House of Commons Hansard #200 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was use.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I am sorry, but I want to make a brief comment.
I want to remind members of the House that we must refer to other members by their title or their riding name, not by a made-up title. I know that sometimes members can get really creative, but those are the rules.
The hon. Minister of Environment.
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I will share some quotes with my colleague.
“We welcome the additional investments that were announced [in this plan], which will double the amounts available in the climate solutions fund”, said Alice-Anne Simard, of Nature Québec.
“The 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan offers greater detail and transparency than any Canadian climate plan to date”, said Caroline Brouillette of Climate Action Network Canada.
Bruno Marchand, the mayor of Quebec City said, “The City of Quebec welcomes this major announcement. The fight against climate change is key to the future of our cities and the well-being of future generations. Municipal governments also have a hand in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
These are all allies of the federal government. Unfortunately, they are not allies of the Conservative Party.
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is an illegal dump in Kanesatake that for years has been contaminating the drinking water source of one million people. Obviously it is a complex problem, but it is a serious and urgent one that needs to be addressed.
It is unacceptable to watch the federal government in the media abdicate its responsibilities and offload them to the Sûreté du Québec. The government has been playing hot potato long enough. We are talking about drinking water for one million people and the federal government cannot continue to let the situation deteriorate.
What meaningful action is the Minister of Environment and Climate Change taking on this urgent matter?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. I have had several conversations with him and with the minister responsible for first nations and Inuit relations in Quebec, as well as my colleague, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Minister of Indigenous Services.
It is a complex problem to which we cannot apply simple or simplistic solutions. Everyone has a role to play. The band council has a role to play. The Government of Quebec, through the Sûreté du Québec, has a role to play. The federal government certainly also has a role to play. We are in talks with the band council and the Government of Quebec to find a lasting solution to this problem.
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government needs to stop playing hot potato and show some leadership.
In an interview with Radio-Canada, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations made these regrettable comments, and I quote: We must let go of this idea that every time there are two or three indigenous people involved in an issue, it is a federal problem.
The community of Kanesatake is asking for help, and that is an unacceptable response. Oka is asking for help, the entire region is asking for help. The federal government can clean up this mess. Yes, it is very much the federal government's problem.
When will Ottawa bring the communities together in order to come up with a quick, concrete solution?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, the only party playing hot potato with this issue is the Bloc Québécois.
I myself acknowledged yesterday in an interview with La Presse that the federal government has a role to play and that it will do just that. Just yesterday, the Minister of Indigenous Services spoke with the community's chief. We are committed to finding a solution.
While the Bloc plays hot potato, we on this side of the House will be working to find a solution.
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has now spent $3.5 million on vending machines for its failed unsafe supply experiment. These vending machines are dispensing hydromorphone, which is more potent than heroin. There are three of these machines in Vancouver and one in Victoria. The sad reality is that opioid deaths have continued to increase. In the last two years, they have gone up 17%.
When will the Minister of Addictions stop this failed experiment and give way to compassionate treatment for those suffering from addictions?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, yet again the failed Conservative policies surface. Without harm reduction, people do not live long enough to get to treatment. Polarizing the difference between treatment and harm reduction is really unhelpful. We need all aspects of internationally accepted drug policy: prevention and education, harm reduction, treatment, and enforcement. Diversion is illegal.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, since the decriminalization of hard drugs by the Liberals and NDP, we have seen a record number of opioid deaths in the province of British Columbia. Not only that, the government has failed to uphold its part in the agreement as it relates to the protection of children. Why has the government not done more to protect kids from exposure to crack pipes and needles at schools and parks across British Columbia, despite its still being illegal?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I think every member of the House understands that the increase in opioid deaths is because of the extraordinarily toxic drug supply that came in after the reduction of deaths in 2019 in British Columbia, so this is hugely important. The exemption we have approved in British Columbia specifically states that playgrounds and areas attached to schools and day cares are not exempt and must be enforced.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives know that a healthy recovery is the answer to the captivity of addiction. There are 34,000 Canadians who have died from opioids from 2016 to 2022 alone.
Today, we are told Ottawa plans to join a B.C. class action accusing its favourite $100-million consultant McKinsey, which turbocharged the opioid sales, of reckless opioid marketing. This is a copycat of what Conservatives called for on March 14.
Why did it take the Liberal government two years after the U.S. settlement to sue McKinsey and big pharma?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, once again, the opposition is behind the times. Since 2018, we have been working with British Columbia on the litigation against big pharma and those who enabled it, and we were part of the Purdue settlement in June 2022. At our request, B.C. also amended its legislation to reinforce the federal government's participation in these class actions. Canada has also addressed big pharma's predatory practices by further restricting the marketing of opioids and increasing the maximum financial penalties.
