Debates of Sept. 26th, 2024

Opposition Motion—Confidence in the Government

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a tough act to follow after a great intervention from my colleague from Quebec.

As a proud son of immigrants, I have seen that struggle at home personally. My parents chose Canada about 40 years ago. They came to this country a blue-collar, working-class family with not much in their pockets. My dad worked at the same factory for about 30 years. Growing up, I did not get a chance to see him at home. He would leave at two in the morning and he would come back at 8 p.m.

As a young father myself, I understand now how hard that sacrifice is. He made that sacrifice for me, for that next generation, because Canada had a promise that if people worked hard and played by the rules, they could achieve that Canadian dream, that dream of home ownership, of buying a decent home in a safe neighbourhood, of going on a vacation once in a while.

That sacrifice my dad made, Canadians are making that every day. They are working harder and harder in the hope that the next generation will do better than the previous. Sadly, after nine years of the Liberal-NDP government, we are starting to see that hope slip away. That Canadian dream, that Canadian promise that so many have fought hard for, is starting to leave our country.

We have the worst economic crisis in my lifetime, in the last 40 years. Two million Canadians are lining up at food banks and 1,400 tent cities are popping up across our province alone, 25 in Oxford county. That was never the case. That never happened before. Two million food bank visits in a single month is not the Canadian dream my parents came to. That is not the Canadian dream Canadians want to live today.

The Liberal policies are making it worse. The Liberals brought in the carbon tax, a carbon tax that punishes our farmers who are feeding our families. They are punishing our truckers who ship our food and product in our country. It is going to cost our farmers a billion dollars. It is going to cost our truckers $4 billion. It is going to be a blow of over $30 billion to our GDP and our economy. It is simple. When we tax the farmer who grows the food and we tax the trucker who ships the food, we punish all Canadians who buy the food.

Now the Liberals have this new capital gains tax hike. They are taxing our farmers; we have a food crisis. They are taxing our doctors; we have a doctor shortage crisis. They are taxing our home builders; we have a national home building crisis. Just yesterday, Jack Mintz put an article out projecting that the Liberal capital gains tax hike would take away 414,000 jobs from our Canadian economy and blow $90 billion from our GDP. That is devastating.

These tax policies are hurting our housing policies. Housing costs have doubled. Mortgage payments have doubled. Rent has doubled. The amount needed for a down payment has doubled. More and more young Canadians, that next generation I spoke about, are now being forced not to buy homes. They are staying with their parents in their basements. That dream of home ownership is starting to fade away.

In 2022, we built fewer homes than we did in 1972, and we had half the population. The Liberals' plan is not working. Even if we manage to buy a home or rent a home, look at the neighbourhoods and what is happening in our streets. There is crime, chaos, drugs and disorder right across our communities. After nine years of the Liberal-NDP government, we are seeing a 50% increase in violent crime. Extortions are up. Auto theft is up.

A few weeks ago in Woodstock, a safe family neighbourhood with a lot of parks and children, there was a drive-by shooting at a home. We have never seen that before. We have seen 47,000 Canadians die from opiate drug overdoses since the Liberals took power of our country.

The Liberals have unleashed a wave of crime, chaos and drugs in our streets. Instead of investing in treatment and bringing our loved ones home drug-free, they are supporting radical drug policies, like giving government-funded meth, crack and other drugs out in vending machines to the public. That is not the Canadian dream my parents came to this country for. The sad thing is we have been seeing this every single day now. The NDP partners—

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

We have a point of order from the hon. deputy House leader.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we have quorum in the House right now.

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

Let us start the count.

And the count having been taken:

We are good.

The hon. member for Oxford.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' catch-and-release policies, like Bill C-75 and Bill C-5, have released criminals back on to the streets. It is a revolving door that they created. My constituents tell me every single day that because of the violent crime, they are not safe in their communities anymore. They are afraid to walk on their streets and go to the park with their families. That is not the Canadian dream that my parents came here for. The sad thing is that the NDP, and the Bloc now, continue to prop up the government.

