Debates of Dec. 12th, 2024

Dental Care

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister 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.

Finance

[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?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, this member is so off the rail that he forgot that Canada actually is the land of opportunity and possibilities. Members do not need to ask me. They can talk to CEOs who have invested in this country. Just in 2023, we landed the largest investment in Dow's history in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

I think the Conservatives should all rejoice. It is Christmas. I hope they are going to put that in their Christmas cards to their constituents and thank the Liberal government for bringing jobs to Alberta.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is a minister who has never seen a cheque he did not want to sign of Canadian taxpayer dollars. Former Liberal adviser Robert Asselin also stated, “You can't pick and choose fiscal anchors as you go, and renege on a commitment you made only a year ago”. There is a huge disconnect here. The Prime Minister wants to spend a way to popularity and the finance minister is trying to hang on to a shred of fiscal accountability.

Liberals are famous for taking no lessons, but this one is an obvious choice. How far past the guardrails is the Prime Minister pushing the finance minister's credibility?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, actually, there is more good news for the Conservatives to share in their Christmas cards. Let me talk about another investment in Canada. This time, BHP, the largest mining company in the world has made the largest investment in its history in Saskatchewan. It is close to $20 billion, the largest investment in its history.

I hope again that, in the Christmas cards they are going to send to their constituents, they are going to thank the Liberal government for bringing jobs to western Canada, growing our energy sector and making sure that Canada is—

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal minister is so informed, he does not even know that Canada Post is on strike. He is another lost cabinet minister.

More leaking Liberals are speaking out about the economic disaster of the Prime Minister, who has decided to crash through his $40-billion deficit guardrail promise, an obscene number on its own. The Liberal MP for Saint John—Rothesay said that Liberals “need to show fiscal restraint”, like that is going to happen.

Crashing through his promised $40-billion deficit will increase the cost of food. If the deficit guardrail is broken and driven right through, will the Prime Minister allow his Liberal MPs a free vote?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, we have already answered that question.

I would like my colleague from Atlantic Canada across the way to tell me how the Conservatives could have voted against investing in small craft harbours. How could they have voted against investing in the Coast Guard? In the supplementary estimates, how could they have voted against investing in gasoline so that the Coast Guard can go help and rescue our fishers when they run into problems at sea?

It is shameful.

National Defence

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, from supporting the wildfire response here in Canada to deterring aggression through our multinational battle group in Latvia, members of our armed forces have continuously stepped up to keep Canadians safe so that we can live in a more secure and peaceful world. For our armed forces members who are separated from their families while on deployment, this can be a hard time of the year.

Can the Minister of National Defence tell us how our government continues to support our armed forces so they can do the crucial work of keeping us safe at home?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Sudbury for her hard work on our very hard-working defence committee.

As we head into the holiday season, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all members of the Canadian Armed Forces and to the entire defence team. They have answered the call to serve and defend their country, and they have our confidence, our pride and our gratitude. I also wish to extend our thanks to their families and all those who support them in this essential work.

I wish all members of the Canadian Armed Forces happy holidays and a happy new year.

Indigenous Affairs

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for 70 years, friendship centres have served as vital community hubs for urban indigenous people. Now they are on the front line of Canada's mental health crisis, the toxic drug crisis and catastrophic climate events like floods and forest fires, but federal funding has not kept up. The National Association of Friendship Centres is clear in that it needs $62 million of federal funding annually to meet demands.

The Liberals keep letting indigenous people down with their chronic underfunding. Will the government finally provide friendship centres with long-term, sustainable funding?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member. Friendship centres provide essential services to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Their network offers culturally appropriate, mindful support to navigate health care systems, find safe shelter and learn indigenous languages, and they support our indigenous communities when they go into urban centres and provide mental health services. With this work, $32 million goes to them every year, and our government has committed an additional $60 million through budget 2024.

There is more work to do. Friendship centres do incredible work across communities in Canada, and we will work with them.

Employment

[Alain Rayes, Independent, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, many businesses in my region are having a hard time renewing work permits for their temporary foreign workers because they have exceeded the new threshold, which was lowered to 10% by the current government. With unemployment at its lowest, the survival of these businesses hangs in the balance, not to mention this is also about people. Indeed, these workers and their families will have to leave the country through no fault of their own.

What measures is the Prime Minister considering to help these businesses hold on to their essential workers while complying with immigration rules?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, since taking office, this government has made significant changes to this program. The temporary foreign worker program must meet actual labour market needs for Canadians. We are adjusting the program to reflect changes in the labour market. We are listening to what Canadians need, and we are going to take effective action.

John Horgan

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

Colleagues, following discussions among representatives from all parties, I understand that there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of John Horgan, former premier of British Columbia.

I invite hon. members to rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Regarding Bill C-63, if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion, given that Bill C-63, the so-called—

[Some hon members]

No.

The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the motion that the question be now put.

Veterans Affairs

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

It being 3:24 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the previous question to the motion to concur in the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #924

Committees of the House

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

I declare the motion carried.

The next question is on the motion to concur in the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on this important motion governing the gold diggers clause, which has disrespected so many of Canada's veterans and their spouses, we would ask for a recorded vote.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #925