Bill C-322

National Framework for a School Food Program Act

An Act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program

This enactment provides for the development of a national framework to establish a school food program to ensure that all children in Canada have access to healthy food.

National Framework for a School Food Program Act

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I want to remind members there is some flexibility when it comes to debate. The hon. member just brought it back to how it pertains to the debate, and so I will allow the hon. member to continue her speech.

The hon. member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex has the floor.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, Governor Macklem said there are two separate questions. The governor said, “...how much are the increases in the carbon tax adding to inflation each year? That number is about .15 percentage points of inflation. That's the direct impact on those three components.”

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. I am just trying to seek clarity from you on what the topic at hand is that we are supposed to be discussing and whether the member is actually following those rules.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Again, I want to indicate there is some flexibility as to what a member speaks about during her speech or his speech when they are showing the relevance to the bill. I am sure the hon. member will be mentioning the bill and will be adding to how this actually impacts the bill before the House.

The hon. member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex has the floor, and I am sure she will be bringing it back around.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, the three components the governor referred were those raised by my colleague, which were gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas. Governor Macklem continued—

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. With the kind of behaviour I have seen from the Conservative Party, first the leader of the Conservative Party refusing to sit down, there seems to be a total disregard for rules and for Speaker of the House. I am starting to get frustrated. This is an important matter: Kids are starving when they are going to school. For some respect for families and kids who are struggling, can we actually talk about children being hungry in schools and stay on topic?

Standing Order 11(2) is constantly being disregarded.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member is bringing up a point of debate as opposed to a point of order. There is some flexibility as to relevancy, so we just need to allow the hon. member to continue with her speech for a bit to make sure it does show relevancy.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Of course I would be surprised if the NDP was not embarrassed by its coalition with the Liberal Party because of the inflation that has been caused—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I have already ruled on the point of order. This is now becoming more of a point of debate.

I will allow the hon. member to continue with her speech, and I know there is going to be some relevancy.

The hon. member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex can continue.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, I will try again. At this rate, eliminating the carbon tax by the Bank of Canada—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Pardon me, Madam Speaker, can I please revert back to the page before and start my time, because I have been interrupted about five—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The time was stopped for the points of order, and so it has not impacted on the hon. member's time.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, Governor Macklem continued by responding to the second question, which was what the effect on inflation would be if the carbon tax were to be eliminated. He said that it would create a one-time drop in inflation of 0.6%.

If the carbon tax were eliminated, it would result in a drop in inflation of 0.6%. The overall inflation rate is currently at about 3.2%. At that rate, eliminating the carbon tax, by the Governor of the Bank of Canada's estimate, would reduce inflation by more than 18%.

The lead author of Canada's Food Price Report 2023, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, has pointed out that the carbon tax has made business expenses go up. Dr. Charlebois points to “the compounding effect” up and down the food chain, as the supply chain is exposed to increased costs from the carbon tax. Let us take a look at that supply chain and why food is costing more.

The carbon tax increases costs for heating greenhouses, as well as dairy, poultry and hog barns. It increases costs for running the machinery necessary for production operations, especially the cost of electricity. In fact, in 2020, according to Statistics Canada, production costs for greenhouses were up 31.8% above the 10-year average. In 2021, the latest year for which facts are available from Statistics Canada, greenhouse costs were up 9.3% over those of 2020. Electricity costs for greenhouses were up in 2021 by 8.2% over 2020. Other fuel costs were up 7.7% over those of 2020.

In case anybody does not see that this is a problem, Statistics Canada reports that, as of 2021—