House of Commons Hansard #378 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was businesses.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, we openly said that the Conservatives will axe the tax and take the GST off new homes, which will save buyers up to $50,000 on the purchase of a new home and spur the construction of 30,000 new homes. This is a concrete idea to provide lasting solutions to the problems that this government created. Canadians are not stupid. They see what is going on. They will make this government pay the price when the time comes.
Do we want an election? Yes, we want one now.
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Housing
Mr. Speaker, honestly, it is hard to accept the Conservative Party's question, because we have signed an agreement with la belle province, Quebec, to build more than 8,000 affordable housing units with a major investment of $1.8 billion. This agreement is a success.
The Conservative Party's position is to scrap the agreement and scrap the program that supports the construction of affordable housing, which is unacceptable. The question is not acceptable and neither is the position.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government introduced its GST holiday bill and set aside the $250 cheques that it had promised to everyone except seniors and those who are struggling the most. It should take this opportunity to take a step back and seriously rethink its priorities. This government is prepared to spend $6 billion to buy votes, but it refuses to improve the old age security pension for seniors 65 to 74, even though this would address the injustice they are suffering, not to mention cost half as much.
Will it give Bill C-319 a royal recommendation instead of trying to buy votes?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalMinister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to buy votes today. I am just trying to give Canadians and Quebeckers a chance to buy essential items during the holidays. What I do not understand is why the Bloc Québécois does not want to support a measure that will directly help not only all Quebeckers, but also seniors during this period.
Today, I received an email from a constituent that said: “The Bloc Québécois just lost my vote, because their blackmail is insulting”.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, it has become standard practice for this government to ignore seniors. The government believes it has done enough for seniors, so it is hanging them out to dry. Some seniors will not even benefit from the GST holiday for Christmas, because all their income already goes towards their basic needs. The government can do something. If it can give $250 to everyone just to show how generous it is, if it can spend $6 billion to buy votes, then it can invest $3 billion in old age security.
Instead of giving money to lots of people who do not need it, why not simply increase old age security?
Stéphane Lauzon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens' Services
Mr. Speaker, where was the Bloc Québécois when we increased the OAS for seniors aged 75 and over? The Bloc voted against it. Where was the Bloc Québécois when we brought in a 10% increase to the GIS, a benefit for the most vulnerable and needy seniors? Where was the Bloc Québécois when we voted in favour of the Canadian dental care plan? The Bloc voted against it.
The Bloc Québécois has consistently voted against seniors.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, that says a lot about Liberal values. As they see it, giving money to a couple earning $300,000 a year and giving nothing to seniors is fair and equitable.
The Liberals see the Conservatives scoring political points without having any sense of social justice or solidarity with people who are struggling, so they decided they would copy that strategy, since it seems to be paying off.
The government needs to get its values straight. On the one hand, we have a $250 cheque that no party agrees with. On the other hand, we have Bill C-319 to increase the OAS, which all the parties agree with.
Why are the Liberals not making the right choice?
Stéphane Lauzon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens' Services
Mr. Speaker, I would invite the Bloc Québécois members to go see their constituents and look them in the eye. Every time they tell them that they support a pension increase for seniors between 65 and 74, they should have the guts to admit that they also voted against every measure proposed for Quebec seniors.
Bloc members did not want a GIS increase. They did not want a dental plan. They did not want anything for seniors. They cannot say one thing to one audience and something else to another.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, because the NDP-Liberals are trying to fool Canadians with a two-month tax trick, small businesses are being forced, and are scrambling, to reprogram their point-of-sale machines and to find the time and money to pay for these changes. It is a shame the Minister of Small Business knew and did not care that this tax trick would hurt the very businesses she purports to help.
We all know an election is coming. Can we simply stop with the desperation and call a carbon tax election today?
Rechie Valdez LiberalMinister of Small Business
Mr. Speaker, the only things the member and his party can offer small businesses are slogans on repeat, cuts to programs that are essential and cuts.
Our tax break is not just good for small businesses; it is good for their customers. This tax break is not just helping families; it is also supporting the entire community in boosting the neighbourhood independent grocery stores, restaurants, retailers and small businesses that power our local economy. CRA has provided further guidance on this today, which will help support small businesses, and small businesses can call the CRA hotline to get further support.
