Debates of Nov. 30th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, under the government, there have been more people using a food bank than ever before. It is record numbers. The Prime Minister is responsible for bringing record-level hunger to Ontario.

I understand that the self-proclaimed socialist environment minister has threatened to resign if the bill passes, but Canadian farmers need this carve-out immediately. This will make food prices cheaper, because if we are taxing the farmers who grow the food, we are taxing Canadians who buy the food.

Again, will the Prime Minister tell his appointed senators to stop delaying Bill C-234 and pass the bill so we can bring home lower prices for groceries for all Canadians?

[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 would start by reminding the members opposite that the Senate is independent and that the only senators who sit in a caucus sit in that Conservative caucus.

I would add that farmers understand the importance of fighting climate change and reducing emissions. I thank that farmer for running her last election campaign on pricing carbon.

That is why our pollution pricing policy reflects the realities of Canada's agriculture industry. We have spent almost $500 million on R and D and adoption for clean technologies for grain drying. We have spent $12 million to reduce methane emissions from cattle. We have spent $670 million to support the adoption of greenhouse gas reduction practices on farms. We will keep supporting farmers because they are key to fighting climate change.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the costly Bloc-Liberal coalition proved once again that it is not worth the cost. Its members defeated our motion to force the Senate to pass our common-sense bill, Bill C-234. After eight years, Canadians have never been in such dire straits, yet these two parties want to increase the carbon tax even more drastically.

Canadian farmers need our support. Will the Prime Minister tell the senators that he himself appointed to stop obstructing Bill C-234 in order to reduce grocery costs for all Canadians?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be sure that my hon. colleague remembers that there are no Liberal senators. There are only Conservative senators.

It was Conservative senators who intimidated independent senators by preventing them from exercising their democratic rights. This is all part of the Conservative master plan to disrespect democracy and Parliament.

The Senate is independent and will act accordingly.

Indigenous Affairs

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister acknowledged missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people as an ongoing genocide. Parliament unanimously recognized it as a nationwide emergency. However, how many times does the government's fall economic statement mention MMIWG2S? Zero.

The government has a million excuses, but it refuses to take the urgent action that is needed to stop the violence.

Could the minister explain why his government's fall economic statement fails to mention this ongoing genocide?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, addressing the ongoing violence against indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people is a whole-of-government approach that requires living up to our moral obligations as a country and to the calls for justice. That is why budget 2023 invests $125 million to implement the national action plan on MMIWG.

We will continue to work with my friend opposite, as well as all Canadians, to ensure that we address the issues of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Housing

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, there are first nations who cannot return to their home communities due to the lack of homes. They are being pushed out of their culture, family and traditions, due to the neglect from the Liberals. At the pace that the government is moving, it would take anywhere between 58 to 141 years to close the infrastructure gap, despite promising that it would close it by 2030.

Could the government tell us when enough homes will be built for first nations to be able to live in their home communities?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I share the member opposite's sense of urgency for closing the infrastructure gap in first nations.

In 2015, we inherited a situation where no investments had been made in housing. Since 2016, 30,000 homes or renovations had been completed across the nation, with the leadership of first nations, investing in new models, ensuring that people have the tools, the support and the equity to be able to continue to close that gap.

We will be there as a truthful partner with first nations.

Health

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, every day approximately 12 people die by suicide in Canada. Each life lost by suicide can have far-reaching effects, whether that is families grappling with the loss of a loved one or the effects that are felt in communities. It is essential for Canadians to have timely access to suicide prevention. They need to know that they are not alone, that there is someone there to help.

Can the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions update us on the launch of the 988 suicide prevention and emotional distress crisis line?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for St. John's East for being a strong advocate on mental health and many other issues.

Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones to suicide. We also reach out to those who struggle with suicidal thoughts. Each life lost shatters an entire family, the community and so much more.

As of today, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and anywhere in Canada can now call or text 988 to have access to 24-7 bilingual trauma-informed and culturally appropriate suicide prevention support. For anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone else thinking about suicide, call or text 988. People are not alone. There is help available.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that after eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. People see it on their grocery bills and farmers who grow the food see it while paying for their fuel. A young producer showed me his propane bill for grain drying from the start of harvest. In the span of just 12 days, it cost him $950 in carbon tax alone, and the harvest was just getting going. He is still waiting to see the final bill from drying his crops.

Will the Prime Minister tell his appointed senators to stop delaying Bill C-234 and axe the tax for the farmers who grow our food?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member is a very influential member of his caucus, and people watching would know that. If he wants to give a gift to Canadians before Christmas, why does he not convince his caucus colleagues to vote for the affordability bill? Canadians know that bill would reform competition, one of the most fundamental reforms in Canadian history. It would give more power to the Competition Bureau and we will make sure it can do the study.

Canadians know that the best way to stabilize prices in the country for the mid to long term is to have more competition. We are going to do the right thing for Canadians once and for all.

