Patty Hajdu
Thunder Bay—Superior North, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, what an insult to the hard-working tradespeople and building unions across this country who have been standing with this government, fighting to build Canada strong, fighting to train their members and make sure more young people have great skilled jobs that pay fabulous wages, something I thought those guys were for but vote…”
“Mr. Speaker, the real question is this: When will the Conservatives stop voting against the very constituents they claim to stand up for and support?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank that member for his constant advocacy for opportunities for youth. We are proud on this side of the bench to have so many young representatives here in the government benches. We are very eager to work with them to ensure that youth have the best opportunities to succeed.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled that in my riding, Lakehead University is opening a new vet school in partnership with Guelph. It is very exciting news for the many people in my riding who are waiting to access veterinarian care. We will continue to work with provinces and territories on making sure that education is affordable.”
“Mr. Speaker, we work diligently to make sure that Canadians get the benefits to which they are entitled. Indeed, the focus of the department is to ensure that Canadians have access to those benefits and supports when they are challenged in applying for those benefits.”
“Mr. Speaker, if we check Hansard, we will find that member on record saying that parents do not want help. In fact, what I hear from Canadians, including Albertans, who write to me as the minister of jobs and families, is that we should stand up for each other, that we should make sure not one kid goes hungry, no matter if their parent is…”
The complete record
Every one of 302 lines we hold for Patty Hajdu, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 7.
“Mr. Speaker, I keep saying the same thing every day. The system was very old. We invested to modernize the system, and the vast majority of recipients were transferred without a problem. In some more complex cases, the department is working diligently to resolve the situation very quickly. I would gladly meet with the member if she would like to learn more.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to the public servants who are working hard to learn a new system very quickly. [ English ] It is very important that we talk about these civil servants with the respect they deserve. In fact, at the beginning, of course it was challenging to learn that system. These workers have worked extremely hard to get better and more proficient at a brand new system. It is replacing a 60-year-old system. I challenge us all to think back to what a computer system that is 60 years old would look like. I am very proud of the civil servants who have worked so hard.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to sit down with the opposition member, but what he said is not true. [ English ] We are actually under budget for this modernization of a 60-year-old system, migrating more than 7.5 million Canadians to this new system. Of course, as we see challenges with specific applications, where maybe information is incorrect or maybe there are paper applications, the department is working urgently on those cases. If any MP here has a constituent who is not receiving their benefits in time and is in urgent need, please reach out to my office. We would be happy to help. Canadians can also contact Service Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is simply incorrect. There are not cost overruns. In fact, the project is on budget and 7.4 million OAS clients were migrated in March of 2025. Seniors can apply directly online. This is a 60-year-old system. Indeed, Canadians expect us to keep our IT systems modernized, and that is exactly what we are doing. If the member opposite has a constituent who needs help, he can please give them our name. We can certainly accelerate their case.”
“Mr. Speaker, the only party fighting against workers is the party opposite, whose members voted against the budget, wherein we outline the work we have been doing to protect workers for exactly this situation. Thanks to the proactive vision of the government to protect workers in these situations, workers who are separated from their employment can now keep their last pay. They do not have to wait for EI, and indeed, long-tenured workers like many of these, will receive an additional 20 weeks of benefits on top of supports for readjustment. We have been there for workers, we will be there and we certainly will not vote against them.”
“Mr. Speaker, what the government is saying to young people is that they can help us build big things in this country, and Canadian young people are stepping up to help. All across the country, Canadian youth have been taking advantage of skills training, in partnership with provinces just like Ontario, to make sure that as we build big things, they are on the frontline in the skilled trades, building bigger and building better. However, the Conservatives will vote again and again against the very people they say they help, including young people. In the member's own riding of Thornhill—”
“Mr. Speaker, every step of the way as the government has supported Canadians in what undeniably is an uncertain time, the Conservatives have fought against. Conservatives have stood up time and time again against Canadian families, against Canadian workers and against Canadian children. They have been voting down things like the school food program, enhancements to EI, work and support for families, and early learning and child care. No matter the solution, all they can do is obstruct and get in the way.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are happy to help any seniors who finds themselves in dire need. As I said, we are making progress. They are a very small percentage of the over seven million Canadians who have been successfully transferred to the Cúram system. This system brings us into the modern age, which is what Canadians want. In fact, seniors can now apply online and have a fully automated process to get their benefits started. In cases where things have been done the old way, with paper forms, often there is missing information, and there may be other challenges. We have put additional resources into ensuring we get through those cases and can help people like Mr. Lavoie.”
