Debates of March 22nd, 2022

Ukraine

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, a feeling I am sure all of my fellow parliamentarians share. Twenty-seven days ago the people of Ukraine found themselves under siege from a foreign government, an escalation to a conflict they had already been facing for years due to a ruthless dictator who wishes to own them by any means necessary.

This attack on democracy cannot and will not stand, and the people of Ukraine have shown just that. Citizens who have never been part of the military have fought back with a voracity that has shocked their attackers. Their leaders have shown what it truly means to lead a country, to protect and sacrifice for the good of their people, and to be champions.

To the neighbouring countries of Ukraine that have opened their arms to all those fleeing, we give thanks. To the people of Ukraine who are defending true democracy, I thank them for their courage, their sacrifice and their inspiration. We are all with them, and we send them our love. They will prevail, because darkness is overcome by light, and they, our friends, are the light.

Lev Chayka

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Madam Speaker, I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Lev Chayka, a Ukrainian priest who settled in Abitibi-Témiscamingue in 1952. He was 98 years old and the oldest priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.

He devoted almost 70 years of his life to communities in northern Ontario and Abitibi. He founded Ukrainian parishes in Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda, in addition to having churches built that are still standing today.

His first church was built in Val-d'Or in my riding in 1954. It quickly became the pride of the 375 Ukrainian families living there at the time.

Some years ago, we could also hear him on the radio on Sunday mornings, speaking a language that we did not understand.

May Mr. Chayka rest in peace. After all the outstanding work he did for the Ukrainian communities in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, he is most deserving.

Jeremy Bouchard

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Madam Speaker, we have all dreamt of becoming a superhero, but Jeremy Bouchard was called upon to don a superhero cape and muster all of his courage on the night of March 15, 2022.

That night, this 16-year-old from Edmundston woke up to find his house engulfed in flames. He managed to escape through his bedroom window. Once outside, he saw his stepmother trapped by the flames and calling for help. He kept his cool, punched through the window and went into the burning house. His only thought was that he needed to save this mother of two young kids, and he succeeded.

Jeremy and his stepmother suffered injuries but came out alive. Fortunately, they were the only ones in the house that night.

Way to go, Jeremy.

All of Madawaska—Restigouche is proud of him. We wish him and his stepmother a speedy recovery.

Support for Ukraine

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, for Dr. Kosta Bulavintsev, who is from Ukraine, seeing Russia’s illegal invasion has hit especially close to his heart. In an incredible community initiative through his dental clinic, he has been accepting donations to support the Ukrainian military. So far, they have raised $20,000 and counting. Dr. Kosta has personally committed to matching every single dollar that is contributed.

It is simply great to see the generosity in our community and even more so to see the steadfast support for the Ukrainian people and for the country of Ukraine, which we know to be a democratic ally and partner. I am proud to say that the Kenora riding stands with the people of Ukraine and that Canada stands with the people of Ukraine.

Ontario MPP for Don Valley West

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Madam Speaker, we often do not get to witness politicians who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and who think beyond the four-year election cycle. I had the distinct honour of serving with the 25th premier of Ontario, the Hon. Kathleen Wynne.

The first woman and openly gay premier of Ontario, Kathleen was a trailblazer. Her policies were embraced by governments across this country. She introduced basic income, took serious action against climate change, raised the minimum wage, introduced pharmacare for children and youth, created the anti-racism legislation, ended race-based carding, increased public pension for Ontarians and introduced free post-secondary education for low-income students. Premier Wynne was relentless in her fight for a fairer Ontario.

Now, as the 25th premier of Ontario bids farewell at the Ontario legislature after almost two decades, I want to take this opportunity to thank Kathleen Wynne from the bottom of my heart for her passion, her integrity and her service to Ontario. I know history will look back at her time in office and see someone who was not afraid to stand up and who would not leave anyone behind.

World Water Day

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, World Water Day is a day to promote awareness of the urgent need to protect and sustainably manage this precious resource that is essential to human life, the environment and the economy.

Water security is a more serious issue than ever because of the impact that climate change is having on the quantity and quality of our drinking water.

A clear policy priority on fresh water can not only help to better protect this resource in Canada, it can also translate into a new kind of Canadian leadership. Promoting international water security can become the new peacekeeping. With expertise in water science and governance, Canada can and should make addressing the global water crisis a pillar of our foreign policy. I look forward to the role that a Canada water agency could play in serving as a centre of expertise in responding to water challenges, both here in Canada and around the world.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on the second anniversary of the pandemic, workers across Canada are getting a nasty surprise from their government. Eligible workers are finding out that those who went back to work anytime before the end of the CERB program are now expected to pay back the $2,000 lump sum.

As members know, Conservatives strongly supported the CERB in principle. In practice, however, the CERB disincentivized work. It was also not made clear that this $2,000 would be clawed back. This latest fiasco is another in a long line of ill-conceived and poorly executed programs that have cost the Canadian treasury billions of dollars and created hardships for the workers they were intended to help.

