Order please.
The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.
House of Commons Hansard #385 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was indigenous.
House of Commons Hansard #385 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was indigenous.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has been sounding the alarm since the safe third country agreement was renegotiated in 2023.
There is a loophole that enables people who cross the border illegally to claim asylum after hiding for 14 days. On Friday, a CBSA report obtained by the media confirmed that, just between April and September 2023, nearly 2,000 people took advantage of that loophole and claimed asylum. According to the CBSA, the exact figures are almost certainly higher than that.
Will the government finally take action to close this 14-day loophole?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec
Liberal
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, if I understand correctly, my colleague wants me to take immediate action here, on the floor of the House of Commons, without informing the United States.
Of course, we are concerned about border security. We will continue to strengthen and guarantee border security.
I hope the Bloc Québécois will support the reforms to the asylum system that we will be proposing in the near future, because the last time we proposed such reforms in May, the Bloc Québécois refused to support them and even said no, despite the Government of Quebec's pleas.
The Bloc members need to be more consistent.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is basically the minister's job to answer questions. This is question period.
The government has known for over a year that the 14-day loophole is being exploited. The Liberals have known for over a year that thousands of people are crossing the border illegally to seek asylum. They have known for over a year that criminal smugglers are abusing vulnerable people for as much as $45,000. They have done nothing, and it is inexcusable. It is inhumane.
Why did it take Donald Trump's threats for this government to take action against illegal immigration and organized crime, when it has known about it for a year?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec
Liberal
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the member seems to be forgetting recent history, and specifically the renewed visa requirements for Mexican nationals. The Bloc Québécois itself claimed victory on this issue. We have been tightening up the immigration system for the past year, and the fact is, it is working.
It is important to note that, since November, the number of border crossers being intercepted at the north-south border has hit an all-time low. We will continue this important work to ensure our border is secure.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's failure to table a timely fall economic statement goes to the core incompetency of the government. Canadians need a government to axe the carbon tax, build more homes by exempting the GST from new home construction and fix the budget by getting spending under control. Canadians are tired of waiting.
Can the finance minister confirm whether she will keep her promise that the deficit will not exceed her $40-billion fiscal guardrail? Yes or no, please.
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, it is great to learn today that our government will announce the fall economic statement. It will be tabled on December 16, which is good news.
What is interesting is that when the Conservatives say “fix the budget”, what they really mean to say, and what Canadians should hear as translated, is “cut programs and services Canadians rely on”. Whether it is dental care, pharmacare or early childhood education, any of the signature programs that have supported Canadians through this inflationary crisis, Conservatives are going to cut all of them.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is nearly Christmas and we are still waiting for the fall economic statement and the public accounts, both of which should have been tabled in October. That is just basic management.
Canadians need to know how much debt the government is piling on. If the government cannot even manage the basics, like giving Canadians the straight facts about the public's finances, will it call an immediate election so Canadians can elect a government that will?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I have been here for five years, thank God, for the people of Whitby. I have never seen the level of obstruction in the House that I have seen over the last 40-something days, when the Conservatives have continued to filibuster and block every aspect of parliamentary functioning and work. Are they standing up complaining that the fall economic statement is just a bit too late for them? Well, you have done it to yourself.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I remind all members to make sure they pass all comments through the Chair.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, stopping tax hikes, the debt, inflation and bureaucracy seems to have no meaning for the “Liberal Bloc”. To common-sense Conservatives, all of it is essential.
Our vision is to manage carefully and leave money in Quebeckers' pockets. The Bloc Québécois voted twice against a non-confidence motion to keep this government in power when this same government shows us how incompetent it is every day.
When will there be an election so that Quebeckers can take home bigger paycheques?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, our colleague talks about common sense.
I want to talk about their nonsense. In her own riding, 100 affordable housing units are being built on Guillaume‑Couture Boulevard with the Lévis municipal housing office, the City of Lévis and Mayor Lehouillier, as well as Minister Drainville, from the Government of Quebec. They are very proud of these 100 housing units. However, she is allowing her Conservative leader to claim that these housing units do not exist and that he wants to stop the construction, to boot.
