Debates of Sept. 18th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my hon. colleague that his party's most recent election platform included a proposal for a clean fuel program.

That is exactly what we introduced. The program generates thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment across the country. The Canola Growers Association applauded the program, which will create jobs, particularly in the agricultural sector.

What does the Conservative Party have to offer in the fight against climate change? Unfortunately, the only thing it has to offer is hot air.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the thing is, the Liberals can reduce the price of food right now if they abandon their failed carbon tax. However, instead of taking any meaningful action, they are having more meaningless meetings.

The price of diesel is already up 70¢ a litre, increasing the costs on farmers to produce the food, manufacturers to process it, truckers to haul it and certainly Canadians to buy it. When the price of lettuce is up 94%, clearly the Prime Minister's NDP government is not worth the cost.

Will the Prime Minister's big meetings reduce the cost of lettuce by Thanksgiving, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, instead of talking and talking, they should look at what we have done today. This is the first time in Canadian history that the grocers have come to Ottawa. We had difficult discussions, but at the end of the day, those were discussions we needed to have in order to stabilize the price of food in Canada.

We have been very clear with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. We are going to work with them to stabilize prices in Canada. That is what Canadians expect at home. That is what we are going to deliver.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister's NDP government, Canadians cannot afford to put food on the table, and it is getting worse. The Parliamentary Budget Officer's report on Friday stated that by 2030, Canadian farmers will pay close to $1 billion in carbon taxes alone.

Lettuce is up 94% because of these increases in carbon taxes and the costs being put on farmers, processors and truckers, and it is Canadians who are paying the price at the grocery store shelves. Now the Liberals want to quadruple that tax.

How much will Canadians pay for a head of lettuce?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read an extract from a press release from the Canola Growers Association. It says, “We’re pleased to see the CFR provides options that would minimize regulatory burden and allow canola to be used to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions through biofuel production.” There is a “[r]ecognition of the sustainable production practices of Canadian growers that help sequester and store carbon”. Agriculturists are in favour of what we are doing to fight climate change and create a strong and vibrant Canadian economy.

Climate Change

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the climate breakdown has begun. That is the damning assessment delivered by the UN Secretary-General.

July was the hottest month on record. There have been marine heat waves with global averages of 21°C. There were so many forest fires that it seemed like everything between Ottawa and Quebec City was burning. That is huge. The situation is affecting everyone. Things are not getting any better because we are not acting responsibly.

When is the government going to take global warming seriously?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her question.

Unlike the Conservative Party of Canada, I share her concerns about global warming. I would like to remind her that, between 2019 and 2021, Canada had the best record in the G7 in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We cut our emissions by 55 million tonnes, which is 25% of our 2030 target.

However, I agree with my colleague that we need to do more, and we need to do it even faster. That is why I will be going to New York this week with the Prime Minister and several colleagues to work with all the countries in the world to speed up the fight against climate change.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government claims that fighting climate change is a priority, but that is not true. While the UN is talking about climate ambition, three ministers from this government could not wait to get to Alberta for the World Petroleum Congress.

I imagine they are going to talk about green oil, just to demonstrate how much they respect our intelligence. The sad truth is that Canada is an oil-producing country and that warming the planet pays off in this country.

When will this government start acting responsibly and take real action to fight global warming?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, we take climate change and the work we need to do very seriously. Regarding the World Petroleum Congress, it is true that the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources is there. He is there to tell everyone how important it is that we do everything we can to decarbonize our energy systems. We need clean energy. We know that, and we are working hard to get it.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the unprecedented wildfires in Quebec, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the Atlantic provinces are disastrous for the planet, for the people affected, for biodiversity and even for the economy.

This sort of disaster is bound to keep happening. However, there has been no conference on the wildfires or the energy transition. No, here in Canada, oil magnates are welcomed with open arms. It is completely irresponsible. How many more thousands of hectares will have to burn before the government wakes up?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. That is why, when faced with the issue of climate change and the increase in natural disasters, we presented the first national climate change adaptation strategy in partnership with the provinces, territories, municipalities and indigenous peoples.

This climate change adaptation strategy was applauded by institutions such as Impact Assurance, which said that this was one of the best strategies in the world. The Insurance Bureau of Canada said the same thing. We need to be better prepared for the impacts of climate change. Unlike the Conservative Party, which still believes that climate change does not exist, we have a plan to combat and adapt to climate change.

Carbon Pricing

[Jake Stewart, Conservative, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, gas, diesel and home heating costs are spiking because Liberal MPs voted to implement and increase the carbon tax.

The Prime Minister and his NDP coalition are not worth the cost to Canadians. After eight years of raising carbon taxes on the farmers and truckers that bring us our food, lettuce is up 94%. Now he wants to quadruple that tax to 61¢ a litre. How much more will that add to the price of lettuce?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians across the country and in Atlantic Canada need right now is for more homes to be built faster. That is why, last week, the Prime Minister announced that we are removing the GST on purpose-built rental.