In my riding, we have a great auto plant, GM's CAMI, and great union workers work there. I met one of the workers last week. He said he has voted for the NDP his whole life. He thought the NDP was the party for workers, but he said it is not anymore. He will be voting Conservative for the first time because he knows the NDP sold out Canadians when it voted 24 times for the carbon tax. The NDP is killing the jobs of our workers and has sold out our workers. Our common-sense Conservative team will always stand with workers and ensure that we put more food on the table for their families so they can live that Canadian dream.

Canadians are now losing hope. We hear it, we see it and we feel it. The stories we share today are stories of many Canadians. They are stories of our friends, our neighbours, seniors and single mothers. They are everyday Canadians trying to survive, to make the sacrifice, like my dad did, to get ahead in this country, to build a better life for the next generation.

The Liberals have tried extremely hard to divide Canadians. They are pitting one region against the other. They are trying to divide our communities by spreading misinformation and disinformation. I know that Canadians see through this. There is hope in our country. We know Canadians are resilient. Our country is strong. I believe in our country and the Conservatives believe in our country. We know that, with the right leadership, we can get our country back on track and restore that Canadian promise that my father came to this country for.

That is why the Conservatives are calling for a carbon tax election now. There is a very clear choice between the NDP-Liberal costly carbon tax coalition that will tax our food, punish our work and take our money, or a common-sense Conservative plan, led by our great leader, that will axe the tax so Canadians can heat, eat and house themselves. We would build homes so Canadians can have a roof over their head. We would fix the budget so we can drive down inflation. We would stop the crime so our families can live in safe neighbourhoods.

We would be a government that would stand with the farmers who feed our families. We would be a government that would stand with lawful gun owners and go after real criminals who destroy our communities. We would be a government that would put Canadians first. We would be a government that believes in the prosperity of Canada, that believes better is possible and believes in Canada. For nine years, we have not seen that.

However, Canadians will have a choice and I call on all parties to call an election. What are they afraid of? Let Canadians decide; that is democracy. Every single day, we will do our job and hold the government accountable, unlike the other parties that have sold out their constituents. We will fight for Canadians every single day.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about his parents coming to Canada to look for better opportunities. I think that is the story of many people in Canada, myself included. My mother is from Italy and my father is from Holland. They immigrated here about 55 years ago. I am a little older than my colleague, I imagine.

Generations that come here and grow up here shape our country. My mother, a relatively new immigrant, became part of the feminist movement in the late seventies and eighties that fought for women's reproductive rights. My wife gets to benefit from that work that my mother and her generation did fighting for those rights. However, now we see members of the Conservative Party who are literally trying to roll back those rights. We see them going to pro-life rallies on Parliament Hill.

Does he not agree that moving backwards is not beneficial for our country or society, or the people who have helped shape it to this point?

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have broken that Canadian dream for newcomers. They have created 99 problems, and they have not been able to fix a single one. They are pretending to be firefighters when they are the ones who are causing the fires. They have been in charge for the last nine years. That newcomer dream that the member spoke about is gone because of his party. When the Liberals are doing all sorts of photo ops and announcing big promises, while we are getting nothing in return, who does it hurt the most? Who does the carbon tax hurt the most? It hurts newcomers, new Canadians.

It is the government that is responsible for breaking that Canadian dream.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague spoke to some of the areas I agree with, having to do with the stories of many Canadians who have come to this indigenous land, who have benefited from what is the immaculate power and grace of this great country. However, so often the original stewards are misunderstood. Their priorities of trying to get clean water, good jobs and social safety nets to help every single person have been difficult for indigenous people.

Forgive me if I cannot vote in favour of a motion that is a grab-power motion for the Leader of the Opposition, just to recreate the pain that so many indigenous people have had to endure. The last time the Conservatives were in government, they were sued by indigenous leaders for failing to create a framework for clean water. How shameful is that?

