Debates of June 13th, 2019

Stanley Cup Winners

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, congratulations go to Fredericton's own Jake Allen, who hoisted the Stanley Cup last night in a decisive game seven victory over our Boston Bruins.

Jake is the first Frederictonian since Danny Grant in 1968 to win hockey's holy grail. In fact, on the heels of Willie O'Ree's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, it has been a pretty good 12 months for NHL fans and our stars in Fredericton.

I am sure that Jake's biggest fan, Brad Pond, is sitting at home already planning the parade for when the Stanley Cup comes to town this summer. Like Brad, all of Fredericton was filled with pride as Jake lifted the cup over his head last night. I am sure that his great-grandfather Wilfred, a childhood buddy of mine, is looking down from above, smiling.

I hope Jake will enjoy the celebration with his teammates. We look forward to seeing him, Shannon and the two girls in Freddy Beach this summer where we can all have a sip out of Lord Stanley's mug.

Mississauga—Lakeshore

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, grassroots organizations and passionate residents are at the core of what makes Mississauga—Lakeshore a great place to live, work and play. From the Mississauga Waterfront Festival to the Paint the Town Red Canada Day parade and the Southside Shuffle, the champions behind our events are true community builders.

I would also like to thank members of our community who came together to tackle plastics pollution. The Prime Minister's recent announcement on single-use plastics is supported by the advocacy of people in my riding and across Canada who saw a pressing challenge and decided to be part of the solution.

In their efforts to build a more inclusive community in Mississauga—Lakeshore, local leaders also came together to found the Rainbow Sauga Alliance to create LGBTQ2+ safe spaces. This past weekend, they hosted the first Pride flag raising at Mississauga's city hall.

To all those who work tirelessly to make our community even stronger and more inclusive, I offer my sincere thanks. Mississauga—Lakeshore is indeed a better place because of their commitment and hard work.

Seniors

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Seniors from all walks of life across gender, culture and socio-economic status are vulnerable to elder abuse: physical, financial, sexual or emotional. These crimes result in distress and harm to the victims, who need to be protected. That is why the last Conservative government passed the Victims Bill of Rights and included age as an aggravating factor for sentencing. I am so proud that my motion to combat seniors fraud passed in the House recently.

Conservatives created the position of minister for seniors. The Liberals cut it. It took them more than three years to appoint one. When it comes to caring for seniors, the Liberals are not as advertised.

The Environment

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the disastrous effects of climate change demand immediate action. This is our generation's biggest challenge. My constituents in Outremont and Mile-End feel the same. I have listened to them and we responded. Our government just strengthened our plan for the environment.

We are banning single-use plastics in two years, including plastic cutlery and plastic food wrapping. Eighty-seven per cent of these plastics are not being recycled. They are instead found in our lakes, in our rivers and in our parks.

I know some think this is a very bold measure, but we need to be bold. It is our responsibility in this House to consider the future of our country and to protect the planet for our children and our grandchildren.

Cowichan—Malahat—Langford

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the 42nd Parliament is drawing to a close and we shall soon vacate the nation's capital for some much-needed time with our families, our constituents and our communities. I want to wish all of my colleagues a safe and happy summer.

It has been an incredible privilege to be a member of Parliament and represent the area in which I grew up. This House is a special place, with every seat here representing a distinct and unique part of this great country.

This job is certainly unlike any other, but it has never been about me. It has always been and will continue to be about the amazing communities and people I represent on the spectacular and beautiful Vancouver Island. They are the reasons I am here and they are the ones who continue to inspire and push me to be better. I look forward to reuniting with them in the weeks and months ahead.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, throughout this past winter a record number of my constituents shared their home heating bills with me.

They did this because in British Columbia, which has signed on to the Liberals' pan-Canadian agreement to raise carbon taxes, the price of the carbon tax can be higher than the commodity cost of the gas. For an 87-year-old senior on a fixed income, a $150 monthly power bill hits hard.

Today we learn from the Parliamentary Budget Officer that the Liberals' carbon tax is a total failure. It will not meet the Paris targets the government likes to boast about. We are told the carbon tax will need to be massively increased. lt will literally need to be five times higher.

I have constituents who cannot afford the current carbon tax. A massive carbon tax increase will cause serious hardship. I implore the Liberals to come clean and tell Canadians how much more carbon tax they will impose if re-elected. Canadians have a right to know.

York Centre

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight some of the work over the past four years that has improved the lives of my constituents in York Centre.

Each year we have created hundreds of summer jobs for youth, including for those most at risk of gun and gang violence. Through the Canada child benefit, we have lifted record numbers of families and children out of poverty. We have invested in the TTC and opened two new subway stations in my riding alone. We have addressed affordable housing for seniors and families through investments in Toronto community housing. We have made investments in vital projects like the North York Women's Shelter, brought our community's voice back to Downsview Park, supported the new Centennial College aerospace campus, and quadrupled security infrastructure grants at synagogues, schools and community centres. We have recognized and celebrated our community through Jewish, Italian, Filipino and Latin American heritage months.

Let me close with words that will resonate across this chamber and across the country: “Let's go Raptors. We The North.”

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we now know the Liberal carbon tax is so ineffective that it would have to rise by 400%, or double what the Liberals have publicly projected, in order to do what it promises. That is according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. That would mean a painful 25¢ a litre of new tax on gas.

