Debates of June 12th, 2024

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that fairness is at the core of who we are as Canadians. The people of Shawinigan, like the people of Ottawa and Carleton, understand that equity is fundamental in a fair and equitable society. That is why we made it the basis of what we presented in the last federal budget.

That is why the changes to capital gains will allow us to reinvest in the economy, reinvest in our workers and reinvest in housing. Lo and behold, the Conservatives are against tax fairness. Who would have thought it? They are against tax fairness.

On this side of the House, we will always side with workers, we will always side with the middle class, and we will always side with Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, using Statistics Canada data, Dr. Jack Mintz calculated that 50% of those who will pay this tax increase earn less than $120,000 a year and that 10% earn less than $18,000 a year.

We do not have to dispute these numbers. Why do we not just make it simple and make it clear?

Will the minister accept an amendment to exempt anyone who earns less than $120,000 a year from this tax increase, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, actually, there is a $250,000 threshold, so the new rate kicks in only after one has made $250,000 in capital gains in a given year. I do want to continue to help educate the Conservative leader. I am going to point him to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I cannot hear any of that, so I am going to allow the Deputy Prime Minister to restart.

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful, because it does seem that the Conservative leader, who for baffling reasons wants to take all the questions, maybe to show off his ignorance, does not actually understand—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I would ask the hon. Deputy Prime Minister to retract that and finish. I gave enough grace to allow her to repeat.

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry. I retract that. Let me just say that it was baffling to me that the Conservative leader is taking all the questions to show that he does not really understand what we are doing, but it gives me a chance to explain it to him.

It only kicks in after $250,000 of capital gains, this new level.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I just gave that minister more than 20 opportunities to prove that what she was saying was true. I asked her, and she refused, if she would give an exemption to her tax hike to carpenters, farmers, fishermen, plumbers, union workers, restaurant owners and electricians. She said no. She said no to exempting people who earn less than $120,000 a year. Why? It is because we know that that is exactly who she is going after. She is going to rob the people who pay the bills in this country, to pay for her obese and out-of-control spending.

Why will she not finally end the rip-off?

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our government gave every single Conservative MP a chance to stand on the side of working people, of teachers, of nurses, of electricians, of carpenters and of welders. They cannot wiggle out of the shocking position they took. They took a position on the side of multi-millionaires, against working people and against fairness. Now, all Canadians know where they stand.

Housing

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I come from a community that is filled with good, hard-working people. The small city realities do not always look the same as that of someone who lives in big urban centres, but they do face many of the same challenges when it comes to housing. I am proud that our government has stepped up to tackle the housing crisis. This challenge requires bold, outside-the-box thinking, including seeking innovative ideas—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I am going to take a break here. I will allow the hon. member to restart.

The hon. member for Saint John—Rothesay has the floor.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I come from a community, Saint John—Rothesay, that is filled with good, hard-working people. Their small city realities do not always look the same as that of someone who lives in big urban centres, but they do face many of the same challenges when it comes to housing. I am proud that our government has stepped up to the plate to tackle the housing crisis. This challenge requires bold, outside-the-box thinking, including innovative ideas from all corners of our country.

Can the Minister of Rural Economic Development and ACOA tell us how our government is ensuring that smaller regions can play a role in the team Canada approach to housing solutions?

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

Mr. Speaker, my friend from Saint John—Rothesay is right. Innovative housing solutions are all across the country, and that is why our government is investing in companies, such as Kent Homes in New Brunswick, that are doing state-of-the-art home manufacturing. Our regional development agencies, such as ACOA, are helping to turbocharge innovative construction. Through budget 2024, the agencies are investing in new building technologies, such as panelized 3-D construction modular homes.

Canadians have rejected the opposition leader's weak, do-nothing approach to housing. We are getting houses built. We have a real plan in place, and we are getting the job done.

Public Safety

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just three years after a London family was murdered in an Islamophobic attack, another London family's home was set on fire. The police are investigating this crime as hate-motivated as the family had publicly expressed support for Palestinian human rights.

Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and all forms of hate must be condemned wherever it occurs, and the government needs to do more to root out racism so people can feel safe. Will the Liberals finally step up to provide support to my community and all those impacted by hate-motivated attacks?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, over these past eight years, we have worked extremely hard to make sure that we are combatting racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism among all of our communities all across the country. We have had so many great achievements, including what is now our anti-racism strategy.

We will continue to work with partners in all levels of government, including civil society, to ensure that we are supporting communities such as the member's.

Persons With Disabilities

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government repeatedly said that the Canada disability benefit would lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty. In doing so, it gave the disability community hope, but now we know it was all a charade. Documents recently tabled show, by the government's own estimates, that less than 2% of folks with disabilities will be lifted above the poverty line, and not until 2028.

How does the Deputy Prime Minister justify extinguishing this hope, and will she right this wrong?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Minister of Diversity]

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in Canadian history, we have a federal disability benefit that is going to strengthen the financial security of more than 600,000 persons with disabilities. The initial investment of $6.1 billion in budget 2024 is the next step to get this benefit out to Canadians.

We know that there is more to do. We are committed to doing this work alongside provinces and territories to make sure that there are no clawbacks. We are committed to this, and we are going to get it done.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following—

[Some hon. members]

No.

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

I am already hearing a number of noes.

The hon. leader of the official opposition has the floor.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!