“This is a serious time that requires us to rise to the occasion to the best of our ability and offer the people what we have, give them solutions,” the Toronto-area MP said during a press conference that set the government’s priorities. this fall.
“I don’t think it’s a time for games. It’s not a time to try to be clever or use rhetorical tricks or pretend to be things or solutions that aren’t. I think Canadians will see that.”
His comments come on Pierre Polievre’s first day leading the opposition backbenches during Question Time in his new role, after he backed the Conservative Party leadership to a decisive victory earlier this month.
But those expecting an expected clash between Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will have to wait until later this week after Trudeau returns from the UN General Assembly in New York.
Holland said he would meet with other House leaders later Tuesday, including newly appointed Andrew Scheer.
“Look, I’ve been a critic of the opposition. I respect what they’ve got to do. They’ve got to hit us. They’ve got to hold us accountable. They’ve got to ask us tough questions sometimes. Sometimes I got carried away with that,” he said.
“But that’s not the time. I think it’s a more serious time, and I hope we’re all thinking about that as we start today.”
Priority is inflation
All parties said inflation is a top priority as Canadians report struggling with food and gas prices. “People are feeling squeezed,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said during his own news conference Tuesday. “We have a government that says nothing and a Conservative Party that does nothing.” The Liberals say they will begin the fall with a debate on an old bill to create a new federal disability benefit. They also plan to introduce legislation to temporarily strengthen the GST credit for low-income Canadians and create a dental benefit for young children while a full national dental program is developed. WATCHES | Liberal House leader says he hopes MPs will know the tone of this meeting
The session of the House of Commons continues today
House Leader Mark Holland says he hopes MPs will come together and come up with real solutions to the problems facing Canadians today and be aware of the tone their debates are taking in the House.
