Ryan Turnbull
Whitby, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, before I get started, I will just let you know that I will be sharing my time with the member for Beauport—Limoilou . I am pleased to rise today to debate Bill C-30 , which is an act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28.”
“This would provide a savings of 10¢ per litre on gasoline and four cents per litre on diesel from April 20, 2026, through to Labour Day. The bill would also extend the suspension of the excise tax to aviation fuel over the same period to help mitigate the very high costs of jet fuel.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is good to be here in the very last moments before the House rises for the summer. I know that there are a large number of farms in the member opposite's riding. There are farm succession plans all across this country, and farmers do struggle with succession, so I understand the issue the member is speaking about.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would just say that it has become apparent in the House, through question period and many of the proceedings, that the Conservatives claim that they are about protecting and supporting vulnerable people, but in fact, they just seem to use those people's hardship for political gain.”
“It includes suspending the excise tax on fuel and extending that to aviation fuel. It includes a cap on the excise tax for alcohol, wine, spirits and beer. Craft brewers have been asking for this. Obviously, it would be capped at 2% of the escalator on the excise tax on alcohol.”
“It is a measure I have supported from day one because it offers owners of businesses that are small- to medium-sized, or they could be larger, the opportunity, when they want to sell the business, to protect those businesses and also to hand them down to workers.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that our government makes investments to preserve Canadian culture and heritage and steps up to support our media industry and journalists across the country. We have certainly heard that they are experiencing challenging times. The business model for that industry has been challenged over the last few years, mostly due to how many online outlets there are and how the information ecosystem has changed dramatically. However, I want to focus on the many tax measures in the budget that are substantive for many Canadians across the country. I would point to the immediate expensing and accelerated depreciation for businesses across Canada, which would allow them to boost their productivity.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is blessed with natural resources. It is one of our strategic advantages around the world, especially with the world wanting more of what Canada has to offer. Critical minerals are essential. We have a strategy that is embedded in the budget. There are significant investments with the sovereign fund. There are significant exploration tax credits that have been enhanced and expanded to more critical minerals. These projects are essential. We have seen many of them already referred to the Major Projects Office, with great benefit to Canada's trading relationships. We have seen our ministers sign agreements around the world with other countries to supply critical minerals at a time when they really need them.”
“It means that we have to buy Canadian and have a strong policy to ensure that Canadian workers can build using Canadian materials to build a stronger Canada.”
“As usual, Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more with my colleague. It is clear that with the economic headwinds we are experiencing and with the uncertainty that remains fairly prevalent in our economy, our government needs to step up and do what is necessary to diversify trade, to replace the demand that is not there right now from U.S. trade partners and to ensure that our industries can grow and thrive so that we can counteract the economic headwinds, the drag on the economy, that the trade friction with the United States has created. This means that we have to invest in infrastructure to get more of our goods and products to foreign markets. It means that we need to have an industrial policy that encourages investment and remains attractive to global capital.”
“There are so many more measures in the BIA that I am quite proud of and a whole suite of investment tax credits to support a clean economy. These are really positive tax measures, and I hope the members opposite will support them.”
“Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister and ministers on the front bench have said time and time again that Canada cannot control the temperament of leaders around the world. We also cannot control their trade policies. What we get to control is our response. Our Prime Minister and members of cabinet are working diligently to diversify trade so that we are less reliant on one trading partner, as well as working to smooth out the relationship with the United States, which is obviously complex and challenging right now. We have introduced many tax measures that members opposite can be very positive about in this piece of legislation. This includes the capital gains rollover on small business investments, the lifetime capital gains exemption, exempting the Canada disability benefit from income and the home accessibility tax credit.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member opposite's work on securing a suicide prevention hotline. We worked together on that across party lines, and it was great to see. It is great that we got that done. We also moved forward, in a previous Parliament, with the youth mental health fund across Canada, which I did consultations on in my riding and was very well received. It is not to say that we are not aware of the mental health crisis in the country. In fact, I spoke about our social safety net, which does include support. When they were last renegotiated, the health transfers included a specific focus on standardizing mental health supports across the country. We have done things on this. I want to be clear that our balance sheet in Canada is one of the strongest in the G7. We need to make these generational investments.”
