Debates of Sept. 27th, 2024

Tourism Industry

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, World Tourism Day is an opportunity to celebrate the pride we take in sharing our home with the world, as well as the industry's contribution to the economy.

Last week, at the G20 on Tourism, we talked in particular about the major challenges facing the tourism sector. What are they? Climate change, for one. Unlike the Conservatives, who do not believe in climate change—we are seeing proof positive of that right now—we believe not only in supporting tourism growth, but also in fighting climate change, because it is very real.

Finance

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years under the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Now carbon tax Carney is waiting in the wings, advising the Liberal leader and getting richer with every new Liberal policy announcement, such as the Liberals' recent increase on mortgage insurance limits. Higher limits will not build houses, but they will increase profits for mortgage insurance companies, such as Sagen, whose parent company's board is chaired by Mark Carney.

When will the government force Carney to disclose his conflicts of interest?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, there they go with the personal attacks. What do people say about those who engage in personal attacks? It is that they have no meaningful ideas to offer.

Conservatives should talk to the insurance sector, talk to the mortgage sector and talk to the homebuilding sector about the challenges facing the country and what the government has done. The recent changes that the member raises on mortgages are meaningful. They will add to supply. We have measures to increase supply more generally. We are working with municipalities and not-for-profits to lower the number of encampments in this country.

We will continue to work, and they will continue to say nothing.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when Canadians have problems with their CRA My Account online, they have no choice but to contact the ministry by telephone. Here is what typically happens: When they call the CRA's toll-free number, more often than not, they are greeted by a recorded message telling them the line is full and to try again later. When they do get through, they are frequently put on hold for as long as four hours, which can then end when the phone line simply goes dead. Several entire days can be consumed in this stressful exercise.

This problem was identified by the Auditor General in 2018, but, if anything, it seems to be getting worse. Why is it not being fixed after six years?

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the hard work that CRA employees do every day, day in and day out.

We will get back to the member on the specifics of his question.

Correctional Service of Canada

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is why I filled out a late show form in advance.

To provide advice on how best to reopen the prison farm at Joyceville, near Kingston, the Correctional Service of Canada appointed a prison farm advisory panel. The panel's advice was to add a cow dairy program. One result of this advice has been the purchase of cattle from members of the very same advisory panel. Another result has been the construction of a $16-million taxpayer-funded barn to house them.

This is such an obvious conflict of interest that the minister owes us an explanation. Why did he allow the purchase of cows from members of the advisory panel?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, it is not a surprise that the member opposite does not believe in training programs for inmates, which we know reduce recidivism. It is pretty clear that not everybody comes from a position of privilege, and not everybody is able to access education and training. However, we know that, when it comes to keeping communities safe, it is providing education and training for inmates that will keep our communities safe into the future.

Health

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the leader of the Conservative Party called out our pharmacare plan as “radical”. He has continued to downplay the significance and impact of the Canadian dental care plan. So far, it has already helped over 750,000 Canadians, and it is projected to help nine million people by the end of 2025.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health please explain why it is so important to maintain public health care?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the only radical thing about the opposition leader's ideas is his plan to cut Canadians' pensions and health care. He has shown his true colours again and again.

He will not stand up for protecting universal health care for all Canadians. What does the Conservative leader mean when he says “radical pharmacare”? It means he does not want to see universal health care protected in our country. It means that he would stop nine million women from gaining access to free contraceptives, he would take away dental care from uninsured Canadians and he would cut coverage for 3.5 million people living with diabetes.

We will not let him do that.

Foreign Affairs

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we witness the tragic escalation of violence in Israel, Gaza and now Lebanon, Canada has abandoned decades of world leadership to sit on the sidelines.

Now, with thousands of air strikes on Lebanese civilians; hundreds killed, including two Canadians; and thousands wounded, what will it take for Canada to find the courage to stand up to Netanyahu?

Parliament has called for a ceasefire. It has asked to stop sending arms to the region and to help all those displaced with assistance. When will the Liberals take action to save lives instead of spewing empty words?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives us an opportunity to recognize two Canadians who were innocent, who were killed trying to flee from violence in Lebanon. I particularly name Hussein Tabaja and Daad Tabaja.

It is a tragedy that is ongoing in the whole Middle East. Canada has continually called for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel and between Israel and Hamas. We will continue to do everything diplomatically possible to work with allies and like-minded countries, and to express Canadians' concern about this tragedy, which is ongoing.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Alain Rayes, Independent, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a year ago, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec proudly announced record multi-billion dollar subsidies to Swedish company Northvolt.

