44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 3, 2022 11:00AM
- Oct/3/22 2:18:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for too long we have allowed the tyrants of Tehran and Qom to terrorize the people of Iran and Rojhelat, to steal their rights, engage in extrajudicial arrests and disappearances, crush protests and target women.
The response of Tehran to massive protests at the murder of Zhina Mahsa Amini is the collective punishment of the Kurds in Rojhelat and the persecution of Iranian protesters for simply demanding their rights be respected. Over 2,000 arrests have followed beatings, hangings and a bombing campaign across Bashur and Rojhelat, hitting civilians in places like Koye, Oshnavieh, Marwan and Shno, and sites in Iraq, including areas near Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
Fifty thousand Canadians took to the streets in Toronto and all across Canada to rally for a free Iran and democratic rights. Millions worldwide have joined in solidarity, demanding justice for Zhina Mahsa Amini. The tip of the autocratic spear oppressing the people of Iran and Rojhelat is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There is only one moral, ethical choice for Canada: to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization in Canada.
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- Oct/3/22 2:20:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on September 23, hurricane Fiona made landfall as the strongest hurricane in Canadian history. The 48 hours that followed are some that Atlantic Canadians will not soon forget.
Coastal communities where fishing is their primary livelihood have been devastated, with small craft harbours, fishing gear and boats destroyed. Agriculture and farming will take years to build back. In addition to the wrecked barns, silos, crops and equipment, the mental health of farmers who work every day to feed Canadians their quality products has taken a serious blow. Even P.E.I. itself looks different, with some of our iconic coastlines eroding upward of 30 feet. This extreme weather event, intensified by climate change, will affect every single Islander for years to come.
While there are many reasons to feel defeated, the community response has been truly heartwarming. First responders, line crews, Canadian Armed Forces and essential workers have been working around the clock. Municipalities opened reception centres across the island. Businesses donated food to ensure everyone had a hot meal, and neighbours opened their doors to one another to charge a device, use a freezer or have a cup of coffee.
As we rebuild and recover, I call on the federal government to continue to support impacted residents and communities in my riding and across Atlantic Canada every step of the way. I am proud to be an Islander.
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- Oct/3/22 2:21:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the Liberals came to power, housing prices have doubled. According to the Royal Bank of Canada, it takes 60% of the average paycheque to cover monthly bills for an average house.
That is the highest level in history. The Liberal solution is to triple the carbon tax on gas, heating and groceries. Canadians cannot afford to pay more. Will the government cancel this plan to triple the tax?
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- Oct/3/22 2:22:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the opposition leader for his question. It allows me to talk about the fact that our carbon pricing program is one of the most effective in the world, since it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have gone down by 9%, contrary to what we are hearing in the House.
What is more, 100% of the revenue generated from the carbon pricing program returns to the provinces that generated that revenue. That means 90% goes back to families and 10% goes back to businesses, municipalities and indigenous communities.
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- Oct/3/22 2:23:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the tax has failed. The Liberals have missed every single emissions target they have set since they put it in. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the vast majority of Canadians are paying massively more in carbon tax costs than they get back in rebates. The problem is about to worsen as the government plans to triple the tax on gas, groceries and heat. Canadians are already cutting back on their diets. Adults are living in their folks' basement because they cannot afford a new house.
Will the government cancel this insane plan to triple the tax?
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- Oct/3/22 2:23:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have a riddle. Who said, “We recognize that the most efficient way to reduce our emissions is to use pricing mechanisms?” One could say it was the Minister of the Environment, or my friend and colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, or the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, but no, it was the member for Durham, and I agree with him. Pricing mechanisms are the most effective way to fight climate change pollution, and he said that in April of 2021.
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- Oct/3/22 2:24:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, tripling a tax at a time like this is not just insane it is cruel. This is going to happen even in British Columbia. It has its own tax there, but the federal government, the costly coalition of the NDP and Liberals, want to force B.C. to triple its tax now at a time when gas prices are at $2.40 a litre.
Once again, for the third time, will they cancel their plan to triple the tax?
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- Oct/3/22 2:24:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for allowing me this opportunity to talk about the fact they were getting their next time. Carbon pricing is good.
What they wanted to put in place was the principle of pay to pollute. That is not how we do it on this side of the House. The principle is polluters pay and not pay to pollute. Next time, when they flip-flop again on carbon pricing, like they have done about 15 times in the last 10 years, pricing pollution is good, the polluter pays principle. They need to go that extra step.
