Debates of Sept. 29th, 2023

Foreign Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister dragged out the Nazi scandal around the world for five long days. For five days, the Prime Minister hid and let Canada's international reputation become more and more tarnished.

When a country, any country, is humiliated, it is the head of government's ultimate duty to take action to protect that country's reputation. What did the Liberal Prime Minister do? He went into hiding. Why?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, as my colleague is well aware, the former speaker of the House of Commons clearly indicated that he alone was responsible for inviting that person and for recognizing him in the House of Commons. It was his initiative. No other parliamentarian was involved or informed, and neither was the government. The former speaker invited his own guests for the speech on Friday. They were selected by him and his office.

The same day we learned about this horrendous incident in the House, the Prime Minister recognized that this was painful for Canadians and all others affected by the Holocaust.

Carbon Pricing

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

Madam Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal government, Quebeckers are struggling to get by.

Yesterday, the Journal de Montréal reported on the findings of a survey indicating that 51% of young Quebeckers are living paycheque to paycheque. No one wants to see this happen because when young people are traumatized, the very future of Canada and Quebec hangs in the balance. Quebec's young people need help in these hard times. What brilliant new idea has this Liberal government come up with, supported by the Bloc Québécois? It wants to increase taxes and create a new carbon tax. Voting for the Bloc Québécois is more costly than ever.

Could the “Liberal Bloc” tell us why, when Quebeckers and young Quebeckers are struggling to get by, it intends to impose more taxes, including a carbon tax?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, my colleague wants to talk costs. How much do our burning forests cost? How much does flooding from our lakes and rivers cost? How much does the destruction of our infrastructure cost? How much does the health of our children cost when they are breathing polluted air? How much does that cost?

The answer is obvious: We cannot afford the Conservatives.

Oil and Gas Sector

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, Canada did not reduce its greenhouse gas emissions last year. On the contrary, they increased by 2.1%. That is according to the Canadian Climate Institute. That increase is almost entirely down to one sector, a sector whose five biggest companies made $200 billion in profits last year. This sector receives billions of dollars in subsidies to create less pollution, yet it continues to single-handedly increase emissions across Canada. Which sector am I talking about? It is the oil sector, of course.

When will the government stop subsidizing this sector with public funds?

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

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

I have some really good news for her. Canada is the first G20 country to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. We did so this year, two years ahead of the 2025 deadline, and we plan to do even more. We will eliminate public funding for fossil fuels. Canada is the only G20 country to have made this commitment. Canada is fighting climate change, and it is working. In fact, we have the best record of any G7 country for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 and 2021.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, the oil and gas sector caused a 2.1% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and yet the government is not cracking down on oil companies. Instead, it is rewarding them.

Last week, the government announced that it wanted to double oil production off the coast of Newfoundland. Oil companies are polluting so much that they are increasing the entire country's emissions. However, instead of asking them to reduce those emissions, the federal government is paving the way for them to generate more.

When will this government stop being part of the climate change problem?

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

Madam Speaker, I invite my hon. colleague to read our climate change plan, which was praised by the entire environmental community, by scientists and by municipalities, including the City of Montreal. The plan shows that the oil and gas industry will have to co-operate, as will every other industry in Canada.

That is why we already have methane regulations to reduce emissions of this very potent greenhouse gas by at least 40% by 2025. That is one of the most ambitious targets on the planet. We already have a clean fuel standard to force gas and diesel suppliers to reduce the environmental footprint of their fuel.

We are taking action to combat climate change.

Justice

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Madam Speaker, it pains me to say that Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country.

Instead of ensuring that children do not go hungry, the Conservative Government of Saskatchewan wants to use the notwithstanding clause to save a policy that a judge said was causing irreparable harm. Is that what Conservatives stand for, dividing people and trampling on human rights? That does not sound like common sense to me.

Will the government do everything it can to stop the harm against Canadian children?

[James Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, we are fully aware of the Government of Saskatchewan's proposed use of the notwithstanding clause.

We are dead set against the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause in any circumstances. The notwithstanding clause is intended to protect minority rights, not suppress them.

In light of the decision by the court in Saskatchewan yesterday, we would have thought that the Government of Saskatchewan would have taken a moment to pause, reflect and wait until the process played itself out.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, homes are supposed to be where dreams are cultivated.

For Inuit and indigenous peoples, homes are overcrowded, mouldy spaces where dreams vanish. Children have no space to do homework. Women have no space to flee abusive partners. Inuit and indigenous peoples have little to no space to take care of their mental well-being. This is the result of decades of Liberal and Conservative underfunding.

