Debates of Oct. 24th, 2023

Aerospace Industry

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, once again I thank my colleague for giving me an opportunity to further clarify the importance of investing in aeronautics, not only in Quebec but across the country.

We know Bombardier is an outstanding partner, key to other players in the country's aeronautics space, such as General Dynamics here in Ottawa, that are making huge contributions to the technological capacity to support National Defence's significant needs.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, silence and shut down are what the NDP-Liberal cover-up coalition did yesterday when the RCMP commissioner was shamefully denied any opportunity to give evidence in relation to the Prime Minister's criminal investigation. Nowhere in the coalition agreement does it say that the NDP needs to be complicit in the Prime Minister's political scandals. After eight years of the government, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

I have a simple question: What is the coalition covering up?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has been clear in this matter. There is no criminal investigation. It has closed the case. That is the independent decision taken by Canada's national police force, and the commissioner, in his public comments yesterday, said he was very comfortable with that decision.

Carbon Pricing

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, farm families know that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. A financial health report confirmed that higher Liberal inflation, taxes and interest rates are taking a serious toll on Canadian producers. Their net farm incomes are down 8%, but expenses are up 21%, the highest jump in 50 years, since the last tax-and-spend Trudeau government.

All parties in this House supported a Conservative bill to remove the carbon tax from on-farm fuels, but the Liberals are trying to kill that bill in the Senate. Will the Prime Minister respect the will of this House and axe his farm-killing carbon tax?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's concern, but the fact is that if we do not deal with the environment, we cannot do anything about any of the prices in agriculture. Quite simply, we have an opposition party that does not feel that climate change is an issue. We in the government feel climate change is an issue, and we will continue to fight climate change, because the disasters that are happening right across the country add to the cost of food from one of end of the country to the other.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the number one concerns for Canadian farm families are Liberal regulations and carbon taxes. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business surveyed its members and asked for their top three priorities. Number one was to reduce the regulatory and red tape burden. Number two was to reduce the overall tax burden. For number three, 66% said their number one priority was to pass a Conservative bill to remove the carbon tax from on-farm fuels.

After eight years of the Prime Minister disrespecting this House and ignoring farmers, he is not worth the cost. Why is the Prime Minister working so hard to bankrupt farmers and disrespect this House? Why will he not axe his carbon tax?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, I live in a rural riding as well. I meet with farmers, and some farmers even as recently as this morning.

The hypocrisy from the Conservative side is getting a bit difficult to stomach. It is ironic and in fact disappointing to see this from members like the member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis and the member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, who used to be Liberal provincial ministers and parliamentary secretaries in charge of carbon pricing. They all ran on a carbon price. They all said they were going to fight climate change, but none of them are willing to stand up and say “climate change” in this House. It is probably because the Conservative leader has decided climate change does not exist. He is too risky, he is reckless and he is not worth the cost.

Employment

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the drive to net zero is creating economic prosperity for Canadians right now in every region of the country, from critical mineral mines to renewable energy projects to hydrogen production facilities. If we provide the right supports and bring workers to the table now, these opportunities will only increase.

Yesterday, to the dismay of workers across the country, the Conservative Party voted against the Canadian sustainable jobs act. Can the minister tell us more about why this bill is important?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and Alberta colleague, the MP for Calgary Skyview, for his strong advocacy.

Workers are at the heart of Canada's prosperity, and the Canadian sustainable jobs act would ensure that together we can grow the economy and create good, middle-class sustainable jobs in Alberta and across the country. While we engage workers through this legislation, the Conservatives are doing everything they can to stop workers from being at the table. Their votes against this important bill for workers are simply more proof that the Conservative leader and his party are simply not worth the risk.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Liberals continue to choose ideology over economic reality. The carbon tax continues to punish Canadians, who need to eat. Food banks across the country are seeing record visits, including from the middle class and those with full-time jobs. A quarter of our population is going hungry or cannot afford basic necessities. The Liberal-NDPs just do not understand basic math. If it costs more to grow food, it will cost more to buy food.

The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost, so when will the government stop punishing farmers and axe the carbon tax?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to press pause on the rhetoric here and focus on what is important, and that is Canadian families. On this side of the House, we worry about Canadian families and are here for Canadian families, helping them balance their budgets, particularly in tough economic times. How do we do this? We have reached 3.5 million Canadian families and over six million children with the Canada child benefit, let alone building a national day care program. We are here for Canadian families.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, Nova Scotians are having to choose between heating and eating. A senior on a fixed income in my community told me that last year at the beginning of winter, it cost $850 to fill his home heating tank. This year, with the new Nova Scotia carbon tax put on by the government, it cost him an astounding $1,800.

The Prime Minister is not worth the cost. It is time to keep the heat on and take the taxes off. When will the Liberals axe the carbon tax so Nova Scotians can afford to heat their homes?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows very well that the program he is referring to puts a price on pollution and puts more money in the pockets of Canadian families. He is now proposing to take it away so he can make pollution free again.

On the issue of affordability for seniors, I agree that seniors need help. That is why we raised old age security for people over 75. That is why we restored the age of eligibility from 67 to 65. That is why we increased the guaranteed income supplement for low-income single seniors by $947. One of the things those measures have in common is that Conservatives opposed every one of them.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, for seniors such as Oswald Hodder of Stoneville, after eight years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Oswald recently filled his oil tank for the first time since this Liberal-NDP coalition imposed a carbon tax on Atlantic Canadian heating fuel. He was shocked to see $119 in carbon tax on enough fuel to heat his home for just one month.

