Evidence of meeting #26 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was prorogation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
3:10 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Regan is participating. However, he is being substituted for Mr. Lauzon, as Mr. Lauzon is still currently in the meeting. Mr. Lauzon would be the member we are counting for purposes of quorum, and so on. Until such time as Mr. Lauzon leaves, if he does leave, Mr. Regan would be here in a capacity as a non-member just sitting in on the meeting. Should Mr. Lauzon absent himself, or leave, then I do have official notification from the Liberal whip that Mr. Regan would be the formal substitute for Mr. Lauzon.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Madam Chair, on a point of order, I believe I'm substituting. I was advised I was replacing Mr. Gerretsen.
3:10 p.m.
The Clerk
I do have notifications of substitution for Mr. Drouin and Mr. Morrissey to replace Mr. Gerretsen. I believe there was an issue of one or the other possibly not being able to stay the entire time. I see that both are still here. I have notification that both are here.
Obviously, Mr. Drouin came into the meeting first as the substitute for Mr. Gerretsen. He will still be considered the official substitute. For any purposes of quorum or voting, Mr. Drouin will be the official substitute for Mr. Gerretsen, until such time as Mr. Drouin leaves and then it would be Mr. Morrissey.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
At this point, I have to leave. Geoff Regan will be my substitute. Thank you very much.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Thank you, Mr. Lauzon, Therefore, you are ceding the floor.
Ms. Normandin, please go ahead.
3:10 p.m.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you very much Madam Chair.
Since we're discussing the amendment, I'll tell you why I find it appealing and why I like it so much.
Without going on too long, I'll also explain why I nevertheless intend to vote against it.
I find the amendment appealing because one of the arguments we've consistently heard since the debate began is that it will take a lot of time for many individuals to testify before the committee, that we should use that time to do something else, such as combating the pandemic, that Canadians aren't interested in the prorogation and that we therefore shouldn't dwell on it. However, nine hours of committee meetings have already been scheduled for the amendment. We feel that nine hours is ultimately not too long, that it's reasonable and that we can use that time to hear witnesses.
What's even more interesting, even though it's an open secret, is that many committee members would be inclined to have only six hours of testimony if certain persons, notably the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Ms. Telford, came and testified.
Even if we could say at the outset that the use of time is a compelling argument, we can see, in spite of it all, that there's an obstruction here, that we've spent six meetings discussing the matter and that Mr. Lauzon has said he's prepared to continue discussing it for weeks. If the time argument is served up once again, the amendment that Mr. Turnbull has just introduced demolishes that claim.
We may therefore conclude that the mission we now seem to have set for ourselves isn't to use time efficiently but rather to ensure that Mr. Trudeau and Ms. Telford do not testify before the committee on the specific issue of the prorogation.
It was said that they had already testified before the Standing Committee on Finance. However, I would point out that they did so before the prorogation and that they therefore could not provide testimony respecting an event that had not yet occurred.
Seeing that the most important thing for members of the party in power is not to have Mr. Trudeau and Ms. Telford testify on the prorogation issue raises questions in my mind. We've discussed at length the fact that prorogation is solely the prerogative of the prime minister. Far be it from me to compare the Prime Minister to the Good Lord, but, as the proverb goes, "Better to speak to God than to his saints." So if we want to know what the Prime Minister had in mind, I think we should speak to him.
The reason we should invite Ms. Telford is that we can expect, if not hope, that she has previously discussed the prorogation issue with the Prime Minister in her capacity as his chief of staff. If we heard testimony from both, we could then determine whether their versions are consistent and thus clarify the prorogation issue, on which they have not yet testified.
As previously suggested, but not introduced as an amendment by other members of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, they could both testify for six hours, which is less than the nine hours proposed in the amendment we're discussing. The time argument therefore does not hold water.
For my part, I would like to hear from the person who made the decision to prorogue Parliament. That's why I will vote against the amendment currently on the table.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Thank you, Ms. Normandin. That was succinct.
Ms. Petitpas Taylor, please go ahead.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I've been waiting for hours to express my point of view.
First, I'd like to apologize for missing the first two hours this morning. I was attending a meeting of the Board of Internal Economy. I'd like to thank my colleague Wayne Long for replacing me. He may not officially be a permanent member of our committee, but he has recently almost become one. We like him very much, and we enjoy his speeches.
