Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2024

Wim ten Holder

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pillar in our community, Wim ten Holder, who passed away on November 1.

Ottawans know Wim mostly as an entrepreneur and as the owner of Café WIM in the ByWard Market. He brought a little bit of Dutch gezelligheid and warmth to our community for more than two decades. Everyone who met him was struck by his wit and his charm.

Wim was born in the Netherlands in 1932. At the age of 18, he met the love of his life, Iris, and they immigrated to Canada. They were married for more than 67 years and had five children. Iris in fact worked in this place for 25 years in the committees section.

Wim was the president of the Netherlands-Canada Society, where he gave joy to many children by playing Sinterklaas, St. Nicholas, every year. Wim was also very well known and respected in his community of Britannia.

I ask the House to join me in giving sincere condolences to Wim's family.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I rarely do this, but I must say that I passed many an hour in my university days at Café Wim.

The hon. Member for Edmonton West.

Carbon Tax

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when we tax the farmer who grows the food, tax the trucker who delivers the food and tax the retailer who sells the food, then we tax the food itself. Is it any wonder a record number of Canadians are lining up at food banks every month? Two million every month rely on food banks just to get by. The child poverty rate has seen its highest jump on record. In Edmonton alone, we have two food banks just for veterans. What has been the Prime Minister's response to this crisis? Well, he says families concerned about household budgets are simply falling for propaganda.

What is propaganda, though, is the Liberal claim that Canadians are further ahead with the carbon tax. This is right from the Parliamentary Budget Officer: “the average household...will see a net cost, paying more in the federal fuel charge and related Goods and Services Tax, as well as receiving lower incomes (due to the [carbon tax]), compared to the...Carbon Rebate”.

Canadians need help. Canadians want to be able to feed their families. Canadians want to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Canadians want a carbon tax election.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired of the Liberals' incompetence and high taxes. They want the Prime Minister to call an election so they can show him the door, but the leader of the NDP keeps propping him up. The NDP leader said “the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people,” but he keeps propping them up.

Merriam-Webster tells us a hypocrite is “a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings”. Does that describe the leader of the NDP? More than 24 times he has voted for the carbon tax that is sending Canadians to food banks in record-smashing numbers. There have been more than two million visits in a single month. Every day the Prime Minister remains in power, it is because of the leader of the NDP.

They must call a carbon tax election and let the people decide.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It is important to remind all members to be very careful and very judicious about the way they describe other members in this place.

The hon. member for Châteauguay—Lacolle.

Member for Châteauguay—Lacolle

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Châteauguay—Lacolle, now Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville, did me the immense honour of putting their trust in me when they elected me as their federal MP in 2015, 2019, and 2021.

I am proud of our Liberal government, under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister, and of all the outstanding, transformative measures that our government has passed and continues to put forward for all Canadians.

There are too many measures to list here, but of note are the two-month GST holiday, accessible dental care and major projects in housing, critical infrastructure and economic development, all while reducing greenhouse gases.

I am proud to have contributed my part in this great work, but I must now inform the House that I have made the difficult personal decision not to run again in the next election. Instead, I now look forward to seeing a new Liberal member of Parliament take the seat for Châteauguay–Les Jardins‑de‑Napierville.

Economic Abuse Awareness Day

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, November 26 marks economic abuse awareness day, recognizing a form of domestic violence that all too often goes unnoticed. Financial abuse occurs in 99% of all domestic violence cases in which the abuser controls the finances, causing many victims to feel trapped and unable to leave the abuser due to lack of resources. The serious impacts of economic abuse can follow survivors long after they leave a relationship, affecting not only the survivor's mental health and well-being but also that of their children.

Many people, particularly women, gender-diverse people, BIPOC folks and the disability community, face additional risks of economic abuse. To end this abuse, we must invest in research, remove structural barriers, enable economic empowerment and ensure survivors have the resources they need to regain control of their lives and financial health.

By proclaiming November 26 as economic abuse awareness day, we are taking a stand for survivors across the country. Together we can work together toward a future where no one experiences economic abuse.

