Debates of Nov. 28th, 2024

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, our colleague is well aware that the relationship with the United States is the most important relationship that we have when it comes to economic and border security. That is why, for many decades now, we have been working actively and constructively with the Americans. That is what we have done in recent years, particularly with President-elect Trump's previous administration.

The Prime Minister had an excellent meeting yesterday with Canada's premiers, and we are going to continue to work together to deal with the issues raised during that conversation.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, better late than never. The Liberals have finally clued in to the fact that resources need to be increased at the border. However, they are still unable to tell us exactly when, how and by how much.

This is incredibly serious because, less than two months from now, Donald Trump is going to slap tariffs on the entire Canadian economy. The Liberals do not even have two months left to plug all the holes in the border, yet, until last night, they did not even know there was an issue.

Today, now that they have finally seen the light, can they explain their detailed plan?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know and we know that borders are important. It is in America's interest to protect them. It is in Canadians' interest to protect them. That is why we are working together on this issue.

I have had conversations with Premier Legault, and just this morning, I spoke with Minister Biron, Quebec's international relations minister. I have also had the opportunity to speak with several influential senators, both Republican and Democrat, who are all allies for ensuring that we can work together on protecting our two countries.

The Economy

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, just as Mariah Carey awakens from her long slumber every November to sing the same Christmas song, so did the Liberals wake up last Thursday with the brilliant idea of doling out $250 cheques. The NDP pointed out they were neglecting a bunch of people, like seniors, people with disabilities and people who were unable to work. In a panic, the Liberals delayed the measure.

It is all very well to punt the problem down the road, but the question remains: Will they fix their measure so it helps the people who actually need help?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, today is a good day.

With support from the NDP, we are going to vote in favour of a tax break for all Canadians, including seniors. We thank the NDP, because all we hear from the other side of the House is a party of Grinches who refuse to change and who do not want to vote for a tax break.

I thank the NDP, because it cares about Canadians as much as we do. We will continue to work with the NDP to make sure we support all Canadians across the country.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, they are not supporting all Canadians. The Liberals are letting Canadians down. Almost everyone is cutting back. Life is expensive, and that is especially true for students, seniors and people with disabilities. What is the Liberals' plan? It is to exclude them from the $250 rebate.

Even the Liberals' own MPs think it is absurd, and the Conservatives want to give tax breaks to billionaires like Galen Weston, but will not give a tax break to everyday Canadians. When the Conservatives show us who they are, we should believe them.

Will the Liberals fix their botched rebate, yes or no?

[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 thank my colleague for the question. We were the first to introduce a disability benefit. My brother has a disability. Our government was the first government to bring in direct help for people with physical disabilities.

The $250 cheque that we want to send out is a cheque that we want to send to workers. It is ironic to hear such a comment coming from a party that has been always said it stands up for workers. That being said, we estimate that more than one million working seniors will be eligible for this cheque. People with disabilities who are in the labour market will also be eligible for this cheque.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after the Prime Minister has doubled the cost of housing, added an inflationary carbon tax to everything Canadians buy and given us the highest levels of debt in the G7, his plan is a temporary, tiny, two-month tax trick. However, not even small businesses are fooled. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says that only 4% of small businesses expect a sales boost because of the latest, last-ditch effort for the Prime Minister to save his own job.

If the Prime Minister is so sure about his plan, why does he not call a carbon tax election and let Canadians decide?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, with respect, the member ought to look at what the Retail Council of Canada has said on the matter or at what Restaurants Canada has said on the matter as well. Small business owners in my community and across the country will benefit as a result of the tax cut. That is exactly what it is: a tax cut for workers and a tax cut for families.

