House of Commons Hansard #356 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was documents.
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Pharmacare Act came into force in Canada this month. Nine million women can now make informed medical decisions about contraceptives without having to worry about the cost.
Can the Minister of Tourism tell Canadians about how the Pharmacare Act guarantees women the reproductive autonomy they deserve?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalMinister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her ongoing activism in the area of women's rights.
The coming into force of the Pharmacare Act is a historic moment. This legislation will allow people like my daughter and future generations to choose for themselves and to have access to contraception without having to worry about how to pay for it.
Unlike the Conservatives, who want to take away women's freedom of choice, our government will always support women's autonomy over their bodies, their lives and their future.
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the Liberal-NDP government, taxes are up, costs are up, corruption is up and time is up.
The Auditor General is finally investigating GC Strategies, which received $100 million from the government and $20 million for the arrive scam scandal. That was only one incident of Liberal insider corruption. Others include the green slush fund, McKinsey, Global Affairs Canada and Environment Canada.
Just how much taxpayer money did the Prime Minister give fraudsters and scamsters?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives play with theatrics, we are actually committed to ensuring that our procurement system is something Canadians have trust in. Anybody who has operated without following the rules and the laws should be held accountable; we have said that from the beginning. This is precisely why CBSA has already initiated a number of measures and recommendations and is working with the Auditor General to ensure that there is trust in our procurement system.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, corruption is up, crime is up and time is up.
Yesterday the Auditor General announced that she will be investigating the $100 million in contracts awarded by the Liberal government to GC Strategies, a two-person IT company that did no IT work but was paid $20 million for the arrive scam app.
It has been months since the Liberal minister promised to recover the money paid to GC Strategies. When will the Prime Minister get taxpayers their money back?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we welcome the opportunity to get to the bottom of the situation to ensure trust in our procurement system.
Let us also be clear with Canadians on the fact that it was the Conservative Party that first initiated contracts with GC Strategies. Therefore I really hope the Auditor General looks back and ensures that any wrongdoing is also looked at from the beginning of the contracts with that company, because all Canadians deserve to know that there is trust in our procurement system.
The Conservatives went quiet all of a sudden.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, two million Canadians are lining up at food banks every month, while Liberal cronies are lining up to pad their pockets.
Let us remember that GC Strategies, a two-person company, was given $20 million to develop the ArriveCAN app, when it had no IT expertise. According to the latest news, the Auditor General has announced that she is going to investigate the $100 million in contracts awarded to GC Strategies. GC Strategies benefited from Liberal largesse at taxpayers' expense.
How many Liberal cronies lined their pockets by emptying the pockets of Canadian families?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, has already provided a very good answer to that question.
However, there is one question that we still do not have an answer for. A few moments ago, my colleague talked about children who are going hungry, but his riding is home to many organizations that are fighting to ensure that children go to school in the morning with full bellies. How does he explain the fact that his Conservative leader describes helping children go to school with a full belly as bureaucracy? How is he going to tell educators and teachers that feeding children who go to school in the morning is feeding bureaucracy?
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Mr. Speaker, access to contraceptives like the birth control pill improves equality and provides women with the ability to decide if or when they will start a family. We know that cost is the single most significant barrier for women and gender-diverse Canadians in accessing these medicines.
Can the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth please share with the House how the Pharmacare Act will impact Canadians?
Marci Ien LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
Mr. Speaker, access to contraception should not be a luxury but a fundamental right. The Pharmacare Act provides women and gender-diverse people with the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies and not worry about the cost, but Conservatives do not want Canadians to have free access to contraceptives or reproductive freedom. How do we know this? We know it because the members opposite continue to introduce anti-choice petitions and bills.
Let us make no mistake; Conservatives will cut free contraceptives. On this side of the House, we will always stand for choice.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives created the low-wage temporary foreign worker stream, and the Liberals fuelled it to help rich CEOs. They restricted workers to one employer with closed work permits; subjected migrant workers to abuse, wage theft and exploitation; and suppressed wages for Canadians. Chain CEOs are ramping up exploitation and abuse. Workers like Rowell Pailan have said that their boss, Canadian Tire, paid them less wages and threatened them if they told anyone.
