44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 1, 2022 10:00AM
- Apr/1/22 11:42:46 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, beer, wine, cider and spirit producers are waking up this morning in my riding of Kelowna—Lake Country to an unfair increase in their excise escalator tax. Worse yet, this tax is tied to the consumer price index, meaning the government’s failure to tackle our inflation crisis will see it soaring even higher next year. April Fool’s Day pranks are only supposed to last until noon, so will the NDP-Liberal government give us some good news after this bad joke today and reverse this unfair increase?
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- Apr/1/22 11:43:20 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I understand the member's question and value the role that the wine, beer and spirit sector play in our economy as well as in tourism attraction and retention.
Like other taxes and benefits, the alcohol excise duty rate is calculated automatically every year to account for inflation. This is the right approach. It provides stability and predictability for the industry, which is what they asked of us when we formed government. The increase is less than one-fifth of one penny per can of beer, and other specific measures are in place for wine and spirits.
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- Apr/1/22 11:43:56 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, happy Friday, although for a family in my riding it is not a happy Friday. A family in my riding has two teenaged disabled children who require full-time assistance and are not eligible for the $10-a-day child care. This family is struggling to make ends meet. To support his family with the necessities, the father must work two jobs.
How will this NDP-Liberal government assist families who are facing rising costs in order to provide the basic needs to their children?
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- Apr/1/22 11:44:38 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I understand what the constituent that she was talking about is going through. I have spoken to many constituents who have children with disabilities, and that is specifically why we have made sure that all of our child care agreements are inclusive, that they reach the broad needs of every single child across this country, particularly those with disabilities, because we know that there are higher costs for families who have children with disabilities.
I thank the member opposite for her advocacy. She can count on this government continuing to work for families in need.
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- Apr/1/22 11:45:17 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as fuel costs rise to unprecedented levels, the people of northern Saskatchewan are outraged that this NDP-Liberal coalition will raise their taxes again. Fact: Driving is not optional in my riding. Fact: Trips for groceries and medical appointments are often long distances. Fact: There is no public transit and there are no electric vehicle charging stations. Fact: Today my constituents are worse off because of the increase in the carbon tax.
When will the government realize that raising taxes is the last thing my constituents need?
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- Apr/1/22 11:46:04 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am glad our families minister stood just a little while ago, and I love the references to the Chrétien government because they remind me of when the Harper government came to power in 2006. What was the first thing it did? It cancelled our national child care program. The other thing it did was deep-six the Kyoto climate accord.
The Conservatives have done absolutely nothing on climate change in the last 15 years. We now have a national child care program, thanks the families minister, our Prime Minister and those on this side of the House, and we have an emissions reduction plan.
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Madam Speaker, people across the country are facing the rising costs of gas, groceries and housing, and one way to help them is by eliminating taxes that do not make sense. Low-alcohol beer is a healthy and increasingly popular choice, yet it is charged the alcohol excise tax while low-alcohol wine and spirits are not. Yesterday, I introduced Bill C-267 to provide a simple fix for this anomaly.
Will the government support this fix, put it in the budget and provide some relief for both craft brewers and consumers?
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Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay for his private member's bill. We cannot comment on what will be revealed in the budget next week, but I do hear the member's appeal.
I personally enjoy non-alcoholic beer, and I am thrilled to see the rise of craft breweries across the country. They are a tourism draw. We have heard the member opposite, and we will take his suggestions under advisement.
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- Apr/1/22 11:48:37 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canada's rising food prices are hurting families that were already struggling. Two million children are now at risk of going to school hungry. In a country as wealthy as Canada, no child should have to get through the day on an empty stomach.
For many years, New Democrats have called for a national school nutrition program to give every student access to healthy food. In the last election, both the NDP and the Liberals pledged $1 billion toward this urgent priority. Will this critical investment be delivered in budget 2022?
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- Apr/1/22 11:49:15 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to start by acknowledging my colleague and the several members in the House who have been advocating for a national school food policy. I am looking forward to working with them to deliver this for children across the country.
