Debates of April 19th, 2024

Armenian Genocide

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to make a solemn declaration about our duty to remember one of the darkest chapters in modern history, the Ottoman Empire's systematic destruction of a people during the Armenian genocide.

Let us take this moment to honour the memory of the 1.5 million innocent lives lost or destroyed just over a century ago. Let us remember that this happened to people who had been living in Anatolia for 1,500 years.

However, again, just a few months ago, after two millennia of existence, the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan basically ceased to exist. With Turkish military support and Russia's inaction as peacekeepers, Azerbaijan's military offensive ended with the region's 100,000 Armenians fleeing as refugees to Armenia.

Let us recognize the pain and suffering endured by the Armenian people and commit to never forgetting the Armenian genocide.

Black History in Canada

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Madam Speaker, today I recognize the accomplishments of esteemed historian and Black Canadian heritage expert, Elise Harding-Davis.

Throughout her career, Elise elevated positive Black history in Canada, earning many accolades including the Order of Ontario designation, being named among the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, and receiving the Ontario Black History Society's Daniel Hill Award, the Ontario Museum Association's Award of Excellence, Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Ontario Historical Society's Carnochan Award.

For over 60 years, Elise has highlighted how African Canadians were essential to Canada's development and was the first Black female curator at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Elise comes from a family of strong character. Her late sister, Shelley Harding-Smith, was Canada's first Black female master electrician and an activist, and was a friend and a mentor to me, personally. Their great-grandfather was a slave, and both Elise and Shelley progressed in a challenging world, where they let nothing stand in their way.

August 1 this year will mark the 190th anniversary of Emancipation Day, marking the day Canada's Slavery Abolition Act came into effect. Canada still needs to apologize for the enslavement of Black Canadians. An official apology would mean a lifetime of work recognized.

Elise exemplifies the true meaning of preserving Black history in Canada. Her legacy will no doubt inspire future generations.

Earth Day

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, next Monday is Earth Day, the world's largest environmental event. It is a day to raise awareness of environmental and climate issues. Let us remember a few facts. July 2023 was the hottest month in human history. Last month was the 18th consecutive month to set a heat record. Here in Quebec and Canada, unprecedented wildfires ravaged our forests and made the air in our cities the most polluted in the world last summer.

We are in the midst of a climate emergency and Canada's slowness in moving away from oil is a millstone around our neck. In that sense, anyone who calls themselves an environmentalist should support Quebec's independence. With our clean energy, we would finally be free to become an example to follow. We might even inspire our neighbour, Canada. As a woman who cares about our climate security and as a sovereignist, I am convinced that Quebec becoming a country would be good for everyone.

Carbon Tax

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Speaker, especially in British Columbia and the North Okanagan-Shuswap, Canadians are seeing that, after nine years, the Prime Minister and his NDP-Liberal government are simply not worth the cost.

Their April 1 carbon tax increase of 23% has seen gas prices push past $1.75 per litre in the interior and over the $2 mark in other parts of B.C. The carbon tax only adds to the costs for farmers, who have no choice but to pay if they are to produce food for Canadian families. One chicken farmer in the Shuswap paid over $100,000 last year alone, just for his carbon tax bill. Because of the NDP-Liberal government that carbon tax bill will increase another 23% this year, making it even more difficult for Canadian families to afford food.

Will the Prime Minister take the step to axe the tax on farmers and food by immediately passing Bill C-234 in its original form, or will he continue to prove that he and his NDP partners are simply not worth the cost?

Brunswick Four

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a significant moment in Canadian queer women's history, that of the Brunswick Four.

In 1974, Adrienne, Pat, Sue and Lamar were arrested for refusing to leave the Brunswick House, a popular Toronto bar, after they had taken to the stage to sing the song I Enjoy Being a Dyke during an amateur performance night. They returned as an act of defiance but were met with violence at the hands of police and charged. They were dubbed the “Brunswick Four”, and a legal defence fund was set up in their name. At trial, all charges were dismissed except one for disturbing the peace.

