Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, my colleague is chair of our seniors caucus. The Conservatives' World Economic Forum agenda tried to turn Canadians' two best years of retirement into their two worst years of work by raising the retirement age to 67. We reversed it. Their World Economic Forum wish list would cut our $1,000-increase to the GIS that helps nearly a million seniors. It would cut rent relief for vulnerabl…
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Madam Speaker, not only have we helped seniors by targeting the most vulnerable seniors, but we have also invested in housing. We are proud to have increased old age security and raised the income exemption to help seniors who still want to stay connected to the workforce. Does anyone know who voted against all those measures? That member and his party, the Bloc Québécois, did.
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Madam Speaker, the Death Valley well driller is poking more dry holes. Outstanding Canadians stepping up to advise the Liberal Party, or any party, is a very good thing. What the member wants to cloud is the fact that inflation is down, interest rates are down, wage settlements are up and the economy is up. We have reached a soft landing in this country. The Conservatives should stop talking the c…
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Madam Speaker, the predictions of impending doom coming from the member in particular and his political party really sound discordant to Canadians. What is happening across this country? After the pandemic, we have achieved a rare feat: a soft landing, no recession, wage gains, inflation coming down and interest rates coming down. The finance minister, this very week, is putting in place measures …
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Madam Speaker, what Canadians are worried about is the Conservative Party's agenda and secret plans. What does this member propose to eliminate? She is going to make cuts to food banks and housing assistance. We are well aware that the Conservative Party is proposing to do away with tens of thousands of jobs in Canada's public service. I think it is high time that this member and her party release…
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Madam Speaker, when there is an election, this member will have to stop making false allegations and disclose the Conservative Party's secret plans to make budget cuts, impose austerity, withdraw supports for our seniors, withdraw housing measures, withdraw infrastructure supports for our municipalities, and the list goes on. Our economy is doing well. Interest rates are falling. Inflation is down…
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Madam Speaker, I was recently in my colleague's beautiful riding, and, after making some checks, I can confirm that 8,700 of her constituents are now receiving dental care because of the federal dental care program that she voted against.
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for correcting the math and statistics on the wonderful riding of Gatineau today. However, I did not hear an apology. I encourage him to consider at another mathematical figure, the number 10,000. In his riding alone, 10,000 people are now eligible for the federal dental care plan that we put in place and that is helping so many people, even though he voted agains…
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Madam Speaker, I share the member's outrage at the Quebec government's actions. It wants to keep the most vulnerable people in our society from receiving dental care. We are talking about people in long-term care homes and children at Sainte-Justine hospital who do not have access to care, despite having paid their taxes. Normally, Bloc members would be outraged by such a thing. I invite them to j…
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Mr. Speaker, there is something very important on the member for La Prairie's résumé. He voted against the new federal Canadian dental care plan that 6,900 people in the riding of La Prairie have signed up for. Every time we come up with ways to help Quebec seniors, the Bloc Québécois votes no.
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Mr. Speaker, there are not 30,000 people aged 65 to 74 in Gatineau, but never mind. The seniors who live in Gatineau are very happy, because when it came time to support them during the pandemic, when it came time to support the most vulnerable seniors in Gatineau and elsewhere, the Liberal government was there for them with the necessary support measures. We will continue to do so. The Bloc Québé…
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Mr. Speaker, the 30,000 seniors in Gatineau, like all seniors in Quebec, like all seniors in Canada, are amazed by the Liberal Party of Canada's record, especially when it comes to targeting and helping the most vulnerable seniors in society. When we improved the guaranteed income supplement, when we brought in dental services for seniors, when we invested in housing, the Bloc was against that. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, the Eastern Townships are one of the most beautiful regions in Quebec, if not Canada. We are proud to say that in the riding of Shefford alone, in Granby and the surrounding area, 13,300 Canadians have signed up for the Canadian dental care plan. They are very happy about it. My colleague voted against that. Why?
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Mr. Speaker, members will recall that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to do what was necessary in the House. We had to provide support measures such as boosting the GST/HST credit, enhancing measures for seniors and improving health care. We had to spend money to support seniors. Members will recall who it was who supported Canada's seniors. It was the Quebec members of the Liberal Party of …
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Mr. Speaker, we are a little incredulous at everything the Bloc Québécois is saying, when we know what it voted against. It voted against dental care, which is currently saving hundreds of thousands of Quebeckers and Canadians hundreds of dollars. We are incredulous at the fact that the Bloc Québécois voted against enhancing and increasing the guaranteed income supplement, which helps the poorest …
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Mr. Speaker, I want to wish a happy National Seniors Day to everyone, including the people from the Outaouais branch of AREQ who are here, according to the member for La Prairie. The member for La Prairie rises every day, but he seems to forget that when we voted to lower the retirement age to 65, he voted against that. He wanted to keep the retirement age—
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to talk about the Bloc Québécois's hypocrisy. The member for Shefford should know that in the province of Quebec, 13,300 people are eligible for the dental care program. They are saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars. The member voted against dental care for vulnerable seniors in Quebec. Shame on her.
