Debates of June 7th, 2024

Democratic Institutions

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

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat for the Bloc Québécois and for the member opposite that we have undertaken a series of measures to combat foreign interference. Many countries, including France, the United Kingdom and the United States, are facing situations of foreign interference, which are very well documented.

Canada has introduced a series of very substantial measures in this area, including the creation of a committee of parliamentarians that has studied the issue and is reporting on it. The government will shoulder its responsibilities.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as parliamentarians, we simply cannot be content with the measures outlined by the Liberals. The fact that some members are under foreign influence is proof that these measures are not enough. We also cannot be content with simply offloading the problem onto the RCMP. Our hands are tied because scheming in favour of foreign powers does not always involve criminal acts. In any case, it can only be catastrophic for democracy.

Will the Liberals get their act together, do their own investigations and get rid of the disloyal members?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the Bloc members on the committee have been working hard and diligently with us, in good faith, on foreign interference. It is disappointing when Conservative mis-characterization of meetings takes place.

What is most important is that we are working hard to ensure that our democratic institutions are resilient and that we are combatting foreign interference. This is not a partisan issue, and it is why we have introduced a number of measures to strengthen our democratic institutions. This includes Bill C-70, which we are working on in committee.

Housing

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

Mr. Speaker, the average monthly price for rental housing in Canada hit a record high of $2,202 in May. This is unprecedented. In Montreal, a two-bedroom apartment costs $2,300 a month. It is crazy.

For decades, Liberal and Conservative governments have allowed wealthy developers to use the housing market as a casino, rather than protect the people. Prices are skyrocketing and families are being squeezed.

What will it take for this government to prioritize social and affordable housing rather than developers' profits?

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. As he is well aware, we made historic investments in the last federal budget. We even announced a new program, the co-op program. It is the best investment in co-operatives in 30 years, precisely to create non-market housing.

We will continue to work with all partners to build more housing, particularly in Montreal.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, people in Vancouver Kingsway are really struggling to find a home they can afford. A two-bedroom apartment costs over $3,600 a month, which is the highest cost in the country. The average renter is now spending 60% of their income on rent, or double the recommended amount. This is the result of decades of underfunding by Liberal and Conservative governments. The Liberals are failing to meet this moment, and the Conservatives offer slogans instead of solutions.

When will the Liberals start building the affordable, non-market homes people need and deserve?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are doing exactly that. We share an interest with that party in building more non-market homes. That has to happen, and this is why budget 2024 supplemented existing programs that will make it happen.

He raises the issue of rent, and he should. We do have an expensive situation when it comes to rent in Canada, and that is why the government is responding by putting in place innovative measures that will lead to more building. It is lifting the GST on the construction of purpose-built rentals and putting in place measures to allow for low-interest loans by the private sector; these are measures the Conservatives do not support. They are not serious.

Carbon Pricing

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or corruption. Liberals do not want Canadians to know what they already know: Canadians are worse off with the carbon tax. A secret government report proves that the carbon tax costs Canadians more than they get back, but the government has forced its budget watchdog to sign a gag order so that he cannot share that information with Canadians.

When will the Prime Minister quit using unbelievable talking points and release the secret report that proves Canadians are right?

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

Mr. Speaker, that member of Parliament knows full well that, many years ago, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that eight out of 10 Canadians were better off under the carbon pricing policies of the government. Today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer says eight out of 10 Canadians are better off under the carbon pricing policy of the government. That member, however, ran in the last election, walking around Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek and promising to put a price on pollution.

[An hon. member]

She did.

[Steven McKinnon]

She sure did, Mr. Speaker, but now she opposes the doubling of the growth in the rural rebate—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek has the floor.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely did not do that, and he can talk to my constituents.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer has already proven that the Liberal carbon tax, just like the Prime Minister, is not worth the cost. The PBO has been clear: The vast majority of Canadians are worse off under a carbon tax than without it, and the Liberal secret government report proves it. The analysis has been done, but the government is blocking its release with a gag order.