What does the member have to say to indigenous people who cannot trust the Conservatives? Although they were given so many opportunities to make things right, they have continued to let us down.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will work to be partners with indigenous peoples and make sure that they feel heard, loud and clear. I understand why they do not want to go to an election. Just like Canadians, the NDP is broke. The NDP has no money. Just a few months away from receiving his pension, I can see the leader salivating. In six more months, he will get his pension, so the NDP members are going to hold on. They can create all the drama they want. They can talk all they want about ripping up the agreement and how they are going to fight for Canadians, but, yesterday, they propped the government up again. If they have these concerns, they should fight for Canadians.

Be the voice of opposition that you are here to be. The member said that his job is to fight for Canadians and be a voice. You are missing from action.

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

The hon. member knows full well we have to speak through the Chair. The use of “you” or speaking directly to members in the chamber is not allowed.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I just want to follow up because I felt a little intimidated when he pointed at me and said that I was missing in action when I am here. However, the Leader of the Opposition is nowhere to be seen. The member should be pointing at his leader, but I guess—

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

The hon. member is always trying to be very helpful, but that was not very helpful.

The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Caribou.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people from Kamloops—Thompson—Caribou. Before I begin, I just want to recognize a Paralympian in my riding, Greg Stewart, who won gold. I want to commend him on that, and I want to wish him all the best with his fiancée, Taylor, for their upcoming wedding this weekend. All the best to Greg and Taylor, and congratulations on both fronts.

I really appreciate what my colleague was saying. I know that the member for Kingston and the Islands also referenced coming from an immigrant family.

Could he elaborate on coming from an immigrant family, where he sees things going and what he would change if he had the chance?

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate all Paralympians who are competing today, representing our great country on that international stage.

I understand that we share a very similar story, with our parents making the sacrifice so that we have a better life. The policies of the government have hurt them the most. If we look at the food bank usage, if we look at the jobless numbers that we are seeing today, at what is happening to our country, our community and our economy, it is because of Liberals' failed policies. We are seeing that positive response back right across our country. If we go to the GTA, if we go to B.C., if we go to Surrey, Brampton, Mississauga, Scarborough, Vaughan, people are sick and tired of their failed government. They want a government that will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to rise this afternoon in this most honourable House and see many of my colleagues here today fighting and debating for their constituents. Earlier this week, I had the chance to rise and speak about a similar type of motion presented by the official opposition party. Let me simply start by saying this. Canada is the best country in the world, in my humble opinion. I am so delighted to be raising three daughters in Vaughan and to be fighting for them day in and day out.

I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Kingston in the Islands, my dear colleague and friend. The hon. member mentioned earlier that his mother came from Italy some 50-odd years ago. My father here came via Australia first, and my mother directly through Pier 21. It was a fascinating story. She took the train from Halifax all the way to Prince Rupert, from one end of the country to another, and brought us to a promised land. Canada chose us. Canada chose my parents, and I am so happy that Canada did and gave us this opportunity.

Canada is the best country in the world, not by accident. Yes, it is a work in progress, but Canada is the best country in the world because we do what is right. We take care of the most vulnerable citizens. We allow those who wish to create wealth and generate jobs to do so. We are blessed with bountiful natural resources and human capital. Peace, order and good government is our mantra. We have delivered for Canadians. I think of the Canada child benefit, a monthly tax-free benefit that goes to 15,000 families in my riding. I think of the Canada dental care plan, and how 7,200 residents, the majority of whom are seniors, are now receiving affordable and accessible dental care thanks to the Canadian dental care plan in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge.

I think of the early learning and national day care plan, something that all economists, right, left, centre, say is a great thing for female participation in the labour force and for affordability. It is a win for the economy, for families and for affordability. It is reducing costs. An average family in Ontario right now is seeing almost a 53% reduction in their child care costs and is saving nearly $10,000 in after-tax savings. That is real money in the pockets of my residents.

