Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2022

Winnipeg North

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we often hear how important it is to bring the concerns of our constituents to Ottawa. Let me tell members about bringing the Government of Canada to the residents of Winnipeg North.

Since the summer, we have had the Minister of Health come to Winnipeg North. We have had the Minister of International Trade come to Winnipeg North and the Minister of Foreign Affairs come to Winnipeg North. We have had the Minister of Seniors come to Winnipeg North. We even had the Prime Minister of Canada come and visit Stanley Knowles in Winnipeg North.

This is a government that understands the importance of connecting with real people throughout our country. I am so proud to be a Liberal member of Parliament.

Community Volunteers

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling right now. Our affordability crisis is a mental health crisis. Many Canadians are living day to day. Some are living moment to moment. However, there is hope. There is always a peak among the valleys.

In my community, there are many examples of amazing people and organizations who give their time and kindness to make a difference. We have dedicated volunteers who step up and help those most in need, like the Porch Pirates for Good, who in one day collected 16,000 pounds of food for food banks; or the countless Lions and Kinsmen service members who make Christmas parades a reality; and the Santas for Peterborough Seniors who make sure every senior gets a Christmas gift. The list goes on.

Every day there is a volunteer showing up and making a difference in someone's life. If people can volunteer, please do it. It truly does help. I would ask all the members in the House today to join me in acknowledging the volunteers across this country who go the extra mile. The power of one is the power of many. I thank them, from all of us, for their service, their kindness and, most important, their time.

Jean Lapointe

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we lost a great man last Friday.

Jean Lapointe was beloved by Quebeckers, particularly for his contribution to the Quebec cultural scene as a singer, actor and author. He was also known for his philanthropy. By publicly admitting that he was an alcoholic, Jean Lapointe helped break taboos and dispel our society's prejudices. He even founded Maison Jean Lapointe and Fondation Jean Lapointe, which help people with addictions. He was then appointed to the Senate, where he served for nearly a decade. In recognition for his service to Quebeckers and all Canadians, he was appointed an officer of the Ordre national du Québec and an officer of the Order of Canada.

We thank Mr. Lapointe for his many accomplishments, but his greatest legacy is his humanity because his humanity is what truly touched the hearts of Quebeckers and helped our society move forward.

Everyone in the House should look to him as an example.

Housing

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, never has a government spent so much to accomplish so little. The current Liberal government promised a life-changing housing plan. Here is the change. Students are living in homeless shelters, health care workers are living in tents and hard-working Canadians are left on the street.

They did everything we asked. They worked hard. They got an education. They got a good job. Now they are left out in the cold. So far, $4.5 billion is the amount the Liberals have spent on six different housing programs. Now the Auditor General reports that they have no idea whether that money is making a difference or not.

The Liberals have failed. The proof is in the sprawling tent cities across this country. The proof is in the young people who are still living in their parents' basement. The proof is in the seniors who are losing their homes that they have worked their entire lives to pay for. All this, while the Liberals force them to pay more, earn less and pay higher taxes to pay off their sprawling debts.

We already know that the Liberals cannot or will not fix this mess, but the good news is that after the next election the Conservatives will.

Cost of Living

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, with the Christmas season fast approaching, Canadians are concerned about the ever-increasing cost of living. Does the government hear what I hear? I wonder if it hears what I hear.

The cost of diesel fuel, which recently reached over $3 a litre in my home province, is causing a spike in the cost of all food and goods that are trucked and shipped.

Does it hear what I hear from concerned seniors who are wondering if they can keep the lights on for another month? Does it hear what I hear from students and young people who see the dream of home ownership slipping away due to rapidly rising interest rates?

Does it hear what I hear from farmers, truckers and business owners who are facing crippling input costs and fuel prices? Does the current government hear the people everywhere who have seen their grocery bills double, and now their home heating cost is tripling?

If it did hear, perhaps it would consider cancelling the tripling of the carbon tax on heating, eating and meeting. That would bring all Canadians goodness and cheer. Does it hear what I hear?

Lebanese Independence

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, Lebanon, the country of cedars, is celebrating the 79th anniversary of its independence.

The difficult and fateful history of this small country, which can trace its roots to several civilizations, and the richness of its culture make Lebanon a gem of the Middle East to which I am deeply attached.

Lebanon is a symbol of resilience, community and diversity. I invite colleagues to join me in highlighting the contributions of the Lebanese community in Canada at tonight's event. I am sure this event will reinforce the bilateral relationship between Canada and Lebanon and will bring both cultures closer together.

