fund to make rent affordable in London?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that we need to take action to support renters. That is precisely why our government introduced the Canada housing benefit, which is delivering rent supports to tens of thousands of families right across our country.

This Canada housing benefit is now live in every province and territory in Canada. In addition to that, we had a top-up to the Canada housing benefit. In addition to that, we are building more affordable rental housing.

I would urge the hon. member to also contact the provincial government, which is responsible for rent control.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Madam Speaker, natural disasters, including wildfires and floods, fuelled by climate change are making it difficult to get home insurance. Canadians cannot buy a home when there is an active wildfire within 50 kilometres and that covers most of the summer in B.C., and 10% of Canadians cannot get flood insurance. Canada is the only major country where the government does not have a backstop for earthquake insurance.

Canadians cannot afford to wait while their homes and businesses are destroyed.

Will the Liberals act to make sure Canadians have the insurance protection they need?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising that point.

All parliamentarians in the House should be taking the risks posed by climate change very seriously. Our government is here, as always, to support all affected Canadians and indigenous communities so as to better prepare them for future threats. That includes insurance.

We are well aware that the insurability of some neighbourhoods, homes and villages is becoming increasingly difficult. We will be there to support Canadians who live in places that are no longer insurable.

Firearms

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Speaker, gun violence poses a real threat to the safety of our communities. Canadians expect to be able to take their kids to school, ride transit and visit places of worship without fear. People from my riding of Richmond Hill, like Canadians across the country, have been very clear. They want us to take strong action to prevent gun violence and keep their loved ones safe.

How is the government taking action to deliver on safety for Canadians?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services]

Madam Speaker, gun violence has no place in our communities. We are taking the strongest action in a generation to keep our communities safe.

Today, on June 2, we are marking the first National Day Against Gun Violence here in the great nation of Canada. Going forward, on the first Friday of June, we will raise awareness around the tragedies caused by gun violence, and remember the victims and the survivors. This is another part of our plan to get firearms off our streets and invest in prevention.

Tourism Industry

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Speaker, Canada's tourism sector, and Canadians who enjoy travelling, are under attack by the Liberal government's out-of-control spending and tax hikes.

A recent Ipsos report found that six in 10 Canadians are now planning to scale back on their summer vacation plans, yet the Liberal government continues to hike taxes, like adding a second carbon tax to the price of gas, which will add 17¢ per litre.

Does the government not realize its taxes add up and will ultimately hurt Canada's tourism industry and our chances of achieving a full tourism recovery?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, I respect the hon. member, who is my tourism critic, but something does not add up. He voted against supporting the tourism industry in the budget, yet he voted for pricing on carbon in the last campaign. I do not know what they drink in Niagara, but I know—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I cannot hear the answer, and I am sure the hon. member wants to hear the answer because he will probably want to pose another question. I would ask members to hold off on allowing their thoughts to be said out loud.

The hon. Minister of Tourism.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Speaker, I find it a little odd that the tourism critic for the Conservatives voted against supporting the tourism industry in the budget, yet he voted for a price on pollution when he ran in the last election. I am going to let him explain that to his constituents.

I was at Rendez-vous Canada in Quebec City this week, and the tourism sector in this country is going to be back, not in 2026, not in 2025 and not in 2024, but at the end of 2023. This is thanks to Canadians, thanks to what we have to offer and thanks to the international community for knowing that Canada is back and that people want to come to see us.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Speaker, that is an interesting response. Surely our tourism minister knows that travel is a discretionary activity. Adding 41¢ a litre to gas through the first carbon tax will not help. A second Liberal carbon tax of 17¢ will hurt as well. If we add GST to that, we have a tax on a tax on a tax. Canadians need tax relief, not another tax.

When will the Liberal government axe the tax and help the tourism sector recovery fully this year?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, it is so nice to have so many friends from the blue team from Alberta in the chamber on a Friday.

I can say to my colleague from Niagara Falls that, in this budget, $158 million is directly going to the tourism sector, and $1.8 billion will do exactly what he said, which is to get more people to come to Canada for CATSA and for modernization of the airports.

How did the member and the entire Conservative caucus vote? They voted against the tourism sector, against airports and against getting people to our country. “Shame on them”, I say.