Debates of June 6th, 2017

Resuming debate

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, the member opposite and I have worked very closely together on many environmental issues, and I know he cares passionately about the environment and understands the need to tackle climate change. We are absolutely committed to reducing fossil fuel subsidies. We removed some subsidies in this budget, and we are committed to doing it in line with the international community agreements that were made.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, it seems as if the Conservatives are now taking credit for a global recession in 2008, and if they could only have made it deeper and collapsed the mortgage market further, their plan would have worked. Does the minister really think Stephen Harper was in charge of the global recession all those years ago, and was it really the Conservatives' plan to fight greenhouse gas emissions?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am not going to talk about the previous government. I would prefer to talk about all of the action we have taken. We understand we need to be working with the provinces and territories, businesses, indigenous peoples, labour, environmentalists, and all Canadians. That is how we developed our made-in-Canada climate plan. That is how we are going to tackle climate change. That is how we are going to do our part, and show leadership in the world. That is how we are going to ensure a more sustainable future for our kids and grandkids.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, this evening we are going to talk about the Paris agreement, which sets exactly the same targets as those set by the Conservative government in the spring of 2015. The whole planet must know that. Not only did the Liberal government adopt exactly the same targets as Prime Minister Harper, but so did the whole planet and President Obama too. That is an indisputable and undisputed fact.

Which government was the only government in Canada's 150-year history to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? The Conservative government, which reduced emissions by 2%. That is another fact.

Also under our government, greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands went down by 32%. These planet-friendly, environmentally friendly accomplishments are courtesy of the Conservative government. Need I remind anyone that the targets we set were so sensible that the whole planet adopted them? That is a fact.

However, the only thing the government has to show for its lofty principles is the creation of a new tax, the Liberal carbon tax. This is typical of the Liberals, they who never stop lecturing. Whenever they are faced with a problem, they create a tax. This should come as no surprise, given that under the Chrétien and Martin Liberal governments, greenhouse gas emissions rose by 30%.

Now reality is catching up to them. I cannot repeat this enough. The entire planet has recognized that we, the Conservatives, established the right greenhouse gas reduction targets. Now those folks over there are improvising a Liberal carbon tax and imposing it on the provinces, contrary to what they said earlier. They said they would act collaboratively with the provinces, but that is absolutely not the case.

The Prime Minister said in this very place that he would give the provinces two years to reach an agreement, and if there was no agreement, he would impose the tax. The reality is that the Liberals are imposing it, period. That is the Liberal approach. They impose a tax and punish everyone.

Instead of helping businesses and working with the major polluters on finding positive and constructive solutions, as we did with the oil sands, this government wants to punish everyone. Then it adopts lofty principles, treats the provinces poorly and forces them to raise taxes, which is not the right thing to do.

That is why we think that the government should at least have the honour, dignity, and courage to recognize that the Paris agreement targets are the Conservative government's targets, of which we are very proud.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Is the House ready for the question?

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The question is on the subamendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the subamendment?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

All those in favour of the subamendment will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the subamendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #306

Paris Agreement

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the subamendment defeated.

The next question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #307

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the amendment defeated.

The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.