Eric Melillo
Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the minister already mentioned in the discussion today that we are in a housing crisis. He spoke earlier about the fact that buyers cannot buy and builders cannot build. I would agree with that. I would add that people who are looking to sell also cannot sell during this housing crisis.”
“Now that the Liberals are bringing forward more spending, more bureaucracy and more of the same, how are Canadians supposed to believe that the Liberals are going to get us out of this housing crisis that they caused, with more policies that are right along the lines of the policies that caused this crisis in the first place?”
“Mr. Speaker, there is no question that Canadians want, need and deserve to feel safer in their communities, especially after the Liberal government has unleashed a crime wave across the country. The minister , of course, acknowledged here today that Canadians want this urgently.”
“Mr. Speaker, over one year into this Prime Minister 's mandate, and Canadians are still waiting for action on the national projects that were promised. Despite Liberal rhetoric, no new pipelines have been approved, and major projects continue to be stuck in purgatory, including the Trans‑Canada Highway through northwestern Ontario.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by Canadians from every province, calling for the federal government to support the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway through northwestern Ontario.”
“Madam Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister , Canada is the only G20 country that is in a recession. We also have the second-highest unemployment in the G7, the worst household debt and the worst housing costs.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I think the member from the Bloc Québécois raises some very interesting, very compelling points. In response to that, all I can truly say is that it speaks to the broader discussion that I laid out in my speech around the fact that these policies being brought forward in Bill C-4 , however well-intentioned they may be, are largely missing the mark in terms of what Canadians are looking for and the relief that Canadians deserve and need to see when it comes to tax cuts and relief from this cost-of-living crisis that, after 10 years, the Liberals have caused.”
“However, they are leaving the industrial carbon tax in place, which is going to continue to drive up the cost of living for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the member for Winnipeg North must not have been listening at all to any of the comments I was making. In terms of the tax cuts being brought forward, it is going to be about $90 per month in savings for the average Canadian, but with Liberal inflation and Liberal spending, that is going to be completely wiped out. He mentions the GST relief for first-time homebuyers, but it is only if they are purchasing new homes, which is something that is very rare and pretty much non-existent across northwestern Ontario. That is something that is not going to be useful for people in my region. The member talked about the carbon tax. Again, the Liberals are looking to take action on the consumer carbon tax, finally recognizing, after 10 years, what Canadians know all too well: the fact that it drives up the cost of living.”
“Bill C-4 , although bringing forward some steps in the right direction, at least from a rhetoric standpoint with the Liberal government, is not doing anything, nor is the budget doing anything, to address the real drivers of inflation, which are Liberal overspending, overtaxation and over-regulation. Those are the things that Conservatives are going to keep fighting against, and we are going to continue to stand for a plan that truly makes life more affordable for Canadians right across this country.”
“Whether it is fertilizer on the farm, fuel in the trucks to ship it or power in the grocery store, this industrial carbon tax is still going to be passed down to consumers, just not in the more obvious way of the consumer price. Canadians are still paying for this carbon tax, even under the new Prime Minister 's plan. That is where I think this bill misses the mark. The Liberals have tried to adopt some Conservative ideas, but they have not gone far enough to actually implement them in the right way. As I mentioned earlier with the price of food, food inflation in Canada is rising faster than in nearly every other G7 nation. According to Stats Canada, grocery prices have risen more than 20% since 2020. Again, that is just to paint the picture of where we are.”
“Virtually no first-time homebuyers in northwestern Ontario are going to be buying new homes. The majority of homes in northwestern Ontario are about 30 years old, give or take, and those are the ones that first-time homebuyers and young Canadians are going to be able to afford. Perhaps this is a well-intentioned policy on the part of the Liberal government, but it is one that, in practice, will not be effective for the vast majority of people in my region. The Liberals, although looking to move on removing the consumer carbon tax, are leaving in place the industrial carbon tax. In fact, they have actually tripled that tax, and that is just going to make everything even more expensive, especially when it comes to the cost of food.”
