Debates of Dec. 7th, 2023

Opposition Motion—Carbon Tax on Farmers, First Nations and Families

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like you to rule on whether the point the member just made regarding the residence of the leader of the official opposition is relevant to the debate that we are having currently in the House.

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

At least we have a relevance question, which is actually a point of order.

The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to know if the Leader of the Opposition cashed his rebate cheque that he would have received. Would he like to table his bank statements to prove to us whether he did?

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

That is really getting into questions and comments, and we are not at that point of the day.

Fundraisers

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion, two local media outlets in Surrey—Newton, Connect FM and RED FM, held radiothon fundraisers.

Through the generous support of the community, RED FM raised over $1 million for the Surrey Hospitals Foundation, to bring two much-needed cardiac cath labs to Surrey Memorial Hospital, which will be the first-ever labs built south of the Fraser River.

Connect FM raised over $175,000 in support of the Guru Nanak's Free Kitchen, a community organization that has been feeding those in need in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and other areas of B.C. since 2006.

I thank all those who gave generously to both these worthy causes, and to the leadership, staff and volunteers of Connect FM and RED FM.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on March 17, Canada is set to go down a very dangerous road when MAID will become available for persons suffering solely from mental illness.

Last year, the government delayed this expansion after leading medical professionals, including the chairs of psychiatry from all 17 medical schools, said that Canada was not ready. That is because it is impossible to predict whether someone with a mental illness will not get better. In other words, persons who could get better would have their lives prematurely ended.

Recently, the Special Joint Committee on MAID wrapped up its hearings and heard loud and clear from experts that Canada still is not ready.

I urge the government to follow the evidence, stop the madness and immediately introduce legislation to permanently scrap this dangerous expansion of MAID.

Orléans Parade of Lights

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 25, I had the honour of taking part in Santa's parade of lights along St. Joseph Boulevard, which we are proud to call the heart of Orléans.

We celebrated the 26th anniversary this year of Santa's Parade of Lights, the largest Christmas parade in eastern Ontario.

It is always a special moment to walk along St. Joseph Boulevard to give out candy canes to the young ones and see such a big crowd, 150,000 people, gathering on a beautiful Saturday evening. A total of 75 floats, decorated and filled with lights, took part this year in the parade.

This event would not be possible without the devotion and hard work of the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association. I want to especially thank the chairman, Bob Rainboth, as well as his entire team for their leadership and for participating in raising money and toys for the fire fighters' Help Santa Toy Parade fund.

Media Food Drive

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as a sure sign that the holiday season is fast approaching, today is the day that people can donate on street corners for the 23rd annual media food drive.

Across Quebec, our media personalities are braving the bitter cold to help food banks and all Quebeckers in need. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I invite those who can afford it in these difficult times to give generously. Let us not forget that the campaign runs until December 31 and that people can also donate online if they do not get a chance today to contribute to the buckets of our courageous fundraisers.

In closing, I would like to point out that if the Liberals want to contribute to the media food drive, we remind them that, during the election campaign, they promised $1 billion for food aid for schools. What a great opportunity for them to keep their election promise.

I would like to thank all the participants and wish everyone a happy media food drive.

Let us give generously.

Food Banks

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite the people in Nickel Belt to support their local food banks.

More than 17,000 people visit the greater Sudbury food bank per month, and countless others depend on the food bank sites in Onaping Falls; Sturgeon Falls; Coniston; Garson, Valley East; and French River.

All these food bank locations, along with their incredible team of volunteers, have spearheaded countless fundraising efforts to ensure the most vulnerable do not go hungry.

Right now, the annual Edgar Burton food drive in Sudbury is taking place until December 15.

As the holidays approach, there is no better time to make a financial contribution or food donation, or to volunteer at a food bank.

Food banks are reporting that usage is up and there is a shortage of donations.

Let us help fight hunger and ensure that quality foods are available for seniors, families, children and all individuals who are in need.

2024 Olympic Games

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, King Township is horse country. Our very own Christilot Boylen jumped onto the world stage in 1964 when, at the age of 17, she became the youngest Olympian dressage competitor. Throughout her illustrious career, she has won seven medals at the Pan Am Games and competed in six Olympics.

Currently, Christilot spends her time coaching 26-year-old Beatrice Boucher, who landed her spot in the 2024 Olympic games. Described as a “beacon of positive energy”, Boylen is Canada's most decorated dressage rider in Canadian history and a highly effective and inspirational coach. As one of the coaches for the Canadian team, her goal is to bring out the best in the athletes.

King City will be cheering her on at the 2024 Olympic Games. Let us bring it home, Canada.

Glace Bay Christmas Parade

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, despite some travel disruptions, I was delighted to make it back home last weekend for Glace Bay's annual Christmas parade. It was a wonderful experience to see my constituents spreading holiday cheer as we indulged in the Christmas spirit all across my riding of Cape Breton—Canso.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department for its role in bringing people together during the parade. These firefighters serve their community in so many meaningful ways without ask for any recognition or reward. In any case, I feel compelled to give these volunteer firefighters their due recognition by thanking them in this very House.

