Debates of Feb. 25th, 2020

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, for 20 days, there have been blockades across Canada, and things are only getting worse. Freight trains are blocked and paralyzed. Tensions are rising.

Pierre Dolbec, the president of Corporation des parcs industriels du Québec, said in an interview that this situation is totally ridiculous and that if it goes on, more vulnerable companies may not make it through the crisis.

The prime minister's lack of leadership is seriously harming companies in every region of Quebec, and there is no end in sight.

When will he take action?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we fully understand the impact on the economy and on those who have been laid off. We are very aware of the situation.

The Prime Minister has been taking action from the start. We are working very hard to end the blockades. They are, of course, a provincial responsibility in the three provinces affected. We are working to have the blockades removed as quickly as possible.

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

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Minister of Transport said, the Prime Minister is not doing anything to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile, Resolute Forest Products is planning to halt production at some 20 sawmills in Quebec and Ontario. Two Resolute sawmills are located in Haute-Mauricie. Up to 5,000 workers could be affected.

The Prime Minister wants to lecture other countries, but when there is a crisis here at home, he does nothing.

Is there anyone across the way who can step up and do his job?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are here to resolve the problem. As my colleague said, we are aware of the impact this is having on many industries, including the forestry industry, the lumber industry and the agricultural industry. We are very aware of the situation.

That is why we have started to make progress. For example, part of the track was reopened yesterday, and the first CN train was able to travel between Toronto and Montreal. We hope that all of the trains will soon be running again all over the country.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's weakness has emboldened those who continue to illegally blockade our ports, roads and railways. The Prime Minister is also blocking investments in this country by cancelling approved projects and creating insurmountable political uncertainty for others. Hundreds of billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs right across the country have been lost as a direct result of his weak leadership.

When will the Prime Minister finally stand up to the anti-energy activists in his own caucus, stand up to those blockading our economy and stand up for Canadian jobs?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been steadfast in its support for the hard-working men and women in our oil and gas sector. It is why we approved the Line 3 replacement project and why we always supported Keystone XL, where construction will soon begin in the U.S.

Let us remember that there were thousands of good, well-paying jobs that we created in Alberta and B.C. because we did the hard work to get TMX right. We believe in the workers, the sector, the families, and we have their backs.

Indigenous Affairs

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's weak leadership is also failing indigenous communities. When he killed the northern gateway pipeline, he stole a 33% equity stake and $2 billion in economic benefits from northern indigenous communities. When the Teck Frontier mine was cancelled because of the political uncertainty he created, the Prime Minister tore economic hope out of the hands of the 14 indigenous communities that had signed agreements in place.

How does it advance the cause of reconciliation when the Prime Minister does everything he can to keep northern indigenous communities in poverty forever?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, this was a decision taken by the company. We respect that decision. I am sure it was a difficult one. I will say that during the environmental assessment process that was conducted under CEAA 2012, the company did incredibly good work in engaging indigenous communities in Alberta near the project. That is certainly something that can be a model for companies going forward.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since this government abdicated its leadership responsibilities on the rail crisis, the situation has deteriorated. More blockades are going up in Quebec and elsewhere. When the Prime Minister decided to hide from this dispute last Friday, he said that he wanted to engage in dialogue, but that it takes two to have a dialogue.

My question is simple. What are the two indigenous affairs ministers doing here right now? Why are they not on site having a dialogue to resolve this crisis?

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

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the urgency of this situation and the significant impact it is having on Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the blockades. That is why I was in regular contact with the hereditary chiefs all last week. I indicated that we were available to meet in person any time.

Economy

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, workers are paying the price for the Prime Minister's incompetence on the rail crisis. In my riding, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, Resolute Forest Products was forced to lay off 200 people in Senneterre and Lebel-sur-Quévillon on Monday, with no date set for a return to work.

What does the government plan to do? That is 200 families that have to go without an income while they wait not only for the blockades to be lifted, but for the network to get back to normal.

Why is this government not doing everything it can to resolve this crisis?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the situation very well. That is why we have been working day and night to resolve this problem from the start. It is important to have a dialogue. It is also important for the blockades to come down so that our rail services may resume. That is what we have been doing from the start. We are working on a resolution for both the short term and the long term.

Natural Resources

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, oil and gas projects are being built all over world, except in Canada.

With Teck being forced to cancel, 14 indigenous groups lost out, and 10,000 new jobs are gone. I would call this a failure, but we know the Liberals view this as a win.

Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that Teck Resources' Frontier oil sands project was killed as a result of his government's anti-oil and gas policies?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said a few times, the decision was taken by the company itself, not by the government. I know it was a difficult decision.

