Stephanie McLean
Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, British Columbia · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, these changes are important to ensure the integrity of the program, but we also want to make sure that all of the wonderful senior-servicing organizations across Canada have the support they need. That is why Service Canada has provided additional resources to ensure that signing up for the business number is easy.”
“Mr. Speaker, seniors across this country know that they can rely on this Liberal government to support them and have their backs. While it is heartbreaking to read about what is happening to some of these seniors, including in Richmond, that party over there would do nothing for them.”
“Mr. Speaker, we announced these changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program almost a month before the applications opened up, and we made these changes, requiring the CRA business number, to ensure the integrity of the program. Here is what CanAge has to say about these changes.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have heard from seniors organizations across this country applauding the changes we have made to the New Horizons for Seniors program, which are ensuring that we have doubled the amount available to senior-servicing organizations but also ensuring the integrity of the program for years to come.”
“Mr. Speaker, prior to these changes, the new horizons for seniors program was the only grant within the Government of Canada that was not subject to these integrity measures. We are putting this program in line with all other grants and contributions across the Government of Canada. By looking at the clock, I can see that it is June 11.”
“Mr. Speaker, in April, we introduced changes to the new horizons for seniors program, including requiring a CRA business number. For most seniors organizations, this change delivers clearer, fairer standards that increase the program's integrity.”
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“Mr. Speaker, seniors across this country know that they can rely on this Liberal government to support them and have their backs. While it is heartbreaking to read about what is happening to some of these seniors, including in Richmond, that party over there would do nothing for them. It would walk away from the problem and say, “Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps.” What we are doing is providing a social safety net, including old age security, the groceries and essentials benefit and the newly announced food security strategy. More than that, we are building over 500,000 homes a year.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have heard from seniors organizations across this country applauding the changes we have made to the New Horizons for Seniors program, which are ensuring that we have doubled the amount available to senior-servicing organizations but also ensuring the integrity of the program for years to come. This was one of the very few grants left in the Government of Canada that did not have these requirements, and this will ensure for years to come that this program is something seniors can rely on.”
“Mr. Speaker, these changes are important to ensure the integrity of the program, but we also want to make sure that all of the wonderful senior-servicing organizations across Canada have the support they need. That is why Service Canada has provided additional resources to ensure that signing up for the business number is easy. There is a 15- to 30-minute process to make sure that this happens online, but there are also supports available to help seniors over the phone. More than that, there are supports through their local MPs' offices. If the member had attended our sessions, he would know that.”
“Mr. Speaker, we announced these changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program almost a month before the applications opened up, and we made these changes, requiring the CRA business number, to ensure the integrity of the program. Here is what CanAge has to say about these changes. It has said that it is pleased to see this important step to ensure the integrity of the program. It believes that the simplified grant format, ease of reporting requirements and significant supports available for community-based organizations ensure that this program remains accessible and inclusive.”
“Mr. Speaker, prior to these changes, the new horizons for seniors program was the only grant within the Government of Canada that was not subject to these integrity measures. We are putting this program in line with all other grants and contributions across the Government of Canada. By looking at the clock, I can see that it is June 11. There is lots of time for organizations, and we are there to help them. We will make sure they have what they need to apply for these programs because we want nothing more than to ensure that seniors have access to the important programs that prevent social isolation.”
“Mr. Speaker, in April, we introduced changes to the new horizons for seniors program, including requiring a CRA business number. For most seniors organizations, this change delivers clearer, fairer standards that increase the program's integrity. For organizations that do not have this number, Service Canada is available to assist all applicants. Members of Parliament are also available to assist applicants. That is why we provided a session to all members of Parliament, so that they could ask their questions, a session that, unfortunately, the hon. member did not attend.”
“Mr. Speaker, young people know that this government is there for them. They know that because they have a majority of the new jobs that are being created. They also know that business investment has increased for the second consecutive quarter in Canada. They know that the IMF projects Canada will be the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in 2026-27. They know that this government has a plan that we are executing that has their backs for a good future. Joe Rogan might be impressed by kettlebells and empty rhetoric, but in the words of the great Shania Twain, “That don't impress me much”.”
