Evidence of meeting #100 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was change.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I'll answer your question, but you understand that the $35 million was specific to the work that Parks Canada did in fighting forest fires last season. It's not the entirety of the federal government's response to the cost of the forest fires. A lot of this will come from the ministry for emergency preparedness. We have a number of funds that are there to help and support Canadians.
The reality is that—
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
—most of the money that has been spent by those funds has been spent in the last 10 years. The funds have been in place for—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I'd love to hear just the answer to the question about the proposal.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
You may have heard the Prime Minister last June when he was asked a similar question—
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
It could be either a federal force for fighting forest fires or something like FEMA in the U.S., a national intervention force that could help with natural catastrophes. The Prime Minister has said that this is something that is interesting and that we're looking at it.
Liberal
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Thank you very much.
I have a few very brief questions. The answers should be yes or no, so just out of respect for my time, I ask the minister to keep his answers short.
Minister, do you have confidence in the Parliamentary Budget Officer?
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Do you believe in his economic and fiscal report and the facts he finds?
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
In his reports on climate change, specifically the one on pollution pricing, he stated that he had not considered the impact of climate change in his analysis.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I do not share the opinion he stated in his analysis of pollution pricing.
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
You're saying that you disagree with his findings on the cost of the carbon tax.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
That's right, I do not agree with him. I have said that publicly before. This is not my first time saying it.
Further, he himself admits that his analysis does not include the impact of climate change.
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Thank you, Minister.
On page 3 of the Parliamentary Budget Officer's findings, he states that in 2023-24, the average family in Alberta will pay $2,466 in total costs. When you factor in the direct and all the secondary effects in the economy, it will cost the average family in Alberta $2,466. Can you tell me what the rebate will be in Alberta?
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Obviously, I am the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and not the Parliamentary Budget Officer. If you have questions for him—
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
You will find some figures on the finance department website.
Your question was about Alberta—
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
You can find that information on the finance department website. The cost per household is $1056.
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
With all due respect, Minister, it's a simple question. The cost is $2,466.