Will the Liberals stop caving to CEOs, and end the abuse, with open work permits?
Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, as I have been very clear in the chamber and at committee, there is a new sheriff in town. Businesses need to be very careful and need to make sure that they are respecting workers from coast to coast to coast.
Stay tuned later today for more changes to the temporary foreign worker program. We are serious about making sure that the program is a program of last resort. Jobs belong in the hands of Canadians, of youth, of newcomers and of people who already live here. We are going to make sure the temporary foreign program is cleaned up. That is what we promised Canadians. It is exactly what we are going to do.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Bloc and the Liberals joined together in committee to cover up the soccer drone scandal that took place during the Olympics. The Liberals refused to investigate how this happened, and they are happy to ignore the problem; that is apparently good enough for the Bloc, which shamefully joined them. Canadians deserve better. They deserve to know that this will not happen again.
Why will the government not support accountability? Why will they not listen to the players, the soccer community and fans who want to ensure that the focus is on the tremendous effort on the pitch and not on the actions of a few people and institutions that do not get it that soccer, like any sport, should be about fair play and integrity?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Sport and Physical Activity
Mr. Speaker, the committee of course is free to determine its own business, but I can assure the House that upon learning of the scandal, the government took immediate action and suspended the funding to Canada Soccer for the coaches who were implicated.
There has also been direct action taken by FIFA, by the Canadian Olympic Committee and by Canada Soccer itself, and I can assure the member we are watching the situation closely.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to the order made on October 21, I invite all hon. members to rise and observe a moment of silence to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attack on Parliament Hill.
[A moment of silence observed]
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago today, Canada was in shock. Our capital, the centre of Canadian democracy, was the target of a cowardly and shameful terrorist attack aimed at both the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill.
Corporal Nathan Cirillo, standing sentry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, was killed, and several others were injured.
Unfortunately, this was not the only tragic event that happened in Canada that week. Two days earlier, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent had been killed in a separate attack in Saint‑Jean‑sur‑Richelieu, Quebec.
Today, I invite all members and all Canadians to join me in honouring these two devoted members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We offer our deepest condolences to their families, their loved ones and their fellow armed forces members.
Let us never forget this tragedy and the victims who were targeted because of their commitment to their country and to Canadians. It is a reminder of the sacrifices that members of the Canadian Armed Forces made and continue to make to keep all of us safe, sacrifices that are in fact symbolized by the National War Memorial. Whether during operations around the globe or while responding to natural disasters here at home or even in our very capital, service members put their lives at risk every single day so that we can all live in a peaceful, safe and democratic society.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the paramedics, police officers and those members of the Parliamentary Protective Service who rushed towards danger to protect Canadians. I am thinking notably of Constable Samearn Son, who was shot and injured while doing so, and who is with us today. I know that I am not the only one who remains inspired by the incredible courage that Sam showed that day.
When remembering these events, I also think of former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers, who by acting decisively was then able to bring the attack to an end. I think all Canadians should be proud of their Parliamentary Protective Service.
They should also be proud of the courage of their fellow Canadians, passersby who, motivated by their compassion, acted to help and held Corporal Nathan Cirillo in their arms during his final moments.
The solidarity that Canadians showed during this tragic event is also a reminder. It is a reminder that anyone who tries to attack Canada and our democracy is doomed to fail. Canada will always respond the same way. We will come out closer, stronger and more united. We will come out even more dedicated to the principles and values that define our society: freedom, peace and openness. When the chips are down, Canadians will always choose to stand against hate and violence.
Today, let us take the time to mourn Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and remember who they were: proud, devoted, selfless and brave patriots.
As we approach Remembrance Day, let us think of all the sacrifices made by members of our Canadian Armed Forces past and present, and let us take every opportunity to thank them for all that they do for each and every one of us.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, ten years ago, we witnessed an attack on our democracy.