“Mr. Speaker, Vancouver Islanders in the member's riding and mine deserve facts. Labelling the economy without context does not help workers or businesses. There are 22 nation-building projects driving over $125 billion in capital investment. There were 88,000 new jobs in May, exceeding market expectations. Wages are growing almost twice as fast as in the United States. Disposable income rose 2.3%. Household savings are above historic norms. These are the facts, but I have never met a Conservative who did not let the facts get in the way.”
“Mr. Speaker, we know that 76% of appellate-level challenges to Harper-era mandatory minimum sentences were successful. We also know that the Conservatives are saying that they will not support this bill without the addition of mandatory minimum sentences, but more than 217 challenges to the constitutionality of these since 2021 have been made. When the courts frequently strike down mandatory minimum sentences, why do members think the Conservatives want the government to include clauses that would weaken the legislation, increase the likelihood of it being struck down, and take up precious court time and costs on unconstitutional clauses? What do you think their real reason is for—”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve facts, not Conservative fear. Labelling the economy without context does not help workers or businesses. The Bank of Canada has, in fact, cautioned against doing that. Economies around the world are facing global uncertainty, but Canada is weathering these global headwinds better than many of our peers. Our economy is stable, jobs are being created and we continue to support Canadians through these headwinds. We will remain focused on affordability, economic growth and supporting jobs, while the Conservatives remain focused on fearmongering.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is very rich coming from the Conservatives, whose plan is to do nothing. Their plan is to absolutely ignore the needs of Canadians, and we see that when they vote against measures such as ensuring that there is old age security for seniors, and when they put forward measures that would ensure that seniors aged 65 to 67 cannot get old age security. When the Conservatives folks talk about seniors, what Canadians should hear is crickets.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government has said time and time again, and has shown through action, that we stand with the people of British Columbia, we stand with private title rights holders and we stand with indigenous people. We are taking the appropriate action, and we are appealing the decision in the courts. It is frightening how the Conservatives are attempting to whip up disinformation and scare private property owners, who need to know the government has their back.”
“Mr. Speaker, we hear no common sense from the other side, and perhaps that is because they do not speak to Canadians. Over here we are hearing from Canadians regularly, and they know that Canada faces a profound global economic uncertainty right now. That is why we are responding with responsible measures, like protecting seniors from fraud and making the social programs that they rely on efficient and resilient to global shocks. For example, the groceries and essentials benefit will give single seniors almost $950 back in their pockets. This is what it means to be fiscally responsible managers, investing in the public.”
“Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives voted against the budget, they voted against the OAS and the GIS. They also voted against the New Horizons for Seniors program, a tax credit for personal support workers and the dental care program. What are the Conservatives voting for? It is certainly not for seniors.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for highlighting the incredible contributions that she makes to her community for seniors. I have seen it first-hand. Just last week, I announced over $54 million in funding for the new horizons for seniors program, which will go to more than 2,600 grassroots programs across the country benefiting seniors. With this investment, organizations like S.E.A.S. Centre in the member's riding will offer digital literacy workshops and cultural events to promote healthy, active aging. Whether it is building digital skills or organizing community meals, we continue to invest across the country no matter where seniors live.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is very odd hearing the Conservatives talk as if somehow we are not talking about Canadians. We are talking about Canadians here. We are talking about their dollars, and we are talking about where they want them invested. We know, loud and clear, that time and time again we have heard from Canadians that they want us to invest in them, and that means things like the groceries and essentials benefit. That means cutting the fuel excise tax. It sounds like they are saying we are putting money into our personal pockets. We are putting money into the pockets of Canadians, and the Conservatives object to that. We really need to make sure they understand how finances work.”
“Mr. Speaker, the government is controlling what it can. We know there are a lot of factors outside our control, but what we can control is ensuring that youth get a head start with the Canada summer jobs program, that Canadians get help with the fuel excise tax, that apprenticeships get a $75‑million injection in training and that Canadians get a groceries and essentials benefit that gives them up to $1,400 per year for a family of four to put food on the dinner table. We are giving Canadians a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow, while the Conservatives fight—”
“Mr. Speaker, as the Secretary of State for Seniors, I talk to seniors across this country and I talk to seniors in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke on Vancouver Island. What they tell me is that they cannot trust these Conservatives. They cannot trust them because they have great memories. What they remember is that those Conservatives wanted to cut their old age security from them. They wanted to bring their CPP earning age up to 67. They wanted to make it more expensive to retire and more expensive to age. Seniors know they can trust the Liberal Party of Canada. They know they can trust the government to have their backs.”