“Mr. Speaker, transforming a 60-year-old system is not an easy task. I want to start by thanking the employees at ESDC who are working so hard to make sure seniors get their benefits on time and with accuracy. In fact, that is exactly what has happened, as 98% of the cases have gone through. I will say that we are working diligently on the remaining outstanding cases where people who have signed up have not yet received their benefits. If the member opposite or any member of Parliament has an urgent case, we can accelerate those cases in situations where people are in dire need, so I would ask them to please contact my office—”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member of Parliament for Mississauga East—Cooksville for his unwavering support for auto workers and the sector. Canada's auto workers and all workers are the backbone of our economy. When our auto sector workers come under attack, our government stands with them and protects them. Today the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry announced Canada's new auto strategy, taking action on what we can control. We are investing $3 billion from the strategic response fund to support the industry and $570 million to support re-skilling and upskilling workers. This is how we build Canada strong: We stand together when times are tough, and we—”
“Mr. Speaker, do members know what is insulting to the constituents of Thornhill? It is when that member votes against the very things that they themselves are saying are useful. In fact, it is not just her constituents. Certainly the food banks in her riding would say that the announcement the Prime Minister made on the GST, on the essentials benefit, on strengthening our food security, on supporting food banks and on supporting producers is exactly what we need to do for food security in this country. The member needs to get on board and stop voting against the very constituents she represents.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do read the francophone media, but I also work in English and French, as do many people in the House. (1430) [ English ] I will also say that we have focused all our resources on making sure that we get through the waiting list. It is shrinking every day. I thank the civil service for making the effort to learn this system and learn it well. As I mentioned, we have been in contact with these members of Parliament. If they have urgent cases, I ask them to please send them to me. We have not yet received any names.”
“Mr. Speaker, the department is making every effort to quickly resolve issues related to claims. This involves improving training so that staff are able to process claims more quickly. We are already seeing some positive signs that this training is producing results. Our office has reached out to the members opposite. If they know of any urgent cases, I encourage them to contact my office so we can address their problems.”
“Mr. Speaker, our office has contacted the member opposite, but has yet to receive a response. If they have urgent cases to resolve, I would ask them to contact my office so that we can answer their requests. I am ready to help my colleague's constituents.”
“Mr. Speaker, rolling out a new benefits delivery platform requires an adjustment period. The department is working tirelessly to ensure that staff have the tools they need to familiarize themselves with the new system and deliver benefits efficiently. If anyone is experiencing problems with their benefits, I encourage them to contact Service Canada. I also invite them to contact my office directly so we can address their concern.”
“Mr. Speaker, the average family is saving $16,000 a year on child care. Who refuses to support young families with the cost of living? It is the Conservatives across the aisle. Families are saving $800 a year in food costs for their children at school. Who refuses to feed hungry children at school? It is the Conservatives. Every step we take, they obstruct. They get in the way of the very things that not only experts but also their very own constituents are calling for. When will they get in line?”
“Mr. Speaker, last fall, all the Conservatives did was quote Food Banks Canada. Over and over, they talked about Food Banks Canada. They failed to notice that Food Banks Canada recommended exactly what we are doing right now, which is to put more money in the pockets of those who need it the most. Conservatives say they want to co-operate. Can they stop obstructing legislation that is helping Canadians get ahead? They need to be partners in this work. Canadians certainly are stepping up for each other. Why can they not step up for their constituents?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives would need to start having some good ideas for us to steal them. We are always interested in good ideas on this side of the House. The member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake just said that nothing is working in her province. Let me tell her that the national school food program is feeding 58,000 children in her province. In fact, parents in her province are saving up to $13,700 per child per year through early learning and child care. There have been 46,000 spaces created since 2021. Clearly, the member has not spoken to the families in her riding and—”
“Mr. Speaker, this is not an easy fix. The department is in the process of modernizing systems that are more than 60 years old so it can better serve more than 7.5 million people every year. If the member opposite is aware of any instances where seniors are having difficulty accessing their benefits, I would ask her to please share them with me so that my department can resolve these issues as quickly as possible.”
