Dan Albas

[The Economy, February 3rd, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the slower the finance minister responds to questions of real concern does not make the matters any less urgent. To the federal government, our payments on debt servicing alone are growing faster than our health care transfers. If interest rates go up when affordability has never been worse, what would happen?

The Prime Minister and finance minister believe that budgets balance themselves, but payments will not pay themselves. What is their plan to help Canadians cope with rising gas prices, inflation and everything else?

[The Economy, February 3rd, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, inflation is at a 30-year high, paycheques are getting smaller due to increased CPP rates and household debt is at a record high. I asked the Prime Minister what would happen if interest rates go up and people cannot afford their payments anymore.

Does he have a plan or does he just have more empty words disconnected from Canadians' realities?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Return, January 31st, 2022]

With regard to delayed federally funded infrastructure projects in British Columbia: what are the details of all projects which have yet to be completed, and have had their original expected completion date delayed by more than six months, including, for each, (i) the project location, (ii) the project description, (iii) the original expected completion date, (iv) the revised expected completion date, (v) the original total projected budget of project, (vi) the most recent total projected budget of project, (vii) the original federal contribution, (viii) whether or not the federal contribution has been or will be increased, and, if so, to what amount, (ix) the specific reason for the delay?

[Government Business No. 4—An Act to Provide Further Support in Response to COVID-19, December 16th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, originally when COVID-19 and the pandemic arose, the Conservatives said we would support a response from the government that was responsive to needs, temporary and would bridge back to a regular economy. Liberal arrogance, as has been said many times, is the greatest kryptonite. It seems the Liberals have not learned anything from their previous experience with the Canada emergency response benefit.

A FINTRAC intelligence brief says, “Reporting Entities indicated that clients who do not meet the CERB eligibility requirements, or who are fully employed, still apply for, and receive CERB benefits, often while also engaging in suspicious financial activity.” There are so many things in the FINTRAC report that raise the hair on the back of one's neck.

Does the member view this as being a targeted benefit and has the government shown that it has learned from the experience of the CERB with Bill C-2, that it is targeted to the people who need it the most and that there are protections to ensure those who should not receive this benefit do not get it?

[Government Business No. 4—An Act to Provide Further Support in Response to COVID-19, December 16th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I certainly appreciate the member's contributions to the debate today.

In June of last year, when it came to Bill C-208, a bill that would allow someone to sell their family farm or fishing enterprise to their children and be treated the same as if selling to someone at arm's length, the government and the minister said that the coming into force date was not specified in that piece of legislation and therefore they would reinterpret it as coming into force this year.

In this bill, at least Finance Canada seems to have learned its lesson, and there is no coming into force date for the amendments here. Would the member agree that it is important for the government, and in this case particularly Finance Canada, to honour the will of Parliament and if a piece of legislation has no coming into force date when the government amends a current act, that act be deemed, once it has gone through both Houses and received royal assent, the law of the land?

Does the member believe that Finance Canada and the government have learned their lesson, and are doing that in Bill C-2?

[Criminal Code, December 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly listened intently to the member's speech. His experience as a Crown prosecutor in Ontario excellently lends itself to the debate.

There are changes in the bill to conditional sentencing. Obviously, if any mother were to see that someone who is charged with kidnapping could be given a conditional sentence, as in house arrest, they would find it egregious and wrong. Are there other offences that the member believes should not be subject to a conditional arrest?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, workers in my riding cannot take the minister's statement to the bank. Communities in my region have been beset by fires, floods and now a government that has given up. They work hard and they deserve a government that works hard for them. Sadly, the Liberal government does not consider these families and these communities a priority.

What do the forestry workers in my riding have to do to make the government care? Do they have to donate to the Liberal Party?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, it has been weeks since the U.S. jacked up softwood lumber tariffs on communities like those in my riding, yet the government seems to have given up, thrown in the towel. Workers in my riding cannot afford to give up.

Why does the government not seem to care at all about fighting for forestry jobs?

[Instruction to Committee on Bill C-2, December 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, first of all, I hope the member still considers that the whole purpose of the Magna Carta was to ensure the king could not unilaterally decide for everyone. That was an important step. The Conservatives have always believed in extending franchise to first nations and women, for example. It was Conservative prime ministers who first brought these ideas here in this place.

I hope the member can agree that we want to see accountable government. At the end of the day, separating the bill into two would allow the NDP, the Conservatives and every member to have more accountability. Right now there is a mishmash of different measures in there, and obviously it is harder to hold the government to account and bring witnesses to speak specifically if all these measures have been drawn up into one bill.

Would the member not agree that breaking the bill up would offer more chance for debate in this place on specific measures? That would increase accountability. It would mean that all of our voices would be stronger in this place.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, first of all, I congratulate the member for her speech in the House of Commons.

I certainly know that she has many ideas to share with the House. Perhaps the member will continue to share the ideas that are important to her.