Debates of April 10th, 2024

Intergovernmental Affairs

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we are investing to build homes in Quebec.

For example, with the housing accelerator fund, we are concluding an agreement worth $1.8 billion with the province of Quebec to build 8,000 affordable housing units across the province. The Conservative Party opposes this investment. That is unbelievable.

We continue to invest in order to make things better and build more affordable housing as quickly as possible.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can you trust them?

When it comes to any federal responsibility, like border management, managing our military, ArriveCAN or employment insurance to name just a few, it is apparent that everything goes haywire with this government. Now he is adding insult to injury by encroaching on areas of Quebec jurisdiction.

Does the Prime Minister understand that he will just make the situation worse for Quebeckers and for all other Canadians?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague the Minister of Housing has already talked about the 8,000 affordable housing units that Quebec municipalities will build in the coming months and years.

We already know about the six affordable housing units that the Conservative leader built during his time as housing minister.

What my colleague may not know is that in his own riding, the Charles IV housing project alone has built 163 affordable housing units in the past few months, which is 25 times more than the number of affordable housing units his Conservative leader had built across the country during his entire mandate.

Dental Care

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the expression area of jurisdiction contains the word “jurisdiction”.

When someone has a toothache, they do not call the hairdresser, any more than they would call the federal government. Federal dental coverage is not even available yet, and already everyone is furious with Ottawa. Seniors are furious because after being promised free care, they are going to have to foot the bill. Dentists are furious because Ottawa blames them. This is all because Ottawa, which knows absolutely nothing about this, promised free care without knowing how much it would cost.

Why not act like the tooth fairy and put the money under Quebec City's pillow?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely essential for everyone across the country, including Quebeckers, to be able to receive oral and dental care. That is our goal and that is what we are going to do.

I will definitely continue to work with the Government of Quebec in a spirit of co-operation. It is only the Bloc Québécois that is looking for problems and picking fights. Our government is looking for solutions that ensure that everyone can get the health care they need.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the money Ottawa is spending on dental care could be used to improve Quebec's health insurance plan, or RAMQ. Quebec even said that that is what it wants to do. Instead, Ottawa is creating a bureaucratic duplication that is infuriating everyone before the program even gets off the ground.

As for housing, Ottawa could pay out the money now, but instead it is picking a constitutional fight until 2025. It has to be said, the federal government does not exactly have the Midas touch. Everything it touches turns into mud instead of gold. Why would we allow this government to interfere in our jurisdictions if every single time things take longer, are poorly done, cost more and are all wrong?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the oral health care program is quite simple. Plan members receive a card that can be used at any dentist's office across the country. With this card, dentists can use the same system as any other type of insurance. People can receive services easily.

If Quebec wants to run the oral health program, that is no problem. We can work together. It is essential that services be available to Quebeckers immediately. That is our response.

Carbon Pricing

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister, Canadians are struggling to put food on the table. Food banks received a record two million visits in a single month last year, and a million more Canadians are expected to visit food banks this year.

The carbon tax is driving up the cost of groceries and everything else. Struggling families are desperate for relief in next week's budget, so will the Prime Minister axe the carbon tax on farmers so the food prices can go down?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member is saying things that are devoid of facts. What she is proposing would take money away from folks who live on modest incomes. Eight out of 10 families get more money back than they pay into the price on pollution, and it works directly inverse to income. It is those people who live on the most modest incomes who would be most impacted by their plan to cut the carbon rebate.

That would be reckless and irresponsible, and it would put at risk people who live in this country on modest incomes.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are painfully aware that the Prime Minister and his NDP-Liberal government are not worth the cost.

Last week's carbon tax hike is driving up the cost of gas, groceries and home heating. Families are struggling to put food on the table, and they cannot afford higher costs. Next week's budget must take the foot off the gas of rising grocery prices.

Once again, will the Prime Minister axe the tax on farmers and make food more affordable for Canadians?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to my hon. colleague across the House, who is from the great province of Saskatchewan, that she have a conversation with Dr. Brett Dolter at the University of Regina, who has said that eight out of 10 Canadian families get more money back, and it is those who live on modest incomes who do the best on a net-benefit basis.

It is an affordability program, but it is also a program to address the climate crisis that imperils the future of our children. That these folks have zero plan to address the issue and do not seem to care at all about it is reckless and irresponsible.

Finance

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has a superpower: the ability to spend other people's money. However, I would like to remind him that it is not his money he is spending. It is the hard-earned dollars of Canadians. It is clear he has no respect for Canadians or their hard-earned dollars. He is just not worth the cost.

Will his government commit to a pay-as-you-go rule in the upcoming budget to help fix the financial disaster it has caused?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, an accurate representation of the facts would be the following: First of all, we have a AAA credit rating, which is done by an independent, objective observer of our economy. Second of all, with regard to expenditures, we on this side of the House invest in Canadians, especially in vulnerable Canadians, with $10-a-day child care, early childhood learning and education, and a national school program.

Meanwhile, they vote against. They vote against dental care. They vote against pharmacare. Every day is a great day to fight for Canadians, and that is exactly what we will do.

