Debates of June 2nd, 2023

Emergency Preparedness

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Madam Speaker, across Canada, forest fires are burning. This may be the worst season yet.

In my riding, there is a forest fire near Sayward village. I want to thank all the firefighters who have stepped up across our region to help, as well as Mayor Baker, who has shared updates with me. The leadership in the community is working hard to keep everyone safe.

Climate change is impacting small communities in particular. With their limited resources and funds, the challenges will only grow. How will the Liberal government support small communities as climate change creates these new realities?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the question. We know that climate change is having a direct impact on what we are experiencing right now with the forest fires. Our government is very closely monitoring all the fires burning in Canada during forest fire season. We are working closely with our provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure that they have all the necessary support measures in place. We are also getting help from other countries such as Australia, the United States and others. I would like to offer him our full collaboration so that we can get through this forest fire crisis.

Automotive Industry

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Madam Speaker, when Canada had an auto policy, being the auto pact, we were second in the world in manufacturing and the hub of investment, research and development. When the Conservatives and Liberals signed NAFTA, they allowed us to get bullied by Japan and the WTO. Without a fight, they gave up our trade agreement, the best trade agreement we had in history. The result is that we have dropped to 15th in the world, behind Indonesia, and we are now tied with the Czech Republic and Slovakia for auto assembly.

The Windsor Stellantis plant's future, as well as the investment in it, has played out in all the media headlines, as the Deputy Prime Minister and the premier negotiate. Will the government show real leadership, ditch the drama and public headline approach, sign a deal with Stellantis, and bring in a real auto policy that does not embarrass us and puts workers first?

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague from the industry committee for his advocacy for the Canadian automobile industry and his hard work on the committee.

He knows very well that our auto industry is crucial to the Canadian economy and to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who work in that sector. This is why the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has worked tirelessly to secure a future for Canada's auto industry. We continue to negotiate in good faith with our partners. That includes Stellantis and the Government of Ontario. Through it all, our top priority is going to be getting the best possible deal for Canadians.

Democratic Institutions

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

Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister's national security adviser testified that her office and three deputy ministers received a memo warning that a sitting member of Parliament and his family were being targeted by Beijing. This memo went into a black hole, but according to her, no one is responsible for that.

It is the Prime Minister's job to run the machinery of government, and he has special responsibilities when it comes to national security. Will he finally step up and accept responsibility for this colossal failure taking place on his watch?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Madam Speaker, we will never tolerate foreign-state actors attempting to intimidate members of this House, members of diaspora communities or any Canadians. We take this matter extremely seriously.

David Johnston's report has indicated areas that need improvement in policy and communication. We take that work extremely seriously.

Prior to the release of the report, the Prime Minister said we would implement those recommendations. We are looking at that very closely. The Minister of Public Safety is going to make sure that these gaps are closed.

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

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Prime Minister not taking responsibility, one of his ministers claims that he was not responsible for not reviewing a memo that was sent to his attention. It warned that the member for Wellington—Halton Hills was being targeted by Beijing. The minister blames CSIS instead.

With the cover-up, the denial and the blame, the Liberals' story just does not add up. Why do they expect all the power and none of the responsibility?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Madam Speaker, the issue of foreign interference is extremely serious. It is not new, and it is certainly not unique to Canada. However, it is precisely why, from 2015, we implemented a number of measures to deal with attempted foreign interference in our democracy. We will never accept it. We are going to continue to strengthen our democratic institutions, as well as our national security community, to ensure that information is properly shared with those who need it.

While the Conservatives do nothing and just play politics, we take this seriously.

Carbon Pricing

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Madam Speaker, if the Liberals' first carbon tax was not driving up gas and grocery bills enough, they have now decided that Canadians need a second carbon tax on the price of fuel.

The independent Parliamentary Budget Officer laid out these new tax hikes clearly. The first carbon tax added 41¢ a litre. Now, the second carbon tax is going to add 17¢ a litre. Then, of course, the Liberals are going to tax the tax by putting GST on their carbon tax. That is 61¢ a litre in new taxes. When will the Liberals and the NDP just axe the tax?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, let me demonstrate the height of Conservative hypocrisy. The Conservative platform in the 2021 election states, “We recognize that the most efficient way to reduce our emissions is to use pricing mechanisms.” Another excerpt, on the clean fuel standard—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

There seems to be an issue with being able to understand what the hon. parliamentary secretary is responding to.

