Debates of Oct. 4th, 2024

Foreign Affairs

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Madam Speaker, like so many Canadians, from all walks of life, I am deeply distressed and saddened by the situation in Lebanon.

Within just two weeks, 1,000 civilians and 6,000 others have been injured because of air strikes by the Government of Israel. This includes two Canadians who have lost their lives. My thoughts are with everyone impacted in the region, regardless of which borders one is living within and regardless of one's ethnicity.

Yesterday, I met with a young physician in my office. She told me the tragic story of two of her family members who were killed last weekend. She also talked about how a member of her family needs urgent medical care and cannot access that care because of civilian pathways, roadwork and infrastructure being reduced and bombarded.

We need to see a ceasefire. We need all parties to stop the violence. We need peace in the Middle East.

His Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Madam Speaker, this past Sunday, September 27, I had the privilege of attending a momentous and historic event at His Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, the only first nations chapel in Canada to have royal arms granted by the Crown, situated in my riding of Brantford—Brant.

The event was a celebration to commemorate the granting of the royal arms to the chapel by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, signifying the deep-rooted bond between the Crown and the Haudenosaunee. The coat of arms embodies the words “faith, hope, charity” and encompasses a tree of peace, building on the foundation, the partnership and the traditions that extend back to the 1600s.

I congratulate His Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks on the unveiling of this new emblem, serving as a tangible piece of our rich history.

50th Anniversary of Mississauga

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Madam Speaker, today I recognize that my beloved hometown, the city of Mississauga, turns 50 this year. From humble beginnings, Mississauga has grown into one of the largest cities in Canada. It is known as one of the most diverse cities, with over 60% of the population a visible minority.

At the heart of Mississauga's success are hard-working people dedicated to ensuring our community is vibrant and welcoming to people from all walks of life. It is an honour and a privilege to represent the residents of Mississauga in the House.

Here is one more thing we are especially proud of. Since “Hurricane Hazel” McCallion was elected in 1978, our city has been proudly led by women, Mayor Bonnie Crombie and now Mayor Carolyn Parrish, and we love it that way.

Here is to another 50 years for the city of Mississauga.

Bernie MacNeil Baseball Field

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Madam Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition of the funding of the Bernie MacNeil field in Sydney, Nova Scotia, a project that was tirelessly advocated for by the Sydney Baseball Park Association and the hundreds of parents who voiced their support and helped fundraise for the field. I would like to thank the Jays Care Foundation for its contribution and all levels of government for making this dream of a world-class little league ball field a reality.

As someone who participated in sports as a youth, I know sports is a core part of childhood development. With the Bernie MacNeil field, together with a multi-sport facility next door at the former Centennial Arena, kids across Cape Breton will have groundbreaking opportunities to participate in athletics moving forward. Investments like these allow our youth to thrive, teaching them values and lessons that will sustain them throughout their lives.

I am proud to be part of a government that has continued to deliver on funding for sports infrastructure in Cape Breton and look forward to saying “Play ball” next summer at the new little league ball field.

The Economy

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Speaker, nine years of this Liberal government is nine years too many.

Canadians are poorer than ever. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly hard to find. The high cost of living is forcing a record number of Canadians to turn to food banks. Today, thanks to Liberal soft-on-crime policies, crime is the only thing thriving in Canada. That is no joke.

The time has come for this Liberal Prime Minister to do Canadians the one favour he can still offer them: Call an election. Quebeckers have spoken: This centralizing, inflationary Liberal government no longer has a place in Canada.

The Bloc Québécois has also spoken. It is not there to serve Quebeckers. It is there to keep the Liberal Prime Minister in power. The Bloc Québécois continues to support outlandish Liberal ideas that are keeping Quebeckers down. It cannot even insist that the Liberals withdraw their order, which threatens to wipe out Quebec's forestry industry. The Bloc Québécois, what a misnomer. In the House of Commons, we call it the “Liberal Bloc”.

Olde Forge Community Resource Centre

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Madam Speaker, this week we celebrated National Seniors Day. Last weekend, I met with a wonderful group of seniors from my riding at Woodroffe United Church, organized by the Olde Forge Community Resource Centre oasis program.

My riding has many buildings where most of the residents are older adults. They call these NORCs, naturally occurring retirement communities. The Olde Forge, with partial funding through the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors program, provides coordinators in these seniors buildings who facilitate social gatherings, food and nutrition events, wellness and physical activities, and anything else the seniors want. These seniors told me that because of this program, they feel less lonely, are healthier and can stay in their homes longer. This pilot project is now in four buildings in my riding, the three Ambleside buildings and the Rosewood.

