Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has said he does not want to do anything about climate change and he wants to talk about imaginary taxes, but when we want to do things for Canadians who are really struggling, as he points out, such as, by the way, indexing the Canada child benefit to inflation; ensuring we have a strong school nutrition program; and signing agreements on child care that …
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Mr. Speaker, while the opposition focuses on imaginary taxes, we are focusing on real supports for Canadians, and that includes the Canada child benefit that keeps up with inflation, seniors benefits that keeps up with inflation, and a dental care plan that allows Canadians to get their teeth fixed, for God's sake, which is something the Conservatives vote against time and again. I ask myself what…
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Mr. Speaker, we are not focused on imaginary taxes. We are focused on what actually helps Canadians. Do members know what helps Canadians? More money in their pockets helps Canadians. A decade ago, the Canada child benefit was worth up to $6,000. It is now worth up to $7,200. It has kept pace with inflation. It has made sure that families have what they need to buy those children the food they nee…
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Mr. Speaker, the opposition party likes to talk about farmers, but let us talk about what farmers were going through last year, when 66% of agricultural land in Canada was experiencing drought, extreme drought, which drove up the price of beef. Not only that, but all across the world, prices for imports like coffee and tea and cocoa and strawberries and oranges went up as a result of climate chang…
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Madam Speaker, I note that the member opposite quoted Feed NB. I wonder if he could comment on the recommendation by Feed NB to ensure healthy school food programs, including breakfast programs, and why he would vote against the very thing that Feed NB recommends as part of its strategy to feed hungry folks. I also wonder why the member voted against the packages for trade-affected workers, like s…
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Mr. Speaker, it is clear the Leader of the Opposition has not read the report because, in fact, the report predicts that inflation is actually going to stabilize and go down. Here is what we are doing on this side. We are putting money in the pockets of Canadians, whether it is through the Canada child benefit, which, by the way, is indexed to inflation and that they voted against, whether it is a…
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Madam Speaker, I find it interesting that the member from Saskatchewan failed to reference the historic agreement to extend $10-a-day child care to Saskatchewan. My colleague, the Secretary of State for Rural Development, made that announcement with his counterpart from Saskatchewan. This is $10-a-day child care for families in Saskatchewan. In fact, the premier and province are working collaborat…
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Mr. Speaker, that is another example of the opposition's using a report without actually taking the time to read it. In fact, the price of beef, one of the prices that is going up most dramatically, is directly linked to climate change. In fact, the report says challenges persisted for producers throughout the year in western Canada as they experienced a drought and as input costs like feed rose. …
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Mr. Speaker, instead of focusing on imaginary taxes, we are working to control the things we can, which is putting more money in the pockets of Canadians. That is how we help Canadians with affordability challenges. We make sure they have the money so they can adjust to whatever happens in the market. One would think Conservatives would understand market pressures. It is clear they do not. Today w…
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Mr. Speaker, while the member opposite talks about affordability for Canadians, I just want to remind the House that it is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and we have members here in Ottawa today who work so hard to make sure that people with disabilities have full opportunities to participate in the workforce, something we should all take seriously. That member voted against t…
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Mr. Speaker, it is pretty clear that those Conservatives would not have lifted a hand to help save our steel industry in Canada. That is pretty clear from the nature of the questions, but more than that, do members know what happens when someone loses their job? It is a time of panic. That is why we extended EI for 20 weeks for long-tenured workers. The Conservatives will mock this because they vo…
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Mr. Speaker, I know the Conservatives do not know much about working together in collaboration, but Doug Ford does. The Premier of Ontario is working just as hard as this government to save those jobs in Sault Ste. Marie. That is why we made a $400-million loan to Algoma Steel, because we know that those jobs are important, that the company is important to the future of Canada and that we need a s…
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Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of the City of Thunder Bay, which just passed, through its council—
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Mr. Speaker, it is historic. For the first time in this country, we have a disability tax benefit, and I want to thank all parliamentarians who supported this. Unfortunately, again the Conservatives voted against the very people they say they wish to help. Budget 2025 actually goes a step further, and it compensates people for the financial burden of getting doctors' forms to file for their credit…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday it was distressing to see member of Parliament after member of Parliament from the Conservative side vote against and argue against relieving consumers of the price of carbon, which we have, in the bill in front of the House, promised to do. They have voted against. They will vote against a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. It is again something that Conservatives like to ta…
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Mr. Speaker, all across the country, municipalities are stepping up to make new housing available for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Take the City of Thunder Bay, which, just last night, through its council, approved a motion to free up surplus city land for 1,400 homes. It is facilitated by the housing accelerator fund. That is the work of a government that is behind communi…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the northern Ontario mayors who were here this week, talking about their incredible work to attract people to northern Ontario. These mayors are actually investing in the very things that create affordable housing, using the housing accelerator, working with infrastructure, working with the Province of Ontario and making sure that as critical mineral projects boom …