The attack began on October 20, 2014, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with the murder of a courageous soldier, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. Mr. Vincent served his country. He wore the Canadian uniform. He had a family and friends who loved him but lost him. Two days later, there was another attack here on Parliament Hill, and, perhaps worse, at our great memorial to Canadian soldiers.
The terrorist attack of October 22, 2014, took the life of a courageous Canadian, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was standing on guard for those who had fallen standing on guard for our country. There he was at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, ambushed and shot, lying bleeding in the arms of a half a dozen courageous Ottawa residents who held him and told him “You are so loved”. Moments later, the life would drain out of his body. Some might have looked at him and said that he was an ordinary Canadian. Certainly, when I saw the picture of him a few days later in the newspaper with his muscles bulging after a trip to the gym, I thought that he could have been like any young Canadian, but he was not. He was not ordinary at all, he was extraordinary, as are every single one of the men and women who put on the uniform of our forces.
The terrorist, who then made his way to Parliament Hill in a carjacked vehicle, burst in through the front door. I remember being in the caucus meeting of the then Conservative government and hearing large crunching sounds, which I learned later to be the repetitive echo of a single gunshot bouncing off the oval-shaped ceiling of the rotunda back down onto the marble floors. That was the first shot inside Parliament, and it was a shot that bore wound, but it could have been so much worse. When this terrorist entered, he planned to cause maximum carnage, but there was someone waiting for him. One of our courageous guards, Samearn Son, saw the gun, grabbed the assailant, pushed the gun downward and took a bullet in the ankle, giving his compatriots enough warning time to draw their own weapons and take cover behind the large limestone pillars that hold Parliament up. Had he not done that, it is almost certain that the gunman would have taken more lives.
We did not know about the story of Samearn Son, because he did not tell anyone. Instead, he quietly hobbled out of the building towards the abandoned hijacked vehicle to see if there were any other terrorists. There may well have been other gunmen at that point taking aim at him, but he fearlessly continued his work. He did not tell anyone what he did, he did no interviews, and the only quote I can find of him from that day was “I'll survive.” He got into an ambulance and made his way to the hospital and quietly went back home to recover with his family. That is the calm, humble, courageous character that embodies the best of Canada. Samearn Son is Canada's son.
The terrorist would proceed through the Hall of Honour. I remember those firecracker sounds going off. We did not know at the time that those were gunshots fired by our security forces, thank God, bringing the terrorist to the ground and ultimately to his deserved fate.
I want to thank each and every one of our security members who fought so hard to protect us while putting their lives at risk on that day: The first responders who arrived quickly on the scene to minimize the damage done and the lives lost, the military members, the RCMP and countless others who protected us all and stood with us on that day. I want to thank all parliamentarians who showed courage and camaraderie in coming together, responding to defend this institution of Parliament and to grieve the loss of those who had defended us.
What we learned on that day is that if we can see over the horizon, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants, like Corporal Cirillo, like Patrice Vincent, like Samearn Son and like the countless other heroes who defended us on that day. May we remember today, every day, the precious gift that is our parliamentary democracy and the even more precious gift that are those who defend it.
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC
Mr. Speaker, ten years ago today, on Wednesday, October 22, 2014, Parliament experienced one of the darkest days in its long history, a day that would forever change life in the House of Commons.
Ten years ago, a terrorist killed a man just steps from Parliament before bursting into Centre Block targeting elected representatives with deadly intentions. Ten years ago, Corporal Nathan Cirillo lost his life in a completely senseless attack, when he was shot by a deranged jihadist sympathizer. The Bloc's thoughts go out to Corporal Cirillo's loved ones. His life should never have ended that day, at the age of 24, because of a senseless act.
As Quebeckers, we cannot help but remember that the Ottawa attack came barely two days after another traumatic incident in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Just two days earlier, another individual inspired by radical Islamism mowed down two soldiers in a parking lot. One survived but the other, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, lost his life. We remember him today, too. Our thoughts are still with his loved ones, ten years later.
