Debates of June 6th, 2024

Carbon Pricing

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, what is not a secret is the Conservatives' climate denial. That is no secret. Canadians know that Conservatives continue to vote against any action on climate change. Our government is implementing solutions that work. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed multiple times that carbon pricing is the most cost-effective market-based mechanism. I would remind the Conservatives that they actually campaigned on it in the last election.

Our government will continue to address climate change while putting more money in the pockets of Canadians.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I ask all members not to take the floor during questions and answers unless they are recognized by the Chair. Doing so makes it very difficult for members to hear.

The hon. member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal cover-up is in full swing, and I have another example that proves it. The Parliamentary Budget Officer very clearly stated at the Standing Committee on Finance that the government has its own economic analysis of the carbon tax's impact, but he was told not to release it and not to refer to it. Worse still, the Bloc Québécois is dancing with the Liberals. It voted against our proposal to give Quebeckers some tax relief for their vacations.

When will the Prime Minister release his secret report on the carbon tax so that Canadians can know the truth?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, let me say it again: There is no federal carbon tax in the province of Quebec. Quebec is a leader in the fight against climate change. The Conservatives are finding more and more reasons to deny climate change yet again.

The government regularly shares confidential information with the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who uses it to produce its own reports.

Climate Change

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have seen 12 straight months of record-breaking temperatures, more extreme wildfires and more extreme weather events. This is a climate crisis. The Liberals have been asleep at the wheel, letting oil and gas CEOs pollute more and more each year, and the Conservatives cannot even agree on whether climate change is real.

The UN Secretary-General is calling for a windfall tax on oil and gas profits to help fund climate action. New Democrats agree with this.

Why are the Liberals letting big oil rip off Canadians and destroy our climate?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, we have introduced a new clean fuel standard, something Conservatives pledged to do during the last election campaign. However, they changed their minds to please their leader and voted against.

We have also raised the price on pollution, and we are putting a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. We are the only major oil-producing country in the world to do so. Our emissions are so low that the last time they were this low in Canada was shortly after the Canadiens won their last Stanley Cup. It would be nice if, when the going gets tough, the NDP did not vote with the Conservatives on carbon pricing.

Indigenous Affairs

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, one loses someone and is trying to grieve and then somebody else dies. This is the feeling of the Piikani Nation, which has seen an unfathomable amount of death because of the toxic drug crisis. First nations in Alberta are dying from toxic drugs eight times faster than the rest of the province's population. The Alberta Conservative model is just not working, and the federal government has shown no leadership.

When will the Liberal government have the courage to intervene in dangerous Conservative policies and save indigenous lives?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. It is a tragedy that we are losing our brothers, our sisters, our mothers and our fathers to this toxic, polluted drug supply that we see all across the country, including in and predominantly among first nations. That is why our government has invested billions of dollars to support indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness. We will continue to work with first nations leaders on the solutions that will work for them. This crisis has to end.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the world has seen unprecedented scientific and technological advancements in artificial intelligence in recent years, but this change is plagued by misinformation and disinformation targeting hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We recently saw how Conservatives, such as the member for Portage—Lisgar, intend to misuse this technology to mislead Canadians.

Could the President of the Treasury Board explain how our government is working responsibly to adapt to these changes and to protect Canadians, their information and the country as a whole?

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

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever before, researchers and companies are using AI to create innovations and job opportunities, from drug discovery to energy efficiency and housing innovation. That is why we have begun to develop the first-ever government strategy on AI for the public service, removing barriers and filling gaps for the responsible, transparent use of AI. Instead of spreading misinformation, our side of the House is committed to embracing new technologies that allow local businesses, educators and our broader economy to flourish.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there has been $123 million handed out to ineligible companies. There have been 186 conflicts of interest, and 76 million taxpayer dollars have been given out to well-connected Liberals. After nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, it is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption of his billion-dollar green slush fund.

Conservatives are calling for the evidence of corruption to be handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, so will the NDP-Liberal government end the cover-up and call in the Mounties?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, Sustainable Development Technology Canada is an independent organization that has been around for over 20 years and that was supported by all members of Parliament at the time. I understand that the Conservatives' opposition to fighting climate change gives them an ideological bent against the organization.

However, notwithstanding the governance structure of the organization, when we learned of mismanagement, we investigated. We triggered numerous independent reviews, including the Auditor General's report, which we collaborated with, and now we are actioning a new governance framework for the organization.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we almost could not hear that answer over the paper shredders that are running over at the billion-dollar green slush fund.

