House of Commons Hansard #89 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, I am presenting four petitions in the House today.
The first petition is about Bill S-204, forced organ harvesting and trafficking. The petitioners are in support of that bill, which would make it a criminal offence for a person to go abroad and receive an organ taken without consent. The petitioners want to see Bill S-204 passed as quickly as possible.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, the second petition is highlighting the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to be engaged and active on that situation to a greater extent.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, the third petition highlights the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The petitioners call for the use of the Magnitsky act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, to sanction officials involved in these human rights abuses, and further action from the government on forced organ harvesting and trafficking.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Speaker, the fourth and final petition I am presenting today is on Bill C-6.
The petitioners who have signed this petition are supportive of efforts to ban conversion therapy. They are concerned about the definition of conversion therapy used in Bill C-6, in particular that the definition does not apply narrowly to practices that actually amount to conversion therapy and that it would substantively end up restricting private conversations, conversations that happen out of any kind of pseudo-clinical or therapeutic context.
The petitioners are calling on the government to fix the definition and work towards legislation that simply bans conversion therapy, noting that such a bill would certainly get the support of all members of this House.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Ottawa Centre Ontario
Liberal
Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities
Madam Speaker, I move:
That, in relation to Bill C-12, an act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050, not more than five further hours shall be allotted to the consideration at second reading stage of the bill; and
That, at the expiry of the five hours provided for the consideration at the second reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
Pursuant to Standing Order 67(1), there will now be a 30-minute question period.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Madam Speaker, since this bill has been introduced, the government's climate change plan has changed at least three times, while the bill has only been up for a couple of days of debate, no more than 12 hours in total. How can the government say that debate is done when it changes its plans and gives us no ability to debate the bill in this place?
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
North Vancouver B.C.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Madam Speaker, the bill is now up for its fifth day of debate since November. We have already had important conversations since the bill's tabling and we are very much looking forward to having further debate at the next stages of the bill.
I would note that the Conservatives have reversed their stated position in the House of Commons to support Bill C-12, with their motion last Friday to effectively kill the bill, and they did not include a 2050 net-zero commitment in their climate pamphlet. They announced that they would cancel Canada's new nationally determined contribution, and today, they tried to block debate on the bill yet again.
It is time for us to move to committee to ensure that we can have a robust discussion of how we—
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Madam Speaker, I would echo the frustration that all of a sudden we find ourselves in a rush to push the bill through. The bill was brought forward last November and then only appeared for one hour of debate in March. Now we find ourselves in April and we are in a huge panic to get the bill through to committee.
We do support climate accountability. I wonder if the minister could explain to us why he is so reluctant to commit to a specific number of megatonnes of greenhouse gases reduced by 2025 on the path to 2030.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Madam Speaker, as I said, the bill is now up for its fifth day of debate since November. I am a little surprised to hear that from my New Democratic colleague, given that my understanding has been that the NDP members support the intent of the bill.
Certainly we are focused on ensuring transparency and accountability, and we have been very clear with all members of the House very much, including my colleagues in the New Democratic Party, that we are open to the consideration of ways in which to enhance transparency and accountability going forward.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Bloc
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Madam Speaker, talking about climate change is important.
Personally, I am still wondering why people keep asking for time allocation. I am sure the problem stems from the government House leader's management of the calendar. It is not okay to prevent and circumscribe debate in the House. This is an important bill, and we have talked about it four times.
Why is the government having such a hard time managing its legislative calendar?
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Madam Speaker, this is now the fifth day of debate on this bill since November.
We have discussed this bill at length since it was introduced, and we are very eager to move on to the next stage of debate. All parties, including the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and even the Conservatives, though they backtracked last week, said they wanted to send this bill to committee.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Madam Speaker, I am afraid I find the Liberals' protestations that we are on the fifth day of debate rather thin. They brought it forward in November. Did we see it again in December? No. Did we see it in January? No. Did we see it in February? No. It came back in March for three and a half hours, conveniently on a Wednesday afternoon with very little time for debate, and then, worse, we did not see it again until one day in April, when we had one hour of debate on a Friday afternoon. We have not yet arrived at a slot that would be available for anyone who is not a Liberal, Conservative, Bloc or NDP member to speak.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Madam Speaker, as I said, the bill is now up for its fifth day of debate since November, and we have certainly had some important conversations, but there will be opportunities for additional conversations at committee. It is important to all members in the House, even the Conservatives, until last week, and they have suggested that they support the principles of this bill. We have said that we are open to progressive and thoughtful amendments at committee.
There is significant and appropriate time for consideration at committee. It is time for us to move forward. For those of us who think climate change is a priority, we need to move forward.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, the last comment the minister made was “for those who think climate change is important”. Indeed, this is an important topic and we need to move on with it. We have seen over the last number of months procedural move after procedural move by the Conservatives to slow down debate on virtually everything. Nothing seems to matter anymore, other than proving that this government cannot do anything, and they will do whatever they can to make that a reality.
Would the minister not agree that given the current crisis in front of us with climate change, we need to deal with this now and move forward on this?
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Madam Speaker, I am very disappointed to see the approach the Conservative Party has taken on this bill.
When it was first introduced, the Conservative Party critic said, “It may raise some eyebrows that my party will be supporting this bill at second reading, but if we are going to have any success, we need to find those things that we can agree upon and take action.” The Conservative finance critic, the member for Abbotsford, said, “Conservatives in the House support this legislation.”
Last week, they reversed their stated position in the House to support the bill and effectively tried to kill it. They did not include a 2050 net-zero commitment in their climate pamphlet. To be honest, I think Canadians find it very unusual that the Conservative Party is not willing to—
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
First, Madam Speaker, the minister is completely wrong. He says that the Conservative climate plan, which will achieve our targets for 2030, is a pamphlet. The targets that the government put out last week did not even have a napkin with a 40% to 45%. I take no criticism from the minister on this.
Generally, what is the urgency in pushing this bill forward? The government has already put forward a plan to hit existing targets, a terrible plan, but a plan nonetheless. It has appointed the advisory group and filled it with anti-oil extremists. However, I digress. It has been able to do many of the things that this bill purportedly says it would do. Why not let members have more input, particularly since the government has changed its own climate change goals three times since December of last year?
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Madam Speaker, there is a whole range of issues that probably should be addressed in what the hon. member said, but let me talk about the net-zero advisory body that will provide advice to the government as it charts the path to net zero. This group is comprised of exceptional Canadians, with a wide range of experience and expertise. This drive-by smearing by the Conservative Party is not only ridiculous, but it is offensive.
Some of the members include Gaëtan Thomas, CEO of Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick and the former CEO of New Brunswick Power; John Wright, former CEO of Saskatchewan Power; Linda Coady, who served as Enbridge's chief sustainability—
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.
Bill C-12—Time Allocation MotionCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability ActGovernment Orders
NDP
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. His government has targets, but its plan is incoherent, illogical and dubious.
We agree about the accountability to Parliament piece and the periodic review of greenhouse gas reduction target achievement.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change does not want us to do that review in 2025. What is he afraid of? Why does he want to wait until 2030?