House of Commons Hansard #311 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was export.
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister struts about the international stage bragging about how he is a champion of the environment. Lucky for him not everyone reads Canadian newspapers, because then they would realize that, instead of walking the talk, he took $4.5 billion in taxpayers' money and bought a pipeline.
The Liberals promised to be champions of renewable energy. Why are they breaking their promise? Why invest in yesterday's energy sources rather than in the energy sources of the future?
Kim Rudd LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question, which allows me to talk about some of the work we are doing around protecting our environment and growing the economy, including a $1.5-billion oceans protection plan. It is simply not the case that we believe that one cannot be done with the other. That is why, in addition to putting a price on pollution, we have a climate change policy that addresses all the opportunities within the clean-tech sector, whether that is in nuclear, whether that is in bioenergy, or whether that is in oil and gas.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, whether the Prime Minister and his environment minister want to accept it or not, last night Ontarians overwhelmingly rejected their carbon tax. My home province of Saskatchewan welcomes a new ally in the fight against this Liberal tax grab.
Will the Prime Minister learn from the lesson that has befallen his friend, the former premier, Kathleen Wynne, and finally stop forcing his carbon tax on middle-class Canadians all across this country?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, Canadians know that we can fight climate change and grow our economy at the same time.
Many of Canada's largest employers have endorsed the concept of a price on carbon pollution. It is already helping to build a clean-growth economy for Canada. Companies like CarbonCure in Nova Scotia, companies like Hydrogenics in Toronto, and companies like General Fusion and Carbon Engineering in British Columbia are companies that are part of the way of clean growth that will enable Canada to ensure that economic growth continues going forward while we meet our international obligations to address climate change.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is a beautiful, sunny day in Canada today. Why? It is because last night, Ontarians made the right choice for a new beginning in their province. Our Conservative Saskatchewan members of Parliament welcome the new Ontario Progressive Conservative government as an ally with our premier and the wonderful people of Saskatchewan in rejecting the Liberal government's carbon tax.
Will the Prime Minister now, finally, listen to middle-class families and scrap his carbon tax?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want their government to address the climate issue in thoughtful ways. They want to ensure that we are addressing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with our international commitments, and they want us to do that in ways that ensure that we grow an economy that will ensure prosperity for Canadians in the future.
That is what the pan-Canadian framework is about that we negotiated with the provinces and territories. It is a comprehensive approach that will drive growth going forward and will allow us to address climate change.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I just want to remind the hon. members of the rules again. I know we have heard them before, but when somebody is speaking, it is not polite, and it is against the rules, to actually shout at them. I would like to hear what the hon. question is and what the hon. answer is.
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, last night, Ontarians rejected the Liberal carbon tax in their election of a Progressive Conservative government. They will join my province of Saskatchewan, and soon, Alberta, in rejecting the Liberals and their carbon tax. We in Saskatchewan know this plight all too well. We welcome our new ally in the fight against the Prime Minister's job-killing carbon tax.
When will the Prime Minister stop his attack on middle-class families and axe his carbon tax?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions, Canadians expect their government to address climate change in thoughtful and substantive ways. That means ensuring that we have a comprehensive plan, one that addresses regulatory issues, such as accelerating the phase-out of coal, reducing methane emissions, making major investments in green infrastructure, and investments to stimulate the growth of clean technology in this country. It also includes putting a price on pollution to ensure that we are trying to address what we do not want and accelerating the innovation that we do. We are focused on ensuring a balanced approach that will drive economic growth going forward but will also enable us to reduce greenhouse—
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday voters in Ontario made it clear that they are fed up with rising taxes, including the Liberals' carbon tax. We also can be sure that Alberta will send the same message next year, when voters elect Jason Kenney premier.
When will this Prime Minister start listening and stop forcing his unaffordable, job-killing carbon tax on hard-working middle-class Canadians?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, climate change is real. Climate change requires that we actually come up with thoughtful and substantive ways to address the issue. It involves thinking about the economy of the future and driving innovation. It looks at the key measures and the most significant and cost-effective measures to actually reduce that. One of those is putting a price on carbon pollution.
I know that on that side of the House, members were not in favour of learning based on data and science over the past 10 years when they were in government, but a price on carbon pollution has been demonstrated internationally as one of the most effective and low-cost ways to address the carbon issue.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, today is June 8, only three short weeks away from the Liberals' declared July 1 deadline for cannabis legalization. Talk about a plan going up in smoke. Now we have a slew of amendments to the Liberals' bill from the unelected Senate that this House will now need to deal with.
After three years of waiting, Canadians want legalization, clarity, and reasonable rules for everyone. What is the government's plan to deal with these amendments so that Canadians get what they deserve, a fair and timely cannabis law?
