House of Commons Hansard #388 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pension.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Declaration of Emergency Members present reports from the Special Joint Committee reviewing the 2022 Emergencies Act declaration, including the main report, a Conservative dissenting report, and an NDP supplementary report calling for policing reforms and accountability. 800 words.
Veterans Affairs Members debate a report recommending repeal of the discriminatory "marriage after 60" clause denying survivor pension benefits to veterans' spouses who married after the veteran turned 60. They highlight the hardship caused, the government's failure to act despite allocated funds, and issues of departmental responsibility. Parties debate past actions, current priorities like cost of living, and the need for immediate change, urging the government to implement the recommendations. 23400 words, 3 hours.
Alleged Misleading Statements by Member in Committee Report Members debate a question of privilege raised by a Conservative MP alleging a former Liberal minister misled the special joint committee. The allegation concerns the minister's claim that law enforcement requested the invocation of the Emergencies Act. The MP presents contradictory evidence from multiple reports and testimonies, arguing this constitutes contempt and requesting the Speaker find a prima facie case to refer the matter to committee to clear the air. 4400 words, 30 minutes.
Access to Parliamentary Precinct NDP MP Peter Julian argues a Conservative MP's question of privilege was frivolous, improperly delayed, and used to obstruct debate, asking the Speaker to dismiss the matter. 1000 words.
Business of the House Members exchange holiday wishes and thank staff before recess. The government announces the fall economic statement will be presented next week as part of House business. 800 words.
Alleged Withholding of Documents from the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency Members debate the government's refusal to provide the legal opinion used to invoke the Emergencies Act to a parliamentary committee. A Conservative MP argues parliamentary power to order documents outweighs solicitor-client privilege and that the refusal is a potential contempt, seeking an order for its production. 3600 words, 35 minutes.
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Members debate the government's handling of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), following an Auditor General's report alleging mismanagement and conflicts of interest. Conservatives demand the government release related documents to the RCMP as ordered by the House, calling SDTC a "green slush fund". Liberals argue the RCMP has needed documents and accuse Conservatives of filibustering. Discussion includes government environmental targets, affordability, and institutional integrity. 20200 words, 2 hours.
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, the holiday season should be a stress-free time for all Canadians, but we know that this is unfortunately not the case for many of them. Some families really struggle with the extra holiday expenses.
I would really like to hear the minister tell us about our government's plan to help those families in these tough times.
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, from introducing the Canada child benefit and the Canada workers benefit to cutting taxes for small businesses, we will always be there for Canadians. By giving Canadians a GST holiday, we are putting a little more money in their pockets during the holidays.
The grinches on that side of the House have nothing to offer but vacuous slogans and empty promises. While the Conservatives busy themselves with political games, our government will work to provide real and meaningful support to Canadians.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister lost control of spending in his cabinet. He sent this spending spat spiralling out of control, forcing his finance minister to smash through her $40-billion deficit guardrail promise. He then solidified his fake feminist credentials by appointing carbon tax Carney as a de facto finance minister after using her. Even the PBO confirmed they smashed through their $40-billion deficit guardrail by at least $6 billion.
Will the Prime Minister confirm the deficit is not a penny over $46 billion?
FinanceOral Questions
The Speaker Greg Fergus
I am going to ask members to not make noise. There are rules in this place for us not to be slamming desks anymore.
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it seems we have lost decorum in the House in part because the Conservatives have been attacking female elected representatives, women in the House who represent women and men across the country proudly. If the Conservatives are really interested in asking questions of the economy, I do have answers for them.
Yesterday, the Bank of Canada lowered interest rates yet again, making it easier on Canadians to buy a new home, making it easier on families that need to renew their mortgage, making it easier on Canadians who have loans. We are keeping our eye on the ball. We are keeping our eye on the interests of Canadians.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Mr. Speaker, the last times the bank dropped 50 basis points on the interest rate were 9/11, the global financial crisis and COVID. Carbon tax Carney's comeback fuelled his fiscal feud further. The weak Prime Minister used the finance minister to rack up debt. Now, he is going to replace another female minister, but this time with Davos elite carbon tax Carney. All of this just to smash through his $40-billion deficit guardrail and drive Canada's finances off a fiscal cliff.
Once again, will the Prime Minister confirm the deficit will not be a penny past $46 billion?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, listening to the Conservatives today, we would think that the Conservative Party of Canada wanted interest rates to be higher. We would think the Conservatives want inflation to be higher, listening to their talking points today in the House of Commons.
We have invested in Canadians and we have invested wisely. We have ensured that 110,000 more Canadian women have entered the workforce thanks to our early learning and child care program. This has saved families nearly 30% in child care. It has also created $32 billion of greater wealth in our economy. We are growing the economy and we are doing it wisely.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has lost control of his finances and of his cabinet. We all know that he and the Minister of Finance are quarrelling. She promised Canadians that the deficit would not exceed $40 billion. That was her fiscal guardrail. When someone goes over a guardrail, they do not just stop—they fall right off the cliff.
Can the Prime Minister assure us that the deficit will not exceed $40 billion?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives appear to be asking questions about the state of the economy, but they are desperate to deny the fact that, just yesterday, the Bank of Canada lowered interest rates to help all Canadians.
That is good news. It will make life more affordable for families who need to renew their mortgages. It will mean lower costs for our SMEs and our entrepreneurs. It will help young people who are purchasing their first home.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has completely lost control over spending and his ministers. He is imposing drastic increases and sacrificing his own Minister of Finance to replace her with a man by the name of Mark Carney, who is not even elected. Canadians, who are already victims of the disastrous management of this government, are suffering the consequences of the deficit.