All parliamentarians, all staff and even people who were working in the area around the Hill will remember October 22, 2014, for the rest of their lives. That was the day all of downtown Ottawa wondered whether we were safe, as we were all locked down in our offices until the end of the day. It was the day a madman killed a soldier and then stole a minister's limo to get to Centre Block.
It was a Wednesday, a caucus day, when Parliament is more crowded than any other day of the week. That was the day this man started a shootout with parliamentary security in the Hall of Honour, right by the library. It was the day Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and the police heroically opened fire and brought down the shooter.
History will always remember the heroism demonstrated that day by Mr. Vickers and by members of Parliament's law enforcement service, particularly Corporal Curtis Barrett and Constable Son. It was a very heroic moment, but it did not mark the end of the crisis because nobody knew at that time that the shooter was acting alone. It was the end of the threat to Parliament, but the beginning of a long day for all MPs, staffers and House personnel, who feared for their safety.
No one knew what was really going on. We were told to keep our offices locked, to stay away from the windows and to close the curtains. We called our loved ones, our spouses, our children. We wanted to reassure them. It is very difficult to reassure loved ones when we have no idea what is actually going on. Finally, though, we were told that it was safe to leave and go home.
Life in the House of Commons changed that day. It changed for the many people who suffered post-traumatic stress following that horrible event, which continues to leave a mark 10 years on. It also changed with the creation, the following year, of the Parliamentary Protective Service in its current form and with the heavily tightened security measures around the Hill, which are still in place this fall. Most of all, Parliament lost a lot of its innocence that day.
Gone are the days when we believed such things would not happen here on Parliament Hill, which used to be more like a tourist attraction with a laid-back atmosphere. The change is probably for the best, considering the current climate of hostility and threats against elected members. It will forever be deplorable and tragic that, in order to get to this point, Nathan Cirillo, a young man in the prime of his life, had to lose his life to a terrorist. We will never forget him or what happened on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.
In closing, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to thank all the Parliamentary Protective Service officers who are here with us every day and who put themselves at risk to keep us, our employees and all the dedicated House of Commons staff safe, as this commemoration clearly reminds us.
We thank them.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the New Democratic Party and the Parliament of Canada, I pay tribute to Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, the soldiers who gave their lives 10 years ago, and I extend our deepest love and sympathy for their families and comrades who still grieve.
Today, we pause to remember a day of deep trauma and violence, but it was also a day of heroism and human decency. When our Parliament was attacked, all of us were there sharing the same load and the same determination, from the cooks in the cafeteria, the cleaners and our security to the most important cabinet ministers on the front bench. All of us were there.
I remember every minute of that day; at least I think I do. It began when the gunshot rang out in the Hall of Honour. That shot injured our parliamentary security hero Samearn Son, who, in taking that shot, bought valuable time. He represents the best of who we are as a nation.
I remember when the shot rang out, and in our caucus room, there was no way to lock the doors. We were not prepared for something like this. We feared, hearing the shots, that we were facing multiple shooters and a hostage situation. We were all trying to figure out what to do next. Alain Gervais put his body against the doors to protect us. There was a bullet lodged in that door. He represents the best of who we are as a nation and I thank him.
I think of Joël Lepage, the guard on the other side of the hall, and Jean-Benoit Guindon, who was at the library. They represent the best of our country and I thank them because they continue to serve Parliament. I also thank all those who were there that day who are no longer here.
I thank Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who has always been larger than life. He put his life on the line and took the shooter out and never spoke about it. He just did what had to be done.
It was a day of chaos and uncertainty. There were so many rumours that day. We thought there were multiple shooters. In the chaos, we did not know what we were dealing with, but one thing was really clear, and this is what I want to stress today: the incredible heroism of ordinary people, including the frontline responders, the staff here and the people of Ottawa. People stood along the barricaded streets and shouted out encouragement as we were trying to get out of lockdown. People came down to be with us.
