Debates of June 6th, 2024

Labour

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, border workers keep Canadians safe. They are critical to keeping illegal firearms out of the country and protecting our border, but when it comes to their pensions, CBSA workers are not treated like other public safety officials. CBSA employees are relying on the minister to keep her promise and give fair retirement benefits.

When will the minister treat CBSA officers fairly and offer them an equitable pension so that they can get the respect they deserve?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we are committed to reaching a deal that is fair for employees and for Canadian taxpayers. That deal will be reached at the table. We are committed to negotiation. However, negotiation is a process of give and take. We are more than willing to make concessions, but we expect that to happen on the other side as well. Of border services workers, 90% are essential. That means they have the responsibility and duty to provide uninterrupted services, but I will reiterate that the best deals are made at the table, and that is where we will remain until a deal is reached.

Climate Change

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the UN Secretary-General asked countries to tax oil companies heavily, but this Prime Minister and his Minister of Environment and Climate Change want no part in that.

Wildfires are ravaging our communities. Temperatures are getting hotter and hotter. People are suffering because of climate change. Meanwhile, big oil is making record profits. When the government suggested actually taxing oil companies, the oil lobbyists said no, and the Liberals backed off.

Why are the Liberals letting oil companies get away with that when our planet is burning?

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I certainly share his desire to see Canada do more to reduce the effect of greenhouse gases on global warming.

That is why we are the only G20 country to have eliminated subsidies for oil and gas companies, which we did two years ahead of schedule. This week, we also announced a $530‑million fund with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to work with our communities across the country to improve resilience to climate change. We know that we need to do more, and we will do so.

Carbon Pricing

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that the carbon tax is costing them in a big way, but what the Liberals are covering up is just how much. There is a secret report that is out there. It is in the possession of the budget watchdog; except, he is under a gag order by the Liberal government, so he is not able to reveal exactly what it shows. It is time to stop that cover-up. Will the minister quit using his ludicrous talking points that mislead Canadians and finally release the report so that Canadians can know just how much the carbon tax is costing them?

[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, we have been clear all along. The Conservatives are really the only people who continue to mislead Canadians, particularly on the case of the PBO report. The PBO released a report on April 17 that indicated that they actually overestimated the economic impact of the carbon tax and re-emphasized the fact that Canadians get more back than they pay through carbon pricing.

On July 15, Canadians will receive their next installment of the Canada carbon rebate, reaffirming our commitment to lowering our emissions and fighting for affordability every step of the way.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question was about the gag order that has been placed on the Parliamentary Budget Officer. He has been prevented from releasing the report that is in his possession, but that is no surprise to us because, of course, we know that the Liberals appreciate transparency about the same way they appreciate an enema. The budget watchdog would like to release this report; he just needs the go-ahead from the Liberal government. Therefore, would the Liberals finally agree to be transparent with Canadians, let the sun shine in and have the report made public?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, let us do a little history lesson. The PBO once said that eight out of 10 Canadians are better off under the pollution pricing scheme. Flash forward to today and the PBO says eight out of 10 Canadians are better off under the pollution pricing scheme.

Do members know where they are not better off, though? They are not better off in that member's constituency, where the premier increased gas prices by 13¢ a litre. I do not see her in front of her constituency office protesting.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, sunlight and transparency are what Canadians were promised and yet, after nine years, here we are at the heart of another Liberal cover-up. This time, the government has been caught red-handed putting a gag order on the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The Liberals do not want Canadians to see the secret report that proves that Canadians pay more for the carbon tax than they get back. Will the government end the carbon tax cover-up and lift the gag order on the Parliamentary Budget Officer; or are the Liberals just going to tell the PBO and all Canadians, “Boo hoo, get over it”?

[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, we on this side of the House respect the work of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The office provides independent analysis to the government and to Canadians. Canadians rely on that information for insight into how these programs impact our economy and their pocketbooks.

However, Conservatives are misleading Canadians. Our government will continue to support the PBO to fulfill the role of his office, but what this report correctly confirmed is that eight out of 10 families receive more money back through the Canada carbon rebate than they pay for the price of pollution. On July 15, the Canada carbon rebate will be arriving in mailboxes and bank accounts.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, sunny days have given way to a cover-up craze, but Canadians instinctively know the true cost of the carbon tax.

They feel it when they fill up at the pump. They feel it when they go get groceries. Our farmers know it when they get their energy bill. The Parliamentary Budget Officer sure knows it, and that is why the Prime Minister put a gag order on him.

If the government will not admit what Canadians already know, then why not let Canadians decide in a carbon tax election? What are the Liberals afraid of?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I will give a history lesson. The PBO once said eight out of 10 Canadians are better off under this carbon pricing program. If we flash forward to today, the PBO says eight out of 10 Canadians are better off under this carbon pricing program.

In the member's riding, it got even better. Despite the vote of the hon. member and against his wishes the rural rebate is doubling. It is doubling on July 15, as my colleague just said.

Why does he not talk to Premier Smith about her oppressive gas pricing in Alberta?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadians are weary. Their bank accounts are bare. People are tired of being gaslit by the Prime Minister. Canadians already knew that the carbon tax would cost more than Liberals cared to admit.

