Debates of Feb. 8th, 2017

Job Losses in the Energy Sector

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Chair, to whoever is writing the talking points on the other side in the lobby over there, the UCCB, EI, and the carbon tax are not what the debate is about tonight. It is about people who have lost their jobs. The hon. member on the other side of the House seems to have forgotten that, in saying EI is the answer to this. That is not the answer to this. The answer to this is to get Albertans back to work. They have completely forgotten that on the other side of the House.

[Darshan Singh Kang, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Chair, our government has been working with Albertans and Canadians to create those much-needed jobs. That is why the government approved the pipelines. We have been investing in innovation and technology. There is $240 million going toward innovation and technology. Does the member know what got the oil out of the oil sands, to begin with? It was innovation and technology.

We are trying to diversify the economy by investing in clean energy, and that will create jobs. We want to have a mix of fossil fuel energy, solar, and wind energy so we can be a leader in the world economy.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, one thing my colleague across the aisle and I have in common, both coming from resource-based communities in British Columbia, is that we certainly understand boom and bust economies. Port Alberni, my hometown right now, has an unemployment rate of 10%. I really sympathize with people in your community who are struggling to make ends meet as oil prices are low.

Right now, there are ships loaded up with raw logs and the mills in our ridings cannot even afford to buy the wood, because that wood goes to market and is bought by overseas markets. We are failing people in our communities. Young people, in the last election, voted for real change. They wanted real change. They wanted to see us do it differently so that we are not in this boom and bust cycle. The government has failed to develop a clear policy to increase investment and deployment of alternative energy sources so that Canadians can get off this boom and bust cycle.

Last year, the government announced a clean energy innovation fund. Maybe the member could talk about what projects have been funded and when we are going to get moving on getting off this boom and bust cycle that we are on, so that young people can actually really have the real change that the government talked about.

[Darshan Singh Kang, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Chair, that is why the government has been investing money in innovation and technology. We have been investing money. It is not going to happen overnight. It is going to take time. Mr. Lougheed tried to diversify the economy. He bought Pacific Western Airlines and Telus and tried to diversify the economy. It is not going to happen overnight. He had some good projects.

We are working on diversifying the economy. That is why we approved the pipelines, so that we can take our dependency off the U.S. market, so that we can get the world price for our oil. We were not getting the world price for our oil because we were landlocked. Once those pipelines are built, we will be diversifying and selling our oil to other markets, and that will bring in—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

So in 20 years, we have another cycle.

[Darshan Singh Kang, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

No, we are diversifying in renewable energy and investing in other projects. That is how we are diversifying the economy.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Chair, we have heard all of the wonderful things that the government has done for Alberta, but let us be very clear. It has approved two pipelines, not pipelines to be built but just expansions of existing pipelines that started under the previous Conservative government. The one pipeline that actually would have made a significant difference by giving us access to markets in the Asia Pacific is northern gateway.

The problem with this is that you have now caused a lot of uncertainty within the industry. You have made a political decision on northern gateway. You said, “I don't like this pipeline going through this area”. The cabinet and the Prime Minister made a decision to block that pipeline.

Therefore, investors and corporations are asking how they can possibly invest in Canada and Alberta if they do not have any clear path to approval. If the National Energy Board approves energy east, will you stand up and approve energy east or will you make a political decision and deny it?

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we go to the answer, I want to remind everyone tonight to speak through the Chair. The committee is one of these forums in which people tend to feel comfortable and at ease with each other. Members are not sitting in their own seats, they are feeling laid back, and they are talking across the floor. I am sure the hon. member for Foothills did not want me to do all of that, but was talking to the hon. member. I just want to clarify that.

The hon. member Calgary Skyview.

[Darshan Singh Kang, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Chair, the irony of the member's question is that it was the previous Conservative government that approved the pipelines and could never get them built. You have been skeptical that we have not delivered. First, you were saying to approve the pipelines. Now we have approved them and now you are saying it will not get built. You are the ones who are creating this uncertainty in the province.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we go on to the next member, I just want to point out how it works when members say “you” and someone says “you” and “you”, it just builds up and before we know it there is shouting match across the floor. This is not very parliamentary, and we have a long evening ahead of us. I am sure we do not want it to turn into a shouting match.

Resuming debate, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Chair, our government is very concerned for Albertans and all Canadians struggling as the result of low oil and other commodity prices.

The impact on workers and their families has been considerable with job losses occurring across the province. This is why we are taking action to create jobs and growth in Alberta and the rest of the country. As part of our plan, we are delivering support for workers and businesses, continuing to invest in innovation, and strengthening infrastructure for Albertans and for Canadians. Any job lost means that a family is struggling to make ends meet.

