House of Commons Hansard #384 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was point.
Jenna Sudds LiberalMinister of Families
Madam Speaker, when I was out and about in my community talking to parents, I recently had a conversation with Olivier, who just had his fourth child. He shared with me the impact of the Canada child benefit on his family. He shared with me the impact of affordable child care, which has enabled both of them to go back to work.
These are meaningful measures we have taken to address affordability for Canadians that we continue to see the Conservatives oppose.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Madam Speaker, the inflationary Liberal policies of this Prime Minister, supported by the Bloc Québécois, have crushed Canadians.
Today, children in Quebec are turning to Santa Claus in the hope of having their basic needs met. There are 114 children asking for mittens and another 500 asking for winter coats. It is unbelievable. This kind of heartbreaking request should not exist in a country like Canada.
When will the “Liberal Bloc” stop devastating Quebec families and robbing them of their hope, especially the hope of children?
Stéphane Lauzon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens' Services
Madam Speaker, affordability for our families and for our kids is top of mind for everyone. We have put measures in place, such as breakfast programs for kids and a GST break.
The Conservatives had a great opportunity to vote with us. They had a great opportunity to tell families in need this holiday season that, yes, the Conservatives have their backs.
They did exactly the opposite. They voted against every measure for Canadian kids.
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Madam Speaker, the federal government does not even know whether our veterans are dead or alive. This is unbelievable. Two veterans discovered that they were included on two sculptures honouring fallen heroes. Of the 67 people listed, 12 are still alive and four have never even worn the uniform.
These two women filed a complaint. A year later, yes, the plaque has been removed, but their images are still being used, without their permission, on the two sculptures, among the dead.
Will the minister ever remove these sculptures and apologize?
Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising this issue in the House.
I can confirm that the department has not provided funding to this specific project and that VAC was not asked to validate the list of names featured on the memorial. That said, Veterans Affairs is in touch with the organization to rectify the matter, and we will.
The executive director of Canadian Trees for Life has said, with respect to the issue, that getting it rectified is a major priority. They expect this to be done swiftly and without delay.
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Madam Speaker, the Liberals do not even know what it was they paid for. No one checked what the $2.9 million paid in 2019 was used for. Even after the ribbon cutting, with Liberal MPs in attendance, no one knew they had paid for sculptures that named living soldiers among the dead.
It took women veterans to file complaints in 2023. As recently as Monday, the Minister of Veterans Affairs was unaware of the situation when I asked her about it. Five years on, these two sculptures are a monument to federal government incompetence.
Will the minister remove them?
Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment
Madam Speaker, I can confirm that the department did not provide funding for this specific project and that Veterans Affairs Canada was not contacted to confirm the list of names appearing on the memorial.
That said, the department is in touch with the organization involved to correct the situation. I expect that this will be done quickly and without delay.
Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and his new BFF, the Maserati Marxist, have never been more out of touch. Their punishing carbon tax makes gas, groceries and heating more expensive. The carbon tax coalition has doubled housing costs, doubled rent, doubled mortgage payments and doubled the down payment for a home. Workers cannot afford to pay their rent or mortgage, and Canadians are out of money.
When will the Prime Minister call a carbon tax election so we can axe the tax for good?
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
I want to remind members to be judicious with the words they use and to not use them to describe other members.
The hon. minister has the floor.
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Madam Speaker, I just want to clarify the record for everyone who is watching question period on a Friday morning: The coalition on carbon pricing actually fissured this year when the NDP abandoned its policy on carbon pricing. It is known as the most effective economic measure to bring down the price of pollution and also to boost economic activity.
Witness the Canada carbon rebate to individuals and now witness the Canada carbon rebate being applied to small businesses, as much as tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of a business. It is an economic model that is proven in terms of the evidence, and it is a model that helps bring down emissions.
I would just hope that the NDP would get back on board.
Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Madam Speaker, the government has killed small business, and it is all about the pension when it comes to the NDP.
Next week, the NDP leader will be forced to vote on his own words. It will be the ultimate test of who he is. Does he mean what he says or are his words meaningless? He said he was ripping up the supply and confidence deal. We know it was a stunt before a by-election. The NDP leader gets his pension, the Prime Minister gets his power and Canadians get the bill.
Stop the charade, end the games and call a carbon tax election now.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
This is not a question on the administration of the House.
The. hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country has the floor.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadian families are paying the price for the Prime Minister's inflationary carbon tax. “Canada's Food Price Report 2025” just revealed that a family of four will spend $800 more on food in 2025. Food prices rose 36% faster in Canada than in the United States. Taxing farmers, truckers and ultimately families has driven millions of Canadians to food banks, yet the Liberals are hiking the carbon tax again.
