Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable colleagues. It is a pleasure to be with you today to speak to supplementary estimates (B).
Climate change is altering our world's natural environment in a myriad of harmful ways. This means increasingly severe and frequent weather events, but it also means more expensive groceries, higher local taxes and higher insurance premiums for Canadians. In fact, climate change is already costing the average Canadian household $700 per year, and it cost our economy $7 billion in insured losses last summer alone.
There is some good news here. The economics behind climate change are transforming global finance and markets, creating enormous opportunity on a scale similar to the Industrial Revolution for those who are thoughtful and strategic.
Canada's economic strategy, informed by science and business, is seizing this opportunity for workers and businesses. I look to places like Alberta, where over 6,000 workers are busy building a net-zero petrochemical facility. Other companies are moving quickly to reduce emissions and create thousands of good jobs, including companies like Strathcona, Linde, Shell, Entropy and more.
We cannot economically or environmentally deny and ignore the scientific reality, as the Conservative Party does today. Just like Canada's scientists the last time Pierre Poilievre was in government, Conservative MPs are being muzzled and silenced. They are forced to repeat the same robotic rhymes and tired slogans. Their leader calls the shots and does not let them act on the impetus in front of us: a strong economy and a livable future for our children.
The government is taking a different approach. It's one focused on making life cost less, creating jobs, seizing the economic opportunities in front of us and positioning ourselves to continue to supply the world with its energy and critical minerals needs. Our approach is securing Canada's future as an energy superpower and delivering for Canadian workers in our oil and gas sector by placing a cap on carbon pollution. This ensures that record profits are invested back into Canada instead of overseas. It keeps the sector competitive over the long term, creates thousands of jobs for Canadians, and reduces emissions.
This plan is working. We have attracted historic investments from companies, including Volkswagen, which is building the largest electric vehicle manufacturing plant ever, Air Products, which is investing $1 billion to build a new hydrogen facility in Alberta, and the Burchill wind project in New Brunswick, which is cutting energy bills and creating good jobs for the Tobique First Nation.
As I said, emissions are down. They have dropped about 8% below 2005 levels, the lowest that they have been since 1992. By 2030, emissions will be 41% lower than what they would be under the Conservatives and millions of tonnes less than under the NDP's plan.
Colleagues, the estimates we are discussing today reflect the focus on creating jobs and increasing economic opportunities across Canada. They include investments for indigenous people, building new clean energy projects, advancing new technologies, extracting critical minerals, fighting wildfires and giving workers a seat at the table through the Sustainable Jobs Act.
I felt compelled to appear before you today because these important measures are at risk. The Conservative Party, enabled and supported by the Bloc and the NDP, is obstructing the work Canadians elected each of us to do by bringing this Parliament to a complete standstill. As we speak, in the chamber upstairs, they are blocking vital legislation that will deliver clean water to indigenous communities, funding to build affordable housing and funding for health care and dental care.
The NDP used to say it was a party of workers, but it is now supporting the Conservatives in blocking the $3 million needed to give workers a seat at the table through the Sustainable Jobs Act.
The Bloc Québécois used to care about Quebec's forestry sector. However, it now supports the Conservatives who are blocking over $4 million in critical funding to fight the forest fires that have harmed our forestry industry.
The Conservative Party, after years of ignoring indigenous rights and voices, is blocking over $13 million for the important work of the indigenous advisory and monitoring committee. Together, these parties are blocking funding for the smart renewables program, which is helping to build affordable, reliable and clean electricity grids.
Colleagues, I urge you all to support the estimates as presented, and ask you each to stand against Pierre Poilievre's ridiculous obstruction, which is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars, so we can adopt this funding that will strengthen our economy and fight climate change.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I look forward to the questions.