Jody Wilson-Raybould LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question with respect to Bill C-45, the cannabis legislation that we are moving forward. I would like to thank the members in the other House for the thoughtful and considered amendments they have put forward.
I am anticipating that we will receive a message in this House. We will carefully consider the amendments that the other House has put forward as we move toward a comprehensive legalized framework and strict regulation of cannabis.
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, once the cannabis is put to a vote in the Senate, it will be sent back to the House with nearly four dozen amendments. Each of them will cause additional delays, and the Liberals may have to postpone the coming into force of the bill to legalize cannabis.
Meanwhile, thousands of Canadians continue to face criminal charges, particularly people who are already marginalized.
Why are the Liberals turning their backs on Canadian citizens? They need to decriminalize marijuana right away.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the current approach to cannabis is not working. It allows criminals to profit and has not managed to keep cannabis out of the hands of our children. However, our government is legalizing, regulating, and strictly controlling access to cannabis, and we are pleased that Bill C-41 was passed by the Senate.
We thank senators for their work. Our government will carefully examine the amendments they made.
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, on April 22, we celebrated Earth Day. That day, Canada joined the international community in focusing on the importance of protecting the environment.
Clean-up activities took place across the country. Vast quantities of discarded single-use plastics represent a huge waste of energy and resources and are threatening our marine species.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell the House about what the government has been doing lately to tackle plastic waste and marine litter?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking my colleague, the member for Pontiac, for his question and his hard work.
Our government is committed to protecting our environment and preserving our waterways so that all Canadians can continue to benefit from them. That is why Canada will be taking steps during its G7 presidency this year and in the coming years to prevent plastics from ending up in our oceans, our waterways, and our landfills.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, dairy farmers cannot trust the Prime Minister anymore. RealAgriculture just reported that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has confirmed the Prime Minister's hypocrisy.
“Canada made dairy offer”, he said.
The Prime Minister was dishonest yesterday with Saguenay's dairy farmers.
Why did he hide from them the fact that Canada has already made concessions? Could the Prime Minister and his ministers tell us the truth for once? What concessions have they made to the Americans?
Jean-Claude Poissant LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, our government supports the supply management system, and we support farmers and their families. It was our party that fought to establish the system, and we are still protecting and defending it. We have always said that it is an excellent system.
Do the Harper Conservatives want us to sign just any deal? This government will only sign a deal that is good for all Canadians. We will continue to support supply-managed farmers, their families, and all of our agricultural interests.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, they are so good at playing word games.
I have a question. Which Prime Minister are we supposed to believe: the one who said no in Chicoutimi or the one who said yes to the United States? Producer Michel Frigon was right to be extremely disappointed with the Prime Minister's visit to Saguenay yesterday. The news always comes from the United States. Canada made an offer to the Americans. This was confirmed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Once again, what was the offer? Why lie to Canada's milk producers?
Jean-Claude Poissant LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, our government supports the supply management system, farmers, and their families. This system is a model of stability around the world. Our party fought to implement this system, and we will continue to protect and defend it.
We have said many times that the proposals from our American partners about supply management are unacceptable. We will continue to protect supply-managed producers, their families, and all agricultural interests.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, as a result of the Prime Minister's tweets, our country has become a destination for illegal migrants.
Today, our leader is there to observe the scope of the situation. From January to April of this year alone, 9,615 people entered Quebec illegally, and our customs officers are expecting up to 400 illegal entries a day this summer. Just imagine. It is scandalous.
Why did the Prime Minister refuse to put the issue of illegal immigrants on the G7 agenda?
Serge Cormier LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I am certain that the Leader of the Opposition's visit to Lacolle will be very interesting.
The Leader of the Opposition will probably inform our partners that the former Conservative government slashed $390 million from the interim health program that it cut, a decision that was deemed cruel and unfair by the courts, and left a huge backlog at the Immigration and Refugee Board, and that the Conservatives are going to build a 9,000-kilometre-long official border crossing.
If I were an immigration officer or a border services officer, I would refuse to attend and send the Leader of the Opposition packing.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is a pretty typical reaction from the parliamentary secretary.
A month ago, I asked the Minister of Public Safety how much the lives of the correctional officers who work in Canada's prisons are worth.
In Donnacona, there are men and women who risk their lives every day, and this government is penny-pinching. Rather than finding solutions to the Phoenix pay system, the Liberals are cutting prisons' internal fire brigades.
Will this Liberal government take action, protect our workers, and pay public servants properly?
Bill Blair LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and to the Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we are absolutely committed to maintaining a safe and respectful work environment for all members of the public service. We are working closely with the new interim commissioner of correctional services, who is taking significant measures to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all corrections workers in this country.