Debates of Feb. 28th, 2024

Housing

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, 19 years as a politician is the Leader of the Opposition, including some time as the housing minister, and his plan to fix housing is anything but a plan. It will not build homes fast enough. It does not reach enough cities, and it creates unnecessary bureaucracy. He would also, get this, rip up the housing accelerator agreements, which are unlocking over 600,000 new homes, and he would put the GST back on apartment construction.

Housing experts like Mike Moffatt say that the Conservative leader's plan is exceptionally weak, and it is a sign that the Conservatives do not understand the urgency or the scale of the housing crisis.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister brags that there is a housing crisis after he has been in power for eight long years. He quotes the same failed Liberal academics who gave him the advice that helped him double the price in the first place.

The Conservatives' common-sense plan will incentivize cities to speed up and to lower the cost of building by requiring that they permit 15% more homes as a condition of getting the money. The more they build, they more they get; the less they build, the less they get. We pay builders based on the number of homes they build and realtors for the number that they sell. We should pay municipalities based on the number they permit.

Is that not common sense?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, slogans and buzzwords do not get housing built; constructive deals with municipalities and provinces do. We see time and time again that Conservatives have nothing to propose but cuts, conditions and fights with municipalities, fights with community organizations, crossing their arms and tossing insults at people, instead of actually proposing a real plan.

We are busy working on delivering hundreds of thousands of new homes over the coming years. This is the work that needs to get done. The Conservative leader just needs to get out of the way.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this just goes to show once again that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost of housing. He says that housing will be built over the coming years. He has been the Prime Minister for eight years. What has happened? He has doubled the cost of housing. Housing prices in Montreal have actually tripled in eight years.

My common-sense plan will incentivize municipalities to build more housing by giving them bonuses if they build more and penalties if they build less. That is just common sense.

Will the Prime Minister finally follow through on a plan for more housing and less red tape?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader is offering budget cuts, austerity and disputes with municipalities and non-profit organizations, or NPOs, across the country. We are choosing to work hand in hand with the municipalities, the provinces and NPOs to build more housing, lower rents and create more opportunities for families and young people to purchase a home.

We have a concrete plan that we are implementing. He has nothing to offer but insults, attacks, budget cuts and austerity.

Public Services and Procurement

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government is mired in one of the worst financial scandals in the public service. It happened somewhere in the public service, yet to be determined. It is the worst scandal since the sponsorship scandal, which relegated the Liberal Party to obscurity for many years.

We have made four clear requests: that the Prime Minister acknowledge his responsibility; that he call an independent inquiry in addition to, but more limited than, that of other authorities; that he recover the money, for goodness' sake; and that he put the CBSA under administrative supervision after this massive mistake.

Let us start with the first. Will the Prime Minister admit that, as Prime Minister, he is accountable and responsible to the people of Quebec and Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, obviously this situation is unacceptable. That is why the authorities are looking into this procurement project, which obviously did not work as it should have. We expect anyone who took advantage of and personally profited from the activities of a government, whose priority was to save lives during the COVID‑19 pandemic, to face the consequences. We are ensuring that the authorities can do their work.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at least there is one thing we agree on: This is unacceptable. That means that the Prime Minister is responsible for something unacceptable. Take some action, please.

What is he going to do to recover the tens of millions of misspent dollars? Will he put the Canada Border Services Agency under administrative supervision and launch an independent inquiry, one that has the added appeal of going back as far as the Harper years?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we agree. This situation is unacceptable. That is why the authorities are closely examining the procurement process and looking at all the years when individuals involved in these companies may have benefited from government procurement projects. This is something that we obviously have to take seriously and that the authorities are taking seriously.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have to wonder what was going through the mind of the Bloc Québécois leader when the Prime Minister asked him to spend $24 million on an app that was supposed to cost $80,000. He said that he would vote yes, regardless of the cost. That is what the Bloc Québécois said.

In fact, the Bloc Québécois House leader said that it is not the Bloc Québécois's job to scrutinize everything the government spends. Its members just tell the government, “Go ahead”.

What is the point of the Bloc Québécois?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I see the right hon. Prime Minister rising to answer that question. I would just like to remind all members that questions must concern the administration of government or committee business.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Conservative Party asked me what the point of the Bloc Québécois is. I think that question shows contempt for Quebeckers. Although I disagree with the Bloc Québécois and the way it is constantly trying to pick fights, Quebeckers in many ridings voted for Bloc Québécois members, who are just doing their job here in the House of Commons.

We saw this same contempt for Quebeckers shown to mayors Marchand and Plante. It is something we see from the Conservative Party all the time.