Stacy-Ann Oliver

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, also known as CALQ, gave its artist of the year award for Nord‑du‑Québec to visual artist Stacy-Ann Oliver, from Lebel-sur-Quévillon. The CALQ artist of the year award recognizes artists or writers whose dynamic careers and outstanding recent achievements have made them stand out.

Since 2016, Ms. Oliver's work has been showcased at various solo and group exhibitions. Her artworks often consist of installations that combine a number of media, such as photography, painting and sculpture, that coexist and merge into a cohesive whole. Her practice explores the concept of housing and documents the vastness of this land.

I congratulate her on her bold journey and her success, since this award honours her work, which reflects where she comes from.

NDP-Liberal Coalition

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are suffering under the NDP-Liberal coalition that has doubled housing costs, doubled the debt, doubled food bank use and doubled gun crime. Food prices in Canada have skyrocketed 36% faster than in the United States due to the Prime Minister's carbon tax on farmers and truckers. Despite promising to stand up to the Prime Minister, the NDP leader and his obedient caucus have sold out Canadians again, extending the costly coalition until his pension kicks in next February. Its temporary two-month tax trick will not help Canadians facing a permanent quadrupling of the carbon tax to 61¢ per litre.

My constituents are clear. They want a carbon tax election. They can choose between the costly NDP-Liberal coalition that taxes their food and doubles their housing costs or the common-sense Conservatives who will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. We will take the GST off new homes, saving Canadians up to $50,000 and building 30,000 more homes every year.

As prime minister, the leader of the Conservatives will fix what the costly coalition broke and bring home the promise of Canada.

Government Priorities

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians need to know who the leader of the Conservative Party really is. Conservative MPs are the voice of their leader to their constituents.

Let us contrast that to Liberals. We take the issues from our constituencies and bring them here to Ottawa. I can give many examples of that. We can talk about the national dental care program, the national school food program or the national pharmacare program. Yesterday, we announced the GST break for the holiday season for Canadians on selected products and services. This is all about supporting Canadians. Come springtime, the 18 million-plus workers of Canada can anticipate a $250 rebate. This is good news.

The issue is what the leader of the Conservative Party is going to dictate to his minions about how to vote on that particular issue.

Taxation

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister tried to distract Canadians with a sudden two-month temporary tax trick. The NDP-Liberals have doubled housing costs, doubled food bank use and doubled the debt. In just a few months, the NDP-Liberals plan to raise taxes on all the very same items they claim they are giving Canadians a tax break on. Common-sense Conservatives will axe the carbon tax on everything for everyone, forever, and take the GST off new homes sold to stimulate homebuilding and save families money.

Will the Prime Minister call a carbon tax election now?

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

Mr. Speaker, it seems the Conservative member has invented a new slogan to oppose what is a tax break for Canadians. I am not sure I understand the Conservative position on this. In fact, what we are doing is lowering taxes for Canadians so they can keep more money in their pockets, yet the Conservatives are opposing it. It is interesting. The Conservative leader actually called this a “trick”. I think what we are seeing is the Conservative leader trying to be the Grinch who stole the holidays.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberal coalition is back. Do members remember when the NDP leader said, “Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people”? He should win an acting award. He announced his confidence again in the Liberal Prime Minister, and together they will continue their plan of quadrupling the carbon tax to 61¢ a litre. Here is a common-sense solution: axe the carbon tax on everything for everyone, forever; cheaper gas, groceries, and home heating and everything that is shipped.

Will the Prime Minister call a carbon tax election now?

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

Mr. Speaker, we just announced a tax break for Canadians. In fact, Canadians will see that they are not going to be paying federal taxes on everyday items, like takeout food, beer, wine, children's toys and children's clothes.

What also came out is that BMO and many others are significantly revising their growth forecasts for Canada in the next few months. This is good for our small businesses. This is good for our economy. It is good for Canadians. I guess it is just bad for Conservatives.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the Prime Minister, Canadians cannot afford to even feed themselves. Food Banks Canada reports two million visits in one month. The 2024 report card on child and family poverty in Canada showed the largest jump in child poverty on record. Food prices rose 36% faster in Canada than in the U.S., a gap that opened after the Liberal-NDP carbon tax.

