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Mr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, BQ)

Oct/6/22 5:00:50 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank the NDP House leader for his speech. The cost of groceries is going up, but some members of society are having a much easier time of it. We know that the highly subsidized oil industry is raking in the profits. The banks are, as well. The government is doing nothing for those who are struggling the most, nothing to deal with the housing crisis, nothing for seniors and nothing to tackle tax havens. Here is my question: How and why is the NDP putting itself at the service of the Liberal government, which is at the service of the ultra-rich?

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Mr. Peter Julian

Oct/6/22 5:01:31 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, indeed, thanks to the NDP, the government is now taking action on GST rebates. That will benefit the people of Quebec as well as people across Canada. Thanks to the NDP, the government is now forced to deal with the housing issue. After 50 years, it is finally looking into the affordable housing issue. It will offer support to tenants. Thanks to the NDP, the government is taking measures to expand our health system and establish a dental care program. It is thanks to the NDP that all these things are happening. The question, therefore, is rather why the other parties are not doing anything to help ordinary Canadians.

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Oct/6/22 5:02:26 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, many in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith are reaching out after feeling the impacts of living with lower incomes and rising costs. Lone-parent families, seniors, those living with disabilities and their children are feeling hopeless as rich CEOs continue to profit off the backs of everyday working Canadians. I wonder if the member could expand a bit on the importance of systems being put in place to address abuse and exploitation by rich CEOs in their positions so they are held to account to prevent this from happening again. What would that look like?

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Mr. Peter Julian

Oct/6/22 5:03:10 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I really want to praise the member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith. She is a new member, but she has done such an effective job of standing up for her constituents. Nanaimo—Ladysmith is better represented than it has been in years because she is so outspoken. She has pushed for dental care, for ensuring we have housing supplements and for the GST rebate. These are all important measures that she has helped to bring about, and I want to compliment her on her amazing work. The reality is that in Nanaimo—Ladysmith, and in fact throughout this country and across Vancouver Island, we are seeing grocery chains raising prices more than they should be. Yes, there is inflation, but it is very clear that we need a government that can step in and say, “Whoa. They have these huge bonuses, they have these huge profits and Canadian families are struggling. There needs to be a balance here.” That is why we are calling on the Competition Bureau to launch an investigation, with enhanced supports from the federal government. We really need much more robust Competition Bureau legislation to ensure that these kinds of things do not happen anymore.

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Mr. John Barlow (Foothills, CPC)

Oct/6/22 5:04:44 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for highlighting that Saskatchewan has only Conservative MPs, because they are the ones standing up for their constituents and Canadian farmers. I would be remiss if I did not say that we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the end of the Canadian Wheat Board, which I know my constituents are very happy with. The hon. member, in his presentation, talked a great deal about price gouging, specifically the price gouging going on in the Canadian supply chain, and the impact it is having on food costs. Price gouging is an issue for the member, so if the average Canadian farmer is paying $48,000 a year in carbon tax and, according to the Department of Finance, is getting about $860 back, would he not agree that there is price gouging on Canadian farmers by the Liberal government, supported by the NDP?

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Mr. Peter Julian

Oct/6/22 5:05:40 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, of course, in the oil and gas sector, we have seen price gouging play out continuously. As the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives revealed in a study it did about oil and gas price gouging in this country, the reality is that oil and gas companies increase the price on old stock whenever there is an international event. We have certainly seen this with the deplorable Russian invasion of Ukraine. The oil and gas companies profiteered and benefited by raising the price on old stock. We know as well that as the new stock comes in at a lower price, they will keep the prices high. This is the price gouging the member should be speaking out against, because it has an impact on his constituents. However, the reality is that the Conservatives—

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Oct/6/22 5:06:32 p.m.
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We have to resume debate. The hon. member for Prince Albert.

