House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2025, with 34% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, in budget 2022, the federal government announced that Public Services and Procurement Canada “will develop new tools, guidelines, and targets to support the adoption of green procurement across the federal government”. How does the recently announced $10-million loan guarantee for the Trans Mountain pipeline fit into this new commitment?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, does the minister see any contradiction between the buy clean strategy and the government's relentless commitment to its purchase and expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, I appreciate those commitments. The UN Secretary-General has made clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure at this point in the climate emergency is moral and economic madness, yet the Government of Canada now estimates that the Trans Mountain pipeline and the expansion will cost $21.4 billion, including the completion of the expansion of the pipeline.
Meanwhile, the minister's mandate letter includes “a new Buy Clean Strategy to support and prioritize the use of made-in-Canada low-carbon products in Canadian infrastructure projects.”
How does the $21.4 billion spent buying and expanding this pipeline fit into this “buy clean” strategy?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, I appreciate that. The fact is, though, that we bought a pipeline. Why is TMX not part of our procurement approach?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, I would encourage the minister to look at the science behind the climate crisis and ensure that our government's targets align with that science. This strategy was initiated in 2017 to help the federal government reduce its environmental impact and transition to low-carbon climate-resilient operations. One year later, though, in 2018, the federal government then purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 billion. Does the government include the Trans Mountain pipeline it purchased in this strategy?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, I would like to start by recognizing that the minister has been answering questions for many hours now. I respect her, and I appreciate her contributions this evening.
I would like to ask about the greening government strategy, which the minister spoke about earlier. A signature commitment of this strategy is net-zero emissions by 2050. Does the minister realize that net-zero emissions by 2050 is not equivalent to our Paris commitment to limit global temperature increase to no more than 1.5°C?
Business of Supply May 17th, 2022
Madam Speaker, as has been put forward by over 400 leading academics across the country, carbon capture is a false climate solution. It is a distraction from decarbonization. A recent study in the Netherlands made clear that 32 out of 40 times it is used, emissions went up. Given the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge's interest in affordability, I am wondering if he could reflect on what the $7.1 billion in the recent budget could have done, if it was put toward low-interest loans, for example, for households to action on climate.
Electoral Representation May 16th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, today we are debating a government bill on electoral representation, but there is no mention in it of electoral reform or proportional representation. Back in 2015, the Prime Minister promised over 1,800 times that he would make every vote count. Seven years later, we still do not have any legislation or indication from the governing party that it will follow through on these promises. Will the federal government support an independent, non-partisan national citizens assembly on electoral reform?
Preserving Provincial Representation in the House of Commons Act May 16th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, it is a nice change to see such strong agreement in this place among different parties. I am glad to see that.
I am rising to share something with the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent. He mentioned a few times, as some of his colleagues have, that a member of the Green Party, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, is in opposition to this motion. I want to let the member know that on that particular day, my understanding is that the reason for that was that consent was not shared beforehand, to seek that by email. We are working on that. That has been changed.
I am rising to let the member know that and to assure him, as he has been asking, that there was support from both Greens and we would appreciate being told about future UC motions.
Preserving Provincial Representation in the House of Commons Act May 16th, 2022
Madam Speaker, I will answer in English so that I get my words exactly right.
I do recognize that Quebec is a nation within Canada. I recognize that the Bloc is concerned with this. I recognize what the Bloc shares in terms of the political weight. I also think it is important to ensure we have proportional representation across the country.