Debates of Dec. 9th, 2022

Carbon Pricing

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, we are focused like a laser beam on affordability. We had rental supports, dental supports and other affordability measures that the Conservatives just voted against, and that is unfortunate.

The hon. member is from the Prairies, like me, and there is good news coming to the Prairies. In her province of Alberta and in Saskatchewan, there is $1,500 in the climate action rebate. Those payments are going to be coming quarterly. That is going to help with affordability, that is going to help with cash flow and that is going to help reduce pollution and drive innovation.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, that is absolutely cold comfort for families who are struggling right now to keep the heat on in their homes. More Alberta families are going to be paying more in carbon tax than what they will receive back. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has made that exceptionally clear. Also, 1.5 million Canadians visited a food bank in one single month. Just a couple of day ago, a poll came out saying that 53% of Canadians are fearful about feeding their families.

This is not a laughing matter, and it is not something to just spend away. Inflation is eating up those costs. When will they axe their failed carbon tax?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, in listening to the Conservatives on the other side, the words “climate change” just never pass their lips. That is not surprising, because for 10 long years they did absolutely nothing on climate change. We are building the new economy. While Conservatives want to make pollution free again, we are looking to the future. They are stuck in the past. We are doing something about climate change and affordability.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Madam Speaker, war, food scarcity and energy insecurity is devastating our European partners who are now cutting back production, turning down the heat and going back to high-polluting energy sources. However, the Liberal government, whose environmental record is abysmal, shows no recognition of this global disaster that awaits, nor its effect on our own citizens as we have seen with skyrocketing home heating costs.

When will the Liberal government do the prudent thing and stop forcing its failed carbon tax on Canadians?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, I am happy to have the opportunity to talk about how we are standing alongside our European allies. We are standing alongside Ukraine and all of our European allies in this really difficult time. I am happy that the member opposite acknowledges that this is a global challenge that we are facing. In fact, when the German Chancellor came to Canada, we worked with him to have a deal on hydrogen and critical minerals. These are the pieces that they came looking for in support from us. We are there to continue with the energy of the future and an economy for the future of our country.

Foreign Affairs

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Madam Speaker, tomorrow is Human Rights Day.

This day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

When human rights are being trampled in places like Russia, Iran and Myanmar, Canada must stand up for the values we hold dear.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House of the steps we are taking to protect human rights and hold human rights abusers accountable?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle for her excellent question.

The matter of human rights is central to our foreign policy. That is why, today, we are imposing sanctions on 67 individuals and nine entities that are complicit in human rights violations in Russia, Iran and Myanmar.

Canada will continue to fight for justice and hold to account those who violate human rights. Our government will always defend the values of Canadians both here and around the world.

Carbon Pricing

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, it is -40°C. Welcome to the first week of December in the Prairies. Cold winters do not shut us down, and driving long distances is something we have to do even when it is freezing cold outside. However, something we should not have to do is wear our winter coats inside our homes.

When will this Liberal government stop forcing its failed carbon tax plan on Canadians?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the Prairies, where I am from. I wonder if she knows that in Manitoba we had two one-in-300 year floods that cost a billion dollars each. There was the Calgary flood at $5 billion, and 7,000 people were forced from their homes in my home province.

The costs are rising. The Conservatives are in denial. When are they going to get serious about climate change?

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Madam Speaker, people in rural regions like mine and across Canada have to heat their homes. The cold weather has set in. What happens in winter? Bills go up. The worst thing is that they will continue to go up with the Liberals' plan to triple their carbon tax. People do not need long-term measures right now. They need immediate action to help them get through the coming winter. They are stretched thin, and the government remains completely indifferent.

What is the government waiting for? Why does it not immediately cancel its plan to raise that tax?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak about everything we are doing for the environment and to support Canadians.

I would first like to point out that the federal system does not apply in Quebec because Quebec has its own system.