Long subjected to police harassment, the Brunswick Four became a symbol of resistance for the gay and lesbian community. Their determination to combat systemic prejudice serves as an inspiration, especially in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

The Budget

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Madam Speaker, another day and there is more evidence to show the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

Former bank governor and proud Liberal, David Dodge, says the new federal budget is certainly not helpful in dealing with the inflationary fire, making it harder for Canadian families to afford anything. Young people are saddled with the Prime Minister's addiction to spending. The call is coming from inside the Liberal house.

Will the Prime Minister listen to experts, to business leaders, to his own party and millions of Canadians struggling to get by, and just stop the spending?

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

Madam Speaker, we have the lowest debt and deficit in the G7, a AAA credit rating and a budget that presents a message of fairness for this country, for current and future generations. It is a vision the Conservatives would cut. Before even reading the budget, they already said they would not support it. It is a budget that supports child care and pharmacare and the understanding that Canadians have to have dental care in this country. Canadians who cannot otherwise afford it will have the support of the government. More homes will be built. These things are vital in this country, and the Conservatives are standing against every single one of them.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Madam Speaker, the problem is that nobody believes the Liberals anymore, and the budget is the opposite of fair. It is unfair to saddle our kids with billions of dollars of debt that they will be paying for years. It is unfair to force the inflationary spending on to the grocery bills of every single family. It is unfair to keep interest rates high, while millions struggle to pay their mortgages. The number of Canadians who cannot afford to pay their bills has more than doubled over the last month.

Will the Liberals finally fix the budget so Canadians can keep their homes, put gas in their cars and put food on their tables?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and the Conservative Party seem to be good at posing for photo ops and pretending to care about people in food bank lineups, while our government has introduced the most comprehensive package of competition reforms in Canadian history to increase competition and bring down grocery prices.

How cruel and heartless do people have to be, as a party, to vote against feeding kids in schools? The party over there has already voted against a national school food program once. We have introduced it in budget 2024, and we are going to see them vote—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Thornhill.

Public Services and Procurement

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Madam Speaker, mirror, mirror on the wall; that is all I hear from the member. The spending spree is not just limited to the costly government photo ops that he is talking about. He has been here for nine years. The Liberal insiders and elites are the ones getting in on the action too.

We learned this week that the RCMP raided the home of a guy who grifted taxpayers out of $20 million for the arrive scam app. The Prime Minister failed to get the money back. The House ordered it.

Will someone over there tell their boss to get the cash back?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, as I said yesterday in the House, our government takes the use of taxpayers' money extremely seriously. We welcome the investigations that are taking place, including by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is well known that it publicly raided a residence earlier this week.

We have said that anybody who abuses taxpayers' money will face the consequences. Of course we will seek to recuperate all money that has been misallocated.

Carbon pricing.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of this Prime Minister, who is not worth the cost, farmers are making an impassioned plea. This morning, they are protesting in large numbers in Beauce to show their anger at a government that is completely out of touch with reality.

Our farmers are being asked to fill our pantries while the Bloc-Liberal coalition is preventing the passage of Bill C-234, which would remove the carbon tax on the propane and natural gas needed to heat buildings and dry grain in order to bring down the cost of food.

Will the Prime Minister and the Bloc Québécois show some common sense and agree to this demand from Canadian farmers?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, I find it odd that a member from Quebec is asking a question about Bill C-234, because it will not apply in Quebec.

Perhaps he should talk to his colleagues. The Conservatives had a chance to make Bill C-234 a priority for next week. What did they do? They traded two bills, and Bill C-234 is not one of them.

It is important to walk the talk. The member needs to convince his colleagues to introduce Bill C-234. The House needs to vote on it, once and for all.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Madam Speaker, speaking of people who are out of touch, they are providing a very clear illustration of that this morning.

I invite the government and the Bloc Québécois to go to Beauce today to tell the farmers that the carbon tax has no impact in Quebec. I have room in my car if they want to get in after question period.

