Debates of Nov. 27th, 2024

Request for Witness to Attend at the Bar of the House

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Pursuant to order made on Wednesday, February 28, the motion is deemed adopted.

(Motion agreed to)

Government Business No. 43—Proceedings on Bill C‑78

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

moved:

That, notwithstanding any standing order, special order, or usual practice of the House, the bill in the name of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, entitled An Act respecting temporary cost of living relief (affordability), be disposed of as follows:

(a) the bill be ordered for consideration at the second reading stage immediately after the adoption of this order;

(b) when the House begins debate at the second reading stage of the bill, one member of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party may each speak at the said stage for not more than 10 minutes, followed by five minutes for questions and comments;

(c) at the conclusion of the time provided for the debate or when no member wishes to speak, whichever is earlier, all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill be deemed put, a recorded division be deemed requested and the vote shall not be deferred;

(d) if the bill is adopted at the second reading stage, it shall be deemed referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, and deemed read a third time and passed;

(e) during consideration of the bill, the House shall not adjourn, except pursuant to a motion moved by a minister of the Crown; and

(f) no motion to adjourn the debate may be moved except by a minister of the Crown.

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

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to be here in the House this evening to discuss a government bill, Bill C-78, and to finally be moving forward on behalf of Canadians. This is important legislation that will deliver meaningful savings for Canadians with a GST/HST exemption across the country. Canadians will be able to buy essentials, such as groceries, snacks and kids' clothing, all tax-free. It is a bill that is focused on making life more affordable for Canadians and building on previous government actions that are already saving families and individuals thousands of dollars a year.

As Canadians, we take care of each other. It is a promise at the heart of who we are, and it goes back generations. From universal public health care to employment insurance and strong, stable, funded pensions such as the Canada pension plan, there has always been an agreement that we will take care of our neighbours when they are in need. It gives our workers stability and our businesses the confidence that the right supports will be in place to keep our country and economy fair; keep people healthy, safe, ready and well-supported; and keep the middle class strong.

On the other side of the aisle, we see a party obsessed with making devastating cuts to child care, dental care, housing and pretty much everything else that supports Canadians' affordability, leaving the middle class worse off. That is what the Conservative Party will do if it is ever fortunate enough to form government. Conservatives are not interested in investing in Canadians. They are only interested in their own political advantage and gain.

In 2015, our government recognized that the economy had changed. Canadians needed more support. We created the Canada child benefit to help with the cost of raising children. Today, that benefit is providing nearly $8,000 per child. It is indexed to the cost of living, which allows families to keep up with the cost of living as it naturally tends to increase over time. We promised and delivered affordable child care from coast to coast to coast, with eight provinces and territories already providing care for $10 a day or less. Before 2021, child care fees in Canada cost as much as, if not more than, rent or a mortgage; few parents could afford it. When my family had our first young daughter, child care was up to $1,800 per month, and it certainly had my wife and I pause and consider whether both of us were going to go back to work. That is the case for many parents. We realized that this support, the Canada child benefit, made it cheaper and easier both for parents to return to work and for kids to get the best start possible.

Liberals knew that it was fundamentally unjust that families should struggle, especially mothers, which is why we created a high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive Canada-wide early learning and child care system. In less than a year, we reached early learning and child care agreements with all 13 provinces and territories. That is remarkable. Provinces and territories have already announced measures to create over 100,000 new spaces, and we are well on our way to reaching our goal of 250,000 new spaces by March 2026.

We have also never forgotten that the promise of access to health care is at the heart of Canada's social safety. That includes ensuring access to affordable dental care. The Canadian dental care plan is making the cost of dental care more affordable for up to nine million Canadians. Thanks to the Canada dental care plan, over one million Canadians have now been able to visit a dentist and access the oral health care they need and deserve.

In budget 2024, we announced an investment of $1 billion over five years to launch the new national school food program with provinces, territories and indigenous partners. This is something I long advocated for, for many years, before getting into politics. I have known many people in the national food movement who advocated for a national school food program. It was an investment from the federal government for many years before that. It is a great pleasure to be part of a party and a government that is investing in kids, ensuring that they get a healthy start to each and every day at school.

