Debates of Feb. 15th, 2024

Infrastructure

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

Mr. Speaker, there are more slogans from the other side. Why is it a slogan? It is because there is no sincerity, and there is no sincerity because Conservatives want to cut funding to cities. They want to cut funding to towns. Every time we put measures on the table to make sure that municipalities are better supported and provinces are there with us, they stand in the way of that.

I have given examples here today, such as the Gordie Howe bridge in my province. I just gave an example from his province. He has let down his constituents in the approach that he has taken. It is not a serious approach, and it never was.

Natural Resources

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the proposed nuclear waste disposal site at Chalk River is an environmental travesty and a social injustice.

The Anishinabe communities that are affected by this project are opposed to it, and I am proud that the Bloc Québécois was able to help Chief Lance Haymond express that opposition yesterday. I am proud that we added our voice as representatives of 4.5 million concerned Quebeckers.

Will the government finally say no to the Chalk River project and ensure that any nuclear waste burial project does not unnecessarily threaten indigenous communities and the people of Quebec?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, the independent Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approves projects only if they are safe for Canadians and the environment.

After conducting consultations with indigenous communities and others concerned, Natural Resources Canada plays no role in the commission's decisions. As this matter is subject to judicial review, we are awaiting the outcome of the decision for the process.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, they would have us believe that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is independent. That is funny, since it is the Governor in Council that appoints the president. That is just an example.

Burying nuclear waste one kilometre from the Ottawa River is an unnecessary risk to the drinking water of the Anishinabe people and half of Quebeckers. We are talking about one million cubic metres of radioactive waste here. That is not a little compost bin.

The Montreal metropolitan area is against the Chalk River project. The City of Gatineau is against it. The indigenous communities affected are against it. Environmental groups are against it.

When will the minister say no to this project that is threatening our health and the environment?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, it is incredible that the Bloc Québécois does not want to recognize the independence of a nuclear safety commission that approves only projects that have been subject to consultation with indigenous communities. Let us be clear, Natural Resources Canada does not have a role in this. Consultations were held.

The file is subject to judicial review and we are awaiting the results of that decision. In the meantime, we will continue to work together with the community and the indigenous peoples to ensure that the project is viable.

Infrastructure

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, I asked the Minister of Environment why, after three years, Parks Canada has not replaced the federal bridge in Bolsover. The minister, of course, answered in typical Liberal fashion; he promised to get back to the House but never actually did. Now we know why.

News broke earlier this week that the Liberals have decided to stop funding new roads and bridges. Just like that, Parks Canada quietly confirms that the bridge will not be replaced.

Leaving this village permanently cut in half is absolutely unacceptable. When will the minister get his head out of the clouds, do his job and get the bridge fixed?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that member, and I have known him for many years, to be someone who brings a non-partisan approach. However, such is the approach of the Leader of the Opposition that even someone like him has taken a decidedly partisan approach to such critical issues.

What do we see? Nearly 3,000 road and bridge projects, at $2.1 billion, have been funded by the current government, but the Conservatives have supported none of it. I just mentioned the Ontario example of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, since they are talking about building bridges. We will continue to do whatever we can to support communities, large and small, throughout this province and the country.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister's radical Minister of Environment has declared open war on vehicles. He said that their government decided to no longer invest in new highway infrastructure. He did not clarify that statement. He went even further by adding that the Liberal government is going to block big projects. The radical environment minister is going to block big projects like the third link between Quebec City and Lévis.

Why is the Liberal government attacking workers in Quebec City and Lévis who are trying to go to work?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows very well that, since the beginning of its mandate, our government has invested billions of dollars in highway infrastructure projects across Quebec and Canada.

We will continue to do so, as we did in Kamouraska, for example, with Highway 185 and as we will surely do with other projects in his riding that he will surely vote against.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when was the last time that the muzzled radical minister travelled through the Lévis-Quebec City area without his limousine? Building a third link is a necessity, not a luxury.

Quebeckers in remote areas pay taxes and send their money to Ottawa, which is supposed to build roads and reliable infrastructure for them too.

Will the Prime Minister stand up for the interests of Quebeckers and remote regions, instead of going along with the foolishness of his radical environment minister, who is anti-third link ?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would ask all members to keep quiet when it is not their turn to speak. I am referring specifically to the member for Alfred-Pellan.

The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, that member knows full well that our government has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure and highway projects in Quebec, as it has elsewhere in Canada.

We are the second-largest country in the world. It comes as no surprise to us that we need to invest in building better roads for the public, for trade and for everyone.

However, that member consistently votes against our highway investments. He systematically votes against everything the government does for Quebec. He should stand up and admit it.

Small Business

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy Black History Month to residents in my riding of Vancouver Centre. I want to highlight their contributions to economic development and job creation in B.C. I also want to give a shout-out to the Black Business Association of BC, an umbrella organization for small businesses that works to help Black entrepreneurs thrive and expand despite the systemic barriers they still face.

Can the Minister of Small Business tell us how our government helps Black entrepreneurs to overcome these barriers and succeed in Canada?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, we know that building a more inclusive economy means building a stronger economy. That is why our government has created the first-ever Black entrepreneurship program. This historic $265-million investment has supported over 9,000 Black entrepreneurs across this country and strengthens the ecosystem that supports them. It is disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition and the Conservatives have voted against the support and turned their backs on Black small business entrepreneurs.

On this side of the House, we will keep being there for Black entrepreneurs, as the member for Vancouver Centre is.

Happy Black History Month.

Carbon Pricing

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister easily found $60 million for his ArriveCAN app, but he still wants to quadruple the carbon tax on gas, groceries and home heating. While the typical Canadian family will pay $700 more to put food on the table this year, the Prime Minister is raising the carbon tax by 23% on April 1.

After eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, more and more Canadians are struggling to make ends meet and pay for food, heat and housing. The Prime Minister is not worth the tax or the cost.

Will the Prime Minister give Canadians some relief and axe the tax?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, who want to take money away from Canadians, we are putting money back in the pockets of Canadians through rebates.

I have a question for my hon. friend: Will he cut the $1,100 for Ontario families? How about the $1,800 for Alberta families? How about the $1,200 that Manitoba families are going to get back?

He wants to deny climate change. He wants to cut rebates for Canadians. That does not sound like common sense to me.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's NDP-Liberal friends got rich turning the arrive scam app into a $60-million grift for an $80,000 app. If hurting taxpayers for the personal gain of Liberals was not enough, now the Prime Minister is going to increase the cost of everything on April 1 when he increases the carbon tax by 23%.

Nova Scotians will pay $2,100 more than they get back for this carbon tax. After eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

When will the Liberals stop hurting Canadians and axe the carbon tax?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, let us focus on what Canadians are actually getting back. In 2023-24, Ontario received $976; Alberta, $1,500; Saskatchewan, $1,300; Manitoba, $1,000; Newfoundland, $900; Nova Scotia, $700; P.E.I., $700; and New Brunswick, $500.

These are rebates and the Conservatives want—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order.

The hon. President of the Treasury Board.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it does not make sense. It is not common sense to deny climate change and to cut money from Canadian families.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years under the Liberal Prime Minister, costs are up. Already, a typical family of four will pay $700 more in groceries in 2024 compared with last year. I have talked to moms who are skipping meals, simply so they can feed their children; however, for this extremist NDP-Liberal coalition, this is not enough. It is going to continue punishing Canadians, raising the carbon tax on April 1.

The question is simple: Will it do the right thing and axe the tax?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, we will do the right thing. We will continue to fight climate change and make sure that Albertans have more money in their pockets than they are paying in the carbon pricing, with $1,800 to a family of four and, if one gets the 20% rural top-up, $2,160.

Let us dial that back. It will be $450 every three months into the—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!