Debates of Oct. 22nd, 2024

Housing

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that it was this government that implemented the first national housing strategy and built thousands of homes across the country. We also created a tax-free savings account. One of the young people who signed up was my brother, who is 33. Now, 700,000 people across the country have signed up, and they will have a chance to realize their dream of buying a home. They have this government to thank.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is not the Conservatives saying that, it is the realtors association noticing the increase. In Quebec City, the price of a house is now $400,000. In Gatineau, it is $460,000. In Montreal, it is $590,000. Beyond the numbers, the issue is that the dreams and ambitions of young Quebeckers are evaporating under this government's watch.

I invite the member for Papineau, who is the Prime Minister, to rise and explain to young Quebeckers why he made the situation worse and why, today, young Quebeckers are unable to buy a house because of his leadership.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Louis‑Saint‑Laurent, whom I quite like, talks about ambition and numbers. He should be talking about the ambition and numbers of his Conservative leader. When he was minister responsible for housing, in his entire time in that role across the entire country he built not one, two, three, four or five, but six affordable housing units. He talks about ambition and a record. He should talk about his Conservative leader and ask him to visit the 160 affordable housing units we built in his own riding.

Justice

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the new Quebec lieutenant told us that secularism in Quebec falls under Quebec's jurisdiction, not Ottawa's. He is quite right. Ottawa has no business interfering in secularism. Ottawa has no business interfering in how Quebec operates as a society. I thank the hon. minister for that reminder.

Is it fair to say that Ottawa has no intention of challenging a Quebec law that does not fall under federal jurisdiction? Is that what we are to conclude from what the minister told us yesterday?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right. This falls under the Government of Quebec's jurisdiction. Simply put, Quebec has jurisdiction over education.

If my colleague wants to inform, guide or advise the Government of Quebec, he should not do so here in the House of Commons. He should do so in the National Assembly. I respectfully shared that recommendation with him yesterday.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister used his appearance on the Stephen Colbert show to state, and I quote: “we try to [make sure] people keep their culture and keep their languages”. Come on, that is not how integration works in Quebec.

In Quebec, we agree on a common set of values: equality, religious neutrality and French as the common language. Learning French and adopting common values is part of what it means to integrate into Quebec. Does the federal government recognize that its multiculturalism is incompatible with Quebec's integration model?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, once again, my colleague is entirely correct. Millions of Quebeckers, including newcomers, have the good fortune and privilege of learning French, integrating into Quebec, becoming a Quebecker, living up to being a Quebecker, growing up, living and flourishing in Quebec. The member is entirely correct. That is how things work in Quebec, and we are very proud of it.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Ottawa wants to challenge Bill 21 in court and weaken secularism in Quebec. Ottawa continues to uphold a religious exemption in the Criminal Code. Ottawa refuses to exempt Quebec from the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. The Prime Minister is telling the Americans that everyone who comes to Canada can keep their language, that there is no common language and that there are no problems.

In short, the federal government is undermining integration, secularism and the French language. Does this government actually realize that what it does best is undermine Quebeckers' ability to live together in harmony?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my Bloc Québécois colleague, whom I hold in high regard, is trying to pick a fight. A lot of new Quebeckers come to Quebec partly because Quebec is part of Canada. A Quebecker is also a Canadian. Many newcomers in my riding say they are proud to be both Quebeckers and Canadians.

Carbon Pricing

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

The Prime Minister's own Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed yet again that the carbon tax costs more to Canadians than they get back in rebates. When the NDP-Liberals quadruple the carbon tax, families in Alberta will pay nearly $2,000 more in carbon taxes.

Will the NDP-Liberals finally admit that their tax is simply a scheme and call a carbon tax election?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, at the risk of correcting my hon. colleague from the other side, let me state very clearly that the PBO has indicated that eight out of 10 Albertans get more money back from the Canada carbon rebate than they pay in carbon taxes. Members do not have to take my word for it. They can take the word of Premier Danielle Smith, who said that not only did she get more money back because she lives in rural Alberta, but she even got the 20% top-up.

To my colleague, I am sorry. That is a fact.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

I ask the hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake not to take the floor unless he is recognized.

The hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians that wind up at food banks are not buying that rhetoric; I am sorry.

Food bank usage is up. The Cold Lake Food Bank is the busiest it has ever been, with a 28% increase in usage over 2023, which saw an increase of 16% over 2022. The carbon tax is driving up the cost of groceries, gas and heating, making things more difficult for families and food banks, which are pushed to their limit.