Liberals have already signed agreements with three provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Ontario, which is great. My home province of Ontario has finally signed up. It is not last like we saw with the early learning and child care agreements. Ontario was third. It is fantastic to see Ontario join and make these investments in our kids.

The program will provide meals for up to 400,000 more children every year, with 160,000 of those being in Ontario, beyond those served by the existing school food programs, so that every single child across Canada can have a fair chance at a good and healthy life, regardless of their family circumstances. This national program is expected to save an average participating family with two children as much as $800 a year in the cost of groceries.

It is a shame the Conservative members opposite voted against this program. They voted against feeding kids in school. Can people believe that? Every day in this House, for months and months, they cite food bank lineups and the HungerCount report from Food Banks Canada, which has asked for an investment in a national school food program for as long as I can remember. Our government steps up to make that investment and what do the Conservatives do? They vote against it. They vote against feeding hungry kids. That is shameful.

That brings me to today's legislation on the GST holiday with the goal of putting even more money in the pockets of Canadians. Canadians have been through a lot, there is no doubt about that. They have had the pandemic, post the pandemic, shocks to the economy and global inflation. We have had major climactic events and weather events that have obviously put a strain on our economy. Canadians have been living through all that, and we realize it has been challenging. We know this, and we want to step up and help, as we always have done.

Our government, and I am proud of this, always identifies and listens to what Canadians need. We are responsive and trying our very best to govern this country in a way that steps up constantly and supports Canadians when they are in need. We are offering good news this holiday season. This Christmas is going to be more merry and bright, is how I think about it, because Canadian families are going to be able to purchase a lot of the things that they would purchase over the holidays with no GST on those purchases. That is really good for Canadian families who have been challenged with the cost of living pressures that they have been living through.

All of this comes on the tail of really good news for our economy. Inflation was at 2% in October, which means inflation has been within the Bank of Canada's target range all year long. For Canadians, that means prices are more stable. It means that interest rates are coming down, and they have come down four times, which is great to see. That is great news for homeowners, for people renewing their mortgages and for business owners who might be carrying debt. This is solid progress and we should not deny this.

I know the members opposite constantly deny that the economy is steadily improving and stable, and that Canada is doing better than many of its peer countries in this world. The Conservatives cherry-pick indicators from the economy to try and talk down the Canadian economy because they do not want Canada to do well. They would rather Canada do poorly so that they can do well, so that they can use the misfortune of Canadians for their own political advantage, and we see that every single day in this House.

I think Canadians have been going through a lot. This holiday season, the Liberals are waiving the GST on many of the things that they spend money on. This is going to start on December 14. The government intends to give a tax break to Canadians. Why is today's legislation so important? Why is time of the essence? Time is of the essence because we know Canadians need a boost. They need to feel like they can afford more.

Although the economy is improving, Canadians are not always feeling that immediately. Liberals think that offering them a GST holiday for two months over the Christmas period is really going to be helpful to them. The temporary, two-month GST/HST exemption for select expenses will help Canadians be able to buy items like snacks, and children's clothing and toys, all tax-free. It will also apply to prepared foods, vegetable trays, premade meals, salads, sandwiches, books, newspapers, puzzles, Christmas trees and more.

This exemption is designed to help Canadians with many of the things they purchase over the holidays. I think that is great. It would make the holidays just a little better for Canadians and give them a bit of relief. It would boost the economy in terms of the spending Canadians do as well, because I think they will support our retail industry, which will boost local businesses.

For a typical family spending $2,000 on qualifying goods between December 14 and February 15, 2025, it would mean a savings of $100, keeping more money in their pockets. With this support, Canadians could focus more on celebrating the season with family and friends and start the new year with a little more money in their pockets.

However, yet again, we see the Conservative leader and his MPs putting their partisan interests above Canadians. They voted against dental care. They voted against the national school food program. They would cut the Canada child benefit, there is no doubt. They would cut the housing supports and investments our government has made. They also voted against more spots in day care, and they are going to vote against the tax break we are offering Canadians to help them over the next few months.