“Mr. Speaker, all we hear from the opposition members are conversations about imaginary taxes that theoretically are impacting the price of food. They do not want to work with evidence. They do not want to listen to experts who are telling us that the very thing we need to do is increase the money in people's pocketbooks. That is what we are doing, whether by cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, ensuring that people have access to the groceries and essentials benefits, or making child care affordable. Families are saving $16,000 a year in affordable child care—”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister is working diligently to resolve the cases of people who are having trouble getting their benefits. Over 98% of OAS applicants are receiving their benefits promptly. The department is working to overhaul an old system in place for decades and replace it with a system built to last for generations. I invite the member opposite to give me the names of these people and we will help them.”
“Mr. Speaker, here we go again, talking about imaginary taxes instead of the real things that help Canadian families. Last week I met with provinces and territories from across the country, who all agree that, for example, the early learning and child care system is saving families in all of our jurisdictions, sometimes up to $14,000 a year. That is the kind of thing that Conservatives vote against. Whether it is a school nutrition program, support for families raising children or, now, a groceries and essentials benefit that would help some of the most vulnerable in our community, they say no, even to their Conservative voters.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Daily Bread Food Bank, Food Banks Canada, Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada, and Roots Community Food Centre, in my own riding, are all food centres that have praised the work of the government and the new groceries and essentials benefit, which many are saying will provide relief exactly when people need it. Across the aisle, Conservatives talk, but do they ever support a good idea? No. They have no idea what to do. All they know how to do is oppose and deny the help their own constituents want and need.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member of Parliament for their advocacy for northern Ontario, a topic I am always happy to get up to talk about. As the member knows, we have been there for northern Ontario in many difficult and challenging ways. Most recently I have been working with Kap Paper to support the mill as it reorients its product to a product that will be sellable across the world. We will be there for northern Ontario, whether it is through the capacity of FedNor, direct supports to the lumber industry or supports for critical mining. Northern Ontario knows it has a strong partner in the federal government.”
“Mr. Speaker, my department is in the process of transferring benefit delivery to a more modern system. The delay in the processing of applications affected 1.2% of OAS applicants. The department is committed to delivering the OAS swiftly and accurately. My department and I are working tirelessly to resolve these problems. If anyone is having difficulty accessing the OAS, we encourage them to contact Service Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, Conservatives like to talk about making life affordable, but every time Canadians ask for help and the government provides that help, whether it is through affordable child care, which, by the way, saves families up to $16,000 a year; the school food program, which reaches families all across the country; or this new tax benefit that will help 12 million Canadians, they say, “Oh, that is not exactly the right thing.” They have no answers, not for their constituents, not for any Canadian.”
“Mr. Speaker, all fall, the Conservatives across the aisle quoted Food Banks Canada time and time again in their litigation on the cost of food. Now, when the government steps up to help 12 million families with up to $1,900 to pay for those very costs of food, the Conservatives are fighting against it. Why can Conservative MPs not listen to their constituents, get out of the way and help those very Canadians they claim to care about?”
“Mr. Speaker, for a party that talked about costs of living and helping families for months and months to stand up and fight against things that will help families is kind of hard to believe. Canadians are watching. They are watching from the riding of that member, who is fighting against the very things that will help. Let me tell members, the Roots Community Food Centre in my riding said that as a community organization, they look forward to providing predictability at a time when community members are struggling to meet their day to day needs. That is how we are partnering with organizations and Canadians to make sure that they have the safety net they deserve, and that her riding does too.”
“Mr. Speaker, every person in this country deserves to receive their benefits on time and error-free. Our department works very closely with individuals all across this country to make sure that if there are challenges in receiving their benefits that we fix those challenges and we get the benefits out the door as quickly as possible. We will continue this work to make sure those benefits are delivered quickly and properly.”
“Mr. Speaker, the benefit is good news for Canadians who are struggling today. In fact, there will be up to $1,900 more for a Canadian family to help with those costs of living, which the Conservatives have been talking about all fall. The MP for Edmonton Manning told a story about Enide, who was struggling with the cost of groceries. Is he going to vote against Enide's desire to have more money to buy groceries?”