For our part, we are doing a great deal to support Canadians. We just created a dental care plan and provided rental assistance. We understand that times are tough and we are there to support Canadians and also to help the environment.

Foreign Affairs

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, since 2017, Canadian diplomats and their families who were posted to Havana, Cuba, have complained of suffering from unexplained illness. Despite the Prime Minister saying he takes this “very, very seriously”, this has dragged on for years without a resolution. Last month the government appointed Justice Cromwell to mediate for the families but not the diplomats.

Is the government going to resolve this matter, or is it going to throw these public servants under the bus and blame them, like the government did yesterday with the RCMP contract with Sinclair Technologies?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I am concerned, as my colleague is, about this very issue, and I look forward to working with him on it. Obviously the health and safety of our diplomats and their families is at the core of our priorities. We are working with the RCMP, Health Canada and also within Global Affairs Canada through an expert team to address this issue. However, as mentioned, it would be a pleasure to work with my critic on this.

Child Care

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development introduced Bill C-35 in the House to enshrine a Canada-wide early learning and child care system in law. On this side of the House we know just how important access to affordable, quality and inclusive child care is for the economy and women's empowerment. Last Friday, the Prime Minister announced in Richmond that British Columbia reached its target to reduce child care fees by 50%.

Could the parliamentary secretary for family, children and social—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, Bill C-35 would enshrine the Canada-wide early learning and child care system in law, ensuring a future government could not unilaterally cancel the agreements. Bill C-35 is necessary, because we know Canadian parents are counting on us to have affordable child care available to them, and they are planning their family budgets with this in mind and their futures. Our government is committed to delivering affordability measures to help Canadians, and affordable child care is a hallmark of that commitment.

I invite all members—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Nunavut.

Firearms

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Madam Speaker, Nunavummiut need to hunt to feed their families and to protect themselves from dangerous predators, such as polar bears. Bill C-21 was about getting handguns off the streets, but now with this last-minute amendment, the Liberal government has shown how out of touch it is with the daily lives of Nunavummiut. My community is worried and confused.

When will the government stop playing political games and ensure indigenous communities can protect themselves from dangerous predators like—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Madam Speaker, we have heard from many northern MPs, who live in different realities from many of us in urban centres. We know there have been concerns. There has been some misinformation on Bill C-21. We know the committee added two extra meetings to make sure we are getting it right, because we always want to make sure we are respecting indigenous hunting rights. Our government will continue to do that. We know it is a constitutional right, but it is also the right thing to do.

The Environment

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

Madam Speaker, I speak to members from Montreal, where the world is gathering for COP15 in a desperate, last-chance effort to save endangered nature. We do not have to look far. We do not even have to look as far as Fairy Creek on Vancouver Island or the threatened caribou habitat in the boreal. Here on the Island of Montreal, the federal government is ignoring the opportunity to protect 215 hectares of highly threatened, important wetland biodiversity, home to the Least Bittern, short-eared owl and monarch butterflies.

This is federal jurisdiction. When will the government act to protect it?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, I think the member would agree that thousands of species are at risk here at home. One in five species, according to the wild species report, are in danger of extinction. There are millions around the world. That is why we are gathered in Montreal to face the biodiversity crisis head on at the UN Biodiversity Conference. We are stepping up to preserve and conserve 30% of our land and waters by 2030, and we hope to inspire the world to do the same.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a point of order arising from question period. The member for North Island—Powell River said during QP that the Liberals were solely responsible for the mess of Bill C-21, when in fact the NDP voted with the Liberals on time allocation. I would like to—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

That is a question of debate.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.

Oral Questions

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, a few minutes ago, at the beginning of her question, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands mentioned that she was in Montreal for COP15.

I attended this event myself yesterday, so I have no problem with that. However, I would like to make a request for clarification.

Although this is far from scandalous, I would like to know if members of Parliament can mention where they are when they are not physically present in the House. As far as I know, we cannot mention that. I would like the Chair to clarify that for me. That said, it is a relevant question.