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Mr. Speaker, no party in the House has done as much for seniors in Canada and Quebec as the Liberal Party of Canada, despite the push back from the opposition—the Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois. What did they vote against? They voted against the dental care program, the GIS and additional housing for vulnerable seniors. The Bloc Québécois voted against all that. Now, what are they accus…
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Mr. Speaker, we are particularly proud of the age well at home pilot project. It is a government priority for seniors to stay at home and live independently. We have transferred the funds to all provinces and sent Quebec 60% of its funding. There are a few projects left. The Quebec government just needs to check a box and it is ready to go. Organizations such as the volunteer centres and Montreal'…
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Mr. Speaker, when the member for Thérèse-De Blainville had the chance to help vulnerable seniors, including 7,300 in her own riding, save hundreds of dollars, she voted against it. That is hypocrisy. Now she wants to lecture us on her opportunistic policies. We are there for seniors. The Liberal Party of Canada supports seniors. It is the Bloc Québécois that—
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome the member to the House. I can assure him that I heard him loud and clear, despite the fact that he will be excluded from a position of power until the end of his days in this House. Over the next five years, our government will spend more on old age security to protect the incomes of retirees than any previous government. For my colleague's information, that is $71 billion …
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Madam Speaker, today, October 1, is National Seniors Day. I wish all seniors in Canada and around the world a very happy day. It is a real privilege to rise in the House to talk about our government's work to make life better and more affordable for Canadian seniors. Seniors are a growing segment of the Canadian population. It is therefore important that governments reflect on how our policies and…
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Madam Speaker, I am flabbergasted that a political party which claims to champion Quebec would object to Gatineau's meals on wheels program for seniors. Now I have seen everything. These two programs make a real difference to seniors, and they are helping make Canada a better place to live, grow and age. That is why they are so important. After what we saw during the pandemic, we know that Canadia…
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Madam Speaker, we have just seen a perfect illustration of how the Bloc Québécois works. Everything we just heard was for show. Why is the Bloc putting on such a show? It is simply so it can cover up its plans for the future. It is obvious. Sometimes, I think Bloc Québécois members do not realize that their vote is recorded on paper. It is true, they voted against dental care for seniors, a progra…
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Madam Speaker, first, I invite my colleague to tour Gatineau with me. He will see that it is a lot of work to follow me around my riding, visiting seniors in particular. Second, I remind the member that we voted against this bill at second reading. Third, we have never claimed to solve all the problems. We know that we are facing a cost-of-living challenge. We also know that there are needs we can…
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Madam Speaker, obviously, I thank all members of the House who voted for progressive measures, including measures to assist seniors. As Minister of Labour and Seniors, I am delighted every time a member, like my colleague here, rises to support the initiatives we are able to put in place to help seniors in Canada and Quebec. What bothers me, as I said, is the cynicism and opportunism of a politica…
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Madam Speaker, let us talk about members. In the riding of Shefford, we used to have a member who supported organizations and the idea of dental care for the 14,000 or so people who benefit from it in that riding alone. That member voted against it. If she wants to help Quebec seniors, even just a little, all she has to do is call the Quebec government and convince it to give the green light so th…
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Mr. Speaker, this feels like déjà vu. The member and I have already had this exchange. This time, I am making a solemn request: that the member be clear about the Conservative Party's hidden agenda, which is to fire or lay off tens of thousands of public servants in my community, in her community and in communities across Canada. I would like her be clear and specific about the number of cuts that…
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Mr. Speaker, in the beautiful riding of Manicouagan, there are 7,800 seniors who are eligible for the Canadian federal dental plan, yet the member voted against it. At least she is consistent, because she also voted against increasing the GIS and lowering the retirement age to 65. At least she is consistent. Can she explain why she systematically votes against seniors?
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Mr. Speaker, it does not stop there. Everything that our government has done to reduce poverty among seniors was accomplished despite considerable resistance from the Bloc Québécois. Every effort to help our seniors, many of them among the most vulnerable in Canada, ran into systemic opposition. Let me give another example. We provided 50,000 housing units reserved for seniors and put $1.5 billion…
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Mr. Speaker, the member for La Prairie is very late when it comes to helping seniors. He voted against every measure proposed in the House that was solemnly adopted by members to help seniors, often the less fortunate seniors in Canada. I would like to know what the member for La Prairie has to say to the 6,300 constituents in his own riding who are enrolled in the federal dental care program. Wha…
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Mr. Speaker, 14,600 seniors in my Bloc Québécois colleague's riding, Shefford, now benefit from the Canadian dental care plan. Nevertheless, she has stood up in this House time and time again and voted against vulnerable seniors in her riding who are currently benefiting from this program and saving hundreds of dollars. Why?
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Mr. Speaker, that is not all. When we moved the age of retirement back down from 67 to 65, what did the member and her colleagues do? They voted against it. When we increased the GIS, a federal program helping hundreds of thousands of vulnerable seniors, the Bloc Québécois and my colleague voted against it. Yes, we proudly increased OAS for vulnerable seniors. She and her colleagues voted against …
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Mr. Speaker, unlike the Bloc Québécois, the Liberal Party of Canada has been there for seniors these past years. We increased the guaranteed income supplement by $1,000. This helped nearly one million seniors in Canada. We increased the guaranteed income supplement earnings exemption by 40% so that working seniors can keep more of what they earn. The Bloc Québécois voted against those measures.