I'd also like to thank Ms. Normandin for being with us again. We always enjoy her company and her remarks as well.
Once again, I also want to thank all my colleagues who have already spoken today for their truly informed comments. Thanks as well to Mr. Regan and Mr. Lamoureux for being here, and I apologize if I have forgotten anyone.
Today we are debating Mr. Turnbull's amendment. I've previously spoken on this subject on several occasions, and no one will be surprised by my comments. To date, we have heard from many witnesses, experts and Mr. Rodriguez, who appeared with his own staff. Mr. Rodriguez provided good answers to our questions. Now I think we can start drafting the report.
That being said, Mr. Turnbull, a friend and colleague for whom I have an enormous amount of esteem, is a thoughtful individual. He seems to want to play the role of mediator. He has introduced an amendment on which he has clearly done a great deal of work to assist us in coming to an agreement.
I have to be honest. I still think we could begin drafting the report, but I also think it might be a good compromise to hear a few more witnesses.
[Technical difficulty—Editor] the necessity of a prorogation that the alliance of opposition parties had long predetermined. I stated in my previous comments that the opposition parties had already formed an idea. Again yesterday, we heard in the House of Commons that it had been prorogued as a result of the WE Charity scandal.
I absolutely do not agree. However, I want to comment once again on Mr. Turnbull's amendment, since it's really a [Inaudible—Editor] on this study on the prorogation with facts rather than accusations. I genuinely think that what Mr. Turnbull wants to do is explain facts not make accusations.
As we all know, the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament in order to take the necessary time, and I emphasize the word "necessary," to take stock of Canada's situation, determine the priority sectors and plan the future. Obviously, the absolute priority has always been to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. Looking back, who would have thought, a year ago, that we would find ourselves in this situation?
I'm sure that many of us have yogurt in refrigerators in Ottawa from a year ago. The reality is that many of us never returned to Ottawa. Who would have imagined that at the onset of the pandemic? In the whip's office, when we talked about adjourning because of increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, never in the world could I have imagined we would be in this situation a year later. However, I'm certain that, if you go to Ottawa right now, you'll definitely see yogurts in fridges with expiry dates…
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Point of order, Madam Chair.
On a point of clarification, Ms. Petitpas Taylor was saying who could have known or who could have prepared. Didn't the Auditor General's report actually lay the blame on Health Canada, including when she was minister? Would she not have had some advance knowledge of that, because she was responsible for that portfolio? Just curious.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Once again, that's not a point of order.
Carry on, Ms. Petitpas Taylor; that's still an interesting point.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'll continue with my thoughts about my colleague Mr. Turnbull's amendment.
Technical difficulty end of the pandemic and when Canadians would be ready to enter the economic restart phase, we wanted to do something to ensure that all Canadians would actually be ready.
On the prorogation issue, it's clear that the government really wanted to assess the situation and also make sure that we could consult people. I know that the Minister of Finance, Ms. Freeland, as well as Minister Fortier and the caucus in general, did indeed consult people to make sure that everyone could understand the government's priorities.
The Speech from the Throne clearly describes avenues that could boost the economic recovery and where the federal government sees an opportunity to help industries prosper. Here again, my understanding is that if Minister Freeland were to give evidence before the committee, she could explain the ideas put forward in the throne speech.
As we do battle on behalf of all Canadians and defend everyone's capacity to succeed, we also need to focus on the future and on a better way to build our programs. It's what the throne speech describes as the third of the government's foundations in its approach.
We find the following in the throne speech:
Around the world, advanced economies are realizing that things should not go back to business as usual. COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities in our societies.
The Government will create a resiliency agenda for the middle class and people working hard to join it.
This will include addressing the gaps in our social systems, investing in health care, and creating jobs.
I think that all members here today also want to invest in health care and creating jobs.
It will also include fighting climate change, and maintaining a commitment to fiscal sustainability and economic growth as the foundation of a strong and vibrant society.
I'd like to take a few moments to say that we've finally been able to bridge the gaps and identify those in our systems. We want to ensure that our existing programs are strengthened, because we want to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.
My colleague, Stéphane Lauzon, often talks about seniors. One of the greatest tragedies of this pandemic is the lives lost in long-term care homes. Seniors deserve to be respected, safe and live in dignity.
