Jagmeet Singh

[Business of Supply, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, one thing we have just realized—

[Business of Supply, December 6th, 2024]

moved:

That, given that,

(i) Canadians are facing an affordability crisis and need more than temporary relief,

(ii) the government’s $250 Working Canadians Rebate would exclude many workers and other Canadians who need it the most,

(iii) the 2021 Conservative Party platform included a one-time GST holiday,

the House call on the government to:

(a) permanently remove the GST from essential goods, including home heating, grocery meals, Internet and mobile phone bills, diapers and kids’ clothes;

(b) expand the rebate to include all adults whose income is under the threshold and did not earn employment income in 2023, so that people like recent graduates trying to enter the workforce, retired seniors, people with disabilities, injured workers, workers on parental leave and long-term sick leave, and others in need are included; and

(c) pay for that measure by putting in place an excess profit tax targeting the largest and most profitable corporations.

Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

[Taxation, December 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, why are the Conservatives chirping so much? They have proven that they are bootlickers for billionaires.

Families will still need to eat after February 15. On February 15, however, the Prime Minister is going to put the GST right back where it was. That is yet another disappointment courtesy of the Liberals.

Why does the Prime Minister think that people should keep paying GST on diapers and children's clothing?

[Taxation, December 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives showed us who they really are. They voted against tax relief for the working class, and the Liberals want to jack up taxes on February 15. New Democrats believe the working class needs permanent relief. Will the Prime Minister permanently exempt the GST on daily essentials, like a kid's winter jacket?

[Privilege, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it was very powerful when the member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke shared that Jack Layton had recruited him. If Jack should have the credit for recruiting him, I will take a little credit for trying to keep him in the House for as long as possible. I mean that really personally. I had to ask the hon. member multiple times to stay on as member of Parliament. I owe him a life debt of gratitude for agreeing.

I asked the member to stay on for many reasons. One is that I trust his counsel very dearly. He is someone who gives me a lot of really great advice. As we can see, he does a lot of really important work in the House.

One of the things about the member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke that I want to share is that he shared the pain he endured as a child, the trauma and the violence that he saw and that he himself experienced. What we can see in his life's work and in the way he brings himself to the world is that he did not let that pain extinguish his joy and his deep belief that we can build a better world. Despite the pain he endured, he approaches his life with the passion that better is possible.

Another thing that we might know about the member is that he wants no other child to ever experience that same pain again, to feel like they do not belong. It is a big part of what guides him in the work he does. I see that and I feel that we are all better off because of the passion that he brings, the care that he brings and the personal tragedy that he turns into the powerful motivation for the work he does.

On a personal note, I remember when the member first told me that he was going to message me on my cellphone, not often but whenever he thought it was appropriate. I did not realize that meant he would send me essays on my cellphone. Those essays that he would send every now and then, true to his word, not all the time but when he did, would guide me in the right direction and would encourage me when times were tough.

The member reminded me often that he chose me and endorsed me early on and that he never regretted his choice. There are times when he might have, or times when it was hard to say that he continued to support me, I would say, but I really value his friendship, his commitment, his loyalty and the fact that he reminded me often that he was proud of his choice.

I am proud to call the member a friend. I am proud to call him an ally. I am proud that he chose to be a part of the movement. I am so thankful he said yes to Jack. I think all of us in the chamber have seen the difference that he has made. Kids in this country are safer because of him. Because of his work, there are more little members for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke who are going to be less scared, less afraid and less feeling like they do not belong.

[International Trade, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's inaction allows the Conservative cuts to continue to hurt Canadians.

We need to hire thousands of border officers and save good Canadian jobs. Donald Trump has apparently said that he wants to use tariffs to balance his budget. He is going to destroy the lives of Canadians to cover a U.S. deficit. That is outrageous, and the Prime Minister has to be clear.

Why did the Prime Minister return from his dinner at Mar-a-Lago empty-handed?

[Canada Border Services Agency, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the last Conservative government fired 1,100 border officers. This allowed illegal guns and drugs to flow freely into our country. We are all paying the price of the callous Conservative cut.

I want the border officers rehired. I want thousands more recruited, and I want their mandate expanded so they can patrol the entire border. Will the Prime Minister do that?

[Employment, November 26th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot afford for the government to ignore this problem. It needs to take it seriously because Canadians cannot afford another letdown.

Trump's attacks were no surprise. We knew they were coming. However, the Prime Minister chose to turn a blind eye and say that everything was fine. Thousands of jobs are at stake.

Why did he fail to react to Donald Trump's threats?

[Employment, November 26th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's threats of tariffs could threaten hundreds of thousands of Canadian mortgage-paying jobs. The only thing a bully responds to is strength. Where is our plan to fight back? Where is the war room? Where is a concrete plan to bring our issue before CUSMA?

Why is the Prime Minister not fighting like hell for Canadian jobs?

[The Economy, November 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, workers, seniors, people living with disabilities and young people just getting their first job desperately need help, but this government is excluding them from the $250 cheques. Talk about a slap in the face.

Why are the Liberals excluding the most vulnerable people?