Debates of June 15th, 2023

Natural Resources

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, countries around the world are racing to seize the extraordinary economic opportunities that come with building a low-carbon economy, investing in clean energy, and scaling new technologies. We must ensure that Canadian workers are equipped with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.

Can the Minister of Natural Resources please share how this government is helping workers capitalize on this opportunity and ensure Canada is a leader in all things energy?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for the question, and for his advocacy on these important issues.

The global race to build a low-carbon economy is the greatest job-creation opportunity of our time. We can either work to seize this opportunity or put our heads in the sand and let it pass us by.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, having a serious plan to address climate change is required to have a serious plan for Canada's economic future.

Today, with the tabling of the sustainable jobs act, our government is choosing to seize the moment. This act will create and maintain jobs in communities across Canada by helping workers gain the necessary skills and training to fill the jobs of a low-carbon world. We are building an economy where Canadian workers and businesses will thrive.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before going to the next question, I would like to remind the hon. member for Calgary Midnapore that it is not polite to scream over the voice of someone else.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, the cost of the Prime Minister's Liberal government is driving up the cost of living. The more he spends, the more things cost.

According to the latest National Rent Report, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in King—Vaughan is $2,650, the fifth-highest in the GTA.

Canadians are sick and tired of the government trying to convince them they have never had it so good. When will the Liberal Prime Minister show some compassion and stop the out-of-control inflationary spending so Canadians can stay in their homes?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians are sick and tired of is the Conservatives' hypocrisy that they care about affordability for Canadians. Right now in the House they are holding up BillC-35, an act respecting early learning and child care. There are only 19 minutes left in debate to get this bill passed through the House to go to the Senate.

Conservatives keep saying they care about affordable child care, but all they have done is play partisan games to hold it up. When will they finally be honest with Canadians and tell them they do not care about it, instead of playing silly games?

Carbon Pricing

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, fuel companies throughout Atlantic Canada have sent letters to their customers telling them that on July 1 propane is going up 12¢ a litre. Gasoline is going up 17¢ a litre, and home heating and diesel are going up 20¢ a litre.

Folks in Kentville, Antigonish, Sydney, Saint John, Fredericton, Edmundston, Corner Brook, Clarenville, Conception Bay South, Labrador City, and all over P.E.I. have sent me a copy of that letter. Will the evil genius who invented carbon tax 2 please stand up to tell us why he is persecuting Atlantic Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the hon. member that the Conservative Party of Canada campaigned on a platform to implement a clean fuel standard, except that party is all words while we are all action. We have worked with companies across the country to ensure we can have lower carbon-emitting fuels in Canada. We are creating investments across the country in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Newfoundland of more than $2 billion in the last year alone in clean fuel.

We will continue ensuring that we can create good jobs, have a good economy and tackle climate change.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, what a pile of baloney. Canadians know that all they have done is destroy jobs in Canada. The Prime Minister's childhood friend, who believes the same thing, Premier Furey said that when he asked the federal minister what impact the carbon tax 2 would have. He admitted that it will not be zero. No, it will not be zero, it will be $850 a year per household in Atlantic Canada.

Will these Liberals finally admit that the carbon tax is not working, stop persecuting the people who elected them and end the carbon tax?

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, I really find it quite rich when I am listening to our colleagues on the other side of the House. I would like to give them a little history of lesson, especially from my part of the country.

The first thing we did was reopen the veterans affairs office that the previous government had closed. The other thing we did, as a coastal community, was to build and open a new facility after they had closed down the Coast Guard search and rescue. Then we raised taxes on the wealthiest, lowered them for the middle class and lowered taxes for small businesses twice.

We have been there to help people through the pandemic. We are there now helping with dental care, with child care benefits and with people turning off—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for St. John's East.

Seniors

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that raising awareness is one of the most effective ways to combat elder abuse. With today, June 15, marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, could the Minister of Seniors provide an update to the House on the steps being taken by the government to increase awareness and prevent the mistreatment of senior citizens in Canada?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, any form of elder abuse is a despicable crime that we take very seriously. Our government is taking action by supporting over 600 community organizations that help seniors recognize and identity fraud and abuse by finalizing a definition of elder abuse, establishing new offences and penalties under the Criminal Code related to elder abuse, and investing in better data collection.

To ensure that tragedies like the ones we saw in long-term care will never happen again, we welcome the national long-term care standards and are working toward delivering a safe long-term care act.

Indigenous Affairs

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Pacheedaht First Nation in my riding does not have a school for kids from grade 6 to 12. Every day, children as young as 11 have to take a bus 75 kilometres each way between home and school on a windy and narrow highway. That is three hours a day. Chief Jones came all the way to Ottawa to plead with Indigenous Services and Infrastructure Canada to help.

Will the minister honour reconciliation and start working with the Pacheedaht to get this community the school they desperately need?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, since this government was elected, we have worked tirelessly to close the gaping infrastructure gap left by the previous Conservative government. It underinvested in indigenous children, underinvested in indigenous infrastructure and did nothing about boiled water advisories for a decade, which left a massive gap of infrastructure across the country, including children's schools. Our government has reversed that trend.

Of course I will work tirelessly to make sure that every community has a school that children can be proud of and safe to learn in.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, on June 10, Canada seized a Russian aircraft at Pearson airport. Global Affairs Canada said it is working with Ukraine on “options to redistribute this asset to compensate victims of human rights abuses”.

Why then is the government fighting the families of victims of flight PS752 from using an Ontario superior court ruling to allow them to seize assets and obtain compensation from Iran? Why is the government protecting a ruthless regime and its murderous IRGC terrorists? Why is the government standing with terrorists instead of grieving Canadian families?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is an important question, and it gives me the opportunity to talk about two things.

The first is what we are doing to make sure the Russian regime is held accountable. Canada is the first country in the world now able to seize and forfeit important assets of the Russian regime. Indeed, we seized the Antonov plane, which has been stranded at the Pearson airport.

When it comes to Iran, we will continue to make sure that the regime itself is held accountable. We have sanctioned the IRGC. We have also sanctioned key leaders. We will make sure that the families of the victims of PS752, with whom I have had numerous contacts and numerous meetings, are compensated and well supported.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is all the time we have for question period today.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move that notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practice of this House, Bill C-342, an act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act regarding maximum security offenders, 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 report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

House of Commons

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the House of Commons' “Report to Canadians 2023”.

The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Justice

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment of Mr. Brock to the motion for concurrence in the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Call in the members.