Debates of Sept. 20th, 2024

Darryl Harding

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Madam Speaker, Scarborough—Agincourt recently lost a beloved community member. Darryl Harding dedicated over 30 years to coaching baseball at Wishing Well Park. His contribution to the Scarborough community and to the game of baseball was inspiring and his positive impact on youth will be felt for years to come.

Darryl's work with the Wexford Agincourt Baseball League was a remarkable example of dedication and commitment to community. In recognition of his volunteering over 1,200 hours to youth baseball each year, Darryl was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays as a seat 21 honouree.

My condolences go out to Darryl's children and the local baseball community. He will truly be missed.

John Douglas

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

Madam Speaker, on July 12, Port Alberni lost a champion with the sudden passing of its city councillor, former mayor and community activist John Douglas.

Before settling in Port Alberni, John worked as a paramedic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on the front lines of the toxic drug crisis. He moved to Port Alberni in 2004 and served another eight years as a paramedic before running for public office. On behalf of the city, he worked closely with first nations in tourism management and economic development and was a forceful advocate for social planning, mental health and addictions, food distribution and housing solutions for the Alberni Valley. He worked with the Port Alberni Shelter Society, advocating for change in the way addiction treatment is conducted, and a park is named for him in the community.

John loved Port Alberni and promoted its potential wherever he went in this world. On behalf of all members, I offer my condolences to John's wife Donna and family. He was a true champion of Port Alberni and will not be forgotten.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Military Family Appreciation Day

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Madam Speaker, today marks Military Family Appreciation Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and honouring the sacrifices and unwavering strength of our military families, the backbone of our Canadian Armed Forces. Their dedication and love are fundamental to the success of our service members, enabling them to carry out their vital missions. They sometimes feel overlooked, which is why, in the defence policy update, the government made a commitment to ensure that members and their families are cared for, have additional support and resources available, and can live in comfort as they serve Canada.

I thank the family members of all of our Canadian Armed Forces members from coast to coast to coast, including those in my riding of Orléans, families like Major Gabriel Rousseau, his wife Nadia and their two young children, Victor and Camille, for all they do.

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the Prime Minister, our warships are rusting out, our fighter jets are worn out, this army has been hollowed out and we are so short of soldiers, sailors and aircrew that our troops are burnt out.

We found out last week that the Prime Minister spent almost $35 million on new sleeping bags for our troops, but nobody checked to see if they were suitable for arctic conditions. Our troops, while training with our U.S. allies in Alaska, had to resort to using old sleeping bags from the 1960s. The Liberal government is literally leaving our troops out in the cold.

With the Liberals, when it comes to our military, it is just failure after failure. From their failure to procure light armoured utility vehicles, to our troops in Europe having to buy their own helmets, vests and food, the Liberal government cannot be trusted to keep our troops or Canadians safe.

If the Liberals cannot get the little things right, how can anyone trust them to get the big things, like submarines bought on time and on budget, right? Our future common-sense Conservative government will stand up for our military heroes and ensure they are properly equipped to do their important work to protect Canada.

Guru Nanak Diversity Village

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Madam Speaker, Surrey has one of the fastest-growing populations in the Lower Mainland, and with that, the number of seniors is set to rise over the next 25 years. I am honoured to share with members information about the groundbreaking of the new Guru Nanak diversity village seniors facility opened by the PICS Society of British Columbia.

Behind this much-needed community project is the progressive vision of the late Charanpal Gill; the CEO of PICS, Satbir Chima; and the countless staff, board members, donors and volunteers of the organization. This village will have 125 beds housed within a three-storey building. This long-term care facility will offer South Asian seniors high-quality and culturally sensitive care and companionship.

This is a visionary project and I cannot wait to welcome seniors to their new home.

2SLGBTQI+ Community

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Speaker, I attended several Canadian pride celebrations this summer as part of my role as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and I heard appreciation for the government's initiatives to advance equality, such as the first 2SLGBTQI+ action plan and the entrepreneurship fund. Also, I heard people are terrified of losing the progress that has been made, particularly when Conservative premiers are turning health care and family decisions into political issues, targeting gender-diverse kids and making them feel unwanted, unworthy and at risk of harm. Look where that rage farming leads. Here on Parliament Hill today we have a crowd galvanizing hatred and fear of queer youth.

Pride started as a protest. When we celebrate the rainbow at festivals across the country, we are also protesting the intolerance and hatred that are rising in Canada. The pride community needs the current government more than ever and I am proud that it will continue to stand with them, champion equality and deliver programs that advance equity.

Bloc Québécois

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals have found a way to expand their coalition, this time by convincing the Bloc Québécois to join them so that the Prime Minister can stay in power.

What is the Bloc Québécois good for? There is more spending than ever, more public servants than ever, more scandals than ever, and all on Quebec's dime. The Prime Minister is not going to keep his promise to the Bloc Québécois leader. They will gain absolutely nothing for Quebeckers, except another year of increased national debt. The Bloc had the chance to work with the future Conservative government and negotiate for Quebeckers on the woodland caribou issue. They must be the worst negotiators in history.