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Mr. Speaker, I will repeat myself for the benefit of my friend from La Prairie and his political party: Quebec's seniors have the right to wake up this morning and ask what just happened to them. Bloc members have always voted against seniors. They have always voted against our plans to improve the lives of seniors, especially the most vulnerable. Recently, they voted against the dental care plan …
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Mr. Speaker, this government has always chosen seniors. Unfortunately for them, that is not the case for our friends opposite. Why? They voted against lowering the retirement age from 67 to 65. Furthermore, when we decided to support the poorest seniors and those most in need in Quebec by increasing the guaranteed income supplement, what did our friends in the Bloc Québécois do? They voted against…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague likes to be precise, but we have never cut help for seniors. All we have done, despite the opposition of our friends across the way, including the Bloc Québécois, is increase support for Quebec and Canadian seniors. The Bloc Québécois has always voted against that support. I invite my colleague to correct the record. We have never cut funding from Quebec or Ca…
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Mr. Speaker, I thought we had heard everything in this House and then I heard the hon. member. This is from the party that has stood up in this House and voted no to every single support we have brought in for seniors in this country. This is after the prime minister from that party, Mr. Harper, went to Davos, to the World Economic Forum, and took the opportunity to tell Canadian seniors back home…
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Mr. Speaker, of course, had it stayed on a co-operative basis with us, the NDP would know we have worked closely with workers and businesses to find an effective and fair solution to this problem. In fact, earlier this year, we changed the Canada Labour Code to stop employers from miscasting employees as independent contractors. Any employer who knowingly misclassifies an employee to avoid obligat…
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Mr. Speaker, I applaud the member for La Prairie for wanting to help seniors in Quebec because, clearly, he has not been very supportive of Quebec or Canadian seniors to date. Some may be surprised to learn that he voted against lowering the retirement age to 65, that he voted against increasing the guaranteed income supplement for the poorest seniors in Quebec and that, when we brought in a plan …
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Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting to hear my friend from Regina—Qu'Appelle, who was around in those days. In fact, he was sitting right where you are sitting, Mr. Speaker, when Prime Minister Harper went to, yes, Davos. As a reminder for some members in the back, that is the World Economic Forum. He went there to do what? He went there to tell Canadian seniors that their retirement age was movin…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that it is painful. I know that they do not like to hear this, but actions and votes have consequences. The Bloc Québécois voted against the national dental care program that is currently under way in the member's riding. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Bromont in the Eastern Townships with my colleague. I met one of her constituents, who is one of the 14,000 people in …
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Mr. Speaker, once again, the member is raising the spectre of an unnecessary election instead of taking concrete action, like voting to help Quebec seniors, which is something she has not done since she arrived here. She voted against increasing the guaranteed income supplement. She voted against the dental care plan that 14,000 people in her own riding have signed up for. Still, the member claims…
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Mr. Speaker, we do in fact have a very important pilot project that is helping seniors live well in their own homes. We are receiving some excellent projects, including one from the Centre communautaire l'entraide plus de Chambly. We have another project called Ancrage. Thanks to a growing pool of volunteers, this project proposes to expand and add more assisted living services for vulnerable low-…
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Mr. Speaker, speaking of clarity, can the leader of the Bloc Québécois clarify exactly what he is saying to the hundreds of thousands of Quebeckers who are currently benefiting from dental care, which he voted against?
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Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois leader is raising the spectre of an election instead of delivering results for Quebec's seniors. It is a bit much. This is not the only thing we would like some clarity about. What I would say to the Bloc Québécois leader is that a vote is very clear. He does not vote often, as we just read, but when he does vote, the Bloc Québécois leader votes against lowering ret…
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Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Québécois has spent his life putting the Canadian pensions of Quebec seniors at risk. When he votes against lowering the retirement age to 65, it is not about interference in jurisdictions, he is voting against seniors. When he votes against increasing the guaranteed income supplement, he is not voting on a jurisdictional issue; he is voting against the well‑bei…
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Mr. Speaker, the hidden agenda has come to light. People are worried about tens of thousands of public service layoffs, and we just got confirmation of that from my colleague opposite. The Conservatives' hidden agenda is to lay off, to fire, tens of thousands of public servants here in the Ottawa-Gatineau area and across the country. What are those people doing? They are helping Canadians to get d…
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Mr. Speaker, the next time the Bloc Québécois supports seniors, that will be the first time in the history of this Parliament. Let us look at the facts. When we restored the age of retirement to 65, how did the Bloc Québécois vote? It voted against. When we increased the guaranteed income supplement, helping hundreds of thousands of seniors in Quebec, the Bloc Québécois voted against. When we brou…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome back the Bloc Québécois, which supports seniors, just as our government's actions do. Look at what we have done. We implemented the grocery rebate, increased the guaranteed income supplement and brought in many other measures, including dental care, which is being offered to people across Quebec this year, including those in my colleague's riding, even though s…
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