House of Commons Hansard #52 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was firefighters.

Topics

The EconomyOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mona Fortier LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hard-working colleague for Fleetwood—Port Kells for the question. Our regulatory system needs to be more efficient and less burdensome while maintaining protection for consumers, health and safety, and the environment. The government tabled the second annual regulatory modernization bill. It would reduce the administrative burden for businesses, simplify overly complex rules and let us do more online. It would support our economic recovery by helping businesses do what they do best and would make it easier for Canadians to get things done.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberal minister can try to sidestep the economic woes the government's high-tax, high-inflation policies are placing on new Canadians, but they know the truth. It is why, when asked why they would not recommend Canada to future immigrants, the top two reasons were current government leadership and cost of living.

We are in a labour crisis, and the government's fiscal policies are not helping. Will the NDP-Liberal minister fix the fiscal policy mess so that Canadians and new Canadians are not driven out?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Liberal

Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I would caution the hon. member as she seems not to be aware of the fact that Canada has one of the best fiscal positions of any developed economy in the world. We entered this pandemic with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of any G7 country, and our AAA credit rating has been reaffirmed by major credit rating agencies.

I would point out as well that Canada, this year for the first time, has actually ranked first globally as the world's top destination of choice for newcomers who are thinking about leaving their country of origin. The measures that we have been putting in place are making a positive difference to our economy, and we are going to continue to make Canada the most welcoming place on earth for those who wish to seek new employment opportunities.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am going to repeat the question.

When newcomers are asked why they would not recommend Canada as a destination to other potential immigrants, 43% blame current government leadership and 35% blame the cost of living.

Will the NDP-Liberal Minister of Finance commit to cleaning up her suffocating and inflationary tax policy, which is such a mess that many Canadians, even newcomers, are considering looking elsewhere?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Liberal

Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, it is an interesting frame that the member uses when she puts it on the floor of the House of Commons.

If we asked the group of workers around the world any country they would like to come to, to explore new economic opportunities, the number one choice they would make is Canada. This is something we should be extremely proud of. Canada is winning the global race for talent. The only question I constantly ask myself is how we can increase the margin by which we are winning.

We know we have created economic conditions that are not only seeing our economy rebound, with more than 112% of the jobs lost during the pandemic coming back, but we have many job vacancies for newcomers to fill, which sustain work for them and—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

The hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon.

Emergency PreparednessOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, hearing the commentary today, I think there is one thing all British Columbians can agree on, irrespective of party, and that is that the Government of Canada has a role to play in helping to rebuild British Columbia.

In this week's budget, can the government let us know whether there would be additional funds on top of the $5 billion for dike infrastructure, road repair, and first nations emergency management and supplies? British Columbia needs it. Will the government be there to help rebuild my province?

Emergency PreparednessOral Questions

April 4th, 2022 / 2:50 p.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalPresident of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his advocacy on behalf of his constituents.

Right from the beginning of the terrible floods that took place in British Columbia, we have been there. We have been working with the people of British Columbia, with the provincial government and with local authorities as well. We have already committed $5 billion to that rebuild, and the work is ongoing with municipalities, the people impacted by the floods, the province and indigenous communities in order to make sure the federal government would be there for the people of British Columbia.

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, supply-managed producers and processors in the egg, poultry and dairy sectors are still waiting to hear the details of the compensation the government promised.

There have been major concessions made and conditions imposed on Canadian businesses, and we need to protect our food sovereignty and ensure that our farmers and food processors are properly compensated following the implementation of CUSMA.

Will budget 2022 finally include funds to compensate supply-managed sectors affected by CUSMA, yes or no?

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is well aware that we have already committed to providing $2 billion to dairy producers as compensation for the agreements with Europe and the trans-Pacific region. They already know how much they will be getting next year, in 2023.

As for our commitment in terms of CUSMA, the agreement with the United States and Mexico, we will provide all the details during the first year.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to this morning's IPCC report, we have three years to save the planet. Our greenhouse gas emissions must peak within the next three years and then fall by 48% by 2030.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change tabled a plan last week, but despite his promises to the contrary, it contains no targets for peak fossil fuel production or emissions.

We have three years to act, but the minister's plan is holding us back. Given the urgency of the situation, will the minister go back to the drawing board?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I have here Canada's greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, and on page 90, it says—

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

Order. The minister is about to quote something from the plan. It is not appropriate for members to intervene during his answer.