“Mr. Speaker, we have good news, and just in time for Christmas. Tomorrow we will be signing the extension of the early learning and child care agreement with Alberta. Now all the provinces and territories have agreed to continue this important program. This means that in Alberta, child care costs have been reduced to $15 per day, which saves families, on average, $7,600 per year. That is money that families have to put on mortgages, to buy groceries, to save for their children's education or even to pay for hockey. Merry Christmas to Alberta.”
“Mr. Speaker, rather than focusing on imaginary taxes like the opposition does, we stay focused on helping Canadian families. It is why Canada child benefit cheques will be delivered early this month, so families can have the money when they need it most, as they get ready for a happy holiday and merry Christmas. We are focused on supporting Canadians and Canadian families, something that I would hope members of a party that talks about hope would want to do.”
“Mr. Speaker, the opposition wants to talk about nonsense taxes that do not exist on food instead of supporting the very things that Canadians have told us, time and again, that they want. They want a Canada child benefit that is indexed to inflation. They want seniors' benefits that are indexed to inflation. They want to make sure, as do all mothers, that children get healthy food in schools. However, the Conservatives do not. They want to stand in the way of the very things that Canadians know will help them at this time.”
“Mr. Speaker, while the member opposite talks about imaginary taxes, Canadians know exactly what is going on, and it is related to climate change. Our thoughts are with the cattle farmers in the western provinces this year, who have faced unimaginable loss of crop and loss of cattle as a result of drought. That is driving up the price of beef, something that we cannot actually control right now. What can we control? We can make sure that Canadians have extra money in their pockets. That is what Canadians are counting on, that we will be here for them in these tough times.”
“Mr. Speaker, if we listen to the Conservatives over there, there is no solution. The solution is to sink or swim. If a person cannot afford to feed their family, too bad, the state's not there to take care of them. Here in Canada, we have always believed in taking care of each other. That is why we are known for our universal health care system around the world. We have built on that. We make sure that we take care of people who need food. We make sure that families who need extra help get the Canada child benefit. We make sure that the working poor get a working income tax benefit. Why? We believe Canada is stronger when it includes all of us.”
“Mr. Speaker, actually what I said was that it is all in the member's head. There are no taxes on food, and there are no taxes on farms. Rather than look for solutions, the Conservatives just throw roadblocks in the way of every single Canadian who knows they need supports in difficult times. By the way, what Canadians are counting on is a government that will stand with them; that will make sure that, when they do not have access to dental care, they can get their teeth fixed; that will make sure that as a senior ages, their income will be geared to inflation; and that will make sure the Canada child benefit will keep up with the cost of living. Time and time again—”
“Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has said he does not want to do anything about climate change and he wants to talk about imaginary taxes, but when we want to do things for Canadians who are really struggling, as he points out, such as, by the way, indexing the Canada child benefit to inflation; ensuring we have a strong school nutrition program; and signing agreements on child care that are saving families in Ontario $10,400 a year on average, the Conservatives vote against those supports. Which is it? If the Conservatives do not want to fight climate change and do not want to stand up for Canadians, what are they doing here?”
“Mr. Speaker, while the opposition focuses on imaginary taxes, we are focusing on real supports for Canadians, and that includes the Canada child benefit that keeps up with inflation, seniors benefits that keeps up with inflation, and a dental care plan that allows Canadians to get their teeth fixed, for God's sake, which is something the Conservatives vote against time and again. I ask myself what support for Canadians the Conservatives would actually vote for, because for them it is sink or swim.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are not focused on imaginary taxes. We are focused on what actually helps Canadians. Do members know what helps Canadians? More money in their pockets helps Canadians. A decade ago, the Canada child benefit was worth up to $6,000. It is now worth up to $7,200. It has kept pace with inflation. It has made sure that families have what they need to buy those children the food they need. We have not stopped there. Everything we do is focused on making sure Canadians can weather the tides, no matter if they are good times or bad.”
“Mr. Speaker, the opposition party likes to talk about farmers, but let us talk about what farmers were going through last year, when 66% of agricultural land in Canada was experiencing drought, extreme drought, which drove up the price of beef. Not only that, but all across the world, prices for imports like coffee and tea and cocoa and strawberries and oranges went up as a result of climate change. We focus on the things we can control. Do members know what we can control? We can control putting more money in the pockets of Canadians. Why will they not get on board?”