When will the Prime Minister come clean with Canadians, stop hiding the real cost of the carbon tax and release his secret report?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have learned something rather astounding this morning. The member just denied that she ran on the Conservative Party of Canada's platform in the last election. However, there she sits as a member of the Conservative caucus. Canadians can now ask any member over here what parts of the Conservative platform they will be subtracting themselves from in the upcoming election. Which parts will they be disassociating themselves from? The Conservative platform applies to all the members' bulletins.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost. When asked about reaching their climate goals, the Liberal member for Whitby admitted that they knew their policies would be difficult and painful for Canadians. Now we know that their carbon tax climate policy confirms this, as documented in a secret report that has been covered up by putting a gag order on their budget watchdog.

When will the government quit using its unbelievable talking points and release this secret report that proves Canadians are right?

[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, campaign platforms are not a buffet. All the members on the Conservatives' side ran on a commitment to price carbon with Erin O'Toole. That they have abandoned those commitments just demonstrates very clearly that they have no integrity and no desire to fight climate change or lower our emissions.

Let us look at what the PBO actually said, which is that “carbon pricing is [the most] effective way of reducing [greenhouse gas] emissions.” The PBO has—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Order. I cannot hear the hon. parliamentary secretary.

I will allow the hon. parliamentary secretary to finish up.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if I could finish, the PBO concluded that carbon pricing is the most cost-effective way to fight climate change.

Canadians will receive their Canada carbon rebate on July 15, which supports affordability.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I guess the member ran on a platform of record cover-ups and corruption, but Canadians are sick and tired of the NDP-Liberal government. It silences anyone who does not go along with its narrative.

The government is covering up for Liberal insiders who are benefiting from exploiting the green slush fund. It is covering up the shameful inappropriate awarding of contracts to McKinsey, as well as the names of MPs who are involved in foreign interference. Now it is silencing the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Again, when will the government release the secret report that proves Canadians are right?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that the PBO said a long time ago that eight out of 10 Canadians were better off; today he says that eight out of 10 Canadians are better off.

Now that we have à la carte election platforms, does the member approve of his leader's affirmations with respect to contraception and a woman's right to choose? While he is at it, could he explain to the House what was discussed at the lunch he attended with the extreme right German legislator?

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians trust the independent and impartial Parliamentary Budget Officer. This is likely because the PBO shows its homework instead of relying on the old “just trust me” routine. Because of the PBO, we know that there exists government data showing what the true cost of the carbon tax is, but the Liberal-NDP government does not want to show the homework that is contained in that secret report. In fact, the Liberals have gone so far as to gag the PBO from telling Canadians about it. Why do they not just release the report?

[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 did, and that is not what the PBO said.

What the PBO said, back on April 17, is that he overestimated the economic cost of climate change. This means that all the axe-the-tax rallies are based on faulty math. This is just another reason for Conservatives to deny climate change. Denying the effectiveness and proven impact of carbon pricing is another form of climate change denial.

The Canada carbon rebate will be in mailboxes and bank accounts on July 15. We support affordability and fighting climate change on this side.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to see that secret report from the PBO on the true cost of the carbon tax. Canadians no longer trust the government, they no longer trust this MP, and they no longer trust the Prime Minister. Canadians want the data. They want the facts, and they will determine the truth. Canadians do not believe that they are better off because of the carbon tax. They are struggling daily to survive.

Why does the government not trust Canadians to make a fair assessment and release the secret report on the true cost of the carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us review what the PBO actually said.

On Power and Politics, Mr. Giroux said that carbon pricing is “seen by [most] economists as...the most cost-effective way of reaching...levels of carbon emissions [reduction].” Recently, on March 27, at the OGGO committee, Yves Giroux also said that “there is a wide consensus among economists—and I am an economist—that carbon pricing is an effective way of reducing carbon emissions.”

Mr. Giroux has claimed over and over again, and has reiterated, that carbon pricing—