44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 29, 2021 11:00AM
- Nov/29/21 2:59:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would invite my hon. colleague to actually read the report from the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, which clearly shows that he did not look at the measures we have deployed since 2016 to fight climate change in Canada.
In fact, his report points out that under the Harper government there was nothing done on climate change in Canada. The commissioner acknowledges that he did not look at the hundred measures we put in place since 2016, the hundreds of billions of dollars we have invested to fight climate in this country.
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- Nov/29/21 3:00:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Liberals are number one in the G7 on emissions and number one in this place for blaming others for their lack of action.
Now, the government has declared war on the oil and gas sector. Despite that, emissions are continuing to rise.
Liberals pick fights, make enemies and kill jobs, but still emissions do not decline, so if it is not to lower emissions, why is the government so focused on ending Canada's energy sector?
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- Nov/29/21 3:00:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would point out to my colleague that the last inventory, Canada's greenhouse gas inventory, actually shows that without our government action and thanks to the inheritance from the Harper government on climate change, emissions in 2030 would be 30 million tonnes higher than they would have been without our intervention. That is almost half the emissions of all of Quebec. Our plan is working and we will continue on with implementing it.
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- Nov/29/21 3:01:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, according to signs posted at the industrial parks in Portneuf—Jacques‑Cartier, they are at capacity and are now hiring. Businesses are having to cut back on production, cancel orders or, at worst, close their doors.
One solution to the labour shortage is to hire foreign workers. A quick and simple solution would be to set up dedicated teams to clear up the backlog and hire more staff in the department.
Will the minister commit to immediately reducing processing times to protect our businesses and enable them to participate in the economic recovery?
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- Nov/29/21 3:02:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
More than 21,000 skilled workers have already been admitted in 2021, and the majority of them are in Quebec. We will hit Quebec's levels and get caught up on the pandemic-related delays.
If Quebec truly wants to reduce processing times, it should address the real cause, which is the Government of Quebec's selection criteria and its economic immigration levels.
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- Nov/29/21 3:02:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all know how important small businesses are to our Canadian economy. They are the bedrock and that is why our government was there since day one of this pandemic through the wage subsidy, the rent subsidy and the extension of the Canada emergency business account. However, as we head into Christmas, I am thinking of my retailers in Kings—Hants, small businesses, those that are on the main streets of Windsor, Wolfville and Kentville.
Can the Minister of Small Business provide an update to the House on the measures the government is supporting for small businesses, particularly retailers, as we head into the Christmas holidays?
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- Nov/29/21 3:03:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank small businesses all across the country so much for their incredible resilience during what was a terribly difficult time. I am seeing businesses that have gone digital, businesses and entrepreneurs that have been even more entrepreneurial. We are making a $4-billion investment to help more businesses across the country to go digital, so that wonderful main street store can offer those services and those products digitally. As we head into the holiday season, I would encourage everyone to shop local.
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- Nov/29/21 3:04:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the cost of living continues to rise while the Liberal government continues to spend. According to the vice-president of Scotiabank, inflation is expected to rise above 5% by the end of the year. At this rate, Canadians cannot afford to have the Liberal government continue to pour expensive gasoline on its inflationary fire. If the government does not plan to increase Canadians' wages by 5%, then what will it do to ensure my constituents can feed their families?
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- Nov/29/21 3:04:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me quote another economist who I hold in very high regard and I know Prime Minister Harper did too because he appointed him to be Governor of the Bank of Canada. Stephen Poloz said over the weekend, “what the stimulus did was to keep the economy from going into a deep hole in which we would have experienced persistent deflation. Read a book or two about the Great Depression in the 1930s and realize what was averted when we went through this.”
We know on this side of the House we did the right thing and it is time for the members opposite to admit it.
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- Nov/29/21 3:05:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am not sure whether the finance minister is aware that Mr. Harper has not been here for six years.
Scotiabank's Rebekah Young has warned that the Liberals' stimulus promises will drive up inflation and hurt our recovery rather than help it. Ms. Young knows what she is talking about. She used to be the director of policy development at Finance Canada.
