Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, maybe the member remembers voting against all of the measures that actually make life more affordable. For example, there is early learning and child care here in Ontario, which is saving a family with one child $16,000 a year. For example, there was the announcement we just made yesterday to ensure students can access up to 40% more in student grants, which is going to make sure that…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the Conservatives' jobs plan is, because they vote against every single thing, including the things that unions have said they need. We are investing in skills training for young people. We are moving forward with a defence industrial strategy that is creating 125,000 jobs, the major projects are estimated to support over 60,000 jobs and we are ensuring that workers…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, what the member alleges is hard to prove. What I will say is that what we can prove is that the investments we are making in workers, the investments we are making in major projects and the investments we are making in defence will lead to hundreds of thousands of jobs. Do members know who is happy about that? It is the unions and the workers all across this country who are eagerly lo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, despite the conversation today about the impacts of immigration on youth unemployment, I will remind opposition members that even though they enjoy the benefits of something like the Canada summer jobs program, and they go out and meet those students, they vote against those programs time and time again. It is a bit fraudulent, I would say, to meet youth in their ridings and celebrate…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the member for Calgary Midnapore's question, just recently, she screamed “shut up” at another member across the aisle. I have to say it is disheartening. I know we get excited and there is heckling that goes on, but to use such unparliamentary language, especially when asking a question, seems really disrespectful in this place.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is almost as if the Conservatives do not understand that we are in a tariff war and that there is a war in the Middle East threatening the Canadian economy right now. We have been preparing to support workers in these turbulent times, but yet again, they vote against every measure we put forward for workers. That is not what the Ontario government is saying. I was so proud to sign …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the number of Canadians waiting to start their OAS is declining. In fact, Canadians expect a modern benefit delivery system that makes sure their benefits are available when they need them. There were 7.7 million Canadians transferred to the new system without any problem, and those who are waiting are largely paper applications. We have a plan and a process to get through those. If a…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I do not know what workers that member was speaking with, but it sure was not the president of Unifor Local 200, who said, “The problem is that he went ahead and did not consult with Unifor, and it was very, very frustrating to see the things that he put in place knowing we would be in big trouble”. The president, John D'Agnolo, went on to say that he is “ecstatic” over the auto measu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, I heard a Conservative member of Parliament say that helping people was ideological. Maybe they should get together and talk to each other, because if you think that helping people fix their teeth is ideological, feeding a hungry kid at school is ideological, cutting taxes is ideological or having child care that costs people $16,000 less a year is ideological, then I …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
In fact, Mr. Speaker, the number of seniors waiting for their first payment is going down. I will remind the member opposite that these are very specific cases that are largely paper applications. This system is designed to provide the stability that Canadians expect, including Quebeckers, when they receive benefits from Canada. More and more people are applying online, and I will just say that it…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is true that what scares people the most is a system that breaks down when they need it. They are afraid of a system that will fail them in their time of need, and let me be clear. That is exactly why we have modernized this system, because a 60-year-old system was guaranteed to fail. In fact, that is what the Auditor General said. I think we agree that it was time to modernize, an…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, if the member has a Mr. Lavoie who is experiencing such difficulties, surely he knows that there is an MP hotline that he can use himself, or, as I have mentioned many times, he can also come to me and we will ensure that Mr. Lavoie gets his benefits urgently. As the member knows, this is an ancient system that was prone to problems and difficulties. Canadians expect systems that are …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, if the member says that 7.7 million seniors' getting reliable, modern delivery of benefits is a disaster, I am not sure what the member opposite is talking about. She would have us go back to a system that is 60 years old, paper-based and hackable. It would fail. In fact, the Auditor General said that the old system was so frail that Canadians could not count on it. Is that what she w…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when my colleague talks about ideological programs, I sure hope he is not talking about the national child care plan, which has actually reduced costs for Ontario families by $16,000 per child, per year, here in Ontario. I sure hope he is not talking about the school nutrition program, which families, experts and educators have all sung the praises of for ensuring that kids get good f…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the program that the member opposite is talking about, Cúram, is used in 20 countries around the world. This is a wild goose chase, and she knows it. Seven point seven million Canadians have been successfully transferred to this system. In fact, we are working through the backlog. These are complicated cases, often with paper applications. There is a hotline for urgent cases. Urgent c…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, if 7.7 million migrations to a new system is a failure compared to 85,000 cases with missing information on paper applications, I am not sure how the Conservatives are doing accounting. Quite frankly, Canadians expect modernization of legacy systems that serve them every day, day in and day out. We will not tolerate the risk of aging systems failing and creating a disaster for seniors…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I think