House of Commons Hansard #270 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was iii.

Topics

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Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act Members debate a motion to reject Senate amendments to Bill C-234, which removed the carbon tax exemption for barn heating and shortened the duration. Conservatives and NDP support restoring the full exemption for farmers on drying and heating fuels. Liberals express differing views, while the Bloc considers accepting the amended bill as a compromise to secure the grain drying exemption and avoid delay. 8500 words, 1 hour.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 Second reading of Bill C-59. The bill implements parts of the fall economic statement and budget. Conservatives oppose it, arguing it fails to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, or stop crime, blaming Liberal policies for high costs and housing issues. The Bloc opposes the bill due to tax credits for oil companies and perceived federal interference in housing. The NDP supports some provisions it pushed for, like labour conditions and a digital services tax, but criticizes it for not addressing corporate greed or significantly funding non-market housing. Liberals defend the bill, citing Canada's economic position and housing investments. 17000 words, 2 hours.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives focus on the rising cost of living, highlighting the impact of the carbon tax on food and heating, and calling for Bill C-234 to pass. They criticize the housing crisis, citing soaring rent costs and lack of construction. They also attack government spending and debt and mention issues like ArriveCAN.
The Liberals focus on efforts to build more homes faster, highlighting the housing accelerator fund and removing the GST. They defend their approach to the cost of living by emphasizing support working families through programs like $10 a day in seven provinces and carbon price rebate cheques, alongside backing small businesses. They also address Islamophobia, immigration, and Canada's sustainable public finances, and pay tribute to Ed Broadbent.
The Bloc raise concerns about federal immigration targets and the handling of asylum seekers, arguing Quebec is overwhelmed and seeking reimbursement and fair distribution. They call for reinstating visas for Mexicans. They also highlight problems with CEBA loan repayments leading to SME bankruptcy.
The NDP highlight the severe housing and homeless emergency in cities like Edmonton and Toronto, criticizing both major parties for their lack of action on renovictions and profits. They condemn the pausing of UNRWA funding as collective punishment. They call for action on online hate and demand reining in oil and gas CEO profits. They also pay tribute to Ed Broadbent's legacy.
The Green Party questions the extended deadline for the sustainable jobs act plan and pays tribute to Ed Broadbent, reflecting on his call for civility in the House.

Procedure and House Affairs Members debate the 55th report of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee on the Speaker's conduct. The Bloc Québécois seeks to refer the report back to committee to study new information about the Speaker attending a partisan event, arguing he has lost confidence due to repeated actions. Liberals defend the Speaker, citing apologies and past Speaker conduct, and argue the report recommendations are sufficient. Conservatives support referring the report back, seeking a recommendation for resignation based on new facts. NDP support clearer rules for the office. 23000 words, 3 hours.

Finance Members debate the RBC-HSBC merger approved by the Finance Minister. Conservatives argue the merger exacerbates Canada's monopoly problem, leading to higher consumer costs, particularly for mortgages and cell phone bills, and lower wages across various sectors. They criticize the government for approving the deal despite committee opposition and the NDP for adjourning debate. Liberals acknowledge the issue of lack of competition. 2400 words, 15 minutes.

Public Accounts Members debate a report on protecting Canada's food system during the pandemic, addressing rising food prices and insecurity. NDP members highlight corporate profiteering and supply chain issues as key factors. Conservatives blame the carbon tax and a proposed plastics ban for increasing costs, moving to amend the motion to send the report back to recommend axing the carbon tax for agriculture. 8000 words, 1 hour.

Adjournment Debates

Electric vehicle battery subsidies Garnett Genuis requests the disclosure of contracts related to electric car battery subsidies. He worries they subsidize foreign workers, and accuses the NDP of siding with the Liberals to hide the contracts. Adam van Koeverden defends the subsidies and the need to bring in foreign experts, while accusing the Conservatives of not supporting workers.
Oil and gas emissions cap Laurel Collins accuses the Liberal government of failing to hold oil and gas companies accountable for emissions. Adam van Koeverden defends the government's oil and gas emissions cap as ambitious and a world first. Collins says the cap is watered down; Van Koeverden insists the measures are working and emissions are falling.
Carbon tax and affordability Rosemarie Falk argues the carbon tax is raising the cost of living. Adam van Koeverden counters that economists do not believe the carbon price is the primary cause of inflation. He says most low and middle-income families get more money back than they pay.
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Question No.2148—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

With regard to federal spending in the constituency of London North Centre, in each fiscal year since 2020-21, inclusively: what are the details of all grants and contributions and all loans to any organization, group, business or municipality, broken down by the (i) name of the recipient, (ii) municipality in which the recipient is located, (iii) date the funding was received, (iv) amount received, (v) department or agency that provided the funding, (vi) program under which the grant, contribution or loan was made, (vii) nature or purpose?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2151—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

