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Results: 1 - 100 of 1564
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:20 [p.8669]
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Mr. Speaker, I will start with what matters most to me and to our government. No woman should be sexually harassed at work. No woman in the Canadian Armed Forces should be sexually harassed while serving her country. We must change the toxic culture in the Canadian Armed Forces, and we will do just that.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:21 [p.8669]
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Mr. Speaker, I want to start with what is most important to me and our government, which is that no woman should be sexually harassed in Canada. That is particularly true when it comes to Canada's brave women in uniform. To those women I would like to say directly that there is clearly a toxic culture in our armed forces and that must change. Our government has full confidence in our Minister of National Defence.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:22 [p.8670]
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Mr. Speaker, our Minister of National Defence is an inspirational trailblazer and we are proud to have him on our team. I would like to share with the House and Canadians some examples of the minister's work that I saw first-hand as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He defended Canada's national interests during the Trump administration in the face of charges that our steel and aluminum tariffs posed a national security threat. We worked together at NATO to pledge Canada's support for the Baltic states, for Ukraine and to build the training mission in Iraq. This is the track record of our Minister of National Defence.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:23 [p.8670]
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Mr. Speaker, our government has a lot of respect for the House of Commons. We understand that the House and its committees have a job to do and should have all the information they need to do that job. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that national security is a priority for our government.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:48 [p.8674]
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Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House who is going too far. It is the Conservatives who are going too far with their partisan games and thereby threatening Canada's economic recovery.
Canadians need the wage subsidy and the rent subsidy to be extended until the end of September. Our government wants to do that, but Conservative partisan delaying tactics are stopping us from passing the budget, and that irresponsible Conservative behaviour is the biggest threat to Canadians' well-being today.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:49 [p.8675]
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Mr. Speaker, yet again, it is the Conservatives who, for reasons I cannot understand, seem hell-bent on hurting hard-working Canadians. They are hurting Canadians by depriving them of the income and business supports they so urgently need. They are hurting Canadians by depriving the provinces and territories of $5 billion to support the vaccination campaign and our health care systems that are working so hard to protect us.
It is time for the Conservatives to stop posturing and to support the budget so we can support Canadians.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:51 [p.8675]
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Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the biggest threat to Canada's economic recovery is the Conservatives' partisan games. The Conservatives' tactics are preventing us from passing the budget, and this irresponsible behaviour is jeopardizing the well-being of each and every Canadian.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-17 14:52 [p.8675]
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Mr. Speaker, we understand and I understand very well the serious threat posed by the Conservatives' tactics. Canada is currently in the process of reopening its economy and building a strong economic recovery. To do so, however, Canadians and Canadian businesses need the support of our budget. It is the Conservatives who are preventing us from supporting Canadians, and they need to stop.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:23 [p.8522]
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Mr. Speaker, I will say that the Conservatives' partisan games are the biggest threat to Canada's recovery right now. Conservative tactics are preventing us from passing the budget. This irresponsible behaviour threatens the well-being of every Canadian.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:24 [p.8523]
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Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what poses the single greatest threat to Canada's economic recovery today: Conservative partisan games. Canadians need the wage subsidy, the rent subsidy and income support to be extended until the end of September. Our government wants to do that, but the Conservatives' partisan delaying tactics are stopping us from passing the budget and that irresponsible behaviour threatens the well-being of every single Canadian.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:25 [p.8523]
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Mr. Speaker, it is utterly hypocritical for the Conservatives to even pretend to be concerned about Canadians and the Canadian economy. The single biggest threat the Canadian economy faces today is Conservative partisanship, which is blocking our budget. Conservatives are blocking the extension of the wage subsidy, rent subsidy and income supports. Canada is ready to come roaring back. We just need Conservatives to get out of the way.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:31 [p.8524]
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Mr. Speaker, if the opposition refuses to pass the budget bill, key COVID‑19 measures will end. The wage subsidy, the rent subsidy and the Canada recovery benefit will no longer be available.
If the NDP thinks that Canadians no longer need these supports then it should be honest and just say so.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:32 [p.8524]
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Mr. Speaker, I question why the leader of the NDP is stopping our government from extending the CRB. We agreed that Canadian workers need additional support over the summer as the Canadian economy comes roaring back. That is why our budget would extend support to September 25.
If the New Democrats think that support is no longer necessary, they should be open and say that to Canadians. Otherwise, they should help us pass the budget and extend these necessary supports.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:51 [p.8528]
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Mr. Speaker, it is utterly hypocritical for the Conservatives to even pretend to be concerned about ordinary Canadians. The single biggest threat the Canadian economy faces today is Conservative partisanship, which is blocking our budget. The Conservatives are blocking the extension of the wage subsidy, the extension of the rent subsidy and the extension of income supports.
Canada is ready to come roaring back. We just need the Conservatives to get out of the way.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:52 [p.8528]
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Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House what else Canadians, who indeed are exhausted and who indeed do need support, are being deprived of because of the immature partisan games of the Conservatives: $5 billion to support provincial and territorial health systems, $4 billion directly to the health care system and $1 billion for the essential vaccination campaign. That is what Canadians need right now and it is what Conservatives are blocking.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:53 [p.8528]
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Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House what is truly irresponsible today just as we are poised to finish the fight against COVID. What is irresponsible are Conservative partisan games. Canadians need the wage subsidy, they need the rent subsidy and they need income support to be extended to the end of September, but the Conservatives are stopping us from passing our budget. It is that irresponsible behaviour which threatens the well-being of every single Canadian.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-16 14:54 [p.8528]
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Mr. Speaker, first, the member opposite needs to get his numbers right. Canada's labour force participation rate in April was in fact higher than the labour force participation rate in the U.S., the U.K., France and Italy.
