Debates of Oct. 11th, 2024

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, not only did the Prime Minister appoint the two senators who are blocking the bill, but he also has a close relationship with Peter Harder.

The senator even brags about it on his website. He used to advise the Prime Minister when he was in opposition in 2015. The Prime Minister himself would pick up the phone and call him. The Prime Minister even tasked Mr. Harder with planning the transition to a Liberal government six months before appointing him as a senator.

Since the Prime Minister has Mr. Harder's number so that he can call and ask for advice, could the Prime Minister use that number to ask Mr. Harder to respect democracy?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, since the Bloc Québécois members no longer seem interested in this file, I would like to remind them that, yesterday evening, I went to Domaine de la Gappe in the beautiful riding of Gatineau to wish residents there a happy Thanksgiving. Incidentally, I also want to wish all members of the House a happy Thanksgiving.

These people reassured me. They said, “Mr. MacKinnon, we registered for the Canadian dental care plan”. However, they wondered why the Bloc Québécois opposed the hundreds of dollars they are benefiting from today.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would remind members that it is important not to use members' names, even if it is in reference to oneself.

The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, according to a new report, living costs are rising faster than incomes for the bottom 40% of families. Roughly speaking, almost half of Canadians are getting poorer and poorer. Ordinary folks are struggling while the rich line their pockets.

On top of that, the Conservatives are announcing that they would cut programs that help people, like dental care and pharmacare, programs that were launched thanks to the NDP.

Those other two parties are letting people down. What will it take for the Liberals to stop pandering to the needs of rich CEOs at the expense of Quebeckers?

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

Mr. Speaker, we agree that dental care is a big help to Canadians and Quebeckers. Another thing that helps them is a good job with a good salary.

That is why we are very pleased to say that the Canadian economy added 47,000 jobs in September and that wages have outpaced inflation for the past 20 months. That is good news for all Canadians.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a new report paints a disturbing picture of economic injustice in Canada. Income inequality has hit the highest level ever recorded, and the bottom 40% of Canadians hold less than 3% of Canada's wealth. The Liberals let this happen, caving to wealthy CEOs jacking up grocery prices and rent, while the Conservatives want to cut programs like the NDP's pharmacare and dental care that will put more money in people's pockets.

Why are the Liberals, like Conservatives, catering to the ultrarich while working families in Canada are falling behind?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have tremendous respect for the member for Vancouver Kingsway, whom I have known and worked with constructively for many years.

I share his concern about income inequality, and that is why I know that he shares my happiness at the jobs numbers we got this morning. The fact is that 47,000 more jobs have been added to the Canadian economy in September, wages have outpaced inflation for 20 months in a row and, as an added bonus, rents have been going down in Vancouver.

Carbon Pricing

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Parliament's budget watchdog has confirmed yet again that Canadians pay more in carbon tax than they get back in so-called rebates. In Ontario, for example, a family will pay $1,400 more than they get back, but they already knew that because everything costs more after nine years of these NDP-Liberals. Taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up for the economic vandalism that they are perpetrating on Canadians.

Why will the Prime Minister not just put Canadians in the place where they need to be with a carbon tax election?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, the member did not read the report. It is obvious, because, on page 1 of the report, it says Canadians “will see a net gain, receiving more from the Canada Carbon Rebate than the total amount they pay in the federal fuel charge”. Let us flip to page 7. It is a bit long, I know, and the member of Parliament might have a bit of a difficult time with a document like this. The meaningless slogans do not matter. What does matter is, “Broadly speaking, our updated estimates...show larger net gains...for average households across income quintiles in backstop provinces compared to our [previous] distributional analysis.”

If the member is going to quote the report, he ought to read it. I can bring it over if he would like.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like to ensure we treat all members with the respect and dignity they deserve.

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, not only did I read the report, I actually paid some attention when I dressed myself this morning, unlike that scene over there.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order. I have mentioned before in question period that it is inappropriate to comment on the looks of any member, and I again point that out.

I will invite the hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes to start his question again without the comments that caused the Speaker to rise.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, not only did I read the report, but I was able to make it past the first page, all the way to page 18 of the PBO's report, that shows the true cost of the carbon tax for Ontario families is that it is going to be $1,400 more than they are getting back in their phony rebates.

Statistics Canada today revealed the full effect of the economic vandalism. All of these high taxes and economic wealth redistribution were supposed to make Canadians better off, Liberals claimed, but, instead, we have seen the largest gap between the rich and poor that has ever existed in this country.

It is time for a carbon tax election. Why will the Liberals not just give us one?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that this is Friday and that Conservatives just cannot resist every day seeking to plumb new depths of degraded nursery playground insults.

However, I have some advice for the member opposite. If he wants to insult a colleague for his appearance, which is never a good idea, maybe he should not pick a gold medal-winning Olympic athlete.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. This week, the Parliamentary Budget Officer once again reported that the carbon tax costs more per family than families get back in rebates. In Alberta, the carbon tax will cost nearly $2,000 by driving up the cost of gas, home heating, groceries and nearly everything else. All 10 provinces do not like it and Canadians do not like it. Therefore, when will the government call a carbon tax election?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, do members know how we can tell that the Conservatives know they are losing the argument? It is when they resort to useless, meaningless, ad hominem attacks on people's appearance. That is unnecessary, unparliamentary and childish. It is childish, just like their slogans.

The Conservatives do not want to cheer on Canada's economy. They do not want to acknowledge that 47,000 jobs were added in September. They do not want to acknowledge that interest rates are down because inflation is down and gas prices are down and unemployment is down. The best part is that our emissions are down too because our plan is working. Canadians are working hard and our economy is working for them.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I asked the parliamentary secretary a polite question and he did not answer it, so I am not sure what that response was about. I will ask again and point out, though, that the PBO report could not have been more clear. It is right there on page 18, table 3. That is where the PBO said that Canadians pay more in the carbon tax and GST on the carbon tax than they get in rebates.

The carbon tax drives up the cost of gas, heating and groceries. It kills jobs. It suppresses wages by chasing investment out of Canada. The parliamentary secretary does not have to agree with me. His government can call a carbon tax election and we will see what Canadians have to say. When will the Liberals do it?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the carbon price is this simple: It brings down pollution and it puts more money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadians. It is the single best mechanism known to the market to reduce carbon footprints. In fact, it was a Conservative invention. However, the Conservatives' opposition to it is unsurprising. What is surprising is the complete flip-flop on this position that we have seen from the NDP. When they flip on their principles and abandon supporting carbon pricing, they breed voter cynicism and they send one message to progressive voters, which is that if they want somebody to defend climate action and support attacking pollution, their only option is the Liberal Party of Canada.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and the government's time is up. Once again, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed that the carbon tax costs Canadians more than they get back. Saskatchewan families will pay more than $2,000 when the costly coalition quadruples the carbon tax. The Prime Minister knows that Canadians have had enough of his taxing them to death while robbing them blind. When will he call a carbon tax election?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, the only place in the world where it seems like it is okay to never talk about climate change, commit to doing nothing about climate change and commit to actually increasing our carbon emissions seems to be the Conservative campaign room because the world knows that climate change is real. We just had a horrific hurricane sweep across Florida, one of the most powerful ever. Wildfires are forcing Canadians out of their homes and, yes, the Conservatives want to ask, how is the carbon price going to reduce hurricanes and forest fires? It is science. The Conservatives need to go back to, literally, grade 9 science. Greenhouse gases cause extreme weather.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, how terrible that the member is willing to use a narrative that is false when it comes to Jasper, just to make his point that is not accurate.

The PBO has confirmed again what Canadians from all 10 provinces know: The carbon tax continues to drive up the cost of gas, groceries and heating and that is only the thin edge of the wedge. Middle-class Canadians are losing ground. Those wishing to join the middle class have no confidence in the NDP-Liberal costly coalition. The Prime Minister knows he is taxing Canadians to death and robbing them blind. When will he call a carbon tax election?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, the blatant climate denial from the other side is absurd and childish. It is literally in grade 3 when kids learn about greenhouse gases. The more you put into the environment, the hotter our planet gets. The hotter our planet gets, the hotter the oceans become and that causes more extreme weather, and it also dries out our forests, which makes our forests more susceptible and vulnerable to wildfires.

Over 40% of the people around the world who were forced out of their homes because of wildfires last year were Canadian. We are a small country, 0.5% of the world's population. Climate change is real. When will the Conservatives get it?

International Trade

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Peter Boehm and Peter Harder are two senators who want to undo the elected members' vote on Bill C‑282, which would protect supply management in trade agreements.

These two Liberal appointees say they fear that this will take power away from negotiators. News flash: that is the point. That is the whole point of Bill C‑282. It stops negotiators from sacrificing supply management again, after trading it away in three agreements, including two negotiated under the Liberals, with Europe, Asia and the United States.

The members on this side of the aisle are protecting farmers. The ones on that side are protecting the right to sacrifice them.

Will the Liberals tell their rich little friends to get their priorities straight?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, enough is enough.

It has been explained several times that we appointed independent senators. They are independent. I know that the Bloc Québécois understands that concept.

Seriously, we have been telling these senators loud and clear that Bill C‑282 was supported by the vast majority of members in the House. We are asking them to move swiftly and send the bill back to us as soon as possible.

The message seems clear to me.