Most toxic speeches
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Most negative speeches
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians asked us for a more fair system, a system that would treat everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We have quadrupled the number of spots available for permanent residents and Canadians to sponsor parents and grandparents, from 5,000 to 20,000. We have slashed the wait times. It used to take seven to eight years to sponsor parents and grandparents. We have listened to Canadians, and we continue to improve the program. We are proud of our record, and we will continue to reunite families.
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that every first nations child deserves the best start in life. We know that the path forward includes first nations control of first nations education and long-term sustainable funding. Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please share with the House the great news from B.C. that advances this important priority?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. That is why we have made unprecedented investments in housing across this country since day one, including with our national housing strategy. We have already helped more than almost one million Canadians access homes. Our plan is for stable housing and financing now and for the next decade. We know that quality of life, that better opportunities for kids, for families, for everyone, relies on housing. That is why we are investing in a national housing strategy.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps telling Canadians Don't worry; it's okay, but okay for who? It is okay for him because he inherited a family fortune of course, so he is fine. Meanwhile, a government document just revealed that the carbon tax would increase by 15 times after the next election. The Prime Minister will not be honest about this because it is before the election. However, it is the Canadians after the election who we are concerned about.Why is the Prime Minister deceiving Canadians by covering up the true cost of the Liberal carbon tax until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, we are in year four since the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the health minister directing her to lower prescription drug prices for Canadians. This was important because Canadians pay among the highest drug prices in the world and millions cannot afford their medicine. Now officials at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board admit that they have abandoned their plan to reduce the prices that drug companies can charge Canadians.Will the Liberals admit that they have folded and betrayed Canadian patients because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry?
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that Canadians should not have to choose between buying groceries and paying for medication. That is why this government has taken action. As a government we have joined the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance, which is able to bulk purchase drugs with all provinces and territories. As a result, we have saved billions of dollars.Also in budget 2018, we were pleased to launch the advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. We expect that report in the spring of this year.
Mr. Speaker, what millionaire friends? There is the millionaire friend, right in the front row, who inherited a big, multi-million dollar family fortune, as he likes to call it. He says, You have never had it so great, fellow Canadians.For those with family fortunes, that is true. For people who are struggling to pay their bills, who have lost their children's fitness tax credit, their transit tax credit and their textbook and education tax credit, the costs have never been so high.Why will the Liberals not admit that if given another chance, they will raise taxes, just like they have already done?
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the NDP be careful about maligning the idea of repairing or refurbishing existing housing stock. Far too many Canadians live in housing that is unacceptable, and the investments we have made that have helped rebuild, refurbish, renovate, improve housing for Canadians right across this country are making a real difference. That is part of the money we are flowing to communities and to Canadians to make sure they have safe and affordable places to live. Yes, there is much more work to do, but we are doing it with unprecedented investments in housing.
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government was so good at fiscal management that this government inherited a balanced budget.Now, 80% of Canadian families are paying more in taxes to make up for this Prime Minister's out-of-control spending.However, during the last election campaign, he made a formal promise that they would rebalance the budget before the end of their first term.Will he table a plan to rebalance the budget without forcing Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill through increased taxes?
Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, this side of the House wants to have a plan. That is why we have introduced the launch of the advisory council for the national pharmacare program. We are pleased that this council is being led by Dr. Eric Hoskins and a group of stellar Canadians to really look at this issue. I am looking forward to receiving that report in the spring of this year, with its recommended options and also a path forward.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that in order to continue to grow the economy and get our resources to non-U.S. markets, pipeline capacity is very, very important. We are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in a responsible way, in the right way, with meaningful consultation with indigenous communities and at the same time making sure that we are dealing with the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment. We have eight teams currently consulting with indigenous communities, and the NEB is on track to provide a report on February 22. We are moving forward in the right way on this project.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, these are matters before the court right now. The court is engaged in it. We know that in Canada, the independence of our judicial system is something that must be a bedrock of our society and indeed of our functioning as a society and as a parliament. We respect the independence of those courts. We will allow the courts to do the job they need to do.
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. The steel sector is very important to our economy.That is why we have invested $2 billion worth of support for this sector.As I have highlighted, we have provided that support in a meaningful way, particularly to the small and medium-sized businesses that need the financing in terms of being able to compete going forward. We provided $255 million through BDC, $169 million through EDC and $140 million through the strategic innovation fund. We will continue to defend the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in renewable energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.Could the Minister of Natural Resources provide the House with an update on the solar energy project he recently announced in Suffield, Alberta?