I know that in my region—the small province of New Brunswick—there may not have been the major outbreaks that occurred in other regions, but some care homes were affected. It's truly heartbreaking. We want to make sure that we can protect our seniors.
One of my nephews is in the Canadian Armed Forces. Many of his colleagues were sent to care for our seniors. These people, who went to war in Afghanistan, were genuinely traumatized by what they saw in the care homes. When my brawny nephew spoke to me about it, he had tears in his eyes. These were truly difficult situations. The report written by the armed forces clearly describes the situation our seniors are facing. It's important for us to be there for them.
Although long-term care is a provincial and territorial jurisdiction, the federal government will do everything it can to support seniors, working alongside the provinces and territories.
Once again, I want to point out that it's wrong to believe that the federal government has all the answers. We need to work closely with the provinces and territories so that national standards can be complied with. To accomplish this, the provinces need to be at the table with us, because we all have a role to play in protecting the help health and safety of seniors.
The government will work with Parliament on Criminal Code amendments to explicitly penalize those who neglect seniors under their care, putting them in danger.
Prior to being elected as a politician, I was a social worker with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for several years.
I must say that it was always very difficult to investigate instances of violence against seniors. We often had to investigate members of the immediate family when most of the time, the abusers were the caregivers. Generally speaking, seniors did not even want to talk about what had happened to them, because they were afraid and felt intimidated. It's essential for us to do everything in our power to protect these people, who are often very vulnerable.
The government will also work with the provinces and territories to set new, national standards for long-term care so that seniors get the best support possible.
Once again, we are definitely not saying that Ottawa has all the answers. I'm sure, however, that the application of consistent standards in all the provinces and territories is the least we can do to ensure that seniors receive proper care. I'm pleased that our government is working towards this.
If Minister Freeland were to come and give evidence before the committee, she could speak to us about it. It's not only a matter of developing standards, but also explaining the possible investments, and the thinking that went into the new throne speech. She could also any answer any additional questions my colleagues might have.
We also need to take further action to help people stay at home longer. Of course, not all seniors live in long-term care homes, but it's obvious that they experienced truly difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, particularly in terms of isolation.
I'll give you an example of one measure that was introduced in New Brunswick. In 2018, we set up a pilot project called the "Healthy Seniors Pilot Project". It required an investment of $75 million.
We funded several programs that would enable seniors to continue to live at home for as long as possible. They often did not want to move into long-term care homes, but they did need additional assistance.
One of the programs that we funded was called "Nursing Homes Without Walls". Seniors often needed help to take their medicine, do their grocery shopping and other similar tasks. This kind of program contributed enormously to improving the lives of our seniors, even during the pandemic.
I think that we're capable of continuing to support our seniors in difficult times.
The federal government will also look into measures for personal support workers, who provide an essential service by helping the most vulnerable people in our communities. Canada must better value their work and their contributions to our society.
To be perfectly clear, 90 to 95% of them are women. These women work in care homes, grocery stores, and provide homecare and other services.
We need to help protect these workers so that they receive equitable pay. The whole issue of pay equity has to be addressed. Clearly, responsibility for this is not wholly the federal government's, but it needs to work with the provinces and territories.
Once again, I believe that Ms. Freeland might be helpful by explaining to us the plan that was developed for further discussion of these issues.
COVID-19 has also disproportionately affected Canadians with disabilities, and highlighted long-standing challenges for members of this community. The government will bring forward a disability inclusion plan, which will have a new Canadian disability benefit modelled on the guaranteed income supplement for seniors, a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities, and a better process to determine eligibility for government disability programs and benefits.
Ms. Freeland would probably be able to give us more information about these funding programs and explain the process that led to their being announced in the throne speech.
Over the past six months, it has become clearer than ever that Canadians need a resilient health care system. All my colleagues are requesting additional funding for services, and thus far, I feel confident in saying that the government has contributed greatly to helping Canadians during this pandemic.
The federal government invested in vaccines and paid for all of the required equipment. Under the Safe Restart Agreement, considerable investment went to the provinces and territories, much of which was invested in health systems.
The government will make sure that everyone, including people in rural and remote regions, has access to a family doctor or a primary care team. COVID-19 has also shown that our system needs to be more flexible and capable of reaching out to people at home. The government will continue to increase its capacity to provide virtual health care.