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Mr. Speaker, here we go again with the imaginary taxes. In fact, the food professor himself said that one of the hardest things to predict is the effect of climate change on the cost of food. They do not use that quote when they are misleading Canadians with inaccurate information. On this side of the House, we know what helps families; it is actually money in their pockets. When the Canada child …
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Mr. Speaker, it would be really nice if the Conservatives would read the reports that they quote in the House of Commons. Food banks Ontario talks about the importance of increasing base rates for social assistance, making sure that people living in poverty have sufficient social supports and investing in income supports for Canadians, like we have done through the Canada disability support paymen…
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Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, the Conservatives fight against the supports Canadian families talk about needing. In fact, they just asked a question about workers who are facing job losses at Algoma Steel, yet when they had a chance to vote for the expansion of EI for easier access, longer duration and more generous benefits, they voted against it. How do the Conservatives, in any way, have …
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Madam Speaker, Canada's GDP growth last quarter was 2.6%, blowing out economists' projections. That is what growing Canada strong looks like. It is an investment in the potential of the country. It is an investment in right now. We have the highest rate of women ever in the workforce. Do members know why? It is because we have an affordable child care agreement. Yesterday, Saskatchewan signed an e…
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Madam Speaker, yesterday, I met with operating engineers from all across the country who came to talk to me about the investments we are making in building Canada strong. They are so excited about the work for their members. As the proud mother of an operating engineer, I could not be more thrilled as well. These are great jobs for young people and tradespeople all across the country. This is how …
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Mr. Speaker, finally, Hamilton gets a voice in the House of Commons with a strong MP who had to repeat his question four times. How disrespectful is that to the workers of Hamilton, who are really struggling and working so hard to pivot to new product and new markets. That is why standing beside ArcelorMittal Dofasco yesterday, one of the backbones of our steel industry here in Canada, and the Pri…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I stood with the Prime Minister and the president of Dofasco as we announced additional supports for steel, for lumber, for communities, for organizations and for their employees, who have been deeply impacted by tariffs. They are not only encouraged by our support; they are excited about the future. Do members know why? It is because they have an opportunity through buy Ca…
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Mr. Speaker, today, the announcement with the Prime Minister and the Premier of Alberta is good news for workers all across the country. It is good news for workers in Alberta. It is certainly good news for skilled tradespeople and the young apprentices who are and learning these trades. This is an announcement about prosperity and shared prosperity. It scopes in indigenous people and creates weal…
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Mr. Speaker, today there is good news for the many companies around the country that are working so hard to stay in business in the middle of this trade war. Whether it is steel or whether it is lumber, we have their backs. Today, we are going to talk more about what else we can do, not only to make sure that we protect these companies but to help them grow their footprint, to sell their product t…
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Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to meet with youth from across the country about the investments we are making in budget 2025: $1.5 billion for youth skills and training. However, there is a very specific program. I met with some members of youth from that member's riding, who talked about their excitement and enthusiasm about seeing the youth climate corps in this budget. Youth are worrie…
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Mr. Speaker, since this Prime Minister took office, that is exactly what he has done. In fact, we stood up for Canadian companies and workers all across this country. In just a few minutes, the Prime Minister will do it again. He will stand up for Canadian companies, lumber companies, steel companies and their hard-working union members, who are fighting so hard to protect the economy of their reg…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada's Building Trades Unions, the Canadian Labour Congress and LiUNA are all unions that have praised budget 2025. Do members know why? It is because it makes historic investments in the major infrastructure projects that are going to create great jobs all across this country. Whether it is on supporting Canadians through things like the Canada child benefit, indexing it to inflati…
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Mr. Speaker, let us talk about something other than imaginary taxes, shall we? While the Conservatives hammer away on taxes that are not real, we are actually helping Canadians with the cost of living. Every year, for example, the Canada child benefit and old age security are indexed to inflation, and what happens every year? Every year, these Conservatives vote against the increases that actually…
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Mr. Speaker, instead of the members opposite focusing on fake taxes, they should support things that actually put a few extra bucks in the pockets of hard-working Canadians. As a former single mother and a person who lived paycheque to paycheque for most of my life, I can tell the House that what helps parents, what helps families, is having money in their pockets. When we index things such as the…
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Mr. Speaker, it is pretty rich for the member opposite to say that he cares about people like Denise, workers who are benefiting from work-sharing, which is supporting the very auto employers he speaks about to retain a skilled workforce. Guess what. The Conservatives voted against Denise. They voted against Canadians who are benefiting not only from the measures in budget 2025 but also from measu…
