Human Resources Committee on Dec. 4th, 2023

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

The reference is to concerns about the delays in the Senate. Is that not similar to what's happening now in this committee with the study that we're undertaking?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Certainly the committee is being delayed on its study, but Mrs. Gray has the floor.

I will only remind you one more time—and then I'll move on—to keep your comments relevant to your motion.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just to answer the question, this motion has been—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Keep your comments to your motion, Mrs. Gray.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I won't answer the question then from the other member.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The question was not directed to you.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Through you, this motion is to ask for what parliamentarians have voted on and have approved in the House of Commons to move forward—the piece of legislation that has been voted on and has been approved by Parliament. That's the substance of what the motion is.

This is something that has been agreed to and needs to move forward in order to affect the costs to farmers, which are affecting inflation, which is, again, tying back to the study we're dealing with right now with the cost of living for Canadians.

This committee, even more so than probably a lot of other committees, actually deals with the substance of what that piece of legislation that's sitting in the Senate right now is, because that legislation does have to do with affordability for Canadians. We know that a lot of the programs—either the programs or the pieces of legislation—that come through this committee have to do with income security programs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mrs. Gray, your motion is in reference to farmers, not the public in general, and is specific in calling on the Senate.

I will not remind you again to keep your comments relevant to your motion. I'll call you out of order if you stray again.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Again, we're calling to pass this piece of legislation, which has passed through Parliament, in order to make it happen and to bring down the costs of farmers. That's the substance of the motion. It's calling for this committee, which we have the absolute right to ask for.....

This committee can write and can ask for things to happen in Parliament or call on other groups in order to press forward on issues that are important to this committee. That's what the substance of that motion is. It's calling for this committee to make that request.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mrs. Gray.

Next, I have Mrs. Falk, Ms. Ferreri and then Mr. Long.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Thank you very much—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

On the motion currently before us....

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Are you pointing your finger at me?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

No, but I'm pointing at the committee in general. I'll hold your comments to the relevancy of the motion currently under debate, which is very specific.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Thank you.

In this motion, Chair, it states that the carbon tax threatens the income security of farmers, our farm workers and employment in the agricultural sector. As we heard earlier today, that also is threatening our non-profits and also Canadians—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That's not in the motion.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

—ultimately the vulnerable Canadians. We have Canadians with disabilities whom this committee has in its purview.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mrs. Falk, stick to the motion or I'll call you out of order.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

—as well as seniors and as well as families and workers.

That is something that is in our motion, that the carbon tax threatens the income security of our farmers, our farm workers and employment in the agricultural sector.

We have heard that there is an affordability crisis in this country. We heard that again today with the testimony that was brought forward. We know, when government decides to tax the farmer who grows the food, tax the trucker who ships the food and tax the stores that sell the food, who pays for that: Canadians.

It affects Canadians who are disabled and have disabilities. It affects families and parents with young children.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mrs. Falk, I will call you out of order, unless you stick to the motion currently under debate.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

I see myself as sticking to the motion, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

No, you are not. The motion—

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Absolutely.

It's right in there: “given that: (a)”. It is in the motion. What I am talking about is in the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

What are you referring to?

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

I see it as absolutely relevant.