Transport Committee on May 21st, 2024

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

My view is that people who would suggest that a problem is impossible to solve shouldn't try to interfere with the person who's trying to actually solve it.

If your goal is to throw up obstacles every way, feel free. Have a field day. I want to solve the housing crisis.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

I just need an answer to my question.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

My goal is actually based around what I think it will take to solve it.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Has your government built 32 homes in the last 30 minutes?

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

As I expect, Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'm sorry. I have a point of order. We're going to stop the time.

Go ahead, Ms. Koutrakis.

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

I just think that all of us around this table should be very respectful when we address each other, especially when we have a minister here who's very forthcoming, very honest and transparent, and who is trying his very best to answer us in a very respectful manner.

Mr. Chair, I think we should tone it down and allow the person who is answering the question to answer before we interrupt.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

May I respond, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Ms. Koutrakis—

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I have another point of order from Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I'd like to also add to what my colleague has just said. It's also regarding translation.

When we have two people speaking at the same time, it becomes very hard for the translators. It would be important to allow time for the questions to be asked and time for them to be responded to so that translation can be done properly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Iacono.

Mr. Strahl, do you have a point of order?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Yes. It is on the same point of order, Mr. Chair.

Ministers are given the same amount of time to respond to the very limited amount of time that we have for questioning. We certainly don't need Liberal MPs policing our tone when we're questioning a minister who is accountable and responsible to Parliament for his or her portfolio.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Strahl.

I will say, colleagues, just as a quick reminder, that translation is extremely important. I want to remind everyone that we do need to give time for our translators to hear the question and the response. I know we're all trying to get in as many questions as we can to the minister who is here with us today. It occurs every single time, so I would just ask that we give the opportunity for the minister to hear the question and respond, and then we can start with a second question.

With that, Dr. Lewis, I'll turn the floor back over to you, and I'll add 15 seconds to your time. You have 45 seconds left.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

I'd like to comment on the point of order. Are you going to take that out of my time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

No, I'll let you comment, but please do keep it minimal, because everybody still has questions they would like to ask.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Thank you.

I respect my colleagues' comments; however, there is nothing impolite about holding a government to account. That is my job as opposition. We have very limited time, and I will definitely try to be respectful of the translators, because they do need to do their job. I appreciate the comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Dr. Lewis, I'll start your clock now at 45 seconds.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Minister, how many homes has your government built in the last 30 minutes?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

It's important to recognize that the government isn't the entity that is constructing the homes. We are putting incentives on the table to create changes to the rules that make it easier to build a home. We have funding on the table, but it's actually the private sector and non-profits that build the homes, not the government.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

How many projects has the Infrastructure Bank completed in the last seven years?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

There were 56.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Are they completed?