Our government is working hard to support unemployed Albertans and to ensure they find meaningful jobs and opportunities. We have extended employment insurance benefits by up to 20 weeks for all Albertans laid off. We have reduced the unpaid waiting period for benefits from two weeks to one week.

Our government is supporting Alberta's businesses as they adapt to changing economic conditions. The Business Development Bank of Canada has partnered with the Alberta Treasury Branch to make $1 billion available for loans to small and medium-sized businesses in Alberta. This builds on the BDC's previous commitment of $500 million toward new loans and advisory services to help businesses struggling with declining oil and gas prices. The program has an excellent uptake in Alberta. Between April and December of last year, the BDC issued 1,150 loans to Alberta's small businesses and authorized $258 million to Alberta businesses.

Last year, the Prime Minister announced the approval of three major pipeline projects that will add 25,000 new jobs, and many of these jobs will be created in Alberta. One of these pipelines, the $6.8 billion Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project, recently received environmental approval from the Government of British Columbia and the company expects that construction could begin later this year.

We are also delivering on a strong innovation agenda that includes doubling our spending on clean energy, ensuring support for innovation ecosystems through post-secondary investments.

Our government is following through on our commitment to make historic investments in much needed infrastructure that will create well paying middle-class jobs. Our government has already approved 127 public infrastructure projects for a total combined investment of over $4 billion across Alberta in the last year. That means more than $1.1 billion toward 48 projects in Edmonton; more than $2.7 billion toward nine projects in Calgary; over $182 million for 35 projects in northern Alberta; and more than $205 million for 36 projects in southern Alberta.

Major projects, such as Edmonton's Yellowhead Trail freeway upgrade, or Calgary's Southwest Ring Road, are moving forward as a result of these efforts.

These investments will create jobs, provide much needed upgrades to community infrastructure, and leave a lasting legacy in urban and rural communities across Alberta and the country.

Alberta has been a driver for the Canadian economy for many years and we recognize the tremendous economic challenges that Albertans are facing. We are working hard to support Alberta workers, families, and businesses that need our help in the short term, but our work is also helping lay the foundation for economic prosperity in the long term.

When Alberta workers, families, and businesses succeed, Canada succeeds.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Mr. Chair, I was going to speak specifically about the job losses, which is what this take-note debate is about, but because it is the infrastructure minister, I thought perhaps we could talk a bit about some infrastructure programs that would be no cost to the government, such as energy east.

We heard earlier from the leader of the NDP how he had championed the oil refining business in Montreal. The question is where that oil came from that was being refined in Montreal. Instead of using Saudi oil coming into eastern Canada, we could be using western Canadian oil and putting western Canadians back to work.

I am curious as to when there is going to be a major push to help energy east.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Chair, our government understands the important role natural resources play in the growth of our economy throughout the country. That is why we approved three major pipeline projects, and those pipeline projects will create 25,000 jobs for Canadians, particularly for Albertans. There is a process in place that every government follows for the approval of those pipelines.

We are proud that we are delivering on the expectations of Canadians to get our resources to the international market. We have done more for Alberta's resources sector in the last year than the previous government did in 10 years combined.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, one thing we people in British Columbia have in common with our sisters and brothers in Alberta is that we know boom-and-bust economies. Right now I know loggers in the forests who are working in raw logs. They do not want to see wood shipped out of our country without adding value. When I talk to oil workers in Alberta, they tell me that they do not want to see oil shipped out of the country without being refined and processed here in Canada. That is something we have in common, and they know we can do better. Actually, they are counting on us.

When the government ran on a platform of real change, that meant real action. Right now, what we need is to see real action.

The government talked about a clean energy innovation fund. It is time to spend that money so we can start investing in clean energy, in alternative energy, and end this cycle of boom-and-bust economies. The government needs to accelerate getting this money off the table and into these communities, especially in Alberta, so that we can get people back to work and can end this cycle of boom-and-bust economies.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Chair, we are proud of our relationship with the provincial government. Under the leadership of Premier Notley, the climate action plan implemented with her government is exactly what the hon. member is talking about.

Diversifying our economy and not relying on a single source, investing in new technology, investing in sustainable energy, transferring the carbon levy to low-income Albertans to offset the cost, and investing those resources in public transit and in technology is exactly what the Alberta government is doing. We are here to support the Alberta government through our investments in green infrastructure. We will be investing close to $25 billion over the next 12 years to support those kinds of initiatives.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Chair, the minister has mentioned Alberta. I come from beautiful British Columbia, even though I spent eight years in Alberta.