the question is about old age security, so I will stick to that program. In fact, that 60-year-old program, which was fraught with problems, was something the Government of Canada sought to modernize because Canadians now expect to be able to apply for their benefits online and have more control over how they apply for their benefits. In fact, 7.7 million Canadians have transi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I will get up again and explain exactly what we are doing here, which is exactly what Canadians expect. They expect modern systems that provide benefits, in a seamless way, that they can actually apply for online. Those are exactly the programs that we are designing for seniors. There are 7.7 million seniors already on the new system. There are two more benefit plans to go: employment…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Cúram is a software system. In fact, it is going to serve three separate—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us take a step back. Cúram is a software system. It is used around the world for benefit payments in countries all over the world. In fact, each country needs to specialize that system because, of course, benefit rules vary in different countries. In fact, the number the member opposite is quoting is the total envelope that it could take for three separate benefit systems.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us start with the difference between an estimate and an expenditure. An estimate is what things might cost. In fact, we are way under the estimate as it stands, and we have just started. We have transformed a very old system, 60 years old. I would point out that this is something the Conservatives let decay during their 10 years of government. We took action early on, in 2017, to …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I have been in front of committee talking about these numbers and being very transparent with Canadians. In fact, here is a number: 7.7 million recipients of OAS on the new system received their benefits on time and without a hitch. There are some cases that are more complicated. They are paper-based applications. We have dedicated staff working with these individuals…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, 7.7 million seniors have been transitioned to this new software. There are still some seniors who have applied for their benefits and are waiting. That number is dropping every week, every month, as we anticipate it will continue to do. Our officials are working very hard, night and day, to make sure that all cases are resolved. If the member opposite has a person in h…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic that the member opposite is saying that he has asked who to speak to. I have said about 15 times, members should come and speak to me directly if they have cases that they need accelerated. I have also been very clear in the House that this is a massive transformation of software. We have a portfolio of money allotted to us to do that transformation, and in fact we ar…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma is a force to be reckoned with. In fact, it was such an honour to stand with him at the Algoma steel mill to support the defence of Canadian-made steel. I want to thank him for his ongoing advocacy. It was a very proud moment for me to announce five additional workforce alliances. These are something the industry has been calling fo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, no matter how many times they say things, it will not make them true. In fact, the Cúram software program is actually under—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, over and over, we have heard that number, which is patently wrong. I have no other way to say it. This is the largest transformation of the way we deliver benefits in the history of this country. We are moving three important benefit programs from paper-based, old school technology to full modernization, where people will be able to and are right now able to apply online. This is the …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, they want to stay in the very distant past. In fact, they would prefer benefits to be administered on a 60-year-old system, using paper, and be hand-administrated. That is not what the government has decided to do. We are continuing the modernization of benefits for all Canadians. The number that the Bloc Québécois continues to use is misleading to Canadians. In fact, it is the sum fo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there is room over here. I agree that the Prime Minister is an honourable man, and that is why I am so confident to serve under his leadership. Regarding the issue of Cúram, it would be great if we had some honourable conversations about the real facts of this case. In fact, 7.7 million seniors have been transferred to the new system without any delay. The number that the opposition m…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, do members know what the real question is? Will the Conservatives stop voting against investments in health care? Will the Conservatives stop voting against things like a national dental care plan, which is deeply connected to the health of Canadians? I agree with my colleague. The Conservatives are punching down on the most vulnerable Canadians. I will say this. We are all in this to…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be part of a country that believes that people with disabilities deserve to live in dignity, and that is why we have a disability tax credit. As the member knows, this is important work for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in Canadian society, and we will continue to advocate to ensure that everyone reaches their full potential in this country.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, as the government works to support families in need, the Conservatives vote against it. They obstruct our budget bill in the House, money that Canadian families need for all kinds of things, including the jobs that many of our union workers are relying on. Do members know what helps with food insecurity? It is good-paying jobs. Here is a newsflash: The Conservat…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, funding for a project of this magnitude involves incremental allocations, not a lump sum payment. The program's initial $1.7 billion in funding was to launch the first phase of the project; it was never intended to cover the complete restructuring of multiple benefits systems. This investment is going to generate efficiency and reliability gains for years to come.