The hon. member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River.
House of Commons Hansard #149 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-37.
House of Commons Hansard #149 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-37.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
First Nations Clean Water Act Second reading of Bill C-37. The bill establishes minimum drinking-water and wastewater standards on First Nation lands, recognizes First Nations’ jurisdiction over water, and provides for funding, source-water protections and a First Nations-led water commission. Supporters say it can strengthen self-governance and improve water access; critics argue it weakens earlier commitments, relies on non-binding “best efforts” and lacks enforceable duties and long-term funding. The House sends it to committee for further study. 18100 words, 2 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Alleged Premature Disclosure of Bill C-40 Members debate whether the government’s advance disclosure of Bill C-40 to journalists breaches parliamentary privilege, with Gabriel Hardy arguing MPs must receive legislative information first and calling for greater respect for democratic procedures and transparency. 600 words.
National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act Report stage of Bill C-241. The bill establishes a national strategy to assess and improve coordination, data sharing and forecasting for floods and droughts, while consulting provinces, municipalities, Indigenous governments and other partners. Supporters say it can strengthen preparedness; critics argue amendments weaken concrete requirements and that the strategy delays action or risks federal duplication of provincial responsibilities. 7900 words, 1 hour.
EmploymentOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
Madam Speaker, 110,000 Canadians have been out of work in just the past 60 days. We have the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7, with the worst labour participation rate in 30 years. Meanwhile, real wages continue to decline. That is the Prime Minister's record.
The Prime Minister promised the strongest economy in the G7, so will he acknowledge that once again his rhetoric does not match reality?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Madam Speaker, we all know that we are in a very challenging trade war. That is why the thing to do is build major projects and create jobs. That is exactly what we are doing. At Darlington, we are building North America's first grid-scale small modular reactors, with 18,000 construction jobs and 3,700 energy jobs. In Pickering, we are rebuilding the nuclear plant, with 30,000-plus jobs. East of Saskatoon, crews are building a potash mine, with 5,500 construction jobs.
We are building the jobs. If only the Conservatives would come on board and join us.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Speaker, there is the nuclear deal with Westinghouse, the hydroelectric deal with Evolugen, pension funds with the Maple Fund, real estate deals for data centres, the European Space Agency campus, and now there is Enercare and its heat pumps. Yes, Canada is now in the heat pump business. Come on.
People are struggling to put food on the table, but there is no need to worry, because the Liberal government is going to help pay for their heat pump. What do all of these deals have in common? It is Brookfield. The Prime Minister is not even trying to hide his conflicts of interest anymore.
Can the Liberals explain why every government announcement can be linked, directly or indirectly, to Brookfield?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Madam Speaker, I was in Sherbrooke to make the announcement, and I have to wonder why the Conservatives are so opposed to helping Canadians and Quebeckers install heat pumps, which would make heating their homes more affordable.
On average, Canadians will see a reduction of $1,400 per year in the cost of heating their homes. This will have a particularly significant impact in Quebec.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Madam Speaker, who administers the Prime Minister's conflict of interest screen? It is his chief of staff and the Clerk of the Privy Council, both of whom report directly to the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Brookfield is active in the nuclear, energy, real estate, and infrastructure sectors.
Yesterday, the Liberals announced yet another debt-financed program. It involves investing $2 billion in heat pumps. Once again, Brookfield is involved in this sector. They are telling us to trust them. At the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics, members called for a more transparent mechanism.
Will the government establish an effective ethics system administered by non-partisan individuals?
Nathalie Provost LiberalSecretary of State (Nature)
Madam Speaker, it is unbelievable. We spend days and days talking about affordability. We hear about the challenges facing citizens as we go through a major economic crisis, and yet people nitpick us when all we are doing is working for Canadians. We are working to promote affordability through the heat pump program. That is more than $1,400 per household. One million households across Canada will be eligible for the program, not to mention the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, child care, the Canada child benefit, and so on.
There are tons of programs—
FinanceOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Barrie South—Innisfil.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie South—Innisfil, ON
Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister pulled the curtain back on how he is using the power of his office, aligning public policy to line his pockets.
When the Prime Minister announced that two billion tax dollars would be used to subsidize heat pumps, he stood at a microphone knowing he owned shares in Trane heat pumps, Schneider Electric and Brookfield, which owns Enercare, a seller and installer of heat pumps. The conflict of interest is so obvious, but, worse, it is a breach of trust.
The Prime Minister is funnelling billions of dollars to heat pump subsidies while he and Brookfield-connected companies are positioned to benefit. Are Canadians supposed to believe that this is just a coincidence?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Madam Speaker, leave it to Conservatives, as we head into the heating season and Canadians are thinking about affordable energy to heat their homes, to talk about knocking out a program that on average will save Canadians $1,400 a year. That is a lot of money in the pockets of Canadians in all of their communities and all of our communities.
This is important for making sure that we are supporting families who need it the most.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie South—Innisfil, ON
Madam Speaker, Canadians are concerned about corruption and cronyism. This is about breaching public trust by using the power and levers of the Prime Minister's Office to announce public policies funnelling billions of tax dollars that will personally benefit the Prime Minister's assets, blind or not, and he knows it. At a minimum, this is cronyism, but some could argue that this crosses the line of not just a conflict of interest but self-dealing happening within the Prime Minister's Office.
