Debates of Nov. 8th, 2024

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, my Conservative colleague raises an important point about confidence. Confidence also means the confidence that people have in institutions. In light of the legitimate fears of potential foreign political interference, how is it that every federal party leader here in the House has received their security clearance to find out what is going on with their party and their caucus and the only one who refuses to do so is the leader of the Conservative Party? How can someone who wants to become prime minister choose ignorance over knowledge?

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, the Canada we knew nine years ago seems so far away.

It was a Canada where we did not have widespread foreign interference in our elections. In the 2021 election, my colleague Kenny Chiu, a Conservative who lost his seat in this place, faced significant foreign interference that was not dealt with by the Prime Minister and the government. They allowed it to happen because they benefited from it. They won those seats where foreign interference happened.

Canadians will never apologize. When Conservatives were in power, our streets were safer, houses were more affordable, we did not have a carbon tax on food, fuel and home heating, and Canadians could get ahead. Canadians could build a life. The dream of Canada was still real. The dream can still be brought back. That is why we want to see a carbon tax election, so we can get back to the Canada we know and love, and have always loved.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Madam Speaker, it was an honour and a pleasure to listen to my colleague from Sturgeon River—Parkland give his great speech this morning on this scandal we are once again faced with.

I was very curious to hear, after his remarks, a member from the Liberal side stand up and talk about how great the economy is in Canada. In Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, what I am hearing is far from that. A lot of people are struggling. Food bank usage is up. Over 7,000 people a month now in Barrie are using the local food bank.

I would like to ask the member for Sturgeon River—Parkland if he is hearing the same thing in his riding, about the poor, tough economic times, as I am in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, this issue is not relegated to just one part of our country. We are seeing this issue across the country.

As we go into Remembrance Day next week, it is very relevant to talk about veterans' food banks. There are veterans' food banks in this country that are seeing a massive increase in the number of veterans who are reporting homelessness and food insecurity.

The way the Liberal government talks, veterans have never had it so good. Veterans from my riding were told directly by the Prime Minister that they are asking for more than the government can give. When veterans call the government for help, the response they get is, “Have you considered medical assistance in dying?”

It is shameful, what the Liberal government has allowed to happen to this country. It can try to hide behind all its funny accounting, but the fact is that Canadians are struggling because of the NDP-Liberal government's policies.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is great to see everyone this morning.

Statistics Canada revised the economic growth for Canada from 2021 to 2023, putting it higher by 1.3%. The per capita GDP story that is being told or spun from the other side of the House actually does not work anymore. Our per capita GDP recovered fully after the COVID pandemic, even with global inflation. From 2019 to 2023, that story is not true anymore. Statistics Canada demonstrated it. A couple of the economic shops demonstrated it.

We know when Canadians go to the grocery store and see the everyday prices, they are feeling global inflation. We are helping Canadians. We will always help them with affordability issues with a number of measures.

Would the hon. member not agree that the numbers reported by Statistics Canada is a good news story for the Canadian economy, for both economic growth, per capita GDP growth, and our future outlook with the IMF, giving us a 2.4% GDP growth for 2025, the highest in the G7?

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, I go out and talk to my constituents.

I had a senior couple reach out to my office. During the pandemic, the government told everyone to take CERB money, saying, “Just take the money. We will deal with the issues afterwards.” This senior couple did not really know what they were doing, but they took the money. Once the government decided to claw that money back because it was not appropriate in this family's case, it impoverished the family. It sent them to the food bank. They called my office and said, “Mr. Lloyd, we have eaten nothing but bread for three months.”

That is the record under the NDP-Liberal government. People cannot even get the nutrition that they need. We are seeing malnutrition in children on the rise. We are seeing scurvy make a comeback. The Liberals are standing up in this House and telling Canadians that they have never had it so good. It reminds me a quote from Marie Antoinette, “Let them eat cake.” That is what they say every day in the House.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a quick comment that goes back to the question my colleague got from the Bloc member about when we are going to have the next confidence vote in this government. I just thought it would be important to put it on the record. We have actually had two since we came back this fall, and both times the Bloc Québécois and the NDP continued to prop up the Liberal government.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Madam Speaker, when I door-knock in my riding, people say to me, “Just get rid of the Prime Minister. We need to get rid of the Liberal government.” That is what they want, and that is what Canadians across this country are saying. They are sick and tired of nine years of Liberal costs, Liberal carbon taxes and Liberal corruption, and they want a carbon tax election. They want a confidence vote. We have had two confidence votes. We are going to keep holding the government accountable. We are going to fight so Canadians can get the carbon tax election they deserve and choose which government they want to give a mandate to.

