Debates of Oct. 17th, 2023

Carbon Tax

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, mortgage rates and the cost of food and fuel are making it impossible for Canadian families to live. I have heard from neighbours and friends who have expressed that the NDP-Liberal government is out of touch with Canadians and is driving in the wrong direction.

The Prime Minister promised to bring down the cost of food, but Thanksgiving has come and gone, and food costs continue to escalate.

With the exception of only one Liberal member of Parliament, the NDP-Liberal coalition continues to support the increased costs of production and transportation of food by supporting the carbon tax. The only thing the carbon tax is doing is uniting Canadians against it. They are exhausted, desperate, failing and falling far behind.

Canadians deserve relief, and the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Mary Lamb

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Mary Lamb, a palliative care pioneer, passed away recently in Oakville. She became the director of nursing at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in the 1980s, where she and her colleagues helped to pioneer the development of a palliative care program at the hospital.

Mary's passion for dying with dignity led her back to the Royal Victoria Hospital for special training in palliative care. She always said that it was not about the quantity of life, but the quality of life.

In 1983, she hired the first part-time palliative care coordinator at OTMH. She always had a deep passion for promoting evidence-based care practices, which led her to her interest in therapeutic touch, a recognized modality with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

I presented Mary with a well-deserved pin in honour of her work to ensure that all people in Canada can die with dignity.

I offer Heather and her family my deepest sympathy. May they know that Mary's work and legacy will live on.

Bloc Québécois

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal government, after eight long years of disastrous mismanagement, the government is introducing a second carbon tax with the help of the Bloc Québécois, which wants to radically increase this carbon tax by twice voting with the government. The Bloc Québécois is not thinking about Quebeckers who are struggling to make ends meet, families or our seniors when it supports a second carbon tax.

Voting for the Bloc Québécois is making our meals more expensive. Voting for the Bloc Québécois is making it more expensive to put gas in our cars. Voting for the Bloc Québécois is making it more expensive to keep a roof over our heads. What is more, the Bloc Québécois voted to repeal minimum sentences and voted against our motion on housing.

The Liberal government is worn out. Canadian families are dealing with thousands of dollars in new costs because of massive deficits and punitive tax increases introduced by this government. The Liberal government refuses to withdraw its second carbon tax from Quebec, a decision supported by the Bloc Québécois.

Quebeckers must not be misled by the Bloc Québécois, which supports the Liberal-NDP coalition.

Foreign Affairs

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, the world woke up to an unspeakable horror. Hamas terrorists had brutally invaded Israel, intentionally killing over a thousand Israeli civilians and taking hostage over 100 more.

More Jews were killed that day than on any single day since the Holocaust, for no other reason than they were Jewish. They were children, babies, men and women. They were young people just out listening to music at a dance party. This was an unprecedented, brutal, intentional attack.

We must not let anyone tell us that Hamas is the legitimate voice of the Palestinian people. It is not a government. Its members are not activists or freedom fighters. It is not a resistance movement. It is a genocidal, murderous terrorist death cult and it must be defeated.

The Conservatives unequivocally condemn the invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists and affirm Israel's right to defend itself against these barbaric acts.

Natural Resources

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the significant role that both mining and forestry have in my riding of Nickel Belt, northern Ontario and throughout Canada in ensuring economic opportunities for everyone.

Strong supply and services mining companies part of MineConnect provide thousands of well-paying jobs all over northern Ontario.

Last week, I chaired a round table group in Espanola concerning the closure of a local pulp and paper mill. The municipality has shown really true resilience. I commend Mayor Gervais and the council for their efforts to support local businesses.

Mining and forestry are both at the heart of northern Ontario's heritage, with a highly skilled workforce, good careers to many generations of families, jobs for indigenous people and a strong culture of innovation.

Canada continues to be a global leader for sustainable mining and forestry.

As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, I ask all members of the House to thank the countless dedicated workers of the mining and forestry industry, FPAC, the Forest Products Association of Canada and the Mining Association of Canada.

Mel Bevan

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the memory of Sm'ooyget Satsan, Mel Bevan, a remarkable leader who dedicated his life not only to his beloved Kitselas First Nation but to the advancement of indigenous people right across the country.