We know that in 2017, the Auditor General gave a clean bill of health to the organization, which Conservatives stood up to fund clean green tech, but the Liberals got into office and decided to line the pockets of well-connected Liberal friends. What did we see in the Auditor General report that the Conservatives called for and the Liberals opposed? We saw 186 conflicts of interest and over $100 million being misappropriated.

Conservatives want the Liberals to end the cover-up. Will they turn over the evidence to the RCMP, yes or no?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, as soon as allegations of mismanagement of Sustainable Development Technology Canada surfaced, our government acted immediately. We triggered an independent review of the governance model and an independent review of the HR practices in the organization. We issued a management response action plan. We have done everything right along the way to address the concerns. Rightfully, Canadians should expect the highest standards of governance when dealing with public funds.

That is exactly what we are doing and are committed to. The organization is going to be reconstituted within the National Research Council in order to have better oversight.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for years Canadians have been struggling because of this Liberal government, yet close friends of the Liberals have been profiting.

What is the latest discovery about those Liberal friends? It involves the use of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada green fund. Liberal friends have taken it upon themselves to dip both hands in the cookie jar. According to the Auditor General, $123 million of taxpayers' money was misused. To get to the bottom of this, those documents need to be seen.

Is the government going to give the RCMP access to all the documents so it can get to the bottom of this scandal?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, that question has already been answered many times. Perhaps I will just add that the Canadian government will, obviously, always co-operate with the RCMP and any other agency to help them do their work.

Perhaps the member is not yet aware of the fact that this week has been a very good week for Canadians, since it was announced for the first time in four years and for the first time in the G7 that interest rates are starting to drop.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us be serious. Does the minister realize that the Liberal scandal involving Sustainable Development Technology Canada's green fund is reminiscent of the sponsorship scandal?

I am not the one saying that. It was a public official who testified during the Auditor General's investigation and who also said that the government is completely incompetent.

Will the minister rise again and say that he did not see anything or some such thing? The reality is that Canadians want the truth and they want all the documents. Will the government give them to the RCMP, yes or no?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Before I give the floor to the minister for his answer, I would like to encourage all members, particularly the ministers, not to speak when someone else has the floor.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, my esteemed colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent is talking about information. Unfortunately, the first piece of information he did not adequately convey is that all the reports, including the Auditor General's latest report, made it very clear that there was no political interference of any kind. Anyone who claims otherwise is, unfortunately, spreading disinformation.

Speaking of disinformation, my colleague is from the Quebec City area. Could he ask his Conservative leader to apologize for misleading people and, unfortunately, discouraging the tens of thousands of seniors in the Quebec City region from enrolling in the new Canadian dental care plan?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Before moving on to another question, I would like to remind the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, who had the opportunity to ask a question, to speak only when he is recognized by the Chair.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last year was disastrous for our farmers. One in five farms is unable to pay its debt. After months of demonstrations, the farmers have been heard by their government, the Government of Quebec.

Now it is Ottawa's turn to listen, warned the Union des producteurs agricoles. Quebec already asked the federal government in November for a one-time relief payment through the AgriRecovery program. The farmers needed it in November. We are in June.

When will the minister offer reasonable compensation through the AgriRecovery program without unnecessary red tape?

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously our hearts go out to the farmers who went through some tough times last year.

As my hon. colleague is well aware, AgriRecovery is a partnership between the province and the federal government. We are working to determine whether the program will apply and will have a response very soon.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while Ottawa drags its feet, the processor Saladexpress in Châteauguay—Lacolle has just shut down its operations. When workers arrived this morning, the doors were locked. This means that a lot of our growers found out just this morning, after the planting season, that they had lost their one and only buyer.

This comes on the heels of a disastrous season in 2023 and repeated natural disasters. Unless Ottawa wakes up and adapts to climate change, one in 10 businesses will close within the year. Is the minister finally going to launch AgriRecovery?

We need a date.

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

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, AgriRecovery involves an analysis conducted not only by the federal government, but also with the province. This is done in collaboration with the Government of Quebec. The two work in partnership. I am sure they will have an answer very soon. However, I understand all too well that, in times of crisis, an answer can never come fast enough.

In the future, we will keep working with all the provinces to ensure that our programs respond more quickly to these climate change crises.

Ethics

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is another day, and we are still waiting for the Minister of Employment to introduce us to the other Randy, the one who was cashing cheques from a company that was lobbying the government, winning contracts and using the minister's name to do it. That is not allowed; it is illegal. The text messages reveal that someone named Randy at the minister's company was part of a $500,000 fraud.

Will the employment minister finally get up on his feet and tell everyone the supersecret identity of the other Randy?