Debates of Sept. 26th, 2024

Seniors

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that was not the question. The Liberals may not realize it, but October 29 is just around the corner.

In the meantime, they can start today by showing seniors and the community organizations that assist them a sign of good faith. The Liberals can promise to reach an agreement with the Government of Quebec and stop withholding funds from the age well at home program. It is unacceptable that the federal government should start a dispute so that it could interfere in Quebec's jurisdictions, only to end up depriving our organizations of money that rightfully belongs to Quebec's seniors.

Will they reach an agreement with Quebec and stop holding seniors hostage?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, that is not all. When we moved the age of retirement back down from 67 to 65, what did the member and her colleagues do? They voted against it. When we increased the GIS, a federal program helping hundreds of thousands of vulnerable seniors, the Bloc Québécois and my colleague voted against it.

Yes, we proudly increased OAS for vulnerable seniors. She and her colleagues voted against it.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an ultimatum. Bill C‑282 on supply management has to pass before October 29.

That should be simple. The House voted in favour of the bill, but it has been stuck in the Senate for more than a year. Yesterday, in committee, a senator asked an excellent question. He said, and I quote, “Can you explain why this bill is being held up in the Senate? It is a bill that was supported by the vast majority of members in the democratically elected House.”

The Prime Minister appointed 80% of the senators. Will he tell them that it is time to release the bill?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, our government supports supply management, and my hon. colleague is well aware of that. We supported Bill C-282 because, of course, we have supported and always will support supply management, unlike the Conservatives, who fell shamefully behind when important funding for supply management came to the House and voted against it.

My hon. colleague is fully aware that we have supported and will continue to support supply management.

The Economy

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

The NDP leader made a big deal about tearing up the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals and then flip-flopped by voting to keep the Prime Minister in power. The NDP leader needs to end the costly coalition with the Liberals. People cannot afford to eat. Ontario food bank usage just posted an eight-year high.

Canadians need a carbon tax election. Why is the Prime Minister so afraid to have one?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, we all suffer when we know that fellow Canadians are struggling.

We have made historic investments as a government to ensure that our social security net is strong for Canadians, whether that is with $10-a-day child care or restoring the retirement age to 65. However, let us not pretend that the Conservatives really care about helping Canadians. If they did, they would be supporting these important measures, which are helping.

Carbon Pricing

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is what they have really done. The NDP-Liberal coalition has doubled the debt, doubled housing costs, taxed food, punished work and unleashed crime in our streets.

Instead of selling out Canadians by keeping the Prime Minister in power, the NDP leader needs to vote with common-sense Conservatives for a carbon tax election. Why not let Canadians decide whether they want the carbon tax hiked by 61¢ a litre by the Liberals or want a government that is going to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I think the question is why the Conservatives are so desperate for an election right now. It is because they want to get in before Canadians understand that they have a hidden agenda. However, Canadians are much smarter than that. When the Conservatives say one thing and do another, Canadians know.

We trust Canadians. When will the Conservatives start trusting them?

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

The Saskatchewan premier said the carbon tax is costing Saskatchewan's health and education systems nearly $380 million. He notes, “That’s money that could be used for more teachers, more doctors, and more nurses.” The NDP-Liberal carbon tax is literally taking away teachers and nurses from Saskatchewan. Shame on the NDP for supporting this tired Liberal government.

If the Prime Minister wants to cut teachers and nurses in Saskatchewan, why will he not call a carbon tax election and let Canadians decide?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would encourage my Conservative colleagues to use facts. Eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back. It is an affordability measure. People who live on modest incomes benefit significantly. It is also an important way of fighting climate change.

If the member wants to quote Scott Moe, I would say that when he appeared here in Ottawa and talked about the price on pollution, he said that he looked at doing something else and everything else was too expensive, so he was not going to do anything to fight climate change. I guess that is the answer of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Veterans Affairs

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, veterans taking part in the Invictus Games have found themselves on the hook for medical insurance. This has come as a shock since all serving military members have theirs covered under the Canadian Armed Forces. The Liberals created this mess. Now one veteran has had their life changed after a serious injury during the previous games.

Will the minister admit to this mistake and extend medical coverage to all Canadian Invictus athletes for the upcoming Whistler games, or will she continue to ignore the needs of veterans?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the Invictus Games offers a very unique rehabilitation opportunity to ill and injured veterans and to members of the Canadian Armed Forces. It is important to make sure that the well-being of veterans is taken care of during the games and after the games. That is why we will continue to work with the Canadian Armed Forces, Soldier On, the Invictus Games and other stakeholders to ensure that the well-being of our veterans is always taken care of.

I want to assure members that this situation will be rectified before Invictus Games 2025.

Mental Health and Addictions

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, young Canadians are in survival mode and rates of anxiety and depression have gone through the roof with the high cost of living and youth unemployment. Many are struggling just to meet their basic needs, like food and shelter, making paying for therapy out of pocket seem like a luxury.

