Debates of March 19th, 2024

80th anniversary of the Institut maritime du Québec

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 80th anniversary of the Institut maritime du Québec in Rimouski.

This great national institution was founded on May 24, 1944, under the leadership of Jules‑A. Brillant. Eighty years later, the Institut maritime du Québec remains the only marine labour force training centre in Quebec, the largest in Canada, and the only francophone institution of its kind in North America. Since its founding, the Institut maritime du Québec has trained generations of sailors and experts, contributing to the marine industry across all oceans.

I would like to thank the artisans of yesterday and today for making this great expertise from Quebec and the Lower St. Lawrence shine throughout the world. Long live our national treasure, the Institut maritime du Québec, and happy 80th anniversary.

Let us be sure to attend the big festive banquet on April 6 to celebrate together.

Carbon Tax

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, April 1 is usually a day of lighthearted fun for Canadians during which we amuse one another with practical jokes.

This is not so for the uncaring NDP-Liberal Prime Minister, who will play a cruel joke on Canadians by increasing his carbon tax once again, this time by 23%, on everything. Seventy per cent of Canadians oppose this tax, and all Atlantic Canadian premiers, including the Liberal premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, have joined common sense Conservatives in demanding that the government axe the tax.

An astonishing two million Canadians need to visit a food bank every month, and now we see charities running out of resources and money to help Canadians. A wise Nova Scotian once commented that no one would believe that one could pay money to the government and it would give more back. This simply is not true. Today, in the Nova Scotia Legislature, all political parties voted unanimously, calling on all Nova Scotia MPs to scrap the carbon tax hike and axe the tax.

Carbon Rebate

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is exciting news that tax season is here.

When Canadians file their taxes, they will receive the Canada carbon rebate. In the provinces where it applies, such as my home province of Ontario, the Canada carbon rebate will put even more money back in the pockets of most Canadians than they pay into the carbon pricing system.

Affordability is top of mind in everything our federal government does. With the Canada carbon rebate, we are directly putting money into the bank accounts of Canadian families. Families are counting on these cheques, especially low- and middle-income Canadians, who need it the most.

Unfortunately, Conservative MPs want to cut these rebates, which low- and middle-income Canadians rely on, but we will not let them. Canadian families can count on that.

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have a common‑sense plan to cut taxes, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Meanwhile, after eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

The Prime Minister and his carbon tax are not worth the cost after eight long years. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirms that in every single province, Canadians pay far more in taxes than they get back in rebates on a tax that will go up 23%.

Today, common-sense Conservatives are calling for the Prime Minister to grant his caucus a free vote on our motion to spike the hike.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, eight out of 10 families across the country, in the regions where we have put a federal price on pollution, are getting more money with the price on pollution.

What the Leader of the Opposition is proposing is not only to take away the cheques that are given to families to help with the cost of groceries, rent and the impact of climate change, but also to do nothing to fight climate change and build a stronger future.

We are here to help Canadians with cheques. We are here to fight climate change.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Nova Scotians understand that after eight years, this NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost, and they are right. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Prime Minister's carbon tax will cost the average Nova Scotia family $1,500.

That is why the Nova Scotia legislature, Liberals, Conservatives and NDP, voted unanimously to call on federal MPs representing the province to vote with the common-sense Conservatives to spike the hike.

Will he allow a free vote, so that Nova Scotians can vote for their constituents rather than the party boss?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, a family of four in Nova Scotia gets about $824 back in a year for the price on pollution.

The Canadian carbon rebate delivers more money into the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadians right across the country. The Leader of the Opposition wants to take away those Canada carbon rebate cheques from Canadian families, where eight out of 10 families do better even with the price on pollution.

It is a way of fighting climate change, building a safer and more prosperous future and putting more money back into the pockets of Canadians, which is something he wants to take away.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has finally done something helpful when it comes to math. He says that his rebate for Nova Scotians is $850. Well, the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the cost is $1,500 for the average Nova Scotia family. He wants to take away $1,500 in carbon taxes from the average Nova Scotia family and give back only $850.

Everybody knows that the carbon tax is just like him, not worth the cost. Will he allow a free vote?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Leader of the Opposition wants to take away the Canada carbon rebate cheques that land in Nova Scotians' mailboxes and in the pockets of families right across the country where the price on pollution is in place, because eight out of 10 of them do better with the price on pollution and the Canada carbon rebate.

He wants to take those cheques away from Canadians, and he wants to do far less to fight against the climate change impacts that Canadians are feeling from coast to coast to coast. He has no plan for the future and no money for Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the tax revolt has spread to Ontario, where the Liberal leader of the provincial party has now flip-flopped and says that she, too, is against the Prime Minister's carbon tax. Maybe that is because she read the Parliamentary Budget Officer report showing that Ontarians will pay $1,674, which is more than $600 more than the rebate in that province.

Will the Prime Minister allow his Ontario MPs to have a free vote on our common-sense Conservative motion to spike the hike?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, families in Ontario are facing higher prices for groceries and higher costs for rent, and we are delivering a Canada carbon rebate that leaves them better off. Eight out of 10 Canadian families across the country have more money in their pockets with the Canada carbon rebate than the price on pollution costs them. At the same time, the price on pollution is bringing down carbon emissions, preparing a cleaner economy for the future and putting more money back in Canadians' pockets.

