Debates of April 1st, 2022

Finance

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

Madam Speaker, I was amused to learn earlier today that there is a Liberal among the ranks of the Conservative leadership race, but let us go on to the question at hand.

When it comes to something as serious as the nation's finances, it is important to separate partisan posturing from the facts. Here are the facts: Moody's and S&P have given us a AAA credit rating. We have the second-fastest-growing economy in the world, poised to be the fastest-growing next year. We made clear investments in the lives of Canadians so that we could rebound and have one of the best economies in the world. That is good for Canadians. That is good for everyone.

Taxation

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, Canadians woke up to a more expensive country today. The carbon tax helps no one in rural Canada. It hurts seniors, families and the agricultural sector by increasing the costs of heat for their homes and their barns. It also increases the cost of fuel for their cars and for the trucks that deliver food to Canadians from coast to coast. According to a recent Ipsos poll, nearly half of Canadians want to see lower taxes in the upcoming budget.

Will the NDP-Liberal government listen to my constituents in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and cancel the carbon tax?

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

Madam Speaker, agriculture and rural communities are vital in my home province of Manitoba. We recognize we are in a transition period, and that is why we introduced Bill C-8 to put more money in farmers' pockets. Bill C-8, currently before this House, contains a measure to return part of the proceeds of the price of pollution directly to farmers. Unfortunately, the Conservative Party has tried to remove this measure and has delayed progress on this important legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, death and ever-increasing Liberal taxes are the only certainties of life in Canada. Regardless of what Liberals spin, the true function of the carbon tax is to take more money out of Canadians' pockets. What I truly do not understand is why the Liberal ministers continue to stand up every day and try to spin Canadians. These ministers are trying to be contortionists with the facts on whether Canadians are getting all their money back on the Liberal carbon tax cash grab.

My question is quite simple. If the Liberals are giving all the money back to Canadians, why bother taking it in the first place?

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

Madam Speaker, while the Conservatives are trying to determine whether climate change is real, our government is moving forward to cut pollution, create good jobs and make lives more affordable for Canadians.

When the Conservatives were in power, they did absolutely nothing for 10 long years on climate action. We simply cannot afford another 10 years of Harper Conservative inaction on climate change.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The tone is starting to come up again. I am sure that hon. members appreciated that they were not interrupted when they asked questions and I would ask them to do the same when someone is answering.

The hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Speaker, today the carbon tax went up yet again. Out west we have long known it is nothing more than a callous and discriminatory tax that hurts rural Canada. According to the government's own regulations, it also disproportionately impacts seniors living on a fixed income, as well as single mothers.

The NDP-Liberal government will not let harsh reality get in the way of its blind ideology, so will the minister finally admit that this is not actually about lowering emissions, but only about holding back the progress of western Canada?

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

Madam Speaker, I am a proud Manitoban from western Canada. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the majority of households will receive more in climate action rebates than they pay. That is eight out of 10 families.

I will repeat those numbers, which are valid from coast to coast to coast. This year a family of four will receive $1,100 in Saskatchewan and Alberta and $830 in my home province of Manitoba. Those rebate cheques will start to arrive on July 15 and they will arrive each and every month.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, today the carbon tax increases to 11¢ per litre on fuel. Prices in northwestern Ontario and across the country are skyrocketing. Housing prices have doubled, groceries are up across the board and six in 10 Canadian families with kids are now worried they will no longer be able to put food on the table. Inflation is at record highs and families cannot afford to wait for a rebate. They are struggling to get by week by week, day by day.

Will the government do the right thing and cancel the carbon tax hike?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, I can tell the members opposite that there is one thing that this government has always in our minds, and that is the well-being of families. Since being elected in 2015, we have introduced the Canada child benefit, which saw nine out of 10 Canadian families receive more money than previously. As of today, right here in this province and the member's riding, families with kids in day care will receive a 25% reduction in day care fees.

We are making life more affordable for families and we will keep doing that.

The Environment

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, since 1988, Canada has released 11 plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They have all failed, and the one announced this week will also fail.

Why? This is what the plan has to say about capping emissions from the oil and gas industries: “The intent of the cap is not to bring reductions in production that are not driven by declines in global demand.”

In other words, as long someone is willing to buy Canadian oil, then “drill, baby, drill”. When will there be a clear exit plan to get off fossil fuels?

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

Madam Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that Canada is committed to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies in the coming two years. This is two years ahead of schedule. We have already phased out eight tax breaks for the fossil fuel sector and, as outlined in the emissions reduction plan that was tabled this week, we are working on a plan to cap oil and gas emissions and ensure the sector makes an ambitious contribution to meeting the country's 2030 emission goals.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Conservatives are applauding the government's plan. That says it all.