“It is because we believe in Canada. It is a strategy to build at speed, at scope and at a scale not seen in generations, with Canadian workers at the core and at the centre, and with the national interest at the heart of every decision that is made. I urge all hon. members to support the speedy passage of Bill C-15 , so we can meet the moment we find ourselves in and, together, build a Canada that is secure, resilient and strong.”
“All this, from catalyzing investment to making life more affordable for Canadians and spending less on government operations so that we can invest more in transformative projects, are part of our plan to help Canada navigate this unique moment. These are smart, strategic investments designed to catalyze $500 billion of new private investment into Canada over the next five years and enable $1 trillion in total investment in Canada in five years, investments that will not only invest in people but businesses all across Canada. Canadians want to thrive. They want to see a thriving economy for generations to come. Budget 2025 is our plan to harness Canada's many strengths and to put our country on the path to prosperity, making a strong country even stronger and more resilient. That is what budget 2025 is about.”
“To be clear, our government will continue to protect the vital programs people across the nation rely on, such as child care, dental care, prescription drug coverage, the Canada child benefit, the national school food program and so much more. (1030) These are essential programs that Canadians have come to rely on. They are part of our social safety net. They benefit the most vulnerable in our society. It is imperative that we protect that social safety net. It is part of what makes the country great. The measures I have outlined here today are ambitious and broad, but they are also integrated and interconnected into a comprehensive plan.”
“Budget 2025 delivers on the government's comprehensive expenditure review so that we can right-size government and deliver $60 billion in savings and revenues that can be deployed for other purposes over the next five years. The size of our public sector has grown significantly during the COVID and the post-COVID eras. Our public service played an invaluable role helping Canada navigate those crises. I know Canadians are grateful and very appreciative of the role the federal government and all public servants played in that process. We are now, however, facing a new set of challenges, and the economic headwinds we are facing mean we have to spend less on government operations so we can invest more in the growth and prosperity of our economy.”
“These are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect, but Bill C-15 will amend the Bank Act to require banks to have policies and procedures to detect and prevent consumer-targeted fraud and, to mitigate its impacts, collect and report data on fraud to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and allow consumers to disable certain account features and adjust maximum transaction amounts. We are doing all that while also making government more efficient. To deliver on this investment budget, Canada's new government is spending less on government operations to invest more in the workers, businesses and nation-building infrastructure that will surely grow our economy.”
“Additionally, Bill C-15 would create a regulated space for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency whose value is usually tied to a government-issued currency, further supporting innovation in the financial sector and helping build trust in digital payments. We are also cracking down on sophisticated financial crimes, from ghost texts and mysterious links to masked voice-over calls and phony bank emails, all of which threaten the financial well-being of Canadians everywhere.”
“This will give more Canadians easier access to their own money and reduce reliance on short-term credit, such as payday loans or overdraft protection, especially for low-income Canadians and seniors. Bill C-15 would also amend the Bank Act, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act to make it easier for credit unions to enter the federal framework and expand so that they can continue to serve more Canadians. Notably, the legislation will also advance the government's commitment to open banking by completing the consumer-driven banking legislative framework. This will enable secure financial data sharing in Canada and facilitate access to lower-cost products, clearer choices and better tools to manage debt and reduce financial stress for Canadians.”
“We are also proposing to drop the underused housing tax, as well as the luxury tax on aircraft and vessels, which will respectively reduce burdensome administrative and compliance costs and support the aviation and boating industries at a time of ongoing global economic uncertainty. We are also strengthening and protecting Canada's financial sector. We are putting more money in Canadians' pockets while also helping Canadians access their money more easily and sooner. We are making changes to Canada's financial sector, giving consumers more control of their finances. Bill C-15 would amend the Bank Act to raise the first amount of immediately available deposited cheque funds from $100 to $150 and remove the timing distinction between funds deposited in person and those done via other means.”
“To build upon that momentum, our government is moving forward with several important tax reforms. For starters, to help protect the financial stability of persons with disabilities, Bill C-15 would exempt the Canada disability benefit from income calculations, maximizing its benefits, and would proceed with expanding the disability supports deduction. Bill C-15 would also introduce a temporary personal support workers tax credit to provide up to $1,100 per year to eligible PSWs, recognizing in a tangible way their vital contributions to our communities. (1025) Additionally, the legislation would increase the lifetime capital gains exemption to apply to up to $1.25 million of eligible capital gains, as announced in budget 2024, ensuring that Canadians with eligible capital gains will pay less tax and be better off as a result.”
