Justin Trudeau

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we get nothing but absolute nonsense from the opposition leader.

Sorry, there is no good way to say that in English.

The reality is he is just making this stuff up in a way we could not believe. Inflation has been within the target range of the Bank of Canada for over 10 months now. This is because we have been there to help Canadians with things like dental care, like a school food program, with investments that are growing the economy in a way that has brought down inflation and allowed the Bank of Canada to cut rates faster than just about any other G7 country. We are there for Canadians. He is the one voting against things to happen.

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition puts on these little performances because he wants to try to distract Canadians from the facts. We have the lowest deficit among G7 countries and will continue to. We are the third-largest receiver in the world of foreign direct investment, number one per capita in the G20, because countries around the world and companies around the world have confidence not just in Canada but in Canadians.

The question people should ask is, why does the Leader of the Opposition not have confidence in Canada or confidence in Canadians?

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is once again putting on his little dramatic acts because he is trying to distract Canadians from the core facts.

First, interest rates are down again; second, Canadians will be getting a tax break over the next two months, despite the best efforts of the Conservative leader, who once again, twice this past week, saw that this House has no confidence in him; and third, three million Canadians are now approved for access to dental care for the coming year. These are things that he stood against but Canadians are getting anyway.

[International Trade, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, when Donald Trump's first administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum across the country, we responded reasonably, but firmly, and those tariffs were lifted. We were able to renegotiate NAFTA while protecting not only supply management, but things like the cultural exemption and trade continuity between the two countries. We did this by taking the challenges seriously, but working responsibly.

That is what we will do again.

[International Trade, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the job of a Canadian prime minister is to stand up for Canadian jobs, Canadian workers and the Canadian economy. That is exactly what we are doing, with a level of seriousness, a level of focus and, quite frankly, a team Canada approach that brings together the premiers and brings together different actors from unions, from businesses and with expertise across the country. That is why we will continue to take this seriously and not freak out like the NDP or repeat the attacks like the Conservatives. We will stand up for Canadians like we have before, as we will again.

[Diversity and Inclusion, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear. We will always defend freedom of belief, freedom of expression and the fundamental freedoms so cherished by all Canadians and all Quebeckers. That is why we are moving forward to defend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

That said, whether it is at universities, which are independent, or at other institutions, everyone has a responsibility to hire the best teachers based on merit. All Quebeckers and all Canadians expect that.

[Diversity and Inclusion, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will always protect freedom of thought, freedom of expression and freedom of belief.

That is a fundamental value held by all Canadians and by everyone who comes to Canada. That is why, on this side of the House, we will always protect individual rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That is unequivocal.

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Bank of Canada announced interest rates are going down yet again. That is terrible news for the Leader of the Opposition, but it is great news for Canadians, for whom things will become more affordable. On top of that, a tax break will be out for Canadians over the next two months that the Leader of the Opposition voted against. Why? Because he cares more about his own political interests than he does about Canadians who are struggling. He will talk about the challenges Canadians are facing to try to instrumentalize them for his own gain, but he will not lift a finger to help Canadians.

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again we see very clearly that for the Leader of the Opposition, it is all about him. Well, for us, it is all about Canadians. It is all about giving Canadians a tax break over the next two months, which the Conservative leader voted against. It is about delivering dental care to 1.2 million Canadians, while three million Canadians are already approved to access dental care in the coming year.

The fact is that we continue to be there for Canadians. The Conservative leader continues to be there for himself to try to block the help we are delivering to Canadians and to make sure everyone thinks everything is broken, because he is busy breaking it.

[Finance, December 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader likes to make up little dramas to try to distract Canadians from the fact that he voted against a tax break for all Canadians. He is trying to hide from the fact that he continues to muzzle his own MPs so they cannot be their communities' voices in Ottawa but are instead his voice in forcing them to face billions of dollars in cuts to housing programs. He continues to refuse to get his security clearance because he does not want to keep his own MPs safe from foreign interference. That is why he is trying to distract Canadians from what is going on.