I do want all members of the House to help me and to help our government support Canadians. I want them to help me extend the business and income supports. I want them to help me give more support to our seniors and to our youth.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-15 14:19 [p.8462]
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Mr. Speaker, let me remind everyone what is really important to Canadians and what the House can do to support them as we finish the battle against COVID-19.
Unfortunately, over the past two weeks, the Conservatives have used every procedural trick in the book to delay debate on Bill C-30. Canadians expect better. They expect us to get this bill across the finish line.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-15 14:30 [p.8464]
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Mr. Speaker, the real question is, when will the official opposition do its job and allow Canada to restart the economy? Instead of doing that, instead of understanding that now is the time to finish the fight against COVID and get back to work, the official opposition is engaging in dilatory, delaying tactics. In doing so, it is putting in peril the wage subsidy, rent support, the Canada recovery hiring credit, all measures we need to restart Canada.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-15 14:31 [p.8464]
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Mr. Speaker, let me point out what is really posing a serious economic threat to Canadians and posing a real threat to what needs to be our national priority right now, which is finish the fight against COVID and support the Canadian economy as we come roaring back. The threat is Conservative delaying tactics, which are stopping us from passing the budget. That means the wage subsidy, rent support, Canada recovery hiring credit, the CRB are all set to expire this month.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-15 14:35 [p.8465]
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Mr. Speaker, let me remind the member opposite that, thanks to the resilience and strength of Canadians, Canada has recovered 81% of the COVID recession job losses. That is compared to just 66% recovered in the United States.
However, Canadians do need more support for our economy to come roaring back from the deepest recession since the Great Depression. They need the strong support measures in the budget, including the wage subsidy, the CRB and the Canada recovery hiring credit.
It is the Conservatives who are stopping the budget from being passed.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:10 [p.8319]
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Madam Speaker, I would remind all members that we have already spent 22 hours in the House and 40 hours in committee debating this bill. We listened to 160 speeches on this bill in the House, and the committees heard from 132 witnesses.
I would also like to remind all members of the House that it is now June 14. This bill is absolutely necessary for Canadians, for the economic recovery, for the Canada emergency wage subsidy, for the Canada emergency rent subsidy and for the Canada recovery benefit. All these measures are in this bill.
I do not understand why the Conservatives think this partisan squabbling is more important to Canadians than support for the economic recovery.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:13 [p.8319]
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.
Again, I wish to remind members of what this debate is actually about. Today we are talking about economic measures that are essential to Canadians. Today we are initiating the economic recovery. For a successful economic recovery, it is imperative that we continue to provide support measures to Canadian businesses and to Canadians and Quebeckers. This support is urgent and essential.
Since we have a minority government, we need the support of progressive parties to bring in what Canadians need. That is what we are doing today.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:15 [p.8319]
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Madam Speaker, I know the member for New Westminster—Burnaby shares my concern for Canada's working people. He, like me, knows they need continued support as Canada finishes the fight against COVID and as all of us work so hard for an economic reopening to punch our way out of the COVID recession. To do that, we need the income supports and the business supports in this budget. We need to extend those to September 25. Without passing this budget legislation, those supports will expire this month.
Due to the Conservative delaying tactics, we have no choice but to move time allocation because we know Canadians urgently need this support. I am calling on all members of the House, particularly from progressive parties, to support us.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:17 [p.8319]
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his very hard work. As my colleague points out, this is getting really serious. The time for parliamentary theatrics, the time for parliamentary games and the time for the delaying tactics of the Conservatives is long past.
Today is June 14. The essential business and income support measures in the budget that are holding up Canada right now expire in June. The budget proposes to extend them to September 25. Canadians need that. People have sacrificed so much in the fight against COVID. We need to come together in the House, finish the fight against COVID and support the recovery. That is why we need to pass this budget legislation.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:19 [p.8320]
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands for her hard work.
Let me say a few things. First of all, on the question of an election, let me be very clear: Our government has absolutely no desire for an election. We think the job right now is to work hard to support Canadians, to finish the fight against COVID and to support our national effort to punch our way out of the COVID recession. That is our sole and unrelenting focus.
However, we do not have the luxury of time when it comes to the budget legislation. These income and business support measures run out in June. That is why we need to pass this budget legislation now and that is why the government is doing something we do not relish, which is bringing forward time allocation.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:21 [p.8320]
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Madam Speaker, let me just say this to Canadians: Canada continues to have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Following the tabling of our budget, the credit ratings agencies Moody's and S&P both reaffirmed Canada's AAA credit rating. That is the highest there is. That is clear, objective evidence of the reality, which is that this budget presents a prudent and responsible fiscal path. That is the verdict of the judges who really matter.