I am sure the hon. member wants to hear the answer so he can ask a subsequent question.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has the floor.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Madam Speaker, this is pretty tough medicine for the Conservatives, but let me quote from page 79 to 80 of the Conservative platform: “We'll finalize and improve the clean fuel regulations to reduce carbon emissions from every litre of gasoline”. That sounds an awful lot like what we are doing on this side of the aisle.

When will the Conservatives stop the hypocrisy and get serious about climate change?

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals do not have an environmental plan, they have a tax plan, because the fact is they have never met a target on climate change they have ever set. All it is doing is skyrocketing food prices in this country. They are taxing farmers who grow food, they are taxing truckers who ship it and they are taxing the businesses and restaurants that sell it. Ontario families are going to be out $2,300 a year under this Liberal-NDP scheme.

When are they finally going to realize they are the ones causing the cost of living crisis, that their environmental plan is non-existent and just scrap the tax and help Canadians?

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

Madam Speaker, I will answer the substantive matter of the member's question, but I want to take us back seven years ago and a day to when, for the first time in Canadian history, we raised the pride flag on Parliament Hill. We made history. We stood up for Canadians. Members from the House and members from the Senate were on the lawn of Parliament to do that very thing. I want to thank all 2SLGBTQI+ members of this House, our allies and our champions, staff and the new Canadian pride caucus for getting this work done.

On the substantive issue of the matters raised, he should check his party platform in 2021 when they ran on a price on pollution.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, I can assure the House, the minister and everyone here that on this side of the House we are fully in favour of standing up for LGBTQ+ communities. People can rest assured of that.

Another thing they can be sure of is that unfortunately, the Liberals have invented a new tax to further tax individuals and take more money out of everyone's pockets. As we face the current challenge of inflation, this is going to cost families in Quebec an extra $436, on average.

Can the minister seriously tell us that it is a good idea to create a new tax when we are struggling with inflation?

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

Madam Speaker, the hon. member opposite knows full well that if he wants to make life more affordable for Canadians, the Conservatives need only stop filibustering and simply support our budget implementation bill, which will ease the cost of living for Canadians.

As for the price on pollution, I recommend that people look at the Conservatives' 2021 election platform. It says that the low-carbon fuel standard is something the Conservatives will adopt if they form government.

What is happening on the other side?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, this side of the House wants to remind the Liberals that even though they formed government, we garnered many more votes than they did.

Also, the fact is that, just a few months ago, someone said that deficits and out-of-control spending add fuel to the inflationary fire. Who said that? It was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. However, a few months later, she presented a budget that increased the deficit and increased spending.

Seriously, can the minister say that taking another $436 out of Quebec families' pockets with a new tax is a good idea?

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

Madam Speaker, this question touches on several things and there is very little time. I will answer what I can.

The former parliamentary budget officer, Kevin Page, clearly said that our budget is very balanced, very responsible and will not create inflation in Canada.

The Conservatives' election platform states, “We will assess progress...to set...carbon prices on a path to $170/tonne”.

What is happening on the other side? They swept it off and cleaned house. They now have a new leader, and that is finished for them.

Employment Insurance

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, on Saturday, it will be two years since all of the parties in the House recommended, in a report, a comprehensive EI reform. All the parties, including the Liberals, made that recommendation.

Two years later, absolutely nothing has been done, and yet, in that report, all the parties found that “the EI program no longer reflects the realities”—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I must interrupt the member for a point of order. I think it has to to with the interpretation.

Can the hon. member for Northumberland-Peterborough South confirm whether it is working now?

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Yes, it is working, Madam Speaker.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville can start her question again from the beginning.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I would be happy to, Madam Speaker.

On Saturday, it will be two years since all of the parties in the House recommended, in a report, a comprehensive EI reform. All the parties, including the Liberals, made that recommendation. Two years later, absolutely nothing has been done.

However, in that report, all the parties found that the “program no longer reflects the realities of today’s labour market”. In other words, the Liberals have known for two years that they are leaving workers to deal with an outdated system. They admitted as much.

When will they take action?

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

Madam Speaker, EI is currently one of the oldest and most complex systems across the Government of Canada. That is why we made a commitment to fully modernize the system.

In the past two years, the minister has led more than 35 virtual national and regional round tables with workers, employers and academics. We have also engaged the provinces and territories as well as indigenous organizations in separate consultations. We have already extended sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks and with a board of appeal in budget 2023, we will put EI appeal decisions back in the hands of workers.

EI reform is a priority. We are on it and we are going to get it done.