Debates of June 14th, 2019

Carbon Pricing

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I find the question rich coming from a member who decided to hide the fact that the climate action incentive existed in a publication to his constituents, which was designed to tell them how they could maximize their tax refund. The fact is that families of four in Ontario received $307 this year, and that rebate will grow over time.

It seems as though the Conservatives are putting their fingers in their ears, saying they do not want to hear the truth because the truth is not helpful to them. Every time they have the chance, they vote against measures that put more money in the pockets of Canadian households. We found the most effective way to reduce emissions, we found a way to make life more affordable and, every time, they seem to vote against measures that have that impact.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before I go to the next question, I want to remind some members who have very strong voices that carry very well to be mindful of the strength of their voices. It drowns out answers we are trying to hear.

The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway.

Health

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Hoskins' advisory council was clear that Canadians needed public pharmacare, yet the government refuses to commit to it. People are making impossible choices when it comes to the prescription drugs they need, choices like paying their rent or filling a prescription, cutting pills to make a bottle last longer or skipping their medicine altogether. People are getting sicker and dying.

A simple question deserves a clear answer from the health minister. Will the Liberals implement a universal, comprehensive, single-payer pharmacare or not?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that Canadians should not have to choose between putting food on their table and paying for prescription medication. That is why we are committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare program. The work has been under way for a few years.

The first thing we have done is some work to lower the costs of drugs in the country. In budget 2019, we announced $35 million to ensure we would have a Canadian drug agency that would help us make this plan a reality.

We are deeply committed to ensuring that all Canadians have the prescriptions they deserve.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

That is what the Liberals said in 1997, Mr. Speaker.

There were 11,500 Canadians who died from opioid overdoses between 2016 and 2019. Opioid deaths have risen every year of the Liberal government's mandate. This is a true epidemic.

The Liberals say that they are doing everything possible, but they are not. We need a national declaration of a public health emergency, federal funding for overdose prevention sites, more investments into treatments and an end to the cause of this carnage, which is a poisoned street supply.

Why are the Liberals refusing to take these overdue measures that will save lives?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the numbers that were announced yesterday are not just numbers; they are our brothers, sisters and neighbours. Our government is taking action.

We have invested more than $350 million to ensure more treatments are available to Canadians. We have also introduced harm reduction as a key pillar to our drug strategy. Also, we have approved more than 40 supervised consumption sites. We recognize that supervised consumption sites save lives.

We will continue to work with our partners on the ground to ensure we do all that we can to turn the tide on this national public health crisis.

Natural Resources

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal attack on the energy sector has crippled Alberta and is impacting B.C. After 50 years, a houseboat company in Sicamous has announced it is shutting down, affecting 150 employees.

The mayor of Sicamous has blamed the downturn in the Alberta economy and the pipeline dispute for having taken a toll on the community.

Today, the Liberals are announcing a western economic growth strategy, as if they have not done enough damage already.

When will the Liberals end their attack on the west?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to highlight some of the investments that are happening in western Canada: a $40 billion single private sector investment in the LNG sector and a $9 billion investment in the petrochemical sector right in my home province of Alberta. We are moving forward on the Enbridge Line 3, which is almost completed on the Canadian side. We are moving forward on the Keystone XL pipeline. As well, we are moving forward in the right way and fixing the process on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a tough week for Alberta here in Ottawa.

The Prime Minister has rammed through his anti-pipeline, anti-energy bills, Bills C-69 and C-48, and announced a carbon tax for the province of Alberta. These attacks are driving investment and opportunity out of the province.

Without a hint of irony, this very morning those same Liberals announced their western Canada job strategy. It is like hiring the arsonists to rebuild the house after they lit the fire.

When will the Liberals realize that the only growth strategy that will work is if they end their attack on Canada's energy sector?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, coming from a member from Alberta, it is very interesting for him to not acknowledge the good work that is being done to support the energy sector. We are the government that is creating conditions for private sector investment to happen in the energy sector. There was a $40 billion investment in one single project, which is the largest private sector investment to happen in our history. There was a $9 billion investment in the petrochemical sector, which will create thousands of jobs for Alberta workers, something of which we are very proud.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Alberta has been shown nothing but disdain from the Liberal government for the last three and a half years. The Liberals continue their assault on the energy sector. Last night they shut down debate on Bill C-69, which has devastated many of my constituents.

People have lost their businesses, their jobs and their homes. They have lost hope. Some have even taken their own lives.

When everyone is telling the environment minister that her plan is a disaster, she chooses to ignore this advice. Everyone has been repeating it so long and saying it so loud. Why will she not listen?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-69 puts in better rules that allow good projects to move forward in a way that respects the environment and allows Canadians to participate in the process.