On Monday, the IPCC, the group of UN environmental experts, will be tabling a new report. In a report released last month, the UN said that the biggest polluters are guilty of arson on our only home. The UN warned all governments that this abdication of leadership is criminal.

On Monday, when we read the IPCC reports and compare them to the plan Ottawa announced this week, will we be able to believe that Canada is doing enough?

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

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday we introduced our emissions reduction plan, which is a practical road map to fight climate change, create good jobs and build the clean economy.

As just a few highlights, we are going to make it easier and more affordable for Canadians to switch to electric vehicles. We are going to invest in energy retrofits for greener homes and buildings, establish a greener electricity grid, reduce oil and gas emissions and very, very importantly, support our farmers as they move to more sustainable agriculture.

Taxation

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Madam Speaker, this week we have two leaders doing two different things for Canadians at the gas pumps. On one hand, President Biden launched the largest release ever from the U.S. emergency oil reserve and challenged oil companies to increase their oil production by 10%, while on the other hand, our Prime Minister caused even more pain at the pumps by hiking the carbon tax.

President Biden’s actions cause oil prices to decrease 7%, meaning he is reducing gas prices for Canadians. Why is the American president doing more for Canadians at the gas pumps than their own Prime Minister?

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak a little bit about what our American counterparts are doing with respect to energy transformation. In fact, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Secretary Granholm, specifically said in reaction to the heightened gas prices from Putin's invasion of Russia that they are accelerating “our clean energy transition, which will make our country more energy independent and much less vulnerable to the whims of dictators.” That is what the U.S. is doing.

Frankly, we are also working to transition toward renewables, and that is an important thing to do.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Speaker, beer, wine, cider and spirit producers are waking up this morning in my riding of Kelowna—Lake Country to an unfair increase in their excise escalator tax. Worse yet, this tax is tied to the consumer price index, meaning the government’s failure to tackle our inflation crisis will see it soaring even higher next year. April Fool’s Day pranks are only supposed to last until noon, so will the NDP-Liberal government give us some good news after this bad joke today and reverse this unfair increase?

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

Madam Speaker, I understand the member's question and value the role that the wine, beer and spirit sector play in our economy as well as in tourism attraction and retention.

Like other taxes and benefits, the alcohol excise duty rate is calculated automatically every year to account for inflation. This is the right approach. It provides stability and predictability for the industry, which is what they asked of us when we formed government. The increase is less than one-fifth of one penny per can of beer, and other specific measures are in place for wine and spirits.

Child Care

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Madam Speaker, happy Friday, although for a family in my riding it is not a happy Friday. A family in my riding has two teenaged disabled children who require full-time assistance and are not eligible for the $10-a-day child care. This family is struggling to make ends meet. To support his family with the necessities, the father must work two jobs.

How will this NDP-Liberal government assist families who are facing rising costs in order to provide the basic needs to their children?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, I understand what the constituent that she was talking about is going through. I have spoken to many constituents who have children with disabilities, and that is specifically why we have made sure that all of our child care agreements are inclusive, that they reach the broad needs of every single child across this country, particularly those with disabilities, because we know that there are higher costs for families who have children with disabilities.

I thank the member opposite for her advocacy. She can count on this government continuing to work for families in need.

Taxation

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Madam Speaker, as fuel costs rise to unprecedented levels, the people of northern Saskatchewan are outraged that this NDP-Liberal coalition will raise their taxes again. Fact: Driving is not optional in my riding. Fact: Trips for groceries and medical appointments are often long distances. Fact: There is no public transit and there are no electric vehicle charging stations. Fact: Today my constituents are worse off because of the increase in the carbon tax.

When will the government realize that raising taxes is the last thing my constituents need?

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

Madam Speaker, I am glad our families minister stood just a little while ago, and I love the references to the Chrétien government because they remind me of when the Harper government came to power in 2006. What was the first thing it did? It cancelled our national child care program. The other thing it did was deep-six the Kyoto climate accord.

The Conservatives have done absolutely nothing on climate change in the last 15 years. We now have a national child care program, thanks the families minister, our Prime Minister and those on this side of the House, and we have an emissions reduction plan.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Madam Speaker, people across the country are facing the rising costs of gas, groceries and housing, and one way to help them is by eliminating taxes that do not make sense. Low-alcohol beer is a healthy and increasingly popular choice, yet it is charged the alcohol excise tax while low-alcohol wine and spirits are not. Yesterday, I introduced Bill C-267 to provide a simple fix for this anomaly.

Will the government support this fix, put it in the budget and provide some relief for both craft brewers and consumers?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay for his private member's bill. We cannot comment on what will be revealed in the budget next week, but I do hear the member's appeal.

I personally enjoy non-alcoholic beer, and I am thrilled to see the rise of craft breweries across the country. They are a tourism draw. We have heard the member opposite, and we will take his suggestions under advisement.