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

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today and address what has been a littering of misinformation on the floor of the House of Commons.

Over the last number of weeks, I have witnessed well over 150 Conservative speeches, and it can be fairly depressing at times, with the amount of misinformation they consistently put on the record. One would think there is someone in the back who is telling them what to say, they are so repetitive. It is not easy to throw them off track because they have been instructed by the leader of the Conservative Party on exactly what they have to say. It does not have to be the truth, but they have to say it. Rumour has it that if they actually say it and say it right, they get a gold star, and a number of them get a lot of gold stars.

Let us give a reality check on what is actually taking place. We have the leader of the Conservative Party, who I would ultimately argue is in borderline contempt for what is taking place on the floor of the House of Commons, and I do not say that lightly. We can think about it. The leader of the Conservative Party today was the parliamentary secretary to Stephen Harper. Stephen Harper was the only prime minister, not only in Canada but in the entire British Commonwealth, to be held in contempt of Parliament.

Why am I not surprised to see that the current leader is following suit? After all, not only was he Stephen Harper's parliamentary secretary, but they were also very close—

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have no idea, but it strikes me that the member's statement that the Leader of the Opposition is in borderline contempt is an attempt to say something through the back door that cannot be said through the front door. I hope the member would withdraw that.

While he is at it, his factually incorrect statement about Stephen Harper being held in contempt should also be withdrawn. That is not what happened back in 2011. It is a matter of public record.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

This is becoming a point of debate. I will certainly look at what the hon. parliamentary secretary said, and if need be, we will come back to the House.

The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, the truth might hurt the members opposite, but it is about time they stopped listening to the spin and the Conservative misinformation that comes out of the back rooms. They spread it throughout the country, and it is really quite unfortunate because it has the type of impact we witnessed in a letter quoted by the member for King—Vaughan earlier. I hope the member follows through and takes me up on that challenge. She said she would have a public debate with me at Niagara University in Ontario and I hope that actually takes place this year.

It is absolutely atrocious, the amount of misinformation that consistently comes out of the Conservative Party. They spread misinformation primarily on social media and they do not have a problem saying it. They say as soon as we produce the papers they will stop talking and allow the House to go on to different issues. The reality is that the Conservative Party of Canada introduced a motion. The motion was that the issue be given to the procedure and House affairs committee.

They have put up over 150 speakers. Everyone wants to vote on the motion, but the Conservatives do not want that. They do not even want to have their own motion voted on. They move an amendment, they move an amendment to the amendment, and they run out of speakers so they drop that amendment, and then they move another amendment to the amendment to the motion. It is nothing but a political game. The leader of the Conservative Party—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have a point of order. We are told multiple times throughout the day to be cognizant of our microphones and the placement of our cellphones and papers. The member knows full well there is no need to raise his voice, if not for the sake of the members in here, then for the sake of the translators.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

This is not a point of order.

There are two more points of order, and one of them is from the hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I would ask members to respect points of order. If they have a legitimate one, they should rise up, but to intentionally disrupt a member who is speaking, I believe, is disrespectful to the House. Members know the debate is ending right away, and what they are doing is very disrespectful for debate inside the chamber. I would ask that the members be advised of that.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

Order. I would ask the hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George to be respectful and not speak out of turn.

The interpreters have the ability to lower the level of sound on what they are listening to. The hon. member knows full well, because he raises his voice at times in the House as well.

I am going to finalize this point of order, and then we are going to go back to the orders of the day.

The hon. member for Nepean, on a point of order.

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Madam Speaker, I strongly object to the member telling another member not to speak in a loud voice. Tomorrow somebody may say that because a member speaks with an accent, the translator may not understand, or because their English is not good enough or has grammatical mistakes, the translator may not understand. This is what it leads to when we start indulging in this sort of stuff.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I appreciate everybody's input. As I have indicated, this is getting to be a point of debate. I do want members to respect each other in the House. As I have indicated, the interpreters have the ability to lower the sound in their booths. I hope that will put everything to rest at this point.

