House of Commons Hansard #340 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was housing.
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Madam Speaker, after nine years of these NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Despite the NDP leader's video claiming to tear up his support for the Liberals, the two parties continue to make life less affordable for Canadians. They have promised to quadruple the carbon tax to 61¢ per litre.
Why does the Prime Minister not call a carbon tax election so that Canadians can decide if they want to continue to pay his carbon tax?
Anthony Housefather LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Madam Speaker, inflation is down, interest rates are down, car theft is down, gas prices are down, emissions are down and all Conservatives can do is frown.
I just do not understand why we do not have a team Canada approach. The Canadian economy is getting better; things are getting better. Why do Conservatives not try to work with us and make things better? That is the kind of House of Commons I want to be in.
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Madam Speaker, we need to talk about Amira Elghawaby. The Prime Minister's special representative on Islamophobia has given herself a broad mandate. Now she wants to tell universities which professors to hire, based on religious criteria that fly in the face of the principle of secularism. She even wants to dictate the kind of training they will get from the universities. This is obviously not a good idea, nor is it any of her business.
On Tuesday, the Quebec National Assembly once again unanimously called for her resignation. However, she refuses to resign.
When will the Prime Minister finally force her out?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Madam Speaker, as my colleague may know, I worked in academia for a long time. Quebec universities are known across Canada and around the world for the remarkable level of expertise they have achieved.
I have every confidence in the ability of Quebec universities to make the right decisions. They make them based on their employees' skills, but also based on diversity, which is important to have in a country as large and diverse as the one we are lucky to live in, Canada.
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Madam Speaker, Ms. Elghawaby's mandate is supposed to be to build bridges, but all she does is create wedges and and sow division. She epitomizes the excessive multiculturalism promoted by Canadian parties. She is proof positive that having an adviser fixated on the interests of a single community and blind to the others has serious consequences for both government and social cohesion.
Ms. Elghawaby is doing more than just demonstrating that she is not the right person for the job. She is demonstrating that the position itself must be eliminated.
When will the government finally put an end to this experiment?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Madam Speaker, if there is one thing that is easy to do, it is to engage in divisive politics. Dividing Canadians and Quebeckers is very simple. It can be done quite easily.
What is harder and more important is bringing people together. All of us in this House have the responsibility and the opportunity to unite, whether we are Quebeckers of one origin or another, white or Black, male or female, with whatever religious beliefs we may hold. All Quebeckers are equal before the law. We all have the right to thrive in dignity and trust.
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Madam Speaker, after nine long years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Two weeks ago, the NDP leader made a big spectacle of tearing up the costly coalition agreement with the Liberals, but he now says that the NDP will vote to keep them in power. What is the truth? It is all a stunt to trick voters. British Columbians are struggling and want a change and an election.
Will the Liberals axe the tax or call a carbon tax election today?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing
Madam Speaker, do we know what else British Columbians care about? Their workers care about unions. Yesterday, in front of the parliamentary committee that is responsible for labour issues, we heard what the Conservatives' position on unions actually is. They would allow for unions to be starved of membership dues that are vital for their functioning. That means unions would not, among other things, be able to collectively bargain on behalf of their members. On the one hand, they talk about workers. We scratch the surface and we find a party that is the same old thing. They do not care about Canadian workers.
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Even after their breakup, the leader of the NDP is keeping the Prime Minister in power. What a surprise. That means quadrupling the carbon tax to 61¢ a litre, driving more Canadians to food banks, grinding our economy to a halt and killing hundreds of thousands of jobs. That means he is punishing hard-working Canadians just to keep his pension.
When will the Prime Minister do the right thing and call a carbon tax election?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
Madam Speaker, it is pretty rich for the Conservatives to stand up in the House when they introduced legislation when they were in government to raise the retirement age to 67 and gut Canadians' pensions. We are the party that reformed CPP and brought forward more senior supports. We are working to ensure that Canadians' pensions are strong.
I have to mention that the member from British Columbia stands in the House all the time to rail against carbon pricing. He was part of the Liberal government in British Columbia that brought forward Canada's first-ever carbon tax, a successful measure that has lowered emissions in British Columbia for over a decade. The hypocrisy.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, the Bloc-Liberal coalition is costing Quebeckers and Canadians more and more. It voted in favour of $500 billion in inflationary and centralizing spending. Honestly, what is the point of the “Liberal Bloc”?
It leads to more spending than ever, more scandals than ever and an additional 100,000 public servants. It leads to more bureaucracy, paid for with Quebeckers' money. What is the Bloc Québécois good for? It is good for the Prime Minister and his government. Only a Conservative government can fix this disaster.
What is the Prime Minister waiting for? Will he call an election now?
Pascale St-Onge LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Madam Speaker, my colleague should know that Quebeckers have already experienced Conservative austerity. They said no to that. They know very well that when we invest in them, when we help them with programs, particularly for the most vulnerable, including seniors, we are helping them get through difficult times like those we experienced during the pandemic.
My colleague is well aware that our investments in Canadians did not stop inflation from coming back down to a normal level of 2% today.
Quebeckers wanted nothing to do with the Conservatives' austerity before, and they still do not.