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, transitioning 7 million Canadians to a system without a hitch would not be my definition of failure. Do members know what would be? It would be not investing in the modernization of systems when there was a chance to and voting against bringing all our systems up to date. Not only are we modernizing OAS, but we are also modernizing EI and CPP for all Canadians. Canadians ought to have…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is not true what the opposition is saying. The initial program authority of $1.7 billion was intended to be used to kick-start the first phase. In fact, the program is under budget. The great news is that 7 million Canadians have transitioned to this new system. The previous system was 60 years old. Can members imagine the paper applications that were being filed, with lots of mist…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that member was around when the opposition party voted time and again against the investments that provinces and territories had been asking us to make in strengthening our universal health care system. That is how we build a health care system that everybody is proud of. It is something we built on the foundations of our forefathers and mothers in this place, to ensure…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I keep saying the same thing every day. The system was very old. We invested to modernize the system, and the vast majority of recipients were transferred without a problem. In some more complex cases, the department is working diligently to resolve the situation very quickly. I would gladly meet with the member if she would like to learn more.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the member for Davenport is a tireless advocate for seniors and housing across Canada. Our government is working to ensure seniors can age in place with dignity and the supports they need. Indeed, Dunn House provides rent-geared-to-income units for at-risk seniors in Toronto, which helps them live safely and independently. The Conservatives are asking how many. Over the past month alo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have worked very well with the MP opposite, and I invite him to come and be briefed on the Cúram system. As we have been saying in the House, this is a very old system that needed modernization. In fact, one of the aspects of that modernization is that people can now apply for their benefits online, without personal assistance. That is going to relieve the load on the entire departm…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to the public servants who are working hard to learn a new system very quickly. It is very important that we talk about these civil servants with the respect they deserve. In fact, at the beginning, of course it was challenging to learn that system. These workers have worked extremely hard to get better and more proficient at a brand new system. It is replacing a 60…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to sit down with the opposition member, but what he said is not true. We are actually under budget for this modernization of a 60-year-old system, migrating more than 7.5 million Canadians to this new system. Of course, as we see challenges with specific applications, where maybe information is incorrect or maybe there are paper applications, the department is working…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, every step of the way as the government has supported Canadians in what undeniably is an uncertain time, the Conservatives have fought against. Conservatives have stood up time and time again against Canadian families, against Canadian workers and against Canadian children. They have been voting down things like the school food program, enhancements to EI, work and support for familie…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, what the government is saying to young people is that they can help us build big things in this country, and Canadian young people are stepping up to help. All across the country, Canadian youth have been taking advantage of skills training, in partnership with provinces just like Ontario, to make sure that as we build big things, they are on the frontline in the skilled trades, build…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the only party fighting against workers is the party opposite, whose members voted against the budget, wherein we outline the work we have been doing to protect workers for exactly this situation. Thanks to the proactive vision of the government to protect workers in these situations, workers who are separated from their employment can now keep their last pay. They do not have to wait…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is simply incorrect. There are not cost overruns. In fact, the project is on budget and 7.4 million OAS clients were migrated in March of 2025. Seniors can apply directly online. This is a 60-year-old system. Indeed, Canadians expect us to keep our IT systems modernized, and that is exactly what we are doing. If the member opposite has a constituent who needs help,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member of Parliament for Mississauga East—Cooksville for his unwavering support for auto workers and the sector. Canada's auto workers and all workers are the backbone of our economy. When our auto sector workers come under attack, our government stands with them and protects them. Today the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry announced Canada's new auto strat…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the department is making every effort to quickly resolve issues related to claims. This involves improving training so that staff are able to process claims more quickly. We are already seeing some positive signs that this training is producing results. Our office has reached out to the members opposite. If they know of any urgent cases, I encourage them to contact my office so we can…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I do read the francophone media, but I also work in English and French, as do many people in the House. I will also say that we have focused all our resources on making sure that we get through the waiting list. It is shrinking every day. I thank the civil service for making the effort to learn this system and learn it well. As I mentioned, we have been in contact with these members o…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, do members know what is insulting to the constituents of Thornhill? It is when that member votes against the very things that they themselves are saying are useful. In fact, it is not just her constituents. Certainly the food banks in her riding would say that the announcement the Prime Minister made on the GST, on the essentials benefit, on strengthening our food security, on support…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, transforming a 60-year-old system is not an easy task. I want to start by thanking the employees at ESDC who are working so hard to make sure seniors get their benefits on time and with accuracy. In fact, that is exactly what has happened, as 98% of the cases have gone through. I will say that we are working diligently on the remaining outstanding cases where people who have signed up…
Read full speech →