I encourage all members of Parliament to quickly and unanimously pass this legislation to make the holidays a little more merry and bright for Canadians who have been going through a tough time. “Make their Christmas” is my message to every member of the House.

The question I have for the Conservatives is the following: Will the Conservative leader unmuzzle his MPs and let them vote in favour of this legislation? Will he let them vote in favour of their constituents, who deserve a tax break over the holidays? Will Conservatives support their constituents? I have no idea, but what we see every day in the House is that they are not working on behalf of Canadians. They are working on behalf of themselves.

If Conservative members need help filling out a permission slip for their leader to give them permission to speak their mind and vote their conscience in the House, I would offer my help. I will even create a permission slip for them if they need, and advocate on their behalf.

Hopefully, Conservatives will be able to stand up for Canadians for once and actually support a tax break for Canadians over the holidays. It really gives me great pleasure to get to kick off the debate on this topic tonight. It is great to see the House finally doing business that matters to Canadians, instead of hearing Conservatives filibuster for 36 days on a motion they will not allow to be referred to procedure and House affairs committee and wasting all kinds of time, energy and resources at the heart of our democracy. It will be great to get a GST/HST cut over the holidays for Canadian families.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, what I heard this member say is let us “make their Christmas”. Somehow, Liberals are saying that this is the way for Canadians to find joy over Christmas. He says that they are even putting more money in their pockets.

My constituents do not agree with that terminology. I would suggest to the member that what the Liberals need to say is that what they are doing is putting even more of their own money back in their pockets. How about instead of a short-term—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I will allow the hon. member to finish her question in a second.

I have a point of order by the hon. government House leader.

Notice of Closure Motion

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

Madam Speaker, with respect to the consideration of Government Business No. 43, I give notice at the next sitting of the House a minister of the Crown shall move, pursuant to Standing Order 57, that debate be not further adjourned.

The House resumed consideration of the motion.

Resumption of Debate on Government Business No. 43

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, the member wants to make Canadians' Christmas and says that they deserve a tax break over Christmas. What we are prepared to do is give them a tax break permanently, axe the tax completely and take the GST off home purchases. This short little gift of giving Canadians back more of their own money into their pockets is a sad comment on the government not knowing how to run its business.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I ask the hon. members who want to add something to please wait until I recognize them, because there will be an opportunity to do so.

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

Madam Speaker, I hear no holiday spirit from the other side of the House. That is for certain. All I hear is the ringing of that petty little heart of the Conservative leader who cannot find it in himself to give his members of Parliament the freedom to do their job. It is too bad for the House and for Canadians. What is interesting is the member opposite talks about the Canada carbon rebate, which puts more money in people's pockets. The price on pollution has been estimated to only cost families as much as 15¢ on a $100 purchase at the grocery store. This tax break is 100 times greater than that. The member will not offer her constituents a 100 times greater tax break.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Madam Speaker, what is a government that is sinking in the polls faster than the Titanic after hitting an iceberg to do? It can try to get people talking over Christmas dinner. It can come up with some sort of a measure, a PR stunt, a half-baked measure that gives the impression of putting more money in people's pockets. This measure takes the form of a cheque, for workers to be exact, and not for those who are struggling the most.

We are not against giving gifts to workers, but they paid for these gifts themselves with their own taxes. After saying no to increasing health transfers, after saying no to improving the old age pension, in the name of budgetary considerations that have not exactly been the hallmark of this government since it got here, the government comes up with this $4.7-billion half-measure that excludes people like the unemployed, people on welfare, pensioners and even stay-at-home parents.

Does the government not realize that this is only fuelling?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, I would note that we serve together on the same industry committee and I value the member's input greatly in the proceedings of that committee. However, I am not sure this member has read this particular bill because he is referring to another measure our government announced. Granted, we did announce it at the same time as the GST tax break, but what he is referring to is not within this particular bill.

