Debates of Sept. 23rd, 2024

Health

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell members what “weak” is. Weak is to run away just two days after the Conservative leader demands that they stop action to work with the government to help Canadians on health care. Do members know what else is weak? It is weak to abandon climate action when the Conservative leader puts too much pressure on them.

Canadians should ask if the NDP is willing to stand up for Canadians, if the NDP can stand up to the Conservative leader. We are here each and every day to make sure that Canadians get what they need, to stand up for our public health care system and to make sure that Conservatives do not get what they want, which is to cut our health system to the bone.

Carbon Pricing

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Here is how bad the carbon tax has driven up inflation in food costs in Toronto: Daily Bread Food Bank says its monthly usage has gone from 60,000 people to 350,000 people per month. That is a 480% increase. Pre-COVID, the food bank spent $1.5 million per year on food. Today, it spends $29 million.

The Liberals' only solution is to quadruple the carbon tax to 61¢ a litre. Instead, why would we not have a carbon tax election so Canadians could decide?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to have the opportunity once again today to talk about what is up. I will tell members what is up. Women's participation in the workforce is way up and has reached a record high. New child care spots are being built, and that means 250,000 new spaces by 2026. We know the Conservatives would like to cut these programs, but on this side of the House, we will fight for Canadians.

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals will make us think we have never had it so good, despite millions of Canadians having to line up at a food bank every month. We just do not know how many more facts the Liberals need to see about how damaging the carbon tax really is.

The trucking industry says it adds $4 billion a year. Farmers are going to pay $1 billion more in carbon taxes, and food banks in every part of this country are seeing skyrocketing use. The Liberals' own budget documents say that the budget blows a hole of about $35 billion, at least, in the economy. Again, if the Liberals are so confident, they can call an election and let Canadians decide for themselves about the carbon tax.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, interest rates are down. Inflation is down. Gas prices are down, and pollution is down. Pollution levels are at their lowest in 25 years. What we have achieved is the equivalent of removing 69 million cars from our roads, which means less pollution for Canadians and for our kids, all across the country.

We are fighting for climate change. We are fighting for Canadians. We are fighting for a better future for all Canadians.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, everyone knows that taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and, pretty soon, time is going to be up for the corrupt Liberals.

We all remember a couple of weeks ago when a brave steelworker confronted the Prime Minister to say that taxes are killing him and that he does not believe a single word the Prime Minister has to say. Nevertheless, the NDP keeps propping up the unpopular government because the New Democrats' leader wants to keep his pension. Why is the NDP-Liberal government so intent on raising the carbon tax and reducing workers' pay?

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

Mr. Speaker, all the Canadians watching at home will know what is up, and it is investment in the future of the country. Under the Liberal government, investment in decarbonization is up to make sure that our steel mills are productive, that our steelworkers have jobs and that Canada would win in the economy of the 21st century. Canadians know that what is up is making make sure that the government continues to invest in Canadians to build the Canada of the 21st century.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has some nerve talking about steel.

I have met with steelworkers and those in the steel industry. They have said that, if the Liberals quadruple the carbon tax like they plan to, there will not be a single steel plant left in the country.

That is the minister's economic record. That is what he is doing to Canadians. The carbon tax is not an environmental plan. It is a tax plan that is blowing a $35-billion hole in the Canadian economy every year.

Workers are bringing home less, yet they are paying more. It is time for a change. Why do the Liberals not call a carbon tax election to let Canadians decide?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to talk not only about steel but also about aluminum.

One thing Canadian workers know is that, when it was time to stand up for them, Liberals stood up for them. We just imposed tariffs on steel coming from China to make sure we protect our industry, our jobs and our future. Workers across the nation know that we have their backs. We will fight for the industry, and we will always fight for Canada.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have weakened the Criminal Code, which means that crime is now spreading beyond Montreal and into all regions of Quebec.

Let us remember that the Bloc Québécois supported the Liberal bill that allows for criminals to be arrested and released several times in the same day.

Will the Liberal government and its Bloc Québécois friends tell us why they made such a mistake?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to bail, what we did was change the rules. We changed the rules with the support of all parties in the House. We also toughened sentences for certain crimes, for example, auto theft.

The decision about bail provisions falls to the judges or justices of the peace appointed by the provincial government. The decision to appeal a ruling regarding bail provisions is made by the Crown attorney involved.

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

Mr. Speaker, does the minister recognize that, since they made changes to the Criminal Code, including under Bills C‑5, C‑75 and C‑83, criminals are no longer afraid of anything?

Crime is running rampant in Quebec right now. A 14-year-old boy died in Beauce. Shots are being fired in broad daylight in Quebec City. The same thing is happening in La Baie, Saguenay, and elsewhere.