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Mr. Speaker, I think the steelworkers would be pretty disappointed if they knew that this Conservative member of Parliament keeps fighting against the very measures the government is putting in place to save our steel sector. I was at Algoma Steel just a few months ago, working with that company and its workers to make sure the company has liquidity so that it can find new markets, protect those j…
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Mr. Speaker, nobody should have to feel the fear that Cassandra feels, but I will note what Cassandra also said. She said she could hardly wait until the Canada child benefit arrived on the 20th of each month because it helped her feed her baby, as she lived on Ontario disability. The member voted against the Canada child benefit. She voted against school food. She voted against the very people sh…
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Mr. Speaker, do members know what helps families? Good-paying jobs do. That is why we have had such a tremendous response to this budget, including from Canada’s Building Trades Unions, which has said it is grateful to all parliamentarians who supported the federal budget and acted in the best interests of Canadians. I guess that does not include the Conservatives, who voted against the very Canad…
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Mr. Speaker, maybe the member did not read the article where Canada research chair Ms. Lesley Frank said that the Canada child benefit should be increased, which, by the way, it is every year because it is pegged to inflation, and where the experts said that formula should be produced in Canada. In this budget, we have money for innovation in agriculture. How does that member think that Canada wil…
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Mr. Speaker, members like that one, with the fake outrage as their colleagues stand up and vote against the very—
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Mr. Speaker, just the other day, the member for Bowmanville—Oshawa North suggested that hungry children should go without because parents should be able to afford to feed their kids. Well, I have a news flash: Single mothers, just like I was in my day, need all the help they can get, and that is what we do for moms every single day in the House.
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Mr. Speaker, what the member opposite fails to acknowledge is that she voted against every measure that helps single mothers right now, every single day. Whether it is fees reduced for early learning and child care, access to dental care for children who do not have dental care benefits or fighting against school food, these Conservatives stand up to say they feel the pain of moms, especially sing…
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Mr. Speaker, that is why I am so proud to be a Liberal. Liberals believe in helping each other. We believe that, when a single mom is having a tough time, we should be there for her. We believe that, when a family is down on their luck, we should have an employment insurance program that helps people out when they lose their jobs. We believe that, when people cannot access dental care, sometimes f…
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Mr. Speaker, unlike the members opposite, Canadians know that we need to invest in ourselves, and that is exactly why they have supported this government and why they support this budget. From Canada's Building Trades Unions to the YMCA to Food Banks Canada, a variety of different stakeholders have advocated for the programs and approach in this budget. People are happy. They are happy with a gove…
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Mr. Speaker, this budget is a game changer for families across the country, whether it is the school nutrition program, which I know the Conservatives like to talk down, that is feeding hungry mouths in my riding of Thunder Bay—Superior North and all across the country, or our early learning and child care program that is reducing fees. Listen to this: “ELCC has taken a huge mental and financial l…
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Mr. Speaker, I guess the member was not listening to the parent from Andrew Fleck Children's Services who said that their family has been able to have healthier meals at home and start saving for post-secondary education. Another mother, from the same child care service, said that she would have had to quit her job and become a stay-at-home mom, and her family would not have been able to afford ch…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that they do not really like seeing women in the workforce, but the mom talks about—
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Mr. Speaker, the member talks about the coverage that her job afforded. Not everybody has the luxury to stay at home.
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Mr. Speaker, last week we came to an agreement with Ontario to continue our work on affordable child care in that province, and all across the country families are saving money. Do not take it from me; listen to a parent from Andrew Fleck Children's Services, who said that their family has been able to have healthier meals at home and to start saving for post-secondary education. Another parent sa…
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Mr. Speaker, I am the member of Parliament for a region that has many small communities. I can tell the House that those small communities all across northern Ontario are looking forward to the investments this budget would make in small and rural community infrastructure and projects like the Crawford mine, just outside of Timmins, which is going to create thousands of jobs. These northern Ontari…
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Mr. Speaker, this historic budget aims to invest not only in infrastructure that is typically covered solely by provinces, but also in health infrastructure in small communities like Kenora, where communities are waiting for those investments so they, too, can have the kind of promise Canadians in larger municipalities have. Let me be clear. In Nipigon, Ontario, where I visited a school food progr…
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Mr. Speaker, what Canadians want is a government that will invest in their futures and invest in their possibilities. That is exactly what we have been doing. Some 67,000 new jobs were added this month. For two months in a row, we are seeing unemployment go down. What is great about this is that youth unemployment is going down. The investments we are making are working. This is a budget for young…
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Mr. Speaker, the very-often-quoted Sylvain Charlebois had exactly this to say about budget 2025: our investments and logistics and corridors and trade will bring prices down for food. The food professor went on to say, making the national school food program permanent will “make a difference where it counts.” Making that program permanent is exactly what the food professor has called for.
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