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- Oct/3/22 2:25:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there they go. The Liberals want to divide and distract. They attacked the little old lady living in rural Newfoundland, calling her a polluter for the crime of heating her home in February. According to the Liberal premier of that province, after the forthcoming increase in the carbon tax, the increased cost of heating the homes of rural Newfoundlanders will have gone up by 80%. Worse yet, the government wants to triple the tax. Why will it not axe the tax?
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- Oct/3/22 2:26:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to announce that we are putting in place a program to help tens of thousands of Canadians get off home heating oil. The price of home heating oil is skyrocketing because of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We will put a quarter of a billion dollars to help tens of thousands of Canadians go to clean, efficient, renewable energy in Canada to heat their homes and save money.
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- Oct/3/22 2:26:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just what we need, a new government program to help us pay the cost of a government tax. People do not have to worry if they live in the countryside of Atlantic Canada, where 40% of people now live in energy poverty after the government has been in power for seven years, because there is a new government program coming. They do not need to worry about freezing in the dark as this new tax comes in. That is what it wants people to believe.
Canadians are not stupid. Canadians are not polluters. They need to heat their homes and travel in a big cold country.
Will the government cancel its plan to triple the tax?
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- Oct/3/22 2:27:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that climate change is real and Canadians also understand that the global economy is in the midst of a green transition. It is the biggest transition since the industrial revolution.
Our government believes that we need to help Canadians with the green transition. We need to help Canadian companies, like our auto manufacturers. We need to help Canadian families, like those families in Atlantic Canada that want to get off home heating oil.
We are going to help Canadians with climate action because that is the right thing to do.
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- Oct/3/22 2:28:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the decision to make Roxham Road and all its facilities permanent raises some serious ethical questions.
We know that the government awarded two Liberal donors at least seven contracts without a bidding process. We have no idea if there are more.
Since the government refuses to disclose all the contracts, this afternoon, I will be asking the Standing Committee on Ethics to investigate the ethical aspect of awarding contracts.
If the government has nothing to hide, it should disclose these documents itself. Will it make public all the federal contracts tied to Roxham Road?
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- Oct/3/22 2:28:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, transparency and accountability are critically important to our government.
The rental agreement was negotiated based on a fair market value to arrive at a competitive price. Disclosing confidential contractual information would violate the agreement we have with the supplier.
We will continue to work with the departments and agencies to meet their needs through fair and open contracts.
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- Oct/3/22 2:29:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, honestly, we are not talking about top secret documents here. We are talking about leases signed for land, trailers and hotel rooms.
By refusing to disclose all the contracts tied to Roxham Road on a questionable pretext, the government is the one sowing doubt. The government is the one whose actions are reminding us of the billions of dollars awarded without a call for tenders to the big Liberal family during the pandemic. The government is the one suggesting that there is something to hide.
Why wait to be forced to be transparent? Why not simply disclose the contracts?
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- Oct/3/22 2:30:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, transparency and accountability are critically important to our government. The rental agreement was negotiated based on fair market value to arrive at a competitive price. Given the location of the land and its proximity to the border, this was an ideal location for CBSA to use for this purpose.
Our government is delivering open, fair and transparent procurement processes, while obtaining the best value for Canadians.
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- Oct/3/22 2:30:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Atlantic Canada after hurricane Fiona. People have been unable to leave their homes and go to work. They need urgent help as they continue the long recovery.
The Atlantic provinces are asking for employment insurance to help people get through this crisis, and so far they have had no response from the government.
Will the Liberals do the right thing and move immediately to waive EI rules for Atlantic Canadians so that these families can put food on the table at this critical time?
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- Oct/3/22 2:31:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand the seriousness and the challenges that Atlantic Canadians are facing when it comes to work right now. We are there with them on the ground. Service Canada has waived the requirement for record of employment. We are looking at what we can do to be more helpful. We are on top of this. I can assure members we will be there for Atlantic Canadian workers.
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- Oct/3/22 2:31:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, they did it for British Columbia. Now it is time to do it for Atlantic Canada.
The Conservative leader is going after workers in order to give millions to CEOs. A contribution is not a tax, it is an investment in the future. It looks as though a recession is inevitable, and families will need protection. Workers are at risk of losing their jobs and the Liberals are dragging their feet on employment insurance. The old system is letting people down, and the Liberals are doing nothing.
We need a modern, effective and accessible system for seasonal workers and the self-employed, and we need it now.
When will the Liberals wake up? In the middle of a recession?
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- Oct/3/22 2:32:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government understands that EI benefits need to be more fair, more responsive and more adaptable to the needs of Canada's ever-evolving workforce.
That is why we are committed to delivering a full-scale modernization of Canada's EI system. We look forward to launching our long-term plan to improve the EI system.
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