Debates of May 29th, 2024

Foreign Affairs

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canada supports the independent work of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. We are here to support the process and to ensure that everyone is adhering to international law, including to the decisions of these two courts. We are here to support the multilateral process that we have put in place to ensure compliance with international law.

We live under the rule of law and we always will.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is outlining a series of principles that seem very benevolent, yet he never seems to be willing to follow through by adopting and putting forward, in co-operation with like-minded countries and allies, a set of policies that will help force Israel to end the violence in Gaza.

Will he stop spouting empty words and start taking action? We have just sent him 10 proposals for doing just that.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if we want to respect international law and the rule of law, we have to respect the work of the institutions created to support and defend them. Yes, we support these institutions, but no, we are not going to skip steps and take it upon ourselves to anticipate the outcome of these courts' decisions. On the contrary, we are going to wait and let them do their job. International law depends on it.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the Liberal Bloc is not worth the cost. Not only did the Bloc Québécois members vote in favour of $500 billion in centralizing, bureaucratic and inflationary spending, but they also want to drastically increase the taxes on gasoline and diesel for Quebeckers in the regions, unlike the Conservatives, who want to cut taxes. More specifically, we are proposing to give Quebeckers a tax holiday, a break from taxes on gasoline and diesel.

Will the Prime Minister accept my common-sense plan to reduce the cost of gas by 17¢ a litre this summer?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader has a problem. His message is not getting through in Quebec. Quebeckers do not want to hear his ideas about undoing the progress we have made in fighting climate change. That is something that Quebeckers understand very well.

His solution is to attack the Bloc Québécois, attack members from Quebec and attack Quebeckers themselves as he tries to undo our climate progress. That will fail because the Conservative leader does not understand Quebeckers. In fact, he does not understand most Canadians, who know that climate change is real and that we need to—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Government Priorities

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were in power, the Bloc Québécois was nearly wiped out because we reduced the size of the federal government and allowed Quebeckers to be autonomous. They were truly masters of their own house. However, the Bloc Québécois is back because of the centralist policies of this Prime Minister. That is why these two parties are working in full collaboration.

Will he finally agree to unite the country with a smaller federal government to create more space for Quebec and Quebeckers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if he knew his history, he would know that the Bloc Québécois exists because of the Conservative Party. However, setting that aside, let me point out that we will always be there to defend Quebeckers. We will always be there to work—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order.

I invite the members who are continuing to have discussions to do so behind the curtains. I will ask the Prime Minister to start again from the beginning.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after many months, we are finally seeing the Quebec Conservative caucus wake up, become indignant and speak up.

The reality is that when it comes time to talk about the environment, Quebec Conservatives are silent. When it comes time to talk about women's rights, Quebec Conservatives are silent. We have seen shameful behaviour from members of the Quebec Conservative caucus, who refuse to stand up for Quebec values. Instead, they are attacking other members from Quebec. It is shameful. They should apologize to all Quebeckers.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he has gone off again. He is losing control. Why is he so angry? It is because he just learned that Quebeckers and Quebec Liberals are abandoning him. Why is that? It is because there is a common-sense Conservative team that is going to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.

The Prime Minister still has time to accept this common-sense plan and offer to cut costs so Quebeckers can have tax-free holidays.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is true, sometimes I get carried away as a Quebecker when defending the values of my nation, my country, my values as a proud Quebecker and Canadian. I am here to defend the environment, to fight climate change, to protect values and women's rights. I will always be passionate about defending the fundamental rights of Canadians. That is what I am here to do.

Unfortunately, the Conservative Party continues to suggest that Quebeckers turn back the clock, stop fighting climate change and backtrack on women's rights. This is not what Quebeckers or other Canadians—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin.

The Economy

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government knows that climate action is not just necessary for the future of the planet; it is also how Canada remains competitive. Last year, $2.4 trillion was invested in creating our net-zero economy.

Can the Prime Minister highlight some of the measures the government is taking to attract clean investment to Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin for his question. He is right, the world is moving toward a greener economy. Canada remains competitive by attracting billions of dollars in renewable energy and clean technologies. It is already working. Companies are building new plants and creating thousands of well-paying jobs in Quebec and across the country.

