House of Commons Hansard #4 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was hybrid.
Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, every job is a key job.
The U.S. tariff on softwood lumber has doubled. The Prime Minister has let down farmers and workers for six years with one failure after another. Inflation is a real crisis affecting gas, groceries and housing. Families and seniors are worried.
When will the Prime Minister decide to make life more affordable?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we know perfectly well that inflation and affordability are a serious challenge for Canadian families. We also know that this is happening around the globe as the world faces the challenge of reopening the global economy after the COVID-19 shutdown.
Our government is there with policies like child care services and our affordable housing plan. We supported Canadians during the COVID-19 recession. We are going to help them through the COVID-19 inflation crisis.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, we made progress yesterday on Ottawa-Quebec relations.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister explained to us, and I quote, “in Canada, in a federation, we have something called provincial jurisdiction”. Kudos to him, I say. He went on to explain that there are things the federal government can do, but other things that only the provinces can do because they fall under their jurisdiction.
Now that we all finally understand that, and I am hoping the Prime Minister understood his own words, will he transfer the money needed for health care to Quebec?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I know that I cannot win at wordplay in French with my esteemed colleague from the Bloc Québécois, but I hope that he understands that our government sincerely wants to work with the Bloc and the Province of Quebec to help Quebeckers. We have demonstrated this desire and will continue to do so.
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government refused to commit to increasing health transfers in the throne speech. Worse yet, the government does not even seem willing to commit to talking about it.
The Bloc Québécois is suggesting that the government hold a summit to have a public discussion on health care funding. That is the least the government could do after what happened during the pandemic. The government has no choice, yet it still cannot commit. It is a world record.
This government is totally disconnected from reality. When will the government organize this summit?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague in the Bloc, I remind him that our government has been supporting Quebeckers since the beginning of the pandemic, and Team Canada has been working to protect all Canadians, including Quebeckers, against COVID-19.
We contributed a billion dollars towards a successful vaccine rollout across the country. We have an agreement regarding day cares. We want to continue working together, and that is what we will do.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Madam Speaker, we are in the grip of a climate crisis; we are feeling the impacts of it and we need immediate action.
The Liberals claim that their fossil fuel subsidies help reduce emissions. It turns out the Auditor General has just confirmed that is not the case. In fact, they are not reducing emissions.
Why will the Prime Minister not just finally end all fossil fuel subsidies and invest that public money into renewable energy and creating good jobs that help us fight the climate crisis?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we agree with the leader of the NDP, and I hope with all members of this House, that climate action is urgent and essential. That is why we are committed to eliminating fossil fuel subsidies by 2023. That was in the climate plan that we ran on during the recent election campaign, and I would like to point out, with the greatest respect for all of my colleagues, that a raft of independent experts found our climate plan to be the best.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, we are in a climate crisis, and it is hitting us hard. We need to take action, and fast.
The Liberals claim their fossil fuel subsidies reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the Auditor General said that is not at all the case.
Why is the Prime Minister not ending fossil fuel subsidies and investing public money in renewable energy to create good jobs that will help us fight the climate crisis?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we agree with our NDP colleagues 100%. I hope that all our colleagues, including those in the Conservative Party, can agree that the climate crisis is real and that we all need to step up to fight it. That is why our government is committed to completely eliminating fossil fuel subsidies by 2023.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, something very puzzling just happened. President Biden just doubled the tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber in spite of two things: the World Trade Organization, which came out in favour of Canada, and the Prime Minister of Canada just meeting with President Biden days ago. This will undoubtedly hurt Canadian forestry workers, who are already struggling during this difficult time.
Has the Prime Minister considered the uncertainty that this constant failure to manage Canadian-American relations will have on other industries, such as auto manufacturing and agriculture?
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, we, of course, are very disappointed with the result of the administrative review that will increase tariffs for the Canadian softwood lumber industry and forestry sector. This is an issue that we take very seriously. We will continue to defend our workers and our forestry sector.