Will the government, supported by its Bloc Québécois friends, acknowledge its mistake and revert to an earlier version of the Criminal Code?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be absolutely clear. When a decision is made about bail, it is made by someone appointed by the Quebec provincial government. When there is a decision to appeal, that decision must be made by a lawyer appointed by the Quebec government. When there is a decision to be made about whether there is enough space in the prisons to care for or accommodate a person who has not been granted bail, that decision is made by the Quebec government.

In other words, they should talk to Mr. Legault.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Immigration admitted on Saturday that his government had waited, and I quote, “a little too long to slow down” immigration.

Quebec has been sounding the alarm for years. The Bloc Québécois has been warning him about this for years. We gave him facts and he responded with insults.

Does he realize that we would not be in this mess today if he had listened to Quebec's warnings instead of calling everyone names?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I almost heard my hon. colleague pay me a compliment.

From now on, I expect the Bloc Québécois to support our reduction measures, which, as announced, will achieve our objective of lowering the temporary immigration level from 7% to 5%, I hope.

Furthermore, my colleague himself had a hand in that. The last time he contacted my office, it was to increase the number of temporary workers in Quebec, and rightly so. I would point out, however, that it was his request.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member is mixing up some private conversations. The minister also said that it is always easy to look back and say, “We should have done this, that or the other thing”.

The easy thing to do would have been to listen back then. The Quebec government warned him. The Bloc Québécois warned him. Economists at the big banks warned him. Even his own officials had warned his government as far back as 2022 that its immigration targets would put too much pressure on health care and housing. He would not listen to anyone. He insulted everyone.

It may be too late to listen, but not to take action. What is he waiting for?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am being showered with compliments today.

I would simply like to remind the member opposite that this is the same Quebec government that tripled the number of temporary residents in Quebec under its jurisdiction.

We always have a duty to make adjustments. That is what we are doing, and we will continue to do so.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, he himself blamed his own government after a week. It is a good thing that the minister is admitting that he waited too long.

However, he has not even come close to making up for the mistake he admits making, because asylum seekers still have not been relocated. A record number of asylum seekers have applied for welfare because they are waiting months for their federal work permit. They are not even allowed to work. Applications are still taking many years to process. In the meantime, Quebec's public services are stretched thin.

When will we see real action on the ground with real results?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, it takes only 60 days to get a work permit. The Minister of Public Safety and I will be meeting with Quebec's new immigration minister, Jean‑François Roberge, tomorrow. We are expecting to see some progress as well.

Mental Health and Addictions

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

Drug addiction and crime have been running rampant under the government. As a direct result of failed drug policies and the legalization experiment, overdoses have become the leading cause of death for children in British Columbia. In fact, numerous first nations in B.C. are in a state of emergency due to the drug crisis as they try to protect their children.

When will the NDP-Liberal coalition admit failure and bring home our loved ones, drug-free?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to every community that is impacted by the illegal toxic drug supply.

It is nice to hear the Conservatives acknowledge that there is a crisis, because when they were in power, they cut the drug treatment fund by more than two-thirds. They are not willing to invest.

Actions speak louder than words. We need every level of government involved to save lives. On this side of the House, we have committed over a billion dollars to date and will continue to do more. When are they going to get on board and work with us?

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is clear to Canadians: End the NDP-Liberal government's failed hard-drug experiment and save lives.

Rather than stemming the tide of overdose deaths, the Prime Minister's radical experiment has flooded our communities with dangerous opioids. It is even worse in B.C.'s first nations communities, where people are dying at six times the national rate.

When will the NDP-Liberal coalition end its failed agreement, end this failed policy and save lives?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we continue to work with every level of government to save lives each and every day. Rather than using slogans on the back of a napkin, on this side of the House, we listen to experts, we listen to communities and we listen to the science. On this side of the House, we believe in the health of communities. On that side of the House, they do not believe in science, they do not believe in data and they do not believe in saving the lives of Canadians.

Seniors

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

Across this country, we are seeing seniors lining up to get their groceries from food banks, skipping medication and living in tents. Mary, a senior in Maple, showed me her heating bill. She received 44 dollars' worth of gas but paid $46 in carbon tax.

The NDP leader is keeping the Prime Minister in power so he can secure his pension.

Why will the NDP-Liberal government not call a carbon tax election and let Canadians decide?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I thought we had heard everything in this House and then I heard the hon. member. This is from the party that has stood up in this House and voted no to every single support we have brought in for seniors in this country. This is after the prime minister from that party, Mr. Harper, went to Davos, to the World Economic Forum, and took the opportunity to tell Canadian seniors back home that their retirement age was going up to 67. Shame on them.