I cannot help but wonder if this what Canadian workers can expect from an NDP-Liberal coalition government. The past predicts the future. The past two years have shown that the grandiose programs the NDP will demand to continue to prop up the Liberals for the next three years will prove disastrous.

Nowruz

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Nowruz marked the arrival of spring and is a time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to good things to come in the year ahead. This weekend, Persian, Afghan, Kurdish, Zoroastrian, Baha'i and central Asian communities, and my own Ismaili community, celebrated Nowruz, or Navroz. After two long years of battling COVID-19, communities in Vancouver Granville and across Canada finally gathered together safely with family and friends this Nowruz.

However, even as we celebrated Nowruz, many of us had in our thoughts the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face hardship, difficulty and, this year, a government-imposed limit on the celebration of this important festival. The resilience of Afghans in the face of horrific daily circumstances, whether fear of oppression, a food crisis or a true humanitarian catastrophe, is a reminder of the need to continue our work to build a more pluralistic world.

On the occasion of Nowruz, I wish us all and the people of Afghanistan good health, strength, peace and prosperity. Nowruz Mubarak. Navroz Mubarak.

Carbon Pricing

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, next week the Liberal government will yet again increase its carbon tax that disproportionately punishes rural Canadians, like those living in my riding of Fundy Royal. While the price of gas is already breaking records in New Brunswick, the Liberals want to shatter those records by raising their carbon tax to an additional 11¢ per litre on April 1. However, 11¢ per litre is going to look quaint by 2030, when the Liberal carbon tax is fully implemented and charging Canadians an additional 40¢ per litre.

The Liberal carbon tax does not care if people have to drive to work in order to pay the bills and provide for their families. It does not care if someone is a senior on a fixed income. All it does is add pressure on the increasingly strained wallets of everyday Canadians. This is unacceptable. In fact, 53% of Canadians say that they simply cannot keep up with the cost of living right now.

The last thing we need is another tax that makes life less affordable. People are struggling, and the government can no longer pretend that it is helpless to do anything about it. It is time the Liberals did the right thing and suspended their carbon tax increase on April 1.

NDP-Liberal Coalition

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, since the election, I have been speaking about the NDP-Liberal coalition government. Well, today it is official. My constituents in Saskatoon West know the dangers of the NDP and its love affair with propping up tired Liberal governments. These champagne socialists, who care more about their expensive cars and shutting down economic development on the Prairies, are now officially on the government gravy train.

Last night's pact guarantees a socialist lock on government into 2025, which is well past its due date. The NDP-Liberal government will raise taxes, implement anti-energy policies and push house prices further out of reach. Canadians deserve to know how much this pact will cost them.

The Liberals and the NDP used identity politics to divide Canadians into us against them. As a result, this country is more divided than ever. This place we stand in today should be about democracy, not secret backroom deals. Fortunately for Canadians, we have a strong united Conservative Party ready to form government and restore faith in democracy and our institutions.

Environmental Organization in Montreal

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge the non-profit organization VertCité for all the important work it is doing for the Saint-Laurent community. VertCité carries out initiatives and provides sustainable development services while also acting as a special resource in the field of sustainable development for local residents.

VertCité manages and develops a variety of environmental education initiatives on greening, waste management, urban biodiversity and urban agriculture, as well as food security. In addition, VertCité organizes many annual events, including the urban sugar shack, which will once again be offering educational and tasting experiences this Saturday, March 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beaudet Park, in a festive setting with music, dancing and, of course, maple products.

I urge all Saint-Laurent residents to join us for this wonderful event. There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

St. Lawrence River

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recite a few lines from Gatien Lapointe's poem called Ode to the St. Lawrence:

A big river flows through my country
That shapes the mountains' days
...
I say what grows and flourishes in my country
I heard the river's deep song
...
In this, the most beautiful place in the world

From the Great Lakes to the ocean, the river defines Quebec, while its tributaries unite our lands, but who protects the river against pollution, unfavourable projects and those who think only of economic interests?

The United Nations has called for the rights of nature to be recognized. That is why, on this World Water Day, I am announcing plans to introduce a bill to grant the St. Lawrence River legal personhood. In collaboration with first nations, a committee will be struck to defend the river and look after its interests and its health.

Nature also has rights. Let us give the river the means to protect itself. It is in everyone's interest.

Saint-Eustache Hospital

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the Saint-Eustache hospital, which is located in the heart of my riding, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.

On March 9, 1962, this institution opened its doors. At the time it was called the Deux-Montagnes General Hospital. Over six decades and through multiple expansions, its dedicated and skilled staff have welcomed more than 300,000 people from the Lower Laurentians. This hospital has not only witnessed the changes in my region since the Quiet Revolution, but also played a key role in its development.

The population of the Lower Laurentians has nearly doubled in 30 years. Today, and for a while now, the hospital's funding needs remain critical. That is why Ottawa must immediately increase health transfers from 22% to 35%, as the Bloc Québécois, the National Assembly of Quebec and all the provinces have been calling for.

Until then, I want to express my gratitude to the hospital's staff and say how much I admire them. Thank you and happy anniversary.