Will the government come clean before the election, and admit that it is indeed planning a 25¢ a litre tax on gas?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, the party opposite continues to mislead Canadians. I want to know if the member opposite cashed his climate active incentive rebate of $307. That is for a family of four; he may only have a family of three.

We need to take serious action on climate change. It is not, as Jason Kenney says, the flavour of the month. We have Doug Ford cutting flood management and forest fire management programs during floods and forest fires. We have the Leader of the Opposition, who seems to doubt the link between climate change and extreme weather. He wants to make it free to pollute, and Doug—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Carleton.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is doing exactly what she said she would do. She will just repeat and repeat something, even if it is not true, so people will totally believe it.

The facts are out. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says the carbon tax would have to be 400% higher than the Liberals have admitted. The reality is that would mean a painful 25¢ a litre tax on gas.

I am asking a simple yes or no question. Are the Liberals planning a painful 25¢ a litre tax on gas?

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

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no, and the member is misleading Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it comes directly out of the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report. If we simply take his numbers, we arrive at a 25¢ a litre tax on gas. That is the plan, as the Parliamentary Budget Officer has laid it out, and it works out to $1,000 for an Ontario family, far more than the tiny, smaller than advertised rebate cheques that the Liberals sent out prior to the election.

If the minister wants to deny it, why does she not just tell us how much the price of gas will go up when the carbon tax applies at $100 a tonne?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me set it out plainly for the member opposite. I hope he will listen. We are taking ambitious action on climate change in everything from pricing pollution to phasing out renewables. We are also taking other measures that are not reflected in the Parliamentary Budget Office report, from phasing out plastic and tackling plastic pollution to the incentives for electric vehicles that we just announced, and from doubling nature to planting trees.

We are committed to meeting our international obligations and doing more, but what Canadians want to know is whether the party opposite understands we have a climate emergency that we need to be taking—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.

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

Mr. Speaker, the cat is out of the bag. Yesterday, once again, the Prime Minister stood in his place and misled Canadians, saying that he would meet the Paris targets. That is not true.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer concluded today that Canada will not meet those targets and, worse still, that the Liberals will have to raise their Liberal tax from $20 to $100 if they want to meet those targets. That is five times higher than the current Liberal tax.

Can the Minister of Environment tell us how much Canadians will have to pay with the Liberal carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, that member should be ashamed of his comments, given that he is from Quebec, where there is a price on pollution that works. What is happening in Quebec? Quebec is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and growing its economy. It has the largest clean technology sector in the country.

I hope the member opposite will step up, as Quebeckers want, and present an ambitious climate action plan to meet our targets.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honoured to stand in the House with a document prepared by the Quebec ministry of the environment, which indicates that between 2014 and 2016 the carbon exchange did not lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. I cannot say in the House that the minister lied, but she did not tell the truth.

I have a simple question for the minister: how much more will Canadians have to pay for gas?

Will gas go up by 25¢ per litre, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised to hear the opposition member's comments.

Is he telling Quebeckers that he no longer supports Quebec's carbon exchange? Is the opposition member saying that Quebec should not put a price on pollution? Does the opposition member believe that we cannot do as Quebec is doing and grow our economy while tackling climate change? Has the opposition member not seen the millions of young people in the streets calling for concrete measures to deal with climate change? I know that Quebec members of the House know this.

The Senate

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, members democratically elected to the House voted to pass a bill that would work towards reconciliation. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People would be enshrined in Canadian law. That would improve the lives of indigenous people.

Members of the House also voted for a bill that would ensure that federal judges receive sexual assault training. That would improve the lives of sexual assault survivors.

These bills are now being held up in the unelected Senate. It is a travesty of our democracy.

What is the Prime Minister doing to ensure that the will of the people is defended and these bills are passed?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, the government is moving forward on key legislative initiatives to implement the UN declaration, including the legislation on languages and child and family services.

We also supported Bill C-262 as an important next step.

We too are deeply disappointed to see that the Conservative leader continues to allow his caucus members in the other place to use partisan delay tactics to prevent this important bill from moving forward, blatantly ignoring the unanimous motion passed by the House.

Reconciliation with indigenous peoples should not be subject—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. Members need to remember to listen. No matter whether they like what they hear or not, they still have to hear it. The Chair has to hear it to know whether it is out of order. I would appreciate some help in that regard.

The hon. member for Burnaby South.

Pharmacare

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Sherbrooke was approached by a man who said he was unable to pay for his three prescriptions. He could afford only one of the three and his pharmacist had to tell him which one was the most important. People like him have been waiting decades to have access to the medicines they need.

Are the Liberals going to keep catering to big pharma or will they stand by Canadians and finally bring in a publicly delivered universal pharmacare plan?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare plan.

We will be developing this plan, and to do that we need to work with the provinces, territories, the health care sector, indigenous peoples and all Canadians. We will not stop working on this file. We want to ensure that all Canadians have access to the drugs they need.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's report confirms 40 years of commissions and studies. It confirms that Canada needs a single-payer, publicly delivered, universal, comprehensive pharmacare for all.

Afer four years, what does the Liberal government have to show? The answer is nothing. In fact, the Liberals have shown that they would rather help big pharma over people who have to make tough choices between medication and buying their groceries: tough choices that may mean they end up in hospital because they cannot afford their medication.

Why will the Liberals not do what is necessary? Why will they not get out of the way and let New Democrats implement a plan?