“While the bill does bring in some tax cuts, what they result in is about $90 per month in savings for the average Canadian. With Liberal inflation and spending, those savings are going to be wiped out. (1800) The government has added, as I mentioned, $90 billion in new spending. That is $5,000 more in spending for every Canadian family, to put it in perspective, driving up the cost of living on all Canadians and pushing our fiscal situation to the point where we are going to be paying more to service our debt than the federal government is spending on health care transfers to the provinces. This bill also brings in a GST rebate for first-time homebuyers purchasing new homes, and I think that is a very important aspect. It is for the purchase of new homes. I do not want to say it is none, but it is next to none.”
“The Prime Minister promised that spending would go down; it has increased by $90 billion. He promised the deficit would be $62 billion; it is now $78 billion. He promised that investment would go up, yet his own budget shows that investment will decline in Canada. We already heard today that the Prime Minister said he should be judged by prices at the grocery stores, but we know they are skyrocketing. By every single measure, every single standard the Prime Minister has set for himself, he is missing the mark. Again, these are not the standards or the measures that I myself or the Conservative Party laid out for him. These are the measures that he has asked Canadians to hold him to account on, and he is failing on each and every one of them.”
“If members look further than just the cost and the affordability crisis, Canada has the worst employment rate in about 25 years, and youth unemployment is at a record high that we have not seen since 2010, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of this paints a picture of the economic situation we are in and why the Liberals are bringing forward Bill C-4 , intending to make life more affordable for Canadians. I would like to go into a bit more detail about this bill and the government's overall economic policy in terms of where it misses the mark. I would like to comment as well that in the budget we see just more of the same policies: bureaucratic spending driving up the cost of living, more taxes, and all of the things that are the status quo after 10 years of Liberal government.”
“Thankfully, it had just received a lot of donations ahead of the Christmas season, but it is continuing to see an increase in people needing to visit the food bank, even just a couple times, just to get by. Of course, other people are struggling on a more steady basis and needing to visit more frequently. However, that demand has just continued to increase each year under this Liberal government, with the government's industrial carbon tax adding to the cost of food, and the food packaging tax and the Liberal fuel standard adding 17¢ per litre of gas, not to mention that the Liberal government's inflationary spending is driving up the cost of living. All of these things are adding to that cost of food.”
“That is the promise that has been broken after 10 years of Liberal policies. We see this affordability crisis manifest itself at the grocery store as well, with food inflation on the rise. Stats Canada is reporting a massive increase in food costs, with beef up about 17%, chicken up 6.2%, apples up over 4%, carrots up 11%, and infant formula up nearly 6%. It is no wonder, with these rising costs, that over two million Canadians are visiting food banks in a single month. Again, that is a large national number. We see that happening in small communities across northwestern Ontario as well. I have spoken to individuals at food banks right across the region. Recently, I had a chance to visit the food bank in Kenora.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to continue the debate. I was talking about this affordability crisis we are facing right across Canada and specifically in my region of northwest Ontario. We are seeing a housing crisis along with that. People are struggling to afford rent or housing for first-time homebuyers. Those who have a home are also worried about being able to hold on to it, with rising interest rates and the rising costs associated with that. For younger people, many of them have given up completely on that dream of home ownership. It used to be the case in Canada that if a person played by the rules, worked hard, did the right things and got a good education, they could expect to have an affordable life, an affordable home, a safe neighbourhood and a good job, and to be able to pay the bills.”
