Debates of April 19th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over the past years we have seen right across the country that the cost of inaction on fighting climate change is getting alarmingly high. This includes in many Conservative-held ridings that should be telling this to their leader. Whether in floods, wildfires or droughts, we are seeing the impacts of climate change that are going to get worse and worse.

That is why it is necessary to have a plan to fight climate change and grow the economy in sustainable ways that would give great jobs to Canadians for the coming decades. That is exactly what we have done with our approach on fighting climate change and in our latest budget.

Climate Change

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Environment and Climate Change Canada released Canada's national greenhouse gas inventory. This annual exercise summarizes Canada's progress in the fight against climate change. There is a lot of good news in the report.

Can the Prime Minister inform the House about Canada's record on reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Pierrefonds—Dollard for the question. It is very important, especially in light of the questions the Conservatives just asked.

We are pleased to report that Canada's emissions are down from 2019 and 2005 levels, and we continue to grow our economy at the same time. This progress did not just come out of nowhere. Since 2015, we have taken historic action, and this includes putting a price on pollution—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I apologize, but it is nearly impossible to hear the answer. I must ask everyone to quiet down.

The right hon. Prime Minister may resume his response.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased to report that Canada's emissions are down from 2019 and 2005 levels, and we continue to grow our economy at the same time. This progress did not just come out of nowhere. Since 2015, we have taken historic action, and this includes putting a price on pollution.

While Conservative politicians say that we have to choose between clean air and a strong economy, we are achieving both, and are on track to meet our 2030 climate targets.

Labour

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of non-answers today. Workers deserve decent wages and good working conditions. The Liberal government claims it supports workers, but at the last moment, the Liberals act like Conservatives and do not have the workers' backs when they take a stand.

For the final and last time today, will the government commit to protecting workers' rights and not force workers back to work? Is the answer yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in full respect, in debate, in discussions and negotiations at the bargaining table, which is where that needs to happen. Our negotiators and the unions are hard at work finding a way to ensure that we continue to support and respect the extraordinary public servants who have worked so hard, including over these past difficult years of the pandemic, to deliver services for Canadians at the same time as we move forward in a way that is responsible for Canadian taxpayers.

This is the work we will do in good faith and positivity, just as we have always engaged with unions across the country.

Carbon Pricing

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, most Canadians know that the federal carbon tax is a farce. It siphons 14.3¢ a litre from the pockets of consumers. It increases the cost of living. It contributes to inflation and it causes even higher food prices. Sadly, the carbon tax does little to fight climate change. Equally disturbing, there is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to interrupt and ask the hon. member to start again. I just could not hear the question.

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, most Canadians know that the federal carbon tax is a farce. It siphons 14.3¢ a litre from the pockets of consumers. It increases the cost of living. It contributes to inflation and it causes even higher food prices. Sadly, the carbon tax does little to fight climate change. Equally disturbing, there is tax cascading, where the government levies the GST on all the other gasoline taxes. It is taxing taxes.

If the Prime Minister wants to provide a meaningful, sustained rebate to financially struggling Canadians, why does he not lower his carbon tax cash cow and axe the tax on gasoline taxes?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I can only think of the poor residents of Spadina—Fort York, who elected a member who would promise to fight for the environment, fight—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order.

Please continue.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I can only feel bad for the citizens of Spadina—Fort York, who elected someone they thought was going to stand up for them and deliver them supports while putting a price on pollution and returning more money to the pockets of hard-working Ontarians, and now he is just spewing Conservative talking points.

It is a real shame to see that, but on this side of the House, we will continue to stand and fight for Canadians and for the fight against climate change.

(Bill C-46. On the Order: Government Orders:)

March 29, 2023—The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance—Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Finance of Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Income Tax Act.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and I would like to ask for unanimous consent to adopt the following motion.

I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, special order, or usual practice of the House, Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Income Tax Act, be deemed read a second time and referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at the report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. minister moving the motion will please say nay. Agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time, considered in committee of the whole, reported without amendment, concurred in, read the third time and passed)

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Today, in question period, while the Prime Minister was answering a question, I heard the Leader of the Opposition repeatedly call him a “freeloader”. Shortly after that, the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes repeated that insult.

When I was first elected to this place, I was really impressed by the rules of order that really encourage us to debate policy without resorting to personal slurs and attacks. It is disappointing for the many young people who are considering entering into politics, including many women, to watch members of the opposition, including the leader—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We are starting to get into debate right now, so I am going to ask the hon. member to sit down. I will take it under consideration.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. I consulted the Cambridge Dictionary and a freeloader is “a person who uses money, food, a room in a house, etc. given by other—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

As we are starting to get into debate, I am going to have to interrupt the member.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as you can well imagine, it is always hard to hear everything from here, but it was clearly the case that the leader of the official opposition used the Prime Minister's first name in some of that tumult. Perhaps you can listen to the tape and determine if that occurred.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

On the first point of order, I believe I addressed it when I heard it. I want to remind hon. members to use their language judiciously.

With respect to the other one, we will look into it to see exactly what happened, if the name was used by the hon. member, and we will come back to the House should we feel it necessary.

Again, I want to remind everyone that we are here for the good of the country, not to call each other names, and to debate, not to argue.

The House resumed from April 18 consideration of the motion.