We share with them the concern that no child in this country should go to school hungry. We know these programs improve learning outcomes, and we know they do what needs to be done to make sure they are healthy, so I look forward to working with him to deliver this for Canadians.
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- Apr/1/22 11:49:46 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, in 2017, the Prime Minister met His Holiness Pope Francis and invited him to Canada to deliver a public apology to indigenous people. For decades, first nations, Inuit and Métis families, survivors and communities have been calling for a papal apology, recognizing the harm done and the ongoing impacts of residential schools.
Today, after meetings with indigenous delegations, Pope Francis apologized to indigenous people in Canada from the Vatican. Could the parliamentary secretary inform the House about this?
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- Apr/1/22 11:50:22 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to start off by thanking the member for Northwest Territories for his wisdom and guidance in our caucus and for his hard work on this.
The Government of Canada acknowledges the apology from Pope Francis to the delegation in Rome. We know it is an important step toward rebuilding trust and addressing the historical wrongs committed by the Catholic church against indigenous people. We welcome an apology from Pope Francis on Canadian soil. It would be symbolic for indigenous people across the country as we continue on our journey of healing in this country.
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- Apr/1/22 11:51:01 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canada's export-dependent sectors have said that the WTO's upcoming ministerial conference must secure ambitious outcomes across the board. This includes removing pandemic related restrictions, fixing the appellate body and improving transparency. In addition, the global trading community must ensure Russia is condemned in all international institutions.
What is the government's plan to ensure this WTO ministerial conference is used to further isolate Putin and his aggression?
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- Apr/1/22 11:51:38 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canada was the first country to revoke Russia's and Belarus's most favoured nation status as trading partners under Canadian law. Canada then worked with our allies to lead a WTO statement condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine that called on WTO members to suspend Russia's most favoured nation status and to suspend Russia's ascension to the WTO.
As we have said from the very beginning of Russia's unjustified invasion of Ukraine, we will do everything we can to ensure that President Putin and his enablers—
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- Apr/1/22 11:52:18 a.m.
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The hon. member for Elgin—Middlesex—London.
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- Apr/1/22 11:52:21 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, agricultural producers in Elgin—Middlesex—London and across Canada are experiencing challenges from global fertilizer shortages, the increase in the costs of inputs and production, and the increase of the carbon tax today. These factors are threatening Canada's food supply and the security of the supply chains.
What is the government's plan to support Canadian agriculture and agribusinesses to prevent the supply chain disruption and the food shortages?
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- Apr/1/22 11:52:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, with regard to fertilizer availability, this is something that our government takes very seriously. It is working with our partners and industry leaders to ensure that we have fertilizer available in Canada. I know some farmers were able to book early in December and January, but there are some impacts on farmers today, and we will be continuing to work with the industry to ensure that we have a solution.
The other thing the hon. member can do is pass Bill C-8 right away, because that would give a rebate to farmers today, if Conservatives would work with us on Bill C-8.
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- Apr/1/22 11:53:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Liberals' failure to take the crisis facing our food supply seriously hurts Canadian farmers and families. The Ontario Agri Business Association and farmers in my riding support sanctions against Russia. However, they have asked, along with Conservatives, if tariffs will apply to fertilizer purchased before March 2 and if orders will be allowed to be offloaded here in Canada.
With the cost of food rising daily, the last thing we need is additional pressure on our agricultural sector. Will the minister, for once, actually respond to the concerns of Canadian farmers?
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- Apr/1/22 11:54:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, fertilizer availability is important in Canada. At the same time, this has been caused by Putin's illegal war, and we have to take serious action against that. We are working with the industry to ensure that fertilizer remains available in Canada and that it remains at a reasonable price.
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- Apr/1/22 11:54:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are still deeply concerned that the government has no plan to address skyrocketing food and gas prices. An inflation crisis, coupled with supply chain shortages, is forcing many businesses to raise prices anywhere from 25% to 40% just to stay afloat. Higher energy, fertilizer, wheat and corn prices are all impacting the cost of food here in Canada.
When will the Prime Minister finally table a plan so that Canadians can feed their families?
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