The Liberals promised to ensure that mental health is treated as a full and equal part of Canada's universal public health care system, but they have failed to deliver. When will the government finally get serious about the mental health crisis and ensure that all Canadians can access the mental health care they need when they need it?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I can say as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, but also as a mother to two teenage daughters, that this is exactly why in 2024, in this year's budget, we pledged $500 million toward the youth mental health fund.

We are working with community service organizations that are youth-led and for youth in every community across this country. We want to meet young people where they are to get them the supports and services they need and deserve. They are the future of our country, and we are going to take care of them so that we build a stronger Canada together.

Natural Resources

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that around the world, Canada has a reputation for helping its friends and being there for its allies.

The world was rightly shocked when the Conservative Party repeatedly voted against Ukraine, and Canadians were shocked once again this week when the deputy Conservative leader disparaged and personally attacked the German state secretary for saying that climate change is real and Europe wants to buy clean Canadian energy.

Can the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources share with this House how Canada is supporting our European allies like Germany?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, when Ukrainians were invaded by Russia, we worked actively with them to support them, including providing necessary equipment to support their electricity grids, while the Conservatives chose to abandon Ukraine. When Germany said it needed help from Canada with energy security and providing clean hydrogen and critical minerals, we said yes and worked with it. The Conservatives simply bullied German officials publicly.

Providing clean energy to the world is something that will not only benefit Canada from a prosperity and jobs perspective, but will also enable us to help our allies around the world. The Conservative rhetoric is going to cost Canada its friends. It is going to cost Canada jobs—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I know that all members get passionate when it comes to questions and answers, but we must make sure that we show a fundamental respect for all members.

I know that the hon. member for Calgary Signal Hill is a veteran of this place and other places. I am certain he knows how to make sure his language is appropriate.

The hon. member for Bay of Quinte.

International Trade

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the Liberal government, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up, time is up and now tariffs are up, with softwood lumber tariffs doubling to 14.5%. What has happened?

Today, Resolute Forest Products announced the closure of the sawmills in Mauricie and in Maniwaki, Quebec, costing 280 jobs, because of the tariffs. The Prime Minister said that this was a small issue.

Can the Prime Minister explain why the loss of 280 jobs is a small issue, or is he just a soft Prime Minister?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Export Promotion]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member that the forestry sector and the workers, particularly, in this sector are tremendously important to our communities across the country. They are dedicated workers who give their all. As we have said, the punishing tariffs are unjustified. We have said this to the United States. In fact, I know that the United States cares about building affordable homes just as we do. If the United States were to get rid of the tariffs, it would actually help us build affordable homes in this country and in the United States.

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian softwood lumber producers have already paid $9 billion more because of the excess tariffs since 2017. Do we know what else they pay? They pay the carbon tax. The carbon tax costs hundreds of millions of dollars more, which makes it uncompetitive to the U.S. industry.

Do we know what the irony is? The industry plants trees. Last year alone, it planted 440 million trees, while the government's two-billion tree program barely got off the ground.

Is it not time for a new, competent minister who is going to axe the tax, stand up for Canadians and fight for the 400,000 jobs in the forestry sector?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the question is yet another example of the Conservative Party's not doing its homework and not learning the facts. As I say, on a residential basis, eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back. It is an affordability measure and an effective way to fight climate change.

In terms of the plants he is talking about, they are based in Quebec, which has its own cap-and-trade system. It does not pay the price on pollution.

Forestry Industry

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, we found out that the sawmill in Mauricie and the one in Maniwaki are closing.

Some 280 workers are out of work once again because of the failure by an incompetent government on the softwood lumber agreement. It is not over. More sawmills will close their doors after the Minister of Environment and Climate Change imposes his order that will kill at least 1,400 jobs. Entire communities are in jeopardy. Why do the Liberals always fail to help forestry workers?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that the Conservatives are not huge fans of science, researchers or knowledge, but I would still like to quote Martin-Hugues St-Laurent, a professor at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, who recently said, “The emergency order is amply justified. The federal government is simply implementing the legislation given the absence of a provincial strategy deemed effective enough to contribute to the species' recovery.”

I could also quote Alain Branchaud of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, who said, and I quote, “The emergency order proposed by the Canadian government is justified and measured. First and foremost, it's scientifically justified.” On this side of the House, we listen to science.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec forestry workers work hard, but they always get the short end of the stick from this Liberal government, which is backed by the Bloc Québécois. The threat of an order that will kill at least 1,400 jobs is still looms large, since the Bloc Québécois voted yet again to keep this government in power.

The forestry sector is vital to our regions, and the Bloc Québécois is no longer a party of the regions. This was evident during the Montreal by-election. How many jobs is the minister willing to sacrifice before the government falls?