“They are struggling to fill their gas tanks to go to work or to travel for necessary medical appointments, often along the highways, which is the reality of living in rural northwest Ontario. This is a crisis that people are feeling day to day. We see it in housing as well, as housing costs have doubled—”
“Mr. Speaker, I am happy I was able to catch the Speaker's eye and join the debate. I appreciate the warm reception from my colleagues here in the chamber. I hope that they have that same enthusiasm after they hear what I have to say. Of course, I appreciate the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley for graciously sharing his time with me to take part in the debate. He is a great, valuable member of our team and a wonderful advocate for the people of northwest British Columbia. Before I get into the substance of this piece of legislation, Bill C-4 , I think it is important to look at this within the economic situation that we have after 10 years of the Liberal government. There is no question that we are in an affordability crisis. I hear from people all across northwestern Ontario that they are struggling to put food on their tables.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals, throughout this debate, have spoken a lot about the GST relief for first-time homebuyers, leaving out the fact that relief is available particularly when it comes to first-time homebuyers buying new homes. I know in northwestern Ontario, this is something that almost never happens, in part because there are not many new homes being built but also because what young first-time homebuyers can afford are often homes that are 20 or 30 years old. I wonder if the member shares my assessment of things in his own riding as to how this program or this proposal being brought forward by the Liberal government is not going to be as effective as it would have us believe.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister proclaimed himself the so-called master negotiator when it came to dealing with the Americans. He promised to negotiate a win by July 21. Now months after failing to do so, he says, “Who cares?” Well, I can tell members who cares. Conservatives care, and the sawmill workers in Ear Falls, hundreds of whom have lost their jobs, care. Will the Prime Minister look at those workers and tell them “Who cares?””
“Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and participate in the debate today. Speaking of the budget, many people I spoke to across northwestern Ontario had sticker shock. They could not believe the amount of spending and the amount of the deficit. After the Prime Minister promised spending would go down, it has gone up. He promised the deficit would go down, but it has gone up. On all the measures the Prime Minister has set for himself, he is missing the mark. I am wondering if the member can explain why those measures were missed. Can she talk about the effect this will have on the next generation, which will have to pay back the massive deficit?”
“Madam Speaker, I do not know if the member heard my comments properly, but I am actually blaming the Liberals, after 10 years of their economic mismanagement, for the youth unemployment crisis, and that is exactly what has happened. It is the Liberals who have mismanaged the housing crisis, our economy and, yes, immigration. All of these things are impacting the economic foundations of our country. They are pushing young Canadians to the point that they are now out of work, unable to find a place to live and struggling to afford basic necessities. That is why Conservatives are going to fight so hard to restore the promise of Canada for young Canadians.”
“They just want to concede that they are going to live in their parents' basement forever and that they are never going to achieve their dreams: start a family and have the career they want. That is why it is so important that we fight for them here in the House, that we ensure we can lower taxes on food, work, homebuilding and investment, and make sure that we are doing everything we can to support the economy and get young people that opportunity and that hope once again.”
“Madam Speaker, there is no question that young Canadians know they are worse off than their parents were and their grandparents were. I hear from youth, and I hear from their parents as well, that life has become so unaffordable. It is almost impossible to find a house in northwestern Ontario at an affordable price. Houses are being sold before they even make it to the market, because of this housing crisis that the Liberals have caused. There is the cost of groceries and gas, everything is more expensive, and now so many young people are unable to find work and pay for all of this. It has gotten to the point that so many are just fed up. They want to give up, quite frankly.”
“Madam Speaker, only the Liberals can look at an important discussion such as this as a filibuster. We are here talking about youth unemployment, something that is reaching record highs, because of 10 years of Liberal economic mismanagement. The member speaks of all these policies. It is the Liberal policies that have caused this crisis in the first place, that have doubled housing costs and that have made it so that young Canadians cannot find work and are struggling just to afford healthy groceries. Conservatives are going to continue fighting for Canadian youth, so that we can restore the promise of Canada for all Canadians.”
“We are going to continue fighting so that young Canadians, and everyone across our great country, can have an affordable life, so that we can restore that promise of Canada for all Canadians.”
“That is why Conservatives are proposing a 100% writeoff for companies that build workforce housing. This is happening all over the place, such as with the hospital in Kenora and the A&W. There are so many businesses, across all sectors, that are looking to have their own housing to house employees, because otherwise they are not able to get anyone to work. People would move to northwestern Ontario. Why not? It is a beautiful region. There are lots of lake life and outdoor activities. There are good jobs but no houses. I know people who have nowhere to live but who could fill those jobs. In conclusion, Conservatives are the only ones who are standing with a plan to deliver jobs, homes and hope for the future generation.”