Let me also say, through you, Madam Speaker, to the Conservatives: It is time to stop delaying tactics. It is time to stop playing games with Canadian jobs and Canadian businesses, and to extend the supports Canadians need.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:23 [p.8320]
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Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to answer the questions, because it gives me the opportunity to point out that our concern for creators, cultural workers and tourism companies is exactly why it is so urgent to support Bill C‑30. These people, these Quebeckers, are the ones who need the support this budget will give them.
However, the only way we can help them is with the support of progressive parties in the House. That is what Canadians want, and that is our job.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:25 [p.8321]
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
I would like to once again point out that we have already had a great deal of discussion on this bill. We had 22 hours of debate and 160 speeches in the House as well as 40 hours of debate and 132 speeches in committee.
I would again remind all members of the House that what Canadians and Quebeckers want is to get the help they need. We are in the midst of a crisis, a global pandemic, and they need the federal government's support to finish the fight against COVID-19 and ensure a strong economic recovery. We need to take action and do our job.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:27 [p.8321]
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Madam Speaker, we can manage our time. The problem, which is threatening to become Canada's problem, is that the Conservatives appear to prefer partisan theatrics and partisan games to doing the work of the country: doing the important work we were all elected to do.
This is a national crisis. COVID has plunged Canada into the deepest depression since the Great Depression. It is time for all of us to set aside juvenile games, roll up our sleeves and pass this essential budget legislation that will continue the wage subsidy, continue the rent subsidy and continue the CRB. These support measures expire in June. We have no time to waste. Let us set aside the juvenile gamesmanship and let us do our jobs.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:29 [p.8321]
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Madam Speaker, I have to say that this budget is not about any political party. It is about precisely the people the member for London—Fanshawe has just spoken about so passionately. This budget is about giving Canadians the support they so urgently need to finish the fight against COVID and have a robust recovery. It extends the income supports to the end of September. It increases the OAS for Canadians over age 75. It will build a universal early learning and child care system across the country. That is what my constituents and the people of London—Fanshawe need.
Let us pass this budget, and let Canada get back to work.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:31 [p.8321]
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Madam Speaker, let me emphasize that we have already debated this legislation for 22 hours in the House. There have been 160 speakers. We debated it for 40 hours at committee. There were 132 witnesses there.
The member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith asked about an election. Our government does not want an election. We know that Canadians want and expect all of us to get to work to finish the fight against COVID and support a robust recovery. To have that, they urgently need the supports in this budget. I want to remind members of the House that the support measures run out this month. We have no time left. We need to act.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:33 [p.8321]
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Kingston and the Islands for his hard work and excellent question.
The reality is that every budget is important, but this budget is urgently needed. It is going to be the budget that finishes the fight against COVID and supports Canadians in the reopening they have sacrificed so much to achieve. It extends the wage subsidy, rent subsidy and lockdown supports until September 25. It extends the CRB. This budget creates a Canada hiring credit that will help businesses recover and will support them as they bring on new workers. It will establish a federal minimum wage of $15. It will send $5 billion to the provinces to support the vaccine rollout and our health care systems. How can anyone fail to see the urgency and not support this budget that will get Canadians the supports they need?
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:35 [p.8322]
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Madam Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the Bloc Québécois member, but I have to say he is totally wrong about that.
The fact is, our government does not want an election. Our government wants to work for Canadians because we know we are going through a crisis right now. We need to remember that we have spent the past year in a global pandemic and an economic crisis caused by that pandemic.
What our government wants to do now is finish the fight against COVID‑19 and support Canadians as we recover. I hope opposition members will understand that this is the practical, pragmatic work Quebeckers want and need.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:36 [p.8322]
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Madam Speaker, members on the opposition benches have in fact been playing games. That is what we have watched over the past days being done by the Conservatives. They are partisan delaying tactics at a time when Canadians need us to get to work.
I sincerely believe that the member opposite wants to work for her constituents. I do as well. The way to do that is to pass this budget, which, by the way, includes $18 billion to support indigenous people in Canada. They need that support. Let us pass the budget and get it to them.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 12:38 [p.8322]
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Madam Speaker, what is shocking is the partisan bickering by the Conservatives. They need to realize that the country is watching what they are doing, and it does not have patience for such childish games.
Canada is going through a real crisis today, a global pandemic, and the country needs us to be pragmatic and practical. The country needs support from the federal government, and that is what the budget will provide. I want to reiterate that if this budget does not pass, that support will end in June. That is why we must all set this bickering aside and support the budget.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 14:17 [p.8332]
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Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives really care about the Canadian economy, if they really care about Canadian workers and if they really care about Canadian businesses, let me suggest one simple and very practical thing they can do, and that is to support Bill C-30, the budget implementation bill. This essential legislation extends the wage subsidy, rent support and the CRB. We need it to finish the fight against COVID and to punch our way out of the COVID recession. The Conservatives need to support it.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 14:24 [p.8332]
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Mr. Speaker, let us talk about who is really concerned about supporting Canadian jobs and Canadian businesses, and who, instead, prefers to play partisan games.