Mr. Speaker, it is really unfortunate that Conservative politicians continue to peddle misinformation. We have been clear that we are going to tackle climate change. We are going to do it in a way that it is effective and also affordable. I am very proud to tell the member opposite that a family of four will get $307 in Ontario more than they will pay. That has been our approach.However, the question is this. Does the party opposite understand that climate inaction is a huge cost and that the Conservatives are passing that cost to their kids, that climate change is real and that Canadians deserve a plan?We are going to continue moving forward on our plan to make
Mr. Speaker, when one has inherited a family fortune like the Prime Minister, one never has to worry about paying for anything, including the carbon tax. However, as families and seniors struggle every month just to get by, government documents show the carbon tax will be 15 times higher if the Liberals are re-elected. That's up to $5,000 per year for a family of four. Canadian families are already paying for the Prime Minister's mistakes.Why will the Prime Minister not tell Canadians the truth about his plan to raise the carbon tax if he is re-elected?
Mr. Speaker, that us is the problem here. Their us seeks to divide people based on language. For the Liberals, us includes francophones, anglophones and people from all over the world who come to Quebec and Canada to work together to build a better future for themselves and their children. We on this side of the House do not seek to divide, but to unite.
Mr. Speaker, last week I joined the first nations education steering committee in the province of British Columbia to celebrate the new BC tripartite education agreement. It will benefit more than 12,000 first nations students. It will provide important changes, including a more sufficient and sustained funding model for new first nations education, and a new $20 million investment for first nations schools, including for language and culture. It reflects the commitment of all parties to work together and strengthen first nations control of first nations education.
Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to watch the Conservatives pretend to care about family reunification because, under their watch, parents and grandparents were stuck in a backlog of 167,000 people and had to wait seven to eight years to reunite with their family members. We have slashed the wait times down. We have ended the backlog. We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the issue of safety and security in the supply chains for new technologies are under very careful examination by the Government of Canada. All Canadians want to take advantage of the world of improvements that can come from the application of 5G technology. At the same time, we want to be absolutely certain that our systems are safe and secure. Canadians can be confident that the decisions made by the Government of Canada will not in any measure sacrifice safety and security.
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to have many members of the Canadian Armed Forces living in my riding as well as a reserve unit of the Royal 22e Régiment. Every year, many recruits receive basic and other training there.Many of them join the reserves to get good-paying summer jobs and hone their leadership skills.Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House how our government is investing in young Canadians and the Canadian army reserves?
Mr. Speaker, first, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter before the courts. The sub judice convention indicates that MPs should refrain from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. Courts are dealing with the handling of evidence, and we respect the judicial independence and the House of Commons rules.
Mr. Speaker, constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel have been waiting seven months for an answer about the special status of the Liberal member.On June 22, he announced that he was resigning. On September 27, he changed his mind. On November 14, he announced on his Facebook page that he would resign on January 22. We were just officially notified that he is resigning.Unfortunately, the constituents of Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel are suffering because of the member's seven-month absence and soon the lack of representation for several more months. The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is simple: does he intend to call a by-election before the end of the term, or will the constituents be without an MP for more than 17 months?
Mr. Speaker, I am really amused that suddenly the member opposite has found some sort of light in her enthusiasm for family reunification. However, family reunification was never the Conservatives' priority. Families had to wait between seven to eight years to join their loved ones. They only had 5,000 spaces to reunite family members. They had a backlog of 167,000 people stuck in that program. They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to
Mr. Speaker, it is important to trust Quebeckers. Instead, the government insists on making life more expensive for Quebeckers. It insists on making their life more difficult.The Prime Minister is tuning out the consensus in Quebec calling for a single tax return. I know that the Prime Minister has never had to file his own taxes, but not all Quebeckers can afford to pay an accountant for that.Why will the Prime Minister not make life easier for Quebeckers and allow them to file a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the misinformation that is being spread by Conservative politicians, from Premier Ford to the leader of the opposition, is appalling. In fact, I am happy to point to the legislation that we passed, which the Conservatives voted against because they wanted to be free to pollute. It shows that we are giving all the money back. Guess what. A family of four in Ontario will get $307 more than they will pay.We are focused on making life affordable. We are also focused on protecting the environment. The party opposite wants to take us back to the Harper days when the Conservatives did not protect
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we presented a plan to invest in Canadians and in their communities and to stimulate economic growth, after 10 years of failures under the Harper Conservatives. We have created a strong and growing economy. Canadians have created 800,000 good jobs in the past three years. We continue to see the lowest unemployment rates in decades.We will continue to invest in Canadians to create more prosperity for the middle class and those who are working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, when we created the child care benefit, we did so with a balanced budget and we lowered taxes. By contrast, when the Liberals brought in their changes, they did so by raising taxes on those children's parents and building up more and more debt for those children to pay down the road. We on this side of the House will create a financial environment that is secure for Canadians so that we can keep taxes low. We have a motion before the House. It simply asks the Prime Minister to commit in writing that he will not raise taxes. Will he?