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Madam Speaker, we know that families across the country are struggling with the cost of living, including in my riding, Châteauguay—Lacolle, which will soon be called Chateauguay—Les Jardins‑de‑Napierville.
The Canada child benefit is a source of support for families in my riding. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development inform the House about the impact this important benefit has had on Canadian families?
Élisabeth Brière LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families
Madam Speaker, the Canada child benefit is making a real difference in the lives of more than four million Canadian families. They can receive up to $7,787 per child under six and $6,570 per child aged six through 17.
This tax-free benefit increased in July to help families keep up with the cost of raising kids. This represents up to $350 more than last year. The payments went out today, but the Conservatives would slash this program and leave families to struggle.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up, with jaw-dropping news about carbon tax Carney. His investment firm owns the second-largest mortgage insurer in Canada, and the Liberals changed the rules to allow for larger and longer mortgages, meaning higher interest payments and more money in carbon tax Carney's pocket.
His company's stock shoots to six-month highs, and he tells the Prime Minister to raise the carbon tax on Canadians. Is that supposed to be a good deal for Canada?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, we do see the value in consulting experts from across Canada.
Let us talk about where the Conservatives have been getting their advice lately. The leader of the Conservative Party gets his advice on how to help Canadians with the rising cost of food from a Loblaw lobbyist. The Conservatives also get their advice from Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson.
The Conservatives get their advice from misogynists and far-right hate groups, and I think Canadians should be very concerned.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Madam Speaker, there is a new conflict of interest every single day with carbon tax Carney. His buddy, the CEO of Telesat, got $2.14 billion in a cheque from the government for what other companies said they could do for half the cost. His investment firm is in discussions with the Liberal government for 10 billion taxpayer dollars, and as I just said, his investment firm is going to be cashing in with six-month stock price highs after changes to mortgage rules.
Is it any wonder that the Liberal Prime Minister, twice found guilty of breaking ethics laws himself, is trying to shield carbon tax Carney from Canada's conflict of interest regime?
James Maloney LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Madam Speaker, sadly, what else is up? It is character assassination. It is unacceptable to come into this chamber and time after time go after individuals' character. It undermines the integrity of this institution and Canadians are fed up. I would have thought the member of all people would have learned that lesson some time ago, but apparently I was wrong.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Carbon tax Carney's appointment as the de facto finance minister is more of the same boondoggle the government is famous for. Almost immediately, a $10-billion contribution to one of the companies he serves on was announced, shovelling an extra $200 million per year to Brookfield and carbon tax Carney shoving more money into his own pockets.
Why did the Prime Minister exempt his de facto finance minister from conflict of interest rules?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, when will the Conservatives stop betting against the success of Canadians? Canada's growth is projected to beat that of all our peers: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and I could go on. However, the Conservatives have hitched their political and electoral fortunes on the failure of the Canadian economy. The truth is that we are making the economic pie larger and larger so that every Canadian can get a larger slice. When will the Conservatives stop betting against the success of Canadians?
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Madam Speaker, this summer, millions of Canadians tuned into CBC and Radio-Canada to cheer on team Canada at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris. Canadian athletes set new records and made us all proud.
Scarborough is home to many athletes who train at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, but it is also an important community hub for activities and events. We are proud of our local heroes, such as Scarborough's Josh Liendo, who became the first Black Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity let the House know how we are supporting athletes so they can keep representing Canada with pride and excellence?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
Madam Speaker, Canadians were proud to celebrate the exceptional performances of team Canada athletes this summer as they won a record number of medals and inspired the next generation of Olympic athletes.
Through budget 2024, our Liberal government boosted the athlete assistance program that supports Canadian athletes. The carding checks directly support over 1,800 athletes across more than 94 sports.
We are also investing more broadly in participation, not just for future sports stars, but also to support physical and mental health and the strength of our communities through the power of sport, physical activity and recreation. Our community sport for all initiative has brought sport to over one million Canadians so they can try new sports and activities, because when Canadians are moving, our whole country wins.
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Madam Speaker, communities in my riding have been waiting for the plan for open-net fish farms. It was supposed to be released in June. The Liberals instead announced that they would be announcing a plan later. The Liberals have spent years delaying a real job strategy for all of those who will be impacted. Coastal communities must not be left behind.
Will the Liberals stop the delay and ensure the plan delivers necessary funds to support impacted first nations and coastal communities?
Mike Kelloway LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries
Madam Speaker, our government is committed to protecting wild Pacific salmon and will implement a ban on open-net pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia by 2029. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working to ensure that the draft transition plan for salmon aquaculture is measured and indeed responsible.
It is important to take the time necessary to get the draft transition plan right, given its importance to British Columbians. Work on the draft transition plan is under way and will be released in the coming weeks.
Kevin Vuong Independent Spadina—Fort York, ON
Madam Speaker, Khaled Barakat is a member of Samidoun and a leader of designated terrorist group Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine. Barakat was banned from entering the EU, and Germany banned Samidoun outright, yet in Canada, Barakat is free to spew hatred. At one rally, he said Canada should condemn the killing of terrorist leaders and that he hopes for Israel's destruction.
Will the Liberal government take action to have Barakat arrested for hate propaganda and list Samidoun as a terrorist organization, or will it continue to be a doormat?