“Mr. Speaker, when we went to the polls just about a year ago, I went door knocking in my riding of a Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, and I talked to this gentleman named Craig at the door. He said to me that what was really important to him was an income tax cut. Here is the thing, he wanted to know why it would be better to vote for me than for the Conservatives. I said that, if he voted for us, the tax cut was going to come in right away. He would get up to $800 a year. If he voted for those guys, he would have to wait four years. It is not even in their plan until they are theoretically re-elected. Canadians chose. They chose right.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me be perfectly clear with the member. The government tabled a response at the public accounts committee in January. There were over 50 pages of documentation on the progress of the benefits delivery modernization program that are publicly available and can be found online, so what the member has asked for has already been conducted. Just this morning, he also participated in a technical briefing with the department, where he learned that the benefits system is providing services to over 7 million Canadians and is on track, and that so far the expenditure is under budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians elected a government they know they can rely on to support the social fabric of this country, including the support of our seniors. That is why we introduced legislation to reduce taxes for nearly 22 million Canadians. We made the national school food program permanent. We launched the Canada disability benefit. We ensured that old age security would continue for those who are 65. This is what seniors like Dava Houston are saying. They are seeing a lot of talk from the Conservatives about the grocery rebate helping no one, but as a senior, they disagree. This benefit is specifically targeted to help those on fixed incomes—”
“Mr. Speaker, I just cannot tolerate the Conservatives talking down the good work of our public servants. Our public servants are overseeing the management of a specialized software program. I know that the Conservatives might not have any interest or desire to know about IT systems, but this requires specialized training and expertise. These are not jobs that last forever in the government. These are jobs we need to procure for specific reasons. That is what we are doing to make sure that Canadians' dollars are well spent, spent on ensuring we—”
“Mr. Speaker, it would be nice to be asked a serious question, one rooted in facts or one rooted in numbers. To date, $1.5 billion has been spent. I do not know where the Conservatives' numbers are coming from. Perhaps it is la-la land. However, let us stay in reality here. This benefit system is modernizing something from 1966. We have 7.7 million seniors who are better serviced today. We are modernizing it and bringing it online, things the Conservatives do not give a crud about.”
“Mr. Speaker, the government is taking action on a critical software program. It is a program that was launched in 1966. Let us wrap our heads around that for a moment. My mother was 10 years old. Many of the members on the other side had not been born yet. That is what the Conservatives are suggesting the government move forward with: a system that the Auditor General flagged as a high risk for failure. We need to modernize our systems. This system has already brought 7.7 million seniors on board, and more will come.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to be perfectly clear. To date, $1.5 billion has been spent. This covers completion of the old age security transformation and initial development for employment insurance, and $6.6 billion is an upper ceiling for all the projects that this covers. This amount may never be spent. It would have been cheaper if it had been undertaken between 2005 and 2015, when the Conservatives were in power. They knew that the tech was from 1966. My mother was only 10 years old. Let me be perfectly—”
“Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to answer this question and remind the member opposite that years ago the Auditor General warned Harper's Conservatives that the old benefit payment system was outdated and at risk. That means that, under those Conservatives, people would not get their money at all. What did the Conservatives do? They did nothing. That is just their way. They get out of the way and do nothing. We have invested. We are modernizing the system to ensure that it serves seniors for years to come. If a problem arises, we will fix it.”
“Mr. Speaker, the conversion to the new OAS payment system is complete. It came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are currently receiving their benefits on time thanks to a modern system. The total cost of Cúram is meant to cover separate projects. The $6.6 billion is the amount planned and approved for the lifespan of the project.”