The Conservatives want to take away the Canada carbon rebate cheques. We are going to continue to support families on affordability and fighting climate change.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this is right from the Parliamentary Budget Officer's numbers. He says $1,674 is the cost to the average Ontario family, and the rebate is only $1,047, so Ontarians are paying more than they get back, just like British Columbians, whose NDP government is administering the federally mandated carbon tax. According to the Vancouver Sun today, the budget presented by the NDP in that province says the carbon tax will raise $9 billion over three years and pay back only $3 billion. That is a nearly $6-billion net carbon tax cost.

Will he allow B.C. MPs a free vote?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, for Canadians watching politics and watching question period, for reporters in the gallery, or for anyone who wants to see a concrete example of the fact that the leader of the official opposition does not care about the facts, this is it. He does not care about the evidence, and he does not care about how the federation works. He just wants to make clever arguments and score partisan points.

The fact is that British Columbia's price on pollution has been there since 2008 and will continue to be administered by British Columbia, not the federal government.

Taxation

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government and Canada are both living high off the hog thanks to the fiscal imbalance.

The Canadian government collects more in taxes than its responsibilities actually require. Quebec and the provinces collect less in taxes than their responsibilities require. Of course, raising taxes is not an option.

Do the government and the Prime Minister recognize that Quebec's extremely large deficit is in fact being manufactured by the Government of Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in this Canadian federation, the federal government is there to work with the provincial governments to provide what Canadians need, from one end of this country to the other.

We have made record investments in health care, dental care and transfers for the provinces to be able to provide the services they need.

I realize that the leader of the Bloc Québécois wants to turn this into a debate about Quebec sovereignty. The reality is that we work very well together. We are going to continue to make sure that all Canadians, from one end of this country to the other, prosper.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we will give him a chance, we will not get into a debate on Quebec sovereignty, but he owes Quebec $6 billion in health and $1 billion in immigration for welcoming refugees. That makes $7 billion out of a total deficit of $11 billion. People stand unanimously against him and he is literally choking Quebec.

Will he use $1 billion in immigration and $6 billion in health to rein in Quebec and turn Quebeckers into Canadians like everyone else, and Quebec into a province like all the others?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, everyone in the House knows that when I make a commitment to Quebec and Quebeckers, I am not making a commitment to the leader of the Bloc Québécois. I am making a commitment to the Premier of Quebec.

I can say that last Friday, we had a very good conversation. We are working together on immigration, on health care, on economic growth. We will never agree on everything, but we will agree on the need to work constructively together and not stir up trouble, which is the Bloc Québécois's raison d'être.

Indigenous Affairs

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after decades of Liberal and Conservative failure, indigenous communities continue to live in overcrowded homes that are in desperate need of repair. The Liberals promised to take a major step toward improving this by 2030, but today's Auditor General report makes it clear that the Liberals will break yet another promise to indigenous people.

Will the Liberal government stop spending millions of dollars on private consultants and make this serious issue a priority in the upcoming budget?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her report and are, of course, carefully reviewing all of her recommendations to pursue a path forward that effectively addresses those concerns.

In regard to indigenous co-operation or partnerships, whether it is on housing or policing, consultation is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to working in partnership with first nations to advance these priorities.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities live in overcrowded housing that is in desperate need of repair. The Auditor General's report released today shows that 80% of housing needs are not being met.

The Prime Minister would never accept this in Toronto. Why does the Prime Minister have a lower standard for indigenous communities?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what the leader of the New Democratic Party is saying is simply not true. We have invested historic amounts of money to work with indigenous communities on housing, on health care and services, and to help create economic prosperity. There is still a lot of work to be done, we all recognize that. However, the progress we have made on reconciliation and partnership with indigenous peoples will continue.

We thank the Auditor General for her recommendations. We will continue to work hand in hand with indigenous communities to achieve results.

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the April Fool's Day carbon tax hike of 23% will hit Nova Scotians especially hard. The Prime Minister's tax will cost $1,500 for the average Nova Scotia family, far more than they get back in rebates.

That is why Nova Scotia's assembly passed a unanimous motion, with all three parties supporting it, calling for federal MPs from that province to vote with Conservatives to spike the hike.

One of those is the MP from Kings—Hants, the chair of the agriculture committee, which has been studying the carbon tax pain for farmers.

The question is for the chair of the agriculture committee. Will he vote with us to spike the hike?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order.

Of course, questions can be asked of the government regarding administrative issues of government and, of course, to committee chairs. It is important for Canadians to understand, though, that when questions are asked of committee chairs, it has to be regarding committee business that is before the committee right now. After consultation, we realize that this is not the issue that is here before us.

I see that the hon. Minister of Housing is rising on his feet.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member is actually suggesting is false. We have real-world data to demonstrate that in provinces where the system actually applies, families receive hundreds of dollars more each year than they pay in fuel charges.

The Conservatives pretend to care about affordability, yet they oppose measures to put more money in the pockets of families. They pretend to care about affordability, but they oppose measures that protect seniors' pensions. They pretend to care about affordability, but they vote against measures to remove the interest on Canada student loans.

We will do everything we can to make life more affordable, including putting more money in the pockets of families while we fight climate change at the same time.