“That is why Conservatives are bringing forward our plan to help, to unleash the economy by repealing anti-resource laws, cutting taxes to drive reinvestment and eliminating red tape. We also need to fix immigration by fixing credentialed recognition, by realigning immigration with labour and housing market realities, and by fixing training. Federal student aid should no longer treat all studies the same. That is why Conservatives are proposing that the Canada student finance assistance program provide more support to students pursuing in-demand fields. We believe that taxpayer investment in education should prepare youth for jobs, very simply. We have to build homes where the jobs are, a very simple concept. Housing is an obstacle to hiring in northwestern Ontario.”
“They have smothered small business with higher taxes and red tape. They have refused to align training and immigration with labour market realities, and now the Prime Minister , after all that, is telling young Canadians that they need to make more sacrifices. I can assure members that the Leader of the Opposition and I heard this past weekend in Toronto, from hundreds of students, that young Canadians are not going to make any more sacrifices for the Liberal government. They have sacrificed enough. The have sacrificed the dream of ownership. They have sacrificed a healthy diet. They have sacrificed starting a family. They are now sacrificing jobs. They are saying that enough is enough. They are looking for the government to finally deliver an affordable budget that can give them an affordable life.”
“People are putting off starting a family. I know many people who live in Kenora who have good jobs, couples who live in one of their parents' houses, because they cannot find an affordable place to live with two good incomes. That is having an impact on their life decisions, including starting a family. Of course, grocery costs are up 4%. Food inflation is up 4% year over year in September. That is something that everyone is facing but it is something that, in particular, young Canadians are facing. They do not have a lot saved up. They do not have a lot of time to work when they are going to school. On the weekends and in the summer months and in the time that they do have, and this is what we are talking about here today, they are unable to find those jobs. This is the Liberal track record. The Liberals have driven investment away.”
“It was not that long ago that one was able to do that in this country. After the Liberals' economic record, that story is one that is foreign to most young Canadians across the country. I spoke about those conversations in Toronto with the Leader of the Opposition , when we heard from students. Of course, this is impacting youth. It is not just about the fact that they are unable to get jobs. I mentioned housing. The economic record of the Liberal government has led to the doubling of housing costs, and so many young people are struggling to afford rent. They are living with their parents and trapped in their basement, so to speak, and so many of them are facing the consequences as a result of that. They are worried that they will never be able to save enough for a down payment. They have given up on their dream of home ownership.”
“We had a great turnout, with hundreds of students and young people from around the GTA coming out to share with us their concerns and what they are facing. Many people are struggling to afford the cost of living, find housing, pay their rent or move to home ownership, which many people have given up on after 10 years. We heard time and time again that more and more often, the fact is that people cannot find a job. I think back to when I was in school in Thunder Bay. I worked two or three jobs at a time and I paid my way through school. It was relatively easy. My friends and everyone we knew would get a new haircut and walk into an establishment with a smile and a good attitude, and we pretty much expected to come away with a job. It was very easy for young people to get a job at that time. (1610) As I mentioned, I was only 27 years old.”
“We know that one in six people with post-secondary credentials is not working in a job related to their field. They are doing everything right. They are working hard, getting a good education and getting some job training, and they are unable to find work in the profession they chose. We have said many times that the promise of Canada is that people work hard, play by the rules and go to school and get an education or an apprenticeship, and at the end of it, they can expect a well-paying job, a good home and a safe neighbourhood. That is the Canadian promise that so many people have come to expect. That is the promise that has been broken after 10 years of the Liberal government. I was recently in Toronto with the Leader of the Opposition and many other members of our caucus.”
“In the region I represent in northwestern Ontario, there are a lot of seasonal businesses, tourism businesses and industries that are driven by youth employment and seasonal employment, which are becoming harder and harder for young people to find. It is also harder for employers to fill those jobs. The youth unemployment rate is nearly 15%. This is the highest it has been since 2010, outside the COVID-19 pandemic years. Over 460,000 young Canadians are out of work in Canada today. These levels are typical of a recession. Young Canadians are facing quite stark numbers. If we look at Ontario alone, more than 17,000 youth lost their jobs in the last month. These are just some of the numbers that paint a very clear picture of what young Canadians are facing. Underemployment is also a concern as folks get their schooling and their training.”