The hon. parliamentary secretary will be able to continue his speech the next time this matter is before the House, which will probably be right after question period.

Remembrance Day

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, every year, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember the end of World War I. We gather to honour the brave Canadians who served and continue to serve our country.

This Monday, November 11, I will be commemorating Remembrance Day with many Vaughan residents at the Woodbridge Cenotaph. We will gather to remember the sacrifices of those in the Canadian Armed Forces and reflect on the freedoms they fought so hard to protect.

With each passing year, we are reminded that the cost of peace is not free. With it comes much responsibility to all Canadians. Our liberties were earned through the dedication and sacrifice of countless men and women. Their sacrifices have shaped the Canada we know and love today: free, peaceful and united.

As we observe a moment of silence, let us remember those who continue to serve at home and abroad and who stand for freedom and democracy and against tyranny. I thank the generations of those in the Canadian Armed Forces who have served.

Lest we forget.

Marie Trainer

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Madam Speaker, on October 31, 2024, Haldimand County lost one of its most dedicated and longest-serving community leaders, Marie Trainer.

Marie was someone who exemplified service. Even after holding the highest level of municipal office, serving as mayor after winning three mayoral elections, she came out of retirement and ran as a councillor, representing her hometown of Hagersville. That was who Marie was: a devoted, humble, selfless leader and groundbreaker. Marie became a friend and mentor to me, always supportive as I took on the role of member of Parliament and always showing me what good leadership looked like.

I extend my heartfelt prayers and condolences to her family, who is mourning her loss. While we will miss her deeply, her contributions to Haldimand County and her legacy will live on in our hearts.

Remembrance Day

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Madam Speaker, tomorrow I will have the privilege of attending the Remembrance Day ceremony of the Markham District Veterans Association in my riding. It will be a solemn occasion where we will come together to honour those who have fought and sacrificed for the freedoms we live with today. The association is a reminder of the value of community and our duty to promote the recognition of memories of the members who have served Markham.

As we pause to reflect on their sacrifices, we must also renew our commitment to supporting veterans and their families across Canada. Remembrance Day is not only a day of reflection, but a reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard the values they fought to protect.

Finally, I want to remember my mother-in-law, who passed away yesterday at the age of 99.

Lest we forget.

International Inuit Day

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]

Madam Speaker, yesterday was International Inuit Day. For a people whose governments and churches tried to eradicate, we sure have achieved a lot. Just to name a few, we have lawyers, doctors, people in the trades, care workers and great entertainers.

I thank llisaqsivik, where I enjoyed such laughter playing Inugait.

I thank Northern Haze, who continue to inspire me through their music. I thank Johnny Ningeongan, Mary Wilman, Beatrice and her husband Lucassie and many more.

I mourn the loss of great elders. Losing them must remind us to keep learning from their strengths. We must take care of them in our communities.

Remembrance Day

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Madam Speaker, on the eve of Remembrance Day, I suggest that we pay tribute to the veterans who served our country, the women and men who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom to ensure our future and that of our children. We must never forget their sacrifices and the terrible consequences of war.

Let us also pay tribute to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

On Remembrance Day, we have a duty of recognition and memory toward the women and men who sacrificed everything. Let us give our thanks to serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

We will remember them.

Recognition of Indigenous Veterans

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Madam Speaker, today is Indigenous Veterans Day, a time set aside to remember and recognize the often overlooked stories of indigenous veterans who answered the call of duty with unwavering courage and dedication.

Indigenous people in Canada have served in every conflict, from the First World War to the present day. Many indigenous men and women stepped forward, often in the face of discrimination, marginalization and injustice, to secure and protect future generations.

We thank the first nations, Inuit and Métis veterans who have served Canada. We thank them for their bravery, their sacrifices and their dedication to protecting not only the land but the values of peace, equality and respect. Their service, like that of all veterans, deserves to be remembered and celebrated today and every day.

Let us stand together to honour all those who have served and uplift indigenous veterans, ensuring they are never forgotten.

Lest we forget.