Government Accountability

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe another Liberal scandal is on the horizon. Canadians certainly did not vote for a Liberal-NDP coalition government in the last election.

We all know that the Liberals want to give the NDP some goodies so that they can manipulate Parliament. Now we see the Prime Minister making backroom deals with a third party at the expense of Parliament and Canadians.

There is no denying that the NDP has the upper hand over the Liberal government and will control the government as it pleases. We will definitely not stand idly by and watch in silence as the Liberals and the NDP spend money like there is no tomorrow. That is certainly not what transparency means, and it certainly does not reflect democracy as we know it in Canada. In the face of what appears to be a secret conspiracy, we have reason to be very concerned and to wonder what the Prime Minister and the NDP will try to sneak into the next four budgets.

This is really very worrying. It is a new scandal.

World Water Day

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Water Day. Canada is incredibly blessed with 20% of the world's fresh water, but this precious resource is increasingly under threat from pollution and climate change. Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of droughts, wildfires and floods, as we saw across the country in 2021.

The climate crisis is the water crisis. That is why our government will implement an emissions reduction plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% to 45% by 2030, and introduce a national adaptation strategy by the end of 2022. That is why our government is creating a new Canada water agency, implementing a renewed freshwater action plan and modernizing the Canada Water Act, all in order to better protect and manage fresh water in our country.

With these important measures, I am hopeful that we will be able to make every day water day in Canada.

Government Accountability

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians woke up this morning and were shocked to learn they have a new NDP-Liberal government that is planning to spend and tax unlike anything we have seen before. Now things are starting to make sense. Now we understand why the NDP has been so eager to prop up the Liberals and their unethical behaviour. It is because they have been cooking up a secret backroom deal.

My question for the leader of the new NDP-Liberal party is this. When did he start these secret talks with his new deputy prime minister, the member for Burnaby South? Was it before, during or just after the last election?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what this agreement means is that in this time of uncertainty and pressure on Canadians, we will have predictability and an ability to focus on delivering the things that Canadians asked us all for collectively in the last election: more investments in housing, better supports for families, help with the cost of living, growth for Canadians, increases in the fight against climate change and support on reconciliation. The toxicity and polarization that we have seen in Parliament in the past is now an opportunity for us to deliver for Canadians, and that is what we shall do.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are already suffering because of massive inflation that is caused by the out-of-control spending of the old Liberal government. Now Canadian are going to be living with a new NDP-Liberal government and the price tag has just skyrocketed. The NDP-Liberal government's initial platform will cost over $200 billion and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Can the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister tell Canadians how much this backroom deal is going to cost them?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we made a commitment in the last election to invest in housing, to invest in support for families, to invest in child care, to grow the economy, to fight the pandemic and to move forward on fighting climate change. These are all things that we continue to be focused on. What we are going to see is an ability to work across party lines to reduce the toxic partisanship that we have seen in the past in the House and actually move forward on delivering concretely for Canadians. That is what Canadians want. That is what we are going to deliver.

Natural Resources

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have seen an attack from the left on Canada's oil and gas sector, our agricultural sector and fisheries, all huge job creators, and now that extreme left-wing agenda has been baked into this secret backroom deal. The NDP-Liberal platform will double down and intensify the attack on Canadian natural resources and jobs.

Canadians deserve to know: How many more jobs are going to be lost specifically in our natural resources because of the NDP-Liberal government and the backroom deal?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians saw what aggressive partisanship and toxicity in this place have led to. It is a slowed down agenda delivery for Canadians. What we have been able to do, in moving forward during this pandemic and seeing Canadians come together, is what we are going to continue to do moving forward: deliver on the things that we stood up for in the last election and deliver for Canadians on the things they need to grow the economy and create good jobs for everyone, while fully continuing to respect Parliament.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I am going to take a moment here and remind folks that there has been a great listening of the questions, and I am hoping there is going to be a good listening of the answers so we can make sure that we understand where everybody stands on this issue. I am hearing lots of shots coming from over here, so I want to be sure that we actually hear the answers the Prime Minister is trying to give us.

The hon. leader of the official opposition.

Taxation

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake that this backroom deal disrespects Parliament and disrespects every single Canadian voter. Gas prices right now are shockingly high and are going up, unfairly punishing Canadians and families, but today the Conservatives have proposed a reasonable and positive solution to save Canadians money at the gas pumps. The Conservatives are consistently conservative and we always want to lower taxes for all Canadians.

Will the NDP-Liberal government tell the House if it supports our motion, or will its first act as a coalition government be to continue punishing Canadians with high taxes at the gas pumps?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the official opposition needs to be careful when she is talking about supporting democracy and not spreading misinformation and disinformation at the same time.

Canadians returned this Parliament in a minority situation in the last election because they expected parties to work together collaboratively to deliver for Canadians. That is exactly what we are doing as we reach out across party lines to work together on the things we agree upon. There will be plenty of room for robust, informed debate in the areas in which we disagree. That is how Parliament should work, and we will continue to stand up for democracy.