Will someone on the other side have the guts to call the Prime Minister out on this conflict like so many Canadians have over the past 24 hours?
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, shame on the Conservatives. They are all about character assassination.
Let me tell the House what the government and this Prime Minister have accomplished over the last 18 months. That is how we deliver for Canadians. We deliver by major projects. We deliver by tax breaks. We deliver by dealing with issues like affordability and the environment and by building a stronger and healthier economy.
They should stop the character assassinations and get onside with team Canada.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Madam Speaker, the only thing higher than the member's voice is the Prime Minister's stock portfolio this week.
The Prime Minister is delivering for Liberal insiders, not ordinary Canadians. His $2-billion heat pump announcement yesterday stands to benefit companies like Trane and Enercare. The Prime Minister's ethics filing shows that he owns shares in Trane, and guess who owns Enercare. It is Brookfield.
We know that the Prime Minister's ethics disclosure shows he has millions of dollars of shares in Brookfield. What is he pumping, heat into Canadian homes or cash into Brookfield?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Madam Speaker, since we are not going to be able to count on Conservatives to tell their constituents how the program works, let me explain it. What we have done is created a program that will give all homeowners access to $2,000 to $10,000 to buy a heat pump so they can lower their bills. On average, that is going to deliver $1,400 a year in savings. They will be able to apply online and get a response within 24 hours. That means if their heating conks out, they will be able to get funding to support a new heat pump quickly.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Speaker, with all due respect, Louise Arbour, the Governor General, has no business interfering in Quebec's political debate over the monarchy. Her role does not extend to offering legal opinions, much less meddling in Quebec politics. Furthermore, she is in a clear conflict of interest, considering that she represents the monarchy in Canada. Despite her internationally recognized skills, she agreed to serve as a symbolic ribbon cutter. In the end, it was her decision and she has to take responsibility for it.
Will the government remind her that it is her duty to be circumspect and that she should mind her own business?
Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
I would remind the hon. member that we do not speak of the Governor General in such terms.
David Myles LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Nature)
Madam Speaker, Quebeckers' priorities are focused on building a stronger economy, making life more affordable, protecting workers from American tariffs and preserving the French language. That is what our government is focused on, today and always.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Speaker, there is unanimity in Quebec. All members of the Quebec National Assembly voted to abolish the oath to the British Crown. In Quebec, the general public and politicians alike agree that a foreign country's monarchy, an undemocratic symbol, must be removed from our institutions.
The only thing Quebeckers will miss less than the monarchy in the Red Hall is the Governor General's opinion on the matter. Will the government remind Ms. Arbour that, when she accepted her position, she also agreed to give up politics?
David Myles LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Nature)
Madam Speaker, as I explained, Quebeckers' priority is to build a stronger economy. That message was loud and clear with the election of our colleague, the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord. We will continue to support the French language in Quebec and to invest in culture. We have made huge investments over the past few months. We will continue to support Quebec.
Rhonda Kirkland Conservative Oshawa, ON
Madam Speaker, Thanksgiving should be a time for families to gather around a full dinner table, not worry about whether they can afford to put food on it, yet Thanksgiving dinner is projected to cost an extra 10% again this year. At Simcoe Hall Settlement House in Oshawa, food donations are just one-third of normal levels.
After 11 years of the Liberals, will the government finally admit that Canada is officially in an affordability crisis, and explain why they voted against our Conservative plan, which would have lowered food costs while families in Oshawa struggle to put food on the table this Thanksgiving?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Madam Speaker, what would lower food costs is if the member actually stood up and supported jobs in the Durham region. She and her party voted against the Canada Growth Fund, which invested $2 billion in the new nuclear project at Darlington, creating 18,000 construction jobs and 3,700 jobs in operations once the SMRs are in operation. That is significant support. That is how we build an affordable lifestyle. It is giving workers and young people chances to earn a good living and have wages outpace inflation. That is exactly—
The EconomyOral Questions
Rhonda Kirkland Conservative Oshawa, ON
Madam Speaker, I would have a lot more respect for the member for Whitby if he was standing up for the auto workers in our community.
The Simcoe Hall Settlement House food bank in Oshawa is now capped at 70 households a day. Demand has not fallen; it is having to turn people away, but food being donated has.
Grocery costs are still rising while meals are getting smaller and smaller for families. After years of reckless Liberal deficits and tax-and-spend policies, families cannot afford a basic Thanksgiving dinner.
Will the Liberals please tell us by which Thanksgiving exactly we can expect to have grocery prices stop rising, or will the Liberals admit they have no plan?
Jennifer McKelvie LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
Madam Speaker, our government cares deeply about affordability, whether it be prices at the grocery store or rent. Indeed, we have seen across Canada, 24 months in a row, that rents have been coming down. We are also making historic investments in housing, including in Oshawa, in the member's riding, where, with the help of the ACLP, we have invested $188 million to build 502 homes on the former foundry lands. These are homes for Canadians. We are also getting them to build those homes, which is creating jobs, and many of them will be affordable.
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Madam Speaker, Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful. There is a lot to be thankful for, including the beautiful country we live in, but since the Liberals took office 11 years ago, costs have been on the rise, including for Thanksgiving dinner, which will be 10% more expensive this year.
Conservatives have shared our plan to cut fuel taxes and save Canadians money. Will the Liberals admit that after their 11 years in power, there is an affordability crisis in Canada?