Only a Conservative government can solve all the problems caused by this coalition. Canadians will remember what the Bloc Québécois and the NDP did to our country. Do they not understand that all Canadians, including Quebeckers, want an election now?

Tony Whitford

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Tony Whitford, a great northerner who passed away earlier this week. Tony's dedication to public service knew no bounds. He served with distinction in many roles, as an MLA, minister, Speaker, sergeant-at-arms, deputy commissioner and commissioner.

I had the honour of serving with Tony in the 14th legislative assembly in the Northwest Territories. As a rookie MLA at the time, I learned a great deal from him. He was also a dedicated volunteer, spending countless hours supporting local charitable efforts and worthy causes in the north.

Tony was a friend to all who knew him and he will be dearly missed. We offer our condolences to his family and his loved ones. Mahsi cho.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Why is that? Two years ago, when the NDP leader could not beat the Liberal Prime Minister, he joined him. Their cozy coalition has led to higher taxes, higher food prices and skyrocketing crime.

Recently, the NDP leader said he was ending the partnership, but it was all a charade. He said the Liberal government is the worst ever and claimed it should not be re-elected. Despite his theatrics, the NDP leader once again confirmed yesterday that he still stands with the Liberal Prime Minister.

The NDP leader speaks of it being “the people's time”. I agree. Let us let the people decide who is right and call a carbon tax election now. Canadians can choose the continually costly coalition of the NDP-Liberal government, which means ever-higher taxes, less money for gas, groceries and housing, and more crime in our communities, or Canadians can choose a new government led by our common-sense Conservative leader, who has a plan to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.

Member for Kingston and the Islands

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Madam Speaker, the Liberal member for Kingston and the Islands, a pathetic Twitter troll, has admitted guilt to spreading disinformation. This disinformation was part of a dirty and deliberate attempt to smear the reputation of a fellow Canadian, to change the channel on the absolute rot and corruption that defines nine years of the Liberal government. Only when legal action was taken and the member was exposed for spreading this vile disinformation did he fall to his knees and apologize. Everyone knows the apology is fake. The member's actions are part of a broader campaign of smears and deception by a rotten, corrupt government willing to do and say anything to cling to power. The people of Kingston deserve so much better than that member, and Canadians deserve so much better than nine years of the corrupt Liberal government.

CIBC Run for the Cure

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Madam Speaker, as part of the CIBC Run for the Cure, I will be attending this evening's gala organized by CIBC Laval team employees to support breast cancer research.

The funds raised will improve the quality of life of people affected by this disease and give them emotional support. I wish everyone with breast cancer courage and a speedy recovery. I salute their resilience and especially my dear sister Nina, as well as Daniela Lemmetti and Amber Leclerc, who will share their experiences this evening with participants.

I sincerely thank the event's organizers, including Ihab Zaid, Rosa Trunzo, Angelina Iannizzi and Nick Colasurdo.

The race will take place on Sunday, October 6. There is still time to register or support the cause.

Filipino Canadian National Congress

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, the third annual Filipino Canadian National Congress leadership convention is happening in Winnipeg tomorrow. Over 200 community and business leaders representing a diverse cross-section of Filipino Canadians will be in attendance, and the theme for this year's convention is “Strengthening Communities from Coast to Coast to Coast”.

Port Moody—Coquitlam is fortunate to have amazing Filipino community leader Treenee Lopez, the founder and chair of Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada, and Megin Alvarez, whose friendship and commitment to community building I appreciate and admire.

Congratulations to all the attendees at this year's national congress, from me and my colleague from Winnipeg Centre. We, along with NDP MP-elect Leila Dance, look forward to attending the conference, and we want to thank the leadership of the Filipino Canadian National Congress for inviting us.

Fiftieth Anniversary of Fermont

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, the town of Fermont is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The name Fermont naturally evokes its mountain of iron ore, its immense open-pit mines and its mythical wall. Personally, I also think of its pioneers, who are now watching their children and grandchildren grow up in Fermont, where the warmth of humanity is matched only by the love that the people of Fermont have for their community, even if it is in the north, above the 53rd parallel.

The people of Fermont are supportive, generous, entrepreneurial and innovative, and they make the town what it is: a great place to live, where neighbours have become friends, weaving a tight-knit community to support one another. All of this is heightened by the beauty of the northern lights dancing over the waves of black spruce that blow in the mighty winds on cloudless evenings. That is Fermont.

Until I can join them to celebrate in person—hopefully very soon—I wish my dear friends in Fermont a happy 50th anniversary, one that is as festive and warm as they are.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Shuv Majumdar, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. The sell-out NDP leader has sold out workers, families and seniors. He skyrocketed food costs. He put his pension ahead of the people, ahead of two million lined up at food banks, ahead of one in four about to lose primary care. He told Manitobans that he is done with his costly coalition. Yesterday, he teamed up with the Bloc to prop up the incompetent government. How demure and how mindful.

Canadians do not need bigger corrupt coalitions. They have no confidence in the NDP-Liberals. They need a carbon tax election, where they can decide between four more years of crushing NDP-Liberal carbon taxes or a common-sense Conservative government that will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Let us bring it home.

