Debates of March 20th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House many times, affordability is obviously a critically important issue for all members of the House. This government has put in place a range of measures to address affordability concerns, including the fact that the price on pollution actually results in eight out of 10 families getting more money back than they pay. It is an affordability measure in and of itself.

However, climate change is real, whether my colleagues across the aisle admit it or not. It is something we must address for the future of our children. We must do so in a manner that will build good jobs and economic opportunities in every province and territory, and that is exactly what we are doing.

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister, Canadians can no longer afford to eat, heat or house themselves. When the Liberals triple the carbon tax, the folks I know, having to choose between heating and eating, seniors like Sheila, Neil and Marshall, worry that surviving the next carbon increase on April 1 will be impossible for them to manage. Seniors are currently forced to use their overdrafts to cover their expenses.

When will the Prime Minister exercise compassion and clear the path so the Conservatives can fix this disaster the Liberals have created?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, for the last seven and a half years, we have been there supporting seniors and Canadians every single step of the way. You do not have to take my word for it, Mr. Speaker. The Conservative member herself was highlighting in committee how poverty rates for seniors had dramatically decreased since we took office, and she is right. It is because, unlike them, we decided to invest in them by ensuring we are investing and increasing their guaranteed income supplement and by increasing their old security pension for them.

Unlike the Conservatives, we are going to continue to make sure Canadians, including seniors, are supported now and into the future.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, Canadian farmers have clearly had enough of the Liberal Prime Minister. In a recent survey, they were asked how many felt the Liberals were doing a good job supporting Canadian agriculture. How many Canadian farmers said yes? Two per cent. I wonder why. Maybe it is the punishing carbon tax that is going up yet again on April 1.

According to the Canadian food price index, when the Liberal-NDP coalition triples the carbon tax, an average Canadian farm will pay $150,000 a year in carbon taxes alone.

Why is the Prime Minister so determined to tax Canadian farm families into the ground?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our government has given farmers more support than any other government.

When the Conservatives were in power, they made cuts to risk management programs and slashed investment in research and innovation. We need research and innovation to be able to improve yields and reduce emissions, while also increasing production. The world relies on Canada to ensure food security. We had the largest budget in Canadian history, at $4 billion.

We are here for farmers.

Official Languages

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the French language is one of our country's treasures. It is the key to understanding the rich and diverse communities found throughout the world and here in Canada.

French is spoken from Whitehorse to Laval, from Gaspé to Isle Madame, off Cape Breton in Nova Scotia.

Could the Minister of Official Languages tell the House about the measures our government is taking to protect French across the country?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and colleague from Laval—Les Îles for his important question and his hard work.

Our French language is invaluable, and it is at risk.

That is why we are the first government to recognize the decline of the French language and also the first government to say that we will do everything we can to protect and promote French across the country.

With Bill C-13 and our next action plan for official languages, we will contribute our fair share to the all-out effort to protect and promote French across the country.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy International Day of La Francophonie.

Justice

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal Prime Minister, violent repeat offenders continue to get bail and are released into our communities.

In Ajax, Ontario, a soccer star was stabbed to death, and his alleged murderer has been released on bail. This suspect was previously arrested and charged with violent crimes just one month before stabbing this soccer player.

Canada has become a place where violent repeat offenders charged with second degree murder are getting out on bail into our communities. When will the Prime Minister take responsibility for this reckless bail system so we can fix what he broke?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve to be and feel safe. We all have a role to play in protecting communities. The laws on bail are clear. If an accused poses a risk to public safety, he or she should be denied bail.

Federal, provincial and territorial leaders met last week, including with the Minister of Justice, on the issue of bail and have come forward with a communiqué. We hope to continue to work with our provincial and territorial partners in order to ensure our communities are safe.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, there it is. The government's solution is just more meetings, more talk and no action. Meanwhile, Canadians are being murdered.

The Liberals have had eight years to take action and they have only made it worse. We have seen a 32% rise in violent crimes under their watch, a doubling of gang murders, and headline after headline of violent repeat offenders getting out on bail only to hurt more innocent Canadians.