If there is no farming, then there is no food. That is something that the Bloc-Liberal coalition does not understand. The Bloc Québécois wants to radically increase the carbon tax again, proving once more that it is costly to vote for the Bloc Québécois.

Will the government take action and pass Bill C‑234 in its original form?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, I do not know why a member from Quebec is asking that question. The carbon tax has no impact on Quebec. I am pleased that a member from Ontario can tell him so.

In the meantime, I hope he will lobby his colleagues who are responsible for introducing Bill C‑234. The Conservatives had the chance to do it when we come back, but they traded two bills and Bill C‑234 was not one of them.

It is not my fault or the government's fault. It is their fault.

The Budget

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, yesterday my colleague from Drummond read page 74 of the 2024 Budget to the minister. The title of that section is “Halal Mortgages”.

The minister replied that her government just wants to see if there is something that needs to be done. She said it is a private initiative, not a government program. In short, there is some unease.

If they do not know what direction they are taking with Halal mortgages, if it is not a government responsibility and if they want to create a framework for this measure rather than expand it, why is it included in budget?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Madam Speaker, secularism does not mean exclusion, and that is why we really need to make sure that we protect Canadians with products that already exist within our financial institutions, in private companies. That is why the government has now announced that it will consult with financial service providers and diverse communities to understand how federal policies can protect Canadians from abuses. I hope that all parties across the aisle can get on board with this to make sure that Canadians are protected in these financial and economic times.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, we may have a piece of the answer. Over the past few months, the media have been reporting that members of the Muslim community are dissatisfied with some of the Liberal government's actions.

According to Radio-Canada, a Muslim group was even threatening to cut off its $680,000 contribution to the Liberal Party. It would be quite something if they went to the NDP and the Conservatives. The Liberal solution, as always, is to propose a tailored solution to keep them happy.

Is including halal mortgages in the budget an olive branch extended to a fringe component of the Muslim community?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, I think the Bloc Québécois is losing it a little. The Bloc members do not know which way to turn. They do not want to talk about the budget, essentially because it provides money for housing, and that is good for Quebec. It provides money for seniors, and that is good for Quebec. It provides money for a bunch of things that are really important to all Quebeckers.

They do not want to talk about it too much because they know it is good for Quebeckers, but not good for the Bloc Québécois.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Madam Speaker, pay the bills or buy the groceries; this is the dilemma for too many Canadians.

Big oil and gas are doing just fine by gouging Canadians at the pumps and making record profits. Why is this? It is because the government lets them. Liberals caved to lobbyists and stepped back instead of making big oil pay what it owes. We cannot expect better from Conservatives, because they are focused on taking Canadians' dental care and free medication.

Why is the government letting ultrarich CEOs rip off Canadians?

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

Madam Speaker, by eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a tax on share buybacks, the government has presented a vision that says to the corporate sector and to the oil and gas sector that they have responsibilities from a tax perspective. There are other examples I could give.

What do we see? We see revenue generated that goes towards funding vital programs in this country that ensure a fairness vision. That vision translates to child care, pharmacare and a national child school food program, among other things.

The Economy

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals are so out of touch.

Just as New Democrats have delivered social programs to help Canadians, the Conservatives are already campaigning to cut dental care and pharmacare. It is absolutely shameful. People are drowning in debt just to keep up while corporations are swimming in record profits.

Neither Liberals nor Conservatives have the courage to challenge the status quo, because it benefits them and their insider crony friends. New Democrats want to tackle corporate greed. Why will the Liberal government not do so?

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The member for South Shore—St. Margarets has a habit of heckling and raising his voice when he is not supposed to. I would ask him to please refrain from doing so.

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

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

Madam Speaker, it is very interesting. I have heard the member for a number of years talk about the issues he raised but also about a vision for the environment. I am wondering where exactly the NDP is on these things.

Carbon pricing is vital to this country's future. It really reflects an approach of responsibility from an environmental policy perspective that I thought New Democrats stood for, but they are wavering and flip-flopping. I sympathize, as others do, with them. It is a very difficult time. They have tough decisions to make, but I hope they end up on the right side of history with this issue; I really do.