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

Mr. Speaker, the fastest way to provide more affordability for Canadians would be to pass Bill C-234.

We have the receipts to show just how much the carbon tax costs farmers who grow the food. The natural gas bills for different months from a Saskatchewan farmer show that one month without grain drying is $135, but one month with grain drying is $6,400. That is why the House should pass Bill C-234 to give farmers tax relief.

Who does the Prime Minister think should pay that ridiculous cost: the farmer who grows the food or the families who are struggling to put food on the table for their kids?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have two points. First of all, the only senators who are managed by anyone in this chamber are Conservative senators who sit in the caucus of the Leader of the Opposition.

The second point is that if members opposite were so concerned about food affordability, I would urge them to take a look across the pond at the instability that Vladimir Putin's illegal war is causing to food and supply chains around the planet. Ukraine is traditionally known as the bread basket of the planet. Food supply issues and the cost of food are directly related to that illegal war.

It would be great if the members opposite got behind supports like the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberals voted with the Bloc to keep the tax on farmers. This bill would have saved farmers nearly $1 billion between now and 2030.

This Christmas season, people are hurting. P.E.I. farmers are paying between $30,000 and $75,000 more a year due to the carbon tax. A farmer in western New Brunswick has had his cost increase by over 30% on freight alone. This is unbearable for our producers and consumers.

When will the Prime Minister finally hear the cries of our farmers and tell his senators to pass Bill C-234?

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

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the opposition Conservative Party does not have a plan for the environment.

People on Prince Edward Island are well aware of what the environment can do. With Fiona, we had winds of over 200 kilometres an hour. It destroyed barns and killed dairy cattle.

Quite simply, if one does not deal with the climate, one does not do anything with grocery prices. Our government has a plan for the environment, and we will lower and stabilize grocery prices.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, everyone is struggling. Farmers across Canada buy their goods retail and sell what they produce wholesale. Farmers are now paying $150,000 in inflationary carbon tax. They know the Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

When will the Prime Minister tell his appointed senators to stop delaying Bill C-234 and axe the tax so people can afford their groceries?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I tell my hon. colleague what his party and his leader need is a plan for the environment.

We have a plan for the environment. In fact, just two weeks ago I was able to make an announcement in Manitoba with the government in order to create the last living lab right across the country. In fact, what goes on with living labs is that scientists, farmers and the—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I am going to ask again. I have asked a couple of times for colleagues to please keep their voices down when they do not have the floor.

It is time for the minister to answer, and so we can all hear the answer, I ask the member for Brantford—Brant and the member for South Shore—St. Margarets to keep their voices down.

The hon. minister, from the top, please.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated quite clearly, if one is going to deal with the environment, one has to have a plan for the environment.

We have a plan for the environment. I will just use one of the many examples we have, which is living labs right across this country. What we do with living labs is make sure that farmers, scientists and the industry itself work together in order to make sure we deal with climate change. We produce better crops. We take carbon out of the air and into the soil.

We will continue to work with farmers and ranchers right across this country in order to make sure we stabilize food prices right across this country.

Public Service and Procurement

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is unanimous. This morning, with one voice, the Quebec National Assembly spoke out against Ottawa's decision to give Boeing the contract for surveillance aircraft without a call for tenders. All of the elected officials in Quebec have spoken out against this deliberate choice to discount our aerospace industry.

Ottawa's contempt is not just depriving our industry of a $9-billion contract. Ottawa is also undermining the sale of Quebec aircraft abroad by thumbing its nose at our aerospace industry for all of our trade partners to see. That is a pretty stupid sales strategy.

Do the Liberals realize that they are harming our industry around the world?

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

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague said, further developing our aerospace industry is exactly what this morning's announcement will allow us to do, while also, obviously, giving the Canadian Armed Forces the tools they need to protect us at home and defend Canada's interests abroad, throughout the world.

That is why companies like CAE, Héroux‑Devtek and L3Harris Technologies in Montreal, Mirabel and elsewhere in Canada will benefit from significant spinoffs from this morning's announcement.

[Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us be serious. To offer $9 billion to Boeing without an open competition is to abandon our aerospace industry. The Liberals are abandoning our primary export sector.

It was not enough for them to abandon our major corporations. Last week, there was nothing in the economic statement to help SMEs that are on the verge of bankruptcy if the CEBA repayment is not deferred. They are also abandoning our local businesses. That is the Liberal record over the past two weeks. They are hurting Quebec's businesses, large and small.

How can we not conclude that they are hurting Quebec's economy?

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

Mr. Speaker, benefiting Quebec's economy and the aerospace sector across Canada is precisely one of the objectives of this morning's announcement. That is why we are moving forward over the next few months with the procurement announced today, which will be good for 3,000 jobs, or 3,000 workers, over the coming years.

The spinoffs in Canada, including in Quebec, will be roughly $400 million a year, which will help even more of our workers in the aerospace sector in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.