Debates of June 11th, 2024

The Economy

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are proud of the programs that we have put in place to help Canadian families get ahead. Generational fairness means asking the most fortunate Canadians to pay a little more. It means ensuring that our tax system is fair.

Today, Conservatives have made it clear that they are not in favour of fairness. They would rather cancel $10-a-day child care, cancel our national school food program and cancel dental care for those who need it. Really, this is definitely not fair for Canadians.

Taxation

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 67% is a direct attack on Canadian farm families.

The Liberals like to claim that this will only impact the ultra-rich, but that just is not true. This will impact family farms and young farmers who are just trying to take over the family farm. The average grain farm will easily exceed the lifetime exemption rate.

This tax increase is not fair and will jeopardize the economic viability of farm families and our rural communities. Will the Prime Minister end his attack on family farms that are just trying to put food on our table?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that when my hon. colleague and his government were in power, they slashed half a billion dollars at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. They slashed $200 million out of the business risk management program. The question I have is, how much more would you slash if you ever got the chance to slash?

I can assure Canadians that we have reinstated the funding to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and we have reinstated the funding to the business risk management program. We have supported and will continue to support farmers in this country.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like to remind the hon. minister that, of course, questions should be put through me. That is the best way that it should be done.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is not reassuring that the agriculture minister still does not know that there is going to be a capital gains inclusion rate change that is going to impact Canadian farmers.

Farmers are trying to work hard every day to feed Canadians. The only thing this tax change is going to do is feed an obese Liberal government. The Liberals say this is about fairness, but it is not fair to young farmers. When they buy the family operation, they are burdened with millions of dollars in debt.

This is a gift to the ultra-rich who will buy up family farmland, making mega-multinational industrial farms. Will the Prime Minister admit this is not a tax on the ultra-rich, it is an attack on the very survival of family farms?

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

Mr. Speaker, over the past nine years, the Conservative Party has a record. When it was asked to vote to lower taxes on the middle class, what did it say? No. When it was asked to approve a Canada child benefit, what did it say? No. When it was asked to vote on child care, on pharmacare and on dental care, what did it say? It said no.

Why is it that when Canadians look to the Conservative Party to stand up for them, it takes a seat?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like to remind all members on the government side, as well as all members generally, that chanting is not permitted in the House.

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, lobstermen in Nova Scotia fish for our food, risking their lives in the winter.

Waves crashing over them, fishing in blizzards and high seas, they risk their lives for 40 years so that they can save a little to retire on the sale of their boat and their licence. The NDP-Liberal latest tax grab on fishermen is to increase, massively, the tax on the sale of their licence, boat and gear, even after the fishing exemption.

Why do the NDP-Liberals think that robbing fishermen of a dignified and honest retirement is fair?

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

Mr. Speaker, today is an important day for Canadians, because, today, after eight weeks of truly undignified dithering and deflecting, the Conservatives have finally shown their true colours. We now know what they really stand for. They had a chance to stand with the plumbers, welders, nurses and teachers, but they have decided that multi-millionaires should pay lower taxes than working Canadians. That is just—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Liberal minister is doing is bringing in retirement-killing taxes on fishermen. Mrs. J. and her husband from Nova Scotia worked for 50 years to build their lobster and fish-buying business. They sold their business to create their modest retirement income by investing the proceeds, creating a humble retirement.

They paid their fair share of taxes already but Liberals want to take more of their retirement income.

Why does the Prime Minister think that robbing an 85-year-old widow of her hard-earned, dignified retirement income is fair?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have already, today, at last, established that the Conservatives are against parents, that they are against a nurse or a welder paying taxes at a fair rate. They want a nurse or a welder to pay more tax than a multi-millionaire.

What else are the Conservatives saying? They are saying that they are going to cut, cut, cut. They are going to cut the dental care that is providing care for people in Atlantic Canada. They are going to cut the early learning and child care. They are going to cut pharmacare.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, farmers suffered disastrous harvests last year, due in part to natural disasters. Last week, they finally reached an agreement with the Quebec government on compensation and have said loud and clear that now it is Ottawa's turn.

Representatives of produce growers are in Ottawa today. They met with the minister this morning to remind him that they exist and that they deserve support. They have been calling on the federal government to provide emergency assistance for almost a year now.