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government has introduced a GST tax break during the holiday season that will help Canadians keep more money in their pockets, especially families with young children who need it most. Meanwhile, the Conservative leader and his party voted against this holiday tax break, all while they keep preaching in favour of tax cuts and helping Canadians.
Can the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion please tell us what the federal government is doing to support hard-working Canadians during the Christmas season?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Diversity
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed ironic that the Conservative leader, who loves to talk about cutting taxes, was quick to vote against the very tax cut that would put real money back in the pockets of Canadians. We have already cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses. Now, with this GST cut, we are giving even more support for families. It is too bad that the Conservatives are only allowed to serve the needs of their leader rather than their own constituents.
Our government will continue to focus on what matters, and that is delivering for Canadians.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, everyone is reaching the same conclusion. For the past nine years, this Liberal government has wasted money and saddled Canadians with more debt. Unfortunately, the Bloc Québécois has voted to keep the government in power on two occasions. I know that Quebeckers deserve better.
This minority government is once again proving that it has lost control of finances by tabling its economic update on the eve of a House break.
Does the most wasteful government in history have another deficit in store for us as a Christmas present?
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Before I yield the floor to the hon. minister, I remind all members not to speak unless they are recognized by the Speaker.
The hon. Minister of Innovation.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier for his question.
I know it is Christmas. Conservatives love fairy tales and slogans, but the reality is that even the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, for whom I have a great deal of respect, knows that we have attracted record investments. In 2023, Canada was the third largest recipient of foreign investment in the world. We are investing in Canadians. We are investing in industry. We are investing in Canadian workers.
We should be celebrating the investments being made in Canada.
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Mill Woods, AB
Mr. Speaker, Harshandeep Singh was just 20 years old when he came to Canada to build a better life. He got a job, like many other students, as a security guard in Edmonton. Just three days after starting his job, he was murdered on the job. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends at this very difficult time. However, his killer was a violent criminal with past police interactions and a potentially long criminal history.
The government changed the laws to make it easier for repeat violent offenders to roam free in our communities. When will it take the safety of our communities seriously?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I, like every member of Parliament, am very troubled by that story about that young man losing his life so cavalierly. Our condolences go out to his family and to his entire community.
With respect to keeping Canadians safe is this, we are working on multiple fronts. Part of that deals with gun control, and that is assault weapons and handguns. Another part of it is the bail reform, which we implemented at the behest of the provinces. If there is more that needs to be done under the Criminal Code, we are open to that. However, we are also keen on seeing in the province of Alberta and other provinces investments being made in courtroom spaces, in police officers, in JPs and in Crown attorneys, so we can all do the work we need to keep Canadians safe.
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Mill Woods, AB
Mr. Speaker, violent gun crime has gone up over 100% since the Liberals have been in power. In one year, 256 Canadians were murdered by somebody who was out on bail or out on some type of condition.
Harshandeep Singh's murder and many others cannot be accepted as just unfortunate unavoidable incidents. It is a serious systemic failure when the government allows violent criminals with long criminal records to roam freely in our communities.
When will the NDP-Liberals stop this madness and prioritize the safety of Canadians? If they will not do it, we are ready.
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the safety of Canadians is all of our responsibility. The tool that we have in this chamber is the Criminal Code of Canada. The tool that the provinces have is implementing the administration of criminal justice in their localities.
What does that mean? That means hiring police officers. It means hiring Crowns to argue about bail cases. It means ensuring JPs have the training to apply the law. It means ensuring that there are detention facilities to house people who are being denied bail. These are critical facets that need to be invested in.
We are doing the work we need to on the Criminal Code, and we will continue to do so. What we expect is co-operation from the provinces.
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Speaker, countries and businesses around the world are heavily investing in artificial intelligence. The benefits of this cutting-edge technology are already growing, finding efficiencies and spurring innovation. It is imperative that we secure the Canadian advantage.
Could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry update the House on how he is making sure that Canada leads the global shift to AI and that our workers, like the many AI companies in my hometown of Richmond, are the ones benefiting from the jobs and growth that come along with it?