Justin Trudeau

[Intergovernmental Affairs, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, when I spend time in my riding in Montreal, when I spend time across Quebec, and speak with people about their concerns, whether it is about climate change, affordability, the cost of housing or the extremely difficult and unstable international situation, they no longer want to talk about sovereignty. They no longer talk to me about wanting Quebec to be its own country. What they want to talk about is how we can work together to really make their lives better.

I understand that the raison d'être of the Bloc Québécois is to pick fights and keep raising the issue of sovereignty, but we, as proud Quebeckers and proud Canadians, will continue to work hard every day for all Quebeckers and all Canadians.

[Housing, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, while he continues to insult and slag cities and municipalities across this country, we are going to continue to work with them, just as we are working with the City of Halifax to build more homes so that locals can thrive in their community. Recently, we announced an agreement with Halifax to fast track 2,600 permitted units over the next three years, spurring the construction of thousands of homes over the next decade.

However, he wants to talk about what happened when he was housing minister. When he was housing minister, he announced $300 million and got 99 homes built. That is his record as housing minister. We are building homes right across the country, and we are doing it for real.

[Housing, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, we are working hand in hand with municipalities across this country, whether it is Kelowna, Hamilton, Ajax, or now Halifax, where we are continuing to move forward with investments that are going to respond to people.

I have to say that I was in Brampton just last week. As we were making another announcement about new homes coming up, we were standing on the site of a building that we announced two years ago, which would be opening its doors to new residents today.

This is what we are doing after that member was housing minister and got nothing done. We are there to invest in Canadians and build a stronger future.

[Finance, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, what the Leader of the Opposition is proposing is to cut spending and supports for Canadians in the hopes that Canadians will somehow do better that way. We disagree. What Canadians need is greater investment in the supply of housing. That is why, through our agreements, we are unlocking new homes and opportunities for growth in the city of Hamilton by spurring the construction of thousands of homes over the next decade, just as we are across the country. The mayor of Hamilton actually said our housing agreement was “absolutely a big deal”, and I could not agree more.

When we work together with a strong and ambitious plan, we can get more homes built faster. While the Leader of the Opposition's plan would see these agreements ripped up and stalled, we will keep moving forward to help Canadians.

[Finance, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, inflation is steadily coming down, even as we continue to sign agreements with communities across the country.

By the way, if the opposition leader cared so much about getting more homes built, he would support our affordable housing and groceries act. That legislation would remove the GST on the construction of rental homes, which housing advocates and developers have described as a game-changer. That is the relief that Canadians need. Let us keep moving these important measures forward, and let us keep getting Canadians the housing relief they need, instead of political attacks and cuts from the Conservatives.

[Finance, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know we need more supply on the housing crisis. That is why we are there investing with municipalities to deliver more housing.

In Brampton, our housing agreement was for the construction of more than 24,000 homes over the next decade. That is an investment that the Leader of the Opposition would cut. In other cities, such as Richmond Hill, Moncton and Ajax, just this week, they are passing more ambitious housing plans at their local councils in response to the federal housing accelerator.

While the Leader of the Opposition would rip up these agreements, we are focused on building solutions that will work for communities right across the country.

[The Economy, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, all of us in the House see how Canadians are struggling. We just have different responses to it.

The Conservative Party is proposing cuts to government services, cuts to investments that are going to support seniors and cuts to investments that are going to support families, whether dental care or child care.

The Conservative Party thinks one can cut one's way to prosperity, when the reality is that our investments in child care, in dental care, in supports for seniors and in supports for students have actually helped Canadians through some difficult times. We will continue to be there for them into the coming years.

[The Economy, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to make life more affordable and ensure that companies pay their share.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry met with the CEOs of the big grocery chains and of domestic and international food producers to clearly explain the need for a more affordable grocery basket and improved competition.

I hope that all members will join us in expediting the passage of Bill C‑56 on affordable housing and groceries to improve competition in the food sector, among others.

[The Economy, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, we understand and we see first-hand how Canadians are struggling with the cost of food, groceries and housing. That is why we are taking concrete actions to support them through this, whether it be with the grocery rebate, whether it be with $10-a-day child care, whether it be with dental care that is going to support young children, whether it be with the initiatives we are taking across this country to create good jobs and economic growth, whether it be with the GST rebate cheques, or whether it be with the climate action rebate that is putting money in people's pockets right across the country.

We are going to continue to be there for Canadians, as we have been in years past, as we lifted hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty and as we lifted over a million Canadians out of poverty.

We know that there is more work to do, and we are going to continue to do it.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, over the past few years, I have been very pleased to make announcements alongside Premier Legault, during which we have talked a lot about the importance of reducing the wealth gap between Quebec and the other provinces. That is because we know that Quebec is capable of doing more, and we know that Quebec is poised for economic growth.

We are here to help and support people. Canada is here to capitalize on the economic growth and leadership that Quebeckers are capable of and that they demonstrate every day. We will continue to work hand in hand with Quebeckers to build a prosperous future for all.