House of Commons Hansard #383 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was women.
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have adopted meaningful measures to rid our streets of weapons of war, guns designed for battlefields, assault weapons that have no place in our communities.
I think it is shameful that, on the 35th anniversary of the Polytechnique shooting, the Conservatives are standing up to repeat the falsehoods of the gun lobby.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the Quebec National Assembly made me truly proud to be a Quebecker when it unanimously adopted a motion denouncing hate speech and calling for an end to the religious exemption. Calling for someone's death in the name of God should not be any more legal than calling for the death of someone we do not like. Freedom of religion does not give a person carte blanche to spread hate. If a religion is misogynistic and homophobic, the problem is not women or homosexuals.
Why did the Liberals reject my motion denouncing the religious exemption, even though it was similar to the motion adopted that same day in the Quebec National Assembly?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of how much hate exists in our communities and the anti-Semitism that exists across Canada right now.
The Bloc Québécois's suggestion is quite welcome. It is a good suggestion, and we would like to study it thoroughly. I do want to emphasize, as I have already mentioned several times, that we have already introduced legislation that would help combat hate in Canada, namely Bill C-63.
If the Bloc Québécois would support us on that, it will help all Canadians.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, Before I had time to read even a sentence of my motion yesterday, we were already hearing “no” from the Liberal benches. I had just enough time to say, “That the House affirm that no hate speech is tolerated”, when the Liberals were already saying no.
Some people in the House have no problem tolerating hate. People can say, “May God strike all the unbelievers dead.” According to these Liberals, uttering threats and spreading hate is perfectly fine as long as it is done in the name of God.
The Liberal justice minister claims to want to abolish hate speech. How does he feel about Liberal MPs who insist that death threats should be legal as long as they are made in God's name?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the numbers are astounding. Hate has risen by 130% in the past few years. It is a problem for all Canadians, including Quebeckers. We are perfectly willing to keep discussing the bill put forward by the Bloc Québécois. However, it is important to note that we already have a bill on the table, Bill C‑63, which addresses the same sections of the Criminal Code. It seeks tougher penalties for people who incite hatred.
All of us must do this work together.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, it was just reported in Vancouver that two people were wounded in another random stabbing. After nine years of the Prime Minister, these tragic stories are sadly more common, as violent crime is up 50%. The NDP-Liberal soft-on-crime policies and laws have unleashed a crime wave across Canada, including random attacks.
Bill C-75 created a catch-and-release bail system. Bill C-5 removed mandatory minimum sentences on many serious crimes. Will the Liberal government reverse these reckless policies?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, Bill C-75 codified existing Supreme Court jurisprudence and added a tougher decision on bail for those who target women. That is a fact.
Let us talk about the actual combat against crime. Let us talk about crimes against children. We cannot make this up. What the Leader of the Opposition has said, and what his justice critic has reiterated, is that no matter what progress we make, with the help of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, on taking down child pornography off the Internet, they will reverse it. That is morally bankrupt as a policy and incredulous to assert in this chamber. The combat against crime includes the combat against child sex predators.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, that was a desperate and untrue response.
After nine years of the NDP-Liberals, Canadians do not even feel safe walking down the street, taking public transit or even being in their own homes. Canadians want repeat violent offenders to remain behind bars and mandatory jail time for serious violent crimes.
Small businesses have had it with the crime and the extra costs. Every Canadian premier called on the Liberals to scrap the catch-and-release bail policies.
Will the Liberals listen and reverse their reckless crime policies, or just get out of the way so that a Conservative government can fix what they broke?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the facts. The facts, as reported by CTV, are that the Conservative leader has vowed to repeal the legislation entirely should it become law. Yesterday, the Conservative justice critic indicated that it was exactly that, they would repeal online regulation bills passed by the Liberal government.
That might deter some people. It sure as heck is not going to deter me. I am going to keep Canadians safe, and that means Canadian moms and Canadian children. If I do that with my party's help, with the help of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, so be it. I will do it over the opposition of the Conservatives, because their position is morally bankrupt and endangers our kids.
Jamil Jivani Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, after a home invasion in Oakville, the Halton police chief said, “Yet another violent offender already out on similar and violent charges with court conditions on him. Anyone surprised that some of these violent criminals reoffend?”
I know someone who might be surprised, the Liberal Minister of Justice. It is tragic and appalling that he thinks he knows more than police officers do in our country.
When will the Liberal government listen to police across Canada and stop violent criminals?
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I invite the hon. member for Ottawa Centre to please not to take the floor when not recognized by the Chair.
The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, here are examples of a few police officers to whom I am listening. Deputy chief in Vaughan, Alvaro Almeida, has said specifically that without investments in resources like courts and Crown attorneys, we cannot keep the bad guys in jail. I am also listening to the National Police Federation and police officers. What they have said is that in order to be appointed as a JP, who decides bail, in Nova Scotia, a person has to have legal training. That is not the case throughout the country and certainly not the case in the province of Ontario, where I call home. This is an issue that needs to be addressed, because we all have a vested interest in keeping people safe.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Again, I am going to ask the hon. member for Durham, who is a new member, not to take the floor, especially after he asked a question. It is important for us to hear the response.