Now it sounds as though the government also knew better. That is what the Parliamentary Budget Officer said at committee. The government has damning data, but it would not let him release it. It is time for the Liberals to quit using these unbelievable talking points.

When will the Liberals release the secret report that confirms that Canadians were right all along?

[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 summer, Conservatives could consider taking a math class to brush up on their Conservative math. It really does not seem as though their math is adding up these days.

Conservatives from Saskatchewan and Alberta should talk to their premiers, who jacked up the price of gas on April 1 by over 13¢. There is no Canada carbon rebate for provincial gas tax, and there is no rebate for excess oil and gas executives taking home millions of dollars in pay.

We have said it before, and I will say it again: Who needs an oil sands lobby when we have the Conservative Party of Canada in the House?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the gaslighting continues over there. Those wacko talking points show just how desperate the NDP-Liberals are to cover up the true costs of the carbon tax.

Here is what the budget watchdog said: “The government has economic analysis on the impact of the carbon tax itself.... We’ve seen that, staff in my office, but we’ve been told explicitly not to disclose and reference it.”

The Prime Minister is gagging the budget watchdog as he bankrupts Canadians. Again, when will he release the secret report that confirms that Canadians were right all along?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I will give a bit of a history lesson. The PBO used to say eight out of 10 Canadians were better off, with more money in their pockets, as a result of the carbon pricing program of the government, including in Saskatchewan.

If we flash forward to today, according to the PBO, eight out of 10 Canadians are better off, including in Saskatchewan. There is a bonus: A doubling of the rural rebate is starting on July 15. The hon. member should talk to his premier and tell him to start rebating consumers in Saskatchewan.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

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

Mr. Speaker, “Quebec is no longer able to welcome asylum seekers with dignity”. This quote from a support centre for immigrant communities appears on the front page of a newspaper. The director talks about families with children living in cars and families crammed into bachelor apartments. The director says that “these people deserve some measure of dignity, and right now, especially with the housing crisis, I don't think that's happening”.

When will the federal government understand that by not dragging its feet on forcing all provinces to share the responsibility of welcoming asylum seekers or reimbursing the related costs, it will be responsible for a humanitarian crisis?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I have met with many organizations in Montreal that do their best to welcome asylum seekers. They frequently tell me that they do not receive much money from Quebec, despite the fact that we have handed $5.2 billion over to Quebec since 2015.

It is clear that extra effort is needed. That is what we have done by meeting with our counterparts. I just had a meeting with my provincial colleagues. The work will continue.

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

Mr. Speaker, here is another quote from the director of the Centre d'appui aux communautés immigrantes de Montréal, who said, “Maybe we need a more balanced distribution of asylum seekers among all Canadian provinces.”

She is right. It is deeply unfair that she and community organizations in Quebec end up shouldering this burden. It is unfair that people like her are forced to say no to families who have no resources and need help because Ottawa has abandoned them. Enough talk. When will the government take action?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as I said very clearly, we have invested $5.2 billion in Quebec since 2015. We have not asked for any accountability. Maybe Quebeckers need to ask more questions about this. It is also very, very, very clear that we are making an extra effort, and that is because the woman who was quoted in the newspaper article is right. We need to better coordinate the distribution of asylum seekers across Canada. That is what we are doing. I just wrapped up a meeting about this very issue half an hour ago.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are meetings, but no action. While the minister does nothing, community organizations on the ground are unable to find housing for families. They are forced to put people on wait lists for food hampers. How does one begin to explain a wait list to a hungry child?

The premiers are meeting on Monday. Quebec is calling for an even distribution of asylum seekers and the reimbursement of $1 billion for welcoming them. Will the Prime Minister of Canada leave this meeting with a cheque and a start date for the even distribution?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the member will have to wait until Monday to get an answer to that question, just like everyone else. The party that is doing nothing is the Bloc Québécois. For six months it has been asking for asylum claims to be fast-tracked. Yesterday, the geniuses in that party rose in the Standing Committee on Finance to oppose the measures to streamline the asylum system. It is shameful and utterly incoherent. Their ignorance knows no bounds.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, the budget watchdog has released a report stating what Canadians already know, that they pay more in carbon tax than what they get back. They pay more for groceries, more for food, more for home heating, more for transportation and more for everything. The Liberal la-la math is just not adding up.

When will the minister quit using made-up talking points, remove the gag order on the budget watchdog, release the secret report and end the carbon tax cover-up? Canadians have a right to know.

[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, that is not what the PBO said. It is the opposite. The PBO has overestimated the economic impact of carbon pricing on Canada. It means that probably even more than eight out of 10 families are getting more back through the Canada carbon rebate than they pay in carbon pricing. This is just another opportunity for the Conservatives to deny climate change.

Denying the effectiveness and proven impact of carbon pricing is just another form of climate change denial. It suits the Conservatives, and it suits their big oil and gas friends. Who do they really work for, Canadians or big oil and gas execs?

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have long known that the carbon tax costs them more than they get back. Who else knows this? The Liberals do. That is because the Parliamentary Budget Officer revealed this week that the Liberals commissioned a report that confirmed what Canadians already know, that the carbon tax costs families more than they get back. Now the Liberals refuse to release the taxpayer-funded report. Let us end the carbon tax cover-up.

When will the minister quit using unbelievable talking points and release the secret report that proves once and for all that Canadians are right?