Do members know what the Conservative leader said about our housing plan? He said that we do not need more spending. I guess he thinks homes are going to get built by magic.

We know we need home builders to invest more and to build faster. That is what our government is going to do in Atlantic Canada and across the country.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, Nova Scotians are hurting because of the NDP-Liberal carbon tax.

It increases the cost to produce food, to process the food and to transport the food. One example is that the price of cabbage has gone up 70% because of the actions of the Liberals. The Prime Minister and his Liberal-NDP government are not worth the cost.

Will the Prime Minister's big meeting with grocery CEOs reverse this 70% price hike by Thanksgiving, yes or no?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague well knows that Nova Scotians are hurting for a number of reasons, including that we are on the front lines of the fight against climate change.

Over the course of the past year, we have seen hurricane Fiona devastate our communities. We have seen floods sweep our neighbours away. We have seen wildfires as we have never seen them before. These things come at a cost. One of the interesting things about this argument is that my colleague ignores the fact that one of the driving costs behind the increase in produce is climate change itself. Jurisdictions that produce food cannot do it for the same price.

We will put measures in place to help Nova Scotians struggling with affordability, and we will fight climate change at the same time.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the price differential today for gasoline between the state of Maine and my province of New Brunswick is 60¢ a litre.

For eight years, Liberal MPs have voted to bring in and raise taxes on energy. They also voted to triple the carbon tax between now and 2030. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost. His carbon tax on farmers has raised the price of carrots by 74%.

Will the Prime Minister's big meeting with grocery CEOs bring down the 74% increase before Thanksgiving, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that Canadians watching at home are feeling insulted by what they are hearing from that side. At a time when Canadians are hurting, at a time when this nation needs to come together to fight food price inflation and at a time when we have called CEOs to come to Ottawa with concrete solutions to stabilize prices, the Conservatives are choosing to be on the sidelines. We are acting on behalf of Canadians.

I invite every member of this House to work with us, stabilize prices and help Canadians at this time of need.

Grocery Industry

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all summer long we heard about how people cannot afford groceries. Prices are skyrocketing. Grocery chains are making record profits, and CEOs are cashing in big time. What did the Liberals do about it? They held a meeting. They told those CEOs to be nice or else. Or else what? What a joke.

The NDP leader is going to introduce a bill to give the Competition Bureau real teeth. It is a real, practical solution.

When will the Liberals take action to help people put food on the table?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague, but maybe he missed part of the morning. That is exactly what we are doing.

Last week, we announced that we are carrying out the country's most comprehensive competition law reform to give the head of the Competition Bureau the power to compel the production of information and file court applications. Second, we want to remove the notorious efficiencies defence for mergers that are not in the interest of Canadians. Lastly, we want to tackle collaborations that stifle competition.

What we are offering Canadians is a plan for more competition, less consolidation and lower prices.

Housing

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, too many northern communities saw little to no housing projects or repairs this summer. Too many Nunavummiut are being denied their right to a home. When I visited Baker Lake this summer, I saw housing conditions well below acceptable standards. Last year, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated submitted a joint budget request to build more homes. They are still waiting.

When will the government invest properly in housing that will make a difference in people's lives?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, housing is the number one priority in the north and in the Arctic.

In budget 2022, we moved $4 billion for distinctions-based housing, including $800 million for Inuit Nunangat. In budget 2023, we have $4 billion for northern, rural and urban housing.

We know that we are making progress, but there is a lot of work to do. We will get it done.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I spoke with many residents in Brampton this summer, and I heard a lot about the need to build more homes faster in Canada. We know that increasing supply is just one of the major solutions to the housing crisis.

Can the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities tell us how removing the GST on rental construction can help drive down the cost of housing?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague, the member of Parliament for Brampton South, for her advocacy for her community. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the city of Brampton, where we worked directly with the mayor and members of council in the city to uncover some of the plans that they might advance to help grow the supply of housing in their community.

One of the things we have been hearing about over the course of this summer is that we need to change the financial equation for builders to build. They are dealing with higher costs as a result of increased costs of supplies and materials, and they are operating in a higher interest rate environment. That is why I was thrilled when we were able to advance last week that we will be getting rid of the GST on apartment construction in Canada to build more homes for Canadians.

What is more, we have seen provincial governments follow suit and—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am sorry, but the time is up.

The hon. member for Thornhill.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister and his coalition with the NDP are not worth the cost.

Housing is worse than ever and worse than anywhere; after years of inflationary deficit, Canadians are getting crushed with housing costs. Mortgage payments are up 151%. That is more than 3,500 bucks a month. In Toronto, it used to take 25 years to pay off a mortgage; now it takes 25 years to save for a down payment.

Will the Prime Minister end the wasteful spending and eliminate the inflationary deficit so that Canadians can keep a roof over their heads?