House of Commons Hansard #390 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was confidence.
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, another day, another attack against Canadians from the Conservative Party of Canada. Any time someone steps up who disagrees with Conservatives' vision for Canada, what do they do? They use personal attacks. Canadians deserve better than the slogans and personal attacks we get from Conservative members of Parliament.
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, the attacks on the government's economic record are coming from inside the Liberals' own cabinet, and it looks more and more as though carbon tax Carney's plan to push out the Prime Minister is working as well. For carbon tax Carney, it has always been profits over people. We can look at his record: Since he became the top economic adviser to the PM, he has moved his own company's headquarters to New York City, and he has been caught unethically lobbying the U.K. government. His firm, Brookfield, is now looking for $10 billion in taxpayers' money for a new investment fund, which would be managed by Brookfield, his own company.
Canadians deserve better than the government in shambles. Why not call a carbon tax election and let Canadians decide for themselves?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this is the people's House; in it, we should be debating things that are pertinent to the administration of government. What we hear from the House leader from the Conservative Party of Canada is attacks on Canadians. The person the member is talking about is not a sitting member of Parliament and is not a cabinet minister; it is someone they are attacking simply because they do not share their vision of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, every single Canadian deserves better than what we hear from the opposition today.
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has lost control hours before delivering a fiscal update. The finance minister resigned, joining one-fifth of the Liberal caucus and saying she does not have confidence in the Prime Minister either. There is only one person left keeping the Prime Minister in power, and that is the leader of the NDP.
The fall budget is scheduled to be tabled in 54 minutes, and we do not even know who the finance minister is. The Liberal's own cabinet order on succession states that if it is not her, it is the industry minister, but he says he does not want to. That means it is supposed to go to the disgraced member for Edmonton Centre. Will the other Randy be Canada's next finance minister, and how much is he investing in fraud—
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Order. Again, I have asked members to please not do indirectly what they cannot do directly by referring to a member by their first name.
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, again, all we see from Conservative members of Parliament are personal attacks and mudslinging against Canadians.
What we all need to be doing right now is standing united for our country, making sure that we are protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian jobs, making things a bit easier for Canadians.
We look forward to presenting the fall economic statement later this afternoon.
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Mr. Speaker, our government takes the safety of children seriously. That is why we put forward a comprehensive plan to bring Canada into the 21st century and change our online world, making it safer for kids and better for all. The Conservatives are blocking the plan, and they are standing in the way of a better future for our kids online.
Parents want the online harms act. Experts want the online harms act. Can the Minister of Justice explain why Bill C-63 must be passed to keep our kids safe?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, last week, I asked for unanimous consent to split the online harms act and advance the child protection measures as soon as possible. Every single party got on board except for the Conservatives. The Conservative Party said no to forcing the removal of child sexual abuse material from the Internet. They said no to Amanda Todd's mother, Carol. They said no to Rehtaeh Parsons' mother and all the other parents who are begging us to act.
While Conservative inaction keeps child sexual abuse material online, on this side of the House, the government will continue to fight for victims, parents and kids to keep them safe.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has totally lost control. He has lost control of immigration, the borders and the public purse. We also know that he has lost the confidence of 20% of his caucus, or perhaps even up to 30% or 40% at this point. He has lost the confidence of his right-hand woman, the former deputy prime minister and minister of finance.
After losing the confidence of pretty much everyone in Ottawa, will the Prime Minister, who has lost everything, agree to give up and immediately call an election so that Canadians can regain control of the future of their country?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
Today, the government is going to present an economic statement focused on investing in Canadians, investing in industry, and investing in our workers.
What we saw today during question period is appalling. Canadians watching at home expect more from an official opposition. Now is the time for us to work together, to stand up for our country, and to prepare for the incoming U.S. administration.
It is disappointing to see the opposition carry on with its political games at a time like this.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe what I just heard from the finance minister. Oh, sorry, he turned the job down.