Democracy is also about sharing ideas as a way of gaining a better understanding of one another, and this evening is an opportunity to celebrate the community, dialogue and peace that the world so desperately needs.

Victoria SAFER Initiative

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a toxic drug crisis. We need a health-based approach to substance use that reduces stigma and addresses the root cause of addiction. It is critical that organizations providing harm reduction services have long-term, stable funding.

The Victoria SAFER initiative is an incredible program run by AVI Health and Community Services. It offers an innovative model of a prescribed safe supply that is community-based, nurse-led and grounded in principles of harm reduction. Participants are welcomed, nurtured and treated with respect. Resources on how to access treatment options are always available.

SAFER has been at capacity since it opened in 2020, and its staff and volunteers have been working around the clock, but it may be forced to close if it does not receive continued funding from the substance use and addictions program by the end of this year. This would leave many of the most vulnerable in our community at an even higher risk of death. The federal government must respond to the toxic drug crisis with the urgency and resources needed to save lives.

Magda Fusaro

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense respect that I rise today to acknowledge the exceptional work of the rector of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Magda Fusaro, who is leaving her position at the end of her term in a few weeks.

She has been at the helm of this teaching institution, which boasts 40,000 students, since January 2018. I will remember her as a dynamic woman who remained focused on broadening the horizons of Université du Québec à Montréal, or UQAM, to keep it growing. In my riding, that has translated into the opening of a new campus in Saint‑Constant for which I am eternally grateful.

I also commend the patience, generosity and kindness of the tremendous team at UQAM for quickly diving into this project when I first shared the idea with them. I want to thank Magda for believing in the project and giving it her all. Working with her on this project made me appreciate the diligence and efficiency she is so well known for. I want to thank her for her years of service in Quebec education.

I wish you continued success, dear Magda.

Cost of Living

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, do you feel like everything in Canada is broken? You are not alone.

Whether it is the record-high 1.5 million Canadians who now rely on food banks to put food on their tables each month or the Liberal-made inflation disaster that is causing people to choose between heating and eating, or the housing crunch that is forcing 30-year-olds to live in their parents' basements, or the opioid crisis that is taking the lives of the people we love way too soon, the Liberal government cannot get anything right.

We are the breadbasket of the world, yet universities are sending out fundraising letters asking for money to feed hungry students. In Canada, 56.8% of university students are going to bed hungry. The campaign is called “Knowledge Not Hunger”. The tired Liberal government has failed Canadians, especially young Canadians.

Instead of trying to build back better, why do you not put it back to the way you found it?

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I would remind hon. members to speak through the Speaker, not at the Speaker.

The hon. member for York Centre

Stanley Greene Neighbourhood Food Drive

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past Halloween we challenged the youth of York Centre not just to trick or treat, but also to trick or eat and collect non-perishable food for local food banks. It is my pleasure to share that the Stanley Greene neighbourhood in my riding of York Centre answered the call and collected an amazing 120 pounds of food in one night. Its collective kindness will allow the North York Harvest Food Bank to provide over 100 meals to members of our community who are in need of support.

It takes a village to look out for one another and make sure that no one gets left behind, and I know of no better one than the residents of the Stanley Greene neighbourhood in York Centre. I want to thank Kim Thompson for organizing the food drive and everyone in Stanley Greene who generously came together for the annual pumpkin night walk and to donate non-perishable food items. I look forward to our community surpassing that goal next year.

I also want to thank the staff at the North York Harvest Food Bank who provide such an important service to those facing food insecurity in our communities with integrity and compassion each and every day.

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this government told Canadians that interest rates would stay low for a long time. As a result, one-third of the mortgages currently taken out by Canadians are variable rate. This means that when interest rates rise, Canadians either pay more or the term of their mortgage increases.

According to the Bank of Canada, this is going to cause financial hardship for many families. The government is driving up interest rates with its inflationary deficits.

When will the government reverse its inflationary policies, which risk bankrupting families who cannot pay their bills?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, people all over the world are going through tough economic times, and Canada is no exception. People are struggling to make ends meet.

That is why we have a plan that will help people pay for their first home and will reduce interest on student loans. We are also going to double the GST credit.

In less than an hour, the Conservatives will have the opportunity to vote with this government to support Canadians. I hope the Conservatives will do the right thing and vote for Canadians.