“Again, Mr. Speaker, my friends across the aisle know there are no cost overruns. This was a planned, phased project. Just over $1.4 billion has been spent and the OAS project is completed. If there are individuals who are having problems getting payments on time, we invite them to contact us, and we would like them to do so. Those numbers will go down as Canadians transition to an online system. We would really like them to transition to the online system, and this will speed things up.”
“Mr. Speaker, Bloc members say they do not know what the money is being used for, but they were on the committees that approved the spending. They know that this money has been used to complete the transformation of a 60-year-old system. If we had let that system stand, people would not be getting their benefits. This program is not costed in a cost-overrun situation, as they would assert. This has cost just over $1.4 billion, and the OAS conversion is now complete. The amount they are talking about is a theoretical approval for a possible four-system transformation. This OAS system is now complete, people are being transitioned, and there are no cost overruns.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are modernizing a very old system. Doing nothing would have jeopardized payments for millions of seniors. The outstanding cases are complex. They are being assessed, and retroactive payments are guaranteed. Once again, I invite the member opposite to provide me with the names of those who are having problems, and we will assist them.”
“Mr. Speaker, the OAS system transfer is complete and it came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are now receiving their benefits on time through a modern system. The total cost of Cúram will cover four separate projects. The amount that was planned and approved for the life of the project was $6.6 billion. Once again, I encourage the member opposite to give me the victims' names and we will assist them.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are modernizing a very old system. Doing nothing would have jeopardized the payments of millions of seniors. The backlog cases are complex. They are currently being dealt with, and retroactive payments are guaranteed. Again, I invite the member opposite to give me the names of the individuals and we will help them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will bite. Let us imagine what affordability would look like under the Conservatives in British Columbia. They would cut the industrial carbon tax, and nothing would happen, because it does not affect the price of groceries. Then they would follow their plan to get out of the way, a.k.a. do nothing, and there would be no national school food program, no OAS for 65- to 67-year-olds, no groceries and essentials benefit. From what I have heard, all the Conservatives would offer is thoughts and prayers. Oh, wait. No. They would also obstruct, as they currently are.”
“Mr. Speaker, the OAS modernization is now complete and it came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are receiving their benefits on time through a modern system. The total cost of Cúram will cover four separate projects. The $6.6 billion is the amount planned and approved for the life of the project. I invite the members opposite to give me the names of the seniors affected, and we will assist them.”
“Mr. Speaker, the switch for OAS has been completed. It came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are now receiving their benefits on time through a modern system. The total cost of Cúram will cover four separate projects. The amount that was planned and approved for the life of the project was $6.6 billion. I encourage the member opposite to give me their names and we will help them.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government is protecting seniors. We have increased old age security. We are providing dental care, and we are building housing for seniors. We are now modernizing the digital benefits system in order to provide seniors with better service. I invite the member opposite to give me their names, and we will help them.”
“Mr. Speaker, what will make a real difference in fighting food insecurity is ensuring that seniors have the money in their pockets that they need in order to be able to buy groceries and to buy toilet paper, coffee and these kinds of items over which the government has no control. We are controlling what we can, and that is ensuring that seniors have the money they need in order to afford the essentials they need. That is also why we are ensuring that one million lower-income Canadians can access the benefits they are entitled to, with automatic tax filing. We are ensuring that older Canadians get the money they need through the essentials benefit.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives want to know why we are not adopting their plan, the answer is simple: The only person who thinks it is going to work is their leader . We are following the advice of Food Banks Canada. We are following the advice of experts. Let me tell the other side what seniors are saying. Dava Houston says, “Seeing a lot of talk about the Grocery Rebate helping ‘no one.’ As a senior, I disagree. This benefit is specifically targeted to help those of us on fixed incomes navigate high food prices. It’s a floor for people who built this country and need it most.” At least the Conservatives could stop talking it down.”
“Mr. Speaker, the OAS transition is complete, and it came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are now receiving their benefits on time thanks to a modern system. The total cost of Cúram covers four separate projects. The $6.6 billion is the amount that was allocated and approved for the project's life cycle.”