Our government is working hard today in the House to pass the budget, which would extend the wage subsidy and rent support, and create a new Canada recovery hiring credit. That is what Canada needs. It is the Conservatives who are blocking it.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-14 14:32 [p.8334]
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Mr. Speaker, let me say this. If the NDP truly wants to support Canadian workers, let me suggest one simple thing they can do: support Bill C-30. This budget bill will extend the income supports to the end of September and Canadians desperately need that to happen. It is by supporting Bill C-30 that we can act together to provide Canadian workers with the support they need to finish the fight against COVID.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-06-10 15:56 [p.8236]
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moved:
Motion No. 2
That Bill C-30 be amended by restoring Clause 158 as follows:
158 Subsection 14(1) of the Canadian Securities Regulation Regime Transition Office Act is replaced by the following:
14 (1) The Minister may make direct payments, in an aggregate amount not exceeding $119,500,000, or any greater amount that may be specified in an appropriation Act, to the Transition Office for its use.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian airline industry was hard hit by the pandemic, and we are determined to support the thousands of Canadians who work in that industry.
The support for Air Canada comes with clear limits on executive compensation. This is an appropriate and necessary measure.
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Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.
I want to note that in negotiating our support for Air Canada, we established clear caps on executive compensation. That is an important and necessary measure.
I also want to note that Air Canada agreed to a measure to ensure that every worker remains at Air Canada.
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Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian airline industry was hard hit by the pandemic, and we are determined to support the thousands of Canadians who work in that industry.
The member is mistaken because the reality is that support for Air Canada comes with clear limits on executive compensation. This is an appropriate and necessary measure.
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Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. The government absolutely believed that limits on executive compensation were a priority in our negotiations with Air Canada. That is why the agreement that we reached with Air Canada includes clear and strict limits on executive compensation. These restrictions will be in place for 12 months after the loans have been repaid. Let me also emphasize that Air Canada has committed to maintain employment at or above April 1 levels.
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Lib. (ON)
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that our government absolutely agrees that it was necessary and it was a priority to include strict limits on executive compensation, including stock options, in our loan agreement with Air Canada. Those restrictions are there, and they will be in place until 12 months after the loans are repaid.
I want to emphasize also, since I know everyone in the House cares about workers, that Air Canada has agreed that employment levels will remain at or above April 1 levels.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-31 15:07 [p.7628]
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for his hard work and commitment. We agree that now, more than ever, everyone needs to pay their fair share and do their part. That is why, in the budget, we commit to taking action to reducing credit card interchange fees.
We know that small businesses have been among the hardest hit by this pandemic. We know those credit card fees hurt them. That is why we are committed to working to support them.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-27 14:29 [p.7497]
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
I want to emphasize that our government agrees that all Canadians must do their part, especially now during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19.
That is why our budget increases taxes on luxury vehicles, on vacant property owned by non-Canadians and non-residents, and on large digital service providers. In addition, our budget includes measures to combat tax evasion.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-27 14:30 [p.7497]
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Mr. Speaker, let me just underscore that our government absolutely believes that, particularly now during the pandemic and the economic pain caused by it, everyone in Canada needs to pay their fair share. That is why we are introducing in this budget a luxury tax, we are introducing a tax on digital service providers and we are taking unprecedented steps to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance.
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Lib. (ON)
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2021-05-27 14:56 [p.7502]
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Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the tourism industry, our government absolutely understands how essential it is to the Canadian economy and how it was hit particularly hard by COVID. That is why the budget includes $1 billion specifically to support tourism. When it comes to the hiring credit, it has been designed such that it will provide particular support to seasonal businesses such as tourism businesses.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:45 [p.7418]
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Mr. Chair, let me start by quoting someone I respect very much, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, who was appointed by the member's own prime minister, Mr. Stephen Poloz. He pointed out, in testimony to the finance committee last week, that:
A credible fiscal plan in which the level of government debt relative to national income stops rising and debt service costs are manageable meets the....technical—standard of sustainability. I draw your attention to the table on page 328 of the budget, which shows that these criteria are met—
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:45 [p.7418]
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Mr. Chair, let me point to another very credible assessor of Canada's finances, and that is S and P, the rating agency, which recently reaffirmed our AAA rating.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:46 [p.7418]
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Mr. Chair, as the member for Abbotsford knows very well, our budget presents a credible and sustainable plan with the debt-to-GDP ratio falling to 49.2% in fiscal year 2025-26, and the deficit falling to 1.1% in that year.
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Lib. (ON)
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2021-05-26 19:47 [p.7418]
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Mr. Chair, I welcome that question, because it allows me to underscore for Canadians that this budget is a significant and serious investment in long-term growth for Canada.
It is an investment in social infrastructure and, for sure, child care and early learning is an important part of that. It also invests in the green transition. It invests in housing. It invests in transit. It invests in small and medium-sized businesses and innovation.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:48 [p.7418]
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Mr. Chair, I would like to ask the member opposite if he agrees with his own prime minister's chosen governor of the Bank of Canada. He spoke, in his testimony to the finance committee, about the value of policies that increase investment, either directly, such as in infrastructure, such as in social infrastructure like child care, and such as in investments to vastly increase investments in carbon capture, for example, which is investment on the green line.