The question is simple. Will the Prime Minister admit that his carbon tax is not working and call a carbon tax election?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the numbers are in and the cheques have already arrived. In Alberta, a family of four gets $2,500 per year. It is more than they spend on the price on pollution, which is something those on the other side do not understand because they do not care if the planet burns.

Let us go one step further. Why did those on that side vote against the Canada child benefit, which gives $7,800 per kid in Alberta? Why did they vote against child care? Why did they vote against supports for workers? They care about themselves, not about Canadians. We are on the side of Canadians each and every day.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, with that much hot air, I could run a couple of windmills.

After nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has once again confirmed that Canadians pay much more in costs than they get back in rebates. In Saskatchewan, after these guys quadruple the carbon tax, it is going to cost a family $2,000 a year.

When will the Liberals call a carbon tax election so that Canadians can have their say at the ballot box?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is really difficult to take any of this rhetoric seriously. When I was first elected nine years ago, that party used to send cheques to millionaires to help them with the cost of raising their families. That presented two questions. Millionaires would ask me in my riding why they were getting this money, and people of lower income would ask me in my riding why it was getting taxed.

What we did is created a Canada child benefit that is tax-free and means-tested. What we have also done is established a national school food program. If they are really serious about addressing child poverty and family poverty, why do they not get on board?

The Economy

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, back home, the number of people asking for help at Moisson Saguenay—Lac‑St‑Jean is soaring.

However, the Bloc continues to support this incompetent government and ignores the real problems facing Quebeckers. As we know, the Bloc Québécois is no longer a party of the regions.

Families in the Saguenay are desperate. Their situation is becoming more and more precarious because of the rising cost of groceries and housing.

When will the Prime Minister call an election so that Saguenay—Lac‑Saint‑Jean can finally be represented by the only party of the regions, the Conservative Party?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Saguenay—Lac‑Saint‑Jean, but I am surprised to see that after voting against lowering the age of retirement to 65, after voting against the dental care plan, and after voting against increasing the guaranteed income supplement for the most vulnerable seniors, this gentleman is rising to ask us why the cost of living is going up.

The cost of living is going up, sir, because you and your party are promising to make cuts, and that will affect most of the people in your riding.

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

There have been a few answers today in which comments were addressed directly to the members. Members must go through the Chair.

Housing

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the numbers are out, and last winter was the worst on record for Edmonton's unhoused population. It was so bad that over 100 people living on the street lost a limb due to frostbite.

Indigenous people make up over two-thirds of Edmonton's houseless population. Indigenous people will lose their limbs and their lives this winter because the government has failed to build affordable homes.

How many indigenous people need to freeze before the Prime Minister takes action?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his advocacy on the issue of supporting those who have the most acute housing need, which disproportionately impacts indigenous people across this country.

As my colleague very well knows, we have advanced billions of dollars specifically to help address some of these concerns, including support directly to the City of Edmonton, working with partner Homeward Trust, to make the situation better to the extent money can help. In addition, we have put hundreds of millions of dollars on the table to work with provinces that cost match. More than a month ago in his province, I sent a letter, which is yet to be responded to. In the absence of that sort of co-operation with other levels of government, we will work directly with cities and indigenous governments to help address this very challenging situation.

Telecommunications

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when I asked the minister about why he is doing nothing to stop Rogers from gouging Canadians on their cable bills, he refused to answer the question. He is not telling Canadians that his Liberal government is too weak to stand up to Rogers and big telcos ripping them off. It is under his government that the Rogers-Shaw merger was even allowed to happen, leading to higher bills for Canadians. People feel defeated and the Liberals are doing nothing to help. In fact, they are piling it on.

Why are the Liberals caving to big telcos while Canadians are getting gouged? Just because he is a Rogers rollover does not mean the rest of us have to accept that.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite ironic to hear from the New Democrats about standing up. When they had that opportunity, they folded. I think everyone in this House understands that.

The member knows well, like everyone in the House, that we stood up to the big telcos in this country. We will always stand up for Canadians and consumers. We fought for more competition, lower prices for Canadians and better choice.

On this side of the House, Canadians at home know we will always stand for consumers, stand for Canadians and stand for competition.

Pharmacare

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Pharmacare Act received royal assent on October 10. British Columbia has been benefiting from that act, saving the province $28 million because of free contraceptives. Now with the passage of this bill, women and gender-diverse Canadians have access to contraceptives across Canada. The Pharmacare Act also includes access to expensive diabetes medications and tools. These life-saving drugs are too often unaffordable to patients.

Can the Minister of Health tell the House how the Pharmacare Act will positively impact the health outcomes of Canadians and—