Iqwinder Gaheer

Faster fossil phase-down

The other end of this axis: Slower phase-down, production first

Excerpts repeat support for carbon pricing as backbone of climate plan and note its effectiveness.

Speaker, climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and carbon pricing is the backbone of our climate plan. It has been one year since the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada was named leader, and he has offered Canadians absolutely nothing in terms of climate policy.

Ottawa leads

The other end of this axis: Provinces lead

Excerpts show support for new federal mental health transfer to provinces.

We will establish a new federal transfer to provinces and territories, the Canada mental health transfer, to help jurisdictions expand the delivery of equitable, accessible and free mental health services. We will invest an initial $4.

Higher taxes and public spending

The other end of this axis: Lower taxes and tighter spending

Excerpts repeatedly endorse government budget investments and supports for vulnerable Canadians.

That is what our government is about. That is what this budget is about. From Whitehorse and Vancouver to Toronto and Halifax, that is the Canada we believe in.

Expand public coverage

The other end of this axis: More private delivery

Excerpts endorse new federal funding for free mental health services.

We will establish a new federal transfer to provinces and territories, the Canada mental health transfer, to help jurisdictions expand the delivery of equitable, accessible and free mental health services. We will invest an initial $4.5 billion over five years for this initiative. This funding will mean more access to psychologists, therapists, social workers, counsellors and other community supports.

Public supply and demand controls

The other end of this axis: Market supply and deregulation

Excerpts repeat endorsement of ban on foreign ownership and government housing programs.

Our plan is to ban foreign home ownership in our housing sector, to implement the proposed tax on non-residential, non-Canadian vacant homes, and to get together with our partners to ensure they can leverage our upcoming investments to build more housing supply as well as repair the existing stock. The housing accelerator fund will help municipalities build more and better, faster.

Higher permanent intake

The other end of this axis: Lower intake

Excerpts show positive view of immigration and support for programs to retain talent and recognize credentials.

I hope my father has proven right the adage that, if one gives an immigrant an ounce, he will give back a pound.

Stronger unions and standards

The other end of this axis: More flexibility for employers

Excerpts endorse EI support and government aid for workers and vulnerable Canadians.

This government will never leave vulnerable Canadians behind. We will support vulnerable Canadians and our workers. That is exactly why my speech touched on automatic tax filing and on drawing more RESP loans for students.

Prevention and restraint

The other end of this axis: Enforcement and sentencing

Excerpts repeat criticism of mandatory minimum penalties and support for reducing imprisonment of low-risk offenders.

This was a policy that in the end did not discourage crime. It certainly did not make our justice system any more fair. All it did was imprison far too many indigenous, Black and marginalized Canadians. The evidence is in the numbers of the prison population, and the numbers are stark.