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, “Happy Canada Day. Gas bills, heating bills and grocery bills have just gone up,” is the message from Liberals to three Atlantic Canadian provinces that will be hit with a carbon tax increase on July 1. These same Atlantic Canadian provinces have 40% of their citizens already living in energy poverty, yet the Liberals want to triple the carbon tax as we are going into a winter in which heating bills are already expected to double.

Will the government give relief to Atlantic Canadians and all Canadians, on Canada Day and every day, by cancelling the carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member will find the answer to the question in the question itself. There will be no increase in carbon pricing in Atlantic Canada before July 1, and not before the winter. In fact, people will start getting the climate incentive payment before the increase in the carbon tax on July 1. There will be no increased cost to Canadians this winter.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, first, the carbon tax has not worked. The Liberals have not hit a single, solitary emissions reduction target in the seven provinces in which the tax is already imposed. Now they want to impose it on three more provinces. Second, Canada ranks 58th out of 63 countries for climate action performance. Third, these so-called “rebates” do not pay for the full cost of the carbon tax, and 60% of Canadians who pay this tax pay more than they get back in rebates, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Instead of stating and restating these falsehoods, why will they not give Canadians a break on their heating, eating and housing bills so that Canadians can afford to live?

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

Mr. Speaker, eight out of 10 Canadians will get more from the climate incentive payment than what it costs them. That is a fact. Conservatives can debate it and they can go into their alternative views of the world, but eight out of 10 Canadians will get more.

I am interested to know when they will have a plan to fight climate change. When will they help tackle this issue, which is costing Canadians billions of dollars year after year? That is my question for them.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the real question is when the Liberals will have an environment plan, because they have not hit a single target they have set for themselves. That is not our opinion; that is the finding of their own departmental reports, and it was the Parliamentary Budget Officer, whom the Prime Minister appointed, who came to the conclusion that the vast majority of Canadians pay more in the carbon tax than they hope to receive in any rebate. Now, a report shows that Canada has come in 58th out of 63 when it comes to climate action, falling behind China and Indonesia.

When will the Liberals finally accept the science and admit they have a tax plan, not an environment plan?

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

Mr. Speaker, “Accept the science, minister,” is coming from the Conservative Party of Canada. Their minister of science did not even believe in the theory of evolution, and they would like us to say they believe in science. That is very rich. I have a news flash for the Conservative Party of Canada: Emissions have gone down in 2019 and 2020. That is a fact.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, their entire premise is based on falsehoods.

The Liberals said the carbon tax would reduce emissions. They have gone up. The Liberals said it would be revenue neutral. Canadians pay more in carbon tax than they get back. The Liberals said the carbon tax would never go up. They plan to triple it.

Now, just in time for Canada Day, on a day when Canadians are supposed to come together and celebrate all that we have in common, the Liberals are going to make the carbon tax apply in three new Atlantic Canadian provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. Is that a part of some bizarre national unity strategy, to bring Canadians together by making sure Canadians in every region hate the carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservative Party of Canada, Canadians believe that we need to do our fair share when it comes to fighting climate change. They believe climate change is real, and they believe we need to be doing something about it.

For 10 years, Conservatives did not do anything about it, and now they are blaming us because of their inaction. That is a bit rich. We are playing catch-up, because for 10 years nothing was done when it comes fighting climate change in Canada. We now have one of the best plans in the world, and our emissions have started going down.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

It is almost like a wave. It starts at this end with the hon. member for Regina—Lewvan, and it moves over. He does have a beautiful voice, but it is very loud. I am going to ask him to tone it down.

The hon. member for La Prairie.

Democratic Institutions

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to Global News, China meddled in the 2019 federal election by funding at least 11 candidates. This is very concerning. However, anytime the opposition parties ask the Prime Minister questions, he responds with bluster. This morning, at a press briefing, he compared the opposition parties to Donald Trump, of all people.

My question is simple. If it is not important that China interfered in the election, if it is not important that China tried to finance candidates, if there is no reason to worry, why did he take the time to go and talk to Xi Jinping about it at the G20?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, protecting Canadian democracy is something this government takes seriously. It is a responsibility, and we will always act to ensure that our Canadian democracy is protected.

That is why we are taking real action on this. It includes our national security agencies, which conduct investigations and use all the tools available to them. We as a government will always ensure those agencies have the resources they need, and we will pursue all options available to protect Canadian democracy.