House of Commons Hansard #344 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was leader.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, at least someone over there thinks about monetary policy.
Who could be against the following motion?
That, given that, after nine years, the government has doubled housing costs, taxed food, punished work, unleashed crime, and is the most centralizing government in Canadian history, the House has lost confidence in the government and offers Canadians the option to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there is a very simple answer to his question as to who is opposed to that motion, Canadians.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have until October 29 to increase OAS benefits for seniors aged 74 and under and to protect supply management. They must pass Bill C-319 and Bill C-282. Why do we want the government to pass these two bills? Mostly, because they are good for Quebeckers, but also because there is a consensus in the House. The Liberals, the Conservatives and the NDP agree on this.
Why is the government keeping us in suspense for no reason when it could be making gains for Quebec? Will the government respond to our demands to help seniors and farmers, yes or no?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Labour and Seniors
Mr. Speaker, the member for La Prairie is very late when it comes to helping seniors. He voted against every measure proposed in the House that was solemnly adopted by members to help seniors, often the less fortunate seniors in Canada.
I would like to know what the member for La Prairie has to say to the 6,300 constituents in his own riding who are enrolled in the federal dental care program. What does he say to them when they ask him why he voted against that measure?
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, if he keeps that up, he will be asking a lot of questions next year.
Those who live by partisanship, die by partisanship. October 29 is fast approaching. Instead of playing partisan games, maybe this government should get to work. The Bloc Québécois's demands are clear, positive and have a consensus. The Liberals have a very simple choice. They can choose to permanently help seniors and farmers or to give answers like that and scuttle their own government.
Will they survive by helping Quebeckers or perish from their partisanship?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, Bloc MPs and other members in the House can choose to sabotage the Canadian government's efforts to help seniors in their own ridings. There are 7,400 seniors enrolled in the Canadian dental care plan in my colleague's riding. In many cases, this is the first time in many years that these seniors are receiving accessible and affordable dental care.
When it comes to investments in housing, does my colleague really want to partner with the Conservative leader, who says Quebec municipalities are incompetent and who wants to tear up the agreement with the Quebec government to build 8,000 affordable housing units?
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Pascale is a single mom from Hull who wrote in an open letter, “I'm afraid I will never be able to buy a home. I'm afraid my eldest child will never know the joy of a space that she can truly call her own. I can't get a different apartment because rents have skyrocketed since I moved in...real estate prices in my neighbourhood are up over 150%”.
The Liberals and the Conservatives are the ones who caused this housing crisis. Why do they want people like Pascale to pay the price now?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, who is a true champion of affordable and social housing in Quebec. He knows as well as I do that, although the Conservative leader is very, very good at hurling insults, his Conservative policy would be very, very bad for Quebeckers.
He keeps attacking Quebec municipalities and calling them incompetent, when they are in the process of building 8,000 affordable housing units. One, two, three, four, five, six: that is the number of affordable housing units the Conservative leader built in his entire term as minister responsible for housing.
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Mr. Speaker, another summer has passed and not one single home for indigenous people has been built. The Liberals promised to deliver an urban, rural and northern housing strategy. Two years later, there is still no funding and still no shovels in the ground. Delay, delay, broken promise after broken promise, that is the Liberal way. Meanwhile, first nations, Inuit and Métis people continue to live in mouldy and overcrowded conditions or on the street.
Why do the Liberals keep indigenous people waiting for the homes they need now?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be part of a government that understands by indigenous, for indigenous housing, and that is exactly what we are doing by launching the $4 billion urban, rural and northern housing strategy. Already $300 million have been dispensed through an organization led by indigenous leaders determining how best to use those funds so that first nations, Inuit and Métis people have the kinds of housing and support they need in every city in the country.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, moments ago I asked the government who could be against a motion, pointing out that the government has doubled housing costs, taxed food, punished work and unleashed crime, to give Canadians the chance to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. She said that Canadians were against all those things.
If that is the case, why will she not let them decide in a carbon tax election, now?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, it is a little sad that the Leader of the Opposition, having just lost a vote of non-confidence in the government yesterday, is putting forward the exact same motion today. I think it shows his desperation.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, no, in fact, the motion specifically demonstrates that the NDP-Liberal government has doubled housing costs. I find it interesting that the NDP has now discovered that they have doubled housing costs. A second ago, a Montreal MP stood up to point to a young woman, Pascale, who can no longer afford to rent, much less to own, after housing costs have tripled in that city. When I was housing minister, rent was $700 in Montreal, and we built almost 200,000 units.