Our bail system is broken. How can Canadians possibly trust that the Liberal government is going to fix it when it is the one that broke it?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, the ministers of justice from the provinces as well as the federal government got together and brought forward some very important ideas on reforming the bail system. It is very clear that our communities need to be safe. There is a right to bail enshrined in our Constitution. The ministers of justice came together with a program that will allow us to ensure that our communities remain safe, while at the same time ensuring the right to bail.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over the past few days, violent tragic events have cost the lives of several Quebeckers. This is all part of a larger pattern. In fact, since the Prime Minister has been in power, crime has increased by 32%. Our streets are becoming more unsafe all the time, yet the government is reducing sentences and allowing criminals to serve their sentence at home.

When will the government take the situation seriously, protect victims and impose harsh sentences for violent crimes?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is the Conservative Party that is getting in our way when it comes to our country's national security.

We introduced a bill to improve security across the country. The Conservatives have already made it clear that they want nothing to do with it. There have already been several murders this year, including one in Montreal last night. We need to tighten gun control across the country.

I hope the Conservatives will help us.

Climate Change

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, climate science must be at the heart of our decision-making process to fight climate change. The latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientific report adds to our global knowledge and understanding, and shows the indisputable fact that humanity continues to warm our planet to dangerous levels. The science is clear that only urgent and sustained emissions reductions will limit the warming of our planet.

Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change inform the House on Canada's progress on achieving our net-zero targets?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her advocacy on this very important issue.

Yes, today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued another stark warning. We collectively need to act to fight climate change, something the official opposition does not seem to have understood over the last 30 years. It wants to make pollution free again in Canada. It has no idea whatsoever what needs to be done to fight climate change and to adapt to the reality of climate change.

In 2021 alone, there was $17 billion in climate impacts to Canadians. That is what climate change means to Canada.

Health

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, caregivers are at a breaking point as the Liberal government fails to solve the health care crisis. This is putting increased pressure on families to care for their loved ones.

The important job of caring for parents, grandparents and children is most often left up to women, and this work is unpaid. The government can support caregivers by immediately making the Canada caregiver credit a refundable tax benefit to put money back into the pockets of people.

Why is the government delaying this benefit for those who care for their loved ones?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we are obviously very mindful of the incredible challenges that patients and workers face in these very difficult times. That is why, just six weeks ago, the Prime Minister announced a historic investment of almost $200 billion in addition to the current level of the CHT, in addition to the value of the tax point. Those dollars obviously matter very much, but more importantly, they matter because they are going to lead to significant positive outcomes for workers and patients in the years to come.

Transportation

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, public transit is in crisis. Municipalities like mine are being forced to raise fares while in some cases simultaneously cutting service due to a lack of investment from higher orders of government. Groups across the country, from Environmental Defence to the Canadian Urban Transit Association, are sounding the alarm, warning that transit systems are at risk of falling into a death spiral without critical operational support.

Will the minister ensure not only capital funding in budget 2023, but also the critical operating support being called for across the country?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member will acknowledge that our government has made multi-billion dollar investments in improving Canada's public transit infrastructure in large municipalities and in small rural communities as well. The member correctly identifies that, during the acute months of COVID, our government stepped up, in partnership with provinces, to support municipalities to operate transit systems that were critical for essential workers to be able to serve people during COVID. We will continue to work with municipalities and partners to ensure that Canada has the best transit system in the world.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Nathalie Roy, President of the Quebec National Assembly.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Tragedy in Amqui

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence to acknowledge the tragic event that occurred in Amqui, Quebec.

I now invite hon. members to rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In reviewing Hansard from June 6, 2006, I wanted to draw to the government House leader's attention, and I believe he would like the opportunity to respond, comments that he made alleging that corruption and fraud had been committed by another member.

I am looking to see, based on his comments made in question period today, in response to the member for St. Albert—Edmonton, if he would like to withdraw his assertion and perhaps offer an apology.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will read from Hansard on the date in question, June 6, 2006. It says, “Mr. Speaker, there have been allegations of both fraud and corruption and the question is very simple.”

By the way, that question was with respect to the Conservative Party and the in-and-out scandal. It was not with respect to any member in the House. I stand by my comment that no member of Parliament should call any other member of Parliament corrupt.

It is inappropriate and should not have occurred.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to remind the hon. members not to call each other names. It is a very simple principle. Do not call another member a name, regardless of which side one is sitting on, or accuse them of something that is, well, calling them a name.

I will leave it at that and I am sure that both sides will learn from today's experience.

The member for Avalon is rising on a point of order.