Chrystia Freeland

[International Trade, September 24th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, when our country faced an existential economic challenge, the threat that our free trade agreement with the United States would be torn up, our government stood up to the U.S., and the Conservatives ran scared. The Conservatives told us to back down.

When the U.S. imposed illegal section 232 tariffs on our steel and aluminum, we stood up for Canadians. We imposed countervailing tariffs. The Conservatives told us to back down.

Canadians remember that. We will never back down. We stand up for—

[International Trade, September 24th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the government has stood up to Trump and the government has stood up to Putin. Meanwhile, when Putin told the Conservatives to vote against the free trade deal with Ukraine, they said, “okay, fine”, and when Trump threatened Canada with section 232 tariffs against steel and aluminum, we stood up to the U.S.

Do members know what the Conservatives said? They said that was dumb, and they told us to back down. We did not. We will never back down to bullies. We will always stand up for Canadians.

[Taxation, September 24th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes in tax fairness for all Canadians. We believe that a Canadian teacher or nurse should not be paying tax at a higher rate than a multi-millionaire. We believe that, in Canada, we should not be able to tell the size of someone's paycheque by their smile. We believe that no teenage girl in Canada should get pregnant because she cannot afford contraceptives. The way we pay for those essential programs is through tax fairness, but we know the only thing that Conservatives stand for is a hidden agenda of cuts and austerity.

[The Economy, September 24th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to answer a question about inflation. The good news is that in August, inflation fell to 2%. Inflation has been within the Bank of Canada's target range all year. As a result, the bank started lowering the key interest rate. That is good news for Canadians. All the Conservatives have to offer are ulterior motives and austerity. They want to cut, cut, cut.

[Ways and Means, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to fairness for every generation and to investing in Canadians. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I would like to table, in both official languages, a notice of ways and means motion, which contains our plan to make our tax system and our economy fairer for everyone.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of this ways and means motion.

[The Environment, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, our government is happy to get advice from Canadians across the country, but let us talk about how the Conservatives get their advice. They get advice on the cost of living from a Loblaws lobbyist. They get advice on foreign policy and Ukraine from Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson. They get advice on women's rights from misogynists and the far right. We will take no lessons from them.

[Taxation, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, what I want to know is why the Conservatives are so hypocritical and inconsistent. There was a Conservative who said in 2020:

...the wealthiest 1% who own the most expensive and luxurious real estate and have in their portfolios the most stocks and bonds and other financial instruments will continue to see their net worth expand, having done nothing, by the way, to deserve that expanded net worth.

Who said that? It was the current Conservative leader.

[Taxation, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear about the facts. In an average given year, only 40,000 individual Canadians have capital gains above $250,000. That is 0.13% of our population. We believe it makes sense for those with the broadest shoulders to support everyone else.

The Conservatives can tie themselves in knots trying to justify policies that are ultimately about austerity and cuts, cuts, cuts.

[Housing, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am really glad to hear the Conservatives talk about housing because, last week, we made a very important announcement on housing. Last week, we announced that amortizations for first-time homebuyers and everyone buying new builds will be extended to 30 years. That is going to help young Canadians make the dream of home ownership a reality, and it will get more homes built faster. I am shocked that the Conservatives are opposed to this essential measure.

[Carbon Pricing, September 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, all the Conservatives know how to do is talk Canada down. Do members know why that is? It is because they do not want Canadians to ask themselves what the Conservatives really stand for. That is because the Conservatives have a hidden agenda. They have a hidden austerity agenda, and it is time for us to ask ourselves what they would cut. Would they cut child care? I think so. Would they cut dental care? I think so. Would they cut our housing plan? They sure would.