This bill deals exclusively with the GST holiday over the two-month period during Christmas, from December 14 to February 15. It is a moment in time where all of us have the chance to make the holidays just a bit brighter for Canadians who have been through a lot. I would expect all members to be able to support this.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Madam Speaker, once again, the Liberals have been caught copying the NDP's homework. Canadians need to understand that this Liberal measure was announced several days after we came out with our own proposal. Unfortunately, like a lot of Liberal initiatives, it is a poor imitation of the original idea. We were proposing a permanent relief of the GST on these essential items. What Canadians need to understand is that in this bill all these measures are going to come to an end on February 15.

Why is the Liberal Party so adept at offering half measures to Canadians? On the separate issue of the rebate cheque, as I know it is still being worked on, is he going to go back and make sure that when it is offered it actually goes to the people who need it, like persons with disabilities, low-income seniors and students? That is how it should have been originally crafted.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am thankful to the member opposite for agreeing with the concept of GST relief. However short this pause may be, the timing is perfect when Canadians have been struggling for a long time, the economy is improving and it gives Canadians a break when they most need it, when they are going to probably spend quite a bit of money over the holidays. I know most of us do.

With regard to the other measure the member refers to, which is not a part of this bill, our government has stepped up to support seniors, individuals who are living with a disability and many other groups and segments of the population who are struggling in various different ways. We have done that over and over again. This is our chance to support workers, working Canadians who need a break as well. It is a perfect complement to have a GST holiday and have a cheque for workers going out after the holidays.

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I will start by sharing and making clear that the Greens certainly support this GST break for two months. It is a $1.6-billion expenditure. We would put forward that there were other options the government could have started with first, for example, by more than doubling the completely inadequate Canada disability benefit. However, on balance, we would support it.

What is markedly different in the legislation to be debated tomorrow versus the draft that was provided last week is that the entire $250 vote-buying scheme is left out altogether. Now, what was left out in the original scheme, as is always the case, are people with disabilities.

My question to the parliamentary secretary is this: What will it take for the government to recognize that people with disabilities and low-income seniors are the people in this country who need some of the most support? People with disabilities make up 40% of those living in poverty across the country. When the Liberals talk about addressing affordability, why is it that people with disabilities are never included?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, the member opposite and I have had many conversations and very productive working relationships, and I respect his point of view. Our government, quite contrary to what the member has just implied, cares deeply about individuals living with a disability. I know the member opposite cares about those individuals in his community, as well, and has advocated for that. I think we share that passion, commitment and compassion for those individuals who, through no fault of their own, are often living in conditions where they may not be able to work to the degree they would like.

The Canada disability benefit is something our government has offered. I agree with the member opposite that this particular piece of legislation does not apply to them, but it does not mean we cannot consider additional increases to the amount they get in future legislation or the federal budget.

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

Madam Speaker, I look at it as a holiday tax break from the GST on a number of products, which is a positive thing for Canadians coast to coast to coast. What surprises me is that the Conservative Party's response seems to be not only that they are going to be voting against this legislation but that they also want to get rid of the carbon rebate. That would really hurt the constituents of Winnipeg North, as I suspect it would hurt 80% of Canada's population. Could the member provide his thoughts on that?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am always shocked as to how the Conservatives' oration and rhetoric do not align with their actions. They talk every day in the House about tax cuts, but when it comes time to vote in favour of a tax cut for Canadians, they are unwilling to. They did this back in 2015 when the Liberal government first got into power and offered a middle-class tax cut. I do not know if members remember that, but it was a great measure. The members opposite, if they were around at that point, definitely voted against that too.

When we opted for tax fairness in the last budget and worked on measures to increase taxes for some of the most wealthy and invest that money in more affordable housing, the Conservative members voted against it. When we offered a GST rebate before, the grocery rebate, they voted against that. They vote against everything because of hyperpartisanship. If it comes from this side of the House, they are against it; it does not matter whether it is good for Canadians or not.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Speaker, as the great Thomas Sowell said, “The more people who are dependent on government handouts, the more votes the left can depend on for an ever-expanding welfare state.” I cannot think of a better quote for tonight's debate, when we are talking about this temporary, two-month tax trick the Liberal-NDP government has introduced, which is nothing but a cheap gimmick just to buy votes from Canadians.

