Debates of Dec. 14th, 2023

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I know the hon. member has a good voice, but I am not able to hear what he is saying. When members are doing statements, there is no opportunity for questions and comments. I would ask members to please be respectful.

The hon. member for Winnipeg North.

Electric Vehicle Industry

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, the Government of Canada is supporting Stellantis. The Government of Canada is supporting Volkswagen and the battery plant. Think about that. This is going to be one of the largest manufacturing plants in North America. We are talking about the creation of tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

We know that the MAGA Conservatives across the way do not support government investment in industries, and this is a very important industry for all Canadians. It is going to provide good, solid middle-class jobs.

My question for the Conservative Party is this: When are the Conservatives going to get behind Canadians and support good, solid middle-class jobs?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member can ask questions, but there is no opportunity for questions and comments. I want to remind members that during statements, it is not time for debate. I would ask members to please be respectful and quiet while others have the floor.

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

Carbon Pricing

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, Canadians are arguably worse off than they have ever been before. In fact, the government would rather penalize a single mother for commuting to work to earn for her family than face the fact that its carbon tax is not working, not for the environment and certainly not for Canadians.

The consequence of the Liberals failing to work with the facts is that the cost of everything is skyrocketing: the cost of gas, home heating and groceries. Everything is going through the roof. Farmers are being punished just for growing crops and feeding Canadians. Meanwhile, indigenous folks are taking the government to court, suing them because the carbon tax is incredibly punitive and discriminatory in nature.

Our ask is simple. It is that we pass Bill C-234, unamended. This would serve Canadian families best. It would be for the sake of families, for the sake of first nations and for the sake of farmers. At the end of the day, we are asking that Bill C-234 be passed and that we axe the tax to get Canadians back on track.

Situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice the concerns of constituents of Halifax West who have written to me about the heartbreaking humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Some of them have close family members, like parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents, who are trapped in Gaza.

I have spoken about this with the Minister of Immigration, and I want to echo the voices of my constituents who say that we should expand the definition of immediate family in IRPA to give them eligibility for emergency evacuation so that family members with close ties to Canadian citizens can get out safely. Many of them are highly educated, financially independent and blessed to have familial support here, and to welcome them would be entirely consistent with our commitment to humanitarianism.

This is the holiday season, a time we share with the families we love. I want to wish everyone here, in Halifax West, in Canada and in the entire world peace and love.

Acknowledgements and Holiday Wishes

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 2023 was not at all restful at Parliament. However, we made it to the end thanks to the dedicated staff; our own, of course, in other words each of our own teams to whom we owe so much, but also the exceptional House of Commons staff.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to thank each of these individuals from the bottom of my heart. We thank the clerks, the law clerks, the analysts and the pages. We thank the interpreters, who put their health at risk to give francophones the representation they deserve in this Parliament. We thank the essential and quietly effective maintenance team. We thank the food services staff for their warm hospitality. We thank the computer technicians for their support, both here and on telework. We thank the Parliamentary Protective Service officers, who ensure our safety, in addition to being the first to greet us every time we come to work.

All these people work day and night to serve democracy in their own way. We wish them all a Merry Christmas and a happy 2024.

Agribusiness Success Story

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the agriculture and agri-food sector is a powerful economic force in Canada. It is a growing industry that employs 2.3 million people and single-handedly generates approximately 7% of our GDP.

Aliments Ouimet-Cordon Bleu is a Montreal-based company celebrating its 99th year in operation this year. The company uses its investments to support product development. Cordon Bleu's success hit new heights last spring when it was honoured as Quebec's SME of the year at the Les Mercuriades awards ceremony, sponsored by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec.

I congratulate and salute the Cordon Bleu executives who are here in Ottawa today, and I encourage all Canadians to keep supporting the vitality of our agri-food businesses.

Indigenous Affairs

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the PM said he values indigenous people most, but that is only true when they agree with him. After eight years, indigenous leaders fight the NDP-Liberals' anti-private sector, anti-resource, anti-energy agenda.

There are 130 Ontario first nations that will take the NDP-Liberals to court over their colonialist carbon tax. It does what Conservatives warned. Everything is more expensive. Those who can least afford it are hurting the most. Rural, remote and northern indigenous, and all, Canadians can hardly survive. They are forced to choose between heating, eating and housing.

B.C.'s Lax Kw'alaams sued over the NDP-Liberals' export ban, Bill C-48, to make its own decisions about jobs, energy and fish. Alberta's Woodland Cree sued over the unconstitutional “never build anything” bill, Bill C-69. Five years ago, Conservatives warned both bills would hurt indigenous people. The Liberals ignored that; it is death by delay.

Indigenous leaders oppose the emissions cap to cut production and the central plan of the just transition bill, Bill C-50, to kill the Canadian jobs and businesses where indigenous people work the most. The Liberals block indigenous-backed pipelines, the oil sands, LNG and roads to the Ring of Fire. They stop all the deals for education, recreation, health and wellness.