Does the member—
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:51 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, I am sorry, but I am afraid I cannot allow the unsubstantiated assertions with which the member opposite began his question to stand. The fact is that this budget invests substantially in increasing Canada's long-term growth potential. It does that through significant investments in labour force participation, with early learning and child care, with the Canada workers benefit. It does it through direct investments in fiscal infrastructure, like transit and housing.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:51 [p.7419]
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Again, Mr. Chair, I cannot allow that unfounded assertion to stand. Let me just say I consider Stephen Poloz to be an outstanding expert and I also have a lot of time for the people at Standard & Poor's who reaffirmed Canada's AAA credit rating and put the outlook as stable.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:52 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, I do welcome that question and that is because, particularly as a former foreign minister, I absolutely believe that human rights considerations need to factor into all of Canada's decisions around the world. Let me say that, in particular, when it comes to China, I believe that for our government and, I would say, for all members of this House, the arbitrary detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor can never be far from our minds.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:53 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, I actually believe the member did ask a question about Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and that is because I do not think our country can take any decision about our relationship with China without considering the arbitrary detention of those two brave Canadians.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:53 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, I do welcome this focus because, as I said, in all of our relations with China, we need to take these arbitrary detentions into account. In fact, at a meeting of the G7 finance ministers, I raised that issue and I am pleased to say there was strong support around the table.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:54 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, as I said, I think it is important for us to look at all of our relationships with China through the prism of human rights and always take—
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:55 [p.7419]
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Mr. Chair, I do think if people want to speak about graceful or disgraceful behaviour, we have to be careful to follow the rules.
I think it is absolutely correct and legitimate, when it comes to talking about our entire relationship with China, to take into account issues of human rights and, in particular, the arbitrary detention of these two brave Canadians, and I certainly do.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:56 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, as I said, I think that we need to look very carefully, when we think about all aspects of our relationship with China and put as a priority the detention of these two brave Canadians, and we need to ensure we have the support of our allies in doing that.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:56 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, let me say how delighted I am to learn that the member opposite is concerned about the environment, and let me say I hope that he and his party will support the price on carbon our government has introduced.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:57 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, I think it is very appropriate to raise the issue of the Uighurs, which was discussed just ahead of this meeting of the committee of the whole, and as I said at the beginning of this conversation, I absolutely believe that the appalling treatment of the Uighurs, the situation in Hong Kong and, first and foremost, the detention of two brave Canadians needs to be—
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:57 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, let me welcome the enthusiasm of the member opposite for a gender-based lens and for intersectionality, and let me offer to the member opposite and all members of his party a briefing on our government's approach to gender-based analysis in the budget process.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:58 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, as I said, and it would be interesting to hear the view of the member opposite, I am very glad to hear his enthusiasm for a gender-based analysis, and that is something that maybe we should all be talking about a little more.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:58 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, I am indeed the finance minister, and I am aware of that. Let me simply say that when it comes to our relationship with China, I actually agree with some of the intent of the questions the member has been asking, and I do think we need to take into account particularly the appalling treatment of the Uighurs.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 19:59 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, I am glad to hear finally a question about Canadian businesses, because it gives me a chance to remind all Canadians that more than 870,000 Canadian businesses have benefited from a program of our government, the CEBA loans.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:00 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, let me say what value for money is. Value for money is the government's investments in supporting Canadian businesses and Canadian workers. Our wage subsidy program alone has supported more than 5.3 million jobs—
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:00 [p.7420]
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Mr. Chair, let me say how delighted I am to hear the Conservatives supporting gender rights and a clean environment. I really hope we will see them supporting this budget, which is a feminist budget and makes unprecedented investments in a green transition.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:02 [p.7421]
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Mr. Chair, I too have great respect for the member opposite. I was his critic when he was trade minister.
Let me say what I am disappointed by. I am disappointed by this faux concern for clean investment and a gender-based budget analysis. I am really disappointed by an unwillingness to tell Canadians the truth about our budget, which is that it makes unprecedented and essential investments in Canada's long-term growth.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:03 [p.7421]
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Madam Chair, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we have done everything necessary to protect the lives and the livelihoods of Canadians, to help our businesses weather the storm and to position Canada for a robust, resilient and sustainable recovery.
As certain regions in Canada start to reopen, we must remember that we are not done fighting the virus. Our determination to win this fight and provide Canadians the support they need is stronger than ever.
This year's budget, which I tabled on April 19 and which Bill C-30 would enact, meets the three fundamental challenges facing Canadians right now.
First, we must defeat COVID. That means buying vaccines and supporting provincial and territorial health care systems. It means enforcing quarantine rules and it means providing Canadians and Canadian businesses with the help they need to get through lockdowns and to fully recover when COVID is defeated. COVID will be defeated. Vaccines are available to Canadians in ever-growing quantities, and they are working. More than 60% of adult Canadians have received their first dose of the vaccine. Canadians are doing their part and getting vaccinated. My thanks go to team Canada. Together we can do this.
Second, we must punch our way out of this COVID recession. That means making sure that hard-hit businesses can rebound, start growing and start hiring again. It also means helping the people who have been the hardest hit by this recession: women, young people, racialized Canadians, low-wage workers and small businesses. We are doing just that. When fully enacted, this budget will create nearly 500,000 new training and work opportunities for Canadians.
Our third major challenge is to create long-term economic growth and to build a more resilient Canada, a country that is better, more fair, more prosperous and more innovative. That is why we intend to invest ambitiously in the green transition and the new jobs that come with it, in digital transformation and innovation, and in infrastructure like housing, transit and the trade corridors that we need as a dynamic, growing country.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on our health care systems. That is why, in Bill C-30, we propose to provide $4 billion through the Canada health transfer to help the provinces and territories ease the immediate pressure on their health care systems.