Overwhelmingly, with everyone we talk to, in no matter what part of the country, it is a common theme; people ask, “What happened to Canada? What kind of place did Canada turn into? How did Canada get so weak? How did Canada end up getting such weak borders, such a weak economy and such weak security?” The answer is simple: We have a weak, incompetent, selfish Prime Minister.

Growing up here, after immigrating to this country, I remember we did not have much. I know many people can relate to this story today, but the outcomes are much different. For me and my family, we did not move here with very much. We lived basement to basement, sometimes all in one room, because it was all we could afford. My dad was a taxi driver and my mom worked different jobs, including at a Tim Hortons and a long-term care home. I did not really get to see my parents growing up because they were working all the time just to put food on the table.

I remember at a very young age, my brother and I got a paper route. We would finish elementary school, come home and put together the newspapers. They would come in five or six bundles and we would have to put them together and hand them out, sometimes in the rain or snow and sometimes we would be chased by a dog. We had to earn money; we had no other choice. Growing up, I was considered an at-risk youth, but I did not feel much different from anyone else. Even though my family all struggled really hard, we could get by. That was the difference.

Even though we were not making much money, at that time, people could still afford a home, pay their rent or afford a mortgage payment. They could also go to the grocery store and were still able to get a week's worth of groceries with a powerful paycheque. This is why people keep asking, “What happened to Canada?”

I was an at-risk youth who lived through a lot of poverty and did not think there would be much of a future. My parents also did not think I would have much of a future just because of the way I grew up. I was very fortunate to grow up in the riding I get to represent today. That is the voice I bring to the House, for those people who grew up just like me.

Today the difference is, after nine years of the Liberal-NDP government, the Canada we all once knew is gone. The Canadian dream my and many other immigrant families came here for, and those who were born and grew up here knew about, where people could put in hard work, earn a powerful paycheque, live in a community safe from drugs, especially government-funded drugs, and safe from being abused or even murdered. We see today the rise in violent crime. That was the difference.

It only took nine years of the incompetent, weak Liberal-NDP Prime Minister to turn this country into what it is today. I could not have imagined we would be living in a country where over two million people visit a food bank in a single month, a third of whom are children. One in four people in this country are skipping meals and parents are doing it so they have enough food to give their kids. This is something I know about very well because I saw it in my own household, but we could still afford our rent then. We could still get groceries, even though we had to delay when we got them.

Today, we hear about moms putting water in their kids' milk just so they can stretch it out. They are buying less nutritious food and going shopping in the almost-expired aisles because that is all they can afford. There are other concerning statistics we have never seen in Canada before. One in five children live in poverty in this country. Child poverty is up after nine years of the incompetent Liberal-NDP government.

Canada has had the worst living standards of the last 40 years. Our GDP per capita has been on the decline for two years. In fact, technically, we are in a GDP-per-capita recession. In simple terms, Canadians are getting poorer. It is not just a term we use but what Canadians are feeling today. As much as the finance minister says the Liberals are in a vibecession, whatever that means, the vibe is clear in this country. Canadians are getting poorer. They are suffering or else two million of them would not be lining up at food banks.

Our jobs, our businesses and our investment are fleeing to the U.S., where there are fewer regulations and a better return on investment. In fact, almost half a trillion dollars' worth of our Canadian jobs and investment has gone to the U.S. It is making U.S. workers richer and the U.S. economy better, building pipelines in the U.S., and Canada is left footing the bill. That is what nine years of incompetence does. The Prime Minister has driven our good jobs and good investment out of Canada. That is the vibe of Canada today.

There was an explosion in population growth, even though the incompetent former immigration minister was warned by his own department that it was about to explode the immigration levels. There was already a housing crisis. They warned him it was only going to get worse. He ignored it. Just like this two-month temporary tax trick to buy votes, they exploded the population for votes and votes only. What did that do? It did exactly what his department told him it would, the same thing he ignored. It made housing even worse.