What the opposition member says is correct. The WTO, as well as panels in NAFTA, found Canada to be fair in its trading practices. We will continue to fight for Canadian workers and forestry workers all the time.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, if a doubling of tariffs is what defence looks like from the government, I would hate to find out what its definition of success is. It is just crazy. The tariffs have been doubled. It has been six years. I think they have gone through five foreign ministers and four international trade ministers in the last six years. They have not been able to get anything done, and it was doubled. This is going to hurt Canadian forestry workers. We cannot have these platitudes anymore.
This is rotation number six in the minister's office. What is going to be different this time, and when are we going to get justice for Canadian forestry workers?
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, the forestry sector and its workers are extremely important to our government, and we will continue to defend their interests to the Americans. We raised this issue with the President of the United States last week. I raised this issue with my counterpart, the United States trade representative.
I think this government's record in standing up for Canadian businesses, in negotiating a trade agreement that works for Canada and improves North American competitiveness, is the record that we stand on. I will not take any lessons on asking us to capitulate to the former president.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada's softwood lumber crisis has not yet been resolved. The Liberal government has gotten into the habit of offloading responsibility. Its excuse was that it was hard to negotiate with the former president, which is funny because those of us on this side of the House knew it was going to be very hard with the new president.
Now that the Americans are doubling duties on Canadian softwood lumber, what excuse will the federal government come up with this time?
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, this issue is top priority for our government. It is why we have pursued litigation under chapter 10 of CUSMA. This is only possible because our government fought hard to keep the dispute settlement mechanism in the new trade agreement so we can stand up for Canadians, just like we are doing now.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives urged Canada to capitulate to Donald Trump's demands and to settle for a weaker deal. Unlike the Conservatives, our government will always have the backs of Canadian businesses and workers.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, relations with the United States are getting worse every year, even with a new president. It is time to realize that the problem is not on the other side of the border. It is here.
These new tariffs are another brick on the back of Quebec and Canadian business owners. On top of that, Canadians are seeing prices rise everywhere. The additional tariffs are making the situation worse.
What excuse does the government intend to give Canadians and Quebeckers now to justify its failure with the Americans?
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, we are not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to defending Canadian interests. When we retaliated against unfair U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, the leader of the opposition urged us to stop fighting back. When we were negotiating for a better CUSMA deal, the Conservatives wanted Canada to capitulate to U.S. demands.
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade
Our government has consistently stood up for Canadian businesses and workers. We are going to keep doing that every day.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I heard something. I have a good idea of where it came from, and it was not very parliamentary. I am not going to point anyone out, but I am sure that it will not be repeated again.
The hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Canada’s standing in Washington has declined. The Prime Minister committed to a renewed relationship with the Biden administration. Instead, we got electric vehicle tax credits that threaten our auto jobs, stringent buy American policies, measures targeting our dairy farmers, actions against pipelines that have contributed to skyrocketing energy prices and now a doubling of softwood lumber tariffs.
It is clear the Prime Minister does not have a close working relationship with the President. What is the government going to do about this?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we will do precisely what we have done successfully with two previous American administrations. We will state our case clearly and rationally.
We will also make it very, very clear that Canada is prepared to retaliate to defend national interests. We have done it before. We will do it again if we have to.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister could not get a phone call with the President to informally resolve Line 5. Instead, he had to formally invoke a treaty to get a meeting with the White House. The Prime Minister visited Washington last week, and instead of coming home with some issues resolved, he came home with a doubling of the softwood lumber tariffs.
It is clear the Prime Minister does not have a close working relationship with the President. What is the government going to do about this?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we will start by refuting assertions that are simply untrue. The Prime Minister has a very strong, very effective working relationship with the President. I was there. I saw it in action. I saw their extensive tête-à-tête where important issues were raised.
I want to tell the House this: We came home, and we continued working. I and all of my colleagues have been in touch with our American counterparts following up on that very effective meeting.