“As an extension of that, in the short period since the Prime Minister took office, nearly 48,000 more Canadians have had to turn to EI to make ends meet. We are here talking about the impact on youth and young Canadians. I am still in my twenties. There are a few of us here in our twenties across all parties in the chamber. As an aside, it is great to see more young people getting involved in politics. Given my age, I bring a personal perspective to this. Many friends and folks my age, not just where I live in Kenora but right across northwestern Ontario and across Canada, have shared their concerns with me about struggling to make ends meet and struggling to find a job.”
“Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in debate and speak to this very important topic. I want to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for being so gracious as to share some of his time with me and for his important work on this issue throughout the course of this Parliament so far. I know that young Canadians from coast to coast to coast are thankful for the work he has been doing to shine light on this very important issue of youth employment. I want to start by looking at the economy as a whole after 10 long years of the Liberal government. The labour market is bad overall, especially for young Canadians. As it has been mentioned in debate, Canada presently has the worst employment rate in more than 25 years.”
“Madam Speaker, according to the Liberals' own numbers, they overspent on the bureaucracy at FedNor by 60% of what was planned last year. That is $2.7 million spent on themselves that should have been used to support communities across northern Ontario. While people across the country are struggling with housing costs, which have doubled, and a record 2.2 million people are visiting food banks, the Liberals continue to fund bureaucracy. When are they finally going to stop their out-of-control spending and deliver an affordable budget for an affordable life?”
“That is why a Conservative government will cut taxes on food, work and homebuilding to restore the promise of Canada and ensure that young Canadians can have a good job, an affordable home and hope for a brighter future.”
“Madam Speaker, it is Halloween, the season of tricks, masks and make-believe. It is fitting, because Canadians have seen all three under the Liberal government. Recently, the Prime Minister told a room full of students they will have to make even more sacrifices. Unfortunately, this is nothing new, as young Canadians have had to sacrifice plenty after 10 long years. They have given up completely on their dream of home ownership, as housing costs doubled, and they are struggling to afford groceries with skyrocketing prices. To make matters worse, youth unemployment reached record highs over the summer, at nearly 15%. This is the season for ghosts and ghouls, but for many young Canadians, the true horror is simply viewing their bank accounts.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised he would negotiate a win with the United States, but he has broken that promise when it comes to softwood lumber. Softwood tariffs were at 14% when he took office; they then jumped to 35%, and they are now at 45%. The Prime Minister has sold out our workers, and softwood tariffs have tripled. Now the Ear Falls sawmill is facing an indefinite shutdown, affecting hundreds of workers and devastating the entire community, yet the Liberals have not lifted a finger to provide any support. Will the Prime Minister stop selling out Canadian workers?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told a room full of students that they are going to have to make sacrifices. They have already given up their dream of home ownership, they went all summer without work and they are paying the price of exploding food costs. Food bank visits have doubled since 2019, and Canadians should not have to sacrifice any more for Liberal failures. They have sacrificed enough over 10 long years. Will the Liberals finally keep their promises and get spending under control so that young Canadians can afford to feed themselves?”
“A Conservative government will cut taxes on food, work and homebuilding, lower inflation and reduce red tape to get more homes built and restore the promise of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, last night the Prime Minister told a room full of students that they are going to have to make sacrifices. They have already had to sacrifice their dream of home ownership. Over 70% of young Canadians are worried that they will never be able to afford a down payment. They have paid the price as food costs have exploded, nearly 4%, year over year, in September. They spent the whole summer without jobs. Youth unemployment is nearly 15%, the highest it has been since 2010, outside of the pandemic years. Two-thirds of Canadians now feel the next generation is going to have a lower standard of living than Canadians have today. Our youth should not have to sacrifice any more for Liberal failures. They have sacrificed far too much over 10 long years. The situation is dire, but thankfully there is a solution.”