I want to thank all the staff, the volunteers and the participants for contributing to a better community.

Government Priorities

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

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

The carbon tax is jacking up the cost of everything and what do the Liberals do? They appoint carbon tax cheerleader Mark Carney as their phantom finance minister to advise on economic policy. At the same time, he presides over a massive corporation that sought $10 billion to take over our pension system. Can the Liberals get by just one week without helping their billionaire buddies at the expense of Canadians? Apparently not.

Canadians are sick and tired of it. Life for working Canadians has never been so hard. Food costs $700 more than it did last year, forcing millions of Canadians to line up outside of food banks, but for well-connected Liberals like carbon tax Carney, life has never been so good.

Only common-sense Conservatives will end the conflicts of interest and bring home lower prices for Canadians. Let us have a carbon tax election so we can bring home powerful paycheques for all Canadians.

Government Accountability

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

With the House of Commons ground to a halt because of the Liberal government's refusal to turn over documents, I would like to take some time to remind the House of another Liberal scandal that will not be going away anytime soon.

The labour minister from Edmonton is still under a cloud of guilt for his shady business dealings with Stephen Anderson and their company Global Health Imports. We have all heard about the excuse of the “other Randy”, but after the minister admitted recently that he had in fact been in contact with his former business partner despite previously saying otherwise, the suspicion of Canadians has only grown. My advice to him is to just tell the truth. It will make him feel better. He would also not have to worry about trying to keep his story straight because there would only be one version of the story.

After nine years of the corrupt government, corruption is one of the many crimes that Canadians want to see a Conservative government put a stop to. Let us bring it home.

Community Newspapers

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is my great honour to rise today to celebrate community newspapers in all of our riding. This past week, I had the great honour of attending the 50th anniversary of the Ottawa South Community Association Review, also known as OSCAR. In this era of declining traditional media and the rise of social media, it got me thinking about the important role that community newspapers play. They are run by volunteers and tell our local stories.

In my community of Ottawa Centre, I am so grateful to have the Glebe Report, which also celebrated its 50th year last year; The Mainstreeter; Centretown Buzz; and the Kitchissippi Times. They are incredible papers that are telling stories every week about our communities and are incredibly important sources of information.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the volunteers at all of these community newspapers for the incredible job they do week after week, month after month.

Foreign Affairs

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Speaker, it has been months since the UN Secretary-General first referred to Gaza as a “graveyard for children”. Civilians continue to face indiscriminate bombing and starvation. Now the people of Lebanon face unimaginable danger in the deadliest escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah since 2006.

The threat of war between Israel and Iran looms over all in the region. The starvation and perpetual bombing of the displaced population in Gaza, which includes one million children, are intolerable. Attacks on civilians in Palestine, Lebanon and Israel must stop. Nobody in the region is safer today than they were 12 months ago. There can be no military solution to their suffering.

There should be no support from Canada for warmongers anywhere. The NDP is renewing our call for a full two-way arms embargo, recognition of the state of Palestine, sanctions on extremist Israeli leaders, a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages.

Manicouagan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, I am immensely pleased to rise today to mark the 70 years of the original chamber of commerce of the north shore, the Manicouagan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The chamber of commerce is a true link between businesses from Pessamit to Godbout, indigenous and non-indigenous communities and the industry, and it has become essential to the socio-economic fabric of Manicouagan. It brings together that which builds and makes the north shore we know and love: innovation, valour and ambition.

To the passionate board of directors, the team that is as dynamic as it is dedicated, and to the visionary entrepreneurs, I say thank you for inviting us every day to work together toward a common goal: To grow the north shore, with its endless economic potential, where our wealth ensures our prosperity and our leadership calls for sustainable development. Thank you for shining bright and for making us shine as well.

As I look forward to celebrating with them all the success of those who are part of the history of the chamber of commerce and those who will ensure its future, at the unforgettable business gala on 19—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.

Government Accountability

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Madam Speaker, Sustainable Development Technology Canada was a federal foundation funded by over a billion dollars of taxpayers' money. It violated its own conflict of interest policies 186 times, awarded $76 million in contracts inappropriately and awarded $59 million to 10 separate projects that were clearly ineligible. In 63 separate instances, directors of the program voted in favour of payments to companies in which they had an interest.

Parliament has made a reasonable request for the government to help the ongoing RCMP investigation by handing over documents to Parliament. However, the government has refused. The obstruction has grinded Parliament to a halt. It is time to axe the tax, cut the corruption and call an election.

Conservative Party of Canada

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, have members heard the phrase “the Conservative hidden agenda”? It is something Canadians really need to be aware of. When it comes to the leader of the Conservative Party, nothing could be further from the truth. He is good at slogans and is great at bumper stickers.

