The Economy

During Question Period on the economy, Conservatives argued that Canadian businesses are being taxed and regulated into uncompetitiveness with the United States, calling for the carbon tax, capital gains tax and development rules to be dropped, and saying hundreds of projects are stuck waiting for federal approvals. They also raised cost-of-living concerns from constituents and questioned the value of government cheque-based affordability measures given a projected $65-billion deficit. Liberals responded by urging support for Bill C-39, which they described as helping Canada build major projects again, pointed to Alberta’s premier working with the government on jobs, and highlighted local investments in food security, infrastructure, housing and a school food program.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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8 statements

Pat Kelly, Calgary Crowfoot

Conservative
“We need to lower costs for Canadian businesses so they can compete with the United States. The government should drop its carbon tax, its capital gains tax, and its rules that block development.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if the United States wants to raise costs on its businesses, we must respond by lowering them on ours so that we can out-compete them, not out-tax them. Conservatives believe in the ingenuity of Canadian businesses to create, invent, produce, expand and hire Canadians, but businesses need the Liberal government to repeal its antidevelopment laws, its capital gains taxes on reinvestment in Canada, and the industrial carbon tax on aluminum, steel, fertilizers, energy and everything else. When will the Liberals adopt our plan and do so?

Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to stop playing politics and support this bill with us. It helps Canada build big projects again and rebuild our economy.”
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  • A repeated line

    “That is exactly what this government wants to do.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since May 1.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member calls for a focus on economic renewal in this country. We have an opportunity as members of Parliament in this House of Commons to support Bill C-39, a bill that is focused on building up this country. We used to build things in this country. We used to do that, and that is exactly what this government wants to do. We call on Conservatives to put aside partisanship, much along the lines of what former prime minister Harper did quite recently. He put aside partisanship for the benefit of this country. Let us work together.

Pat Kelly, Calgary Crowfoot

Conservative
“The government's rules and delays are blocking hundreds of major projects. This is costing Canadians good jobs. I want the government to approve these projects and start building.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, he must be really upset with the government that has been in power for the last 11 years. Canadians need results. Hundreds of projects and their applications are waiting for federal approval because the government spent the last 11 years piling on red tape and bad laws that kill high-paying jobs. Last year, the Liberals asked Parliament for extraordinary powers to exempt major projects from its own laws so that projects could be built at unimaginable speeds, and yet nothing has happened and there are no results. When will the Liberals clear the backlog, approve projects, get shovels in the ground and save Canadian jobs?

Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Liberal
“If Conservatives will not listen to us, they should listen to their own leaders. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is working with our government to create jobs and build projects.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I remind my Conservative colleagues, with great respect, of course, that if they do not want to listen to Liberals, I suppose that is fine. They can listen to Conservatives. Stephen Harper has already been mentioned. They should listen, especially, to Premier Danielle Smith. My colleague is from Alberta. Most members of the Conservative caucus are from Alberta. They ought to listen to the Conservative premier of that province, who is working constructively with this government to ensure that the country is building and to ensure that jobs are the focus, so we can ensure a future for our children.

Gabriel Hardy, Montmorency—Charlevoix

Conservative

Linked statement

“People in my riding tell me the government is out of touch, and they are struggling to save money. The Conservative plan would help them save. What does the Prime Minister have to say to them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I spent the summer meeting with citizens and talking to families, workers and young people. One thing kept coming up: There is a real disconnect between what the Liberal government is saying and what ordinary Canadians are facing. Samuel, a young father, wrote to me and said, “To be honest, I feel like we’re heading in the wrong direction, and most of the people I talk to feel the same way”. What Samuel wants is to save money, and the Conservative plan would enable him to do that. What does the Prime Minister have to say to Samuel and all those who feel as though the Liberals are completely out of touch with their reality and are using the trade crisis for political gain rather than actually doing something to make things better?

Sophie Chatel, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal
“Our plan for food security will make food cheaper and create jobs in food processing, including in the member's own riding.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of visiting Charlevoix, in my colleague’s riding, to meet with farmers and food processors. This beautiful region is joining together to make life more affordable for the people of Charlevoix and the surrounding areas. We are going to make the food more affordable by working together through the national food security strategy. We will create jobs in my colleague’s region throughout the processing sector. Laiterie Charlevoix and others will benefit from this.

Gabriel Hardy, Montmorency—Charlevoix

Conservative
“The government's plan to mail cheques adds to the debt. The deficit is $65 billion this year and will stay high for five more years. This leaves young people with debt to pay off later. I want the Prime Minister to explain how these cheques help when they cost future generations so much.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here we have another plan that is completely out of touch. The Liberals are always talking about programs they are implementing by sending cheques to Canadians. The problem is that the Liberals have put us in the hole with their years of deficits. The deficit will be $65 billion this year, with a projected deficit of $60 billion per year for another five years. The cheques they mail out just add more money to the debt. We Conservatives want to save Canadians money. Can the Prime Minister explain to us why these cheques to Canadians should be seen as a gift when they actually saddle our young people with debt for generations to come?

Sophie Chatel, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal
“Our government is helping people in the other member's riding. We are funding local infrastructure, helping build more homes, and bringing a school food program there.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, during my visit, I also met with the reeve of the Charlevoix RCM. He supports many of the government’s affordability measures. Our measures mean more municipal infrastructure. Our strategic investments in infrastructure will support the creation of more housing in my colleague’s region. In addition, children will have access to the school food program, which is set to be rolled out in schools in my colleague’s riding. I hope he sees that we are working hard for the people in his riding.

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