Community initiatives such as these bring people together at a time of year when we need to do just that.

I want to wish my constituents in Cape Breton—Canso and everyone in the House a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. Let us be kind to each other.

Housing

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, housing is booming across the nation and Surrey Centre is no exception. Our government's rental construction financial initiative will invest more than $82 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home.

My home city of Surrey hosts the fastest-growing economy and fastest-growing population in British Columbia, and our housing strategy reflects Surrey's thriving community.

With a total of $320 million over three projects, residents living in Surrey Centre can expect to move into these 843 new purpose-built rental homes by early 2025. These investments include $146 million for 392 units at Comma King George, $145 million for 373 units at Brightside Tower and $28 million for 78 units at Parker Living. These are on top of the already 94 homes built in Surrey Centre under the rapid housing initiative, for a total of 932 homes in Surrey Centre alone. For the record, that is 10 times more in Surrey Centre than the Conservatives built in all of Canada in 10 years.

Do not believe a word that the Leader of the Opposition says. He talks a lot, but his resumé is rather small. Even if we increase—

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

The hon. member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.

Hanukkah

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, over the next eight days, Jewish families will gather around to celebrate the story of Hanukkah. Judah and a small group of Maccabean rebels represent a triumph of light over darkness. Each night with each new candle, the menorah gets just a little bit brighter.

This year, the hope of Hanukkah is needed more than ever, as Jews are once again forced to suffer at the hands of the monsters who are trying to destroy them. Jews have seen countless oppressors who have sought to extinguish our culture and traditions, but each time the Jewish people have endured. We will persist and those who seek our destruction will never succeed.

Today, I am also thinking of all the hostages still held in Gaza for two months who will be kept from celebrating Hanukkah with their families. It is time to bring them all home.

As we enjoy latkes and sufganiot and light the candles on the menorah, and as children rejoice in the fun of receiving gifts and spinning the dreidel, I wish all a happy Hanukkah.

Chag Chanukah sameach.

Human Rights

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Jimmy Lai, a 75-year-old U.K. citizen imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Mr. Lai has been a leading pro-democracy campaigner in Hong Kong since 1989. He is a well-known and high-profile advocate for democracy and he has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations by the government of China.

For this work, Mr. Lai has been subjected to a barrage of criminal prosecutions and currently faces life in prison.

Mr. Lai was first arrested in August 2020, and has now been in prison continuously for three years. On December 18, he will face trial under the controversial Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

No person should be prosecuted for standing up in defence of universal human rights, freedoms and democracy and media freedom. I stand in solidarity with Mr. Jimmy Lai and call for his immediate and unconditional release.

Carbon Tax

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the number of Canadians who use food banks has reached a record high, but the Bloc-Liberal coalition is doing nothing to lower the price of food. We introduced Bill C‑234, a common-sense bill to reduce production costs directly at the farm. The Prime Minister ordered his Liberal senators to vote against the bill in the Senate.

This morning, an annual report confirms that, in 2024, the average family will pay $700 more for groceries. Canadians are lowering their grocery bill and reducing the quantity and quality of the food they buy by replacing it with less nutritious alternatives. Children and seniors, who are the most vulnerable, deserve to eat healthy and nutritious food, but the government is keeping its carbon tax, which is making Canadians poorer.

After eight years, the price of food is not the only increase Canadians are dealing with. The cost of housing is skyrocketing. Conservatives will continue to fight against the Bloc-Liberal coalition to lower prices for all Canadians so that they can enjoy the holidays, unlike the coalition, that wants to ruin Christmas for everyone.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House and speak about some very pressing matters. Times are hard for Canadians. A new food report out today shows that Canadians will be paying an extra $700 next year to feed their families.

The Senate amendment to Bill C-234, which would have provided farm families with a much-needed break from the carbon tax, now has its passage in limbo after the Prime Minister lobbied his appointed senators in order to protect his minister.

The Prime Minister could not care less about how his policies have created two classes of Canadians, those who pay the carbon tax and those who do not. First nations are taking the government to court, arguing that the carbon pricing regime of the Prime Minister unjustly and disproportionately impacts their communities and that they will be worse off. It is time to take the carbon tax off farmers, first nations and families.

After eight years of the Prime Minister, it is time for common-sense Conservative government. The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

Labour

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I have great news: The government has launched the Union-Led Advisory Table. Chaired by the president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Bea Bruske, this table includes additional labour leaders from across Canada and across industry sectors. It will play an essential role in providing advice on emerging challenges and opportunities in the labour market, including on matters of automation, energy transition, housing needs and worker shortages. Specifically, the panel will advise on how to identify the needs of workers in transitioning sectors, help skilled workers in changing industries access training for in-demand jobs and promote continuous skill development for workers, ensuring that these programs are accessible to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

I know that the efforts of the table will help workers across Canada, including in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie. Workers and labour movements have helped shape Canada into the great country that it is, and will continue to do so for the ambitious future forward.