“I will reference the support that we provided to Saskatchewan to make sure that the Saskatchewan Minister of Health could save lives in Saskatchewan. That is what we have been doing over the last 10 years: being a good partner to provinces and territories. Maybe the member could speak about his opposition to affordable child care and to the supports for the Minister of Health, not just during the pandemic but ongoing, and why he continues to vote against the interests of his community of Moose Jaw.”
“Madam Speaker, I find it interesting that the member from Saskatchewan failed to reference the historic agreement to extend $10-a-day child care to Saskatchewan. My colleague, the Secretary of State for Rural Development , made that announcement with his counterpart from Saskatchewan. This is $10-a-day child care for families in Saskatchewan. In fact, the premier and province are working collaboratively with the federal government to make sure that families get this great relief in terms of the cost of child care and to ensure that families can fully participate in the workforce. While the member talks about leadership, we are actually practising leadership on this side, because leadership is about supporting provinces and territories. The member also referenced the pandemic.”
“I am just curious to know what exactly he does for the members of his riding when they are asking for the kinds of supports this government is providing.”
“Madam Speaker, I note that the member opposite quoted Feed NB. I wonder if he could comment on the recommendation by Feed NB to ensure healthy school food programs, including breakfast programs, and why he would vote against the very thing that Feed NB recommends as part of its strategy to feed hungry folks. I also wonder why the member voted against the packages for trade-affected workers, like stronger EI and retraining supports, indeed for the Province of New Brunswick, which will be delivering that training to anybody who is impacted by tariffs. Finally, the member talked about lowering taxes. Budget 2025 speaks about lower taxes for 22 million Canadians, yet the member voted against that as well.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is clear the Leader of the Opposition has not read the report because, in fact, the report predicts that inflation is actually going to stabilize and go down. Here is what we are doing on this side. We are putting money in the pockets of Canadians, whether it is through the Canada child benefit, which, by the way, is indexed to inflation and that they voted against, whether it is affordable child care for families with growing children, which is helping them save money for a down payment on a house, which they say is a goal they have but they voted against, or whether it is for school food programs for those families that need an extra hand. We are here for Canadians in good times and bad. It is pretty clear where they stand. It is for themselves.”
“Mr. Speaker, instead of focusing on imaginary taxes, we are working to control the things we can, which is putting more money in the pockets of Canadians. That is how we help Canadians with affordability challenges. We make sure they have the money so they can adjust to whatever happens in the market. One would think Conservatives would understand market pressures. It is clear they do not. Today we signed with Ontario an extension of the early learning and child care program. It is $10,400 per family, on average. Does the member know how many weeks of food that is? It is at least 63—”
“Mr. Speaker, that is another example of the opposition's using a report without actually taking the time to read it. In fact, the price of beef, one of the prices that is going up most dramatically, is directly linked to climate change. In fact, the report says challenges persisted for producers throughout the year in western Canada as they experienced a drought and as input costs like feed rose. We are focused on how to help Canadians. That is why today I was with the Ontario government, signing the child care agreement that will save families $10,400 a year.”
“Mr. Speaker, while the member opposite talks about affordability for Canadians, I just want to remind the House that it is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and we have members here in Ottawa today who work so hard to make sure that people with disabilities have full opportunities to participate in the workforce, something we should all take seriously. That member voted against the very fund that supports that work. He also voted against the Canada disability benefit. People should be putting their money where their mouth is and standing up for Canadians who just want a fair shot at participating.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the Conservatives do not know much about working together in collaboration, but Doug Ford does. The Premier of Ontario is working just as hard as this government to save those jobs in Sault Ste. Marie. That is why we made a $400-million loan to Algoma Steel, because we know that those jobs are important, that the company is important to the future of Canada and that we need a sovereign steel industry in this country. These guys would have let it all go. That is pretty clear.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is pretty clear that those Conservatives would not have lifted a hand to help save our steel industry in Canada. That is pretty clear from the nature of the questions, but more than that, do members know what happens when someone loses their job? It is a time of panic. That is why we extended EI for 20 weeks for long-tenured workers. The Conservatives will mock this because they voted against it. They voted against the very supports that people need in times of stress. Canadians know that we have their backs in the good times and the bad.”