Scarborough Centre

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, it was a busy summer in Scarborough. Our annual community barbecue at Thomson Memorial Park saw thousands enjoying burgers, samosas and other treats. We also held an ice cream social, and I attended many great community events from Canada Day to events celebrating the many great cultures that call Scarborough home.

At community events, and as I knocked on doors this summer, Scarborough residents told me that they are still finding it difficult to make ends meet. They are worried about the cost of groceries and rent. They are worried that programs that are helping them, such as the Canada child benefit, national child care and the new Canada dental plan, would be cut by the Conservatives to pay for tax cuts for the rich. As we resume our work in Ottawa, I will be fighting to deliver more help for those working hard to join the middle class and against Conservative cuts that will cost working people money.

Government Accountability

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, after nine years, it has been a tough first week back in Parliament for the Prime Minister: His party suffered a second defeat in a Liberal stronghold, he lost his Quebec lieutenant and another MP from his caucus as a result, and then he saw the NDP leader tear up their agreement one day only to glue it back together after the byelections.

I think the best of the bad news for him is the even larger coalition with the “Liberal Bloc” leader to save his ailing minority government.

How can this Liberal government still have the confidence of parliamentarians and Canadians?

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

Madam Speaker, what a good idea to ask a question on September 20, the day the Canada child benefit payment is made, a day when, in his riding, families are receiving, on average, a nearly $650 non-taxable payment. There are nearly 8,000 families in my colleague's riding.

Unfortunately, it is always the same old story. The Conservative Party wants to cut everything, including the Canada child benefit, according to the member's leader.

Does my colleague agree with the idea of cutting help for families in his riding?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, the “Liberal Bloc” is the most centralizing, spend-happy, divisive Liberal government, one that has increased the cost of living and the price of food and doubled the cost of housing. Even the Quebec premier is imploring the “Liberal Bloc” to do its job of representing Quebec and to vote against keeping this bad government in power.

Will the Liberal ministers and members from Quebec recognize that, if the Bloc Québécois cannot do its job for Quebec, they should do it themselves, as Quebec's elected representatives, and vote in favour of the motion of non-confidence in this Prime Minister or follow the example of the member for Honoré-Mercier and become independent?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, it takes an incredible amount of cynicism for people to tie their political fortunes to the failure of the Canadian economy, as the Conservatives are doing.

The Conservative Leader once argued that there would be perpetual inflation unless we adopted his austerity agenda. We held our ground and now inflation is back down to a historic low of 2%.

Does he really believe all the nonsense that comes out of his mouth? Does everything boil down to politics for them?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, we have just heard the proof that a bad Liberal government for Quebec is a bad Liberal government for Quebeckers.

No matter how hard the “Liberal Bloc” tries to justify itself, it has no reason to support this minority Liberal government other than feeding its leader's ego.

When will the “Liberal Bloc” Prime Minister allow Quebeckers to vote for a common-sense government that will work for the interests of all Quebeckers, axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime?

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

Madame Speaker, my colleague spoke about feeding his Conservative leader's ego. The Conservative leader had a brilliant idea about two days ago, when he said that helping children go to school in the morning on a full stomach is all about feeding bureaucracy. He said that helping children who have no food to fill their bellies before learning is simply about feeding bureaucracy.

Are we talking about feeding the Conservative leader's ego or feeding the children in his riding?

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. However, it was the leader of the NDP who was out trick-or-treating a bit early. He was tricking Canadians into thinking he was going to end his Liberal coalition, and his treat was his pension. As a result of that, more and more Canadians are facing the carbon tax, and we have nine million Canadians who are facing food insecurity.

Will the NDP-Liberal government end its tricks and call a carbon tax election so it is Canadians who have the treat?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 be talking about pensions as they are actively committed to cancelling Canadians' pensions, while their pensions and the leader of the Conservatives' pension are worth more than $2 million.

As always, the three-word slogans coming from the Conservatives do not make sense. They are not even true. Inflation is down. Interest rates are down. Gas prices are way down. According to the Canadian Climate Institute, thanks to our environmental policies, emissions are down too. Despite this good news, the Conservatives do not want to cheer for the Canadian economy or Canadians. They want bad news to tread on us.

The Economy

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Madam Speaker, the real news is the number of Canadians facing food insecurity is up 111%, that is 25% of Canadian families who cannot afford to put food on the table.

Let that sink in. How is that even possible? That is the stark reality Canadians are facing as a result of the Liberal-NDP costly carbon tax driving up costs on farmers, truckers and food production.

The Liberal-NDP government has already said it does not work for the people, it works for the Prime Minister. Will the NDP-Liberal government put Canadians first and call a carbon tax election?

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

Madam Speaker, time and again in this House, the Conservatives cite food bank line-ups and food insecurity to try to signal that they care about Canadians, while every day they stand up in this House, cheer on bad news and really root for the failure of our economy in Canada.

Inflation is down to the Bank of Canada's target rate of 2%. That is good news for all Canadians. That affects food prices in this country. Our government has put forward a grocery rebate, a GST rebate, immediate support and a national school food program. The Conservatives voted against feeding children—