“That is why one of the first things we did after winning the spring election was reduce taxes for 22 million Canadians, which is essential tax relief at a time when Canadians really need it. We cut taxes to lower the cost of housing for first-time homebuyers, a measure that immediately makes home ownership a reality for more Canadians, especially young families. The average rate of savings would be about $50,000 on the purchase of a new home under $1 million. That is significant savings for young people trying to get into the housing market. We brought down the price of gasoline by 18¢ per litre in most provinces and territories when we cancelled the divisive consumer carbon price, while strengthening industrial carbon pricing to ensure that our industries can remain competitive for future generations.”
“The carbon capture, utilization and storage investment tax credit would maintain its full credit rates for an additional five years, up to 2035. The clean-technology manufacturing investment tax credit would be broadened to include more critical minerals essential for clean-technology supply chains. Similarly, the critical mineral exploration tax credit would be expanded to cover 12 more minerals, further supporting Canada's role in global clean energy supply chains. We also are making Canada's tax system more fair. As we lay out the conditions that we believe will attract historic investments to turbocharge the Canadian economy, our new government is also focused on ensuring that Canadians can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.”
“We believe, as the vast majority of Canadians believe, that Canada must continue investing in the clean economy to drive down emissions, fight climate change and create good-paying jobs for future generations. Our government's proposed climate competitiveness strategy will drive the investments needed for Canadian businesses to compete and, most importantly, win in the net-zero future that we all know is the reality of our world. As part of this strategy, Bill C-15 includes measures to deliver the clean electricity investment tax credit to support clean electricity technologies and a clean electricity grid, as well as to enhance the suite of existing investment tax credits to further support investments in clean technologies and clean-technology manufacturing.”
“Additionally, Bill C-15 would enhance Canada's scientific research and experimental development tax incentive program by increasing the enhanced credit expenditure limit to $6 million, extending eligibility for the enhanced credit to certain Canadian public corporations and restoring capital expenditures as eligible costs. Doing all of this plays to Canada's many strengths: a highly educated workforce, a world-class research and innovation ecosystem, stability and the rule of law, strong trading relationships with traditional and emerging markets, and sound fiscal and economic fundamentals and management. Another one of our strengths is our strong resource and energy sector and our ongoing commitment to make Canada competitive in a decarbonizing global economy.”
“(1020) Our new productivity superdeduction will make it easier for Canadian businesses to invest in new machinery, equipment and technologies, enhancing Canada's competitive advantage over the United States and encouraging crucial business investment across the country, while boosting productivity and growth. I know that members opposite are with me on this, because they have spoken to it in the House many times. The GDP per capita and productivity must rise. The superdeductions are exactly the type of tax measures and benefits to businesses that will cause them to invest in themselves, to bet on themselves, to increase productivity and to help increase real wages relative to the cost of living and ensure a higher standard of living for all Canadians.”
“Bill C-15 would invest $11.5 billion in Build Canada Homes and make $1.5 billion available to capitalize Canada Lands Company Limited to support housing construction on properties held by the corporation. Our new trade diversification strategy will boost our global footprint, doubling overseas exports over a decade and generating $300 billion more in trade. All these measures and many others included in Bill C-15 speak to our clear and ambitious plan to move our economy from our traditional state of reliance on one trading partner to a state of resilience, which would help us absorb and react to any shocks our economy experiences in the future. To meet these targets, we must ensure that Canada remains an attractive place to invest and grow a business, while fostering homegrown innovation.”
“This includes major projects like the Iqaluit hydro project, which is Inuit-owned and will be providing clean power to communities that have traditionally relied on burning 15 million litres of imported diesel fuel per year. There is also the new nuclear project at Darlington in Bowmanville, in my region of Durham, that will deploy four small modular reactors and provide clean power to 1.2 million homes while adding over 21,000 jobs and $38.5 billion to Canada's GDP over the next 65 years. Bill C-15 would further advance the Alto high-speed rail project, Canada's first high-speed rail, a 300-kilometre-an-hour railway from Toronto to Quebec City, whose path to construction would be accelerated, bringing us ever closer to fast travel within Canada's most populated corridor.”