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we want to integrate our newcomers. We want people who choose Quebec to participate in Quebec life. We want them to take on our culture. For this to happen, we have to be able to speak to each other. Quebec has one official language, and that is French.Does the minister agree that to become a citizen through Quebec, a newcomer must have adequate knowledge of French?
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are making unrealistic promises, I am pleased to tell my colleague and any Canadians who may be listening to us what the Canada Revenue Agency is doing to make life easier for Quebeckers and Canadians.We have invested in our call centres, we have simplified tax returns, we have invested in volunteer community programs, we have encouraged low-income non-filers to file their returns, all so that more Canadians can get the money they are owed.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not mentioned the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for a long time.A Russian aluminum company recently managed to be taken off the list of U.S. sanctioned entities. They no longer pay the tariff.What are the Liberals going to say to the people back home, the people of Jonquière? Thousands of families and good jobs are affected. They have the right to know.What are the Liberals going to do to have these steel and aluminum tariffs lifted?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vimy for her important question and her hard work for her constituents.I was proud to be in Quebec a few weeks ago to talk about our new full-time summer employment program for members of the reserves. Through this initiative, new recruits will receive guaranteed summer employment and competitive pay and will gain valuable military experience, all of this guaranteed for the first four years.Our government is committed to supporting the reserve members of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, there have been many interventions, as you know, regarding the now former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel. I wish to point out two brief but important facts after having read through the Hansard records of our former colleague's intervention.The first point is that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel made many accusations during that speech, many of the ad hominem nature, against my personal character. Those I will leave aside, but very importantly he accused me of having relied upon the interpretation of a speech he had made previously. He said I relied upon that interpretation to present my facts before the House. It is fine to go after members of Parliament for different points of view on the topics of the day, even sometimes character assassination, as in this case, but we must leave aside at all times the excellent, non-partisan and highest-quality nature of the interpretation services that happen for all of us here. We must not suggest there is any defence made available to members of Parliament because those interpreters do not do an excellent job on behalf of us all in what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances.The second point is that despite the insinuations that were made by our now former colleague against me, this was never a personal issue for me. I have no actual personal interactions with the former MP. This was personal for me, though, with respect to the House of Commons and the reputations of members of Parliament, which we must jealously guard because they are constantly under siege. Raising the issue of members of Parliament who claimed to be leaving their office and then did not for a number of months is an attempt to hold up and try to maintain what we can of the esteem of Canadians, on whose behalf we seek to speak. Now that the former member for Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel has resigned his seat, I can do nothing but wish him health in his future. The people in Saint-LéonardSaint-Michel will finally have representation again because they, like all Canadians, deserve no less.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the chief this morning. He said the government has done squat. We have houses that are so toxic that 75% of this community needs to be demolished. We just had a child medevaced out to London because of mould contamination. The officials in his department have ignored the crisis at Cat Lake for years, so sending him up to put on a Band-Aid solution is not going to cut it.What is it going to be? Are we going to see leadership from the minister, more jargon from Indian Affairs or an admission that his department has failed the people of Cat Lake, that he is going to take responsibility and he is going to make sure that action happens, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we have already cut taxes and the member opposite talks about the Canada child care benefit, which they taxed. We, on the other hand, made it tax free. We continue to make the right kinds of investments. We are focused on Canadians. At the end of the day a typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off. With a decade under the Harper Conservatives, we know what Conservative cuts look like and Canadians voted against them.