More and more Quebeckers and Canadians are concerned as a result of announcements that the company is facing serious hardship,following the loss of more than 1,600 jobs, the financial liquidity crisis and the halting of expansion and development projects.

Can the Prime Minister tell us how much taxpayers' money is at stake? Does the federal government, unlike Quebec, have any guarantees protecting us in the event that the project in Quebec's Montérégie region does not see the light of day?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government is very proud of the anchor generational investments that we have helped to incentivize and bring into the Canadian economy.

The Northvolt project is one of many, and it is an important one. I can assure the member that no federal funding has gone out, as the minister has made clear, and that there is flexibility with Northvolt. We know that the Northvolt project is important.

We look forward to the revised plans and ensuring that the project continues and contributes to the EV supply chain here in Canada.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, during members' statements today, the member for Calgary Heritage used a personal insult towards the leader of the NDP.

Members are doing it again. Insults and name-calling are clearly against our rules. Yesterday, the Speaker made a ruling to that effect and has called on the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw and to apologize for similar comments. Not only is the Leader of the Opposition ignoring the Speaker and disrespecting the entire House of Commons by doing so, but also the lack of meaningful consequences has now given licence to other members to follow his lead.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that you did bring up a comment after the fact, but the statement was read in full and has made it into the Hansard. The member needs to be asked to withdraw and to apologise.

[The Deputy Speaker, Chris d'Entremont]

I thank the hon. member. I did not catch it. I am not perfect. I did mention that using false titles is not allowed in the chamber. We will go back and look at it to see exactly what words were used and come back.

Democratic Institutions

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present e-petition 4938, which has gathered more than 9,500 signatures from people across the country. The petitioners call on the House to oppose the portion of the Liberal Bill C-65 that would move the election date to one week later.

This seemingly innocent change would guarantee pensions for current members of Parliament who were first elected in 2019 and who are still serving, even if they choose not to run again or if they run and do not win the next election. The petitioners think that this is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. I agree with that. I congratulate them for working on this petition, and I am happy to present it.

National Field of Honour

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a certificate for an e-petition that has gathered 1,263 signatures. The petition asks that the Government of Canada consider making a full public commitment in 2024 to assuming oversight, management and funding of the Last Post Fund's National Field of Honour, in view of the cemetery's unique national significance, as called for by the Last Post Fund itself.

Opioids

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of presenting a petition signed by over 1,500 people who identify three key things: that harm reduction strategies have failed to decrease opioid use; that such strategies have fostered illegal drug resale, increased crime and encouraged youth addiction; and that safe injection sites threaten public safety in host communities, with some being placed next to schools and public parks. They call for two things from the Government of Canada: to reform or abolish the safer supply strategy and safe injection sites; and to focus federal funding on strategies that actually break the cycle of addiction and support community safety. I thank all those for their ongoing advocacy to make sure that our kids and our communities are safe.

Taxation

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today from residents in my community and surrounding area. Petitioners reference, after nine years of the government, Canada going through the worst decline in living standards in the last 40 years. It references the government's high tax policies and the job-killing taxes that are affecting many Canadians, creating smaller paycheques.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to, first, overhaul the tax system to make taxes low, simple and fair; second, reduce the share of taxes paid by the poor and middle class; third, cut tax-funded corporate welfare and crack down on overseas tax havens; and, last, cut the paperwork and bureaucracy in the tax system by at least 20%.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.

[The Deputy Speaker, Chris d'Entremont]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Oral Questions

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

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order in relation to the point made by the member for Winnipeg South Centre after question period yesterday.

The member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes heckled me, asking if I received a thank-you letter from Hezbollah. Members of the Conservative Party in the House have repeatedly maligned me personally, using unparliamentary language, over the past several days. As a Jew and as an Israeli Canadian, this is abhorrent. I, like many Canadians in this country, am witnessing the war in the Middle East and watching my loved ones being impacted on both sides of the border. To make such disparaging personal comments while my family and so many, on either side, are suffering and who are under constant threat of rocket fire during this horrific war is beyond shameful.

I have dedicated my life's work to bridging between peoples, to bring peace into the region and to bring a pathway so that people can live in safety and security in the Middle East, particularly Israelis and Palestinians who live in the region. We come to the House every single day to do the work for Canadians to make their lives better and be a force of good on the international stage.

The member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes diminishes himself. He diminishes the House. I am requesting that he withdraw his comments from question period yesterday and apologize. The House and Canadians deserve better than this. They do not deserve bullies like this in the House.

[The Deputy Speaker, Chris d'Entremont]

I thank the hon. member for the intervention. We will look at that and come back to the chamber as quickly as possible.

Motion

The House resumed consideration of the motion and of the amendment.