Debates of Dec. 14th, 2023

Finance

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, it is shocking, coming from that member, who was himself a member of the armed forces, that last week, he and his party voted against military aid to Ukraine and compensation to the Canadian Armed Forces.

On the subject of Ukraine, let me clarify all of the $1 billion in aid that we have provided to Ukraine: Carl-Gustaf anti-tank weapon systems, 155-millimetre ammunition and armoured vehicles, and we have trained over 40,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces. We will stand on the side of democracy every single time.

Carbon Pricing

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Quattro Farms near Bow Island grows spearmint, peppermint and dill, then distills those crops into essential oils. The 10-week harvest and distillation process, this fall alone, cost them $107,000 in carbon taxes. That carbon tax will rise to well over $400,000 when this government quadruples it.

How does the Prime Minister suggest Quattro Farms pay this $400,000?

Will it be by raising prices on Canadians or should Quattro Farms cut back on its production so that Canadians are forced to import their food from polluting foreign farms?

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

Mr. Speaker, when it came to action, my hon. colleague and the Conservative Party of Canada voted against every program that would support agriculture. It is a shame. I have talked to agricultural producers right across the country; they cannot understand why an opposition would vote against the on-farm climate action fund to help farmers adapt to climate change, which adds to the price of groceries.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the reason we voted against them is that we voted non-confidence in this government.

Medicine Hat and the area is home to numerous greenhouse operations like Big Marble Farms, which grows fresh vegetables like cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. This year alone, Big Marble Farms will pay over $500,000 in carbon taxes. That will rise to over $2 million when this government quadruples it.

How does the Prime Minister suggest Big Marble pay this extra $2 million?

Will they raise the prices on Canadians or should Big Marble cut back on their production so that Canadians are forced to import their food from polluting foreign farms?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am a farmer and I talk to farmers across the country. They cannot understand why the opposition party would vote against so many programs that assist agriculture across the country.

Also, farmers find it very disappointing and cannot believe that one would vote against support for Ukraine and for democracy. They were ashamed.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, unlike that minister, I actually spoke to farmers from Dufferin today. One farmer, from Burnett Farms, is going to pay $40,000 in carbon taxes this year alone. After this incompetent Liberal-NDP government quadruples the tax, it will be $160,000.

They do not need another government program. They need the carbon tax cut.

How is this farmer supposed to pay for it? Should farmers cut production or will they have to import food from polluting foreign farms?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, what many Canadians are puzzled by is the fact that, in the age of climate change, where the impacts of climate change are costing our farmers hundreds of millions of dollar every year, the Conservatives have nothing to say to them, no plans to support them in the transition that will be necessary in the 21st century, to continue being a provider of food for Canada and the world.

The Conservatives have no plan to help our farmers, no plan to fight climate change and no plan to support the future of our kids and grandkids.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with that statement, this radical carbon tax-loving environment minister has basically proven the point. His carbon tax has not stopped any of the effects on farms. Instead, farmers are left paying this punishing carbon tax.

A chicken farm pays $15,000 for one barn this year in carbon tax. After this ideologically obsessed minister quadruples the carbon tax, it will be $60,000 for one chicken barn.

What is this farmer supposed to do to pay it, raise prices or force Canadians to import their food from polluting foreign farms?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, it is ironic, coming from the party that voted against supporting chicken farms just last week.

Is it radical to be in favour of fighting for the future of our kids and grandkids? I do not think so.

Is it radical to ensure that we invest in jobs of the 21st century and our communities across the country? I do not think so.

What is radical is to ignore one of the world's most defining issues of our time and have nothing to say about climate change. This is unacceptable. This is immoral.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government owes Quebeckers $460 million for welcoming asylum seekers. They are the federal government's responsibility. The federal government does not want to pay, and it even has the arrogance to keep bluntly stating that it is not an ATM. However, it is our money inside that ATM, not the federal government's. It is taxpayers' money, much of it from Quebeckers. We are entitled to it. That means we have a big problem. The ATM is not working and we cannot access our money.

Will the Minister of Finance thank Quebeckers for their generosity and reimburse Quebec?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, with over 100 million people displaced around the world, there are refugees everywhere. The migration crisis is global, and Canada is no exception. I can assure you that this is on our Minister of Immigration's radar, and I am quite certain that he will reach an agreement with Quebec's immigration minister. Yes, we recognize that Quebec has done more than its share, but we are here to contribute too. In recent years, we have transferred up to $450 million to Quebec just to house asylum seekers. I am absolutely certain that we will make this happen.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the minister is talking to Quebec about the $460‑million reimbursement for asylum seekers. We would remind her that the money available to the government does not belong to the government. It is the taxpayers' money, including Quebec taxpayers. The difference is that when the federal government is paying, Quebeckers pay their fair share. However, when Quebec is paying, Quebeckers pay the whole bill. We provide 100% of the services and we pay 100% of the bill. The federal government does not provide services and does not pay a cent. Everyone understands that is not fair.