Will the Prime Minister finally give families some relief and cancel his punitive carbon tax?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation
Madam Speaker, 15¢ on a $100 bill is how small the impact of carbon pricing truly is. However, when we offered Canadians a GST tax cut over the holidays that is 100 times greater than that, the Conservatives opposed it. Conservatives demonstrate in the House every single day how they are not supporting Canadians, but this is truly a new height to the Conservatives' hypocrisy.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, while the member does all the work for the Prime Minister and the NDP-Liberal government, food bank usage is actually up 90%. Rising food costs driven by the carbon tax mean that the average family will spend $16,800 on food next year. People who used to donate to food banks are now clients. Canadians are struggling, yet the Prime Minister will quadruple the carbon tax to 61¢ a litre.
Will the Prime Minister admit his failed policies, which are making food unaffordable, and cancel the carbon tax so families can put food on their table?
Jenna Sudds LiberalMinister of Families
Madam Speaker, I challenge the member to point to a single thing that her party has done to help Canadians address affordability issues. Frankly, it is appalling. On this side of the House, we will continue to put forward measures like a GST holiday and like the Canada child benefit to ensure that families have the support they need through these expensive times, while the Conservatives continue to deny Canadians the support they need.
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Madam Speaker, it is disappointing that at a time when so many families are struggling to afford the basic essentials, the Conservatives are voting against a GST tax cut, at Christmas no less.
The Liberals' classic half measure not only does not put enough money back in people's pockets but also requires small businesses to change their prices twice in two months at the busiest time of year.
Why will the Liberals not vote for our plan, expand the GST tax cut, make it permanent, put more money back in people's pockets and give small businesses a break?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation
Madam Speaker, a GST break on essentials for Canadians over the holidays is going to make life more affordable for them for the next two months. That is good news for Canadians. It is great to see the NDP behind that proposal from the government.
It is a shame that the Conservatives, who have harped on in the House about cutting taxes, for months and months, for as long as I can remember, would actually stand up in the House to oppose a tax break for Canadians over the holidays. They are not serious; that is clear. All Canadians should wake up and realize that the Conservatives just will not be there to support them.
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Madam Speaker, more than half of women living on the streets are survivors of domestic violence, and women with disabilities are even more vulnerable, because when they marry, the government claws back their disability benefits, making them choose between abuse and homelessness. The Liberals have let women with disabilities down, and we know what happened to support for women when Conservatives were in power: cuts, cuts and cuts.
Will the Liberals stop their cruel and callous clawbacks that put women with disabilities in danger?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Diversity
Madam Speaker, for the first time in Canada, there is a benefit designed specifically to help persons with disabilities, and of course it is going to help women with disabilities as well. This is a historic step that we have put forward to address the long-standing poverty among working-age persons with disabilities. Like with other progressive programs, we are going to make sure we continue to expand it to make sure all working-age Canadians with disabilities are supported, particularly some of the most vulnerable women.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
Before I go to the next question, I am going to allow the hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake to re-ask his question, because I had not heard the end of it. I do want to remind members that they should link their question to the administration of the House a little earlier in their question so we know where it is heading.
Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Madam Speaker, it is all about the pension. Next week, the NDP leader will be forced to vote on his own words, the ultimate test of who he is as a leader. Does he mean it or not? When he said he ripped up the supply agreement, it was just a stunt before a by-election. The NDP leader gets his pension. The Prime Minister gets his power. Canadians get the bill.
It is time to call a carbon tax election, stop the charade, end the games and call the election now.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
There was actually no question in the comment. I am not sure whether anybody wants to respond at this point.
There is no response.
The honourable member for St. John's East has the floor.
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Madam Speaker, today we remember the 14 young women who were killed during the École Polytechnique massacre. As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence come to an end, we are reminded that our work must continue until we achieve a Canada free of gender-based violence.
Could the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth update Canadians on the work our government is doing to prevent gender-based violence?
Marci Ien LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
Madam Speaker, it has been 35 years since the École Polytechnique massacre, where 14 women were gunned down simply because they were women. This tragedy reminds us why we must stand against gender-based violence, so we can prevent femicides.
The greatest risk for intimate partner violence becoming lethal is a gun in the home. That is why we have banned more than 1,500 assault-style weapons, including the type of gun that was used at École Polytechnique. Yesterday we banned an additional 324 types.
On this side of the House, we will always prioritize the safety of women.