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, 40% of Canada's economy is tied to our relationship in trade with the U.S., but after nine years, we have no softwood lumber deal. What has happened? Tariffs have doubled, and they are set to double again, if we have a first increase, and a second, if Trump gets his way, if we do not fix the border.
After nine years, we have lost 90,000 jobs in softwood lumber, 40,000 each in Ontario and Quebec alone. The last prime minister solved this in 79 days. It has been 3,311 days. Where is the plan for softwood lumber?
Maninder Sidhu LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion
Mr. Speaker, we will always stand up for forestry workers and our lumber industry. We stood up for Canada when the U.S. imposed aluminum and steel tariffs on us. What did the Conservatives say? They urged us to back down and capitulate. When we renegotiated NAFTA back in 2018, we stood strong and protected Canada's economy while the Conservatives asked us to capitulate.
We have a proven track record when it comes to negotiating. We will continue to protect Canadian workers and Canadian industry.
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, there is no team Canada when the plan is to pile on taxes, make energy and production more expensive, and sideline our Canadian industries on the global stage. What kind of team has no game plan after nine years, loses 90,000 softwood lumber jobs, gets kicked out of CUSMA negotiations and sits on the sidelines while Mexico overtakes Canada as the U.S.A.'s number one trading partner?
Here is a Canada first plan: axe the tax, scrap the cap on oil and gas production, and fix softwood lumber. Why does the Prime Minister not use that common-sense Canada first plan?
Maninder Sidhu LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. is a very important partner to our economy and our relationships with the rest of the world. The member talks about trade. We had $1.3 trillion of trade last year with the U.S., which is a record since we renegotiated NAFTA in 2018.
We will continue to be at the table with a team Canada approach as we continue to protect Canadian businesses and workers.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I would ask the hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake to please not take the floor unless recognized by the Speaker.
The hon. member for Nunavut.
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Uqaqtittiji, three first nations children have died since January due to this government's non-compliance with Jordan's principle. The Liberals are actively fighting against the Human Rights Tribunal's orders and allowing first nations children to die while in care. There are over 40,000 Jordan's principle requests in the backlog. Liberals are not even trying to fix this.
When will the Liberals stop fighting first nations children and uphold first nations' rights to care?
Anthony Housefather LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, we care deeply about first nations children.
Jordan's principle ensures first nations children can access the care they need when they need it, regardless of where they live. Since 2016, Indigenous Services Canada has funded approximately 7.8 million products, services and supports for first nations children. The number of requests has grown exponentially over the years, and we are increasing funding so ISC can meet the demand.
All governments need to do their part to keep first nations children safe, healthy and supported.
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, here is the latest horrifying story involving the airlines' mistreatment of people with disabilities. Air Canada failed to secure a brain cancer patient in a wheelchair. She fell out and was left bleeding and bruised. We are talking about a failure to protect people's safety and dignity. We are talking about a failure to uphold their basic human rights and yet despite dozens of stories like these, people with disabilities have seen zero action from the government.
Either the Liberals do not think things in the air sector have gotten bad enough yet to act or they simply do not care. Which one is it?
Vance Badawey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, this government takes accessibility very seriously, ensuring all passengers are treated with dignity. In May, for example, we had a summit to listen to and learn from those who have accessibility issues. Of course, recommendations came out of those meetings to ensure we work with the airlines and, quite frankly, demand they address the issues as the member has brought forward.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, I continue to hear a lot of noise from members opposite about affordability but no real solutions. Last week, our government made an exciting announcement to support Canadians over this holiday season. Would the minister share—
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The hon. member for Humber River—Black Creek can start from the top, please.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, I continue to hear a lot of noise from members opposite about affordability but no real solutions. Last week, the government made an exciting announcement to support Canadians over this holiday season.
Would the minister share more details about our government's plan to put more money in the pockets of Canadians?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, we know Canadians need more support these days and that is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, lifting hundreds of thousands of Canadian children out of poverty. We cut child care costs by 50% to help families and we cut taxes for small business.
Now we are giving all Canadians a tax break. We are eliminating the GST on essential goods for two months to support Canadians through the holidays. This means groceries, children's clothes and more will be tax-free, so Canadians will have more money in their pockets.
Conservatives oppose this, just as they want to cut all kinds of supports for Canadians. While they play political games, we are working for Canadians.