The hon. member for Sudbury.
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, our government is introducing a tax holiday for all Canadians, effective December 14, so that they can celebrate the holidays without worrying about additional costs. That means significant savings on food, snacks, children's clothing and much more. However, the Conservative members voted against this tax cut.
Can the minister explain to my constituents how this measure can ease their tax concerns during the holidays?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalMinister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, what is the Conservative leader doing for people to give them a tax holiday? He is doing nothing.
I am sure my colleagues are all familiar with the popular Christmas movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That is what is happening here.
That story had a happy ending, but in our case, the heart of the Conservative leader is not growing. He simply does not want to help families with a tax holiday on toys, diapers and groceries. Canadians can no longer trust the Conservative Party leader.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, it has been eight months since fiscal year end. How are we supposed to vote on billions in spending and taxation without the deficit number?
Speculation is that the government has blown through its fiscal anchor despite the finance minister promising that “This is our fiscal anchor—a line we shall not cross, and that will ensure that our finances remain sustainable so long as it remains unbreached.”
What is the deficit, how big is the breach and how unsustainable are federal fiscal finances?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have the lowest deficit of all our G7 peers. We also have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio.
It will be our pleasure to present a fall economic statement, so all Canadians can see what the books look like, including the Conservative Party. However, we also need to support Canadians. We also need to have affordability measures. That is why we are cutting taxes for Canadians. We are giving Canadians a tax break, and the Conservatives have no explanation for why they want to deny Canadians a tax holiday.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, here is what Stephen Poloz, the past governor of the Bank of Canada, said just two days ago, “I would say we're in a recession, I wouldn’t even call it a technical one.” The past governor says that we are in a recession and the current deputy governor of the bank says that it is an emergency.
When will the government start listening to the experts and understand that its policies on its budgets, its spending and its deficits, whatever the number is, have caused a recession and an economic emergency?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I am quite disappointed in the Conservative member opposite. He should know what the definition of a recession is. We have not even had a single quarter of negative growth. In fact, Statistics Canada just revised our growth numbers upward for the last three years.
The Conservatives would like to quote former governors of the Bank of Canada. I have got one. David Dodge said, “because [the Conservative Party] was obsessively focused on reducing the federal deficit [between 2011 and 2015], the Harper government unnecessarily contributed to a slower, rather more muted recovery”.
This Liberal government has ensured a very strong recovery, the strongest in the G7.
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of broken fiscal promises, the Liberal-NDP Prime Minister has zero credibility. He promised that the budget would balance itself. His finance minister promised that the 2023 deficit would not exceed $40 billion. Now the Parliamentary Budget Officer has told us that the Liberal government has shattered through its $40 billion-deficit promise by $7 billion.
I have one question for the Prime Minister. What is the deficit?
Anita Anand LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, what we hear on the other side of the House is not resonating with Canadians. The reason is because Canadians, in their time of need, require a government that recognizes that its supports for dental care, supports for pharmacare, supports for a national school food program, supports for the most vulnerable in our economy are ones that the Conservatives ignore. They vote against them every single time. On this side of the House, we will always be there to support Canadians in their time of need.
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government is introducing a two-month tax break for all Canadians. Starting December 14, we are taking the GST off children's clothing and diapers, as well as prepared foods and restaurant meals. We would think that after all their preaching about cutting taxes, the Conservatives would walk the walk and support this measure, but they voted against it. Why will the Conservatives not axe this tax?
Could the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities tell us why axing this tax on the middle class is important for all Canadians?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Housing
That is right, Mr. Speaker. Despite positioning themselves in a contrary way, those guys are all tax and no axe. The Conservatives are literally opposing a tax cut on the essentials over the holidays. We are talking about food, clothes, diapers, car seats and snowsuits for kids.
The only thing the Conservatives want to cut is the programs that are delivering real support to Canadians. They want to cut the programs that are helping get homes built across the country. They want to cut the programs that are actually delivering meaningful change to the environment in the country. They will not stand up for working families. They have had the chance and they said no.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, Alberta has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, yet we have documents showing that Premier Danielle Smith is organizing a secret mission to bring over cheap labour from the United Arab Emirates of all places. This is at the same time the UCP states it finds it “disgusting” that workers from other parts of Canada are working in the oil patch.
The Liberals and Conservatives have allowed big CEOs to drive down wages and exploit foreign workers, while leaving Albertans who need jobs behind.
Will the Minister of Workforce Development stand up to Danielle Smith and defend the jobs of Alberta workers?
Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, our government's priority is to provide Canadians with good, well-paying jobs. We are making Canadian workers a priority. We are sensitive to the needs of workers and the labour market. That is why we are scaling back the temporary foreign worker program so that we can meet Canadians' needs. We are always there to support Canadian workers.