“This past spring, our government was elected with a clear mandate to do meaningful and significant work for this country at an important moment in our history. Budget 2025 delivers on this promise with the generational plan to build one Canadian economy instead of 13, a uniquely Canadian success story amplified by major nation-building projects that will connect our regions, diversify our markets and create hundreds of thousands of high-paying careers, from the skilled trades to advanced technologies. Just as the railways united our country, the Trans-Canada Highway opened our frontiers and the St. Lawrence Seaway linked our economy to the world, today's major projects will be as transformative, building clean power grids for a sustainable future and expanding our ports to accelerate our trade with partners around the world.”
“The speed, scope and scale of these changes are extraordinary and unparalleled. They are not just transformative but represent a true generational shift. To meet this moment, our government is playing to Canada's many, many strengths to secure a better economic future for everyone, not only because we owe it to Canadians to do so but also because we know that when Canadians come together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. No one should ever make the mistake of underestimating Canada, and on this side of the House we will never apologize for being optimistic about Canada's future, because we are here to make good things happen for Canadians. On this side of the House we believe in Canada.”
“Good morning, Mr. Speaker. It is a great day in Parliament today, and it is my pleasure to rise to introduce Bill C-15 , an act that would implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4. A mere few weeks ago, our government tabled budget 2025, an investment budget with unprecedented measures to build big things in this country, to empower Canadians with a better life and to protect our sovereignty. This budget comes at a time when global headwinds are being felt by Canadians all across the country, in their homes, in their shops, on factory floors, in the fields, in boardrooms and truly everywhere across the nation. From geopolitical conflicts causing uncertainty, to rising protectionism, including tariffs imposed by our closest trading partner, Canada's fundamental relationships with the world are changing.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us not forget that Canada has a AAA credit rating. Inflation has been within the Bank of Canada's target range for almost two years. Interest rates are down, job numbers are exceeding expectations and budget 2025 makes generational investments that the head of the International Monetary Fund welcomes. These investments will pay dividends to Canadians over generations in the form of good-paying jobs, affordable homes, thriving and productive industries, resilient supply chains and infrastructure that connects our country and enables diverse trade. The only question is, why do the Conservatives not believe in Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate Leo Plue, Whitby's 2025 Peter Perry Award recipient. This is the highest distinction in our town, recognizing true dedication to community building. For over 40 years, Leo has created opportunities in the classroom, inspiring thousands of students and driving change in Ontario's high schools through e-learning, but his vision reaches far beyond the classroom. Leo brought the Abilities Centre, a national beacon for inclusive spaces, to life, and helped secure Whitby's critical care hospital. Once complete, it will provide essential health care for families across Durham Region. He also supports children with complex needs as the chair of Grandview Kids and as a board member of Sloane’s House. Leo shows that leadership is not about titles; it is about changing lives. I congratulate Leo.”
“We are very clearly doing the right things in this bill because mayors, ministers of justice at the provincial level and all of the police associations agree with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, obviously, the government is committed to addressing public safety issues and ensuring that repeat violent offenders, where it makes sense, do not get out on bail and have tougher sentences. I think we have always maintained that. I know the members opposite like to put forward proposals and legislation that would get struck down by the Supreme Court and be deemed unconstitutional or unaligned with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are looking to strike the right balance. When we see our justice system not striking the right balance between the liberties that Canadians enjoy and the consequences for people who choose to break the law, we are zeroing in and addressing those issues. We have consulted all across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, in particular, the reverse onus on serious violent offences that this bill includes is really significant. Obviously, it reverses the onus such that the offenders and their counsel are going to have to prove that they are not a risk to society, rather than bail being sort of the default when a repeat offender is being considered for bail. Putting those reverse onuses in place is going to significantly strengthen the ability for our justice system to hold those individuals without bail, especially and only when those individuals are up on charges that demonstrate a clear history of repeat violent crime.”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that some of the things he points to are real issues. While everything is not addressed in this one bill, it does have a specific focus on bail and sentencing reforms to address what Conservatives have said, over and over again, is a system that does not meet the right balance in ensuring communities are safe and people are held without bail in cases where it can be established that they are a threat to public safety. The issue of repeat violent offenders is what this bail and sentencing reform act is focused on. Are you saying, by asking that question, that we should not move forward with the most egregious violent offenders and ensuring that our bail system is stronger because the bill does not deal with petty theft in our communities? That seems absurd to me.”
