House of Commons Hansard #39 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-12.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Private Members' Business The Speaker outlines the royal recommendation requirement for private members' bills that spend public funds, noting Bill C-222 may need one. The Speaker also reminds members of debate procedures for private members' business items. 300 words.
Criminal Code Second reading of Bill C-225. The bill aims to amend the Criminal Code to address intimate partner violence by creating a distinct offence of assault on an intimate partner, making the killing of an intimate partner first-degree murder, and establishing a court-ordered risk assessment. Conservatives advocate for its urgent passage, while Liberals question the consultation process and warn the first-degree murder provision could penalize abused women acting in self-defence, citing existing government efforts. 7800 words, 1 hour.
Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act Second reading of Bill C-12. The bill aims to strengthen Canada's immigration system and borders by enhancing security measures against transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, and auto theft. It proposes to grant the Canada Border Services Agency new inspection powers and expand the Coast Guard's security role. The legislation also introduces new asylum claim ineligibility rules and improves information sharing. While some welcome its removal of controversial privacy provisions from a previous bill, others raise concerns about its resource allocation and potential constitutional challenges. 41100 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Automotive Industry Members request an emergency debate on Stellantis' plan to shift production from its Brampton plant to Illinois, impacting 3,000 workers. They raise concerns about job losses, economic effects, and government subsidies. 600 words.
Anna Gainey LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, the opposition is talking about imaginary taxes. What we are doing, on this side of the House, is delivering results for Canadian families. We implemented a national school food program for children across Canada, and our government will continue to be there to help families and children.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, we do not live in the same world. Food bank visits will soon reach four million. That is a 128% increase under these Liberals. In my riding, Les Frigos Pleins has provided more than 1,600 emergency food baskets just four months. That is almost half of what they did all last year.
The industrial carbon tax, food packaging tax and clean fuel regulations are measures that increase the cost of transporting, producing and marketing food.
The Prime Minister told us to judge him on grocery prices. Does he realize that the case has already been heard?
Anna Gainey LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Teachers' Federation says that the school food program is fantastic news. It said, "The National School Food Program is here to stay...Thank you to the federal government for making this a priority."
We are there for families and children to help with the cost of living. This program puts more than $800 in parents' pockets by helping with food at home.
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has made six budget-related demands, which can be summarized as follows: Quebec must be given the means to take care of Quebeckers.
That means an unconditional increase in health transfers. Due to the cost of living, it means an OAS increase for seniors aged 65 to 74. Quebeckers must also be reimbursed the $814 million that the federal government stole from us to give out bogus carbon rebate cheques during the election. Those are our conditions.
Will the government agree to Quebec's demands?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, forgive those of us on this side of the House who are somewhat perplexed. First, the leader of the Bloc Québécois said that it was unthinkable to support the budget. Then there was a series of non-negotiable demands. We can therefore assume that the Bloc is prepared to support the budget. I think the Bloc Québécois should review the budget and then make its decision.
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, this budget also has to tackle the major challenges of our time. One of those challenges is housing, which requires an unconditional, long-term transfer to Quebec for the construction of social and community housing. Another challenge is access to home ownership, which requires loans for first-time buyers to cover their down payment. Then there is infrastructure, which requires a new, unconditional transfer specific to Quebec.
These budget requests cannot be ignored because the challenges cannot be ignored. Can we count on the government this November 4?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Gatineau, I can assure my colleague that Quebeckers already count on the government's support for housing. We have very robust agreements with all of Quebec. We introduced the first home savings account, or FHSA, which allows young people to save for a down payment on their first home.
We acted on all of these fronts without being prompted by the Bloc Québécois. With 42 members from Quebec, we are well aware of what Quebeckers want in their budget.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of hard-working Canadians. His finance minister was industry minister for the same Trudeau government that doubled the debt and promised that it would lead to more investments. The result is the worst per capita GDP growth in the G7 and more than a 10% drop in investments. Now the Prime Minister is set to double the Trudeau-era deficits.
Will the Prime Minister keep his promise and keep the deficit under $42 billion?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the members opposite have been, but over the last week, we have announced a series of affordability measures, automatic tax filing and a school food program. We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians; we have cut the GST for first-time homebuyers, and interest rates are down.
We were elected on this side to build the strongest and most resilient economy in the G7, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
Mr. Speaker, if more government spending were the solution, then Canada would have the most prosperous economy in the G7. The result is that we have the slowest in the G7.
The Liberals can call it what they want. They can call it government spending, government investment or the fluffy kitten fund, but the result is the same. It comes out of the pockets of hard-working Canadians.
Once again, will the Prime Minister keep his promise and keep the deficit under $42 billion?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, on November 4, we are going to table the most transformational budget in our country's history. We are going to spend less. We are going to invest more in nation-building projects, infrastructure and homes.
We were elected on this side to strengthen our economy. We have a leader who is serious about the economy versus a leader who has never worked in the economy. We were elected to deliver for Canadians, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians were told that borrowing billions would make their lives better, but 10 years later, the only thing growing faster than the debt is the cost of living. This year alone, the Liberals have to refinance $473 billion in debt, and that will only get harder if the government keeps spending as though the bill will never come due. We cannot spend our way out of inflation.