Carbon Pricing

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals deflect, deny and gaslight, common-sense Conservatives will remain laser-focused on the affordability crisis. Bill C-234 is back before the House and the Liberals have a chance to help Canadians by reducing food costs by reducing the burden on farmers, which would ultimately make everything more affordable. Will the Liberals finally give farmers and Canadians a break by reducing and eliminating the carbon tax on farmers?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-234 is a Conservative private member's bill that the party can elect to bring to the House for a vote at any time. I would invite the hon. member to talk to his House leadership, and we will get on with the vote for Bill C-234.

Grocery Industry

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, rents are expensive. Groceries are expensive. Everything is expensive. Quebeckers suffer while the CEOs of the big grocery stores line their pockets at their expense. Instead of making these fat cats pay their fair share, the Liberals are giving them a $60-billion gift. Who do we have to thank for this? That would be the Conservatives, who gave away this money, our money, when they were in power.

This is money that could be invested in social and affordable housing, in health or in fighting the climate crisis. No, the Liberals prefer to give it to rich CEOs.

Why do the Liberals continue to line the pockets of CEOs?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague will admit that we are investing precisely to help the most vulnerable Canadians across the country. We are also investing in child care and in housing.

Moreover, my colleague knows full well that the best way to stabilize grocery prices in this country is to have more competition. That is exactly what we have done with the biggest competition reform since the law was passed.

Everyone in the House wants to help Canadians. That is exactly what we are doing and what we will continue to do.

Child Care

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' child care plan forgets child care workers, 96% of whom are women, and many are facing a burnout crisis. The recent Liberal announcement falls short of what experts are calling for. Childhood educators need better wages and working conditions to improve retention and recruitment. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are pushing privatized child care, which would hurt workers even more. When will the minister stop with the disrespect and deliver a workforce strategy that would allow workers to live in dignity?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her continued advocacy on behalf of early learning child care workers.

Our government continues to work with the provinces and territories, as evidenced most recently in our budget announcement, which includes loan forgiveness for early childhood educators who choose to work in rural and remote communities where we see the need for more educators and more child care spaces. We will continue to work on the workforce strategies with the provinces and territories to support this workforce.

Tourism Industry

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, tourism is one of the most important pillars of Atlantic Canada's economy. In my riding of St. John's East, the Bell Island Heritage Society's #2 Mine and Community Museum is a hidden gem. Recognized as a world-class destination, it is helping attract tourists to experience for themselves what our community has to offer. This, in turn, supports our local economy.

Could the minister for ACOA tell us what efforts are being made to help our booming tourism sector grow even more, specifically in Atlantic Canada?

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, big things are happening on the east coast. In February, I was with the Minister of Tourism to announce the signing of the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism. This $30-million agreement gives a major boost to more than 7,500 tourism businesses throughout Atlantic Canada. This support creates year-round opportunities, fuels innovative marketing, grows our indigenous product and brings more visitors to our beautiful corner of the world. With its breathtaking landscapes, delectable cuisine and renowned hospitality, our region has so much to offer, and we are pulling out all the stops. I ask members to put Atlantic Canada on their bucket lists this year.

Intergovernmental Relations

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Now, thanks to $500 billion in debt and out-of-control government spending, here is the daily reality facing Canadians. The cost of rent has doubled, one child in four in Canada does not have enough to eat, and two million Canadians are turning to food banks. That is the Liberal record after eight years of this Prime Minister's management.

Because the Prime Minister keeps meddling in provincial jurisdictions, the lives of Quebeckers have become worse, and so have the lives of Canadians.

Will the Prime Minister stop interfering in provincial jurisdictions and stop ruining the lives of Canadians?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is quite right to talk about the cost of living and the high cost of living for middle-class and lower-income families.

What is surprising, however, is that the Conservatives oppose the Canada child benefit, which reduces child poverty by 50% every month. They oppose dental care for children, and now for seniors. They are against investing in child care, which, in Quebec, has proven so important for gender equality and poverty reduction.

Now they seem to oppose investments in housing, despite the fact that their Conservative leader was the minister a few years ago—although he was not very good at housing then, either.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to tell the minister that we voted in favour of most of the things he mentioned.

However, what makes us and Canadians angry is that this government is not effective when it comes to looking after its own affairs. Whether we are talking about passports, the military, the border, immigration, the cost of living or controlling expenses, to name only a few, this government has failed to take action.

What is the government doing now? It is encroaching on provincial jurisdiction. That is none of its business. When it comes to its own affairs, it is not up to the task.

When will a minister in this government stand up and finally take full responsibility for federal jurisdiction rather than encroaching on provincial jurisdiction?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that in his own riding, some 12,000 families receive the Canada child benefit on the 20th of each month, which is one week from now. That is about $500 a month tax free per family. This reduces child poverty in his riding by 50%.

Unfortunately, one of the first things the Conservatives did in 2016 was vote against the Canada child benefit, which helps thousands and thousands of families and children in his own riding.