House of Commons Hansard #23 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was project.
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is aware, this was a decision made by Teck. We respect that decision and I am sure it was a difficult one. The decision made by Teck Resources—
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, the decision made by the company and the letter sent to me by the company's CEO demonstrate clearly the need for all levels of government to be working together to deliver on climate action and on clean growth. We need to take action on climate change to reduce pollution, and in doing so we will provide business certainty.
Andrew Scheer ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
The minister does not seem to realize that he is part of the government that created the regime that forced Teck to pull out. It was the government's decision to wait months before making a final decision on Teck. It is not just his energy approvals process that is causing problems; it is also his signature policy, the carbon tax.
Yesterday, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled, “We recognize there may well be those who favour ending further oil and gas development and even shutting down the entire oil and gas industry. Chief amongst them would be Alberta's foreign oil and gas competitors.”
Why is the Prime Minister doing the dirty work of Canada's foreign competition?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to set the record straight. The Teck Frontier review was actually done under CEA 2012, the process put into place by Stephen Harper's government of which Jason Kenney was a minister of the Crown.
The decision that was made by Teck Frontier was independent of the review, but I will say that one of the problems with CEA 2012 was that it forced all of the various difficult issues to the back end. We have fixed that through the Impact Assessment Act, by ensuring that the big issues are dealt with early on in the process.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government keeps talking about reconciliation with first nations. The best way to achieve reconciliation is to work hand in hand with first nations.
Unfortunately, because of this government's inertia, 14 Alberta first nations have now been left high and dry because the Teck Frontier project no longer exists. For nine months, the Liberal government did everything it could to stymie the project, and now those 14 first nations have nothing.
Why did the government drag its feet for nine months?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, the decision was made by Teck. We respect the decision, and I am sure it was not easy to make.
The decision made by Teck Resources demonstrates clearly the need for all levels of government to work together to deliver on climate action and clean growth. We need to take action on climate change to reduce pollution and thereby provide business certainty.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the minister on his French. However, just because he says something in French does not mean I agree with him, especially when he talks about working together. Fourteen first nations were prepared to work together in partnership with Teck Resources to ensure the $10-billion Frontier project would be carried out, to promote this project that would have created up to 10,000 jobs. For nine months, this government came up with reasons why this would not work. As a result, this is not working.
Why did the government work against the 14 first nations that were invested in this project that would be good for Canada?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, this decision was made by Teck, and we respect their decision.
As Teck Resources indicated in its letter, global capital markets are changing rapidly, and investors and customers are increasingly looking for jurisdictions that have a framework in place to reconcile resource development and climate change, in order to produce the cleanest possible products.
We agree with that assessment. Productivity is good for certainty and good for Canada's competitiveness and Canadian workers.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday you mentioned a wonderful expression from back home that means “cruising for a bruising”. The other side of the House seems well versed in that.
Is it not time to admit that the management of the rail crisis has been a failure? I cannot call it the indigenous crisis, because it is not just their fault. I cannot call it the government's crisis, because it has all kinds of crises on its hands. Yesterday the Minister of Indigenous Services said that he worried the situation could escalate.
Will the government admit failure? The Prime Minister has been invited to meet the Wet'suwet'en people in British Columbia, so will he go?
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
February 25th, 2020 / 2:25 p.m.
Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec
Liberal
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, the answer is no. We have always been focused on finding a peaceful, lasting resolution and on establishing trust and respect among everyone involved.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, in Kahnawake, Lennoxville, Restigouche, Kanesatake and, a few days ago, Saint-Lambert, among other places in Canada, will the government try something else that does not end in failure? Can the government call for a temporary suspension of police intervention? Will the Prime Minister get his ministerial tushie on a plane, take his ministers to British Columbia and negotiate a resolution, please?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, we have engaged and will continue to engage in dialogue on this issue. It is also very important to acknowledge and recognize the impact that these rail disruptions are having on Canadians right across the country: access to chemicals to keep their water clean, getting products to factories so people can continue to work.
We urge the people at those barricades to lift the barricades to allow the rail services to resume and to obey the law, and in those circumstances where it is not, we trust law enforcement across this country, who are properly instructed and properly led, to uphold and enforce the law.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, I met a senior in Quebec City who told me that she needed dental care but could not afford it. Meanwhile, there are long lineups of people waiting for free dental care at the University of Montreal. Clearly, people need dental care but cannot afford to pay for it.
Does the Prime Minister recognize that people need dental care but cannot afford it?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the health committee is preparing to undertake a thorough study on dental care, and I look forward to receiving its recommendations. I thank the member for his advocacy.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, those are some pretty words, but the Prime Minister has an opportunity to do something about it right now. There are millions of Canadians who cannot take care of their teeth because they simply cannot afford it. The Liberals are planning a massive tax giveaway, where the most benefit flows to the wealthiest Canadians. Our plan is to target that measure to benefit those who need it most, allowing us to fund national dental care.
Instead of helping the wealthiest Canadians, will the Prime Minister work with us to make sure 4.3 million Canadians can take care of their teeth?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, my mandate letter specifically tasks me to look at the possibility of dental care for Canadians and the health committee is one of the best places to do that. It is obviously made up of partisans from across the aisle and it is going to be a very thoughtful and reflective study. I look forward to hearing the recommendations.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, it turns out the Liberal carbon tax is not only useless and is driving away jobs, but an Alberta court said yesterday it is also unconstitutional. The court ruled federal and provincial governments are co-equal. The federal government is not the parent and the provincial governments are not its children. In other words, the Liberals have no right imposing a carbon tax on Alberta or on any other province.
When will the Liberals respect this ruling, respect the Constitution, respect the provinces and cut the useless carbon tax?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, we have already heard from the courts of appeal in Ontario and Saskatchewan, both of which determined that the federal plan is well within federal jurisdiction. The Alberta Court of Appeal's decision is one step in this process. We look forward to the Supreme Court of Canada's deliberations in March and are confident that the price on pollution is fully within federal jurisdiction.
Tackling climate change should not be a partisan issue. It is a scientific issue. It is not an aspirational issue. We need to focus on addressing climate change and this is an important measure in doing that.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, the carbon tax does absolutely nothing to combat global emissions. It hurts commuters. It hurts farmers. It hurts small businesses and it is putting a huge strain on national unity in this country. The court in essence said that if it were upheld, hypothetically the government could dictate to individuals the temperature of their home or whether they drive a car or not. Clearly, no one trusts the Prime Minister with that kind of power.
Again, when will the Liberals scrap this useless, unity-killing, job-killing carbon tax?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House as an MP from Ontario, but also as a grateful daughter of Alberta. Let me say, I understand the despair in Alberta and I believe passionately—
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Speaker, I believe passionately that a strong Alberta is essential to a strong Canada. Let me say what we need for that, and I am going to quote the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, “We need real, decisive action on climate change.... The success of our businesses, the well-being of our families...depend on it”.