The Prime Minister is out of control. The resignation letter from his former right-hand woman and finance minister is scathing in its review of Mark Carney's economic statement. She said, “[We need to keep] our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks...which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.” She said, “Canada will win if we are strong, smart, and united.” This is serious.
We need to let Canadians decide who can best unite the country. They can choose between a Prime Minister who has lost control and a strong Conservative leader who puts Canada first.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Labour and Seniors
Mr. Speaker, shouting partisan slogans, like the member opposite is doing, is certainly not going to unite this country. The government has a serious plan to move forward in the face of American protectionist threats. As part of our economic statement to be presented later today, we will deliver prosperity for all Canadians.
Yes, we will be there to protect Canadians from any protectionist threat.
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is spiralling badly and his obsession for power is dangerous. It is actually dangerous and it is killing people every day. In Peterborough and area, families are suffering the greatest rates of food insecurity ever recorded. Do members know what food insecurity means? It means starvation, hunger, children. It is enough. This is as serious as it gets.
The finance minister quit hours before she was supposed to do this, and she does not have confidence in the Prime Minister. No one does. This man is a disgrace and we need an election now.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I ask the member, please, to be very judicious in referring to any member in this place.
The hon. Minister of Families, Children and Social Development has the floor.
Jenna Sudds LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we have made investments to ensure that Canadians, including those in Peterborough—Kawartha, have the support they need, whether that be through affordable child care or through an HST holiday. The people of Peterborough—Kawartha can rely on us and know that we on this side of the House will fight for them when their member of Parliament will do everything she can to oppose these supports.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, children in Canada are just not safe online. Our government wants to join the many countries that have now adopted online safety regulations, yet the Conservatives are preventing our online harms act from moving forward. Shockingly, they are blocking our efforts to remove child sex abuse material from the Internet. How disgusting.
Can the justice minister please describe the importance of Bill C-63 to parents and children, and explain why Canadians so urgently need this law now?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the online harms bill is the product of four years of consultation. It is comprehensive legislation that would remove child sex abuse material from the Internet. By blocking that very act, the Conservatives have made a clear choice: that they will not prioritize the safety of our kids. They do not stand with parents. Amanda Todd's mother, Carol, said she has been waiting 12 years for this type of change. We need to pass this legislation to do right by Carol and every other parent of every other child who has suffered abuse online. The question for Canadians and for that party is this: Will will they stand with us and keep kids safe?
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, the marriage-after-60 pension clause is dated, sexist and unfair. All parties agree it should be eliminated, but the Liberals have sat on their hands and let veterans and their spouses down. The Liberals' former deputy leader said it best: Canadians can tell when the government is focused on itself and not on real people. Failing to remove this clause proves it.
When will the Liberals stop labelling women as gold diggers and get rid of this archaic, sexist clause?
Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to thank the members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their service.
When a person serves in the military, we all recognize their family serves with them. Our government is sensitive to the situation of widowed spouses who had married veterans after the age of 60, and our government is committed to improving and to supporting members of veterans' families as we move forward.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, in my last question in 2024, I think of the IPCC sixth assessment report—
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Colleagues, really, I would like to hear the hon. member. She is at the far end of the room and it is difficult for me to hear. I would like her to please start again.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, in my last question in 2024, I think of the IPCC sixth assessment report: that if we do not globally reduce emissions dramatically, peak before and see dramatic reductions “at the latest before 2025”, we will shoot way past the Paris Agreement targets, shoot way past 2°C and face climate disaster. I think of the words in that film The Age of Stupid: What were we thinking, to avoid the opportunity to save ourselves when we had the chance?
Can the hon. minister give us any excuse? Perhaps this question period answers its own question.
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the hon. colleague that everything we have done since we have been in power, in 2015, has meant a 43% decline in emissions in Canada. Greenhouse gas emissions are at their lowest level in 27 years. Our plan is working. We are helping the economy, creating jobs and fighting pollution.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 46 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.