What kind of a government spends almost $89 billion on housing and sees housing costs double? What kind of measure of success is that? Is it really something to celebrate? Is it really a vibecession that it spent so much money to achieve such a horrible outcome? All of these people the Liberals brought here in search of getting more votes for themselves are now living under bridges and sleeping in their cars; they cannot afford housing because the Liberals have doubled housing costs. That is the reality.

Do members remember when we used to be able to go to the grocery store and get a full week of groceries for $200? What does $200 get us now? It gets barely a bag, maybe a little more. That is why people are suffering so badly in this country. That is what nine years of incompetence from the Liberal-NDP government has done. When it doubles the national debt and food bank usage, it is nothing but misery for the good people who just want to work hard and make something for themselves and their families.

What does the Prime Minister do after doing all of that to them? He continues to kick them down harder. He kicks them down with a punishing carbon tax scam, one that takes more from Canadians than they get back in fake rebates, which was proven by the Liberals' own Parliamentary Budget Officer, and one that does not help to reduce emissions. We know that because their own department told us that.

They have no measure that tells us how much lower the emissions would be if they increased the carbon tax scam, because they know it is like the Prime Minister, not worth the cost. However, Canadians are left with that cost. They see that cost when they fill up with gas, when they go to the grocery store and when they have to turn up the heat, which they are all doing now since winter has started. They do not have the luxury of the multi-millionaire trust fund baby Prime Minister.

They actually have to go grocery shopping themselves, unlike the Prime Minister. They have to pump gas themselves. They have to drive their kids around to get to tutoring or to play sports. They do not have the luxuries that the spoiled Prime Minister has, who has exploited Canadians and made them poorer. That is the difference.

However, we have a common-sense Conservative leader who knows about hard work and who grew up in arguably the greatest city in the greatest province in this country, Calgary, Alberta. He talks about the common person because he is a common person. He is definitely an extraordinary person, but one who cares about everyday Canadians. That is why, on this side of the House, we have common-sense policies for the common people, the people who built this country and have kept it afloat even though the incompetent Liberal-NDP Prime Minister continuously kicks them down with his failed policies.

Has anyone ever seen so many homeless encampments in the country? The Prime Minister brags about housing, on which he somehow spent almost $90 billion. The only thing that really went up is the homeless encampments that have popped up around the country. Liberals brag that no one has invested as much in housing as the government has, but what did it get Canadians? It got them more homelessness, more food bank usage and more pain and suffering, but I guess it is all good because all of the people who are suffering are just in a vibecession; it is fine.

Canada is in an absolute productivity crisis after nine years of the government. We already know how much investment it drove out. We just have to look at the wage gap between a U.S. worker and a Canadian worker, and that gap is widening. In fact U.S. workers are $32,000 better off than Canadian workers. If the incompetent government had just kept pace with former prime minister Stephen Harper, then the gap would not be as wide and Canadian workers would be at least $4,300 richer a year. That would make a huge difference.

However, the government and its failed policies, supported by the NDP because its leader really wants his $2-million pension and keeps the incompetent, weak Prime Minister in place, have made Canada's economy worse than Alabama's, which has one of the lowest economies in the U.S.

Canadian household debt is the worst out of all of the G7 countries, but we have to look at why. With an average paycheque, Canadians used to spend about 40% just on housing, but after the government doubled housing costs and the national debt, what did that do? Instead of 40% of a worker's paycheque, now it is 60% to 80% in some cases that goes just to housing.

As I said before, when we go to the grocery store, we notice the difference. Prices in the U.S. are 37% lower at the grocery store than in Canada. It is all directly because of the carbon tax scam. The Liberals tax the farmer who grows the food, the trucker who ships the food and the grocery store that sells the food. Of course at the end of the day, the Canadians buying the food get hit with the overall cost. That is why it is a scam, nothing more, and why things are so expensive at the grocery store.

The government comes up with cheap gimmicks, the lollipops they give just to garner more votes. This is the reality. It is because it knows it cannot on its own record. It has had a failed record over the last nine years; that is why we have the statistics we have.