Mr. Speaker, a minister of this Prime Minister's government is withholding personal emails from the lawyers of Mark Norman. In October, the former minister said that the only contact he had with Irving was being copied on a letter, but there would appear to be copious documents that are relevant, and as a result, he has lawyered up to try to work his way out of this cover-up. This is all very concerning, and it lies at the feet of this Prime Minister.Once again, when did the Prime Minister learn that his minister was withholding personal documents relevant to the Mark Norman case?
Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to talk about everything we have done for seniors, starting with the national housing strategy, which includes a significant investment in housing for seniors.The Harper Conservatives raised the retirement age to 67, but we brought it back down to 65. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by nearly $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors.We will keep investing to address the challenges facing seniors. We will help them. We are here for them.
Mr. Speaker, despite selling our oil at discounted prices, the oil and gas industry last year contributed $117 billion to the Canadian economy. That is lots of money, but the number could have been even higher had we had the pipeline capacity to deliver our oil to other markets. We need the Trans Mountain pipeline now more than ever. CNRL is warning that it will have to lay off workers, and how many other companies will be following suit? My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. What is the timeline for getting construction under way on the Trans Mountain pipeline? Are we close?
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of introducing a bill to require that residents of Quebec have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship.Knowledge of French is needed to integrate those who decide to join us, who want to be part of us and who want to be us. The Government of Quebec understands this.Is this government in favour of a law that requires residents of Quebec to have an adequate knowledge of French in order to obtain citizenship?
Mr. Speaker, we committed and kept our promise to grow and invest in Canadians, to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.We did not take on the same economic plan as the Conservatives, because they could not manage the economy to help create a more prosperous economy for everyone. All they did was focus on their millionaire friends. We are focused on Canadians and we know our plan is working. When we invest in Canadians, they create the economic success that
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to relay fake information. The fact is that we actually lowered taxes for middle-class Canadians. We lowered taxes for small businesses and we increased benefits like the Canada child benefit.When will the Conservatives finally tell the truth and say that they are taking their marching orders from Premier Ford and that we are going to see more and more cuts across this country, cuts to education, cuts to Franco-Ontarian language rights? Why will the Conservatives not be honest and tell Canadians about the cuts they plan on making?
Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of the people in Cat Lake is immensely important. I have spoken to the chief on this issue. I have spoken to members of council on this issue. We will be meeting with leadership to develop an interim and long-term solution. We have made immense progress in partnership with the community. We know there is a long way to go, and we will continue forward in a spirit of partnership.
Mr. Speaker, there is the Liberal election platform: Do to all of Canada what Kathleen Wynne did to Ontario. She doubled the debt, she doubled power rates, driving the poorest people to the food banks, and she lied about her plans to raise taxes after every single election that she won. Does that remind us of anyone? Someone sitting right there in the front. He knows that he will do exactly what the Wynne Liberals did. He will hide his plan and he will raise taxes massively and it will cost Canadians a fortune. Why will the member not admit it?
Mr. Speaker, look at our record. Over the last number of years we have actually cut taxes. The member is talking about hypotheticals, but the record shows that we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians. We have reduced taxes for small businesses. It is clear from the fact that the member for Carleton is speaking about Ontario that he just wants to create a nationalized plan of the Premier Ford cuts. That is what the Conservatives' platform is. When are the Conservatives going to be honest with Canadians and tell us what they plan on
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to devalue the contributions of parents and grandparents. First it was family reunification based on the luck of the draw. After scrapping that colossal failure, it was right back to the Conservative plan to make families race, at breakneck speed, just to submit an application before an arbitrary cap was reached. It took all of 11 minutes yesterday before the door was slammed shut. Now families have to wait another year to even have a shot at submitting an application.Will the Liberal government do what is right and cancel the cap?
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about supporting the steel sector and steel workers. We put forward a $2-billion support package for those steel workers. To be specific, $664 million of financial support has been provided to the steelworkers and the steel sector. We have invested in Algoma. We have invested in ArcelorMittal. We have provided financing through EDC and BDC. We will continue to support the steelworkers and the steel sector.
