The hon. member for Saint-Jean.
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.
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.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, we need to talk about the precarious financial situation retirees are facing.
I would like to begin by reminding the Liberals that seniors are listening to us and they expect their elected representatives to stop playing politics when it comes to their living conditions. The fact that seniors aged 65 to 74 receive 10% less in old age security benefits than older seniors simply cannot be justified, given that they face the same cost of living. There is no way to justify creating two classes of seniors. There is no way to justify financial discrimination based on age.
Will the government put an end to that, or will it have to justify itself in an election?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Madam Speaker, I would like to mention three things.
First, we increased assistance for seniors aged 75 and up. As my colleague may know, even if it is not from personal experience, when people age, their needs increase and their income goes down. They find it more difficult to work and have to pay more for medication, housing and transportation.
Second, we have always said that we will continue to be there for the seniors in my riding and across the country.
Third, I have some good news. As of July 22, 8,000 seniors in the riding of Saint‑Jean had enrolled in the new Canadian dental care plan. It is extraordinary that 8,000 new seniors—
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, the Liberals are masters of their own destiny. They can stop creating two classes of retirees by increasing old age security for seniors 65 to 74, or they can keep answering with platitudes or not answering at all. They are going to suffer the consequences. Let us be clear, the Bloc Québécois has no intention of giving up on this. The government, who has $34 billion to spend on a pipeline out west, is quite capable of supporting seniors 65 to 74.
Will it support all seniors 65 and over or will it suffer the consequences come election time?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Madam Speaker, our colleague talks about platitudes. It is not a platitude to say that, as of July 22, 8,022 seniors in her riding were able to get affordable and accessible dental care.
Many of them had waited for years for dental care, dentures, exams and cleanings because they are so expensive. Many of them, unfortunately, waited far too long. Indeed, the longer a person waits, the more expensive and painful it is to treat.
The good news is that in her riding, 8,000 seniors now have access to dental care. Several thousand more have not signed up yet.
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Uqaqtittiji, indigenous peoples represent 20% of unhoused people in Canada.
The CEO of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services states only 0.2% of all funding to end homelessness is going to indigenous peoples. This means thousands will be living out in the cold this winter because of the Liberals and the Conservatives who voted against any funding for indigenous housing.
When will the Liberals end their genocidal policies, stop breaking their promises and ensure indigenous peoples have places to call home?
Jenica Atwin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
Madam Speaker, we are taking action to address the tremendous lack of safe, affordable housing and housing supports for indigenous peoples in urban, rural and northern communities.
Conservatives are pulling from the same old “Ottawa knows best” approach. Since 2016, we have taken a different approach, working closely with partners to determine the scope and scale of housing needs on reserve.
In our efforts to help close the gap, we have increased our funding for on-reserve housing by over 1,100%. We are supporting the construction, renovation and retrofit of over 36,000 homes in first nations communities and are co-developing a 10-year housing and infrastructure strategy. We will not stop.
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
It is really disappointing, Madam Speaker, to see the Liberals stand up when they know they have had less than 0.2% spending on indigenous housing needs.
Today, rental vacancy rates in St. John's bottomed out at 1.5%. That means that even when doing everything right, people still cannot find an affordable place to live. This housing disaster is happening because Liberals and Conservatives gave a million affordable rental homes to corporate landlords. Now the people of St. John's and everywhere in Canada are paying the price.
Why are the Liberals, just like the Conservatives, not protecting Canadians from greedy corporate landlords?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing
It is very true, Madam Speaker, that rent is too expensive in this country, but what is incumbent on all federal parties, including the NDP, is to put forward a plan. The Conservatives do not have a plan, but neither does the NDP.
What is our plan to help on rent? We have waived the GST on the construction of apartments for lower-income and middle-class families and individuals. We have put forward an acquisition fund to help not-for-profits purchase housing facilities to keep rent affordable. We have invested in co-op housing, with the single largest investment in the past 30 years. Where is the NDP on these issues?
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. The coalition just got bigger after the NDP leader's fake stunt of ripping up his agreement. Now the NDP-Liberal government has new partners in the Bloc. These coalition partners support being part of a government that hiked taxes, ballooned food costs, doubled housing costs and unleashed crime and chaos in our once safe streets.
