Kyle Seeback

[Canada Labour Code, December 14th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, the government House leader said that they would give “priority to the bills that are now in their final stages of debate in the House, including Bill C-57”, so you can imagine my surprise—

[Canada Labour Code, December 14th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), it is only the government that can bring bills for debate.

In her statement on Thursday last week, the government House leader stated that the government would give priority to bills in the House “in their final stages of debate” including Bill—

[Ukraine, December 13th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives support Ukraine. It was a Conservative government that was the first western country in the world to recognize an independent Ukraine. It was a Conservative government that negotiated the existing Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. It was a Conservative government that commenced Operation Unifier. It was Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper who said to Vladimir Putin “get out of Ukraine.”

On the other side, the Liberal government exported a gas turbine that has been used to pump Russian gas to fund Putin's war machine. It was the Liberal government that allowed Canadian detonators to end up in Russian mines, which are being used by the Russian army in this war. It was the Liberal government that decided to not provide war risk insurance, which prevents Canadian companies from investing in Ukraine.

Members should not listen to their Liberal disinformation. Conservatives unequivocally support Ukraine.

[Carbon Pricing, December 12th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Liberals have achieved is 800,000 Ontarians going to the food bank. Let us think about that. That would be the third-largest city in all of Ontario completely dependent on using the food bank to exist.

According to Feed Ontario's CEO, it used to be that having a job meant one did not have to access a food bank, but after eight years of these incompetent Liberals, that is the new reality here in Canada.

Why do the Liberals care so little about Canadians? Will they axe the tax so Canadians can feed themselves?

[Carbon Pricing, December 12th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Premier of the Northwest Territories wants to axe the tax. Other premiers are saying they will not collect the carbon tax. First nations are suing the government because of the carbon tax. We have a coast to coast to coast revolt against the carbon tax led by Conservatives.

As a result of the carbon tax, 40% more Ontarians have to use a food bank. The Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Will he cancel his plans to quadruple the carbon tax on farmers, families and first nations for good?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, December 12th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, the hypocrisy of the member is astounding. He says we should listen to President Zelenskyy. Well, what he said on Canada exporting gas turbines is that it was “absolutely unacceptable”. “Moreover, it is dangerous not only for Ukraine, but also for all countries of the democratic world.”

President Zelenskyy called on the Canadian government to reverse the decision. Where was the member when that was going on? Was he condemning his government? Was he standing up and saying that we have to listen to President Zelenskyy? No. The member was quiet as a church mouse on an issue that is serious: a gas turbine being used to pump Russian gas to fund the war in Ukraine.

He did not listen to President Zelenskyy then, but somehow it is outrageous that we disagree with President Zelenskyy on a trade agreement. How does the member square his hypocrisy?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, December 12th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, the point of this trade agreement, or part of it, is allegedly to help rebuild Ukraine. That is some of the rhetoric that we hear from the the Liberal Party. However, one thing that actually is a problem is that Canada is the only G7 country that has not offered wartime insurance to Canadian business operators who want to rebuild in Ukraine. That means that the projects that they undertake are subject to enormous risk because, of course, it is a war. Every other G7 country has recognized this risk and has provided wartime insurance to business operators. Canada has not. Was the member aware of that, and does he think that is another major failure of the current Liberal government?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, December 12th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's fair criticism of the decisions that the Conservatives have made on this, unlike the hyperpartisan rhetoric that we hear from the Liberal government. He talked about how President Zelenskyy signed this agreement and wants Canada to go forward with it, so he accepts that what President Zelenskyy says means something.

I am wondering if he wants to comment on President Zelenskyy's comments about how this Liberal government allowed a gas turbine to be exported from Canada to pump Russian gas, to actually help fund Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy said, “Moreover, it is dangerous not only for Ukraine, but also [dangerous] for all countries of the democratic world.” President Zelenskyy called on the Canadian government to reverse the decision. The Canadian ambassador said, “Russia is using energy as a weapon, in Europe and all over the world. This money and fuel are going to support the war in Ukraine.”

Does the member also agree with President Zelenskyy that this was a terrible decision by the Liberal government that actually helped fund Putin's war machine?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, December 12th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, this could be a meme.

Liberals think that sending a gas turbine that Russia uses to pump gas and make money to fund the war is no big deal, that allowing Canadian detonators to end up in Russian land mines that are killing Ukrainian soldiers is no big deal and that not giving businesses war risk insurance is no big deal. None of that is a big deal, but if we vote against a free trade agreement that we think is a bad trade agreement, they say, “Oh my God, you are supporting Vladimir Putin.” Their arguments on this are pathetic and embarrassing.

Canadians have always supported Ukraine. Conservatives have always supported Ukraine, just like when we were almost the first country in the world to recognize an independent Ukraine. I think Poland beat us by something like 25 minutes. That is the Conservative record. We support Ukraine, so members should not listen to the misinformation and disinformation the despicable Liberals are trying to spread.

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, December 12th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, the logical gymnastics the member just had to do are something that could probably have won him a gold medal at an Olympic gymnastics competition.

President Zelenskyy actually asked the Liberals to not send the gas turbine. Did the member stand up against his government and say that it should not happen? No, he did not. There are currently no export controls in place to stop Canadian detonators from getting into Russian land mines. Has he stood up to criticize his government for doing that? No, he has not. However, somehow, voting against a trade agreement is one of the cardinal sins, one of the seven deadly sins. It is ridiculous and pathetic.

The Liberals should be stopping the things I have raised. They should be including the things I have raised. That is how to show support for Ukraine, not this fake straw-man argument they are building up about voting against a trade agreement that includes language that we would never support, because in the next trade agreement, they will mandate a carbon price if we let them get away with it this time.

Canadians know the misery of the carbon tax. We are against it in Canada and we are against it in trade agreements. We will be against it forever.