Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-15 at second reading. I want to talk about it in language that is easy to understand, because this bill has a direct impact on the lives of families, workers, seniors and businesses back home in Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. I want everyone to be able to understand what this bill means for our community, without needing a financial or policy expert to explain it to them.
Over the past few months, I have been meeting with people in my riding. They talk to me about their plans, their needs and their desire to see things continue to move in the right direction. Of course, some of them talk to me about their challenges, such as the cost of living or the difficulty they are having finding housing, but they do so with an open mind and a genuine desire for improvement. The main takeaway from these discussions is that people in my riding, from Boisbriand, Saint‑Eustache, Deux‑Montagnes and Rosemère, want useful, practical measures that give them direct support in their daily lives, and that is exactly what Bill C‑15 seeks to do.
Bill C‑15 has concrete answers to these concerns. It is not a theoretical bill. It contains measures that will help people on a day-to-day basis. For example, one of the measures will make the Canada disability benefit tax free. This represents a more stable income and financial relief for persons living with disabilities and their families, and most importantly, a form of respect. We are telling these people that we care about them and we are going to help them.
The bill also provides a tax credit for support workers, the individuals who take care of our parents, our loved ones, and our seniors every day. They are often the first people to clock in in the morning and the last to clock out in the evening. They stay by the side of the people they take care of, provide them with comfort, listen to them, and encourage them. Their work demands immense patience, deep compassion and exceptional inner strength. Too often, these essential workers operate in silence, and they do not always receive the recognition they deserve. With this tax credit, we want to tell them clearly that we know that their work is indispensable, that we know that they have a lot of weight on their shoulders, and that we want to be there to support them. This measure does not erase all the challenges in this sector, but it is a concrete gesture of respect, gratitude, and support for the people that take care of our seniors with compassion and dignity.
Another important measure will give people faster access to their money when they deposit cheques in a banking institution. This might seem like a simple matter, but when someone works hard and is waiting for every dollar to pay rent or buy groceries, having access to money without unnecessary delay can make a big difference. This is a gesture of respect for Canadians. The bill also protects people from fraud, particularly seniors who are often a target. Banks will be required to implement new protection measures. This means that our seniors will be less likely to lose their savings to fraudsters. For many families in our communities, this takes one more concern off their shoulders.
Bill C‑15 also helps our local businesses, big or small. In Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, we have businesses that are innovating, manufacturing, and creating jobs. The bill will make it easier to invest in new machinery and modern technology. When a business is able to modernize its tools, it becomes more productive and faster and can employ more people. This is good for workers, the local economy, and the future of our Lower Laurentians region. The bill will also enhance the research support program. This means that businesses that innovate, create, and develop new ideas will receive additional support. This support is critical to ensuring our businesses remain competitive in today's fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
Housing is another key focus of the bill. Many young people in Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles would like to buy or rent a home, but they cannot afford to. This bill offers a number of solutions. It seeks to accelerate rental housing construction. It simplifies certain measures that were causing problems for property owners. It enables the government to invest more in affordable housing. This is all to help more people access decent housing faster.
There are also projects for the future, like the high-speed rail line between Quebec City and Toronto. With this bill, the high-speed rail project can make some real progress. One day, our young people, our workers and our families will be able to travel much more quickly and easily, using a clean, modern, lower-emitting mode of transportation.
This will make travel simpler, reduce time spent in transit, and open up new opportunities for work, study and tourism. This project is significant for the entire country, including Quebec. It is rumoured that there could be a stop in Laval, right next door to Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles. This is very exciting. There will also be benefits here at home. This project will create more economic opportunities and it will close the distance between our communities and the larger centres.
The bill also helps workers get training and find better careers. It supports vulnerable people, protects consumers, helps indigenous communities, and strengthens investments in clean energy. These are concrete measures that all support the same objective: building Canada strong. On this side of the House, we believe in a strong Canada where people have more opportunities and more security.
I firmly believe that this bill will improve the lives of the people of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles. It brings hope, it responds to real needs, it supports families, it protects our seniors, it helps our businesses, it encourages homebuilding, and it lays the foundation for the future of our young people. For all these reasons, I am proud to support Bill C-15 and I invite all my colleagues to do the same.