Jonathan Wilkinson

[Questions on the Order Paper, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has made significant progress on its commitment to plant two billion trees. As of December 2023, the government had agreements signed or under negotiation to plant over 393 million trees, with over 200 contribution agreements with provinces, territories, municipalities, indigenous organizations and other groups. As of the most recent progress update in August 2023, the program had supported the planting of over 110 million trees since it was launched in 2021. As funding recipients have until May 31, 2024, to submit planting numbers for the 2023 planting season, an update on progress to date will be provided shortly thereafter.

Information on projects, organizations and planned planted trees with signed contribution and grant agreements can be found here: https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/?sort=agreement_start_date+desc&search_text=contributions+for+2+billion+trees&page=1&agreement_type=C%7CG%7CO&owner_org=nrcan-rncan

Information about the two billion trees program can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees.html

Information on the progress of the two billion trees program can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees/our-action.html

Information on the two billion trees program’s collaboration with provinces and territories can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees/2-billion-trees-partnerships-with-provinces-and-territories.html

[Carbon Pricing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to my hon. colleague across the House, who is from the great province of Saskatchewan, that she have a conversation with Dr. Brett Dolter at the University of Regina, who has said that eight out of 10 Canadian families get more money back, and it is those who live on modest incomes who do the best on a net-benefit basis.

It is an affordability program, but it is also a program to address the climate crisis that imperils the future of our children. That these folks have zero plan to address the issue and do not seem to care at all about it is reckless and irresponsible.

[Carbon Pricing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member is saying things that are devoid of facts. What she is proposing would take money away from folks who live on modest incomes. Eight out of 10 families get more money back than they pay into the price on pollution, and it works directly inverse to income. It is those people who live on the most modest incomes who would be most impacted by their plan to cut the carbon rebate.

That would be reckless and irresponsible, and it would put at risk people who live in this country on modest incomes.

[Carbon Pricing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, again I would implore the Conservatives in opposition to actually use facts when they make statements. Two hundred economists in this country have validated the fact that the carbon price is the most efficient way to reduce emissions and is done in a manner that is affordable.

When Premier Moe was before the committee a couple of weeks ago, journalists actually called the statements he was making, which were the same as what this fellow is making, a “parade of nonsense” and “completely dishonest”. I totally agree.

[Carbon Pricing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we actually believe in facts, and we believe in science. The hon. member made statements that actually have zero bases in facts. Two hundred economists in this country signed a letter two weeks ago, which said that eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said that eight out of 10 Canadians get money back. They can make up all the things they want to, but the facts are on our side. It is an issue that addresses affordability for Canadians, particularly those on modest incomes. It is a plan to address climate change.

Those reckless, irresponsible Conservatives on the other side of the House should be ashamed.

[Carbon Pricing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it is important for this country to address the climate crisis that is facing us, and certainly Canadians understand that. There are significant costs that we are facing, including issues around wildfires as we move forward, if we do not address climate change. However, it is also important that we do that in a manner that is affordable.

Eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back from the carbon rebate than they pay in the price on pollution. If that is taken away, as the Leader of the Opposition would like to do, that would actually be attacking the poorest members in our society. Shame on them.

[The Environment, April 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the discussion that he and I had at the airport on this subject. I think we were intending to meet more about this going forward.

The greener homes program was, indeed, very successful. We actually utilized all the funding early. Thus, we have closed the portal. However, we have also announced that we will be moving forward with a new program that will be focused on folks who live on modest incomes, enabling them to make deep retrofits moving forward to reduce carbon emissions and to enhance their energy savings on an ongoing basis. We are very much committed to putting that in force.

[Carbon Pricing, April 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the whole structure of the price on pollution, as the hon. member knows, is done in a manner that creates an incentive to reduce carbon emissions but does so in a manner that is affordable for Canadians. Eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back. It works in direct proportion to income so that those who live on modest incomes are the best off with respect to carbon pricing.

Climate change is real, whether the Conservatives like to understand that or not. Their premiers, Scott Moe and Danielle Smith, have both admitted that carbon pricing is the most effective and efficient way to reduce emissions. Get with the program.

[Carbon Pricing, April 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows full well, provinces and territories can put in place their own price on pollution. That is what British Columbia has done. That is what Quebec has done. Those provinces are actually committed to fighting climate change, but the hon. member comes from a province that has no climate plan and no climate targets. The premier admits the price on pollution is the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions, yet he does nothing. That is a shame.

[Carbon Pricing, April 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, again, it is important to ensure we are dealing with the facts. Ninety-seven per cent of on-farm fuels are exempt from the price on pollution, and there is a rebate to address farmers' and farm incomes on a go-forward basis.

In Canada, eight out of 10 Canadian families get more money back. In fact, Professor Dolter at the University of Regina, whom the hon. member might want to go talk to, called out the Conservatives last week for misinformation. When the Conservative leader's ally, Scott Moe, appeared before committee on the carbon price, journalists called his appearance a “parade of nonsense” and “completely dishonest”.

Conservative slogans and misinformation do not help Canadians with—