Natural Resources in Alberta

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am a proud Albertan. My grandfather, Bert McCoy, was a pioneer in oil and gas. My father, my brother and my husband all worked in the oil and gas sector.

While I am a proud Albertan, I am very concerned about our uncertain future. Albertans need a sustainable future with a healthy environment and a diversified economy, but in order to achieve this, we need federal leadership and support, because Danielle Smith and the Conservatives are taking us backward. Alberta Conservatives have stopped renewable energy development, driving away billions in investment and thousands of good jobs. They have brought back coal, inviting foreign investments to decapitate our Rocky Mountains and poison our water. They are putting toxic tailings ponds on top of sensitive environments like the McClelland dam.

Albertans deserve better. The Albertans I know, the problem solvers, the builders, the innovators and the entrepreneurs, deserve better.

Climate Change

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, “We are in the fight of our lives. And we are losing”. “We are experiencing a climate collapse in real time”. These strong words come from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Do his remarks seem undiplomatic? I would argue that he has the courage to speak those truths that deserve repeating on December 8, World Climate Day. Countries that are increasing their fossil fuel production have been branded dangerous nations that are throwing fuel on the fire. Canada, I would add, does the same while disguised as a firefighter. Whether we are speaking of the COP28 president or Canada's multibillion-dollar oil companies, their interests keep feeding the beast of climate change by capturing regulatory authority through their lobbying efforts, using public funds, and hypnotizing decision-makers with their greenwashing.

In six years, 2030 will be here. The Secretary-General says that we can prevent our planet from crashing and burning if we act now. Yes, but now is almost over.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a news flash: While Canadians across the country struggle to make ends meet right before Christmas, the Liberals are making it worse as food and home heating costs continue to rise.

The Prime Minister's inflationary spending has caused a cost of living crisis, forcing millions of hard-working Canadians to visit food banks so they can feed their families. In fact, this is the highest level of food bank use that this country has ever seen.

A new report released today shows that a family of four will pay $700 dollars more next year on groceries, with meat up 7%, vegetables up 7% and bread up 7% in price. Rising production costs have contributed to these price increases, yet the Prime Minister refuses to remove the carbon tax from farmers. This means the tax trickles down to the consumer, leaving Canadians struggling to put food on the table. The solution is simple: Take the carbon tax off farmers and families.

Prices are up and taxes are up, and the Liberal Prime Minister's time is up.

École Polytechnique Tragedy

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, like every year, yesterday, I was at the Prime Minister's side at the December 6 commemoration, surrounded by my grieving community. It has now been 34 years since the tragic loss of 14 women, 14 Polytechnique students who were full of promise and destined for bright futures. I was able to honour their memory this week by participating in the Order of the White Rose ceremony and by awarding a scholarship to a wonderful young woman who is studying engineering.

This was a femicide that marked an entire generation. The unspeakable tragedy was created by a mass shooter, a madman with a semi-automatic who walked into a classroom one day. That some good could come from such evil is unthinkable, and yet, from it comes the Order of the White Rose and the leadership of the women who created a grant to support exceptional young women pursuing engineering. From it comes the PolySeSouvient organization and the leadership of the women who were there that night on December 6 and have spent their lives since then fighting for better gun control in this country.

Carbon Pricing

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, families, farmers and first nations from across Canada are struggling because of the Prime Minister's ideological carbon tax crusade. Food bank usage is up 100%. We learned today that the average grocery bill will go up by $700 dollars next year. His senators are blocking relief for Canadians struggling to eat. First nations communities are taking him to court because of the carbon tax.

Conservatives have proposed a motion to axe the tax, and we will stay here as long as it takes.

Will the Liberals finally listen to Canadians and vote with us to scrap the punishing carbon tax?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, a price on pollution is an important part of a climate plan, one that addresses affordability concerns. The vast majority of Canadians receive more money in the rebate than they pay in the price of pollution.

The only group to benefit from the Conservative plan to end the climate program and to end the rebate would be the top 20% of earners, while almost everyone else would be poorer as a result of their plan. The Conservatives are fighting for the rich; they are not fighting for Canadians who are concerned about affordability.

The carbon price is both a climate measure and an affordability measure.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, those are his talking points, but I will take that as a no. Not only are they going to vote against our motion, but they are also going to quadruple the carbon tax on gas, groceries and home heating.

Instead of voting to take the tax off farmers, the desperate Prime Minister spent his weekend calling Liberal senators to manipulate a vote that he had already lost in this House. Senators gutted the bill, betraying farmers, and then his caucus members lost their minds over a plan to make them work overtime unless they axe the carbon tax.

Why will they not keep their hands out of everyone else's pockets and finally axe the tax so Canadians can put food on the table?