Tracy Gray

[Finance, December 9th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals' wasteful spending continues. The $4-billion Canada digital adoption program has a stream called “boost your business”. The government has given a contract to an organization, Magnet, that will oversee placing more than 16,000 students in jobs. As of October 3, that organization has been paid $1.2 million, yet there have been zero job placements.

Will the Liberal government end its wasteful inflationary spending so that people can put food on their tables and heat their homes?

[Carbon Pricing, December 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to keep his head in the sand when it comes to people's home heating bills. Someone from my community reached out to me recently saying they had to make the tough decision of whether to pay for their Fortis home heating bill or buy groceries. He chose to heat his home, even though the bill went from $46 a month to $163 a month. He said that now he has to go to a food bank just to feed himself, the same food bank he used to donate to.

Why is the Prime Minister tripling down on increasing carbon taxes for everyday Canadians who cannot even heat their homes now?

[The Economy, December 6th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the difference between what I am hearing from my residents in Kelowna—Lake Country and from the Liberal government could not be more far apart. While local seniors tell me they are choosing between gas and groceries, a Liberal minister said he is “sick and tired” of people complaining about heating their homes in cold weather.

Canadians are sick and tired of a carbon tax plan that has missed every target and left Canada as 58th out of 64 countries on climate performance. People are worried with the latest “Canada's Food Price Report”, which says a family of four will pay more than $1,000 extra in 2023.

A Conservative government will axe the tax to lower the costs of basic essentials like food, gas and home heating. We will end wasteful government spending to stop the Liberals' made-in-Canada inflation. We will invest in Canadian innovation, mineral exploration and electric infrastructure to build the cleaner, greener and affordable future that we all want.

[Carbon Pricing, December 2nd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, even the Governor of the Bank of Canada said that inflation was homegrown because of the Liberals. A constituent of mine let me know that he sent some Christmas baking to a relative in Penticton, which is only 45 minutes from Kelowna. It cost him $75. The fuel surcharge fee on his bill was 40%, and this is before the tripling of the Liberals' carbon tax. So much for the annual Christmas tradition of sending baking to those they love.

Will the Liberal government stop forcing its failed carbon tax on Canadians?

[Carbon Pricing, December 2nd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, after seven years of the government's agenda of high debt, high tax and high spending, the result is 40-year high Liberal-made inflation. The result is people barely affording basic necessities. The result is organizations like the Salvation Army saying that it has a 30% increase in families with children in need coming for its services.

Will the Liberal government stop forcing its failed carbon tax on Canadians?

[Carbon Pricing, December 1st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, there is an obvious disconnect between the Liberals and what people are actually going through. The Governor of the Bank of Canada said that the average Canadian will be paying $3,500 more because of inflation. That represents $14,000 for the average family of four.

No wonder more people are saying that they will be accessing charitable services. No wonder more people are saying that they will be donating less, yet the Liberals continue to make things worse by charging more people on their taxes.

Again, will the Liberals stop forcing their failed carbon tax on Canadians?

[Carbon Pricing, December 1st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, a new Ipsos poll shows that 26% of Canadians say that they will be accessing charitable services over the next six months for basic essentials, such as food, clothing and shelter.

The survey also says that 25% of Canadians will be donating less to charities, and they cite the biggest reason being the increase in inflation and the effects of their personal finances, yet the Liberal government continues to make it worse by increasing their taxes.

When will the Liberals stop their forced carbon tax on people, and stop charging them for—

[Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022, November 28th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I am not sure what the specific ideas might be but I think, in general, any time we can do anything to protect the privacy of Canadians, whether it is within government or within the private sector, whatever all those different levels are, it is a good thing. I know it is something people are extremely concerned about.

As I mentioned in my speech, I often get local residents reaching out to me about privacy concerns they have.

We need to do everything we can within our legislative powers to make sure people's personal privacy is protected.

[Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022, November 28th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we have seen over time from the Liberal government is building up bureaucracy, building up red tape and making things more difficult for people. Just as a general philosophy, any time we can strip away red tape, create efficiencies and take away bureaucracy, it is a good thing.

Of course, we need to have rules and policies in place. We also need to have the department serving Canadians, and that should really be its focus. It should be focusing on making sure people follow rules, but as soon as we get into difficult, bureaucratic regimes and a lot of red tape, it makes it more difficult for everyone.

[Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022, November 28th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, there is different legislation that is covered for the government, but philosophically, absolutely the government should be held accountable for keeping Canadians' information safe. We know there have been breaches over time. We had a recent one with the ArriveCAN app. There was information that was sent out to 10,000 people that was not accurate. We know there have been other breaches over time.

It is imperative that Canadians know that the government is also held to account for the information it holds in all the different departments a Canadian citizen might correspond with.