Many of my colleagues probably live in large regions. In the province of New Brunswick, there are many rural regions. It's often difficult to get to doctor's appointments. And the issue of virtual care has come to the fore during the pandemic. Many professionals would also like these services to continue. This requires investment. I presume that the Deputy Prime Minister could also talk to us about this if she were to testify before the committee.
The government will also continue to address the opioid epidemic tearing through communities, which is an ongoing and worsening public health crisis. We are experiencing a global health crisis because of COVID-19, but we mustn't forget that there are other crises in Canada. The opioid crisis is clearly a tragedy. Every day, Canadians are dying. We still have a great deal of work to do. While we need to address the pandemic, we mustn't forget the opioid crisis and the climate crisis.
So there needs to be ongoing investment in this area, particularly under the Canadian drugs and substances strategy. We've made serious investments thus far, and need to continue. The Deputy Prime Minister could speak to us about investments and priorities with respect to the opioid crisis. It's something I feel strongly about.
Of course, the 2020 Speech from the Throne is not the same as the 2019 speech, but there are similarities between the two because in 2019, there were emergencies that are still ongoing today. Moreover, the issue of priorities came up because of the pandemic.
When I was minister of health, I had the opportunity to meet many health workers and people who were using substances. They told us that prevention and treatment were required. They were very happy that the Liberal government had reintroduced the idea of harm reduction. The Conservative government didn't want to touch the subject, although it was a priority for us.
We need to meet people on their own ground and make sure they have the required tools. Health workers were very pleased with our work, of course, but much remains to be done.
I'll stop there for the time being on this subject. I'll return to it if I have any further comments to make.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
No, I'm not done. I just wanted to take a bit of a sip.
I'm sorry.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I'm so sorry. I thought you were saying you'll leave it there for now.
It seemed a bit odd, but yes, okay.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I was going to park the topic of opioid therapy because I didn't want to be seen as being off topic. My apologies. I know there are a lot points of order today about that, so I'm trying to stay on point.
I hope that I had not ceded the floor, because that was not my wish, at all.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
There is another topic I would like to get back to. In the 2019 and 2020 throne speeches, there was talk of a national universal drug insurance program. The purpose was to ensure that all Canadians had access to drugs. For me, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, member for the riding of Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, it's a priority. It's also a priority for our government.
Through a rare-disease strategy to help Canadian families save money on high-cost drugs, we want to continue to develop a national plan to ensure that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare plan. I was happy to see that it was in the 2019 throne speech as well as the 2020 throne speech. Ms. Freeland could talk about this if we were to invite her to join us.
As for establishing a national system designed to keep drug prices low, this would be part of developing a national pharmacare plan. To develop a national plan, close collaboration with the provinces and territories will be required. We need to set it in motion soon if we want to actually get it done. As far as I'm concerned, it's an absolute priority.
In addition to sound health infrastructures, Canadians need strong, safe communities to call home. That's why the government has banned assault-style firearms. The government will also continue implementing firearms policy commitments, including by giving municipalities the ability to further restrict or ban handguns, and strengthening measures to control the flow of illegal guns into Canada.
Women’s safety must be the foundation on which all progress is built. The government will accelerate investments in shelters and transition housing, and continue to advance with a national action plan on gender-based violence. We have all seen the recently published statistics. Over the past year, the rates of spousal and family violence have risen enormously.
As I have already mentioned to the committee members, I was a social worker at the RCMP before entering politics. Many of my clients were women victims of spousal violence and sexual abuse. Every year in Moncton, I had to write a death notice for at least one if not two women who had been a victim of spousal violence. Going to meet family members to tell them that their relative had been stabbed or shot was very difficult. When I hear that our statistics are still increasing during the pandemic, I tell myself that we have to do better. We have to protect women and doing so requires the necessary investments.
I'm happy about the investments made over the past year. The number of cases has been increasing. The pandemic is not a cause, but it's nevertheless clear that more women have been victims of violence. The sexual assault rate has also increased. As a government, we have to continue to ensure that shelters, transition housing and second-stage housing receive the funding they need. I know that I'm speaking on behalf of all my colleagues. We all want to do whatever we can to protect women and put an end to a really serious situationx.
In Canada, one woman dies every six days because of spousal violence. That's one woman every six days, and the numbers are still rising. We can and must do better.
I know that Ms. Vecchio has been a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. The pandemic has made it clear that women and children are more vulnerable. If Minister Freeland were to meet with us, we could ask some questions and emphasize the importance of ensuring that the investments are made. We need to invest more.
