Julie Dabrusin

[Natural Resources, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I am not even sure how to fully respond to the speech I just heard, which was a list of the donations made by the oil and gas industry to the member's community. That is great. I just do not really know how to respond to that, except to say that in my community, local sports are supported by many different community organizations and businesses, and I thank them very much for their support.

I do not think that this is actually what we are supposed to be debating today. I do not think that this is necessarily the most important issue that we have to talk about. I think the most important issue that we have to talk about, and the member opposite did touch on this as well, is the future for our economy, our environment and our planet, here in this country and around the world. I think that one of the things that frustrates me sometimes is that there is not enough focus, as well, on all of the opportunities.

It is so frustrating to always be talking in the negative. There are opportunities and the world is looking to us for those opportunities. In fact, Romania, wanting to make sure that it can stay away from Russian oil, turned to Canada. We are providing expertise in providing more nuclear support and building out nuclear energy more. That is something that we can provide. When we look at other places where we are working with our allies, we have the know-how and the go-to. That is something that we need to be continuing to bring forward.

Just recently, I got to go to the graduation of the first all-female class of new millwrights, who will be working at the Darlington refurbishment. There is a great opportunity there for good-paying union jobs for these women coming out of the program. There are opportunities, and we need to be seizing them. At the same time, we need to be fighting climate change because that is the most existential threat for our planet. Let us do both. Let us stop focusing on the negative. Let us look at all that we can achieve. That is, in fact, what we are doing.

[Carbon Pricing, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, how sweet that I get to talk about sugar for a second, because right in downtown Toronto, we have Redpath Sugar. I got to go to Redpath Sugar and look at the improvements that are being made with federal support from Agriculture Canada to help it reduce its energy costs and energy needs so it is more efficient. It actually is helping its bottom line. It was also helping make a safer environment for its workers.

Yes, even with sugar, we are making improvements while actually fighting climate change.

[Carbon Pricing, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I believe the question originated as talking about carbon pricing, but I am really happy if we are going to talk about the cap on emissions from oil and gas instead.

I would like to begin with the point that emissions in Canada are on their way down. That is a good thing. When the Liberals first formed government, emissions were tracking upward and there was no path to bring them down. Today, our emissions are lower than they have been in almost three decades.

That is real progress and that is what our young people want to see from us, as do our next generations. They know if we do not take action on climate change, we are going to see more and more natural disasters and we are also going to lose the economic opportunities we have here in our country to provide energy, know-how and innovation that we are creating right here. In fact, we see time and time again that we are developing that important know-how.

If we want to look at examples of how we are supporting great energy projects right here in our country, we do not have to look any further than the Oneida battery project with Six Nations not far from Toronto. It is kind of in southern Ontario. It will be one of the largest battery projects in all of North America.

It was created with the help of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the federal government. It ensures we are working as a partnership. It is a question of reconciliation but it is also about how we create that battery storage for the days the member opposite was bringing up, where maybe there is less sun and less wind. We do have those other solutions and the world is looking for those other energy solutions.

That is why we have worked with Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia to develop an offshore wind industry. We have created changes in the Atlantic accords to make that happen. That is what they were looking for from us. Time and time again, we are working to make sure that Canada is at the forefront of fighting climate change and that we are on track to meet our targets. We are, by the way, on track to meet our interim targets for 2026. The oil and gas emissions cap will help us to be on track to meet our further targets.

We need to take these actions. We need to do it for our economy. We need to do it for our planet.

[Privilege, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, where I wanted to pick up is exactly where that speech ended. I am sure all the members in this place are well aware that we just heard a long speech, which was highly critical of this government, that will not be censored. In fact, that is exactly what happens in this country: We allow for freedom of expression. It is in our charter.

I just wanted to pick up on the beginning of the speech, where I believe the member opposite said that we were akin to North Korea. I was hoping perhaps he could elaborate on that, because that certainly does not seem to be the experience of most Canadians. I would like to know how he sees us as being akin to North Korea.

[Privilege, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member represents many young people in his community. I wonder if perhaps he can highlight some of the things we are unable to move forward on, because of this privilege motion, that young people are counting on us to achieve. We have done so much, but perhaps he can let the House know.

[Committees of the House, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I listened with a lot of interest to the speech. I agree that climate change is one of the biggest fights for our country and our world. It is a matter of our next generations and the future of our planet. It is also about our economic future. Economists from across our country are saying that carbon pricing is the single most efficient way for us to fight climate change in our country, and it is helping to reduce our emissions as we speak, because they are now the lowest they have been in three decades.

Can the member opposite explain why the NDP has chosen not to support carbon pricing?

[Committees of the House, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I really liked everything I heard. There were a lot of good ideas. I agree that technology alone will not solve all our climate change problems. The Conservative Party here in the House has no plan for fighting climate change. Could my colleague suggest a few ideas about how to convince the Conservatives that this is important for our economy, our country and our children?

[Committees of the House, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I found the speech to be a fascinating exposition in avoiding actual facts. Right now, emissions in Canada are at the lowest they have been in almost three decades, and that is actually verified by independent reports. When the member opposite keeps talking about everything he believes we should do to stop fighting climate change, I am fascinated, because what we are doing is actually working.

Economists across Canada have said that the most efficient way to fight climate change is the price on carbon pollution. If the Conservatives want to remove it, what is their plan?

[Charter City Toronto, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most galling thing I have read in recent memory is a post by a Ford MPP celebrating tearing out bike lanes in my home city of Toronto by saying it will make roads safer for people on bikes. Where is the data?

Let us be clear. Bike lanes save lives. If someone has a problem with their design or location, they should take it to our mayor or to city councillors. That is why we elect them. It is time that we look at charter cities and look at how to better protect our cities from this kind of overreach.

I ran to make sure that our federal government was a strong partner to the city of Toronto, and we are. Strong partners do not roll over each other's toes.

The Ford decision is going to cost lives. It is going to cost taxpayers. It is going to take away an affordable way to get around our city, and it is going to add to traffic. How is that for a lump of coal for the holidays? Bah humbug.

Let us stand up for the city of Toronto. Let us stand up for charter cities.

[Urban Infrastructure Project, November 18th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we talk so much about division, I am going to share a wonderful story of what happens when we bring people together.

Last week, we literally moved the mouth of the Don River and reconnected it to Lake Ontario. I got to join with members from provincial, federal and municipal government, including the Mississaugas of the Credit as indigenous partners and hereditary owners of that land, to make a big splash about a big moment in urban renewal.

When we look at it, it is one of the largest infrastructure projects in all North America. It protects homes in my community of south Leslieville from floods and unlocks land for housing. In fact, when the project is done, it will be home to over 100,000 people, but in the first phase, there will be housing for 14,000 people, including affordable rental homes.

We are going to open a new park, and everyone can check it out next summer. It is a big moment. I thank Waterfront Toronto for all of its work to bring us together.