Debates of Oct. 9th, 2024

Regional Economic Development

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

Mr. Speaker, recently I stood alongside the Premier of Manitoba, federal colleagues and health care workers as we made a major investment of $630 million in the province's health care system. After Conservatives in Manitoba decimated health care over a decade of cuts and closures, this funding was desperately needed. The redevelopment of Portage Place is a generational project aimed at revitalizing the downtown core, in large part by establishing a new, state-of-the-art health care facility. It simply does not happen without federal support.

Can the minister for PrairiesCan outline how our government is supporting this significant redevelopment and what it means for the future of Winnipeg?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, big things are happening in Winnipeg's downtown. Thanks to collaboration between the three levels of government, the private sector and the Southern Chiefs' Organization, we are revitalizing the core of our city to make it more livable for everyone. Despite calls by Conservative politicians to cut funding to PrairiesCan, we are making significant federal investments in the redevelopment of Portage Place to build more homes that people can afford, to build a new health care centre in the centre of downtown and to offer other public spaces. We are walking a new path together, and Winnipeggers are proud.

Ethics

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. The corruption of the Liberal government knows no bounds. The Liberal Minister of Employment has continuously misled Parliament about his alter ego, the other Randy. Texts from his business partner reference a Randy, and we now know there was no other Randy involved in the fraudulent medical supply company while he was a sitting member of cabinet.

When will the minister come clean with Canadians, end this charade and resign?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Ethics Commissioner has looked into this matter three times and each time has confirmed he has no concerns.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after nine long years of the Liberal-NDP government, taxes are up, costs are up, corruption is up and apparently the number of Randys is up.

The Minister of Employment has been accused of violating the law by engaging in improper business dealings with his corrupt, scandal-plagued partner. The minister claimed he was not involved in this business but was later forced to admit that he was. He should admit he is the other Randy and that he violated the law.

When will the minister come clean and admit to everyone what we all know?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the Ethics Commissioner has looked into this matter three times and each time has confirmed he has no concerns.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

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

The Liberal minister from Edmonton claimed he had no contact with his business partner during an alleged half-a-million-dollar fraud linked to the other Randy, but phone records and text messages now show the complete opposite. It seems the minister made a habit of bending the rules and using his influence to benefit his business partner, the same business partner that you, Speaker, have now found is in contempt of Parliament.

It is really simple. Will the minister admit the charade is up and then admit he broke the law and confirm that he is in fact the other Randy?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, in case my hon. colleague did not hear my previous answer, as I stated, the Ethics Commissioner has looked into this matter three times and each time has confirmed he has no concerns.

Public Safety

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, fact one: PFLP is a listed terrorist entity. Fact two: Khaled Barakat was a member of PFLP when he founded Samidoun in 2012, and his wife, Charlotte Kates, incorporated Samidoun under Canadian law in 2021. Fact three: Under section 83.05 of the Criminal Code, any entity that “has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with” a listed entity can be listed.

The facts are clear. The government's position is not. Why has the government not listed Samidoun as a terrorist entity on that ground?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the government's position has in fact been very clear. Decisions around listing terrorist entities are made based on the advice of security and intelligence officials. My colleague the parliamentary secretary made it clear yesterday that I have instructed the security and intelligence agencies that report to us to do, on an expedited basis, a review of these matters, and I have said we hope to come back to Canadians with information very soon.

Seniors

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when we demand that the government increase old age security for seniors between the ages of 65 and 74, the Minister of Seniors accuses us of saying no to seniors. However, he should know that the Bloc Québécois says yes to seniors. We say yes to retirees, yes to improving their living conditions and yes to putting an end to two classes of seniors. The minister is the one saying no. The only thing he has achieved since taking office is saying no to pension increases. His only achievement is saying no.

Why does he not join us in saying yes?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague and the entire Bloc Québécois that we know that they are saying yes.

However, they have also said no a lot too. They said no every time we increased support for seniors in Quebec and Canada. They like throwing numbers around. There are 2.4 million seniors who benefit from the guaranteed income supplement. We increased the GIS, and the Bloc Québécois voted against that.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is not the only one saying yes to seniors: 79% of the public is saying yes to increasing old age security for people 65 to 74. The House is saying yes. Seniors are saying yes. Seniors' groups are saying yes, including FADOQ, AQDR and AREQ, even the AREQ branch in Outaouais, the minister's region. They came to support us on the Hill. The minister stands alone. In his riding alone, he could help 12,000 people.

