Tracey Ramsey

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, January 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, throughout debate, many members in the House spoke about families and people in their ridings who were struggling. People in my riding of Essex are struggling as well. Unfortunately the speech failed to outline plans to fight poverty and reduce inequality in Canada. There is nothing to address the fact that the absence of federal minimum wage leaves far too many Canadians working full time, but still living below the poverty line.

A way to provide direct help to tens of thousands of families is by giving them a raise, by reinstating the $15 an hour federal minimum wage.

Does the member opposite agree that the government needs to take a leadership role for all Canadians and provide direct help to them by giving them a raise through reinstating the federal minimum wage and raising it to $15 an hour, and also to support workers and ensure that minimum wage workers in Canada do not fall below the poverty line?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, January 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Speech from the Throne talks about job creation, but fails to make any mention of the important role that small businesses play in this respect. Small businesses are the real job creators in our country, creating over 77% of all new private sector jobs.

I recently met with a small business owner in my riding who is worried about the ability to make ends meet.

The federal government can support small businesses by cutting their tax rate from 11% to 9%.

It is also time for stricter regulations that limit the exorbitant fees that credit card companies charge to retailers and small business owners.

Does my colleague opposite not agree that it is time the federal government act upon these priorities and take immediate steps to support small businesses?

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, congratulations to the member across on his excellent speech. I was pleased to hear him mention seniors and health care because some of that was missing from the throne speech.

We are deeply concerned that there is no commitment to cancel the Conservatives' planned cuts to health care. Reversing these dangerous cuts is critical to strengthening our health care in Canada.

Will the government commit to a strategy to provide the care that seniors need, at home, in hospitals, in long-term care facilities, and through palliative care?

Will the government cancel the Conservatives' planned cuts to health care in Canada?

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I would like to highlight the issues the member did not bring up when he was speaking about poverty. I would like to ask the member a question about the poverty our seniors are struggling with right now. Seniors in Canada cannot afford their prescription medication. They cannot afford to pay their rent. They cannot afford to buy food.

Would the member support the return of the OAS to age 65 from 67? It was put at that level by his government. Would he also support an increase to the Canada pension plan to elevate seniors in our communities out of poverty?

[International Trade, January 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, a new study reveals the TPP will cost 58,000 jobs and worsen income inequality. Many of the jobs at risk are in my community and others like it throughout southern Ontario. In spite of the reality for these families, the minister tries to hide behind technicalities, but it is simple. If she does not support the deal, why would she sign it? Therefore, will the minister stand up for Canadian jobs, or will she sign the Conservative's bad deal?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Scarborough Centre, for her excellent speech today, her first speech in the House.

My colleague mentioned day care needs, which is incredibly important to Canadians. Canadian families are suffering because they are unable to access affordable child care. They are unable to access child care in their communities that is safe and that they can access in a way that does not require them to choose between going to work and taking care of their children in the way they would like.

I would like to ask my colleague whether she would agree that we need to make child care spaces more affordable and accessible for Canadian families.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge for his first speech here in the House. He mentioned the middle class and the tax cut the Liberals have offered. I would like to say that the middle class will still not get a raise, as the member indicated, with tax plans that leave out 70% of Canadians.

He mentioned the coffee shops. These are the places in my riding where working-class people gather, and they will no doubt be asking the Liberal government why 70% of Canadians are being left out of the tax changes the government has proposed. Why do they not get a break as well?

What will the member tell them, or does he only represent the 30% that he worked with on Bay Street?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Sault Ste. Marie for his first speech in the House today.

The member mentioned child care. Costs for child care have reached crisis levels in Canada. Families are struggling with child care costs. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a study comparing Canada's 27 busiest cities, which revealed the dramatic differences between child care costs in our two largest cities. In one month in Toronto, child care costs are $1,033, but in Montreal they are $174. This vast difference is unacceptable and crippling to Canadian families.

Based on this, will the government drop its opposition to a universal child care program that will help Canadian families?

[Agriculture, December 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of Essex for trusting me to represent them in Ottawa. I will work hard every day to be a strong voice for their priorities.

In Essex, family farms fill the landscape and are vital to the success of our local economy. Too many family farms have disappeared over the last decade in Essex, but despite farmers' many challenges, they are embracing environmentally sustainable and progressive conservation practices.

I want to specifically honour the work of Don and Neil Huber, who, like many farmers in my community, are spearheading innovative agricultural practices. By using no-till planting and helicopter seeding methods, they are helping the environment and reducing soil erosion and improving water quality.

To be a farmer is about more than growing food. A farmer is a small business owner, an employer, an accountant, a mechanic, and a climatologist, all the while living on a razor-thin profit margin and working far more than the traditional 40-hour work week.

I want to thank Don and Neil Huber and all the farmers in my riding and across Canada. They do not just feed their families and their neighbours, but are truly artists in their “field”.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I also experienced this at people's doors. People told me they were making very difficult choices about whether they could afford medication. It is not simply about being able to afford drugs that are necessary; it is about a path forward to health for Canadians. If Canadians are healthy, we will have a healthier and more productive society. New Democrats definitely stand behind having a pharmacare program in Canada.