What is also surprising—

[An hon. member]

Erin O'Toole says you're welcome.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I just heard the name of Erin O'Toole. That is exactly right. He put the initiative on the table in the summer of 2021. We are supporting it now. Who else supported it? The Leader of the Opposition did. He reposted a tweet from Erin O'Toole at the time but does not want to support the initiative now.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is not a tax cut; it is a distraction before a much bigger, permanent tax hike. Even the Prime Minister's own Liberal MPs are now opposing this. The member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek says that he was threatened with “consequences” if he voted against it. Rather than threatening his own MPs, muzzling them like he has accused others of doing, we have a weakened Prime Minister, terrified of facing Canadians.

If the Prime Minister is so sure about his own leadership, if he is so sure about his own plan, why will he not allow his own MPs to have a free vote on this one today?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, workers who are going for groceries, who want to eat out and who want to buy gifts during Christmas are the people on our mind, as well as families who want to buy diapers or clothes for their kids, or the young family that is excited about a new child coming into the family. Car seats are expensive, and there is a tax savings on them too.

The Leader of the Opposition supported the initiative in 2021 but does not want to now because it is a Liberal initiative. Will the real Pierre Poilievre stand up in the House of Commons?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Calgary Forest Lawn—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I am sorry; I did not hear the hon. member, and I am going to say to members that if they were able to hold their voices unless recognized by the Speaker, it would be easier for the Speaker to hear.

The hon. member apparently mentioned the name of another hon. member. I will ask the hon. member to rise.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was an honest mistake. I withdraw it.

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, turning temporary two-month tax tricks will not save the desperate Prime Minister. After doubling housing costs, doubling the national debt and doubling food bank usage, now he is blaming Canadians for not feeling the vibe of the pricey gimmick. Now he is even threatening his own Liberal MP from Hamilton East—Stoney Creek for not supporting the vote-buying scheme.

Instead of threatening MPs to take cents off Skittles, call a carbon tax election now so common-sense Conservatives can axe the tax for good.

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that the Leader of the Opposition knows a thing or two about threatening his own MPs, because if they do not speak in three-word slogans, we never hear from them again.

However, what I can say is that on this side of the House we are excited to deliver a tax cut for Canadians. For the mom who has to buy diapers, groceries and a car seat, this is meaningful.

Who it is not meaningful for is the Leader of the Opposition, because when it comes to supporting everyday Canadians, he would rather support himself than give them a break over the holidays. That is so disappointing, and Canadians across this country are disappointed in him.

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

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Liberals are cutting is moms who have to cut down on the nutritious food they can give to their kids, and they are sending them into food bank lines. After the temporary tax trick is done, the Liberals are going to jack up the carbon tax on April 1, making everything more expensive, and anyone who does not believe in the Prime Minister's radical plan is threatened with consequences. The inflationary vote-buying scheme will add another $6 billion to the Prime Minister's growing deficit.

Instead of taking chump change off chocolates, call a carbon tax election now so we can axe the tax for good.

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

Mr. Speaker, the GST that we are proposing to remove is going to be removed on essential items like groceries, children's clothing, diapers and car seats. I do not know whether the hon. colleague has children, but if he does, he would know just how expensive those items are for Canadians, and for Canadians who have to buy these essential items, the tax cut would make a difference.

I do not understand why Conservative members of Parliament do not get that, but I hope they change their mind and support the measure, because it is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I will ask the hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets to please not take the floor unless recognized by the Speaker.

The hon. member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis has the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is desperate for a distraction. He is baiting voters with a GST holiday that will last a measly two months, but everyone sees through him. This morning, a constituent came to my riding office to criticize this out-of-touch Prime Minister for his tricks. Everyone is done with this worn-out government.

Does it know that everyone wants an election in order to elect the Conservatives, who will be able to bring hope back to Canadians?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, once again, today is a good day. Canadians across the country, including Quebeckers, are getting a tax holiday.

I do not understand why my colleague on the other side of the House does not want to support Canadians. The Conservatives' hidden agenda involves austerity and cutting programs such as housing construction. Today, it is very clear that they do not want to support Quebeckers and give them a tax holiday during the toughest time of year.