Jonathan Wilkinson

[Natural Resources, September 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour for his ongoing excellent work in the province of Nova Scotia.

I was in Halifax earlier this week to announce the negotiation of a $500-million loan guarantee with Nova Scotia Power. That will take the projected rate of increase in electricity rates in Nova Scotia from what was going to be 19% next year to the rate of inflation. It is an important step forward.

The federal government is working to ensure affordability with respect to energy on a go-forward basis. We need to work to ensure affordability, reliability and a non-emitting grid in every province and territory in this country.

[Carbon Pricing, September 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it would be nice if people actually used facts in the House. At the end of the day, a price on pollution is actually an affordability mechanism. To get rid of the carbon rebate would actually make people who live on modest incomes poorer. At the same time, it would imperil the future of our children, abandoning them to a future where we have runaway climate change. It is so ridiculous that, after 300 economists have said it and the Leader of the Opposition refuses to talk to any one of them, that Conservatives can get up and make up these fairy tales.

[Carbon Pricing, September 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as I said a moment ago, the Canada carbon rebate and the price on pollution are in fact an affordability measure that helps those who live on modest incomes the most. It is certainly true that 300 economists in this country have validated that to be true.

The leader of the opposition and his minions across the way can make up facts, they can talk about untruths, but at the end of the day, it is very clear that this is a progressive policy that helps us to fight climate change and address affordability concerns. I would ask the hon. member across the way to actually do his homework.

[Carbon Pricing, September 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the price on pollution and the Canada carbon rebate are an affordability measure. Eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back than they pay in the price on pollution, and the price on pollution is also an effective and efficient way to fight climate change. That is why progressives, including many who voted for the New Democratic Party in the last election, were shocked at the position that was taken by the leader of the New Democratic Party, walking away from a plan on climate change. Shame on them. They will have to explain that to their voters down the road.

[Carbon Pricing, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague and her colleagues across the aisle may be entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. The fact is that emissions are down in a significant way. The fact is that 300 economists, experts in their field, say that eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back. Those are facts.

What is also a fact is that the party across the way has no plan to address climate change and no plan for the economic future of the country. It is also the case that they all campaigned on putting a price on pollution. If anybody should resign, it is those members opposite.

[Carbon Pricing, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would invite my hon. colleague to have a conversation with the 300 economists who have validated that eight out of 10 families get more money back, and that the price on pollution is a driver of innovation and a driver of investment in our economy.

Across the aisle, we have a Conservative Party in the country that denies the existence of climate change and has no economic plan to ensure prosperity in the future for people from coast to coast to coast. It is truly a shame. It is abandoning the future of our children and the future of our country.

[Carbon Pricing, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, what we have is a comprehensive plan to address the threat of climate change, one of the most comprehensive in the world. We also have a plan for the economy, one that will ensure economic jobs and economic prosperity in a low-carbon world.

What is astonishing is the fact that the Conservatives have neither. They have neither an environmental plan to save the planet from burning, nor an economic plan. With the height of hypocrisy, that member over there actually campaigned on putting a price on pollution. Where were they?

[Carbon Pricing, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I noted my colleague's newfound interest in what economists have to say. Three hundred economists across this country actually validated the fact that eight out of 10 Canadians get more money back.

What is appalling is the complete disregard and ignorance of the effects of climate change and the costs of climate change. I do not know whether the hon. member is a climate denier or whether he just does not think climate change is very important, but his willingness to compromise the future of our children is absolutely appalling.

[Housing, June 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam for his advocacy and focus on getting more homes built faster. The housing accelerator fund is indeed unlocking ambitious action on solving the housing crisis, including in my riding of North Vancouver, where a recent $18-million investment will spur the construction of thousands of homes, very much including renters. Across Canada and B.C., hundreds of thousands of new homes are being fast-tracked thanks to investments like these. While the Conservative leader is vowing to rip up these vital agreements, we are working on building homes for the middle class.

[Natural Resources, June 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has confirmed that the waste water is not linked to radioactive contaminants and poses no threat to the public.

CNL and government experts continue to monitor the Ottawa River. They are reporting that there is no obvious damage to the environment.

The health and safety of the environment and the public is our top priority.