Debates of June 6th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would like to read a weather alert on Environment Canada's website. A “special air quality statement” says that “smoke plumes from forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario have resulted in deteriorated air quality.” Moreover, “High levels of air pollution [have developed] due to smog from forest fires”.

The air quality in our nation's capital is worse than it is in Mexico City, in Jakarta and in Kolkata. We have all this because of the forest fires. What is the response from the Conservative Party? Let us make pollution free again. It will not happen from this side of the House.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government has been in office for eight years now and the only thing that it has done for the environment is impose a carbon tax. Clearly the plan is working. Just look at the wildfires burning outside.

To make matters worse, the Liberals want to add a second tax through the GST. They promised to plant two billion trees, but they are taking the quicker route by imposing a second tax with no results.

When will this government wake up, stop taking money out of Canadians' pockets, give them some breathing room and cancel this tax?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I am always astonished when the Conservatives try to convince us that they are the party of common sense.

Let me refresh their memories. They deny climate change, revoke women's rights, take help away from families, give ridiculous advice on Bitcoin and dine with extreme right-wing politicians. I could go on like this all afternoon.

Is that really how the Conservatives show common sense? It is high time they started using their judgment because Canadians do not want that kind of common sense.

The Budget

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect the House to be a place of debate and for political parties to disagree on issues. What they do not expect is for party leaders to delay and avoid these debates with parliamentary tricks and obstructionist tactics. That is why Canadians were appalled when the leader of the Conservatives bragged that he is intentionally delaying the budget implementation act—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am trying to hear what the hon. member is saying, but there is noise, and I really cannot make it out. I want to hear what she has to say. She can start over, and I can see whether it is offensive or not.

The hon. member for Hamilton Mountain.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect this House to be a place of debate and for political parties to disagree on issues. What they do not expect is for party leaders to delay and avoid these debates with parliamentary tricks and obstructionist tactics. That is why Canadians were appalled when the leader of the Conservatives bragged that he is intentionally delaying the budget implementation act.

Can the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance remind this House of the significant measures that the Conservatives are blocking with their immature games?

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

Mr. Speaker, for the Conservative leader to appear in front of the press and brag that his party is going to delay the debate on the BIA is the height of irresponsibility. The Conservative delays are holding up tax deductions and benefits for working Canadians. They are holding up protections for air passengers and, shamefully, they are holding up the codification of sanctions against Russia for its illegal war on Ukraine.

It is the height of irresponsibility, and it is shameful of the Conservatives.

Carbon Pricing

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is out of touch, and Canadians are out of money. What is the Liberal solution? It is more tax and, in fact, a tax on a tax. The original carbon tax added 41¢ a litre on gas. This second carbon tax is going to add an additional 17¢ a litre on gasoline.

When we factor in carbon tax and GST, that is 61¢ a litre on gas. People who live in rural Alberta drive a lot. It is a fact of life; they travel to go to work, to medical appointments and to grocery stores.

My question is simply this: When will the Liberals do the right thing and axe the tax?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, it is out of touch to delay the implementation of clean technology, clean electricity and clean hydrogen while there are forest fires burning in my riding and her province. There are families being displaced in my riding today, and they cannot understand why anyone who has been elected would delay clean electricity, clean energy or clean hydrogen.

It is not only delaying; it is irresponsible, because our country is burning. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to act to make sure we save what is left.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling with the costs of food and fuel. They are facing a cost of living crisis, but what is the Liberal government doing about it? It is adding a second carbon tax.

Canadians need a break, not a tax, and 61¢ a litre could mean the difference between buying food and paying the rent.

Why will the Liberal government not do the right thing, give Canadians a break and axe the tax?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, the government is doing the right thing. We are fighting climate change, and we are working to make life more affordable for Canadians. We understand that there is neither a future economy nor a future for Canadians if we do not tackle the climate emergency that we are facing.

We can actually all taste the smoke from the forest fires in this chamber right now. This is unprecedented.

