Debates of Oct. 3rd, 2022

Foreign Affairs

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about murder. Surely that deserves more than simple, empty words from the minister opposite. We are talking about a 22-year-old Iranian woman who was killed because she neglected to wear her hijab properly. The entire world is watching, Canadians are calling for action and the government has empty platitudes to offer. Surely we can do better.

I am calling on the government and asking this on behalf of Canadians: When will the IRGC be determined a terrorist organization?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, of course, I agree with my colleague and her outrage regarding what is going on in Iran. For all of the Mahsa Aminis in the world, we need to stand up, and we are standing up. That is why we are sanctioning the IRGC and sanctioning the key leaders, the perpetrators, behind this tragedy and these atrocities.

However, we indeed need to do more. We need to shed light on what is going on in Iran. We need to stand with the courageous women who are fighting for their future, and we are. I hope that I can count on my colleagues—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this government never ceases to amaze us. The Liberals lifted the sanctions on Iran in 2016. In response to the murder and torture that has been committed by the Revolutionary Guard Corps, the government has decided to impose fresh sanctions, saying that the Revolutionary Guard Corps committed “egregious actions”. It is easier for the Liberals to speak of egregious actions than to say words like murdering innocent and defenceless women, men and children.

When will the Prime Minister designate the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, what is currently happening in Iran is completely unacceptable. This is the regime that is persecuting women. This is the same regime that downed flight PS752. Under the circumstances, impunity is not an option. That is why we have imposed strong sanctions, and that is why we will continue to impose strong sanctions. I hope that my colleague will not play politics, because right now, this is a situation that requires the unanimity of the House. I hope I can work with him.

Dental Care

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the health committee heard conclusively from experts that pediatric dental care is part of the overall children’s health plan. The president of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario stated that it has kids in pain because they cannot get dental surgery, the part of it they would see, with seven-eighths of them not getting surgery on time. Why is it that the Conservatives want to obstruct kids from receiving a benefit that would prevent the burden of dental disease?

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health please tell this House the importance of passing Bill C-31 so that children can get the treatment they need this year for good oral health?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Guelph for his consistent advocacy, particularly on health-related matters, for his constituents in Guelph.

I was at that meeting last week. According to the Canadian Dental Association, over 2.26 million school days a year are missed because kids are having tooth decay and other tooth-related matters fixed at their dentist and fully one-third of day surgeries account for surgeries on kids between the age of one and five for their teeth.

In addition to that, the burden of dental disease is concentrated in those from low-income families, indigenous children, new immigrants and children with special health-related needs. By putting this benefit in place, our government is taking action. When will the Conservatives—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.

Climate Change

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, energy workers in western Canada are frustrated because the current government has no credible plan for a just transition. Compared to Joe Biden, who is transforming the American economy with massive investments in clean tech to create what he calls good-paying union jobs, the Prime Minister has missed every single climate target. He has shown no vision for the incredible potential of a clean energy economy.

My question for the environment minister is this. Will the government put the necessary money on the table to create a clean energy future for Canadian workers and their families?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the business of lowering emissions is a complex one. It requires people with talent, determination and ingenuity, who will lead and build the energy industries in this country. Energy workers will build CCUS. They will build up lower carbon fuels and hydrogen, and we cannot get to net zero without them.

We are delivering strategic investments in skills and training, regional strategies and projects right across Canada that will create sustainable jobs.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, back in April, even before the government approved the drilling in Bay du Nord, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, pointing out that we were on track to more than double the 1.5°C Paris target, said, “Some Government and business leaders are saying one thing, but doing another. Simply put, they are lying.”

Since 1990, our emissions have risen more than any other G7 country. When Antonio Guterres said some government leaders are lying, which countries' leaders do we think he is referencing?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. member for her dedication to the issue of climate change over many decades.

As the IPCC has said, countries need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% by 2030. We are on track to meeting at least a 40% reduction and on our way to meeting a 45% reduction.

We are doing more right now than any other country in the G7 to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Our investments, on a per-capita basis, are three times what the Americans just announced with the IRA in the U.S.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations among the parties and I believe you will find the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the House stand in solidarity with the people of Iran fighting for their freedom against Iran's tyrannical dictatorship and those protesting the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police, because she dared to confront the Iranian regime and fight for her freedom; express its disappointment that action was not taken by the government on the June 12, 2018, motion adopted by the House, calling for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organization; and, once again, call upon the government to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization in Canada.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.

[An hon. member]

Nay.

The House resumed from September 29 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Moratorium on New Taxes

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:14 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle relating to the business of supply.

The question is as follows. Shall I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

No

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

[Chair read text of motion to House]

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #182

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion defeated.

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 12 minutes.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, a report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas respecting its participation at the 18th Plenary Assembly. The virtual sessions were held on November 26 and 29 and December 10, 2021.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who made this event a success, namely, the ParlAmericas secretariat, the association secretary and advisers from the Library of Parliament.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and Standing Order 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House.

If the House gives its consent, I move that the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

[An hon. member]

No.