Will the Minister of Finance reimburse Quebec?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, again, the Minister of Immigration is in talks with Quebec's minister and I am confident an agreement will be reached. We contribute quite significantly, to the tune of $700 million every year for welcoming immigrants in Quebec. We have transferred $450 million over the past few years to house refugees. For the refugees and asylum seekers, we also provide temporary medical coverage, we are processing files more quickly, we are resettling asylum seekers and we are making it easier to apply for work permits. Yes, we are doing our part.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have here a difference of opinion. Quebeckers are welcoming half of all the asylum seekers who come to Canada. That is a lot more than our share. Quebeckers are paying 100% of that bill. That is also a lot more than our fair share. It is basically five times too much. We will continue to do our part and be welcoming, but we are not going to go along with being the only ones doing their part, the only ones being welcoming.

Will the Minister of Finance pay back the $460 million she owes Quebeckers?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that I am quite confident that our government and the Government of Quebec will reach an agreement. It is true that Quebeckers have been very welcoming. We have worked together. To date, we have transferred $450 million to house asylum seekers. We are covering the cost of temporary health coverage. We are expediting the processing of files. We are ensuring that work permits are issued quickly so that these people can support themselves. I am very confident that we will reach an agreement.

Carbon Pricing

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal-NDP government, farmers are struggling under the weight of this punishing carbon tax.

Karen, a chicken farmer from Norfolk, pays $350 every month in carbon taxes. When the Liberals quadruple the carbon taxes, she will be paying $1,400 a month. Will the Prime Minister tell farmers like Karen how she is going to pay for the carbon tax hike? Should she charge Canadians more for food or should she produce less so that Canadians will be forced to import food from polluting foreign farms?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, again, it is a bit rich to hear Conservatives talk about support for farmers when they voted against support for farmers just last week.

As we support farmers in the transition so that they can reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, they can become more competitive in Canada and around the world. What are the Conservatives doing? They are voting against it. They say they are in favour of farmers but, unfortunately, their record speaks the opposite.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the carbon taxes have very serious consequences. Karen deserves answers about how she is going to pay that $1,400 a month in carbon taxes. The Prime Minister said that farmers are working hard to protect the environment, but instead of rewarding them, the Liberal-NDP government is taxing them into the ground.

Does the Prime Minister expect farmers like Karen to charge more or should she produce less so that Canadians will be forced to import food from polluting foreign farms?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, of course, we know that the Conservatives voted against farmers. They voted against taking action on climate change. They also voted against dental care. That means nine million people who they do not want to have access to dental care. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of seniors who they are saying are not going to be able to get dentures replaced if they were in government. They are talking about more than a million kids who they would say no to, that those kids cannot get critical dental care because they want to vote against it.

Their real agenda is cuts. When one looks through their slogans, that is all that is there.

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

Mr. Speaker, what we did was vote non-confidence in the government as it needs to be replaced.

After eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadians from coast to coast are desperate for relief. A potato farming couple from Grand-Sault have seen their freight costs of oil rise over $300,000 a year, due to the implementation of the carbon tax. Now, these Liberals plan to quadruple it, which would cost them $1.2 million more in freight charges alone a year. How will the Prime Minister advise them to pay for this additional $1.2 million? Will it be by raising prices on Canadians or should this farmer cut back on production so that Canadians are forced to import food from polluting foreign nations?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think the rest of us, at least on this side of the House, can see what is happening here. Those were not votes against government programs. Those were all just non-confidence votes. “We did not mean any of that.”

They think that what they just did there is all they have to do. What we do here is vote on the things. They voted against all the things. We have taped them all and we will be using them in ads, in answers to questions, talking to our constituents on each and every one of them. We will—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.

Foreign Affairs

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the NDP, a public inquiry has been called by the government into serious allegations of foreign interference. The inquiry needs to investigate the Indian government, which allegedly ran a global assassination program that targeted and murdered a Canadian on Canadian soil. Other deeply concerning allegations have come up as well.

Does the minister agree with the NDP that the public inquiry should also investigate interference from the Modi government, including in the recent Conservative leadership campaign?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister told this House, this is an extremely serious matter. The safety of Canadians and the integrity of our rule of law is of fundamental importance. Law enforcement, including the RCMP and intelligence agencies, continue to investigate, in close collaboration with their U.S. counterparts. We expect the Government of India to cooperate fully with this investigation.

As it is an active investigation, we will not comment further.

Climate Change

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the environment minister told our committee that “we need to pick up the pace” when it comes to fighting climate change. Notably, this is from the minister who is responsible for the pace in fighting climate change.

At COP28, the world called for a rapid move away from fossil fuels, yet, here at home, fossil fuel emissions are rising, the industry is expanding and this minister's key policy of the emissions cap will not come into effect until 2026. That is far too slow. Everyone knows it.

What will the minister do to pick up the pace?