“Mr. Speaker, after years of talk, the Prime Minister is breaking his promise to get shovels in the ground when it comes to the constantly delayed Ring of Fire in northern Ontario. Thousands of jobs and billions of dollars are on the line, yet the Liberals refuse to move the project ahead. The roadway will not even be built until 2028, and the Liberals ignored the project completely on their national priority list, a huge slap in the face to people across northern Ontario. Will the Liberals stop with the delays, stop breaking their promise and get shovels in the ground so our region can get to work?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member just spoke about the Liberals' failures. Of course, the Liberals have been in government now for 10 years, and what we have seen is that they have broken the bail system and that they failed to get frontline officers on the border and law enforcement the resources they need. I am wondering whether the member wants to speak more on the pattern of failure of the Liberal government to keep Canadians safe.”
“The bill is being brought at a time when the government is making it easier to get bail, is failing first nations police services and is failing on a lot of counts when it comes to the border and to criminal justice. I am wondering whether the member has any comments on that.”
“Mr. Speaker, the bill is coming at an interesting time, after 10 years of the Liberal government that has brought forth soft-on-crime policies that have weakened our border and have put Canada in the situation we are currently in. At the indigenous affairs committee, we are having a lot of discussion right now about first nations policing as well, and we are hearing about the increased gang activity and about drugs being brought into first nations across the country. We see it in northwestern Ontario in my riding. The government has ignored the calls from first nations or indigenous police services for more recognition and a better deal in terms of the resources and the structures they have in order to deal with a lot of the issues.”
“Mr. Speaker, the bill is being brought forward at a time when the Liberals are trying to address a lot of failures that are a result of their 10 years in government. I am wondering whether the member wants to speak more to the Liberal failure to address crime and to the policies they brought forward that have made crime worse.”
“To that end, I would ask the member if she agrees with my initial premise that law-abiding Canadians should not lose their liberties to pay for the failures of the Liberals on borders and immigration.”
“Madam Speaker, it is important in this discussion that law-abiding Canadians should not lose their liberty to pay for the failures of the Liberals, but, unfortunately, Canadians are often finding themselves paying for the failures of the Liberal government. That is the case when it comes to trade. The Ear Falls sawmill has announced an indefinite shutdown, affecting nearly 150 workers, citing U.S. tariffs as the reason behind this decision, which will absolutely devastate the community. This comes months after the Prime Minister promised to negotiate a win for Canada. Canadians are still paying for his failures. It is time for the government to step up and support workers in northwestern Ontario and across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada has the slowest-growing economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment, and young Canadians are paying the price. The youth unemployment rate is nearly 15%, which is, with the exception of the COVID years, the highest it has been since 2010. There are 17,000 young people in Ontario who have lost their jobs in the last month, and the Prime Minister wants to send $1 trillion of investment to the United States, which will only lower wages and push jobs to the south. With rising youth unemployment, why is the Prime Minister selling out young Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the great work of the member. In sharing his comments, the member spoke a bit about the intent and principle behind this bill versus what the bill actually achieves. I am just wondering if he wants to add any more comments to that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the great work of my colleague in this chamber. He has been a valuable addition to our team, and I look forward to serving with him over the course of this term and, hopefully, beyond. I agree completely with the member's assessment of things. The commissioner would duplicate work that is already being done by the Auditor General and other officers of Parliament, as I have already alluded to. This is just more bureaucracy. It is not more accountability. The Liberal government is trying to distract from its failed record. It is time it gets to work and stops distracting.”
“Mr. Speaker, very clearly, as I said in my remarks, what Parliament and, I suggest, the government need to do is move forward on modern treaties, first nations policing, clean drinking water and infrastructure. All of these issues help support self-determination and self-government. We do not need more bureaucrats, departments and offices to tell the government to do that. We have an Auditor General who has done great work holding the government to account. I hope the government listens to all of the reports and recommendations and puts them into action.”