Will this Prime Minister leave Atlantic Canadians alone, let them be warm, stop persecuting and bring them out of the cold?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to once again refer to the Consumers Distributing catalogue of green products that the other side of the House would have brought up, if they had been allowed the opportunity, in their support for a carbon tax in their last platform. Who knows what Conservative staples they would have put in this catalogue: unicycles, porterhouse steaks, chateaubriand or gift certificates for the Savoy Hotel.

We do not know, but we do know that now, today, we make sure Canadians get cold, hard cash in their pockets. Eight out of 10 families do better.

International Trade

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the relationship between Canada and Ukraine is a sacred one. Canada was the first western nation to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991. Since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Canada has been a global leader in supporting Ukraine, and today we are continuing to build that relationship here in the House as we debate the modernized Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement.

Could the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development share with Canadians the importance of this agreement to Canada and Ukraine?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Export Promotion]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Etobicoke Centre for his steadfast and unwavering support for a free and democratic Ukraine.

The modernized Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement would mark a new era in the Canada-Ukraine economic relationship. It is fundamental for Canadian businesses and exporters to participate in Ukraine's economic reconstruction when it wins the war and recovers from Russia's illegal and unjustified invasion.

Canada has stood with Ukraine from its first days as a nation, and we will continue to be there with whatever it takes for as long as it takes.

Labour

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

Mr. Speaker, 360 workers at the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation are on strike. With the rising cost of living, they are demanding fairer and more equitable wages. As we have seen in the past, the Liberals and the Conservatives alike will trample on workers' rights by imposing special legislation. We in the NDP firmly believe that these workers have the right to fight for better working conditions.

Can the Prime Minister assure us here and now that he will not trample on their rights by imposing special legislation?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure members that this side of the House believes strongly in collective bargaining. We believe that the best deals are reached at the collective bargaining table.

We are working with both sides right now to bring an end to this as quickly as possible. We believe that the hard work must be done by the employer and by the union. Deals made at the table are the most resilient and the longest lasting.

Health

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, over 165,000 Canadians suffer from traumatic brain injuries every year. Brain injury patients are often shoved into expensive private care or left to fend for themselves. Decades of Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to support the more than 1.5 million Canadians currently suffering the consequences. Canadians deserve to be supported when they go through a health crisis.

Will the minister back my plan to create a comprehensive national strategy on brain injuries to promote awareness, prevention and treatment?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, any time somebody sustains a brain injury, it has a devastating impact upon their life and the lives of those in their families.

The member is absolutely right. We have to do everything we can. That is why we are making critical investments across the health system, with $200 billion of additional money being put in. Those dollars are to ensure that we not only can see better health outcomes, but also can have better prevention and better care.

We saw a fantastic announcement in British Columbia. There is more to come in the rest of the country. Health transformation is happening.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During question period, the government House leader and the member for Kingston and the Islands stated that I had provided misinformation about fires and batteries.

I would like to inform the House that the Bureau of Transportation's statistics says that 3.5% of hybrid and electric vehicles—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I hate to interrupt the member for Sarnia—Lambton, but in the Chair's eyes, it seems that is moving toward debate.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-57, Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying before question period, Ukrainians are not only fighting for their freedom but also fighting for all of us, and we need to be fighting for them. Canada has been fighting for them under the government. We have been a global leader in supporting Ukraine. Canada has committed over $9 billion in assistance in financial, military and humanitarian development, along with other assistance. This includes $5 billion in financial aid, which is the largest amount of financial aid, per capita, of any country in the world, along with almost $2 billion in military support, about $350 million in humanitarian support and so much more.

These steps are significant. They are important, and they are having an impact, but it will not be enough until Ukraine wins this war. If we want to stop genocide in Ukraine, global food shortages and inflation around the world, and if we want to protect our own sovereignty and security, we must ensure that Ukraine achieves a decisive victory. That means ensuring not only that Ukraine wins the war by regaining all of its territory including Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, but also that Ukraine wins the peace, which means that it is secure as a member of NATO, that we secure reparations from Russia, that there is justice for Russian war crimes and that we help Ukraine rebuild.

This modernized Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement, which we are debating today here in the House, is an important component in helping Ukraine do just that, in helping Ukraine rebuild. It would help strengthen Ukraine's economy. It would facilitate investment and send a message to countries around the world that Canada has confidence in Ukraine, that Canadian business people have confidence in Ukraine, that they want to invest in Ukraine. Those other countries and people around the world who are looking for strong, reliable places to invest can do that too.

This is an excellent piece of legislation. This is an excellent free trade agreement, as I said at the outset of my remarks. This is good for Canada and Ukraine, economically good for Canadian workers and businesses, and good for Ukrainian workers and businesses. It is also an important step in supporting Ukraine's victory, in supporting our collective victory.

I was talking earlier about President Zelenskyy's visits to Canada in 2019 and his most recent visit a few weeks ago. I hope that President Zelenskyy returns to Canada soon after Ukraine wins this war. I hope that he is not focused on speaking about the war anymore, but on rebuilding Ukraine after that victory. I hope that he is once again focused on what he was focused on in 2019, which was how we can continue to expand the relationship between Canada and the Ukraine, not only in building a more secure world but also in expanding trade and our respective economies, something for which this Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement would be the foundation. When that day comes, as I know it will, then we will truly be able to say that it is a great day for Canada and a great day for Ukraine.

It is a great day for Canada and a great day for Ukraine.

Slava Kanadi. Slava Ukraini.