Why can the members of NDP not put their actions where their words are and vote for a carbon tax election?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing
Mr. Speaker, these slogans are clever but they are empty. It is empty rhetoric on the other side, as always.
In fact, we should take a look at the CMHC's report from today that puts a spotlight on Montreal: a 106% increase in rental construction. Why? Because GST has been waived by this government to ensure greater supply and to incent builders during a difficult time. He has no idea how to incent that sector. He is good at running around the country insulting mayors and putting a spotlight on the homeless, but coming up with no ideas on that. It is more right-wing populism. Those members have nothing to say.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, let Canadians decide in a carbon tax election if that is true.
Unfortunately, the Bloc Québécois is telling Quebeckers to wait. Those who cannot pay their bills will have to wait. Those who cannot buy a house after nine years of this Prime Minister will have to wait. Those who are afraid to go out on the streets because of the crime wave the “Liberal Bloc” has unleashed on our streets will have to wait. Quebec is at the breaking point because of immigration policies, but members of its government will have to wait.
Quebeckers do not need to wait. They need to choose a new common-sense government.
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, our government's priority is to deliver results for all Quebeckers and all Canadians. That includes child care spaces, a dental care program and historic investments in housing.
What are the Conservatives focusing on in the meantime? Well, as reported in the Journal de Montréal this week, Conservative MPs are taking trips to Florida to preach about the importance of banning abortion and teaching creationism. We cannot make this stuff up. Shame on them.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Even when members are not recognized on the floor and should not be speaking, I always invite them to be very mindful of the accusations they make of other members.
The hon. member for Kenora.
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Mr. Speaker, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government.
People across northern Ontario are struggling to fill their gas tanks, young professionals cannot find an affordable place to live and our communities are less safe. These are all reasons why Canadians deserve a carbon tax election so they can vote for our common-sense plan, but the NDP continues to support the government, denying Canadians that opportunity.
Why is the Prime Minister so afraid of facing a carbon tax election?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing
Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives want to take away the rebate to Canadians, they will have to explain that to Canadians. What they will also have to explain at some point is that they lost 800,000 affordable homes when they were in office. The former minister of housing, who is now the Leader of the Opposition, had no plan on housing and never mentioned homelessness once, and when it came time to vote in favour of ensuring zoning changes at the local level through federal dollars that would incent that change, he voted against it. They all did.
They do not care about the young people the member just mentioned. They never cared. It is more right-wing populism.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois showed its true colours yesterday by keeping the Liberal Prime Minister on life support.
The Bloc voted to keep a centralizing government with a disastrous record on public safety. Since 2015, the number of auto thefts in Quebec has increased by 87%. Violent firearms offences are up 146%.
Does the Bloc Québécois-backed government recognize that its policies have created public safety problems across the country, and particularly in Quebec?
Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the investments we are making to make our communities safe.
We are moving forward on banning some of the most dangerous weapons, over 1,500 assault-style weapons, which are designed to kill. The Conservatives get upset because they are sent here to do the work of the gun lobby instead of keeping Canadians safe, in particular women, who are disproportionately affected by gun violence. It is a shame for the Conservatives to stand up and vote against these measures.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, gun violence is up 121%. However, these are not sport shooters or hunters. These are street gangs with guns that have crossed the border. The government needs to put more money, investments and effort into the border. That is what a Conservative government will do.
How can the government explain its weakness? Why does it always go after hunters and sport shooters?
Pascale St-Onge LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I would invite my colleague to be honest with Quebeckers because he knows very well that we are not banning the firearms used by hunters and sport shooters. We are banning firearms meant for warfare that are being used by gangs to commit murder on an ongoing basis.
My colleague should know that the primary victims of firearms in Quebec and Canada are women, so it is really shameful that he is opposing our measures to ban assault weapons, particularly in Quebec, after the Polytechnique massacre.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers have told us again and again that they are concerned about the cost of living and seniors' living conditions. That is why we issued our October 29 ultimatum.
The Liberals have no right to abandon seniors aged 65 to 74 considering the rising cost of living. They must put an end to the two classes of seniors they have created. They must stop discriminating against retirees based on age. They have until October 29.
Will they comply with our request or will they try to explain their intransigence to voters?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Labour and Seniors
Mr. Speaker, 14,600 seniors in my Bloc Québécois colleague's riding, Shefford, now benefit from the Canadian dental care plan.
Nevertheless, she has stood up in this House time and time again and voted against vulnerable seniors in her riding who are currently benefiting from this program and saving hundreds of dollars.
Why?