Will the Prime Minister keep his word and hold the deficit under $42 billion in the next budget?
Stephanie McLean LiberalSecretary of State (Seniors)
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep talking about cuts they want to make to programs Canadians rely on. They keep expecting us to make decisions that would take food out of children's mouths and would ensure that seniors have no old age security. We know from their record that they vote against increases to seniors' benefits. We know they have a record of pushing the retirement age higher, cutting benefits and leaving seniors behind.
This is what they want us to do on this side of the House. We will not do that. We will stand up for Canadians.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Speaker, when a family cannot balance its books, they lose the trust of the bank. When a government cannot do so, it loses the trust of investors, and that is dangerous when we have to refinance $473 billion this year alone. If Canada looks reckless, borrowing will only get more expensive, and every Canadian will pay the price. Canada needs a budget that shows fiscal discipline, but the current finance minister is the same guy who, as the industry minister, helped Trudeau double our debt.
Will the Prime Minister show some fiscal discipline and commit to not exceeding his $42-billion promise in the upcoming budget?
Stephanie McLean LiberalSecretary of State (Seniors)
Mr. Speaker, we are investing in Canadians. We are investing in the future to ensure that Canada is at the top of the G7 countries fiscally, whereas the Conservatives want us to achieve their economic goals, which would ensure that children do not have food in their bellies when they are at school. They want us to achieve the economic goal that they are looking for on the backs of Canadians. These are real programs, not like the imaginary taxes that they keep referring to. These are things that Canadians really rely on.
We will ensure that all of us have what we need to position ourselves for the future.
William Stevenson Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have been a CPA for 26 years. I have worked with Canadians as they navigate their personal taxes and finances under the fiscal mismanagement of the Liberal government.
Budgets do not balance themselves, as the Prime Minister knows well, with his background. There is no excuse to continue the fiscal disaster he inherited from his predecessor.
My question is simple: Will the Prime Minister keep his promise and ensure that deficits do not exceed the outrageous $42-billion deficit of Justin Trudeau?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that this government was elected with a strong mandate to build the strongest economy in the G7. I know that we are on the right track. Do members know how I know? I know because the experts say so.
I know that the opposition members may not agree, but who said that Canada is fiscally sustainable? It was former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page.
Who said that Canada is attracting the attention of global investors around the world? It was the CEO of our largest pension plan.
Who said that diversifying trade and investing in infrastructure will boost productivity? It was the Bank of Canada governor.
Sima Acan Liberal Oakville West, ON
Mr. Speaker, Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act, which is before the House today, reflects our government's commitment to protecting Canadians by expanding border security resources, fighting transnational organized crime, stopping the flow of illegal fentanyl and cracking down on illicit financing at the border while supporting our frontline officers and reinforcing the integrity of our immigration system.
Could the Minister of Public Safety tell Canadians how this critical legislation enhances our ability to protect Canadians and keep our communities safe?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Oakville West for the hard work she does with the Halton Regional Police Service. I had the opportunity to visit her last week.
From January 1 to September 19, CBSA seized close to 2,600 grams of fentanyl, 77,000 grams of other opioids, 662 firearms and over 11,000 prohibited weapons.
Bill C-12 would enhance law enforcement's ability to do its work, as would the additional thousand CBSA and RCMP officers we will be hiring, to keep Canadians safe—
Public SafetyOral Questions
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals signed a $15-billion deal to subsidize Stellantis to produce electric vehicle batteries in Canada, promising that it would secure Canadian jobs. Now plant production in Brampton is relocating to the U.S. and 3,000 jobs are at risk here in Canada.
At the same time, Stellantis has announced $13 billion of investment in the U.S., which will create tens of thousands of American jobs.
Under the Liberals, taxpayers are subsidizing a company that is moving billions of investment and jobs out of Canada.
How could the Liberals make one of the biggest corporate subsidies in Canadian history without a Canada-wide jobs guarantee?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, the decision by Stellantis to move its production from the Brampton plant is completely unacceptable, and that is why, this morning, we were with the Conservative government from Ontario, with Unifor and with Stellantis, to make sure that we would be one strong team Canada. We need to make sure that the 3,000 jobs in Brampton come back.
I hope that I can work with my colleagues and with all the MPs in this place, because we need to be Canada strong on this.
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that Canadians are paying $15 billion for EV battery production. It is a 100% subsidy for those batteries, but there is no public evidence that the Liberals have secured job guarantees for the broader Stellantis footprint here in Canada. There are thousands of auto sector jobs on the line here. Canadians deserve to know.
In exchange for 15 billion of their tax dollars, did the Liberals secure a guarantee to protect every single Stellantis job in Canada, yes or no?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague is very interested in this issue, which is normal. Of course, this is my number one priority right now. She already knows the answer, which is that documents will be presented and produced before the committee. Of course, I gave access to the information. My goal is to make sure that we work together, because we need to fight as one Canada strong on this issue.
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, I am very interested to know whether the Minister of Industry knows about these contracts.
Perhaps she can answer this simple question: How many Canada-wide jobs did the Liberals guarantee for the $15 billion that they gave Stellantis? How many jobs?
Can she tell us?
