Debates of May 9th, 2019

The Environment

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a crisis of affordability in this country, and it is the fault of the government. Canadians are being crushed by high fuel prices because of the carbon tax and the Liberals' hostility to pipelines. We put forward a common-sense motion this week that would help people afford to get to work and to school. The government voted against it: absolutely shameful.

When will the Liberals admit their carbon tax is nothing but a cash grab, and stand with Canadians for a change?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, the party opposite voted for the Paris Agreement and for standing up and taking action on climate change. What are those members doing now? They are lying to Canadians. They are not saying to Canadians that—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. The hon. member for Foothills will come to order.

The hon. Minister of Environment and Climate Change should know that the word she used is unparliamentary. I would ask her to apologize for using that word.

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for that.

The party opposite is misleading Canadians. Instead of actually talking about the cost of climate change to Canadians, which has gone from $400 million to over $2 billion per year that everyone is paying for right now, instead of talking about the money that Canadians are getting back, with a family of four in Ontario getting a climate action incentive rebate of $307, Conservatives are misleading them because Conservatives do not want to take serious climate action. They do not believe that climate change is the problem. They want to do—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, gas prices in British Columbia are sky-high, and residents in my riding do not have the option of walking across the border with jerry cans, which is what is currently happening.

Yesterday, the Liberals doubled down and voted against eliminating the carbon tax and for keeping prices at the gas pumps high. Now that they have rejected our plan, what is their plan to make gas prices more affordable for Canadians?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. We have not put a price on pollution in B.C., because B.C. has stepped up. B.C.'s gas price has gone up by one cent because of its carbon price.

The party opposite does not seem to understand that everyone is paying the cost of climate change. In Ottawa, in the national capital region, we have seen massive flooding that is impacting people's lives and people's property. It is just going to get worse. Our climate change report says that Canada is warming at twice the global average.

We need to take action on climate change. Why will the party opposite not join us?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely clear that the Liberals have no plan to make gas more affordable. The Prime Minister himself said that the carbon tax being high is what he wanted to change behaviour. Well, changing the behaviour of cancer patients who have to drive to their treatment is not acceptable. There are many, many impacts for everyday Canadians that the Liberals do not seem to understand.

We have a plan to make life more affordable, eliminating the carbon tax and getting Trans Mountain built. Why will the Liberals not just admit that they do not care about the price of gas in British Columbia?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, why does the party opposite not care about climate change? Climate change is real. It is having an impact.

In British Columbia, there were forest fires that were burning stronger and longer than ever before. There were mothers who were talking to me about being worried about their kids going outside because the air quality index was 10 or dangerous. There were people who were being hit in the tourism industry, because people were worried about the forest fires and the impacts.

We need to take action on climate change. There is a real cost. The environment and the economy do go together in the 21st century. I wish the party opposite would understand that.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals do not have an environment plan. They only have a tax plan. That is because the millionaire Prime Minister has never had to worry about money, and it shows. The Liberals' carbon tax has increased the price of everything. Their new fuel standard will further hike the cost of gas and diesel, and their cancellation of northern gateway and delays on the Trans Mountain expansion have helped drive prices to all-time highs in B.C.

The Prime Minister actually says that making everything more expensive for everyone is “exactly what we want”. Well, the Liberals do, but Canadians do not.

How could the Liberals actually vote against the Conservative motion to stop increasing the price of gas?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about what we have done to make life more affordable. We have increased taxes on the 1% so we can reduce them on the middle class. We brought in the Canada child benefit—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. It is notable that members would like to have the rules applied strictly but only against the other side. That applies to both sides. Order.

The hon. Minister of Environment has the floor.

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about how we have made life more affordable for Canadians. We reduced taxes on the middle class. We brought in the Canada child benefit, which has raised 300,000 children out of poverty. Yes, we are making it no longer free to pollute, but we are giving the money back to Canadians, so that a family of four in Ontario will receive $307, which is more than most families will pay.

We need to take action on climate change. We need to grow our economy. We need to do it in an affordable way. That is what we are doing.

Taxation

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the CRA claims that the majority of mental impairments are temporary, including autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In fact, these are life-long conditions. They are severe and prolonged, yet the CRA still expects these individuals to reapply for the disability tax credit.

Rather than gouging vulnerable people and their families, will the minister just commit to correcting this unconscionable policy immediately?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that living with a disability can have a major impact on the daily lives of those affected and their loved ones. That is why we put in place measures to make the disability tax credit more accessible, especially by simplifying the form and allowing nurse practitioners to certify their patients' forms.

The government reinstated the disability advisory committee, which was dismantled by the Conservatives in 2006, in order to give people with disabilities a strong voice in their dealings with the agency. We look forward to the committee's recommendations.

Housing

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, experts are calling out the Liberals' failure to address the housing crisis and their attempts to mislead Canadians.

They revealed that the percentage of federal spending on housing is at a historic low and that funding for social housing remains stagnant. They have exposed how the Liberals inflate their numbers by treating existing programs as new ones, counting hypothetical money and representing provincial spending as their own. They say the Liberals are not serious about housing and are taking baby steps.

Why is the government deceiving Canadians and refusing to act on affordable housing?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer this question.

We believe that every Canadian should have a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why, since 2015, we have invested $7.5 billion, additional dollars, helping one million families. That is why in November 2017, we announced the first-ever national housing strategy, a $40-billion strategy. Sorry, it is a $55-billion strategy, because of the April 2019 budget. That is going to lift half a million Canadian families out of housing conditions that are not acceptable in 2019.

Persons With Disabilities

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, CTV News reported that the Liberal government is cutting a program that employs dozens with developmental disabilities.

These workers are finding great meaning in their work at Library and Archives Canada. Our leader has pledged to restore the funding for this program.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and reverse this cold-hearted cut?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking unprecedented actions to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in our economy, including inclusive work opportunities. With respect to this program, we have been working for a year with this organization. We have extended their contract. We are making sure that they have meaningful work so they can contribute to our government's operations.

We are not in the business of paying people a dollar an hour to do work, as the Conservatives were.

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

Mr. Speaker, this all seems highly unlikely. The Liberal government is taking the jobs of 34 Canadians with disabilities who work in the archives, jobs that cost the Canadian government a mere $500,000. More than money, the government is also taking away their honour, pride, and dignity.

Will the Prime Minister stand up and apologize, or will it take another six months to resolve the situation?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we are not letting these people go. We are looking for meaningful work for them. They are exceptionally gifted employees.

We are not in the business of paying people a dollar a day. I misspoke in my previous response. I meant to say a dollar a day. Our government pays its employees fairly. It is important to remember that we have been working with this organization for a year and we will find good jobs for these people.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, they are not paid a dollar a day; they are paid at the Ontario minimum wage level.

Canada's disability community's motto is “Nothing about us without us”, but the Prime Minister is moving on without them, cutting 34 jobs for disabled Canadians. The disabled community is already concerned with the Liberals' refusal to strengthen the toothless accessible Canada act.

When, at committee, the minister was asked about these job cuts, she said that these people are no longer operationally required.

A Conservative government would save these jobs. Will the Liberals follow our lead and reverse these heartless job cuts?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I will set the record straight. It was our government that actually committed, extended the contract and paid these individuals up to minimum wage. It was the Conservative government that paid them $1.50 a day. It is only under the leadership of our government that they are being paid the wage they deserve.

We are working tirelessly with this organization to find them work. I did not say these individuals were not operationally required. I said that the work they were doing is no longer necessary, so that is a very important distinction. I have absolute respect for these workers and their families, and we are doing right by them, I can assure all Canadians.