Can the Prime Minister confirm that the deficit will not exceed $40 billion?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, we have already answered that question. I would like to know something. We on this side of the House have brought in programs to support women. How is it that the Conservative Party voted against investments in programs such as age well at home, when we know that women live longer than men?
The Conservatives voted against the child care program, they voted against the program to feed kids at school, they voted against the dental care program. The list goes on.
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is no longer any doubt about it: The CARM app is a fiasco.
There was already talk of a 50% cost overrun and a $556-million price tag. However, by last March, maintenance costs had already pushed that price tag up to $625 million. At this rate, we could well be over the $800-million mark. Not to mention that CARM must also have been costly ever since it was rolled out, because it crashed 22 times in one month.
As of today, what is the real cost of this fiasco?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, as it has been clarified in the House, the CARM system was to replace a 36-year-old system that was at risk of failure. This process was actually developed in 2010 under the previous government. It was to address concerns raised by the Auditor General of Canada that we risked 20% of our goods at the border being misclassified. We are going to ensure that the new system is working and that there are not delays at the border.
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is expensive when the Liberals go digital. There is the Phoenix payroll system, which is still giving public servants nightmares after nearly nine years. There was ArriveCAN, which was supposed to cost $80,000 and ended up costing $60 million, benefiting shady companies that did not even deliver any services. Now there is CARM, which cost at least $625 million, and quite likely more. That said, we do not know the real cost because the government is refusing to disclose that information today, as we have just seen.
Why is it that every time the Liberals go digital, it becomes a scandal?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question because it is an important reminder that the CARM system is replacing a 36-year-old system that put at risk the assessment of $40 billion worth of duties and taxes annually.
We have to make investments to ensure that the border system, the processing of these taxes and duties, is being done efficiently and effectively for today's businesses. We have ensured that any IT issues that need to be worked out are not impacting borders or causing any delays at those borders.
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has lost control of his spending, his cabinet and even his own MPs.
As the government is set to blow through the $40-billion deficit guardrail, Canadians are feeling it everywhere, including the grocery store, a place the Prime Minister has never been. It is not just Canadians. His own MPs are feeling it. The member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River said that his personal preference would be to see the government run a zero-dollar deficit, but that will not happen.
Since the Prime Minister will not visit grocery stores and will not listen to Canadians, will he at least listen to his own Liberal MPs and decide not to run a dime over $40 billion?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the member opposite talk about groceries, because I have great news for him. The House actually passed a GST tax holiday over the next couple of months to reduce the cost of groceries. I am sorry. I forgot that the member and all members of the Conservative Party voted against that, because even though they say they want a tax break for Canadians, when it comes time to actually give them one, they are opposed to it.
On this side of the House, we are happy to be able to provide that extra relief to Canadians on groceries, toys for kids, clothing for kids and other essential items.
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government is so out of touch, it does not even understand that is only saving Canadians $4.51, because there is no GST on groceries, just pop and chips.
Here is another number: The unemployment rate is up to 6.4%. The Prime Minister has lost control. As the government is set to blow through the $40-billion deficit guardrail, it has its own MPs thinking about unemployment. The member from Saint John—Rothesay said that it is not an “unlimited pot” and, importantly, the Prime Minister and the finance minister are not even talking.
Before the Prime Minister loads his MPs on the unemployment bus, will he tell them about the $40-billion deficit guardrail or will he just drive them over the fiscal cliff?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, for many Canadians, the GST tax holiday actually makes a difference. Just because it does not make a difference for that member of Parliament, does not mean it is not meaningful for many Canadians.
When I speak to constituents in my community and to small business and restaurant owners, they have told me how important this GST tax holiday is going to be for them over the next couple of months. Just because the tax break is not meaningful for Conservative MPs, that does not mean it is not meaningful for Canadians.
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has lost control of his spending and his cabinet. He is also bullying the finance minister into crashing through the $40-billion deficit guardrail.
Even Liberal MPs are uncomfortable with the financial consequences. Ask the member for Saint John—Rothesay, who was quoted calling for “fiscal restraint”, or the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River, who said that he wanted a “zero deficit”, which we all know is not going to happen with the NDP-Liberal government.
If the finance minister crashes the deficit through the $40-billion guardrail, will the feckless Prime Minister allow a free vote for his MPs?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the Conservative member chose to talk about bullying in his question after today's question period has been fraught with bullying from Conservative members.
To get back to what is important to Canadians, I would like to talk about the economy. When looking at the numbers, we can see that consumer confidence is up. We see consumer spending is up. Folks are looking forward to the tax holiday that is also coming up. On Saturday, we will be removing federal taxes, removing the GST from everyday goods, in order to help Canadians with a tax cut I know they need.
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting dental assistant students at Willis College on the first anniversary of the launch of the Canadian dental care plan. Thanks to this program, more than three million Canadians are now able to see a dentist. One in four Canadians were not going to the dentist because of the cost.
Could the minister explain how the program is making life more affordable for Canadians?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleague from Ottawa—Vanier for her excellent question.
The bad news is when we ask the Leader of the Opposition why he is against the Canadian dental care plan, he says it is because it does not exist and he discourages seniors from registering for it.
The good news for Canadians is this deception is not working. More than one million Quebeckers and three million Canadians are already successfully registered for the Canadian dental care plan, which is saving them on average $750 a year since they registered.
That is very good news for all Quebeckers. It is bad news for the Conservative leader.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has lost control of spending and his cabinet. A former adviser to two prime ministers, Robert Asselin, has said the rising debt burden limits Canada's ability to act during future economic slowdowns and unforeseen circumstances. The Minister of Finance set a fiscal guardrail of a $40.1-billion deficit in her last budget, which looks drastically off the rails. This is not just a number. It is a glaring sign of systemic overspending and poor fiscal planning.
The Liberals' choice now is clear. Will they heed their former adviser or drive Canada's deficit off of a cliff?