Mel wore many hats in his 82 years. He was a band councillor, chief councillor, band manager, chief executive officer, treaty negotiator, consultant and author. He was also a hereditary chief, a day school survivor, a fluent Sm'algyax speaker, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Mel's greatest legacy by far is the Kitselas treaty, something he spent the last three decades of his life negotiating. When that treaty goes to a ratification vote sometime next year, it will stand as a great testament to Mel's vision and his love for his people, the Gitselasu.

T'oyaxsut nuun, Satsan. May he rest in peace.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Though rarer in men, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Some 28,000 Canadians are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

Of course, the survival rate has improved, which is good news. To do even better, we must continue to screen for cancers to detect them early and, above all, we must continue to support the development of ever more effective treatments by increasing research budgets and providing talented researchers with the support they deserve.

Our hearts go out to all those who are battling cancer.

Grocery Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, after inflationary policies and eight years of the tax and speNDP-Liberal government, Canadians are paying more than they ever have for food, over 17% the last two years alone.

The Prime Minister promised by Thanksgiving that he would freeze prices. Perhaps he meant by American Thanksgiving.

However, it gets worse for Canadian families. For the 20 million Canadians who have a pet, pet food is up over 25%. Families struggling to put food on their tables are also struggling to put food in their pet bowls. Even pets know the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

The industry minister today said that he wished he knew what the plans were to lower grocery prices. The answer is simple: cut the excessive inflationary spending and axe the carbon tax.

All Canadians know that with grocery prices up 17% and pet food prices up 25%, the government's handling of grocery prices is for the dogs.

Jewish Community

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's Jewish community has been here since 1760. We have had high and low points in our history, but never in my lifetime has the 400,000 strong Jewish community in Canada felt so vulnerable.

The dramatic rise in anti-Semitism over the last decade has been compounded by Hamas terrorists brutally attacking our friend and ally Israel.

This week, hundreds of Jewish community leaders from across Canada are in Ottawa for a conference presented by CIJA, JFC-UIA and Canada's Jewish federations.

They are here to speak directly to parliamentarians about the anti-Semitism that they face both online and in their communities, and to make important recommendations for action.

Tonight there is a reception at the Shaw Centre. I encourage each and every member of the House to join me there so we can show solidarity with the Jewish community at this difficult and emotional time.

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, eight long years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of mortgages. The cost of housing has increased by 100% since he took office. He printed $600 billion, which inflated real estate prices and forced people to take out large mortgages. Then, his deficits drove up interest rates.

When will he reverse his inflationary policies to lower interest rates and allow Canadians to keep their homes?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the austerity being preached by the Leader of the Opposition will not help anyone access housing. That is why we are taking bold steps to get more affordable housing built faster.

The Minister of Housing is working directly with municipalities across the country to find ambitious, community-specific solutions to the housing challenges they face. We have signed housing accelerator fund agreements with London, Vaughan, Halifax and Hamilton, and we have just signed an agreement with Quebec. We will continue to be there to help people.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years under this incompetent Prime Minister, Canadians are already living with austerity, while the government, which is not worth the cost or effort, is living large. I met a worker from the Seaspan shipyard who bought an ordinary house in Vancouver. Because of interest rate hikes, he is now paying $7,500 a month for his mortgage, and $4,000 of that is interest.

Will the Prime Minister finally reverse his inflationary policies so that this worker can keep his house?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what the Leader of the Opposition does not seem to understand is that the cuts he is proposing will not help these workers or Canadians. We are here to help Canadians with investments and agreements with municipalities to create more housing while ensuring that we keep the lowest deficit and the best debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We have kept our AAA rating.

At the same time, Canadians have the right to know where the Leader of the Opposition wants to make cuts. Does he want to make cuts to child care or dental care? Those are programs he campaigned against.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight long, miserable years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. He massively increased the money supply by $600 billion, inflating housing costs by over 100%. That forced one Seaspan shipyard worker, who I met last week, to buy a normal house for over a million dollars. Now interest rates have gone up because of inflationary deficits, something the Prime Minister promised would not happen, and he is forced to pay $7,500 a month on his mortgage while supporting his three kids.