We put in place the Canada workers benefit that is helping lift literally hundreds of thousands of working Canadians out of poverty so that they can pay rent and afford groceries. We are helping Canadians. Canadians, including those in my riding, have gone through a lot. We went through COVID, a global pandemic. Our government was there with the CERB, the wage subsidy and rent subsidy. We helped businesses. We helped Canadians, because it is the Canadian thing to do.

I know my hon. colleague on the opposite side mentioned earlier that when we first came into power, we had to remove two of the most anti-union, anti-worker bills, Bill C-525 and Bill C-377. We removed those bills because we support Canadian workers. We have never been a chameleon when it comes to that. We have always stood beside Canadian workers of all stripes, in all industries and in all careers.

On seniors, we were the government that returned the age of retirement for eligibility for old age security and the guaranteed income supplement to 65 from 67. If that had been fully implemented, that would have cost retirees, at about $780 a month, times 12, by two years, over $15,000. Someone went off to Davos, Switzerland, and announced that they were going to be changing the retirement system, arbitrarily, with no consultation and no studies, and said that this was going to be right for Canadians. They themselves benefit from a very generous pension system, much like the official opposition leader does, who, by age 31 or 32, from what I have read, receives a beautiful pension and benefits. It is incredible.

We think about our economy, the investments our government has made in partnering with electric vehicle manufacturers, including Honda, Stellantis and Volkswagen. Those are real investments creating real jobs in Ontario and across this country.

I think about the partnership with the steel industry, having the steel industry workers' backs, the aluminum workers in Quebec, in Kitimat, in Trail. We have their backs and we have always had their backs.

We are not johnny-come-latelies to a party, like some of my hon. colleagues. I think of the investments in artificial intelligence and the things that are happening. Our support for Ukraine is undeniable. One does not flinch and one does not stop when dealing with a dictator, and we are dealing with one. One does not say they do not like the price on carbon so they are not going to vote for a free trade agreement with Ukraine. It is shameful.

Let us talk some matters. We had to respond to the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States and also to the European green deal. We responded with a number of tax credits and investment tax credits that have been put in place to help grow our economy and keep us competitive. That is what real leadership is about.

We all know that Canadians love their homes. Homes are not just people's greatest investments but are also places where we create memories with our family. I have three daughters, aged 13, 11 and three; and a beautiful wife who supports me in this endeavour. A person's home is their home, and we know that Canadians love to purchase a home. It is maybe not for everyone, but most Canadians want to be homeowners.

Changes have been taking place in the mortgage market. The mortgage industry has applauded the change by the OSFI, the removal of the stress test on non-insured mortgages. There was an announcement last week by the Deputy Prime Minister regarding a homebuyers' bill of rights and a renters' bill of rights. The mortgage cap is going from $1 million to $1.5 million. There is also 30-year amortization, which is in line with the OECD countries for first-time homebuyers. There are new builds: green builds and all other new builds. These are real changes.

I was happy to announce in the city of Vaughan $59 million through the fund we established to accelerate building, and it has been put to use. I have already made an announcement with the mayor of Vaughan. It is happening; houses are being built.

[An hon. member]

It's another announcement.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we made an $8-million announcement for Jane Street, which is going to be a key regional corridor. Work is happening, including in the heart of my riding, at Rainbow Creek Park. I was canvassing on Woodbridge Avenue, where there is a big sign about another investment by the federal government in partnership with federal investors.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I appreciate that there has been a lot of support for the hon. member's speech, but I want to make sure members know the hon. for Vaughan—Woodbridge has the floor.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I always have time for the hon. member for Abbotsford. I am always happy to chat with him.

On the trade front, there is the renegotiation of CUSMA, getting CETA over the finish line and reinforcing our trade relations with Europe and with other parts of the country.

