Environment Committee on Nov. 21st, 2023

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Sopuck, I apologize, but I just need to cut you off there.

Mr. Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to move a motion that is extremely—

[A voice]

I would like to speak on that.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

—relevant to what is happening right now, as it relates to a rally happening at the Centennial Flame. People will be marching to the Senate to protest the unprecedented political game.

As per the notice I put on motion last week, I would like to move:

Given that:

(a) Canadian Farmers have some of the most environmentally friendly agricultural operations in the world;

(b) The Premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have issued public letters calling on the Senate to urgently pass Bill C-234, a carbon tax carve out for farmers;

(c) Bill C-234 will provide relief for farmers struggling with the burden of the Government's Carbon Tax; and

(d) Bill C-234 will help lower food prices for all Canadians across the country,

The committee calls on the Senate of Canada to pass Bill C-234, a carbon tax carve out for farmers, as soon as possible, and report this to the House of Commons.

Mr. Chair, I do want to keep my comments brief, but this is extremely important legislation. This is $1 billion coming out of the pockets of farmers over the next seven years, or money that could be left in the pockets of farmers.

The minister had previously falsely stated in the media that 97% of on-farm emissions are exempt. He had to walk that statement back through a communications adviser. What he was alluding to is that diesel and marked gasoline were exempted originally from the carbon tax. This was due to the fact that—

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Excuse me for just a second, but we have a point of order.

Before we go to the point of order, I would just like to say—to the witnesses, really, because we're inconveniencing the witnesses—that this has been one of the most interesting conversations that I've heard during this study, so thank you for your participation to date.

Go ahead on the point of order..

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

My point of order is to question the relevance of the....

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I don't think it has to be relevant. They have a right to table a motion. Anybody has a right to table a motion and speak to it.

Anyway, go ahead, Mr. Leslie.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will tell you the relevance. Right now, people outside at the Centennial Flame are about to walk down to the Senate to tell senators to pass this bill. The relevance is that this is happening right now.

As I was saying regarding the reason that—

[A voice]

Excuse me, but could I...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm losing track of all the hands here. We have Mr. Leslie, then Mr. van Koeverden, then Mme Pauzé.

Is yours a point of order as well?

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

It's a point of privilege.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I think Madame Chatel was first. We'll go with her point of order and then your point of privilege.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Chair, there are two women senators who have been threatened, and my colleague is just repeating that threat on them.

I'm really concerned. What are you doing? What are you doing to women? This is unacceptable.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

May I speak to that, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

No, we'll go on to the point of privilege.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

It is very similar. I just want to say now you're telling.... First it was bullying online and pointing out the women members of the Independent Senators Group, when there are also many male members of that Independent Senators Group.

There have been threats made against these women, and now you have a march descending on the Senate to tell them to do something. What happened to our government? What happened to procedure, and law and order, and respect for members of the Senate and of the House of Commons?

This is like some kind of tinpot dictatorship or something. You don't like what's happening, so you bring out the crowds. It sounds like the convoy again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

We'll go back to—

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

You have the floor, Ms. Pauzé.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

My comment is somewhat on the lines of what I said before. I am not saying that this debate is not interesting. Yes, something is happening. I even wanted to propose an amendment to the Conservatives' motion. However, as I said before, we have witnesses right now. Some are appearing by video conference and others have travelled to be here. I think we could resume discussion on this motion at another time.

I am therefore asking that we end the debate. I do not really know how it works: do we have to vote on a dilatory motion in order to end debate on the motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

First, I have to allow Mr. Leslie to finish what he is saying, and then it will be Mr. van Koeverden's turn, and then it will be your turn, Ms. Pauzé.

[A voice]

I just have a list [Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's the same as mine, I think. Mr. Mazier would be after Madame Pauzé, I guess.

[A voice]

No, but he is after Mr. van Koeverden.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We've done this before, when I didn't see it—