Axe the carbon tax on everything for everyone, forever; cheaper gas, groceries and home heating and everything that is shipped. Will the Prime Minister just call a carbon tax election now?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it never ceases to amaze me that the Conservatives do not really seem to understand, and vote against, every measure we have taken to help Canadian families, whether it is the Canada child benefit, $10-a-day child care across this country or the GST holiday we just announced yesterday. We are there for Canadians. We invest in them each and every day.

I would like to know why the Conservatives continue to vote against Canadians, vote against the things they need, whether it is pharmacare, dental care or anything else. We are here for Canadians and we will continue to fight for them.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yes, my little Octave's diapers will cost less this holiday season, but he will be paying for the rest of his life. This inflationary spending comes on top of the $500 billion in Liberal budget appropriations, supported by the Bloc Québécois. It seems that the Liberals' next step is to buy everyone refrigerators.

When are the Liberals going to give Canadians back their purchasing power, stop the electioneering and permanently axe the carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, what the Conservatives are proposing is an austerity plan. By opposing our school food program, the Conservatives are showing they are against helping vulnerable children. By suggesting they would tear up the agreement we have with Quebec, the Conservatives are showing they are against investing in housing construction.

The Conservatives are even opposing a tax cut. They are against our plan to give Canadians a GST break. It is good for the economy, and it is good for Canadians. It is just not good for the Conservatives.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have found yet another way to favour their close personal friends. They are going to be able to celebrate in style at a restaurant or at home by paying no GST on wine, beer and alcohol of all kinds, while the average family is struggling to pay their heating, gas and grocery bills.

When will this Prime Minister show some judgment and give Canadians permanent relief by calling an election?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable. For the Conservatives, partisanship always comes first and Canadians come last.

Now the Conservatives want to oppose a plan to make life more affordable for Canadians. Canadians have been going through a tough time lately. We are offering a tax break.

How can the Conservatives be against that?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's mass deportation plan is already having an impact. Radio-Canada reported that immigration lawyers and organizations in Ontario are receiving calls from Americans and asylum seekers who want to cross the border. The director of a temporary housing organization said they are anticipating an increase similar to what we saw in 2016 and 2017. The report also points out that, as of last Monday, the feds had reserved rooms in 11 hotels in Ontario.

Is this really the government's plan, to go back to what happened with Roxham Road?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we want to avoid what happened at Roxham Road.

Here we are again, with the feigned outrage of the Bloc Québécois rising in the House, while in April they opposed our asylum seeker reforms and the asylum system reforms we proposed in the budget plan. It is quite ridiculous.

If Bloc Québécois members were really being consistent, they would support the reforms to the asylum system that we plan to introduce very soon.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the immigration department states in the news report that it is going to support temporary, sustainable housing for asylum seekers in addition to using hotel rooms.

Let me be very clear. When the federal government is being asked to prepare for a wave of migration, what it needs to do is increase its workforce at the borders. The government is being asked to support the RCMP and border services, which have said that there is a shortage of between 2,000 and 3,000 officers. The government should not be renting hotel rooms. It is certainly not being asked to reopen new intakes like Roxham Road.

We have been clear. Will the minister present a plan that is also clear?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the member is being incredibly naive. The Bloc wants to lay out on the floor of the House of Commons a plan to prevent people from seeking asylum.

We have a safe third country agreement with the U.S. that has been in place for a very long time. It is working. It does need to be renegotiated at times. We have been able to renegotiate it with two different administrations. We will continue to do this. Obviously, we have to work with the United States without compromising our principles.

The Economy

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are cutting back on their grocery lists and struggling to pay for essentials, but the Liberals' new plan misses the mark. Seniors and people with disabilities struggling to make ends meet will not be getting the $250 cheque to help pay their bills at this difficult time. While Conservatives always want to cut people's pensions, Liberals are letting people on fixed incomes down yet again. Why are Liberals excluding seniors and people with disabilities from the real help they need this holiday season? Why will Liberals not help them too?