When will the Liberals finally close this housing funding gap?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her passion.

Our government is fully aware that in order to advance reconciliation, we need to close the gap between indigenous people and the rest of Canada, as well as address the harms caused through colonization and underfunding. Our government is committed to doing that. We have a tremendous ability and record of being first in our country for indigenous people.

We will continue to make progress. I look forward to working together with the member on the INAN committee to do so.

Foreign Affairs

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, just a week ago under the Prime Minister's watch, a Nazi was welcomed in this place and actually honoured in the chamber. When the Prime Minister should have been a statesman and taken full responsibility, instead he chose to flee and hide, not just for one day, not just for two days, but actually for five days. For five days he was mute. For five days he watched as our reputation was tarnished, and for five days he was in hiding. He utterly embarrassed our country.

The Prime Minister has yet to take responsibility. Will he stand up, do the right thing and do that today?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, the former Speaker made it very clear that he alone was responsible for inviting this individual to the House and recognizing him. It was his initiative, and no other parliamentarians and no other government members were involved. The former Speaker invited his own guests for Friday's address, who were determined by him and his own office. No advance notice was provided to the Prime Minister's office nor to the Ukrainian delegation about the invitation or the recognition.

There are many Canadians who were hurt by this, and this mistake has been especially difficult for Jewish, Ukrainian and—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, the member proved my point. It is the Prime Minister of Canada who is meant to function as a statesman, to take personal responsibility when a mistake happens. Instead, he chose to flee. He chose to hide.

[An hon. member]

Cowardly.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, why did he? Why not take personal responsibility? Why not remedy this on the world stage? Why not acknowledge the grave atrocities that have taken place in our history, the mistake that was made here in the House and the impact that would have on Canadians?

I will give him an opportunity today. Would he honourably stand up, take that personal responsibility and apologize to Canadians?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, again, the former Speaker has made it very clear that he alone was responsible for inviting this individual to the House and recognizing him. It was his initiative, and no one in the House knew about it.

The same day we learned of this horrendous incident that occurred in the House, the Prime Minister recognized that it was painful for Canadians and communities who were affected by the Holocaust.

Housing

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

Madam Speaker, yesterday at the finance committee, the government's own department told the committee that in fact, in 2018, it had warned the Liberal government of an impending housing crisis, yet it did nothing. Incredibly, CMHC officials went on to say that the policies currently employed by the federal government are not sufficient to solve the housing problem.

If, in fact, the government's own department does not believe in the Liberal government, why should Canadians?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Madam Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to look at the actual record and at the actions of the opposition leader, who this summer, while presenting himself as some sort of champion of the working class, stood in front of a Canadian's home, took a video and called that home a shack. If he is serious about dealing with affordability, the housing crisis and the supply crisis that underpins it, I want to hear from him and his party serious plans along the lines of what we have presented on this side. We are going to continue to fight for Canadians.

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

Madam Speaker, Canada's problems are real. We have incredible food bank usage. We have housing costs doubling. Millions of Canadians cannot afford their own homes, yet this side decides to play games. When the Leader of the Opposition was the housing minister, housing was affordable in the country.

When will the government finally get serious, remove the gatekeepers and balance the budget so Canadians can keep their homes?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Madam Speaker, he is quite correct; that side does play games. Do people know what else they do? They also vote against tax cuts for the middle class. They also vote against child care for kids. They vote against dental care for kids. Discussions on pharmacare are happening at this time, and that side wants to entertain none of it.

At a time when Canadians are facing real challenges of affordability, the government can be there to help. The government has put serious measures on the table. It is having an effect. We are going to continue to do that. They should wake up and come to the party.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Speaker, 97% is the percentage of shared income a household would need in order to cover home ownership costs now in Vancouver. This is from a new RBC report, which says that housing affordability in most major Canadian cities is near all-time worst levels.

The Prime Minister also holds the all-time record for incurring more debt during his eight years than all other prime ministers combined. Housing is less affordable than ever. The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

Will the Prime Minister finally stop his inflationary spending so Canadians can keep a roof over their head?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Madam Speaker, I remind the hon. member that Canada has the lowest deficit and debt in the G7, but times remain hard. We see that and understand that.

On housing affordability, what are we doing? The supply crisis that underpins the housing crisis facing the country is one that requires building. That is why we have lifted GST for the purposes of rental construction on apartments, and that is why we have made changes to the borrowing limit of the Canada mortgage bond. I do not want to get into the technical details, because they are vast, but the result is more homes built for Canadians, and that is what we are going to continue to do.