Debates of Dec. 1st, 2023

Carbon Pricing

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

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

Madam Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague that the Conservative Party of Canada has senators sit in its caucus. We do not.

As a farmer, I fully understand how important it is to take care of our land and the environment, but I will tell my hon. colleague the questions that I received from farmers and ranchers. Number one was why the Conservative Party of Canada does not have a plan for the environment. They also asked me why it does not support the Canada-Ukraine trade deal.

I can tell everyone that our—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, what every farmers is telling us, without exception, is that Bill C‑234 will save them $1 billion. That is tangible, that is real and that is what the farmers want.

There was a dramatic turn of events this week. The bill was adopted here in the House of Commons, and this week, the Senate was asked to speed up the process. The Liberals voted against that request and even the Bloc Québécois voted against. It is outrageous.

The Bloc Québécois voted in favour of Bill C‑234, but it voted against asking the Senate to adopt it. We cannot be on one side and the other and act like—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Madam Speaker, we are in the middle of 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have taken to social media to promote the harassment of women senators in the Senate. At the same time, they are blocking legislation here in the House and now they are trying to distract by bullying women parliamentarians.

Conservatives' social media attacks are forcing women in the Senate to take action to protect themselves because they are facing threats. No woman should ever have to face harassment—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Public Services and Procurement

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, at the Liberals' billion-dollar green slush fund, they are rewarding corruption with appointments to their failed Infrastructure Bank. One Liberal insider admitted at committee that she funnelled money to not one, not two, not three, but four companies that she has a stake in. This kind of corruption would get someone jailed or fired at any other organization. After eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, it is clear the Prime Minister is not worth the cost when he is promoting these very same people.

Will the Liberals shut down this failed slush fund and fire everyone responsible for misappropriating tax dollars?

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

Madam Speaker, Canadians are tired of the Conservatives spreading misinformation across the nation. They are getting influenced, I do not know by whom, but it is very concerning.

The agency the member is talking about has been helping hundreds, if not thousands, of companies in Canada for a number of decades. We took the right action. The moment we heard of the allegation, we investigated. The people who took that action have resigned. We are determined to have the highest level of governance when it comes to any organization that receives public funds.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Speaker, the minister talks about who the slush fund has been helping. It has been helping Liberal insiders. The one I just mentioned helped herself to $1.2 million in taxpayer dollars and the minister then had her appointed to the Infrastructure Bank. She should have been fired. The Liberals did not fire a single person. They commissioned a whitewash report. What did the Conservatives do? We called for the Auditor General to investigate, and that is happening. We asked the Ethics Commissioner to investigate, and that is happening.

When are the Liberals going to start firing people and stop shovelling tax dollars into the pockets of well-connected Liberal insiders?

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

Madam Speaker, the extent the Conservatives go to talk down our economy and small and medium-sized businesses is amazing.

I would tell the member on the other side to be prudent because that particular organization has helped companies across the nation with clean technology. One thing is true for Canadians. The moment we heard of the allegation, we investigated. We took the right action. We will get to the bottom of this, but we are not going to hurt clean technology companies in this country because they deserve our support.

Infrastructure

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Bloor line needs new subway cars and Thunder Bay has the workers to build them. Toronto had an RFP ready to go earlier this year to replace the cars, but had to pull it because the Liberal government refused to come to the table with funding. The Liberal indifference on transit is bad for the people of Toronto, bad for the workers of Thunder Bay and bad for the climate.

I have watched subway cars come off that line in Thunder Bay. I have spoken with the workers who have the skills and they are ready to take on this work. Why are the Liberals leaving Toronto's subway system to crumble and Thunder Bay's Alstom workers to fend for themselves?

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

Madam Speaker, that is an important question. It allows me the opportunity to underscore the intense and significant financial supports that this government has put in place for the city of Toronto since 2015. In 2015, the Conservative Party saw fit to supply Toronto with about $200 million a year. This year, we are providing Toronto with $1.8 billion. Next year, that will rise to $2.1 billion. The supports for transit in Toronto and for infrastructure in Toronto are legion on this side of the House. I and other colleagues from Toronto will continue to defend our city.

Housing

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps patting himself on the back for a job well done in housing, except anyone can tell us that the Liberals are failing. Yesterday, in his latest photo op, the Prime Minister stood in front of his newest housing investment: a luxury condo where a one-bedroom unit starts at $2,150 per month for rent. People already stretch every dollar and investing public money into luxury condos does not help. Will the Liberals stop putting rich developers over Canadians and immediately release the promised funding to build more affordable homes right now?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)]

Madam Speaker, we are leading the national effort to solve the housing crisis by ramping up the construction of housing, protecting renters and homeowners and bringing home ownership back within reach. The fall economic statement introduces measures to unlock more than 30,000 additional apartments, help affordable-housing providers build 7,000 more homes and promote and expand co-operative housing. Not only that, but we are cracking down on short-term rentals to unlock up to 30,000 more apartments and helping protect homeowners from the stress of elevated interest rates.