“In short, we have lots of support for this bill. Bills can always be improved through the parliamentary process. I never discount the fact that lively, good-faith debate in committee can surface issues and find ways to strengthen bills. To the members opposite who like to bring up what I would call excuses for not voting this bill through to committee, I say let us get this bill to committee, let us strengthen it if it needs to be strengthened and let us continue to put community safety first and ensure we give law enforcement and our justice system the resources and tools they have been asking for to ensure we can really keep our communities safe. (1630)”
“That is from the local police association in my riding, and again, the police association continually reminds me, and it is right, that it represents the rank and file. They are the beat cops who are on the ground in community and not necessarily always reflecting the leadership, such as the chief and superintendents, etc. Sometimes they have differences of perspective, and that is real. What is remarkable in this case is that police associations and the police chief associations agree that this bail and sentencing reform act is taking meaningful steps forward. Keep in mind, the association also urges us, in its statement, to respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the provisions to strengthen bail conditions and prioritize public safety while ensuring those posing the greatest risk to communities remain in custody.”
“It also says this is “a much needed step forward in our criminal justice system.” It also said, “many of these recommendations are reflected in the legislation”. Those changes include consecutive sentence options for repeat violent offenders, restrictions on the use of conditional sentences, amendments to the principle of restraint, expanding the tertiary grounds for detention to include the number or seriousness of outstanding charges, expanding reverse onus provisions for violent repeat offences, empowering police to identify young people in the most serious and urgent circumstances and requiring courts to consider that a victim was a first responder in the line of duty as an aggravating factor at sentencing.”
“Miraculously, she survived, but she is still recovering from the trauma of that attack. An 83-year-old woman, Eleanor Doney, was fatally attacked in her own front yard by a 14-year-old. Stories like these are the kinds that tear at the fabric of society and leave lasting negative impressions on people throughout the community. Bill C-14 matters to the victims of crime and is really a victim-centred approach to justice system reform. I also want to say that police associations welcome Bill C-14 as a necessary step. They highlight that victims, officers and communities deserve safety, knowing that violent offenders will not continue to harm neighbourhoods. They have advocated for exactly the kind of measures this bill contains. For example, the Durham Regional Police Association says it is “optimistic” with the introduction of Bill C-14 .”
“New sentencing measures under Bill C-14 include protections against crimes targeting first responders, penalties for organized retail theft and safeguarding critical infrastructure. The bill would also mandate consecutive sentences for repeat violent crimes, remove house arrest as an option for serious sexual crimes and reinstate mandatory driving bans for offences causing death or physical harm. These are real, responsible changes that would protect people and help restore faith in our justice system. This is what accountability and community protection and safety looks like in action. Justice must serve everyone, especially victims. The bill matters to people in my community, such as Kimberley Black, who was violently attacked while jogging in Whitby.”
“I would urge members opposite to put aside the delay tactics here and get this bill to committee. (1625) Bill C-14 answers that call by strengthening bail for serious offenders, expanding the reverse onus provisions for repeat violent crime and ensuring courts put the safety of victims and communities first. It answers the call of those who have been asking us to make these reforms. These reforms reflect what Canadians have asked for and would make a real, measurable difference in preventing harm and restoring confidence in our justice system. With over 80 targeted amendments, including changes to the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act, this bill aims to enhance the effectiveness of the justice system by clarifying processes and sentencing standards.”
“When those charged with protecting our communities tell us this bill matters, I believe we should listen. Effective public safety demands coordination, investment and the right tools for law enforcement. Canadians want a justice system that prioritizes safety and accountability, and that is exactly what Bill C-14 delivers. Earlier this year, I hosted a public safety round table in my community and was happy to have the Minister of Public Safety join us. Last week, I did a virtual town hall on this legislation in my community with our Minister of Justice and Attorney General . We engaged directly with law enforcement, service providers, victim service organizations and residents, all of whom urged us to pass this legislation and to continue moving forward, and many of whom urged us to put aside any partisan politics.”
“I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the officers of the Durham Regional Police Service, the men and women who patrol our streets, respond to emergencies, investigate serious crimes and comfort families in the aftermath of tragedy. Their courage is what holds the fabric of our community's safety together, and we appreciate their work wholeheartedly and thank them for that work every day. In September, I had the opportunity to meet with our police chief, Peter Moreira, and his leadership team to discuss growing challenges in our community, such as repeat offenders, auto theft, organized crime, human trafficking, hate-motivated violence and the persistent social challenges at the intersection of poverty, homelessness, and mental health and addictions in our region.”