“Mr. Speaker, yes, these delays are too long, but more than 98% of all claimants received their benefits without delay. The department is actively working to quickly resolve any issues clients may encounter. We continue to improve the benefit delivery process.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is funny that on the one hand the Conservatives chide the groceries and essentials benefit, but on the other hand they are upset that it is not for everyone. When I was the Minister of Service Alberta and had just had my new baby, I suddenly started getting child care benefit cheques that I did not need, but families that did need the money were not getting as much. We are ensuring that the families that need the money are getting the money they need, like the families in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. Single seniors are going to get an extra $950 a year to help pay for toilet paper, lettuce and coffee. Those are the families that need the money. Those are the families the Conservatives are fighting against. Tell me why.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government protects seniors. We increased the old age security pension. We are providing dental care and building housing for seniors. Now, we are modernizing the digital benefits system so that seniors can enjoy better services. I invite the member opposite to share their names with me, and we will assist them.”
“Mr. Speaker, one delay is one too many, but over 98% of applicants have received their benefits promptly. The department is working hard to quickly resolve any issues that users might encounter. We will continue to improve the benefit payment process.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am a millennial and my friends are millennials. What millennials want is for homes to be built. We want this plan to go forward, our plan to build hundreds of thousands of homes, in my riding and in that member's riding. I just do not know why the member wants to take the hammers and nails out of construction workers' hands and the electrical wires out of the hands of electrical workers, telling them, “Tools down, do not build anything.” The member could stop obstructing and hand those hammers back to those workers so that they could build more homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, our actions are compassionate. Our actions show compassion for seniors. We increased OAS for seniors over age 75 when the Conservatives wanted to bring it down to below age 65. We have protected OAS, ensuring that it is indexed to inflation, and we just guaranteed that low-income seniors will get the help they need to fight rising food costs, which is something we cannot control. However, what we can control is helping families afford the food they need with the groceries and essentials benefit. This will buy up to $950 more food for a single, low-income senior.”
“Mr. Speaker, like many of my constituents in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, I grew up in a single-parent household. I had a single mother and a handicapped sister, and making ends meet was really challenging. It is families like this that we have in mind, like the one I grew up in, like the ones that exist in my riding and in that member's riding. They are the ones we want to feed, and Food Banks Canada is supporting what we are doing. Again, I do not understand why the Conservatives are opposed to feeding families.”
“Mr. Speaker, the National Institute on Ageing's fourth annual report was just released, and it commends the actions the government is taking. It agrees with us, and its data shows that reducing expenditures in one area can result in an overall reduction in hardship as money is freed up for other household needs. That is why organizations like Food Banks Canada agree that the groceries and essentials benefit will make a real difference in the lives of Canadians, helping them to afford baby formula, helping them to afford lettuce and helping them to afford coffee and toilet paper. I do not understand why the Conservatives want to be obstructionist about feeding 12 million Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are controlling what we can, and we are helping Canadians where they are. We have increased OAS for seniors who are over 75 years old. We have protected OAS, ensuring that it is indexed to inflation, and we just guaranteed that low-income seniors will get the help they need to fight rising food costs with the new groceries and essentials benefit. It would buy up to 950 dollars' worth of food for a single low-income senior. We are also tackling the root causes by developing a national food insecurity strategy to improve seniors' access to affordable and nutritious food. What are the Conservatives doing? They are trying to block the real action that Canadians are asking for.”
“Mr. Speaker, low-income seniors in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke have been asking their government to take action to help fight the rising cost of groceries, and we listened. We are helping with up to $950 of food and goods for low-income single seniors with the groceries and essentials benefit. We are also tackling the root causes by developing a national food security strategy to improve seniors' access to affordable, nutritious food. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are blocking everything we do, and they have no good reason for it, just fake news.”
“Mr. Speaker, as Christmas approaches, I am reminded that there are 143 Conservatives over there who might as well be named “Scrooge”. British Columbians in my riding of Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke know that Scrooge from Battle River—Crowfoot does not want to feed hungry children in schools, that Scrooge from Thornhill does not want money going to seniors through old age security and that Scrooge from Haldimand—Norfolk does not want parents to get a cheque for child care benefits. I sure hope that the Conservatives get a visit from the ghosts of Christmas present, past and future, so that they embrace the Canadian spirit of compassion.”