Teck Resources' decision, in the letter that was provided by their CEO, shows the need to have serious climate plans that incentivize innovation, cut pollution and ensure our economy stays competitive for the long term.

We are doing just that with a price on pollution. We are moving to exceed our Paris targets and working to be net zero by 2050. We have a serious climate plan, and we will be working with Alberta and working with the oil and gas sector to ensure that we can meet it in a way that will incent the development of a clean energy sector.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's weak leadership, anti-energy policies and delay tactics continue to drive investment away from Alberta.

In fact, expenditures in the energy sector are now $42 billion lower than they were under the previous Conservative government. With the cancellation of the Teck mine, the Prime Minister has overseen almost $200 billion in cancelled energy projects.

When will the Prime Minister stand with Albertans and our first nations communities, defend the interests of Canada and stop killing Alberta energy projects?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, Line 3 is complete and in service in Canada. We did the hard work necessary on TMX, and construction is under way, creating thousands of jobs. There has been over $8 billion in new petrochemical projects. Thousands of jobs are linked to those projects.

These are real investments in our energy sector, and real results for Canadians and Alberta workers.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years, Teck cancelled its Frontier project, five days before the government had a deadline to render a decision. Why?

Was it because the government had been telegraphing that it would cancel it and reject it? The member for Kingston and the Islands across the way was promoting a petition against it last week.

Frontier was balancing the environment and the economy, something the Prime Minister often inanely repeats.

Why is the Prime Minister turning his back on the 14 first nations that are supportive of Teck Frontier in favour of dirty oil from other countries?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, this decision was a decision taken by the company. We certainly respect that decision. I am sure it was a difficult one.

As Teck's CEO said in his letter, we need to move past jurisdictional and partisan fighting. We agree, and we are working with all orders of government across Canada and with the resource sector to ensure that we create good jobs and ensure clean and sustainable prosperity for all.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's weakness, dithering and delays are what forced Teck out, and it harms the whole country.

Yesterday the Liberals could have said a resounding, passionate yes to me about Alberta, but only Conservatives fight for all of Canada.

The value of oil and gas to Ontario's economy is more than half the auto sector. Oil sands companies buy the most supplies from B.C., Ontario and Quebec. Atlantic Canadians and Albertans are inextricably linked. Every oil sands job creates five jobs in other provinces and other sectors.

Why are the Liberals puppets for anti-energy activists who want to phase out the oil sands and shut down Canada?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I very much hope, and I rely on the hope, that one thing we can agree on on both sides of this House is that we all believe in the importance of national unity. We all understand that the economies of Ontario and Alberta and of Quebec and Alberta are intimately connected.

That is a firm conviction of our government. That is why I would urge the members opposite not to make national unity a partisan football.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to remind hon. members that when somebody asks a question, we want to hear what it is, but we also want to hear what the answer is.

Public Safety

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday the Prime Minister could have saved a lot of time and asked the Conservative leader to hold his press conference for him. Their plan to send the police in is not working. Chase is not on the case.

For weeks, we have been calling on the Prime Minister to name a mediator, sit down with hereditary chiefs and de-escalate the situation. CP Rail is recommending that. Industry is recommending that. Indigenous leaders are recommending that. What is the holdup? When will the Prime Minister admit his Conservative plan is not working?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important to acknowledge that there is some very important work going on in British Columbia with the British Columbia government; a former member of this House, Nathan Cullen; and our ministers in discussion. The RCMP, the hereditary chiefs and the leadership of the Wet'suwet'en community are at the table.

There are important discussions going on, but at the same time, we have to recognize and acknowledge the impact these barricades are having on Canadians across the country. It was important to ask the people at those barricades to recognize the impact their actions are having on ordinary Canadians and to take down those barricades. It is the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction where the law is not being obeyed to uphold that law. We have confidence in their ability to do so.

Infrastructure

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Hamilton's light rail project is a rare opportunity that has the shared support of city council, big business and organized labour in the community. It is a much-needed investment in public infrastructure and mass transit. It will create jobs, help the environment and uplift the economy. However, the Gong Show Doug Ford government recklessly pulled provincial funding and derailed this critical project.

Time is running out. Will the government partner with the City of Hamilton and help get our LRT funded and back on track?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of a government that is making historic investments in public infrastructure. We support local governments in their work to improve local infrastructures. In fact, my hometown of The Hammer, Hamilton, has secured over $500 million in federal investment in infrastructure money and other projects.

We are a committed funding partner; however, on this specific project, we have not yet received a formal request from Ontario. We remain eager to work with the province and the city to get public transit built.