Chandra Arya

[Privilege, November 8th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, in the hon. member's speech, she mentioned what happened to the country. I can say what happened. While the opposition parties were involved in petty politics, we were working hard for Canadians. With our actions and programs, the inflation rate is at a historic low, interest rates have been cut four times and the consumer price index is at a 30-month high. Rents in Toronto have fallen by 9.4% year over year. These are the kinds of things we are focused on. We are working hard for Canadians while the Conservative Party is playing petty politics.

I would ask the hon. member to specifically address the things that are happening today in the economy, how global inflation has been tamed by the actions of our government, how we have addressed the affordability issues of Canadians and what the results are that we are seeing today.

[Privilege, November 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the cost of living. Let us talk specifics here. A Bloomberg-Nanos poll showed that the Canadian consumer confidence index is at a 30-month high. Due to the actions and programs of our government, a severe recession and global inflation, which was a big problem for Canadians too, have been managed well in Canada now that the inflation rate has come down to 1.6%. Interest rates have also been cut for a fourth consecutive time to 3.75%.

Canada is the best performing in all these parameters compared to any other G7 country, and so much so that the IMF has predicted that next year, Canada will be leading in GDP growth among all G7 countries. I would like the member to tell us which other G7 countries have done better and under what parameters.

[Privilege, November 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague mentioned inflation.

In 2022, due to the postpandemic period and global supply chain issues, inflation rose across the world, in every single country. Due to our actions during the last two years, the trend of inflation is coming down so much. It has come down to 1.6% below the target range of the Bank of Canada. Every other country has had to raise interest rates to combat inflation, but we are the first G7 country to cut interest rates for the fourth consecutive time and have brought it down to 3.75%. Consequently, the Canadian consumer confidence index is at a 30-month high. I would like to hear the hon. member's comments on that.

[Privilege, November 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned “filibuster” several times. I just looked it up and the definition of filibuster is “an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.” The only people I see speaking here are the Conservatives, so it is the Conservatives who are filibustering.

The member also mentioned rents. A recent report showed that in Toronto, in August, rent was down 7% compared to the same month in 2023. Maybe the Conservatives do not want to discuss the Bloomberg-Nanos research that showed this week that the consumer confidence index in Canada is at a 30-month high. Maybe the Conservatives do not want to discuss the recent StatsCan report that showed inflation came down 1.6%. Maybe the Conservatives do not want to discuss the Bank of Canada cutting the interest rate for the fourth consecutive time, the first G7 country to do so, to 3.75%.

Maybe the Conservatives do not want to discuss all the positive reports coming out as they are filibustering here.

[Privilege, October 31st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the testimony this morning at the industry committee. In the same committee, the superintendent of bankruptcy told us that the number of insolvencies and bankruptcies today is below the prepandemic level; in fact, it is even lower than the 2009 level, when there was a fiscal meltdown in the country. This is because our plan is working. Our actions and our programs are yielding the results that Canadians deserve.

Today, the Canadian consumer confidence index is at a 30-month high, on the back of a low inflation rate of 1.6%. The interest rates are down for the fourth time, at 3.75%, and the Canadian economy is projected to be the best among all the G7 countries in 2025. This is why things are much better than what they are made out to be.

Could my hon. friend give his opinion on this?

[Privilege, October 31st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's speech, and he mentioned the cost of living and rent.

I would like to hear his comments first on renting. The rent rates are softening. In fact, in Vancouver, rents were down 7% this August compared with the same month last year. This is the ninth consecutive month that rent is down in Vancouver. In Toronto, rents in August were down 7% compared with the same month last year, and it is the seventh consecutive month that rent is going down.

On the cost of living, the Canadian consumer confidence index is at a 30-month high on the back of the low inflation rate of 1.6% and the interest rate cut, for the fourth time, to 3.75%. I would ask the member for his comments on these facts.

[Privilege, October 31st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I heard the hon. member's speech. He has talked a lot about the Constitution, the various branches of the government and the division of power. However, I want his comment on the current situation, where the RCMP has written to the law clerk of the House of Commons, stating that it is very unlikely the officers will be able to use these documents in their investigation.

[Asylum Seekers, October 29th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, to house asylum claimants, the City of Ottawa is proposing glorified tents called “sprung structures”. Their proposed locations are far away, about 20 to 25 kilometres, from other support systems needed for asylum seekers.

We have to treat people with dignity, and herding them into the proposed structures is not the way to accommodate them. Hence, I firmly oppose the City of Ottawa's proposal to accommodate asylum seekers in Barrhaven using sprung structures.

The city should use federal funds in a more productive way, like upscaling existing buildings that provide actual homes, security, privacy and dignity. There is a significant decrease in the number of asylum seekers. Using funds to create more livable places today means they will be available as affordable housing tomorrow.

[Privilege, October 29th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about so many things. Why does he not speak about the state of the economy today? Inflation is down to 1.6%. Interest rates have been cut, reduced four times, to 3.75% and are expected to go to 3% or less by July 2025. Rents are coming down and renting is becoming more affordable. The consumer confidence index has increased to a 30-month high. Why does he not talk about that?

[Privilege, October 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the member said to just hand over the documents to the RCMP. I do not know if he is aware, but the RCMP has written to the law clerk of the House of Commons to say that it is very unlikely the RCMP would use the documents if they came through this process. We all know the RCMP can get access to any documents and has a legal process for doing so. Also, the Auditor General has written that this is highly irregular and has said that the RCMP has a legal process to get what it wants.

Why is the member asking to do what the RCMP suggests not to do?