Additional funds for health care will help pay for the many different procedures that had to be delayed because of the pandemic. This will help build the resilience of our health care systems. That is what Canadians deserve and need.
A full recovery from COVID requires a new, long-term investment in social infrastructure. That means providing early learning and child care, student grants and income top-ups, so that the middle class can flourish and more Canadians can join the middle class. We know that without child care, parents, usually mothers, cannot work outside the home. That is more painfully clear now than ever. We intend to invest $30 billion over five years, reaching $9.2 billion annually, to provide high-quality, affordable and accessible early learning and child care across Canada. Our goal is an average cost of $10 a day across the country within five years.
In making this commitment, I thank Quebec's feminists, who have led the way for the rest of Canada. I am very grateful to them.
To minimize economic scarring and to power a robust recovery, we must bridge Canadian businesses through to the end of this crisis. The wage subsidy, rent subsidy and lockdown support had been set to expire next month. This budget extends these measures through to September 25, 2021.
In order to help those who still cannot work, we will maintain flexible access to employment insurance for another year, until fall 2022. Furthermore, to support Canadians who are not covered by employment insurance, the Canada recovery benefit will be extended by 12 weeks.
We are also proposing a four-week extension of the Canada recovery caregiving benefit, which would bring it to a maximum of 42 weeks at $500 a week. Similarly, the employment insurance sickness benefit period will be increased from 15 weeks to 26 weeks. These measures provide tangible and measurable assistance to the people who need help now.
As we build a resilient recovery, it is critically important that we help low-wage workers. They work harder than anyone else, for lower pay. They work on the front lines, and COVID has revealed to us all that the work they do is truly essential. We intend to expand the Canada workers benefit, extending income top-ups to about one million more workers and lifting nearly 100,000 Canadians out of poverty. We also propose to introduce a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage.
Young Canadians must be at the heart of our recovery, not just to help them bounce back from the COVID recession, but because their future success is critical to our success as a country. We intend to make college and university more accessible and affordable. We will create job openings in skilled trades and high tech, and we will double the Canada student grant for two more years, while extending the waiver of interest on federal student and apprentice loans to March 2023. This will mean lower costs for the approximately 1.5 million Canadians who are working to repay their student loans. Our budget will also make an important change so that nobody earning $40,000 per year or less will need to make payments on student loans, and the cap on monthly student loan payments will be reduced from 20% of household income to 10%.
We all know that no one has been hit harder by this health crisis over the past 14 months than seniors. The truth is that many seniors were relying on monthly benefits to make ends meet even before the pandemic.
We are therefore proposing a one-time payment of $500 in August 2021 for old age security pensioners who will be 75 or older in June 2022.
Furthermore, this budget provides for an additional 10% increase in old age security benefits for seniors aged 75 and over, as of July 2021. This will increase the benefits that some 3.3 million seniors are receiving and comes at a time when many are living longer and depleting their savings.
Small businesses have been hit very hard during COVID. We must create the conditions for them to recover and start growing again. This budget offers the Canada recovery hiring program to support business hiring. We will also invest up to $4 billion to help up to 160,000 small and medium-sized businesses buy and adopt the technologies they need.
In closing, allow me to directly address the opposition. Bill C-30, the budget implementation act, is the first major step in delivering jobs, growth and recovery. Vaccines are here, and Canadians want to get back to work. It is time for all of us to get back to work in the House as well.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:16 [p.7423]
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Madam Chair, the parliamentary secretary's question was very well-informed. I think it will surprise no one in this House that I agree with him very strongly.
For more than 50 years, since the Royal Commission on the Status of Women urgently urged the Canadian government to set about building a universal system of early learning and child care, early learning and child care has been a feminist cause across Canada. What I believe is different today is that there is a wide appreciation in our country, and indeed around the world, that a system of early learning and child care is also an essential economic strategy for driving growth.
In fact, today we are lucky to have the deputy minister of finance, Michael Sabia, with us. Deputy Minister Sabia and his team have calculated that, once we build a universal system of early learning and child care across Canada, that will drive economic growth more powerfully than any policy Canada has implemented since NAFTA, and it will increase growth by more than 1.2%.
In closing, I would like to once again salute the women and feminists of Quebec, who have shown the rest of Canada what can and must be done.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:19 [p.7423]
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Madam Chair, I thank the member for his question and for his work. He truly is an expert economist and always delves into the most complex aspects of the budget and of the work we do here.
As always, he asked a technical and important question. My quick answer is that we will work with all of the provinces and territories on this important issue. I would also like to tell my colleague that I really appreciate this specific and important question and that my team would be happy to set up a briefing to give him more details than what I can get into this evening in the House.
However, I do want to give him an answer. The Bank of Canada will be responsible for ensuring that payment service providers comply with the framework and it will maintain a registry of regulated payment service providers.
The proposed legislation would require payment service providers to establish a risk management framework to identify and mitigate risks. The requirements of the proposed framework would be based on international best practices. These requirements would be set out in the regulations, and may include, for example, reliability objectives; specific policies regarding physical security or information technology security to manage cyber risk; and continuity plans.
I have a lot more to say, but I will cede the floor to the member for Joliette. If he would like, I could get back to what I was saying after he speaks.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:22 [p.7423]
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Madam Chair, I want to point out that the requirements will be set out in the regulations.