Our Prime Minister says that he never thinks about monetary policy. Well, it is about time someone in his government did, because Canadians are hurting. When will the government provide a plan to cut costs and reduce inflation or will it continue to ignore the struggles of Canadians?
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- Nov/29/21 3:06:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Conservatives to be honest with Canadians. Do they really believe that it was wrong to support businesses and families when COVID hit? Do they really believe that the COVID lockdowns were the time for austerity? Canadians know that supporting them during COVID was the right thing to do. They know better than to trust the Conservatives to have their backs during the crisis, but they can trust us.
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- Nov/29/21 3:06:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, an elderly couple visited my office recently to explain that CPP and OAS was not enough to cover the rising cost of living caused by inflation. They are being forced to choose between food and rent, while also trying to balance medical, dental and prescription expenses. CPP and OAS are not coming close to keeping up with hyperinflation.
When will the government stop its inflationary policies that devastate the budgets of seniors?
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- Nov/29/21 3:07:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to ask the Conservatives to be careful and thoughtful with their use of economic terminology as 4.7% inflation is high, but it is not hyperinflation.
Also, I would like to remind the member for Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner that the government is responsible for fiscal policy, but it is our Bank of Canada that is in charge of monetary policy. We are very concerned about our seniors and that is why our government has acted to support them.
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- Nov/29/21 3:08:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, New Brunswick has always been a great destination for tourists from across Canada and around the world. Tourism is vital to the province's economy. Tourism alone generates over a billion dollars in revenue every year and employs more than 27,000 workers.
However, this sector, these workers, these businesses and these communities are facing unimaginable hardships because of the ongoing pandemic.
Can the hon. Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance update the House on the work that the federal government is doing to support the tourism industry in the Atlantic provinces?
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- Nov/29/21 3:08:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Madawaska—Restigouche for his question and hard work for New Brunswickers.
Our message to tourism businesses is clear: We are there for them now and we will work together to help reopen the economy in the coming weeks and months.
Thanks to the regional relief and recovery fund, we have provided over $225 million to businesses in Atlantic Canada, which helped to protect over 16,000 jobs and support nearly 2,500 companies. We are there for the industry and we will always be.
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- Nov/29/21 3:09:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a year and a half into this pandemic and public transit is still struggling. Without help, transit systems across Canada are going to have to cut services and lay off workers. Canadians need more transit, not less. Last week, FCM once again called for federal help for transit operations. Now is not the time for pointing fingers at provincial governments.
Will the minister renew help for public transit operations?
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- Nov/29/21 3:09:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, quite the contrary, the last thing we would do is point a finger at municipal or provincial partners with whom we have worked collaboratively to make historic investments in public transit. It is good for the quality of life for people who live in our cities. It is obviously good for our collective fight against climate change.
I had an excellent meeting with the board of directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. I am committed to working with them and all Canadians to enhance access to transit right across the country.
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- Nov/29/21 3:10:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last week, the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development released a scathing report, reminding us that:
Canada was once a leader in the fight against climate change. However, after a series of missed opportunities, it has become the worst performer of all G7 nations since...2015,
This report revealed that the government has funded 40 projects via the $675 million emissions reduction fund without verifiable emission reductions and two-thirds of projects going toward increasing oil and gas production.
Can the minister confirm whether this funding program will be suspended, with the remaining funds reallocated toward verifiable emission reductions going forward?
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- Nov/29/21 3:11:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we welcome the report from the commissioner. While we agree with a number of the commissioner's observations with regard to the structuring of ongoing programming, I think it is important to remember that this particular program was intended to be a temporary COVID response measure to sustain jobs for workers and communities at a time of record low and, at times, negative energy prices, and to ensure continued action on methane pollution reduction. This program has reduced about 4.6 megatonnes of methane.
That being said, the worst of the pandemic is behind the oil sector with respect to profitability and cash flow. In that light, we have commenced a review of the program and—
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- Nov/29/21 3:12:05 p.m.
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That is all the time we have today.
We have a point of order from the hon. member for Abbotsford.
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