If I were to read the statistics about two million Canadians using food banks and one in four Canadians skipping meals, we would not think we were talking about a first world country. We would definitely think we are talking about a third world country. That is what the government has done.

The government keeps talking up a big game, but the member for Whitby talked about muzzling and not being able to speak, and that is ironic. The Toronto Star, of all outlets, published an article entitled “Liberal MP says he was threatened with ‘consequences’ for opposing $250 cheque proposal”. The article says, “Hamilton MP...said earlier this week that he would vote against the government’s cash rebates because they leave out seniors and people with disabilities.”

The article also says, “New Brunswick MP...said she would support the current measure when it comes to a vote, even though she believes it is too restrictive”, and “Newfoundland MP...said he would like to see the cheques expanded to include seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, but would support it as is because he does not want to cut off help for Canadians.”

According to the article, the St. Catharines MP, who is a Liberal, “said the benefit should be ‘targeted’, and said the Liberals have already enacted measures to help seniors, such as Ottawa's dental care program, which prioritized [seniors].” He is not in favour of what the government is putting out, yet Liberal MPs are being muzzled.

Remember the 24 MPs who supposedly signed a letter, who wanted the Prime Minister out? Where are they now?

[An hon. member]

They are waiting for a cabinet post.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Madam Speaker, like my friend just said, either they are waiting for a cabinet post or they just went away. What the Prime Minister is good at is muzzling people, especially women and especially strong indigenous women, ones that used to be in his cabinet, like Jody Wilson-Raybould who stood up to his corruption and said no to it. What ended up happening to her? Not only was she muzzled but she was also kicked out of cabinet and out of caucus.

That is the record of the fake feminist Prime Minister, someone who has done blackface more times than even he can remember and someone who virtue-signals about his carbon tax scam and belittles everyone who has to drive their car to work or to take their kids to sports. He slams a carbon tax scam on them as he jet-sets around the world on his little celebrity tours, taking selfies with celebrities and trying to make himself look flashy for whatever role he is going to try to play after the next election.

After the next election, the weak, incompetent Prime Minister will be replaced with a common-sense Conservative leader and a party that will bring back and restore the Canada that we once knew. We will axe the tax. We will get rid of the carbon tax scam for everyone for good, and we will do it to everything.

We will build the homes. Not only will we take the GST off homes built under a million dollars, which will help create 30,000 more new homes and save people on their mortgages and the cost of housing, but we will also incentivize municipalities, the ones that the Prime Minister keeps shovelling billions of dollars to that end up building more bureaucracy and not more homes. We are going to incentivize them to have 15% more homes built, permits closed, or else we are going to withhold their infrastructure dollars until they meet that target. That is how realtors work. That is how municipalities should work.

We are going to fix the budget. The incompetent Prime Minister, who said budgets balance themselves, does not think about monetary policy. Recently he said that he will let bankers think about the economy.

Do members know what? Our common-sense Conservative leader not only does think about the economy but he will also fix the economy. We are going to bring in a dollar-for-dollar law. For every dollar any department wants to spend, it has to find a dollar of savings, just like what we have to do in our homes on our household budgets and what businesses have to do.

We are going to stop the crime, lawlessness, chaos, drugs and disorder that the Liberal-NDP government has unleashed all over our streets. We see it every single day. Another story comes out every single day, and most of the time it is from repeat offenders. We are going to bring in “jail, not bail” policies to keep the repeat violent offenders in jail, where they deserve to be.

I will finish by saying that instead of taking pennies off Pringles or chump change off chips, a common-sense Conservative government, with the member for Carleton as the prime minister, would axe the tax on everything for everyone for good. We are going to bring home the Canada we all once knew and still love.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

I think there is some debate right now with regard to what just happened, but I was here and wanted to make sure that my colleague from Calgary Forest Lawn had his additional papers. He did not. He was looking for them. I am working to make sure that he does have—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member actually ended his speech, and then other members came in to rise and were trying to raise a point of order. I was rising to recognize the hon. parliamentary secretary for questions and comments. The hon. member indicated that he had finished his speech at that time.

There is another point of order, from the hon. member for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies.