Oh, oh!
House of Commons Hansard #386 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was conservatives.
House of Commons Hansard #386 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was conservatives.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The hon. member for Foothills, please. I would ask members not to have a conversation unless they want to take it behind the table.
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, Kidd Mine in Timmins has been an economic driver in the north for the last 60 years, but the end is near and we need to prepare for what comes next. Northern Ontario is no stranger to heartbreak, and mine and mill closures, but it does not have to be this way in Timmins. We have a huge opportunity to shift investment to the Timmins nickel project. That is a project that ticks all the boxes: critical minerals, job creation and supportive infrastructure.
Will the minister commit to work with the city now to ensure there are no delays in transitioning Timmins to a stronger and more sustainable future?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, certainly critical minerals, including very much the Crawford mine, offer enormous opportunities across this country. That is certainly true in northern Ontario. The Crawford mine is something that is a very important project moving forward. We just announced an investment of the critical minerals infrastructure fund in the Crawford mine, and I am certainly very happy to sit down with the folks in Timmins to have that conversation.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, late on Friday, we learned that the Vista thermal coal mine expansion in the Rocky Mountains is going ahead without an impact assessment, despite the fact that the former minister promised me twice over the past four years that the government would do that. Albertans do not want coal mining in the Rocky Mountains. The current government pretends to care about our environment even while making false promises to stop mining thermal coal and stop polluters in our beloved Rocky Mountains.
When will the minister protect our Rocky Mountains, instead of protecting the profits of billionaire—
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague is well aware, the Supreme Court last year directed the government to review some of the elements under the Impact Assessment Act of Canada, which is what we have done. We still have a commitment to phase out thermal coal export by 2030 and she also knows that 10 indigenous—
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I am going to ask the hon. member who had the opportunity to ask the question to please extend that same opportunity for the person to answer it.
The hon. minister can take it from the top.
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague is well aware, the Supreme Court of Canada directed the government to make some changes to the Impact Assessment Act of Canada last year, which is what we have done. We still have a commitment to ban the export of thermal coal by 2030. My colleague also knows that 10 indigenous communities are supporting this project, which is why, in the end, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada decided that an evaluation was not necessary.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
Colleagues, during Statements by Members, the hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway was making a statement when a member unwittingly walked in front of the camera. As is normal in our tradition, we allow the hon. member to make a statement again.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour one of Canada's finest public servants, our ambassador to Germany and former premier of British Columbia, the late John Horgan. Raised by a single mom, John overcame great challenges to rise to the highest levels of public office. His political career actually started in this place, staffing NDP MPs. In 1991, he left to assume important roles in the B.C. NDP government, ending as chief of staff to the premier.
John entered elected office as an MLA in 2005 and ultimately became leader of the party, leader of the the official opposition and a very popular premier. Throughout, John carved a deeply impactful path. He had an uncommon common touch. He had that rare ability to rise above partisanship and win the respect of his opponents. He was witty, kind and positive. In my view, John was the best off-the-cuff speaker in Canadian politics. We extend our deepest condolences to John's beloved Ellie and their two sons.
We are thankful for John. His kind shall not pass this way again.
Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, I believe that, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That the House a) recognize that today, on the International Day for Human Rights, the Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese grassroots organization of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also know as Hibakusha; b) acknowledge that Hibakusha has worked tirelessly for decades to raise awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use; c) recognize the ongoing relevance of their message in a world where the threat of nuclear weapons remains a pressing concern; d) affirm that nuclear disarmament is a crucial step toward ensuring global peace and security; and e) encourage the government to take concrete steps to honour this award, including enhanced engagement with the TPNW, participation in international disarmament efforts, and collaboration with civil society to advance the cause of nuclear abolition.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay. Hearing none, it is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
(Motion agreed to)
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During question period, there was a disturbance in the gallery, and it was very alarming to see the NDP member for Port Moody—Coquitlam almost immediately not just reference it, but incorporate it, it seemed, into her question.
It was a prepared question. We could tell it was prepared because even after you admonished her for pointing out the disturbance in the gallery, she could not adapt and repeated it three times. It seems like this was a coordinated event, and that someone was invited into the chamber and the member knew there would be such a disturbance. I would ask you look into the matter and report back to the House as to how this individual gained entry into the gallery and on whose behalf this person was invited.
This comes on the heels of a security scare today in the Wellington Building and a protest in the Confederation Building last week, where members of Parliament were impeded access to their offices, threatened and forced to face toxic behaviour. This is a pattern of behaviour we are seeing from the NDP. As we come to the end of this session, it is is incumbent upon all members to respect the security and safety of this place.
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising to me that the Conservatives, who allowed for three weeks the occupation of downtown Ottawa, including impeding MPs coming to the West Block consistently, would raise this. The reality is the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam properly corrected her question. I would suggest Conservatives, who are repetitive not only with one member but their entire question period lineup, often violate the Standing Orders and are very repetitive, should actually walk the talk and should try to offer something more to Canadians during question period.
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, since the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle has decided to be a mind reader, I just wanted to clarify that although the Conservatives are used to being told what to do, I am not. If the Speaker would so kindly check the notes I gave to the pages, he will see that I have handwritten notes about the very important interventions in Ottawa today from people around homelessness in this country and how desperate folks are. I would just raise that I do have a mind of my own, unlike the Conservatives.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I thank hon. members for their interventions. The Chair will come back to this matter, if necessary.
The House resumed from December 9 consideration of the motion.
Opposition Motion—Federal Sales Tax on New HomesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
It being 3:33 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Thornhill related to the business of supply.
Call in the members.
The question is on the motion. May I dispense?
Opposition Motion—Federal Sales Tax on New HomesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
No.
Opposition Motion—Federal Sales Tax on New HomesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the motion that the question be now put.