The hon. minister.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I was saying, on page 90 of the plan, it says that the oil and gas sector could reduce emissions by 80 million tonnes. That is the most ambitious target of any sector. It would be like cutting all of Quebec's greenhouse gas emissions combined.

Our plan is serious, it is solid, and it will enable us to meet our targets.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Mr. Speaker, the IPCC report says that we have three years to reduce and cap greenhouse gas emissions. The UN Secretary-General even said, “Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness.”

That brings us to the new Bay du Nord project. This project is madness, plain and simple. The minister would be supporting an additional one billion barrels over 30 years when we have only three years to take action. This would completely shatter the credibility of the plan he presented last week.

Is Bay du Nord getting the green light or not?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague that our plan, which is based on projections from the Canada Energy Regulator, provides for increased production in Canada, but we are addressing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sabaa Khan, director general for Quebec and Atlantic Canada at the David Suzuki Foundation, said, “This plan has a better chance of success than any of Canada's previous climate plans”.

Marc-André Viau from Équiterre said, “We welcome the emissions reduction plan because this is the first time that we have such a detailed strategy”.

Diego Creimer from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec chapter, said, “It was double or nothing, and the minister went for it. Ottawa has just invested heavily in our best ally: nature.”

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

Mr. Speaker, in the last Parliament, the Liberals voted against a Conservative bill to introduce a carbon capture tax credit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now, the NDP-Liberals are agreeing with Conservatives about the technology’s potential and are prepared to introduce such a tax credit themselves.

Why did it take the NDP-Liberals over a year to consider our proven Conservative solution to this environmental concern?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Edmonton Centre Alberta

Liberal

Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, climate change is the greatest long-term threat to our country. It is an existential threat, yet we know that a market mechanism, and an important mechanism, is carbon capture, use and storage. Important investments were made in budget 2021.

We have put on the floor of the House the emissions reductions plan. It is an ambitious plan. It is an important plan, and we will continue to work with industry and all stakeholders to make sure that we get to where we need to be to save the planet and have good, long-paying jobs across the country.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, the International Energy Agency has stated that carbon capture, utilization and storage is the most near-term available technology to mitigate climate change. Deployment will amount to approximately 7% of the world’s GHG reduction targets. Canada was at the forefront of developing carbon capture. Billions of dollars have been spent by industry and governments to advance the technology, making it a Canadian technology champion.

Will the government commit to ensuring that this environmental leadership remains in Canada, or will we see more inaction that will move more jobs to the United States?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, to fight climate change, we need all available technologies, and that is exactly what our approach has been so far. In budget 2021, we committed to put in place a tax incentive for carbon capture and storage, which is in fact featured in today's IPCC report as a technology we absolutely need to tackle climate change.

We should not put all our eggs in that basket. It is part of our plan. Five per cent of our plan rests on carbon capture and storage, but we need to invest in transit. We need to invest in solar, in wind and in electrification. By doing all these things, we will get to our target.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources told delegates at the IEA meeting that he would be implementing a 45Q-type regime to capture carbon in Canada. The American 45Q tax credit has pulled investment away from Canada because it includes enhanced oil recovery, yet the same minister co-wrote an article saying that EOR should not be part of our carbon capture regime. There is one story for people who know what is required and another when pandering to special interests at home.

Which side of his mouth will the minister be talking out of now, and how many more jobs do we have to lose to the United States?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

3 p.m.

Toronto—Danforth Ontario

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I am happy that I have another opportunity to point out that the United States is also working toward renewables and toward cleaner energy. In fact, the U.S. secretary of energy, Secretary Granholm, specifically said the Biden administration was “aggressively investing in a wide range of clean energy technologies, which will grow our economy, create good-paying jobs, lower costs for American families, and combat the climate crisis.”

Does that sound familiar? That is what we are doing right here in Canada. We are building a sustainable clean economy for sustainable jobs for the future.

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister announced the Government of Canada's plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

Canadian farmers are on the front lines of climate change, and their efforts are essential to meeting Canada's climate targets.

To that end, the plan allocates more than $1 billion to the agriculture sector. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food explain to the House how the agriculture sector will benefit from this new plan?

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3 p.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle for her commitment to agricultural producers. They really are essential partners in our fight against climate change.

That is why our emissions reduction plan earmarks $1 billion to provide financial incentives to help producers adopt best practices for reducing emissions, particularly fertilizer emissions, to make clean technology more affordable, and to invest in research and knowledge transfer.