While we fight climate change, we are also putting forward such things as the grocery rebate to help Canadian families with the high cost of food. We are also cutting child care fees in half, which is saving Canadian families thousands of dollars a month—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, several years ago, a group of shady consultants gave fake admission letters to mostly Punjabi students who came here in good faith to study and be part of the Canadian family. They came here. They followed the law. They studied. Many of them completed their programs. It was the incompetent Liberal government that had accepted the letters in the first place.

Now, the government is kicking them out of the country and sending them home to poverty and bankruptcy for their families.

Why will the government not reverse its incompetence and show a little bit of common sense and compassion? Why will it not halt the deportation and allow those who came here in good faith and are contributing to our economy to apply for permanent residency?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I will not take any lessons from the members of the official opposition on immigration cases. What I will say to the House, though, is this: We want to ensure that those who are not responsible for fraud will have an opportunity to demonstrate their situation and present evidence to support their case.

At the same time, the integrity of our immigration system remains of utmost importance. We are actively looking at these reports on a case-by-case basis, and we will make good on our commitment to helping international students.

Climate Change

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during Environment Week, I want to acknowledge Canada's progress since 2015. We are reducing emissions with our emissions reduction plan and getting to net-zero nationwide, while creating clean jobs. We are investing in net-zero emissions vehicles and eliminating harmful single-use plastics. We have accomplished a lot, but there is more to do.

Could the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell the House more about our government's ongoing environmental efforts?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are, in fact, battling climate change, and we have the strongest economic growth of all the G7 countries. We have put in place measures that will create thousands of jobs in Canada, boosting Canada's economy for the coming years and for the coming decades. We are doing that while we reduce climate pollution by 50 million tonnes, the equivalent of removing 11 million vehicles from our roads.

We can fight climate change and we can have a strong economy, while supporting Canadians. Unfortunately, the Conservatives want to do none of these things.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, before colonialism, Inuit, first nations and Métis had their own forms of policing. For decades, genocidal policies have been enforced by the RCMP and local law enforcement. First nations in northern Ontario undertook their own community policing. The current federal government is going against reconciliation by refusing to renegotiate new agreements. This leaves 30,000 indigenous people without local police forces.

When will the government provide funding to keep indigenous communities safe?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, this is a government that has made historic investments in first nations policing, over $860 million, which we are rolling out in communities right across the country. We know that the path to reconciliation lies in empowering first nations and Inuit communities right across the land so they can drive the solutions that will best protect their communities. That is precisely the work we are committed to doing, in trust and in respect, with first nations and Inuit communities right across the land.

Public Safety

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been two years since the Afzaal family was targeted and brutally murdered in London. It is unthinkable that this could happen to a family in our city, but we have seen the amazing resilience that can counter white supremacy and Islamophobia. Communities are calling for the government to combat online hate and to support survivors of hate-motivated crimes.

Will the government commit to establishing a national support fund for victims of hate-motivated crimes and support the NDP's online algorithm transparency act to help the Afzaal family and countless others?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for her advocacy for the Muslim community in London, Ontario. The issue of Islamophobia is one that affects Muslims around this country and, indeed, around the world. It is an issue we must all continue to work vigilantly on.

What I find very concerning is that today, a day when we are debating the budget, that very budget includes dedicated funds of over $50 million toward combatting racism and Islamophobia. Those are the types of initiatives all members of the House need to get behind.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I wish to draw the attention of members to a presence in the gallery.

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence of the Hon. Geoff Regan, the 36th Speaker of the House of Commons.

Speaker Regan is here today on the occasion of the unveiling of his official portrait.

The hon. member for Louis‑Saint‑Laurent on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, a few moments ago, the member for Calgary Skyview talked about Environment Week and Canadian success stories from around the world. The UN released a scientific report in 2023 on how countries are performing, and Canada ranks 58th—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is there something written on the back of the member's papers? I am sorry, but that is not allowed. I just want to remind the member.

The hon. member can continue his intervention.

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

Mr. Speaker, the report concluded that Canada ranks 58th out of 63 countries. I am sure that everyone will consent to this scientific document produced by the UN on Canada's performance respecting the environment being accepted and tabled in the House.