Knowing that it is important for the Bloc Québécois, I would also like to add that the federal government conducted extensive consultations with the provinces and territories when preparing this bill. The proposed new law takes into account the fact that the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments have complementary objectives and powers with regard to business risk management and safeguarding funds.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:23 [p.7424]
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Madam Chair, once again, I thank the member for his question.
I want to point out that consultations, especially with the provinces and territories, will be very important in ironing out the details, such as the ones the member asked about in his questions.
Discussions with the provinces and territories revolve around business practices for payment service providers. Federal public servants, under the leadership of Mr. Michael Sabia, will continue to work closely with the provinces and territories on issues related to business practices like disclosure, accountability and dispute settlement mechanisms, and will review options regarding consumer protection, which is of great interest to my colleague across the way. All these discussions will take place in a way that respects provincial, territorial and federal jurisdictions.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:26 [p.7424]
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Madam Chair, that is an important question. The member opposite has highlighted exactly what our work and our consultations should be all about, specifically the consumer's position.
We must always ensure that consumers will be protected if they use a traditional bank or other mechanism. That is why we really need to pay attention to all the details of these regulations. That is why we will hold consultations to lay out the legislation in detail.
My team and I will be more than happy to listen to specific suggestions from the member opposite.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:28 [p.7424]
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Madam Chair, I can assure the hon. member that our government and all members of the House are committed to consumer protection. We understand the need to create space for new technologies in the Canadian economy, but we must also ensure that consumers are always protected. That really is our goal, and I think that goal is shared by all members of the House.
I would be quite happy to continue discussing this with the member, to listen to and understand his ideas on how to ensure that consumers will always be protected, even in the 21st century.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:30 [p.7424]
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Madam Chair, it may be his last question, but it is a very complicated question that covers multiple subjects.
I will start with the last part of his question, that is cryptocurrencies. In my view, this is an important issue that must be addressed. We must have a conversation about this with our international partners and allies. In the G7, for example, finance ministers and central bank governors have already begun discussing this at their meetings. I agree with the member that we need to do this.
In my opinion, we must do two things at the same time. We must ensure that Canada's economy is ready to embrace these new technologies. Canada has fantastic technologists, scientists and researchers. We also need to have some ground rules that make it possible to innovate and use new technologies.
However, with regard to the financial sector, we must ensure that we encourage the use of new technologies while continuing to protect consumers and their rights, privacy and personal information. To be frank, it is going to be difficult, but I am convinced that we can do it.
To conclude, I would like to point out that this must be done in close collaboration with our international allies, including the European Union. That is exactly what we are doing.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:34 [p.7425]
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Madam Chair, let me also congratulate you on the tech support you just offered.
Let me say to the member opposite that I really believe, strongly, that we are all in it together. I share his conviction that everyone needs to pay their fair share. We have introduced measures in this budget to ensure that is the case. That is why we have introduced a luxury tax. That is why we have introduced a digital services tax. That is why we have introduced a tax on vacant property owned by non-resident, non-Canadian owners, and that is why we have introduced the most aggressive measures to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance that have ever been introduced by a Canadian government.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:36 [p.7425]
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Madam Chair, as the member opposite knows, our government strongly agrees with him that the first priority during the fight against COVID has been to support Canadians and Canadian workers. I am so pleased that 5.9 million Canadians have been supported through the CERB, 1.95 million Canadians have been supported through the CRB and 5.3 million Canadian jobs have been supported through the wage subsidy, including 621,000 jobs in the member's province of B.C. As the member opposite also knows very well, his province of B.C. and other provinces across the country are making great strides in the fight against COVID. They are opening up the country. They have put forward clear and strong plans, and our programs have to adapt accordingly.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:38 [p.7426]
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Madam Chair, I am very pleased that in the budget we were able to keep our campaign commitment to raise the OAS for seniors 75 and older by 10%. We appreciate, as I think do all members of the House, that as a person gets older, their needs are greater, their savings may be running out and their ability to work diminishes. I am very pleased that for Canadians 75 and older we are able to offer this additional support.
The member points out something else, though, which is so important to me, to our government and I believe to all Canadians. In addition to supporting seniors in our budget, we need to invest in young Canadians. This pandemic has hit our youth hard and they have sacrificed for us. They have sacrificed to preserve the lives and health of their parents and grandparents. That is why I am so pleased that this budget makes an unprecedented $5.7 billion investment in young Canadians. That investment will double the Canada student grant for two additional years, it will extend the moratorium on federal interest and it will mean that 450,000 low-income student borrowers will have access to more generous repayment assistance.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:42 [p.7426]
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Madam Chair, I actually agree with the member opposite that it is essential for us to take action against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance schemes.
The member opposite began his round of questions by asserting something I disagree with. He said we are really not in this together. Here I part ways with him, because I think we really are in it together. However, to be in it together, it is essential for us all to pay our fair share and for Canadians to know everyone is paying their fair share. That is why I am so proud of the extensive measures in this budget to close loopholes, to make popular tax avoidance schemes no longer permitted, to provide significant additional resources to the CRA to go after illegal tax evasion and unprecedented measures to shine a light on beneficial ownership schemes.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:44 [p.7426]
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Madam Chair, as I said, I actually agree with the member opposite about a lot. He has a very sincere and many years' worth of commitment to supporting working people in Canada, and I strongly share that commitment. That is why one of the budget measures that are most important to me personally is the Canada workers benefit.