The Conservative leader has no climate plan, so he has no economic plan. As he and the Conservative caucus try to bring Canada back to the Stone Age, we will remain focused on a stronger, greener and fairer economy for all generations.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have a common-sense plan to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. However, of course, the NDP is keeping the costly Prime Minister in office for another year and a half while people starve and are forced to live in tents. Those Canadians who have been able to hold on to their homes cannot afford a vacation, but maybe a staycation, so we are asking today that the Prime Minister vote for a motion we will introduce tomorrow, which will give Canadians a 35¢-a-litre gas tax break until Labour Day.

Will the Prime Minister axe the taxes so Canadians can have a staycation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party is proposing to eliminate the Canada carbon rebate. This is a rebate that arrives four times a year in the pockets of Canadian families and that, according to experts, economists and the Parliamentary Budget Officer, puts more money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadian families in the jurisdictions in which it applies. This is more money in people's pockets while we fight climate change with the most effective plan against climate change Canada has ever seen. This is what the Conservative leader continues to rally against: affordability and climate fighting.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, of course the Prime Minister is doing neither. After nine years, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost, and neither is his carbon tax, which the Parliamentary Budget Officer finds costs more to 60% of Canadians than they get back in phony rebates. Going into the summer, the Prime Minister plans to hike taxes again. Canadians need a break now more than ever.

Can he put aside his wacko ideology long enough to give Canadians a break by axing all the taxes on fuel for summer vacation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is not ideology to understand that fighting climate change and growing the economy while putting money in people's pockets is a good thing, because that is exactly what this government has done. Excluding the pandemic, our emissions are now the lowest they have been in 25 years because of our plan that prices pollution and puts more money back in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadian families. The fact that he refuses to understand that one does not have a plan for the economy if one does not have a plan to fight climate change is yet another proof of the fact that his approach is not going to succeed for Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he ranks 62nd out of 67 countries on fighting climate change. This is after he has brought in a 17¢-a-litre carbon tax, a tax that he wants to nearly quadruple up to 61¢ a litre if, God forbid, he is ever elected. We have two million people lined up at food banks. A quarter of Canadians are skipping meals because they cannot afford food. One in four adults is missing meals so they can feed their kids.

For God's sake, why will he not give Canadians a summer vacation from all his taxes and accept our common-sense plan?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader is not focused on affordability; he is focused on ending action on climate change. If he was so concerned about the price of gas, he would have a conversation with his friend, the Premier of Alberta, who just raised the gas tax by 13¢ a litre. Experts agree, including Premier Smith, that Canadians receive back more money from the Canada carbon rebate than they pay with the price on pollution. We are putting a price on pollution and putting more money back in the pockets of the middle class and people working hard to join it. That is joining the efforts we are doing on affordability, like dental care, support for child care and support for the middle class.

Natural Resources

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, our Atlantic accords bill would allow for the development of offshore wind projects. By investing in renewable energy, we are investing in a future for Atlantic Canadians that is green and prosperous, one where we fight climate change and create jobs. The Conservatives are getting in the way of Atlantic Canada by opposing Bill C-49.

What is the government doing to ensure that Atlantic Canada can contribute to the green economy?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for St. John's East for her advocacy on behalf of all Atlantic Canadians. We are equipping Atlantic Canadians with the tools they need to thrive in the economy of tomorrow. Offshore wind alone is expected to bring $1 trillion of investment by 2040. There is no common sense in opposing good-paying, cutting-edge Atlantic Canadian jobs. This is yet another example of the Conservatives blocking middle-class jobs because of their backward ideology. While Conservative politicians pen angry op-eds against investing in the Atlantic, we will ensure Atlantic Canadians are not left behind.

National Defence

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, here in northern Manitoba, we have seen the wildfire season start much earlier because of climate change. Frontline forest firefighters are giving it their all, but they cannot do it alone. The military has had to help with firefighting operations across the country in the past, but now military leadership is warning that their capacity to help Canadians evacuate will be limited, calling that help “wickedly wasteful”. Let us be clear. We are facing a climate emergency, so if these domestic operations are not a priority for our military, then what is?

Can Canadians count on the government to call in the military when we need help?