Debates of June 10th, 2024

Taxation

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his hard work.

Fairness is a Canadian value. Most of the wealthiest people make most of their money through investments, and they often wind up paying a lower overall tax rate than a nurse or a carpenter. That is not fair.

Today, our government is introducing changes that will make our system fairer. I hope all members will support these very important changes.

Telecommunications

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a nearly 40% increase in fraud since 2021, and the Liberals clearly have failed to protect Canadians. The scams disproportionately impact seniors, and they cost people millions of dollars. One senior in my riding, Peggy, is selling her house after losing her life's savings to a phone scam.

We urgently need better policies and regulations, including improved safeguards, more education campaigns and better enforcement.

Why is the government failing to protect vulnerable Canadians from increasing levels of fraud?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, obviously we are very concerned as a government with any instances of online fraud that we see. I note that our recent budget implementation act has numerous measures to crack down on money laundering and crime related to fraud. We have done lots of work in this area, successively, in both the fall economic statement and the BIA, and we look forward to looking into the matter that the member opposite has raised.

Democratic Institutions

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, now that I have received confirmation from the Privy Council Office that I am to read the full, unredacted report of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians later today, I would like to ask the hon. Minister for Public Safety if he would be willing to meet with me tomorrow to discuss ways that we can, within the letter of the law, work together to ensure greater transparency around this critical issue.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of the Green Party for availing herself of and accepting the offer the minister has written to all party leaders to get their security clearance to be able to read the important report. I know that the minister would be happy to continue discussing that with her, as with all parliamentarians, and I will certainly raise this with him in terms of scheduling.

However, I will point out once again that we urge the Conservative leader to receive his security clearance so he can be better informed on the issue of foreign interference.

Self-determination of the Tibetan People

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion:

That the House recognize that:

(a) China is carrying out a policy of systemic cultural assimilation against Tibetans;

(b) Tibetans, as a people and a nation, can claim the right to self-determination;

(c) as such, they are empowered to freely choose their economic, social, cultural and religious policies without interference from any external power; and

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

It is agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to)

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a letter addressed to the chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts from the Auditor General has been received but was not widely disseminated. In the letter, the Auditor General recommends that the House, first of all, take notice of what she writes in the letter, which says that it would be detrimental to her work if the motion that we are about to vote on should pass, and that already measures are in place that would address the matter in the motion. So I would like to—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order. Any minister can table a motion as long as it is available in both official languages. I am assuming that the document is in the proper form, in both official languages.

The member for Vancouver East is rising on a point of order.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, consultation has taken place, and I believe that if you seek it you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

That notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practices of the House, Bill C-71, an act to amend the Citizenship Act, be deemed to have been read a second time—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Once again I will remind members that when they seek unanimous consent, they should follow the example of the member for Lac-Saint-Jean and try to obtain unanimous consent so the time of the House is used most efficiently.

The House resumed from June 6 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Opposition Motion—Documents Regarding Sustainable Development Technology Canada

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It being 4:05 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion of the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle relating to Business of Supply.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #803

Business of Supply

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the amendment carried.

The next question is on the main motion.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #804

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion, as amended, carried.

The House resumed from June 6 consideration of Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments, as reported (with amendments) from the committee, and of the motions in Group No. 1.

Public Complaints and Review Commission Act

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at report stage of Bill C-20.

The question is on Motion No. 1.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #805

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare Motion No. 1 rejected.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.