However, I part ways with the member opposite when it comes to what seems to me embedded in his question, which is a lack of concern about the stability of the financial sector in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis. When COVID first hit Canada and the world, we were plunged into the greatest depression since the Great Depression. The government and the Bank of Canada and OSFI acted with urgency to maintain the stability of our financial sector. That was the right thing to do.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:46 [p.7427]
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Madam Chair, there are a lot of questions there, so let me go through them quickly.
I know the member opposite sincerely cares about workers, seniors and students. So do I, and I know that a collapse of the financial sector would hurt each one of those groups. That is why, in a once-in-a-generation crisis, the government, the Bank of Canada and OSFI acted as they ought to do and as they needed to do.
Let me point out that when it comes to disabilities, the budget includes important measures to provide additional support to students with serious but temporary disabilities. I am really glad that it is there.
When it comes to the wage subsidy, the most important thing for us to bear in mind is that it has supported 5.3 million jobs across the country.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 20:48 [p.7427]
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Madam Chair, briefly, it is simply not correct to overlook the very significant support that Canadian students with disabilities are getting in this budget. That is going to transform lives, and I am glad that it will.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:04 [p.7429]
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Madam Chair, I am delighted the member opposite is drawing attention to student loans, because support for students is one of our government's priorities. This budget commits $5.7 billion to Canadian students. That includes doubling the Canada student grant for two more years. It includes extending the moratorium on federal interest and ensuring that 450,000 low-income student borrowers will have access to more generous repayment assistance.
I trust the member opposite supports that.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:06 [p.7429]
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Madam Chair, I struggle to understand the sincere intent behind the member's question. Is she implying that somehow we should not be making student loans available to young Canadians? If that is her implication, I could not more strongly disagree. Student loans are essential to our young people. They are an essential investment in our future.
I am so proud that this budget strengthens the student loan program and that, thanks to this budget, young Canadians earning less than $40,000 do not have to start repaying their student loans.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:07 [p.7430]
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Madam Chair, again, I would like to probe a bit the intent behind the member's question. She has been asking about the wage subsidy. That is a program that has supported 5.3 million Canadian jobs. In her native province of Manitoba, it has supported 175,000 jobs alone.
Our priority is Canadian students and Canadian workers, and we will do whatever it takes to support them.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:09 [p.7430]
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Madam Chair, what I will commit to is an important measure in Bill C-30 and I hope the member opposite will support. This measure applies to publicly listed corporations that received the wage subsidy for any qualifying period after June 5. These corporations would be required to pay the amount by which the remuneration of their top executives in 2021 exceeded their remuneration in 2019 up to the amount of wage subsidy received for active employees for this period. That is an important measure and I look forward to support from the other side of the House for it.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:11 [p.7430]
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Madam Chair, to answer a collection of flaccid talking points is a bit tough, but let me simply point out that it took a full decade before labour force participation in Canada recovered to its previous levels after the 2008-09 recession. We are not going to repeat that mistake. We are going to support Canadians, we are going to support Canadian workers, and Canada is going to come roaring back.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:12 [p.7430]
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Madam Chair, I absolutely see housing as a key economic issue for our country. It is an issue for the federal government, it is an issue for provinces and it is an issue for municipalities. In fact, the member is a B.C. MP, and I had a great conversation with Kennedy Stewart, the mayor of Vancouver, just last week about this.
We have done a lot of work, and we need to keep on working on this essential issue.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:13 [p.7430]
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Madam Chair, the government is here to support that young family. We are working hard with provinces and municipalities to build more homes for young Canadian families. For a young family, early learning and child care is going to help it a lot.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:13 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, I have a lot of respect for the member opposite, but there is a factual error in his question.
There has been significant emphasis on housing in our government's policies for years and in this budget: $70 billion in the national housing strategy; the rapid housing initiative was a billion, the budget adds $1.5 billion additional dollars; $300 million in the—
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:15 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, let me encourage the member opposite to vote for the budget, because there is another $1.5 billion in it for the rapid housing initiative. I agree that it is a great program, and that is why we believe in expanding it.
Just last week, I spoke to the mayors of Vancouver, Halifax, Toronto and Montreal specifically about housing. They told me they love the rapid housing initiative, so let us get the budget bill passed and get them more money for this great program.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:15 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, the national housing strategy is an unprecedentedly fast program that has moved more people out of homelessness into housing.
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Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:16 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, I am going to quote something that Kennedy Stewart said to me, which I found very moving. He said he felt that thanks to the rapid housing initiative, formerly homeless people in Vancouver now have a place to—
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:16 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, as I said a moment ago, the national housing strategy will build up to 125,000 affordable units. However, I want to talk about another program that is particularly relevant as we are recovering from the pandemic. That is the $300-million—
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:17 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, I am going to quickly finish talking about the $300 million for the rental construction financing initiative. This will convert empty office space that has appeared in our downtowns into affordable housing. It is a great program and a reason to support the budget.
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View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
2021-05-26 21:17 [p.7431]
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Madam Chair, we are hopscotching each other, but I owe the member an answer on money laundering. This budget takes unprecedentedly strong action against tax evasion and aggressive tax—
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