Discussion · Government Orders
Todd Doherty Conservative
“A serious bus crash just happened in my region, and hospitals are treating the injured. My thoughts are with everyone affected. The government's spending is out of control and making life harder for Canadians. In the last year, food bank visits doubled and the national debt doubled. We now spend more money paying interest on the debt than we send to provinces for health care. Groceries cost 33% more than in 2020. The government has failed to protect forestry jobs in my riding, and struggling veterans have been offered assisted dying instead of real help. The government needs to control its spending and make life affordable.”
“Mr. Speaker, if you will indulge me, I will note that just a short while ago, the member for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies and I were notified that there was a mass casualty event impacting our ridings. As a matter of fact, a code orange has been declared by the hospital in Prince George as well as in Mackenzie due to a large bus accident. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to all those who are injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved, including the first responders who have attended this incident and the doctors, nurses and health care workers who are treating the injured. The extent of the injuries and casualties is not known at this point. It is not public knowledge, but I want to let everyone back home know that we are praying for them. I know that my colleague from Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies echoes my sentiments. Canadians were promised a government focused on economic growth, investment and affordability. We were told that the Prime Minister was the man with the plan and the adult in the room, and that he had all this experience that was going to lead Canadians and our country to the promised land. Canadians made a choice, and they took it hook, line and sinker. What we have seen over the last year is that food bank visits have more than doubled under the Liberal government. We have seen our debt more than double as well, and more than what the previous prime minister did in 10 years. In one year, the Prime Minister has more than doubled the debt. We now spend more money servicing the debt than we do on health care transfers to our provinces, which is absolutely shameful given the mental health and addictions crisis we have in this country. We have more Canadians and working poor having to use a food bank just to put food on their table, yet day after day, the Prime Minister, the Liberal front bench and others stand up and say that Canadians have never had it so good. When we raise the issue, they say we are talking down projects and Canadians, but I disagree. We are fighting for Canadians. On this side, the Conservatives, the official opposition, are fighting for Canadians. When a Canadian wakes up in the morning, the first thing on their mind is not the war overseas. It is the fact that they cannot put food on their table. They are worried if they are going to be able to make rent, make their mortgage payments or pay their bills. At the end of the month, there is far less of their paycheque left. In my riding of Cariboo—Prince George—Omineca, we have been hit so hard with job losses due to the forestry crisis. The government, like the previous Liberal government, has been unable to secure a softwood lumber agreement or put the hard-working families and communities that depend on forestry dollars first. It should care about them and make them a priority. We have veterans who are struggling to make ends meet. I know there are some in the audience today. They are phoning Veterans Affairs to get help, and when pleading for help, they are being offered MAID. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Todd Doherty: Mr. Speaker, to my colleague heckling me across the way, I will say it is true. If she would like the information and the proof of it, she can come see me or any of my colleagues who have sat on the veterans affairs committee previously or sat on the MAID committee through the summer and heard the testimony. It is absolutely true, and it is shameful. The colleague across the way, who has been here for a minute, is doubting what I am saying. She should check my record of standing up for veterans and standing up for those who fight for our communities and fight for our country yet have been forgotten by the Liberal government. It is shameful. Tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow the government has an opportunity to provide more hope and provide real action that will make life more affordable for Canadians. What are we going to see? I hope it is not more band-aids. I know the people in my riding are not looking for handouts. They are looking for an opportunity to work. They are looking for the government to stand up for them when they are at the negotiating table, but it is absent. The government likes to talk a big game, but it is not there. Debt interest is projected to reach $83 billion a year. Food bank visits, as I mentioned, have doubled. Grocery prices are 33% higher now than they were in 2020. Canadians are working harder and paying more, yet too many are struggling to afford the basics. Conservatives believe the government should respect taxpayers, control spending and put affordability first. How about putting Canadians first? The Prime Minister spends more time in the air collecting air miles than he does in this House. Canadians deserve a government that makes life more affordable, not one that leaves them paying the price for its fiscal mismanagement. I hope tomorrow brings more sunny ways and not more dark days.”
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A repeated line
“Canadians deserve a government that makes life more affordable.”
Said 3 times by 3 members since May 28.
Every time it was said
Mr. Speaker, if you will indulge me, I will note that just a short while ago, the member for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies and I were notified that there was a mass casualty event impacting our ridings. As a matter of fact, a code orange has been declared by the hospital in Prince George as well as in Mackenzie due to a large bus accident. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to all those who are injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved, including the first responders who have attended this incident and the doctors, nurses and health care workers who are treating the injured. The extent of the injuries and casualties is not known at this point. It is not public knowledge, but I want to let everyone back home know that we are praying for them. I know that my colleague from Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies echoes my sentiments. Canadians were promised a government focused on economic growth, investment and affordability. We were told that the Prime Minister was the man with the plan and the adult in the room, and that he had all this experience that was going to lead Canadians and our country to the promised land. Canadians made a choice, and they took it hook, line and sinker. What we have seen over the last year is that food bank visits have more than doubled under the Liberal government. We have seen our debt more than double as well, and more than what the previous prime minister did in 10 years. In one year, the Prime Minister has more than doubled the debt. We now spend more money servicing the debt than we do on health care transfers to our provinces, which is absolutely shameful given the mental health and addictions crisis we have in this country. We have more Canadians and working poor having to use a food bank just to put food on their table, yet day after day, the Prime Minister, the Liberal front bench and others stand up and say that Canadians have never had it so good. When we raise the issue, they say we are talking down projects and Canadians, but I disagree. We are fighting for Canadians. On this side, the Conservatives, the official opposition, are fighting for Canadians. When a Canadian wakes up in the morning, the first thing on their mind is not the war overseas. It is the fact that they cannot put food on their table. They are worried if they are going to be able to make rent, make their mortgage payments or pay their bills. At the end of the month, there is far less of their paycheque left. In my riding of Cariboo—Prince George—Omineca, we have been hit so hard with job losses due to the forestry crisis. The government, like the previous Liberal government, has been unable to secure a softwood lumber agreement or put the hard-working families and communities that depend on forestry dollars first. It should care about them and make them a priority. We have veterans who are struggling to make ends meet. I know there are some in the audience today. They are phoning Veterans Affairs to get help, and when pleading for help, they are being offered MAID. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Todd Doherty: Mr. Speaker, to my colleague heckling me across the way, I will say it is true. If she would like the information and the proof of it, she can come see me or any of my colleagues who have sat on the veterans affairs committee previously or sat on the MAID committee through the summer and heard the testimony. It is absolutely true, and it is shameful. The colleague across the way, who has been here for a minute, is doubting what I am saying. She should check my record of standing up for veterans and standing up for those who fight for our communities and fight for our country yet have been forgotten by the Liberal government. It is shameful. Tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow the government has an opportunity to provide more hope and provide real action that will make life more affordable for Canadians. What are we going to see? I hope it is not more band-aids. I know the people in my riding are not looking for handouts. They are looking for an opportunity to work. They are looking for the government to stand up for them when they are at the negotiating table, but it is absent. The government likes to talk a big game, but it is not there. Debt interest is projected to reach $83 billion a year. Food bank visits, as I mentioned, have doubled. Grocery prices are 33% higher now than they were in 2020. Canadians are working harder and paying more, yet too many are struggling to afford the basics. Conservatives believe the government should respect taxpayers, control spending and put affordability first. How about putting Canadians first? The Prime Minister spends more time in the air collecting air miles than he does in this House. Canadians deserve a government that makes life more affordable, not one that leaves them paying the price for its fiscal mismanagement. I hope tomorrow brings more sunny ways and not more dark days.