Mr. Speaker, we have not and will not raise taxes for Canadians. On the contrary, we have lowered taxes. We lowered taxes for the middle class by asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little more.That is precisely what upsets the Conservatives because they would rather grow the economy by making investments that benefit the wealthy and giving them bigger tax breaks. That does not work. The trickle down effect does not work in Canada or anywhere else. That is what the Conservatives do not understand.We created economic growth by investing in the middle class and we will continue
Mr. Speaker, no matter how loud my colleague gets, his alarmist statements are not based on fact. Although the number of border crossings continues to go down, we understand that, in partnership with the federal government, the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal play a key role in providing temporary housing. Our partnership with the Government of Quebec is very important to us, as is the issue of border security. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that we maintain both at the same time.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister misled Parliament and all Canadians when he said in this House that he has already helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing. We checked the CMHC record, and it says that only 14,703 new units have been or are even being built, so the government gave away $14 billion in corporate tax writeoffs in the mini-budget but has only built a few new housing units. Why is the Prime Minister deliberately misstating the facts? When will the government find new affordable housing for Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has had no control over the issue of illegal migrants in Canada from the very beginning. The influx of illegal migrants at our borders is costing another $115 million. Why? This is the fault of the Prime Minister, who tweeted out a welcome to everyone in January 2017. When will the Prime Minister secure our borders and stop making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and we are in a new House of Commons, but the Liberals are still playing the same old broken record.The Liberals are showing their true colours when it comes to Quebec. They pretend to listen, but Quebec's requests fall on deaf ears. The Prime Minister remains firmly opposed to the idea of making the lives of Quebeckers easier and ignores the consensus in Quebec regarding the single tax return, claiming that it would lead to more tax evasion.What is the real reason for the Prime Minister's refusal to listen to Quebec, for once?
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman served his country with distinction and deserves every opportunity to defend himself, and the Liberals have done everything they can to deny this right. The Prime Minister has refused to release documents needed for the defence case. Now we know that code names were being used to evade access to information laws within the ministry. Today we have learned that the former president of the Treasury Board has withheld personal emails from Mr. Norman's lawyers. When did the Prime Minister know that the minister was withholding personal emails in this case?
Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, our plan has been to lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%. That has been an issue for the Conservatives, because we know that they prefer to give tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest. Unfortunately, that approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper did not work to create any more than anemic growth. What we have been able to do, by investing in Canadians and investing in their communities, is have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years and see Canadians create 800,000 new jobs. We are going to continue to invest in our communities, because our plan is working to grow the economy for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
Mr. Speaker, a study has shown that nearly half of Canadians are $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills.Sophie, one my constituents, was telling me how difficult it is for her and her mother to make ends meet at the end of the month. People are struggling under crushing levels of personal debt, and the Liberals' priority is to give billions of dollars in gifts to big business.When will the Liberals really help people instead of choosing to help the richest companies?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our priority from the beginning has been to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why we lowered taxes for the middle class. That is why we created the Canada child benefit, which is lifting hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty.We invested in a national housing strategy, which has already helped nearly one million people find housing, and we will continue to invest in our communities and in Canadians to help them build a better world for themselves and their families.
Mr. Speaker, it is the end of the month, and in the normal world, families are taking a look at their personal budgets and trying to figure out how they are going to balance their own, because they know, unlike the Prime Minister, that budgets do not balance themselves. They also know that if they are short this month, they cannot just borrow their way out of debt, unlike the Prime Minister, who thinks that the country can. Finally, Canadians know that they will be the ones paying for the mistakes of the government and this Prime Minister.Therefore, at the very least, Canadians deserve a clear answer before the election. Will the Prime Minister impose massive tax hikes on these Canadian citizens?
Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a burden on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces. That is their position. They can run, but they cannot hide from that position.We are responsible for quadrupling the number of spaces that parents and grandparents have to come to Canada. We will continue to reunite more families. I am amused by the Conservatives' new-found passion for reuniting families. However, when they had the chance they failed.
Mr. Speaker, the government has collected nearly $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs.However, the Liberals have allocated only a fraction of the $2 billion they promised in support for the steel and aluminum industry. On top of that, everyone knows that we produce the greenest steel and aluminum in the world. That is another broken promise.Why should businesses in Saguenay and across Canada continue to pay for the Prime Minister's failures in trade negotiations?
