Debates of Oct. 1st, 2024

Government Accountability

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is known everywhere in the world as being absolutely one of the best jurisdictions to manage blood supply, and that is something that we are absolutely committed to continuing. I think that casting aspersions and trying to manufacture things is something we are used to from the other side, but that reputation that we have won, hard-earned, to make sure that when Canadians need blood it is there for them and it is there for them safely, is something that we are going to continue, unabated, to be committed to.

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets has been keeping his voice down, but it has been regular, so I am just going to ask him to please not do that.

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith has the floor.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, residential school survivors and their families deserve answers. We know that truth comes before healing. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls on all levels of government and churches to hand over all records, but survivors still face barriers, missing records, delays and disappointments. Why is this government failing to give survivors and their families access to the truth?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the many commemorations that took place across this country.

Since 2015, when the truth and reconciliation report's calls for action came to the government, we have been working toward enacting all 94 calls for action. We will continue to work with survivors in order to ensure that there is truth, justice and accountability.

Housing

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis in Edmonton rages on, and indigenous people are disproportionately impacted. The latest reports show that Edmonton's homeless population has jumped by 1,300 people since the start of the year. To make matters worse, last winter's amputations due to frostbite skyrocketed by 162%. With colder temperatures approaching, people are going to lose limbs or die.

Will the Liberals continue to stand by and watch alongside Danielle Smith, or will they finally build the homes people in Edmonton desperately need?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, after a decade of nothing happening under the previous Conservative government, we launched the national housing strategy, and we have been working with communities, with first nations leaders and with indigenous organizations to ensure that people have access to the kinds of housing they need.

We are not going to stop until every person in this country knows that there is someplace they can turn to as winter approaches.

Indigenous Affairs

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, September 30 marks one of the most important days on the Canadian calendar. For generations, indigenous peoples had to conceal their cultures, languages and true identities. The results, both past and present, led to the devastating consequences faced by families and communities and gave way to intergenerational trauma, the impacts of which are still found immensely in our country today. Yesterday, communities across Canada came together to honour survivors and their relatives and to commit to doing our part on this journey toward truth and reconciliation.

I ask the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to share his reflections with the House on the importance of this day and the work ahead.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by acknowledging the work of my friend from Winnipeg.

Yesterday was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and over the last several days I have had the opportunity to listen to many survivors who spoke about the enormous loss that they feel. I also have had the chance to speak to many who have been working toward advocating and toward finding truth for the loved ones who never came home.

This afternoon we raised the survivors' flag right here on the Hill, and I ask all Canadians to reflect on this day and to ensure that they do their part toward reconciliation.

The Economy

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Liberal-NDP costly coalition, grocery prices are up 27%, gas prices are up 40% and now new data from Equifax shows that credit card debt is up too. The average Canadian now has $4,300 on their credit card, the highest on record since the last recession.

Why are these Liberals using their carbon tax to inflate the price of everything, punishing families and forcing them to take on more debt just to get by?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I am really glad to have the chance to talk about our carbon rebates and our policies on credit cards because today we announced that later this month, thanks to the government's negotiations with credit card companies, the fees that small businesses have to pay are going down. That is good news for small businesses across the country.

What else is good news? Small business owners are going to get big carbon rebates. That member of Parliament, like me, is an Ontario MP. An Ontario business owner with 10 employees is going to be getting 4,000—

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Thornhill.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister might be the only person left in the world who thinks paying more tax makes a person richer and somehow stops climate change. The carbon tax is not about the environment, and it is certainly not about affordability. It is about getting more money for her spending addiction. Even Catherine McKenna admits that the Liberals' plan was always to spend Canadians' money.

It is clear that the Liberals have run out of money. They are going to raise the tax, over and over again, to 61¢ a litre as two million people use a food bank. How many more people will face poverty before the Liberals reverse course?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I will give the Conservatives a number: 69 million cars in avoided pollution. That is our number on this side of the House. If we listened to the Conservatives, we would do nothing to fight climate change, pollution would be even worse and emissions would be 41% higher than with what we have been doing. We are working to fight climate change. We are working to support Canadians to create the economy of the 21st century. The Conservatives have nothing to offer.

Carbon Pricing

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberals are desperately trying to convince Canadians they are better off paying a higher and higher carbon tax. However, the truth hurts. It appears that food inflation is not a global issue; it is an NDP-Liberal issue. According to the “Food Professor”, because of the carbon tax, wholesale food prices in Canada are up 34% in every single category and are 37% higher than they are in the United States.

Will the Prime Minister just admit he was wrong about his carbon tax and call a carbon tax election?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, it seems Conservatives are now starting to listen to economists, and they quoted Trevor Tombe. Let us hear what Trevor Tombe has to say about carbon pricing and the price of food: “While concern around affordability is clearly warranted, climate policies are not a significant driver of the rising cost of living. Nor will removing policies such as carbon pricing materially improve the situation.”

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberals just cannot handle the truth. The truth is that Canadians are being forced to food banks in record numbers. Even the Liberal member for Winnipeg North said that when we attribute the increase in food prices of 34% to the carbon tax, that is absurd.

Data from the “Food Professor” show that the Liberals are wrong. What is absurd is increasing the carbon tax when nine million Canadians do not know where their next meal is coming from. Will the Prime Minister admit their tax plan is the carbon tax and call a carbon tax election, so Canadians can put food on the table?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, being a farmer myself, I know what it is like for farmers to be on the front line of climate change. Our farmers face devastating storms like hurricane Fiona, which tore down barns and killed cattle. We have floods and fires right across the country. This is one of the reasons food prices are so high.

The government put a price on pollution that works. Also, in my hon. colleague's riding, the average farmer would receive $1,800 a year as a carbon rebate. I know the Conservative Party of Canada—

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Foothills, who has just had two questions, can have more questions if they could work that out with their leadership, but not at this time. I will be happy to recognize the hon. member for Foothills when he stands up on his feet when it is time for the people from his political formation to get a question.

The hon. member for Thérèse‑De Blainville.

Seniors

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

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is affecting all seniors. There are not two grocery bills, one for those 65 to 74 and one for older seniors. There are no age-based discounts for housing, clothing or medication. However, people aged 65 to 74 receive 10% less OAS. Everyone understands that this is unfair.

Will the Liberals put an end to this injustice, or are we all going to head on out in our campaign buses?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, when the member for Thérèse-De Blainville had the chance to help vulnerable seniors, including 7,300 in her own riding, save hundreds of dollars, she voted against it. That is hypocrisy. Now she wants to lecture us on her opportunistic policies.

We are there for seniors. The Liberal Party of Canada supports seniors. It is the Bloc Québécois that—

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for LaSalle—Émard—Verdun for his first question in the House.

[Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Bloc, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as this is my first opportunity to speak, I would like to thank the people of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun for placing their trust in me. I will do everything I can to be worthy of it.

Today, I am proud to back the Bloc Québécois's ultimatum on behalf of seniors. The Liberals have two options: they can increase old age security for those aged 74 and under, or they can call an election right now. I would remind them that it did not go so well for them last time.

Will the government choose seniors or will it choose its demise?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!