House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that Canadians are having trouble paying their bills. That is why we are taking action. We are taking action to support Canadians with investments like the grocery rebate, with support for low-income workers, with support for low-income renters, with dental care for families who cannot afford to send their kids to the dentist.
We are there with targeted, non-inflationary assistance that works, while the Conservatives are proposing austerity once again.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, the global inflation crisis that faces Canadians and people around the world has global roots, whether it is the war in Ukraine, which Putin is responsible for, or coming out of the pandemic.
We can say that Canada's economic recovery has been much faster than it was during the much shallower recession in 2008 under the previous government and that employment is up higher than it has ever been. At the same time, too many Canadians are hurting, and that is why we have been stepping up with targeted supports, which are not increasing inflation, but are responding to the reality of Canadians who are struggling.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, where the Leader of the Opposition falls down is that his solution for those families is to do less for them, to take away their child care, to take away their dental care, and to take away the programs that are helping them, such as the Canada workers benefit.
We are bringing forward payments for the Canada workers benefit so that low-income workers can get more help right now, and that leader is going to stand up for hours tonight to block that measure. There is help for Canadians on the way, and those Conservatives are standing in the way with silly procedural games.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, at least the Leader of the Opposition is consistent in not letting facts get in the way of a good political argument. Whether it is on climate change, foreign interference or the Bank of Canada and inflation, he is continuing to fearmonger. He is continuing to amplify erroneous fears that Canadians have while we are delivering supports in a targeted way.
We have the lowest deficit of any G7 country. We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of any G7 country. We are continuing to be there for Canadians in a non-inflationary way that is targeted and right.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Canada is acting to bring down inflation, and it is working. Our inflation is coming down. At the same time, our job as a government is to be there to support Canadians, supports for families and supports for kids who need dental care. We will be there for supports for Canadians who are struggling right now. The Conservative approach is to cut programs, to cut supports for Canadians. At the same time, we are standing up to help Canadians through this difficult time and out the other side.
The Economy June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I believe this is the first time we have heard the Leader of the Opposition even indirectly criticize provincial governments that are racking up significant spending, which is inflationary. On the federal side, we have been very cautious about targeting the measures so they are not contributing to inflation, even as we continue to support Canadians, families, seniors and workers with measures that, on top of that, the Leader of the Opposition is excited about filibustering and blocking tonight.
We are going to be there to help low-income workers, despite the Conservatives' political games.
Democratic Institutions June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, the member knows very well that there are elements of national security that cannot be shared with the public. That is the reality of the world we live in. There are people, members of our armed forces and CSIS, who put their lives in danger to uncover the secrets of other countries and countries that wish us harm.
We offered top secret information to the leader of the Bloc Québécois so he could better understand what we cannot share in public, and he has refused and is choosing ignorance rather than the facts.
Democratic Institutions June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, we all know that the primary targets of Chinese interference are always the communities of the diaspora. That is why we are so adamant in our defence of these communities and we are including them in the decisions we are making.
I look forward to the former governor general doing his tour this summer to speak with these communities and to make recommendations to the government on the best way to continue to protect them.
Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in intolerance and racism since the pandemic. That is why we will continue to be there for these vulnerable persons.
Democratic Institutions June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, as the newspapers recently explained, the best way to disrupt an investigation is to discredit the investigators. That is what the opposition party is trying to do.
The Conservatives did not write that playbook. They took it straight from Donald Trump. They are attacking the investigators because they do not want to talk about the serious findings of this report and investigation.
We should all expect the opposition party to take this seriously.
Democratic Institutions June 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, all the Conservative Party wants to do is make personal attacks against the former governor general, who was chosen by Stephen Harper himself.
The Conservatives want to make partisan and political attacks to try and score points. However, the reality is that if they wanted to take the issue of interference seriously, which everyone should, they would agree to the top secret briefing that was offered to the Leader of the Opposition so that he could get to the bottom of what happened and understand why the former governor general reached these conclusions.