Will the Prime Minister reverse his inflationary spending so that this gentleman, his wife and three kids can afford to keep their home?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear. The cuts, the austerity, that are proposed by the leader of the official opposition would not help that family, would not help Canadians from coast to coast to be able to afford a new home or the homes they are living in even. That is why we are continuing to work right across the country to bring forward ambitious and community-specific solutions to the housing problems they are facing. We have signed housing accelerator fund agreements with London, with Vaughan, with Halifax, with Hamilton, with the Province of Quebec and have more to come.

The cuts he is proposing will not help Canadians. Our investments, done responsibly, will continue to help Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the middle-class shipyard worker paying $7,500 a month on his mortgage is living austerity now. What the Prime Minister is talking about is abundance for the government and austerity for working class people, who must carry him and his overpriced bureaucracy around on their backs.

That gentleman has three kids, in their adolescence, to raise, paying for their sports while keeping a roof overhead. How does the Prime Minister expect them to pay $7,500 a month to fund his overpriced interest rates that result from his deficits?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is proposing to cut spending. The reality is that we have the lowest deficit in the G7, we have the best debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and we have preserved our AAA credit rating. We are fiscally responsible, as we support people with things like the grocery rebate, with investments that are bringing down inflation and by working with the different grocery chains.

The reality is that Canadians have a right to know which programs he would be cutting. Would he be cutting child care for families? Would he be cutting dental care for kids? Would he be cutting pensions for seniors? He has campaigned against all three of those measures for Canadians.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Before the hon. Leader of the Opposition asks his question, I would ask members to please restrict their comments to the time they are recognized by the Chair to have the floor.

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

What would I cut? I would start with the $54-million ArriveCAN app, which is now under police investigation. Then I would get rid of the $35-billion Infrastructure Bank, which pays bonuses but has not completed a single infrastructure project. Why do we not throw in the $100 million-plus contracts to McKinsey, a company that helped cause the opioid crisis.

Speaking of all the waste that the Prime Minister forces on Canadian taxpayers, when it comes to the ArriveCAN app, it is now under police investigation. He covered up previous bad behaviour under SNC-Lavalin. Will he at least co-operate with the RCMP investigation into the ArriveCAN app?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again we see that the Conservatives are all about cuts, not about investing and building a stronger future. I recommend that the Leader of the Opposition take a ride on the great REM in Montreal, which the Canada Infrastructure Bank helped build. It has helped thousands of Canadians see themselves being part of the future in a responsible way.

We are going to continue to build a stronger future for Canadians by making the right investments, by keeping fiscally responsible and by staying away from the kinds of cuts that the Conservatives continue to put forward.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Once again, I am going to ask colleagues to please restrict their comments to when they are recognized to have the floor.

The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

Foreign Affairs

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of co-operation, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister a few questions yesterday. Perhaps this came as a surprise to her, because the answers we received left much to be desired and were rather vague. I would like to put them directly to the Prime Minister this time.

The Quint group, which is made up of the United States, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, has become quite a force, with a tremendous capacity for diplomatic and political intervention. It is surprising that Canada is not part of it. I asked the Deputy Prime Minister about it yesterday, and now I am asking the Prime Minister. Has he spoken with President Biden about being added to the group?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues are well aware, Canada is working very closely with all of its allies around the world. We had a call with the G7 foreign ministers this morning to better coordinate our efforts and ensure that aid gets into Gaza. We must be there to provide humanitarian assistance while this terrible crisis continues in the region.

We have evacuated Canadians. We have been working with our allies. We continue to push for evacuations of civilians from the affected areas. We will continue to work with all of our allies and we will keep the lines of communication open.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that this is very much a humanitarian situation. The international community must take humanitarian action, but it must do other things too. The Prime Minister's answer was long, but what he meant was that, no, he will not be part of the group, which has a lot more power to influence and intervene than even the G7 does in this context.

Because I want to know more and understand better, yesterday I suggested that the Prime Minister invite all party leaders to meet and discuss these matters privately so we can all be on the same page and more easily build consensus around this crisis, which is bigger than our debates here and our current political issues. Will that happen?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that was a very good suggestion. I have asked my team to follow up, which they will do in the coming days, to make sure the party leaders have access to all the necessary information. This is a time for Canadians to stand united. I know people in various communities across the country are worried. They fear for their loved ones. They also fear for their children and their communities.

Our job is to try to reassure people. I think all 338 members of the House have a responsibility to reassure people, to focus on our shared values and to be there for one another.