To continue to build communities…
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I don't know if you've heard this, because we've been in here all day today. The House has granted an emergency debate on that issue. I just thought I would mention it because you were speaking so passionately about it, and there have been several deaths, and many in Quebec recently. There has been an emergency debate granted on that issue.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I was not aware. I was listening to the speeches, so thank you for sharing that.
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
If I wasn't here, I would want to speak to this matter because it is an important matter, and I know that it affects all of us. We are all impacted by intimate partner violence. We all know someone. Even if we don't think we know someone, we know someone. I've learned that.
Ms. Normandin, I was sorry to hear about another death in Quebec only a few days ago. News like that is heartbreaking.
To keep building strong communities, over the next two years the government will also invest in all types of infrastructure, including public transit, energy efficient retrofits, clean energy, rural broadband, and affordable housing, particularly for indigenous peoples and northern communities.
Once again, if Minister Freeland were here with us, she could clarify some of the ideas put forward in the throne speech and the reasons for these investments.
Can't we recognize once again that this pandemic has shown clearly who the most vulnerable people are?
In the last six months, many more people have worked from home, done classes from the kitchen table, shopped online, and accessed government services remotely. So it has become more important than ever that all Canadians have access to the Internet.
We have all had the experience of working from home and occasionally having technical problems. We need to make the investments required for all Canadians to have access to Internet services. They are no longer a luxury, and have become a necessity.
The government will accelerate the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Universal Broadband Fund to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed Internet.
Where I live, in Moncton, we receive really good services from my small province of New Brunswick. I always say that we can thank Frank McKenna, the former premier of the province, because he understood what the future would bring, and the required investments were made for us in the province. It's very good.
I'm going to continue to explain to you why I support my colleague Mr. Turnbull's amendment. To further help our communities, the government will work with partners to support regional routes for airlines. It is essential that Canadians have access to reliable and affordable regional air services. It is an issue of equity, of jobs, and of economic development. The government will work to support this.
So we can see that many changes are happening in the regions. We want the economy to restart, and investments are definitely going to be made in the regions.
No one should be without a place to stay during a pandemic or a Canadian winter. In October 2020, the government invested more than $1 billion for people experiencing homelessness. Last fall, Minister Hussen invested this amount to create rapid housing. I believe that those who will get a home have just learned that their applications were approved. To be sure, there were many more applications than the number of homes available, because they came from several regions across Canada. However, people are obtaining more and more assistance and funds have been invested.
I know that in Moncton, the homeless situation has been much more visible in recent years. Once again, the pandemic has highlighted these truly vulnerable people. That's why I'm happy that the minister made these investments.
That is another area on which Minister Freeland could provide us with further details. She could also explain to us what led to these investments, and how they came to be announced in the throne speech.
In 2017, the government announced that it would reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent. It has already helped more than a million people get a safe and affordable place to call home. Given the progress that has been made, and our commitment to do more, the government is now focused on entirely eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada.
At the same time, the government will also make substantial investments in housing for Canadians.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, because a special announcement will be made in my region. A group there has been doing incredible work and handling the initiative to create rapid housing. Together, we're going to make an announcement tomorrow about something that will provide considerable assistance to my community.
The government will add to the historic National Housing Strategy announced in 2017 by increasing investments to rapid housing in the short term, and partnering with not-for-profits and co-ops in the mid- to long-term. For the middle class, the government will also move forward with enhancements to the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, including in Canada’s largest cities, so families can afford to buy their first home. Once more, I think that Minister Freeland could come and speak to us about this.
As a result of the pandemic, people from big cities in Ontario and even Western Canada have been choosing to move to our province or one of the other beautiful Atlantic provinces where housing is more affordable. That's a good thing, but it has been driving up the cost of housing here. That's why I'm very pleased that our government is helping people to purchase their first home. Housing is something everyone deserves, and it’s also a key driver of the economy. Construction projects create jobs, and having a home is critical so people can contribute to their communities.
Just as everyone deserves a home, everyone deserves to be able to put nutritious food on the table. Everyone should have food in the refrigerator. The pandemic has made that harder for Canadians. Canada will continue to work with partners—including directly with first nations, Inuit, and Métis nation partners—to address food insecurity in Canada. The government will also strengthen local food supply chains here in Canada. Here again, I think that Minister Freeland could probably tell us more about it.