“Many violent offenders in our community were brought to justice by the work that my father did over three decades. My dad was and remains my hero. If he is listening today, I hope he knows how much I appreciate his long and distinguished career in law enforcement and just how much I have learned from him over the years. He was dedicated to enforcing the law, and in many ways, I followed in his footsteps. We joke about it, but by improving laws today, hopefully I am making him proud. Bill C-14 is one such effort. I have confirmed with my father, who I know supports this bill, that these legislative efforts we are here to debate today are pursuing a path that takes significant steps in the right direction.”
“Safety is essential for a healthy community, and Canadians deserve to know that the law will protect them and their loved ones. Public safety is not just a commitment I have as an elected representative; it is also personal to me. My father served with the Peel Regional Police for three decades, serving and protecting our community, the one I grew up in. From him I learned that keeping people safe requires courage and commitment. It requires a strong sense of duty, but also a thick skin and, yes, compassion, especially for those impacted by crime. I have vivid memories of growing up as a young boy and my dad's pager going off in the middle of the night, because he was a homicide detective for much of his career. He would put a bulletproof vest on and run out the door to be the first on the scene to apprehend violent offenders.”
“That is why I am proud to support Bill C-14 , the bail and sentencing reform act. The bill takes concrete steps toward building that trust and ensuring that the law protects everyone it is meant to serve. It gives law enforcement officers the tools they need and have been asking for. As the member of Parliament for Whitby, I have the privilege of meeting residents from every walk of life: families walking their children to school, small business owners opening their doors every day, educators shaping our future and first responders keeping us all safe. Without fail, they share a common expectation, which is to live in a community where they feel safe and can rely on our justice system, not just on paper, but in practice.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is great to rise today to speak on the bail and sentencing reform legislation. It is clear that every Canadian deserves to feel safe and secure in their community, yet too often people tell me that their sense of security has been shaken, shaken by the headlines they see, but also by repeat violent offenders in their communities who have them worried whether the laws are keeping up with today's realities. Public safety, we all can agree, is a foundation of trust in every community. It is a trust between citizens, between citizens and their government, between citizens and a system that is supposed to uphold justice. It allows our communities to thrive, businesses to grow, families to live without fear and children to grow up in safe neighbourhoods.”
“All of them say the same thing: that this legislation takes major steps in the right direction. How can the member possibly call this legislation weak? Why will she not stand up for a strong piece of legislation to build stronger, safer communities across Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, how does the member opposite justify to the members of Cloverdale—Langley City her stance on this legislation? This has been acknowledged, time and time again by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, by mayors across the country, by ministers of justice, even in her own province, and by police associations, including the Canadian Police Association, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Association of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police Association, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Toronto Police Association and the London police. These are police associations that represent the rank and file, those men and women who are protecting our communities, day in and day out, who have been advocating for these changes.”
“It will increase real wages compared to the cost of living over time, which is exactly what we are focused on. I do not know how the member opposite cannot recognize that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we invest in our economy and grow it so we have the revenues to pay down the deficit we have. That is exactly the fiscal anchor we have talked about: a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio, ensuring disciplined fiscal management for future generations. The Prime Minister recently said that the future benefits those who are able to be bold in times of crisis. We are being bold. We are investing in the future of our country to create jobs, build infrastructure and build defence capabilities. I know the member opposite has stood in the House with his colleagues asking for productivity to boost investments in this country. We have offered significant deductions to businesses so they can invest in themselves and increase their productivity. That is the only way to make life more affordable.”
“We have done all of this without compromising social programs and federal benefits, including the Canada child benefit, dental care, the disability benefit, child care, pharmacare and many others. This is good news for Canadians. It is a responsible approach, and I firmly believe that our credit rating, being the best in the world at a AAA rating, will be reaffirmed by the two credit rating agencies, Moody's and S&P Global.”
“We will do this by rightsizing the public service and returning to more sustainable levels in the public service, pre-COVID levels; reducing red tape; eliminating wasteful spending; and adopting new and emerging technologies. Of course, artificial intelligence is something we all recognize has great potential for achieving productivity. By doing all this, we will refocus on results and better allocate scarce taxpayer dollars to catalyze private investment and grow a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy. Our ambitious plan is to save dollars on the one hand while creating fiscal space. The head of the IMF has said that Canada has acted decisively and that we need to invest that extra fiscal space in capital investments that can help grow our industries and economy.”