I did not sleep much that night. Early the next morning, I felt the need to go to the cenotaph in the darkness to be where Nathan Cirillo had been killed, and there were hundreds of people already there. They were there from all walks of life. I have never forgotten that moment because I thought, this is who we are as a nation. This is what we do in the face of violence. We do not return hate.
We came together as a city, as a nation. That is what we have to remember from this day.
I mention this because there are heroes who have not been given their due. I think of Barbara Winters, who, when the shots rang out, did not run away. She ran into the danger. She held Nathan Cirillo and told him over and over again, “You are loved.” What a beautiful moment. That is who we are. This is the best of our nation. I praise Martin Magnan, who came forward to comfort Nathan Cirillo, and Margaret Lerhe, the nurse who was there in the midst of the chaos.
These people represent the best of us and there is unfinished business in the Parliament of Canada because they have never been properly given their due. Sending people a certificate might be a nice idea, but we do not send a certificate to people who comfort and keep our warriors alive as long as possible. We recognize what they did and we recognize the trauma they carry to this day. I ask my colleagues across all party lines to come together to find a way to recognize not just our parliamentary heroes but the civilians who were there on the front line that day, because they represent the best of who we are as a nation, and we need to remember them.
I would like to conclude by saying there is another reason we need to remember this day. We are watching, around the world, growing radicalization, disinformation and hate. Words matter. They have an impact. When I see the rising threats against everyone from municipal councillors to people going to work in Parliament, words matter. It is incumbent upon all of us in this Parliament to call that out, because on that day, two brave people died.
That day, people were traumatized by violence and disinformation and hate. Words matter. We cannot let that happen again, and we will only let that happen if we forget the lessons of October 22, 2014. The real lesson we have to remember is that that day, despite the chaos and uncertainty, brought out the best of who we are as a nation. It showed the world what Canada is. Canada stands up at times of hatred. Canada reaches out. Canadians were there for each other. That is the lesson we need to remember every day.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for their own memories.
That was 10 years ago, but, as my colleagues have already said, the tragedy had begun on October 20 with the murder of Patrice Vincent.
A lot of us were here that day. I really resonated with the words of our colleagues who remember that day. I remember, as the leader of the official opposition was saying, what it was like inside the Conservative caucus room. For those who never served in Centre Block, it is almost incredible to believe that through the unlocked doors of the reading room were the prime minister, the cabinet and the Conservative caucus. All of those doors on three walls opened outward. We could not lock them.
Across the hall, in the railway committee room, which, fortunately, had double doors, was the NDP caucus. As was just remembered by the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay, Alain Gervais of the protective service stood to guard those doors. Thank God it was a double door, because the bullet went through one door and lodged in the second one.
So many individuals showed so much courage. The unbearable murder of young Corporal Nathan Cirillo will stay with us always, as will the courage of Samearn Son, who, as I understand it from talking to people in those days, actually had the barrel of a gun against his chest and pushed it downward to where it fired into his leg and his foot. He protected all of us, unarmed.
Also, I remember friends in the Conservative caucus who had histories in law enforcement. David Wilks and Shelly Glover organized themselves within that room to protect their colleagues. There was heroism on all sides, bravery, courage and many tears, but there was never an inquiry. I will add now that it is never too late to actually look with fresh eyes at what happened and learn those lessons.
With that, I want to again thank our former Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and resonate with what he has recently said in the media: Yes, there are still lessons to be learned.
God bless Canada. God bless everyone who, on that day, showed such courage.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Hon. colleagues, thank you for your kind words on this sad anniversary.
Many of us remember that day 10 years ago, and many of us can picture that day 10 years ago, but it affects us all.
We all mourn the terrible and senseless death of Corporal Nathan Cirillo. We honour him and remember his sacrifice and his service to our country. Our hearts and prayers are with his loved ones, who miss him still.
We also remember and honour the strength and courage of our Parliamentary Protective Service personnel on duty that day, our heroes who put their own lives at risk without hesitation to keep us all safe. We have colleagues serving today who bear the scars of that day. Out of respect to all members of the Parliamentary Protective Service and the RCMP, I will not individually name them, but on behalf of all of us, I want them to know that we see them, we recognize them and we recognize their service and devotion to this place. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank them all.
