Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2024

Emergency Preparedness

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government has thrown Jasper's recovery into chaos. The hand-picked minister from Edmonton, who was tasked with leading the effort, has resigned in disgrace after numerous scandals. The town is left without federal assistance in its time of need. Meanwhile, the radical environment minister ignored years of warnings, failed forest management and let a third of Jasper be destroyed.

Will the Prime Minister really put the same radical environment minister who let Jasper burn in charge of its recovery?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, for five consecutive years, the Harper government cut funding for fire prevention in Jasper by $30 million per year. I would be happy to table the documents in the House if they do not want to believe it.

We have been there for Jasper. We have invested more than $60 million. We are ready to do more to help Jasper with reconstruction. Unlike the Conservative Party of Canada, we will not let Jasper down.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

To the hon. member for Edmonton Manning, please do not take the floor unless recognized by the Chair.

The hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier.

The Economy

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives weep crocodile tears when they talk about affordability for families. However, when the time comes to help all Canadians, they are missing in action.

Our government has brought in $10-a-day child care, a national school food program and dental care, all measures that the Conservatives do not support. However, we need to do more.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance explain to the House how the government is supporting Canadians this Christmas?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the member for Ottawa—Vanier, who advocates for her constituents every day.

What she said is absolutely true. The Conservatives are once again opposing a tax cut, this time in the form of a tax break on goods and services. It will give Canadians a bit of breathing room and allow them to keep more money in their pockets. It is good for small businesses. It is good for the economy. It is good for Canadians.

It is just not good for the Conservatives.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Liberal government, crime is the only thing thriving. Canada is being hit by an unprecedented wave of auto thefts. In Montreal, a victim whose car has been stolen twice now has to pay more than $7,000 for insurance. Quebec has set a new record for most stolen vehicles, with more than 1,213 vehicles intercepted at the port of Montreal.

When will this government finally take action to curb crime and ensure that Canadians and their property are safe?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have been working with all orders of government and making investments specifically dealing with auto thefts, whether that is more technology, such as scanners, or investments at CBSA.

What I find ironic is that the Conservatives actually asked that question. We have been working at the public safety committee on an auto theft report with very real recommendations, which the Conservatives are actually blocking. If the Conservatives are serious about dealing with auto theft, perhaps they will want to let us deal with that report.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' soft-on-crime policies have plunged Canada into chaos. Thousands of vehicles continue to be stolen and shipped out of the country, yet the Liberal government is not lifting a finger to restore order. Meanwhile, Canadians are paying through the nose for insurance and worrying whether their property and their families are safe.

Can this Liberal government stop sitting around and finally take Canadians' safety seriously?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we have made significant investments, including investments at CBSA, investments in technology and investments with our police forces. The public safety committee also did incredible work to look at ways that we can help support Canadians, just as the member opposite was trying to reiterate. However, what happens in committee is that we do the work to put forward proposals to help support Canadians, which they speak of, and Conservatives block that work. They would rather criticize than actually produce results that have impacts for Canadians.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' Bill C-83 allows serial killer Paul Bernardo to be transferred out of maximum-security prison, and Liberal policy allows child killer Terri-Lynne McClintic to have access to children through a mother-child program. This is shameful. The Liberals' “soft on heinous killers” policies are devastating to the victims' families. Will the government immediately reverse these policies?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, what is truly disgusting in this place is this: Number one, that policy and that program have been in place since 2001; however, Conservatives feel the need to bring it forward now as some sort of political weapon and bring up victims.

The mother-child program is done with a rigorous protocol ensuring the protection of children at all costs. In addition, within facilities, there are strict measures to ensure that only those who have been approved for this program would ever come near that facility.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order. This is where we get into trouble every time we speak out of turn.

I am going to ask the hon. member to please withdraw a word that was used out of turn; it was clearly unparliamentary.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I thank the hon. member.

The hon. member for Lac–Saint–Louis.

Taxation

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the holidays are nearing and being able to take some time to spend with family and loved ones is a joyful opportunity for all. However, for some, this time of year also means tough choices on what we can purchase and how much we can spend.

Can the government tell the House what it is doing to make sure all Canadians and their families can better make ends meet this year?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians work hard for their money and for their families; they deserve a break. This Christmas, we will be giving Canadians a break on the GST for many of the goods Canadians purchase over the holidays, such as toys, kids' clothes, prepared foods and even Christmas trees, so they can focus on the things that matter most to them.

On this side of the House, we are focused on making the holiday season more merry and bright. On that side, Conservatives cannot get out from under their Grinch-like leader, who cannot find it in his petty little heart to give his caucus the freedom to do its job and stand up for Canadians.

Finance

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling right now. Costs are up, rents are up, and food prices are soaring. The Liberals have disappointed Canadians, and the Conservatives are threatening cuts.

Now the Liberals are set to reveal a multi-billion dollar surplus in the public service pension plan. New Democrats want to see this surplus used to help workers now. Will the Liberals keep disappointing, or will they use the surplus to help Canadians?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to helping Canadians, we are entering a period of a tax-free holiday for Canadians.

On the subject of my colleague's question, our public service comprises hard-working Canadians, the very best in the world. Very soon, I will table three actuarial reports on the public service pension plan. I will have more to say about any potential surplus and next steps at that time. I look forward to engaging with my hon. colleague on that very topic.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the turmoil at IRCC continues. I have an Australian-trained doctor stuck in the department's quagmire. We have badly needed skilled tradespeople who want to come to Canada lost in the logjam, yet there are no delays in getting citizenship for ISIS terrorists who produce videos of victims being dismembered. It is the same with human traffickers when they need a court-banned passport replaced.

What are the twisted priorities of the immigration minister? Can he focus on letting people into our country who want to heal Canadians, not kill or traffic them, and build the homes instead of blowing them up?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why we give this guy the time of day. We drummed him out of our party because he covered up allegations of sexual assault against him and was fined by the military. He is so bad that the Conservatives do not even want him in their party. He was so afraid of the Green Party leader that he is now sitting over there. He knows the precise answers to those questions. His office has never brought a single case to me. It is lazy. It does not get anything done. He just does this for his social media.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order, please. It is very important that all members are extended the courtesy and respect that is owed to all members who sit in this place. I will, if necessary, come back to the House after I review this matter.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to eight petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Innovation, Science and Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference of the International Telecommunication Union”, done at Dubai on December 15, 2023.