The fact is, we all have a job to do, and we do it here in the House.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this new Liberal-Bloc marriage is a sight to behold. The Prime Minister compliments the Bloc Québécois, who in turn applauds the Prime Minister. The Bloc Québécois votes to give more money for arrive scam and to radically increase the taxes imposed by this Prime Minister. The Bloc Québécois votes for housing policies that have doubled the cost of housing for Quebeckers. The Bloc Québécois votes with the Prime Minister to release criminals back onto the streets.

What is the point of this Liberal-Bloc marriage?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this is another very clear display of the Conservative Party's contempt not only for Quebeckers, but also for democracy.

I have spent my entire political career fighting for federalism in Quebec and for a united Canada, quite often against the Bloc Québécois. However, I have always had a deep respect for anyone who runs for office to serve their community and to be elected to the House of Commons.

The Conservatives' contempt for democracy should be worrisome to Quebeckers and to all Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I am simply asking the same question the Quebec premier did. It was François Legault who asked what the point of voting for the Bloc Québécois was. I know it helps the Prime Minister, because the Bloc Québécois voted with the Prime Minister to radically increase taxes on gasoline and diesel. The Bloc Québécois supported the ban on hunting rifles for Quebeckers in the regions. The Bloc Québécois is voting to release criminals and cause a crime wave on the streets. That means voting for the Bloc Québécois helps the Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I heard another display of utter contempt for democracy and for Quebeckers, but I did not hear a question.

Justice

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, protecting children is a priority for our government.

On Monday, we introduced the online harms act. Before the House even had the opportunity to look at the bill, the Conservatives indicated that they would oppose this protection. Even more shocking is the fact that they want to make Canadians share their personal information with dubious websites.

Can the Prime Minister tell Canadian families how the act will protect them?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for her important question.

We are working hard to fight the very real impacts and tragic consequences of online harms. We are doing that by ensuring that social media platforms adhere to their own security policies. The Conservative leader's plan involves forcing Canadians to have a digital ID and expecting them to share their personal information with dubious websites.

Canadians, especially children, deserve to be safe in every aspect of their lives, including online.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost of everything going up. He increased a tax on energy with the support of the Bloc Québécois, which wants to drastically increase it. He increased payroll taxes, once again with the support of the Bloc Québécois. He has driven up inflationary spending with the support of the Bloc Québécois, which voted in favour of all this discretionary spending.

Now he wants to increase taxes on beer, wine and all other alcoholic beverages as of April 1. People need a drink after all the taxes this Prime Minister makes them pay.

Will he cancel these increases?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we see how badly the leader of the Conservative Party wants to pick a fight.

We are here to invest to support vulnerable Canadians, whether it is with dental care or child care spaces. We are here to invest in our seniors and to protect their pensions when he attacks the pension plan. We are here to help Canadians every step of the way. We will always put the most vulnerable Canadians first.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative common-sense plan will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.

Meanwhile, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister has raised taxes on gas, heat, groceries and paycheques; raised income taxes on middle-class and lower-income Canadians; and raised taxes on small businesses. He keeps raising taxes. It is enough to drive a man to drink, but he wants to tax that too on April 1 with another 5% increase on beer, wine and spirits that will kill jobs for those workers and raise costs for consumers.

Will he have the humanity to let someone have a drink in peace?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while the Conservative leader continues to figure out catchy slogans and buzzwords, we are rolling up our sleeves to deliver for Canadians with more housing, dental care, supports for seniors, supports for young families and fighting against climate change while putting more money in their pockets.

We are doing the hard work of delivering for Canadians while he proposes nothing but cuts to programs, austerity and catchy slogans. We need a continued, responsible approach to government, and that is exactly what we are delivering.

Public Safety

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after reports that the RCMP had to intervene at the Winnipeg Lab due to a security breach and the great public speculation of espionage by a foreign dictatorship at that Canadian lab, the Prime Minister fought tooth and nail to prevent any of the documents from coming out, including by defying a motion of this House. We found out from a letter written by all parties that had seen the documents, including a Liberal MP, that this was to cover up embarrassment, not protect national security.

What did the Prime Minister have to hide?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the ministers will be tabling the documents resulting from this process after question period.

I will note in this question period, following the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that the Leader of the Opposition had nothing to say about this war raging in Ukraine, nothing to say to Ukrainian Canadians as Canada signed security assurances guaranteeing support to Ukraine for the next 10 years. He demonstrates once again he is non-committal in his support toward Ukraine and his support toward Ukrainians.

It is shameful that the Leader of the Opposition will not talk about—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Halifax West.