Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
“Our government is helping Canadians with the high cost of living by cutting taxes and funding programs like child care and school food. We are also setting up automatic tax filing to make it easier for people to get their benefits. The Conservatives vote against these supports, but we will keep spending money to help people and grow the economy.”
“Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Canadians are navigating a rapidly changing, increasingly fragmented and volatile global economy, one that is more complex, more unpredictable and, for many, more costly as well. In response, our government continues to focus on what we can control, which is building a strong Canadian economy and diversifying our trade partners abroad. We see signs of progress, with 20 new trade and security agreements signed and a 36% increase in non-U.S. trade, which is significant. We are also focused on delivering responsible fiscal management and supporting Canadians who are under pressure from everyday expenses. Just last week, on Friday, I had the opportunity to list 19 different tax cuts that our government has made. There was no response from the Conservatives, of course, because they did not support 99% of them. I think there might have been one they allowed to pass, but I am sure if they could have blocked them, they would have done so, because that is exactly what we see in this House: the Conservatives obstructing and voting against the very things that help Canadians, whether it is child care or a national school food program, a groceries and essentials benefit, an income tax cut, suspending the fuel excise tax, and on and on. Every single measure we put forward that actually helps to tangibly reduce the cost of living pressures on Canadians, they vote against and oppose. I do not know how they can stand up in the House and say they actually care about households and the cost of living. The other thing the member opposite suggested is that the tax system has become more complex. It is true, as we offer investment tax credits for businesses and waive, or increase deductions for, certain kinds of expenses, or as we help tradespeople who are moving across the country, relocating for work, by allowing them to deduct more of those expenses, that it is more complex for Canadians. However, we have also moved forward with an automatic tax filing system and initiative that will help millions of Canadians who, for the many accessing federal benefits and supports, rely on filing their taxes. We know full well that it will help with simple tax filings. It also means that other Canadians will be able to get access to benefits because it better utilizes government resources to help those with the simplest tax filings to access the tax benefits and federal payments they are eligible for. We are stepping up to help out. We have fiscal strength. The IMF said recently that we have the strongest fiscal position in the G7 and that we should use our fiscal capacity, which is exactly what the federal government is doing. I know Conservatives would never invest in Canadians. They do not believe in Canadians. They do not believe in boosting the economy. That is not the Liberal Party’s position. Our position is to use our fiscal capacity to boost our economy. We see those investments coming to fruition and manifesting good-paying jobs for generations to come. That is the prosperity we are building. That is how we build Canada strong, and we are not going to back down just because Conservatives talk a good game in this House.”
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A repeated line
“That is how we build Canada strong.”
Said 20 times by 14 members since April 23.
Every time it was said
Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Canadians are navigating a rapidly changing, increasingly fragmented and volatile global economy, one that is more complex, more unpredictable and, for many, more costly as well. In response, our government continues to focus on what we can control, which is building a strong Canadian economy and diversifying our trade partners abroad. We see signs of progress, with 20 new trade and security agreements signed and a 36% increase in non-U.S. trade, which is significant. We are also focused on delivering responsible fiscal management and supporting Canadians who are under pressure from everyday expenses. Just last week, on Friday, I had the opportunity to list 19 different tax cuts that our government has made. There was no response from the Conservatives, of course, because they did not support 99% of them. I think there might have been one they allowed to pass, but I am sure if they could have blocked them, they would have done so, because that is exactly what we see in this House: the Conservatives obstructing and voting against the very things that help Canadians, whether it is child care or a national school food program, a groceries and essentials benefit, an income tax cut, suspending the fuel excise tax, and on and on. Every single measure we put forward that actually helps to tangibly reduce the cost of living pressures on Canadians, they vote against and oppose. I do not know how they can stand up in the House and say they actually care about households and the cost of living. The other thing the member opposite suggested is that the tax system has become more complex. It is true, as we offer investment tax credits for businesses and waive, or increase deductions for, certain kinds of expenses, or as we help tradespeople who are moving across the country, relocating for work, by allowing them to deduct more of those expenses, that it is more complex for Canadians. However, we have also moved forward with an automatic tax filing system and initiative that will help millions of Canadians who, for the many accessing federal benefits and supports, rely on filing their taxes. We know full well that it will help with simple tax filings. It also means that other Canadians will be able to get access to benefits because it better utilizes government resources to help those with the simplest tax filings to access the tax benefits and federal payments they are eligible for. We are stepping up to help out. We have fiscal strength. The IMF said recently that we have the strongest fiscal position in the G7 and that we should use our fiscal capacity, which is exactly what the federal government is doing. I know Conservatives would never invest in Canadians. They do not believe in Canadians. They do not believe in boosting the economy. That is not the Liberal Party’s position. Our position is to use our fiscal capacity to boost our economy. We see those investments coming to fruition and manifesting good-paying jobs for generations to come. That is the prosperity we are building. That is how we build Canada strong, and we are not going to back down just because Conservatives talk a good game in this House.