I do wish to talk about small businesses as well, because small businesses are the backbone of our communities and the backbone of our economy. The city of Vaughan has 350,000 residents, and 20,000 SMEs operate in our city. We are blessed with an entrepreneurial and generous spirit second to none in any of the ridings. We did lower the tax rate from 11% to 9%. We also increased the investable capital, where one qualifies for the small business tax rate. This is generating hundreds of millions of dollars of tax savings. It was in budget 2022 if I remember correctly.

On October 19, we will celebrate and mark again the lowering of credit card fees for small businesses. The first time we did, it meant a billion dollars in savings for small businesses. We are helping small businesses grow. We had the backs of small businesses during the pandemic. We were there for them. They went through a tough time. I know that the restaurants in my riding went through a tough time, as well as the small businesses, when they were shut down by the provincial government and with the imposition of measures, but we were there for them.

In my concluding remarks, I go back to my comments at the beginning of my speech. We live in a blessed country. We are all of different faiths in this place, and we all attend church. I have my favourite psalms, psalms 91, 35 and 36, which I say to myself on a daily basis. We live in a beautiful country and a blessed country. My kids are growing up and I see their interactions with their friends, and there is an optimism, I think. We have gone through a lot with COVID, a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply shocks and global inflation we had not seen in decades. However, our future is bright, and no one can take that away.

I look forward to questions from my hon. colleagues.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on the words we have heard over the last 10 minutes. The member's riding is not all that far south of where I live in beautiful Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte. I am hearing a much different message in my community, which it is that people are struggling a lot.

There is a big issue in my area these days with homeless encampments. The member opposite mentioned a bright Canada. It was brighter in Canada last night because there was a fire in another homeless encampment in Barrie. There have been so many that it is getting tough to report on them. That is what I am hearing back home in my community, which is only about 40 minutes north of you. Are you not hearing the same issues in your community about homeless encampments, people struggling and people wanting change?

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

I am hearing all kinds of things, but let us hear what the hon. member for Vaughan—Woodbridge says.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have much respect for the hon. member for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte.

The first thing I would say is that I hope no individuals were injured in that event in the member's riding. My prayers go out to anyone who was injured. Obviously that should never happen in any riding, city or town in Canada.

Canadians, yes, are asking us to do more to assist them. We always need to listen to our constituents. I am not an MP who tells Canadians what they are thinking. When I knock on a constituent's door, I always wonder what the family is going through. Do they have a loved one in a hospital? Are they going through a transition? How are they feeling? I never tell a constituent that everything is rosy and merry. What I say is that we do live in the best country in the world but it is a work in progress, and I am there to listen to them and their concerns and to be empathetic and humble.

We put in a lot of measures to assist Canadians. We went through a tough time with global inflation. Absolutely, things are and will be getting better, but Canada fundamentally is the best country in the world.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on my Liberal colleague's speech on today's motion. We could draw a similar parallel with the other Conservative motion that was moved earlier this week.

I would like to know what my colleague opposite thinks about the Bloc's demands. The reason we have decided not to vote with the Conservatives is essentially because we think we can make gains, gains that we consider reasonable, gains that we thought the Liberals would support. Examples include increasing the OAS for people aged 65 to 74 and protecting supply management in trade agreements.

Does my colleague agree with the Bloc's demands? If so, will he tell his government to vote with the Bloc Québécois to save its own skin?

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

Like the Bloc Québécois, I think it is important that all members be able to fight climate change and help seniors.

We need to look at issues like climate change; making sure seniors have a secure and dignified retirement; and protecting our supply management system, which we know all Canadians depend on for food security, affordability and quality. Those are all measures that we need to always engage in with our colleagues and various stakeholders.

Canada is a beautiful and blessed country, and one of the reasons is that we have a great fiscal framework, a AAA credit rating and the lowest deficit and net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and virtually in the G20. Our fiscal framework is strong. We will continue to help Canadians and ensure that we can afford to pay for the social programs that we know strengthen our social fabric.