The foreign workers who produce, harvest, and process our food—from people picking fruit to packing seafood—have done an outstanding job getting good food to Canadians. They deserve the government’s full support and protection. The government will ensure that those in Canada’s supply managed sectors receive full and fair compensation for recent trade agreements. Farmers keep our families fed, and we will continue to help them succeed and grow.
This pandemic has revealed gaps in health, housing, and food supply. And it has also maintained the inequalities Canadians face in the workforce. We have an opportunity to not only support Canadians, but also grow their potential.
Working with the provinces and territories, the government will make the largest investment in Canadian history in training for workers. This will include supporting Canadians as they build new skills in growing sectors, helping workers receive education and accreditation, and strengthening workers’ futures, by connecting them to employers and good jobs, in order to grow and strengthen the middle class.
From researchers developing vaccines, to entrepreneurs building online stores, this pandemic has reminded us of the power of the knowledge economy, and how vital it is for our future. Canadians are leading, and they should have state-of-the-art government services. The government will make generational investments in updating outdated IT systems to modernize the way that government serves Canadians, from the elderly to the young, from people looking for work to those living with a disability.
The government will also work to introduce free, automatic tax filing for simple returns to ensure citizens receive the benefits they need. Government must remain agile, and ready for what lies ahead.
I would like to end with a few comments about combating climate change. As I was saying earlier, a number of priorities have been changed compared to the 2019 and 2020 priorities. However, climate change is a priority for this generation, and we need to move ahead.
Climate action will be a cornerstone of our plan to support and create a million jobs across the country. This is where the world is going. Global consumers and investors are demanding and rewarding climate action. Canadians have the determination and ingenuity to rise to this challenge and global market opportunity. We can create good jobs today and a globally competitive economy not just next year, but in 2030, 2040, and beyond.
Canadians also know climate change threatens their health, their way of life, and their planet. They want climate action now, and that is what the government will continue to deliver. I know that some people are still wondering about the climate crisis. We Liberals know that it really is a priority for Canadians.
The government will immediately bring forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 climate goal. It will also legislate Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and will reach this goal.
As part of its plan, the government will create thousands of jobs retrofitting buildings, cutting energy costs for Canadian families and businesses. We're going to invest in reducing the impact of climate-related disasters like floods and wildfires to make communities safer and more resilient.
The 2020 throne speech made it clear that climate change issues are a real priority. Once again, if Ms. Freeland were to appear, she could give us her point of view on the inclusion of climate change issues in the throne speech.
We also want to assist Canadians by helping to deliver more transit and active transit options, and making zero-emission vehicles more affordable while investing in more charging stations across the country. Zero-emission vehicles are somewhat more expensive and we want to make them more affordable for Canadians. Based on the various programs that have been established, it's clear that we are well on our way.
A good example of adapting to a carbon-neutral future is the zero-emission battery. Canada has the nickel and copper resources needed for these clean technologies. This, combined with Canadian expertise, is Canada’s competitive edge.
To top it off, the government will launch a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emission products and cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies to create jobs and make Canada a world leader in clean technology. The government will ensure Canada is the most competitive country in the world for clean technology companies.
In the throne speech, several priorities were clearly tied to the pandemic. What we really want to do is build a better world and a better society. When we talk about building back better, we want to be sure that we can make the investments needed to build a better and more prosperous society for everyone.
Additionally, the government wants to transform our economy and communities by moving forward with the Clean Power Fund, and projects like the Atlantic Loop that will connect surplus clean power to regions transitioning away from coal. The Atlantic Loop project is really galvanizing us, and it is a priority for our region.
The government will support investments in renewable energy and next-generation clean energy and technology solutions. Canada cannot reach net zero without the know-how of the energy sector, and the innovative ideas of all Canadians, including people in places like British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
By creating good-paying and long-lasting jobs, we want to support manufacturing, natural resource, and energy sectors as they work to transform to meet a net zero future.
We want to recognize farmers, foresters, and ranchers as key partners in the fight against climate change by supporting their efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience.
The government will continue its policy of putting a price on pollution, while putting that money back in the pockets of Canadians. We cannot be free to pollute. I think that the court was very clear on this matter in its decision today. This pandemic has reminded Canadians of the importance of nature. The government will work with municipalities.
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
