Debates of April 9th, 2024

Carbon Pricing

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague talks about putting food on the table. I am proud to be part of a government that believes that hungry kids should have food on the table. I am proud to be part of a government that is taking action to implement a school food program so those hungry kids are able to eat when they go to school. It is unbelievable to me to hear this rhetoric from Conservative opposition members when they had the gall to stand up and vote against putting food on the table for hungry kids.

They talk a big game, but when they have a chance to do anything to put food on the table for my constituents, they oppose it at every turn. We will do what it takes to help working-class and middle-class families and kids when it comes to putting food on the table.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that minister is so out of touch, because here are the facts. After eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, we have a record-smashing two million Canadians using a food bank in a single month, with over a million more expected this year. Food banks, like the one in Cambridge, are now seeing dual-income families, full-time working Canadians and our seniors lining up at the food banks. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.

Will the Prime Minister finally show some compassion and make food cheaper for Canadians by passing Bill C-234 in its original form?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, the moms and dads across this country whom we have been helping, I worry for them. The Leader of the Opposition has been very clear and his actions are all we need to know, all we need to point to. We point to the Conservatives' opposition of a motion and a vote to support a national school food program. We can point to their opposition of a vote to expand funding for more child care to help families out. Their actions are clear. They will cut, cut, cut.

[Jake Stewart, Conservative, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the NDP-Liberal government and the Prime Minister's 23% carbon tax is not worth the cost. The Prime Minister does not understand that if we tax the farmer who grows the food, we end up taxing the family who buys it.

People are struggling in New Brunswick; 40 to 50 military families need to visit the Gagetown food bank just to feed their kids. UNB had to create its own food bank to feed its students.

Will the Prime Minister lower costs on farmers and make food cheaper by passing Bill C-234 in its original form?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to take seriously the hon. member's criticism when he and his party voted against a pay raise for the men and women who serve this country in uniform.

When we come to this chamber every day, we have an opportunity to stand up for policies that help middle-class families put food on the table. When we cut taxes for the middle class and raised it on the wealthiest 1%, the Conservatives voted against it. When we stopped sending child care cheques to the wealthiest people in this country so that we could put more in the pockets of nine out 10 Canadian families, they voted against it. Now they want to justify their climate denialism by taking hundreds of dollars from families who live in our communities. It is not right, and we are going to do what it takes to help people.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, when we tax the farmer who grows the food and we tax the trucker who hauls the food, then we hurt the families who buy the food. Things have gotten so bad under the Liberal-NDP carbon tax coalition that military families stationed in Borden and Gagetown are having to use food banks, and troops trained right here in Ottawa are relying on food donations from college staff.

After eight long years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Will the Prime Minister lower the cost on Canadian farmers and make food more affordable for all Canadians by passing Bill C-234 in its original form immediately?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me respond, because I share the concern about the welfare of every member of the Canadian Armed Forces. We work very hard to make sure that our forces receive all the supports in housing and financial supports that they require to do the important missions they perform for all of us in this country. We recently negotiated, for example, a very substantial pay raise, because they have earned it and they deserve it, which is why it was such a huge disappointment when that member and all of his colleagues voted against the money for that pay raise.

We have a responsibility in the House to support the men and women who protect our country.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, imposing visas on Mexicans was necessary, but the federal government promised that it would not affect workers. Eastern Quebec is reeling from delays in the arrival of temporary foreign workers for fisheries and processing.

Fortunately, after the leader of the Bloc Québécois wrote to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Prime Minister on March 25, the situation improved. This improvement is commendable, but we still have concerns.

We are simply seeking reassurance from the minister. Can he confirm today that all workers will arrive as quickly as possible and that this situation will not affect other sectors, such as agriculture?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his excellent question.

Obviously, we all want a successful fishing season, whether in Quebec or Canada, as these fisheries depend on Mexican visas that are now required to be stamped in Mexico.

We are working around the clock, seven days a week, to make sure that this stamping is done on time. We will get it done. We will keep at it. We are not out of the woods yet, but I am hopeful, knowing how hard the teams are working on this.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a way to be responsible both at the borders and towards the entire fishing and processing economy in the Gaspé Peninsula and eastern Quebec. We simply have to work sensibly and without partisanship.

The collaboration of the Minister of Immigration is commendable, but he has the fate of an entire industry in his hands. One company has already shut down because workers did not arrive in time for the opening of the fishery. Others fear they may suffer the same fate when the lobster season opens.

Can the minister reassure them and confirm that their workers will arrive as soon as possible?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as I said very clearly to the member's colleague, we are working around the clock to make sure that happens. Obviously, the imposition of the Mexican visa, a very important measure that was warmly welcomed by the Bloc Québécois, is something we must continue to emphasize.

There are workers who now have to have their passports stamped in Mexico, and this must continue. They must do so in collaboration with the third parties who help these factories.

At Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, we will work around the clock to ensure that the turnaround time is 24 hours.

Housing

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

Mr. Speaker, after more than eight years of this Liberal government, we all know it is not worth the cost.

Housing prices continue to rise at a breakneck pace and the government is overlooking municipalities in plans to increase new housing construction.

Will the Prime Minister finally build housing and cut red tape in his next budget?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we really do not need any lessons from the Conservatives.

We are presenting a plan for Canadians, a plan to build more housing, a plan to create more jobs and a plan to increase prosperity in this country.

Canadians watching at home understand that slogans do not create jobs; slogans do not build homes; and slogans do not create economic prosperity.

We will let the Conservatives work on slogans and videos while we focus on what matters to Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation is warning that housing prices will continue to skyrocket. The average cost of an apartment could go up 27% over the next three years in the greater Montreal area.

A Conservative government will reward cities that build more housing.

Why will the Prime Minister not listen to common sense and work with provincial and municipal partners to build the housing we need for the well-being of all Canadians?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure people at home laugh when they hear a Conservative member talk about working with municipalities. The last time the Conservative leader spoke to the mayors of Quebec City and Montreal, he insulted them. Does anyone at home think working together means insulting others?

In 2024, working together is the way to go. That is why we came up with a plan that will build more homes, help more young people and create more prosperity. That is what working for Canadians looks like.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk about another scandal. After eight years of this Liberal government, the number of homeless people across Canada is skyrocketing.

Let us take Saint-Jérôme, for example. According to a Radio-Canada article that came out this morning, Isa, a woman who recently became homeless, said, “I could ask my daughter for help, but I don't want to burden her.”

Does this government have any heart?

My question is simple: Will the Prime Minister finally build real housing instead of adding to the bureaucracy in his budget next Tuesday?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we invest in building housing. In fact, we are making investments along with Quebec in building affordable housing.

After reaching a $1.8-billion agreement with Quebec, we are going to build 8,000 affordable housing units in Quebec alone.

In comparison, across the entire country when the Conservative leader was the housing minister, the Conservatives constructed a total of six affordable housing units nationwide. There is no contest when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable. I question their authenticity, when they actually talk about the investments, when they vote against the money behind the programs.

Carbon Pricing

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Davenport are concerned about the fact that the Conservative Party wants to cut their Canada carbon rebate. For the majority of Canadians, every penny counts. The people in my riding rely on these cheques.

Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell the House how carbon pricing is lowering our emissions and how these cheques are helping Canadian families?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question and for her efforts to speak French.

I want to note that next Monday, April 15, the Canada carbon rebate will increase. A family in her province, Ontario, will receive $280 four times a year.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer said two weeks ago that carbon pricing is the measure that least impacts the economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More than 200 economists concur and the Premier of Saskatchewan, with whom I hardly ever agree, also admitted that it was the best way to reduce climate change.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister's record high debt and deficits, he is not worth the cost of his overpriced socks. Inflation and interest rates continue to make lives worse. Now an economist has said that interest rate cuts may be further delayed because of the NDP-Liberal government's out-of-control spending.

The Conservatives have offered a common-sense solution to fix the upcoming budget.

When will the Prime Minister stop his out-of-control deficits with a dollar-for-dollar rule, find a dollar in savings for every new dollar he spends?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. What we are presenting to Canadians is a plan to build more homes. What we are presenting to Canadians is a plan to create more jobs. What we are presenting to Canadians is a plan for prosperity.

On the other side of the House, it is slogans. Canadians at home understand that slogans do not create jobs, slogans do not build homes and slogans do not build prosperity. We will let them invent a new slogan while we focus on the matters of Canadians.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the NDP-Liberal government's addiction to spending is out of control. It is getting high off an unsafe supply of drugs and borrowed money. Its spending habit is driving up inflation. Interest rate cuts might be stalled because of out-of-control spending. Its far-left allies in B.C. just had their credit rating cut.

The Prime Minister and his socialist coalition are not worth the cost. The government must find a dollar in savings for every dollar spent.

Will the Prime Minister cap spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down inflation—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. President of the Treasury Board.

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

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite continues to ask questions but not really focus on what her party has continuously done, which is vote against measures to support Canadians time and time again: 120 votes prior to the holidays; all-night voting; voting against children; voting against supports for families; and voting against our military.

Therefore, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives in terms of supporting Canadians, because our government will always be there for them.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Madam Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, the Prime Minister continues to demonstrate that he is not worth the cost.

The government has added more to the national debt than all previous prime ministers combined. Now a leading economist has stated that interest rate cuts are being delayed because of massive government overspending.

Will the Prime Minister cap government spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule that finds one dollar of savings for every dollar of new spending so that interest rates come down and people can stay in their homes?