When will the minister finally listen to them and trigger the AgriRecovery program?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's concern. He knows that I am concerned too. I did meet them and I appreciate the work that he has done with the farmers but he is well aware that AgriRecovery is a joint effort between the Government of Canada and the provincial governments across the country.

I can share with the House that we have been working closely with the Government of Quebec and that things are progressing well. I know the farmers need the money, and we will work as fast as we can, making sure that we follow proper procedures to get the money in the hands of the farmers as quickly as we can.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while the Weather Network is predicting another high-risk summer for natural disasters, the federal government has yet to provide any compensation for last year's disasters. We are not off to a good start.

What is the result? One in five farms is unable to pay its debts. One in ten farms wants to shut down within a year. Emergency assistance is urgently needed. Farmers have been calling on Ottawa for almost a year now. Quebec called for the program to be triggered seven months ago.

Will the minister finally trigger the AgriRecovery program now?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question and concern. I am fully aware that the farmers need the funding as quickly as possible. There is a procedure to follow. I think my hon. colleague is well aware that we are following that procedure with the Quebec government, and as soon as I possibly can, and it is approved, I will make sure the money is in the hands of the farmers, which is much needed, as quickly as possible.

Housing

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, during a housing crisis, the Liberal finance minister is making things worse.

The new capital gains tax will kill investments in Canada and drive up the cost for those who provide housing. Rental experts are saying that the consequences of this tax hike would be disastrous in the short, medium and long term, citing concerns for viability of long-term investment. This will lead to fewer places to rent and more costs to renters.

Canadians are already facing the highest average asking rent ever. So, how is it fair that the Liberals are putting the brakes on new housing when Canadians can barely afford to rent?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us remember that this member is from a party whose leader got seven affordable units built when he was in charge of housing. Let us remember that the Conservatives' housing plan would actually put more tax on home builders, and let us remember that this is the party that believes in cuts, cuts, cuts. They are going to cut dental care. They are going to cut pharmacare. They are going to cut early learning and child care.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that member has lost all credibility with Canadians, and a job-killing tax on health care, homes, farms and small businesses is the last thing that Canadians need right now in a cost of living crisis.

This new tax will not build any homes; it will only discourage investment in purpose-built rentals. Richard Lyall, residential construction expert, said there's “not a chance” the Liberals will meet their own housing targets.

Housing starts are down, and this tax hike will only make it worse. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost. How is it fair that the Liberals are raising taxes when homebuilding starts are down?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the member, she talks about credibility, but she was at the House of Commons committee meeting responsible for housing when an expert from the rental sector told her that her party's position on not waiving GST for the building of purpose-built rentals was deeply irresponsible. On top of that, she voted against her community of Kelowna getting almost $32 million to incent zoning changes that will lead to the building of 20,000 homes over the next 10 years.

That is the Conservative Party. Its members identify problems, but they never offer solutions.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Liberal government, rents are skyrocketing and affordable housing is getting scarcer.

Canadians are struggling and now the Prime Minister wants to make the situation worse by adding a tax on housing. The Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec says that adopting this measure would result in even higher rents, which is definitely something to avoid, given the current context.

This Prime Minister wants to increase taxes on housing in the midst of a housing crisis. How is that possible?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, I have good news for my colleague opposite. This morning, Statistics Canada reported that April saw a record number of new building permits granted. In fact, 22,600 new permits were granted in a single month. That number, 22,600, is far greater than 6.

Taxation

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we know that the countries that create major inequalities between the rich and the poor end up failing. Whether we are talking about child care, the Canada child benefit, dental care, affordable housing and so on, we are there to support those who need it. In Canada, we are bringing in a fairer tax system for all generations.

Can the minister tell us what our government is doing to strengthen our social safety net, which benefits all Canadians?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, it makes no sense for a nurse to pay a higher tax rate than a multi-millionaire. That is currently the situation.

We have a duty to ensure fairness. By increasing the capital gains tax, we will invest more in housing, more in prescription drugs, more in the social safety net.

Today, it is clear that the other side of the House has chosen a camp, that of the multi-millionaires.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals will do anything to make people believe that they are standing up for the middle class, but people are not buying it after nine years of reckless policies that have exacerbated inequalities.

Now, the Liberals are going after the dead and grieving families with the federal capital gains tax. We are talking about a tax hike on inheritances.

Are the Liberals so desperate that they are prepared to tax the dead and those who are grieving?