It is no wonder that the NDP-Liberals censor and cover up their costly anti-Canada collusion. Common-sense Conservatives will turn hurt into hope for indigenous and all Canadians.

Barrhaven Food Cupboard

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 2023 has been tough for many families in the Nepean riding, with the higher cost of living. Thanks to the team led by Ken McCarthy, George Macdonald, Dawn Lilly, Brian Double and John Falkingham, Barrhaven Food Cupboard addressed food insecurity faced by about 400 families.

About 160 volunteers, including board members Matt Triemstra, Bill Halstead, Mara Watson, Gordon Crumpler, Cyril Tiwari, Glenn Schumacher and Aaron Lemieux, reached out to individuals, families, schools and local businesses in Barrhaven, raising over $180,000.

For over 30 years, Barrhaven Food Cupboard's mission has been “neighbours helping neighbours”. I would like to recognize the volunteer team at Barrhaven Food Cupboard for their dedicated service. They are a source of inspiration and positive role models for all of us in Nepean.

Let's Talk Science

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's future prosperity depends on embracing science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. The problem is that young people tend to lose interest in STEM by the time they finish high school.

Since 1993, London-based organization Let's Talk Science has tried to address that challenge by providing vital programming and resource support for teachers who bring science to life, making it interesting, fun and, most importantly, relevant to daily life.

The organization also works with early years centres, community organizations and parents. With the help of volunteers, almost always drawn from post-secondary institutions, it has been able to reach no fewer than 1,500 communities right across the country.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the donors whose support makes all this work possible, as it is free of charge, and the work of founder and president, Bonnie Schmidt, along with the staff and board. Bonnie is a testament to learning in Canada, to education and to giving back.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, back in 2015, it was the Liberal Prime Minister who told Canadians that better was always possible. However, after eight years, when it comes to housing, literally everything is worse. Many cannot find homes they can afford. Worse, there are now many in homes they can no longer afford.

It is small wonder that millions of Canadians have tuned in to watch the Conservative leader's “housing hell” video. People are increasingly desperate for housing solutions, and only our Conservative common-sense plan offers them a clear plan to fund results instead of promises.

The NDP-Liberal government wants to talk about spending, but it is not getting results or being accountable for that spending. This is why, all too often, the NDP votes in committees to cover up Liberal corruption. That misspending is part of the problem.

I am proud to stand behind a Conservative leader who supports common-sense solutions, and many Canadians are now joining in as well. Why? It is because they know the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Ian Laing

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 29, Chief Ian Laing of the Central York Fire Services passed away. I truly treasured my relationship with the chief, which dated back to the time when I was mayor and continued to this day.

Chief Laing served our community with dedication, pride and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He dedicated 48 years to firefighting, 14 of those as the chief of the firefighting service in New Market. The chief took immense pride in the people of CFYS, the community they served and the building of station 4-5, the first under his leadership. Chief Laing was a consummate firefighter; he was dedicated, proud of his chosen career and absolute in his resolve to provide his community with the best service.

I will miss the sparkle in his eyes and the stories told by a gentleman I was proud to call a friend.

Carbon Tax

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this government, Canadians cannot pay their bills. Everything costs more.

The Bloc Québécois is no longer a party of the regions. Bloc members support the Prime Minister in imposing the second carbon tax, which applies to Quebec and adds 20¢ per litre of gas. They really do not understand the reality of the people in my region who need their cars and trucks to get to work. There is a reason why the Bloc members are shouting loud and clear that they want to drastically increase the carbon tax on Quebeckers.

Voting for the Bloc is costly. The Bloc-Liberal coalition must stop putting pressure on Canadians and picking their pockets. According to a published report, a family of four will pay $700 more next year for food. What is more, some food banks can no longer provide food, but there is hope. A Conservative government will restore common sense by abolishing the carbon tax so that Canadians can have full bellies and a full fridge.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, farmers work tirelessly to feed Canada and the world with some of the highest quality produce available, yet the NDP-Liberal government continues to punish them at every turn.

Instead of giving them a much-needed break on the carbon tax through common-sense measures like Bill C-234, the Prime Minister is quadrupling the carbon tax, hurting the livelihoods of the very farmers who are putting food on the tables of Canadians. One farmer in the regional municipality of Estevan is paying over $150,000 in carbon taxes a year. Once quadrupled, this will go up to over $600,000 annually for his 15,000-acre farm. How does the Prime Minister expect him to cover this cost: by raising prices on Canadians, cutting back his acreage or bringing in more costly food from polluting foreign farms?

Conservatives know that if we tax the farmer who grows the food and tax the trucker who ships the food, Canadians have to pay more to buy the food. After eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadians know that the Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost.

Conservative Party of Canada

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Conservatives showed that they oppose funding the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec. They oppose the aerospace regional recovery initiative. They oppose providing assistance to help communities rebuild after hurricane Fiona. They oppose support for festivals and for tourism businesses.

