Justin Trudeau

[Public Services and Procurement, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, this ongoing situation is unacceptable, and people doing work for the federal government, or anyone, deserve to get paid. We did not create this mess, but we will fix it. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to fix it.

In budget 2018, we announced an investment of over $430 million over six years to continue addressing existing pay challenges. We will increase the number of employees working on pay issues, and hire more HR advisers within departments to assist employees with payroll issues. We have a plan to stabilize the pay system that we will continue executing, while working with experts, unions—

[The Budget, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, when Liberals presented a plan for investment instead of the austerity plan the Conservatives were presenting, Canadians supported us because they knew we would invest while maintaining fiscal discipline.

We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, better than the U.S., better than the U.K., better than Germany, and it is decreasing every single year. That is fiscal responsibility. At the same time, we are investing in Canadians, in their communities, in the future that Canadians need. That is the choice Canadians made two years ago, and that is what is delivering for Canadians.

[The Budget, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, under the Harper government, the Conservatives added $150 billion to our national debt and had no growth to show for it. The worst growth rates since the Great Depression were under Stephen Harper.

We chose investment. Canadians chose investment in them, in their communities, in their futures, and it is delivering with the highest growth rate in the G7. We have the best record on job creation in a long time, with over half a million jobs created in the past two years, and the lowest unemployment in 40 years.

Canadians made the right choice, not the Conservatives' choice.

[The Budget, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, Canadians were given a choice between investment and austerity. Canadians chose investment, and it worked.

Over the last two years, the Canadian economy has created more than half a million jobs. Canada has the best debt-to-GDP ratio of all G7 countries, the highest growth of any of the G7 countries, and the lowest unemployment in 40 years.

As is usually the case, Canadians were right in their choice.

[Prime Minister's Trip to India, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question.

However, I understand that the opposition members want to keep to this line of questioning because they prefer talking about anything other than budget 2018, which includes so many positive initiatives for the middle class and those working hard to join it. One of these is the Canada workers benefit, which we are not only strengthening but are also making accessible to an additional 300,000 low-income workers.

The opposition will stay focused on us, but we will continue to focus on Canadians.

[Indigenous Affairs, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, reflecting commitments in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord, budget 2018 proposes to invest $516 million over 10 years for housing, post-secondary education, and health strategies. President Chartrand of the Manitoba Métis Federation said, “Since Confederation, the Métis Nation has been left out in the cold. With this announcement, we can begin to see the change.” We have brought the Métis Nation back into Canada. These investments in Métis Nation priorities will support their vision of self-determination.

[Health, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing to hear the member opposite disparage a national housing strategy because in addition to housing investment from budget 2016, it represents a 12-year commitment to housing. Thirty per cent of that 12-year investment will be spent in the first four years of our mandate. Investment then increases gradually over time because, unlike previous governments, we believe the community housing sector should grow, not sink. That is why we are moving forward on things that matter to Canadians in concrete, tangible ways and delivering on all our promises.

[Housing, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, over the past two years we have made significant investments in helping the most vulnerable in our country.

We brought forward the Canada child benefit that is lifting hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty and reducing child poverty by 40%. In this budget we are moving forward with a Canada workers benefit that is going to lift tens of thousands of low-income workers out of poverty. On top of that, we are moving forward with a national housing strategy of $40 billion overall that is going to go to homelessness, is going to help affordable housing, and help with housing affordability.

[Prime Minister's Trip to India, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we have already answered those questions. What we are focusing on is ensuring a better future for Canadians on the labour market. It is unacceptable that a wage gap still exists in 2018. We therefore announced that we are going to introduce new proactive pay equity legislation. By promoting greater equality for women, we could inject $150 billion into the national economy by 2026. This shows that it is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do.

[Prime Minister's Trip to India, February 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we have already answered those questions. What the opposition fails to understand is that it should be focusing on Canadians. That is what Liberal MPs did when Canadians told us that we should do more to help workers in seasonal industries.

We announced the immediate payment of $10 million in income support for workers, as well as more than $200 million over the next two years through labour market development agreements. We listened to seasonal workers and we are working to deliver on our promises.