If I may, I would also like to recognize three ordinary Canadians who the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay directly brought to our attention. These incredible Canadians, in an extraordinary way, stepped into a dangerous situation and provided succour to Corporal Cirillo in his hour of need. Margaret Lerhe was a nurse who tried to save Corporal Cirillo's life, Martin Magnan held the corporal's hand and Barbara Winters told Corporal Cirillo in the final moments of his life that he was loved.
We also remember all those who helped our community in various ways that day and thereafter. We thank them. We thank those who ran to Corporal Cirillo and tried to save him, as well as those who stood by him with love and compassion in his last moments.
Countless others, ordinary people and others in uniform, found themselves living an impossibly dangerous moment and acted with bravery and humanity to do whatever they could to help others. Ten years later, the healing continues. Some scars can be seen, others are invisible, but all are lasting. We never deny them. We recognize them and try to come together as a community to find healing and peace.
Canada's Parliament is the seat of our democracy. Any attack in this place is an attack on all Canadians. The safety of each and every one of us and all who visit us is a constant priority for our parliamentary community. We can also commit to doing our part to contribute to a respectful workplace and a community that cares for its members and leaves no one behind.
We recognize that the attack 10 years ago led to a loss of innocence. We cannot take it back, but we can move forward knowing we share a commitment to ensuring that Parliament Hill, our workplace, is safe and secure for all of us who work here and all Canadians who come here to see their democracy in action.
Thank you for your attention.
The House resumed consideration of the motion, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House AffairsPrivilegeOrders of the Day
Conservative
Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is not far-fetched at all to expect that, once results are returned, we will once again uncover more Liberal corruption.
Let us not forget to return to the green slush fund scandal, because there is still more to unpack here. In 2019, former Liberal industry minister Navdeep Bains began appointing executives with severe conflicts of interest to the board of SDTC. Conflicts of interest were rampant from the beginning, but they got worse with time, with members of the SDTC board voting on projects that they stood to gain from. Again, this was $390 million of taxpayer money wasted on a slush fund that doled out money for projects to enrich Liberal insiders who should have been ineligible to receive funding. This scandal highlights the reckless mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and the government's failure to uphold even the most basic standards of governance.
While the Liberal government has been busy covering up scandals and protecting its insiders, Canadian families have been left to bear the brunt of its policies. Life under the Prime Minister and his NDP-Liberal government has never been more expensive. Housing costs have doubled; grocery costs have soared, and inflation is eroding the value of every dollar that Canadians earn.
Apart from scandal and corruption, we also have a government that is completely incompetent. A prime example of this is the NDP-Liberal carbon tax, which has made life more expensive for every Canadian. The Parliamentary Budget Officer's report confirms what many have suspected all along: Canadians are worse off under this tax. In Newfoundland and Labrador, households are paying an additional $652 a year because of the carbon tax. In Ontario, it is $903. Families in Saskatchewan are paying $894 more; in Alberta, it is an extra $697 a year. These are real taxpayer dollars being taken out of the pockets of hard-working Canadians, all for a policy that has failed to achieve any of its environmental goals.
The carbon tax has driven up the cost of everything, from gas to groceries to home heating. This year alone, families will be paying $700 more for food while millions of Canadians are lining up at food banks. All the while, the government continues to waste and squander public money on failed policies and scandalous dealings.
The Liberals have even gone so far as to hide internal government numbers showing that the carbon tax will cost Canadians $30.5 billion by 2030. That is an extra $1,824 per family per year. In addition to taxing Canadians to the point that they cannot even afford to drive, the government is wasting billions of dollars chasing an electric vehicle mandate that Canadian consumers are just not interested in. I have driven an EV, and even on a reasonable commute across the most developed area of Ontario, the infrastructure to support vehicles is just not available. Fast chargers are few and far between; a lot of times, they are mysteriously broken. In some cases, the price to charge the car from empty is actually more than it would cost to fill a tank full of gasoline.