When will Canadians have a carbon tax election so they can decide between the costly coalition government and common-sense Conservatives?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Madam Speaker, while the member opposite brought up crime and chaos in the streets, let us talk about what the member for St. Albert—Edmonton was doing in Ottawa streets just this past week. He was having cocktails and flirting with fascists who interrupted a Terry Fox memorial.
The Conservatives are spending more time with those who are flying Russian flags on Parliament Hill than being concerned about Canadians' safety.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
I want to remind members that if they do not have the floor, they should not be speaking. There were quite a few of them doing that. They should listen to the answer whether they like it or not.
The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, in Kelowna, recently someone broke into a home and stabbed a woman. This was a violent, random crime, so for the member to talk about discounting crime and chaos in our communities, shame on her.
Canadians cannot afford this costly coalition that taxes our food, punishes our work, takes our money, doubles our housing costs and unleashes crime and chaos in our communities. Common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.
When will we have a carbon tax election?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Madam Speaker, once again we see the Conservatives purporting to support feminism and be against violence against women, yet what we know is that a vast majority of women are subjected to gun violence. What do the Conservatives do? They are silent. They take on the talking point of the gun lobby over Canadian women who are saying that we need to keep our communities safe and get restricted weapons that are meant for the battlefield off our streets.
Why are the Conservatives not standing up for Canadian women?
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
Again, I want to remind members to please be respectful. If they had an opportunity to ask a question, they should take the opportunity to listen to the answer.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
The member for St. Albert—Edmonton is out of order. I would ask him to hold himself back from all these outbursts.
The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Madam Speaker, last week the NDP leader, in a performance, ripped up the agreement with the Liberals, saying they will never, ever get back together. However, here we are in the first week of Parliament, and at the first opportunity, the NDP is propping up the Liberal government.
No one can keep up with this “they will or will not” saga, so I have a simple question for the parties on the other side: Will they or will they not?
Élisabeth Brière LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families
Madam Speaker, since the question is not directed at us, I will take the opportunity on this Military Family Appreciation Day to recognize the sacrifices and the service of the families of the Canadian Armed Forces members who keep us safe here in Canada and around the world.
I know that many Canadian Forces members are currently deployed to Latvia and that they are proudly and bravely participating in Operation Reassurance.
I therefore want to thank all members of the Canadian Forces and their families for their commitment.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Madam Speaker, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. According to Statistics Canada, after nine years of the Liberal government, 111% more Canadians are dealing with food insecurity. That is four million more Canadians who will have trouble feeding themselves tonight.
What will it take for this cowardly coalition of the NDP and Bloc to finally stand up with the Conservatives and defeat the tired, corrupt Liberal government?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, cynical politicians, like the Conservatives, have tied their political fortunes to the failure of the Canadian economy. Good economic news for Canadians is actually bad news for the Conservatives. They have told us time and again that there would be perpetual inflation unless we adopted their austerity agenda. Inflation is at an historic low. It is at 2%, which is exactly the target rate set by the Bank of Canada.
Are the Conservatives really being honest when they speak in this House, or are they just gaslighting Canadians?
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Madam Speaker, the Bloc Québécois leader is letting the Liberals know that he is going to keep them in power, thereby relinquishing his bargaining power, especially when it comes to the order issued by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The Premier of Quebec is asking the Parti Québécois to bring its big brother in Ottawa back to its senses. If the Bloc Québécois leader wants to make himself useful, he should support our motion to bring down this incompetent, spendthrift, centralist government.
As for the Liberals, are they ready to side with Saguenay communities and drop their order against forestry workers?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Madam Speaker, my colleague's question is directed at the leader of the Bloc Québécois, so the leader of the Bloc Québécois will have to answer.
However, I am going to give her some very useful information. In her riding, as of July 22, 16,452 seniors had received their member card under the new Canadian dental care plan.
The problem is that his Conservative leader said on the radio in Quebec City just a few weeks ago that the Canadian dental care plan does not exist and that it is not worth applying for a member card. Does she believe her Conservative leader, or does she believe the 16,452 seniors who received their member cards?
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Madam Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is without a doubt the worst negotiator when it comes to defending Quebec's interests. The Bloc is kowtowing to the Liberals by telling them that they have nothing to worry about because they will not trigger an election. How much leeway does that leave the Bloc for negotiating? None at all. The Bloc could not even convince this government to stand up for the communities in Saguenay that are threatened by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change's heartless order.
Will this spendthrift, centralizing government support our demand to scrap its order that is killing jobs in Saguenay?