The Conservatives will always put big polluters ahead of Quebec's economic well-being. Our government knows that, to support job creation in Quebec, we have to invest in Quebec businesses.

New Democratic Party of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, national dental care is finally becoming a reality. This is the biggest investment in public health care in 60 years, and New Democrats made it happen.

In 2019 and 2021, we went door to door to ask people what they wanted from their politicians. Again and again, I heard from young mothers who could not pay to get their kids' teeth fixed. I talked to senior citizens who could not pay their dental bills. They gave us this mandate in Parliament, and we delivered. This year, children and senior citizens will be able to apply; by the end of next year, over nine million people will be eligible.

Let us compare this record of success with the Conservatives' record. This past week, the Conservatives tried to block a national suicide hotline and funding for clean water on reserves. They did their best to block badly needed support for the people of Ukraine. They would cut dental care in a second if they could, but that is not going to happen on our watch. New Democrats are in Parliament to fight for the people of Canada.

Christmas Angels

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, members of Parliament and all of the staff of the House are preparing to finally leave Parliament Hill for the holidays. However, for many Quebeckers, this will not be a time to rest and celebrate. Instead, they will be working hard, far from their families, just because their employer cannot do without them.

In addition to these nurses, truckers and service workers, there are also essential volunteers. I am talking about hundreds of designated drivers for Operation Red Nose, people who volunteer at our food banks and soup kitchens, and all those who give of their time so that seniors will have a nice Christmas or so that the most disadvantaged members of our society can at least have a Christmas. It is the dedication of all of these Christmas angels that enables all of us to have a happy holiday season.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to sincerely thank them. I hope that they all have the merriest Christmas possible under the circumstances and a very happy new year filled with good health and prosperity.

Carbon Tax

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, sadly, the Prime Minister wants to punish farmers for being incredible optimists and doing the fantastic work they do every day on our behalf. After eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, farm input costs are ballooning out of control. Bill C-234, a common-sense Conservative bill, would reduce the cost of food for Canadians by removing the carbon tax on farmers. I spoke to farmers in my backyard, who said that any of those major inputs have just been skyrocketing in price, with almost double the fuel bills, as well as fertilizer that has doubled, if not tripled, in price.

On annual expenses of $2 million, almost 20% or $400,000 is due to the punishing carbon tax. That will mean $1.6 million when the Prime Minister quadruples the tax. The other concern is that the tax is so hidden that this estimate is probably low.

Does the Prime Minister think that farmers need to raise prices on Canadians, or should Alex cut back production so that Canadians are forced to import food from polluting foreign farms?

Ukraine

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Ukraine is running out of ammunition. President Zelenskyy was in the United States this past week, pleading for more military assistance. However, he was blocked by politicians on the American far right. It is important to realize that Russia did not just attack another country; it launched a full-scale assault on the international legal order. That is because the heart of that order and the UN Charter is the principle of non-intervention. One country cannot just attack another country.

Russia must not and will not win anything, as any such victory moves us dangerously closer to the world as it was prior to World War II: a world where, basically, “might is right”. Voting against assistance for Ukraine, as a certain party in the House has done repeatedly over the last week, shows not only a lack of empathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people but also a disregard for the principles that have basically kept our world safe since 1945.

This Christmas, let us unite in support of Ukraine. Merry Christmas.

Slava Ukraini.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told us he doubled the national debt so that Canadians would not need to increase their debt. Now we find out that after eight years of this Prime Minister, Canadian families are spending a bigger portion of their budget on servicing their personal debt. It is at a record high in Canada. In fact, Canadians are spending more on their household debt than Americans did before the 2008 financial crisis.

Will the Prime Minister finally put a stop to his inflationary taxes and spending so that Canadians can buy food and housing instead of paying for their debt?

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

Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives continue to denigrate the Canadian economy, I would like to take this opportunity to remind them of some of the results of our economic plan. For example, our GDP is currently at 4.1%, exceeding prepandemic levels. More than 1.1 million jobs have been created since the beginning of the pandemic.

These results cannot be achieved with slogans, not at all. Our economic plan is working and the results prove it.

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the economy has been shrinking per capita for five quarters now. Our economy is smaller per capita than it was five years ago. What is more, after eight years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of housing. According to the Bank of Canada, housing costs are now the highest they have been in 41 years, and rents are rising faster than ever. It is an all-time record.

When will the Prime Minister stop driving up inflation and creating bloated bureaucracy to allow affordable housing to be built?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition. However, for Canadians watching at home, one number the Leader of the Opposition forgot to mention is that, in 2023, Canada ranked third in the world for attracting foreign investment, behind the U.S. and Brazil. We are talking about record investments such as Northvolt in Quebec, Volkswagen in St. Thomas, Stellantis in Windsor, BHP in Saskatchewan and Dow in Fort Saskatchewan.

We have a plan for the green economy of the 21st century, and that is how we are going to create jobs for generations to come in this country.