I would like to ask the minister this question. How are his vision and the Liberal government's vision going to help British Columbia? I am sure there are many British Columbians listening to the speech now.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Chair, one of the biggest strengths of our country is our regional diversity geographically, culturally, and economically.

We are focused on growing the economy throughout the country, whether it is Quebec's economy, British Columbia's economy, or Alberta's economy. We are Canadians. We stand with each other in times of need, and we also help people in times of need. We saw the generosity shown by Canadians to Albertans during the Fort McMurray fires and the support they have extended to Albertans to extend EI benefits to the hardest-hit regions in Alberta. That is our stand, and that is what we take pride in.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Edmonton West.

Before Christmas, I had a woman come into my office. I will not name her. She is a single mom. She is one of the many out-of-work engineers in Calgary. She could not afford day care, because she had been out of work for 18 months, so she brought her son into my office. She was not asking for millions of dollars of help. She said she just wanted to work. She said she wanted to help other women who are in her situation who have been laid off. What she did not say, but what I could see, was that her child had not had a new coat in two years, and she had not had a new coat in several years. Here was a woman who cannot afford to pay billions of dollars to lobbyists and cronies to get a bailout, like Bombardier did. She just wants to work. This government is nowhere for people like her.

The government is no better than it was in 1982, when the current Prime Minister's father gave the one-finger salute to protesters in Salmon Arm who dared challenge the fact that a Trudeau government did not give two rips about western Canada. Here we are today, but here is the difference.

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am sorry, which Trudeau were you referring to?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

The Prime Minister's father.

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Chair, here is the difference. Western Canada impacts the entire country now. Alberta energy sector workers stand in solidarity with workers who fly back and forth from the Maritimes, with steelworkers from across the country, and with people from British Columbia, because a strong Alberta means a strong Canada. We cannot be silenced anymore.

What has the government tried to do? It is very clever. It has done everything except actually call it the national energy plan 2. It put uncertainty into the regulatory process for approving major resource projects. It put a tax on everything, which will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anytime we ask the government to show the demand assumptions on price elasticity, it cannot do that. It put a consumption tax on this.

The infrastructure minister, who just rose in debate, spent $800,000 renovating his own office instead of doing anything in Alberta. As one of my colleagues behind me said, all the Liberals have done is manage to put together a jumble of buzz words. Why? It is because they are ideologically opposed to our part of the country. I say this not out of politics but out of reality. Every single one of my colleagues who sits behind me tonight knows that this is right. It is something that needs to be said.

The Prime Minister cannot say that he wants to phase out the energy sector and then say two weeks later that he misspoke. We cannot have ideological, non-fact-based opposition to one of Canada's major job-creating sectors, which we know can produce energy in one of the most ethical, effective, environmentally responsible ways in the entire world. We are a leader in that. That is one of our exports.

We have a Prime Minister and a caucus who just do not care. They are more interested in $1,500 Rosedale cocktail soirees than about the woman who was in my office. They are more interested in anything other than the woman who was in my office and wants to work. They do not care. They have done nothing for the people in my riding.

This is what I ask of the government tonight. It is very simple. The Liberals stand here and waste time in Parliament for a week and a half in debate on changing the chief statistician council. They should give a rip about Alberta. They should stop ignoring the fact that we are part of this country, because at some point, we will not be quiet, and that starts tonight.

I will say to everyone who is watching that we are not putting up with this anymore. The talking points the government is putting forward are not cutting it. On behalf of every person who has written to every one of the people who are sitting behind me tonight, we are standing up for them and we are standing up against that.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Chair, like the hon. member, I am also a proud Albertan. I have lived in Alberta for 34 years. I know people who have been laid off or who have taken a reduction in their hours of work and are struggling.

I would like to ask the member if she supports extending the Canada child benefits to struggling families. Does she support extended EI benefits for laid off workers? Does she support our investments in innovation?

The Canada child benefit will lift 30,000 children out of poverty in Alberta, 30,000 children who are struggling today. This year they will be better off. Next year they will be better off compared to this year. Those are the investments we are making, because we understand that families are struggling.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Chair, I stand against that member spending $800,000 on office renovations, when people are losing their homes. I stand against that member imposing a new tax on everything, when people cannot make ends meet. I stand against that member standing up in the House of Commons and refusing to support the energy east project. I stand against this member voting to raise CPP premiums at a time when people cannot make ends meet.

I stand up in this House, and I stand against this member, who claims that he knows Alberta but has done absolutely nothing to support our economy.