Climate Change

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

Madam Speaker, climate change is a global crisis that affects the entire world, but its devastating effects are not shared equally among countries. Developing countries that contribute the least to the pollution that causes climate change are the most vulnerable to some of its harshest consequences. Today, the real work begins at COP28 where the Minister of Environment and Climate Change represents Canada. Can the parliamentary secretary to the minister inform us with respect to Canada's first contribution at this conference?

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

Madam Speaker, as a first move at COP28, Canada is announcing support for developing countries to address loss and damage due to climate change, with a $16-million contribution to the start-up cost for a global fund. This is a significant step and a big win for the planet as we are helping climate-vulnerable developing countries that face the harshest impacts from climate change. We are honoured to be among the first donors to this historic fund at COP28.

As the world comes together to assess our progress so far, we recognize that there are still challenges ahead. Canada will continue to play a leadership role to fight climate change.

Democratic Institutions

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Madam Speaker, after eight years of inflationary spending, after eight straight years of deficit, after doubling the national debt, after creating record-setting interest hikes and after implementing a punishing carbon tax, a record number of Canadians cannot afford food. Therefore, why will this Prime Minister not call his appointees in the Senate and have them pass Bill C-234 and take the tax off food production? What do farmers have to do to get a little respect around here; elect a few more Liberals?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion]

Madam Speaker, we all know that the economy and trade go hand in hand. In fact, one in five jobs in Canada depend on trade, so let us talk about that.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has once again expressed its disappointment with the Leader of the Opposition and the Conservatives for voting against Ukraine and free trade. The congress has written directly to the Conservative leader, calling on his party to change its position and vote for the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement. Will Conservative members have the courage to defy their leader, vote for trade, vote for this agreement and stand with Ukraine?

Carbon Pricing

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Madam Speaker, the Conservative bill, Bill C-234, to axe the carbon tax for farmers remains stalled in the Senate. Senators appointed by this Prime Minister continue to make life unaffordable by delaying this bill.

Dave and Devon run a dairy operation in my community. They pay thousands more on the carbon tax just to heat their barns. Now the Prime Minister wants to quadruple the tax on them. Will this Prime Minister take his carbon tax off them, to make food affordable for Canadians?

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

Madam Speaker, that member from Alberta represents thousands of Ukrainian Canadians, as I am proud to do. Let me tell him a little bit about one of my constituents, Alexandra Chyczij, and what she wrote to the Conservative leader. She happens to be the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. What she underscores is the fact that when we are concerned about the food in this country, we need to be concerned about geopolitical crises that are causing food prices to escalate. She underscored that she was disappointed to see the official opposition vote against the adoption of the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement, that Ukraine needs assistance and that Ukraine's government, led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is asking for that assistance. What I am asking him to do is—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Saskatoon—Grasswood.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Madam Speaker, after eight years of this NDP-Liberal government, Canadians are struggling to afford the basics. In fact, Canadians are heading to the food bank in record numbers. This Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost.

Kelly in my riding spends $6,300 a year in carbon tax on his farm. Now the Prime Minister wants to quadruple that.

Will the Prime Minister simply axe this tax off Kelly's operation to make it more affordable for Canadians to feed their families?

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

Madam Speaker, the fundamental principle is that the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are not worth the cost.

What is the cost? The cost has been underscored by the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress herself, a woman who happens to be my constituent. She has said that Ukraine needs assistance. The Ukrainian government is begging for that assistance.

What we have seen is a failure of leadership on the part of the official opposition to make supporting Ukraine a non-partisan issue. It should never be partisan to confront an authoritarian ruler in an illegal war who is driving up the price of food in this country and around the world.

Democratic Institutions

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Madam Speaker, after eight long years, it is clear that this Prime Minister simply is not worth the cost.

Jack, a grain farmer from southern Manitoba, paid over $6,000 in carbon taxes to dry his grain in October alone and, no, the government rebate is not making him better off. I assume Jack's money is now paying for the environment minister's high-carbon, high-hypocrisy, two-week trip to Dubai. Now the Liberals want to quadruple that carbon tax on farmers like Jack.

Will the Prime Minister tell his Liberal senators to pass Bill C-234 to help make food more affordable for Canadians?