We are fixing a system that led to a number of large projects failing and being challenged in Federal Court because Stephen Harper brought in changes in 2012 that gutted environmental protections and restricted the ability of Canadians to participate in a regular process.

We firmly believe that Bill C-69 would allow—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Lakeland.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have put hundreds of thousands of Albertans out of work, with brutal consequences: rising bankruptcies, family breakdowns, substance abuse, crime, suicides and a loss of hope and dreams. That hurts all of Canada.

The Liberals are ramming through laws to block oil exports and kill resource projects, and will make everything more expensive with their carbon tax. After only one hour of debate on hundreds of amendments, the Liberals forced through their no more pipelines bill, Bill C-69, even though nine provinces and all territories want major changes.

Why are the Liberals so relentless in their attacks on Albertans?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, again, let me highlight that for 10 years, the Harper government failed to build a single pipeline to get our resources to non-U.S. markets. We are changing that. The ability for our energy sector to grow is very important, and we have been able to expand our global markets.

Let me highlight another investment. We have invested more money in Alberta in infrastructure in the last four years than the Stephen Harper government did in 10 years.

We are delivering for Albertans and we will continue to do so.

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

Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday we are expecting the final decision regarding the Trans Mountain expansion project. While we fear the Liberals will impose this pipeline on B.C., coastal communities like mine are still hopeful the Liberals will make the right decision in their interests, instead of siding with the interests of profitable big oil companies.

There is still time for the Liberals to do the right thing for our air, our water and our coast. On June 18, will the government listen to the voice of coastal communities and cancel the Trans Mountain expansion project, yes or no?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we respect and appreciate a diversity of opinion among indigenous communities on energy sector development. We are listening to them carefully. We engaged with them in a very meaningful two-way conversation. We are following the direction of the Federal Court of Appeal to move forward on this project in the right way.

As the hon. member knows, we are set to make a decision on this project by June 18.

Post-Secondary Education

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, student debt is a huge burden for so many young Canadians. Steacy from Victoria tells me there is so much interest accumulating on her student loans that she cannot pay the principal of the debt. She feels she just cannot get ahead.

People like Steacy have been working for years and still cannot pay their debt. Getting an education should not mean getting an unmanageable debt.

The NDP government in British Columbia has eliminated the interest on student loans. Will the government follow B.C.'s lead and eliminate the interest on Canada student loans?

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, as the member would know, it was our government that invested in opportunities for students to gain that education.

We doubled the amount of low-interest grants to all Canadians, to part-time students as well as full-time students. We have increased the amount of support in those non-repayable grants. Also, until students are making at least $25,000, they have a holiday on repayment.

We are doing what has been asked of us as a government to help support student access.

Government Priorities

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Harper's Conservatives handed out cheques to millionaires. Our government created the Canada child benefit.

Harper's Conservatives gave tax credits to the rich. Our government introduced the new parental sharing benefit.

The difference between these policies is clear: middle-class families receive almost $51,000 more per child under our government than under the Conservatives.

Could the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development explain what our government is doing to help the middle class?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to answer the question posed by my colleague from Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook.

He is quite right, we were elected to grow the middle class and the economy. He is right in that our plan gives a middle-class family an average of $51,000 more per child over the course of 18 years than the Conservative plan for the wealthy did.

He is right, we will continue to invest in the Canada child benefit, housing, child care services and public transit to continue to grow the middle class and the economy.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will meet with the President of the United States next week and I am certain that President Trump has no time to waste on small talk.

The U.S. President also has a problem with illegal migrants at his border. He understands the situation.

The Prime Minister has done nothing so far to renegotiate the safe third country agreement, but the meeting with Mr. Trump is a golden opportunity to do so.

Will the Prime Minister renegotiate the safe third country agreement, yes or no?

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Youth) and to the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want to make us think that they want to protect our borders and change the safe third country agreement, but their record definitely proves otherwise.

The Conservatives cut $1.2 billion from the budgets of our security agencies and, what is more, during their 10 years in power they did not hold any discussions with the U.S. about changing and improving the safe third country agreement.

We have already had discussions about the safe third country agreement. We have invested $1 billion to provide the resources needed to protect our borders. This has led to a 47% decrease in asylum seekers who—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if his Prime Minister had not created the problem with his infamous tweet, far fewer people would be showing up at Roxham Road.

What is more, the people who come to the United States from various countries around the world show up with a passport. People need a passport to get into the United States. Then, all of a sudden, when they get to Roxham Road, they no longer have any identification. No one can tell me that those people are not taking advantage of the system.

When will the Prime Minister show some backbone, talk to Mr. Trump and resolve the problem with the safe third country agreement?