Let me give a tangible example of the hidden Conservative agenda. Yesterday, during the debate on the national disability program, I asked this on three separate occasions: Would the Conservatives commit to no cuts on that program? Not one of them, not even their critic, would commit to saying they would not cut the national disability program.

These are the types of things the Conservatives are hiding from Canadians, because they know that the Conservative hidden agenda is something Canadians will not support.

Government Accountability

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up for the Prime Minister and his de facto finance minister, carbon tax Carney.

Since taking on the role, the friends and business interests of carbon tax Carney have benefited from billions of tax dollars, including $2 billion for his buddy at Telesat, and Brookfield getting a seat at the table to get its hands on 10 billion Canadian tax dollars. Suddenly, carbon tax Carney is raising funds for the Liberals in exchange for all of those billions.

Will the Liberals co-operate with an investigation from Canada's lobbying commissioner?

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

Madam Speaker, the Death Valley well driller is poking more dry holes.

Outstanding Canadians stepping up to advise the Liberal Party, or any party, is a very good thing. What the member wants to cloud is the fact that inflation is down, interest rates are down, wage settlements are up and the economy is up. We have reached a soft landing in this country.

The Conservatives should stop talking the country down. We are going to continue lifting the country up.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, like all Canadians, I wish that every time we looked for a scandal, it was not just surface deep, like the public safety minister being found guilty of breaking the law. The Prime Minister broke the law. The trade minister broke the law. These guys cannot help themselves.

Now the member wants to tell us that Canadians have never had it so good. That is why they have carbon tax Carney, who is lining the pockets of his friends and his own so that he can raise a little cash for a dying Liberal Party.

Canadians have had absolutely enough after nine years of their corruption and grift. Why will the Prime Minister not subject his new de facto finance minister to the conflict of interest regime? Is he worried that he is going to be found guilty of breaking the law too?

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

Madam Speaker, the predictions of impending doom coming from the member in particular and his political party really sound discordant to Canadians.

What is happening across this country? After the pandemic, we have achieved a rare feat: a soft landing, no recession, wage gains, inflation coming down and interest rates coming down.

The finance minister, this very week, is putting in place measures that will make young people more able to purchase a home. These are things that we do when—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, let us talk about what the Liberals have achieved: record lineups at food banks, with 25% of Canadians not knowing where their next meal is coming from and not able to heat their homes, and a third of food bank users being children.

Canadians are starving and freezing in the dark after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government and their carbon tax on everything, which is being boosted by carbon tax Carney, who is only doing it, of course, to raise his stock portfolio, as we saw with Brookfield stocks hitting a six-month high. In exchange for policies from the government, he is fundraising for it.

Canadians are broke. The Liberals broke them. Let us have a carbon tax election.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, Canadians know where this government stands. We have offered immediate and direct support to families, especially when they needed it most. We have delivered household savings and significantly strengthened our social safety net. We have promoted fairer practices and greater competition across our industries.

Notice that there are real solutions and zero slogans from this side. I guess that is just the Liberal government.

The Economy

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Madam Speaker, nine years ago, this government was promising the moon and stars. Instead, we are left with a Canada where seniors, families and young people are struggling. This government has wasted Canadians' money and created record inflation. Two million Canadians are turning to food banks to put food on the table. Rent has doubled. The homelessness crisis is now affecting young students and grandmothers who can no longer make ends meet.

Will this government do the right thing and call an election?

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

Madam Speaker, what Canadians are worried about is the Conservative Party's agenda and secret plans.

What does this member propose to eliminate? She is going to make cuts to food banks and housing assistance. We are well aware that the Conservative Party is proposing to do away with tens of thousands of jobs in Canada's public service.

I think it is high time that this member and her party released their secret plan, which is harmful for Canada.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Madam Speaker, here are some facts: Canada has fallen behind the U.S. in economic growth and productivity. That is not all though.

The OECD predicts that within the next three decades, Canada's economic growth will be at the bottom of the heap compared to other OECD member countries. Canadians want to take back control of their lives. The only way to do that is to call an election and bring a Conservative government to power.

Does the Prime Minister have the courage it takes to call an election?

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

Madam Speaker, when there is an election, this member will have to stop making false allegations and disclose the Conservative Party's secret plans to make budget cuts, impose austerity, withdraw supports for our seniors, withdraw housing measures, withdraw infrastructure supports for our municipalities, and the list goes on.

Our economy is doing well. Interest rates are falling. Inflation is down, and we have avoided a recession. We have a lot to do and we will keep doing it.