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are stooping to petty politics by making empty promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping.The Canada Revenue Agency employs over 5,500 people in Quebec. It is an economic driver in places like Shawinigan, Gaspé, Rimouski, Quebec City and Montreal.Our employees are bilingual and capable of serving all Canadians. We will be here and we will keep working
Mr. Speaker, what is shameful to watch is the government allowing over 40,000 people to illegally enter our country and abuse our asylum system. What is shameful to watch is the government using language to divide Canadians as opposed to using strong policy to restore order and compassion to our immigration system. It shut the door on parents and grandparents who were to trying to legally enter the country yesterday. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make Canadians pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Canadians are choosing between medicine and their rent. The Liberals promised these reforms in 2016 and said they would be in place last year. This is a straight betrayal of a clear promise. The Liberals also said these changes were essential to bring in universal pharmacare and that we could not have it until prices were reduced. That is not happening. With Eric Hoskins soon to release his study on pharmacare, can Canadians expect to see the Liberals once again cave in to the drug lobby and refuse to bring in universal, comprehensive and public pharmacare?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to 80% of Canadian families who are paying $800 more since the Liberals came to power. I look forward to hearing Liberal candidates say that they keep their promises in a few months. It is not true. The Liberals do not keep their promises.Canadians want to know how the government plans to return to a balanced budget. Is there even a plan?
Mr. Speaker, there is the latest defence. Now their plans for higher taxes are hypothetical. In other words, we get to find out about it after the election when the Prime Minister no longer needs voters but still needs their money.Canadians without trust funds and family fortunes know what he has failed to realize, that never-ending and ever-growing deficits lead to higher taxes down the road. Why will he not tell the truth about that now instead of hiding it until after the election?
Mr. Speaker, it is simply not true. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off under our plan than under the Harper Conservatives. That is real money in the pockets of everyday Canadians that need it. The Conservatives talk about their austerity and cuts. Let me talk about the Canada child benefit. Over 16,410 children are benefiting in the member's riding alone. Is he going to look those children in the face and take that money from them just to prove a point? We believe in investment. Conservatives believe in
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians had a choice between the Conservatives and the NDP who promised austerity and cuts at all costs.We knew that after a decade of failed economic policies under the Harper Conservatives, we had to make the right kinds of investments for Canadians. By doing so, Canadians have created over 800,000 new jobs. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. A typical Canadian family is $2,000 better off.We know how to grow the economy. We are not going to take the same approach as the failed Conservative economic plan.
Mr. Speaker, was the minister trying to scare people just now?This is about an administrative agreement, about one form instead of two, about making it easier for Quebeckers to complete their tax returns.Only Quebeckers have to send in two tax returns. Quebeckers do not have two pockets. They do not have one pocket for the federal government and another for the provincial government. They get only one paycheque, but two governments try to get their hands on it. Enough already.When will the Prime Minister understand that Quebeckers are not a threat and that they can handle a single tax return?
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending uncontrollably at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Who will have to pay for that? Who will have to pay for the Prime Minister's failures, mistakes and out-of-control spending? Workers, business owners and families across Canada, that's who.I will therefore repeat my question to the Prime Minister. Will he table a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes for Canadians, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, as members know, the member announced his resignation only today. We will examine the situation and proceed accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the traditional discourse of the Bloc Québécois, which seeks to divide and create barriers on the basis of language, culture and colour. The Bloc Québécois has not changed, but Quebeckers and all Canadians have continued to progress and move forward. The Bloc Québécois is the only one that has not and never will move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House to table the official Liberal Party platform. On page 76, it states that the budget would be balanced in 2019-20.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that Thursday, January 31, 2019, shall be an allotted day.
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying for the Prime Minister's failures on China and national security. Chinese law requires any Chinese company to spy for the government, and Huawei is no exception. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei. The U.S. has threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Canada does not do the same. Cyber-intelligence is the new arm's race, and it is escalating. The U.S. has now brought 13 criminal charges against Huawei and is unwavering in its extradition request. When will the Prime Minister ban Huawei?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister left out Canadian seniors who are in a lot of debt.Paul, a senior in my riding, told me that he and his wife have a hard time making ends meet with their small pension despite having worked their whole lives.I should also mention the lack of affordable housing for seniors across the country.When will the Liberals choose to give our seniors a real helping hand instead of spending billions on pipelines and corporate welfare?
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Essex knows very well, we are not just talking when it comes to the illegal and unjust U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. We acted decisively on July 1 by imposing retaliatory tariffs, the highest, strongest retaliatory trade action in Canadian history. This action is having results. In fact, just this week, Kevin Brady said in the U.S. that he did not see how the U.S. could ratify NAFTA while these tariffs were still in place.
Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into the state of emergency at Cat Lake and the minister has yet to meet with the leadership or visit the community. I am not sure if he fully understands the seriousness on the ground: the need for ground heaters, holding tanks, stand-by generators, 120 emergency units that have to be moved up before the winter road goes out.Yesterday, he told the House that his officials, who have not yet visited the community, were expecting a community-based solution. This is a community facing a total and complete breakdown of social infrastructure. What on earth is he talking about?
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for me to table in this House a document entitled Modelling of Pricing and Emissions Reductions. This document from Environment Canada shows the government's plan is to increase the tax to $300 a tonne, not the $50 it admits to, which will mean much higher taxes for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite something to listen to the Conservatives, who were in power for 10 years and unable to figure out how the Canada Revenue Agency works.I can say that we have put in place programs to address tax evasion, unlike the Conservatives who do not want to get in the way of their rich friends.We have invested $1 billion and hired 1,300 auditors. We have put everything in place to deal with tax evasion and we will continue to work
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government announced another $114 million for illegal border crossers. Yesterday, the Liberals also closed the application window to sponsor parents and grandparents in just 10 minutes. Under the current Prime Minister, if people are illegally entering the country, they get immediate entry into Canada and free hotel rooms, yet if one's grandmother is trying to legally enter the country, she would get the door shut in her face. Why is the Prime Minister making Canadians pay for his mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Centre for his hard work.Last week we announced $15 billion of investment our government is making in the Suffield solar project in Alberta. This project will create 250 well-paying middle-class jobs during construction and power over 7,000 homes every year.We are delivering on our plan to grow the economy and at the same time protect the environment.
Mr. Speaker, it has been seven months since the Prime Minister backed down to Donald Trump and agreed to a trade deal that would keep steel and aluminum tariffs in place and continue to hurt our manufacturers. The Liberals have already collected over $839 million dollars in retaliatory tariffs. They promised to give this money back to our struggling steel and aluminum producers, but almost none has gone out.Why are Canadian businesses continuing to be forced to pay for the Prime Minister's mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been waiting at least three years for the Liberals to keep their promise to return to a balanced budget in 2019. Unfortunately, the reality is altogether different. In 2019, we have a $30-billion deficit.The Prime Minister is quite likely the only person in the world who believes that budgets balance themselves. Canadians know that budgets do not balance themselves. On the contrary, when we run deficits we have to pay them off one day.What is the government's plan to return to a balanced budget?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced $114 million for people who are illegally entering the country, hotel rooms, immediate work permits and social welfare payments. At the same time, it shut the door in seven minutes on people who were trying to legally enter the country. There are over 9,000 angry comments on the immigration website from people who are saying this is not fair, because it is not. It is not right. Why is the Prime Minister trying to make people pay for his immigration mistakes?
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to talk to them. We have to do something now. On Sunday, the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on the Russian aluminum giant, Rusal. Meanwhile, Canada is still slapped with Trump's tariffs that are hurting Canadian businesses and workers. Let me get this straight. Trump is saying that Canada is a national security threat, but Russia is not?Canada is the closest trade and security partner the U.S. has. Canadian workers are tired of paying the heavy price of losing their jobs because the Liberal government will not stand up for them. What is the plan to remove these devastating tariffs?
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the leadership to affirm our commitment to working with them and indeed we do want it to be a community-led solution because we know that is a solution that will be lasting.I did tell the House that officials would be meeting with the community yesterday or today, but they were unable to make it in due to bad weather. However, they will be meeting with them, and they are in constant contact with them.We are committed to developing not only an interim but a long-term plan of action to take on the housing challenges that we know they face.
Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House of Commons: (a) condemn the use of images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in works of fiction; (b) demand that Netflix Inc. remove all images of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, which took 47 lives, from its fiction catalogue; and (c) demand that Netflix Inc. financially compensate the community of Lac-Mégantic for using those images for entertainment purposes, without concern for the trauma of citizens, survivors, and the victims' families.
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Doing routine repairs and maintenance is not finding new housing for Canadians. That answer shows appalling disrespect for Canadians in Burnaby and everywhere else who are suffering through the worst housing crisis we have ever had. Canadian families are struggling under the worst family debt crisis in our history and in all the industrialized world. Forty-six per cent of Canadians are $200 away from financial insolvency in any given month.Why does the government not build affordable housing? Why does the Prime Minister not start to care as much about Canadians as he does about Bay Street billionaires?
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are unfair and illegal. Canada is working on these tariffs at the NAFTA and WTO round tables.I spoke to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer about this issue yesterday and today. We continue to work on it.