With regard to the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, from 2021 to present: (a) what is the total amount of funding committed, broken down by project and funding stream; (b) what is the total amount of funding spent, broken down by project and funding stream; (c) for the projects identified in (a), what (i) are the annual greenhouse gas emission reductions, (ii) are the projected long-term greenhouse gas emission reductions, (iii) is the total area (hectares) restored, (iv) is the total area (hectares) conserved, (v) is the number of direct jobs created, (vi) is the total area stewarded for greenhouse gas mitigation, (vii) is the total area secured for greenhouse gas mitigation, (viii) is the number of Indigenous-led projects supported?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2152—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

January 29th, 2024 / 4:35 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

With regard to the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: (a) how did the government determine the projected sectoral contribution to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions pathway from the oil and gas sector of 110 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030; (b) what measures were modelled to determine the projected sectoral contribution from the oil and gas sector of 110 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030; and (c) for each of the measures identified in (b) what is the projected reduction in megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2155—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

With regard to government development assistance projects delivered in Israel and the Palestinian Territories and projects aimed at supporting Palestinian refugees in other countries, since 2016: what are the details of each project, including the (i) name, (ii) amount, (iii) all of the organizations involved in delivering the project, (iv) project description?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2156—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

With regard to government subsidies for EV battery manufacturing by Northvolt, Volkswagen, and Stellantis-LGES: (a) did the contracts contain any clauses to provide for a certain number of jobs being provided to Canadian workers, and, if so, what were those clauses; (b) what is the government's position related to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's assessment that the federal government's estimates "significantly overstated the economic and fiscal impacts of the production subsidies"; and (c) if the government does not fully accept the assessment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, where and on what do they believe that the PBO has erred?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2157—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

With regard to the federal government’s announcement to reboot post-war efforts to construct housing with a housing design catalogue: (a) who will be eligible to participate in the consultation process; (b) what are the key design aspects or characteristics for these houses that the government is prioritizing; (c) what is the duration of the consultation period; (d) what are the estimated number of dwellings that the program is aiming to produce; and (e) what factored into the decision to announce this initiative in December 2023?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2159—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

With regard to all federal funding committed to the creation and maintenance of housing stock in the federal electoral district of Nanaimo-Ladysmith, broken down by fiscal year since 2015-16: (a) what is the total amount committed, broken down by funding stream; (b) what was the total amount spent; (c) how much new housing stock was created in Nanaimo-Ladysmith; and (d) what are the government's projections on the number of housing units that will be built in Nanaimo-Ladysmith by 2030?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2160—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB

With regard to federal spending in the constituency of Edmonton Griesbach, broken down by fiscal year and department or agency since 2021-22: what are the details of all grants and contributions and all loans to any organization, group, business or municipality, broken down by the (i) name of the recipient, (ii) date the funding was received, (iii) amount received, (iv) program under which the grant, contribution or loan was made?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2161—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB

With regard to the social housing needs in the territories of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, since November 2015: (a) did the government conduct an audit in order to determine the social housing needs of each territory; (b) what were the results of each audit conducted in (a); (c) how does the government determine social housing needs in each territory; (d) how are social housing needs in (c) determined with respect to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities; (e) what mechanism does the government have in place to ensure that First Nations, Inuit and Métis social housing needs are addressed on an equitable basis; (f) what is the average age of social houses, broken down by territory; (g) how many houses have been constructed in each fiscal year, broken down by territory; (h) what is the average occupancy per social housing unit; and (i) how many social houses have been constructed per territory that are now deemed uninhabitable?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2164—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

With regard to the making of regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit: (a) what additional costs associated with living with a disability is the government taking into consideration when setting the amount of the benefit; (b) what are the average annual costs for persons with disabilities, both in dollars and as a percentage of disposable income, for (i) food, (ii) housing, (iii) medical expenses, (iv) assistive devices, (iv) transportation; (c) for the costs identified in (b), what are the average annual costs for persons without disabilities?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2165—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

With regard to the Freshwater Action Plan: (a) what is the total amount of funding committed, broken down by each priority watershed identified in the plan; (b) what is the total amount of funding, broken down by each priority watershed identified in the plan; (c) what is the total amount of funding spent for freshwater protection in British Columbia?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2166—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

With regard to the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) funding for British Columbia, from 2015 to 2023: (a) what is the total amount of funding committed, broken down by specific project; (b) what is the total amount of funding spent, broken down by specific project?

(Return tabled)

Question No.2169—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

With regard to Canada’s vote at the United Nations on December 12, 2023 in favour of a ceasefire: (a) on what date was Ambassador Bob Rae instructed to vote in favour of a ceasefire, and who provided that instruction to the Ambassador; (b) which Jewish groups were consulted prior to the government making the decision and what feedback did they get; (c) if Jewish groups were not consulted about this vote prior to Canada taking this position, why were they not consulted; and (d) what is the government’s rationale for changing its longstanding position on Israel?