Will the minister wake up? Today it was LaSalle—Émard—Verdun; tomorrow it will be Gatineau.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have visited my colleague's beautiful region many times. I invite her and everyone else to come to the Outaouais region. While she is in Outaouais, she can explain, through the media or any other forum, to the 14,000 people benefiting from the federal Canadian dental care plan in her riding, Shefford, why she voted against that program.

The Economy

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

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

A year ago, the Liberals promised to lower food prices by Thanksgiving. All Canadians got were empty promises and empty stomachs. Now they are going to pay $80 for a turkey this Thanksgiving. Food inflation in Canada is 37% higher than in the United States. Food insecurity is up 111% thanks to the NDP-Liberal carbon tax.

Will the NDP-Liberal government axe the carbon tax so Canadians can afford a Thanksgiving dinner?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that it is much cheaper to have Thanksgiving dinner in Shawinigan. I do not know where he is shopping for his turkey. I will invite him to my house in Shawinigan and he will find out it is a bit cheaper.

The reality of what this government has done has been said by all economists in Canada. The most significant thing was reforming competition in this country to have less concentration and more choice for consumers, which stabilized prices. In addition, the Conservatives should celebrate that we now have a grocery code of conduct in this country to bring more fairness and to stabilize prices in the country.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think many Canadians find the minister making fun of their struggles much of a joke, because the reality is that for many Canadians, buying a turkey for Thanksgiving is just a dream.

The Liberal-NDP government has made the Canadian dream a food bank nightmare. A million Canadians in just Ontario went to a food bank last year, up 25%, and now doctors are raising the alarm on scurvy in Canada because Canadians cannot afford basic nutrition.

Will the Liberal-NDP government make the Canadian dream come true and call a carbon tax election?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, I am proud that in 2016 we introduced the Canada child benefit. There are 4.3 million families and over seven million children across this country who receive this benefit each and every month. That is $547 a month for parents with children ages six to 18, or $648 each month.

I got to speak recently with a new mom named Madeleine, who shared how impactful this is for her family. The position the Conservatives have—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government is astoundingly out of touch.

Over the past nine years, the cost of living has skyrocketed under this government. I urge the Liberals to come down from their ivory tower and visit a grocery store. Prices have gone up like crazy.

The Bloc Québécois consistently votes to keep this Liberal government in power. I am warning my Bloc friends not to take Quebeckers for fools.

When will this Liberal government show some common sense and stop wasting the money of our country's honest citizens and workers?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we see the Conservatives' hypocrisy. They talk about people in need, yet they oppose funding our community cafeterias and non-profits. They talk about people living on the street, yet they oppose investing to create more housing in this country.

They have a hidden agenda, and everything they say in the House is bunk.

Regional Economic Development

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Montreal's east end is brimming with opportunities.

Last November, at the Sommet de l'Est, the minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions announced $30 million in funding for local businesses and organizations as part of the initiative to support economic development in Montréal's east end.

Can the minister tell us how our government is supporting the east end's immense potential to become a leading hub of economic and social development in Quebec?

[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 thank my colleague, who also happens to be a colleague from the east end of Montreal, as I am.

Last week, I announced a call for social innovation projects in Montreal's east end. This is the first time that a $1‑million investment will support new social innovation projects that will result in economic and environmental spin-offs for the revitalization of Montreal's east end. I invite all companies to submit projects by November 29.

We are here to ensure that Montreal's east end is part of the economy of the future.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government has all sorts of excuses for why it will not provide documents to the House or to the RCMP about the $400-million spending scandal. The Liberals falsely claim it would violate privacy, that it would negatively impact the RCMP's investigation and that it would violate charter rights. The Constitution is clear: Parliament is supreme and Parliament has the lawful authority to order the production of documents.

Why is the government consistently trampling on the constitutional authority of this House?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, that was some incredible doublespeak from my colleague across the way. The RCMP has said this:

...the RCMP's ability to receive and use information obtained through this production order and under the compulsory powers afforded by the Auditor General Act in the course of a criminal investigation could give rise to concerns under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms....

There is significant risk that the motion could be interpreted as a circumvention of normal investigative processes and Charter protections.

For a party that claims to respect the police, it certainly does not respect police independence.