Let us consider the cost to even get one of these vehicles. It is absolutely prohibitive to the vast majority of Canadians. Even further, the government has slapped a luxury tax on a few of the EVs that have any form of functionality. It is a scam, and it gets worse when we consider the massive investments in factories that the government is making when they are not even going to fully employ Canadian labour. That is right: We have learned that, after committing billions of dollars to build electric vehicles, the factories intend to employ foreign labour. While Canadians struggle to make ends meet, the government is either punishing or ignoring them.
Meanwhile, we see that the streets of our cities have become more dangerous. Violent crime has increased 39% since the Prime Minister took office. The justice system, once a source of pride in this country, has become a revolving door for repeat offenders. Instead of addressing these issues, the NDP-Liberal government has weakened laws, making it easier for dangerous criminals to go free. Our communities are no longer safe, and families no longer feel secure in their own neighbourhoods.
The government has failed to protect Canadians. Instead of taking action to stop the rising tide of violence, they have chosen to focus on ideological crusades that have done nothing to make our streets safer.
In fact, just yesterday, the Toronto Police Association posted the following message on X in response to the Prime Minister's boasting about banning handguns two years ago: “Criminals did not get your message. Our communities are experiencing a 45% increase in shootings and a 62% increase in gun-related homicides compared to this time last year. What difference does your handgun ban make when 85% of guns seized by our members can be sourced to the United States?”
The NDP-Liberal coalition is simply not worth the cost, the crime or the corruption that they bring. After nine years, it is clear that they have failed to deliver on their promises. Instead, they have delivered higher taxes, higher costs, higher crime rates and a government plagued by scandal after scandal. The only solution is a government that will put Canadians first and that will end the waste, the corruption and the inflationary policies that are strangling families across this country.
Only a common-sense Conservative government can restore accountability and trust in government. We will end the corruption, clean up the mess and give Canadians the answers they deserve. We will ensure that taxpayer dollars are used for the benefit of Canadians, not for lining the pockets of Liberal insiders. We will axe the carbon tax that is making life more expensive, and we will get back to work on building homes, fixing the budget and stopping the crime that is destroying our communities.
The NDP-Liberal government has had nine years to show Canadians what they can do, and they have shown that they absolutely cannot be trusted. They have put their own interests ahead of Canada, hidden the truth rather than face accountability and wasted taxpayer dollars on pipe dreams and vanity projects while Canadians struggle.
It is time to bring an end to this corruption and restore integrity, transparency and common sense to our government. Canadians deserve a government that will put them first, and it is time to bring home a common-sense Conservative government. We will axe the tax, restore trust and rebuild our great country. Canada and Canadians deserve nothing less.
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House AffairsPrivilegeOrders of the Day
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's speech. Her comments on the cost of carbon pollution and attacks on the electrical vehicle industry show that the Conservatives deny that climate change is actually happening. Over the last two years, despite the attacks from Conservatives, we have continued to invest in Canadians. Today we are seeing the results. Inflation is down to 1.6%. Interest rates will continue to fall for the fourth time tomorrow. The consumer confidence index is rising to a 30-month high.
Government action is resulting in what is good for Canadians, which is totally different from the picture the hon. member is trying to paint. Could she comment on how that is possible?
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House AffairsPrivilegeOrders of the Day
Conservative
Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Madam Speaker, what I hear from my constituents in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and across the country in places I have lived is that they are actually worse off under the Liberal government. The Liberal members claim all these policies, and they have all these ideologies. However, in reality, Canadians are far worse off under the current government. The carbon tax is just one example.
The member across the aisle should come to a rural community. I challenge you to come shadow somebody in a rural community, even for a weekend, and see how people in the rural parts of this country live. It is much different from your little bubble in the big city of Toronto, Montreal or wherever it is. We actually have to commute places, and we do not have options for public transit. We only have the option of driving to different places. The cost of living under the carbon tax makes life way more expensive for those of us who live in rural areas of Canada.