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the Conservative Party's pollution pricing flip-flop. In 2007, the Harper government proposed a $15 carbon tax. In 2008, that same government promised to introduce a cap-and-trade system. In 2011, the Conservatives ditched that idea along with every other climate measure. During the 2021 election campaign, they once again supported carbon pricing.
Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell the House about the ambitious climate measures our government is proposing to—
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.
When it comes to climate change, Canadians expect the government to do the right thing and take action. That is exactly what we are doing with pollution pricing that has prompted industry to reduce emissions by over 50 million tonnes in recent years, an emissions reduction plan for all sectors of the economy, an oil and gas emissions cap and a national climate change adaptation strategy.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, the Conservative Party leader, has still no plan to fight climate change and even continues to deny the crisis.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec's minister of higher education has asked universities to cancel their partnerships with Huawei, which is a threat to Canada's security. Since this is a matter of federal public safety, she also asked the Prime Minister to provide the provinces with guidelines for banning Huawei from provincial institutions. She has asked for this, but this Liberal government still refuses to respond.
From the very beginning, the Prime Minister has been dragging his feet when it comes to Chinese interference. The danger is real.
When will he respond to Minister Déry?
Andy Fillmore LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, national security is everyone's responsibility: federal and provincial governments, universities and researchers. In February, we made our position clear on the protection of Canadian research and intellectual property. We have introduced new and much more rigorous approaches. We expect all partners to take measures as well. We will continue working to promote an open and collaborative research system while safeguarding national security.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, the World Health Assembly will be meeting next week in Geneva. Taiwan had an exemplary response to the recent global COVID-19 pandemic and has much to contribute to pandemic preparedness and global health initiatives.
Does Canada support Taiwan's participation at next week's World Health Assembly?
Maninder Sidhu LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canada reconfirms our support of Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations. Its absence would be detrimental to global interests. That is why we support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organization. Taiwan's participation would benefit both the people of Taiwan and those around the world. We will continue to invest in our relationship with Taiwan while working to enhance peace and civility across the strait.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, G7 leaders will meet this weekend in Hiroshima, Japan, where the nuclear bomb was first used. They are expected to meet survivors of that bomb. They are also expected to issue a joint statement on the use of nuclear weapons, in light of Russia's threats against Ukraine and the west.
Will the government take this opportunity at the G7 to urge our closest ally, the United States, to resume the strategic stability dialogue on nuclear weapons with Russia?
Maninder Sidhu LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Japan for prioritizing this as part of the G7. Canada believes in a world free of nuclear weapons, and the current arsenals around the world remain far too large.
We call on Russia to fulfill its international obligations, including under the New START Treaty. Putin's rhetoric is dangerous and reckless. Russia needs to end its unjustified war and come to the table for peace talks. We will continue to work with our allies toward this very crucial goal.
Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, Ontario's Greenbelt is a crown jewel, protecting nearly two million acres of environmentally sensitive land, yet Doug Ford calls the Greenbelt a “scam”. It is clear he is working to parcel it off to his developer friends. We cannot let him do that.
What does the Minister of Environment think of Premier Ford calling the Greenbelt a scam, and will he stand up for the Greenbelt with every tool available?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I profoundly disagree with the characterization that the Premier of Ontario has made about the Greenbelt. Protecting green spaces, so that our kids and grandkids can have access to green spaces, clean air and clean water, is no scam. Working to ensure that our kids and grandkids continue to have a bright future is no scam.
The federal government will use all of its available tools to ensure that we can continue protecting the lands in the Greenbelt, as well as jewels like Rouge National Urban Park.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, a new report shows the number of Canadian teenagers regularly vaping is now shockingly among the highest in the world. This puts the health and lives of youth at great risk, and experts say it is Liberal inaction fuelling this growing crisis. The government's refusal to take on big tobacco is allowing it to use flavoured products to hook a new generation of Canadians.
Why are Liberals standing back while big tobacco uses flavours like cotton candy to lure teenagers into become addicted to nicotine?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for this question. We have met with a number of key stakeholders in the area, including this morning with the Canadian Cancer Society. We are grateful for all of its input. We know how tremendous the impact of vaping and smoking is in our society, including for younger Canadians and youth. That is why we have already put into place strong regulations over the last few years on packaging, publicity and content of vaping products, and we will be doing more.