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Mr. Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, CPC)

Oct/6/22 5:06:38 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-31

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. It has been an interesting day of listening to everybody talk about Bill C-31 and the reasons for the increase in the price of food. Going back to Saskatchewan to the riding of Prince Albert and going to a small town like Tisdale or Carrot River, or coming into the city of Prince Albert, one thing that becomes very clear is that food has definitely gotten more expensive. Whether people are buying hamburgers, steaks, potatoes or macaroni and wieners, everything has gotten more expensive. When they go through the process of buying groceries, they have a $100 bill in their wallet, but when they look in it after, they say, “Holy cow. Where did that go?” It is gone. We have seen huge increases in the price of food. We can blame the war in Ukraine. We can blame a variety of things, but it really is the long-term policies of the government that have brought up the price of food items. NDP members want to do a study and I agree with them on the study. It is a good idea. It is important to actually look at this and understand what is going on in the sector so we can have good policies to make sure that Canadians can take advantage of the great produce that is grown here in Canada. We make the best food in the world. We grow the best animals. We grow the best vegetables, the best fruits, the best durum and the best canola. We have it all here. It is here in Canada. It is available for Canadians to take advantage of. We are blessed in so many ways, but then we look at things and ask how it can be this way. What has happened? What has made it so that it is so expensive to buy food when we have such an abundance of it? Saskatchewan is a trading province. We have to export. We grow so much and we cannot consume it, so we export it around the world. That is when the trains run and the railcars show up. Of course, that is a problem with transportation and a problem with policy that comes back to the government. There are frustrations for sure, but there should be no reason to see this type of inflation in food. If we had the right policies in place, we would be able to see this scenario and be in a better situation. When I was on the farm, I used to get frustrated because it cost me $250 an acre and the market paid me $200 an acre, so I took a $50-an-acre hit. It happens. The markets go up and the markets go down. In the good years, we put away enough money to ride through the bad years. Farmers are price-takers, not price-makers. We actually take our price from the market, so whether it is based on production around the world or production in Saskatchewan, there are many factors that will determine the price of grain, the price of beef or the price of a variety of other commodities. What we do is manage our costs. That is what farmers do in Canada. They were the first to embrace zero tillage, which is one of the most advanced methods of growing crops in the world. That technology actually came out of the Sparrow report in the Senate, when we said we had to work on soil conservation and soil degradation. What did we do? Not only did we fix that, approve it and increase our organic matter, but we actually got more efficient. We produced cheaper products because we reduced the number of passes in the field. We became more and more efficient, and we took that knowledge and shared it around the world. However, we got zero credit for it from the government. What has happened from the government as we look at this now? The government has hit us with a $50,000-a-year carbon tax. The Liberals say, “Don't worry. Be happy. Here is $800 back.” How can that be fair? How can that be neutral? Where did the rest of that money go? How do I take the $46,000 or $48,000 that I am short and reinvest it to become environmentally friendly? I have given it to Ottawa and what did I get back? I got tiddlywinks. As we go through the process of looking at the cost of food, what happens? We get fewer farmers. We get bigger farms. We get huge farms. We do not have the small towns anymore so there are no thousand-acre farms. If they are not 2,000 or 5,000 acres, a lot of farms are 20,000 and 30,000 acres. They had to go that way because of the costs that were put on them by the federal government. A carbon tax on food is immoral. Any tax on food is immoral and that is what the Liberals have done. Producers pay tax on fertilizer when they get it to the bin to put it in the ground. They pay tax on the diesel fuel to put it in the ground. They pay tax on the trucking to get it to the elevator. They pay tax on the rail to get it to the mill. They pay tax at the mill to get it to the grocery store. All that goes to Ottawa, and what does Ottawa do with it? Show me the mitigation the government has done with regard to the environment. Show me the bridges it has built. Show me the culverts it has put in and the lift stations. Where is the infrastructure? We have seen flooding at historic levels in B.C. that shut down our transportation system. Where is the preparedness in the Liberal government to take on those types of things? Some were saying this was going to happen, and it did happen, but they did nothing to prepare for it. What did that cost our economy? What does their ignorance do to this economy and the abundance in this country called Canada, where we have so much to give? We see around the world the war in Ukraine. We see that our friends in Europe could use our help again. We should be in a position to do that, and we are not. Why are we not? It is because we have neglected things here in Canada. We have not put in the infrastructure to take care of the export requirements for the variety of sectors that would be utilized in Europe at this point in time. Whether it is oil and gas, food or forestry products, we should be able to come in and fill those needs, but bad policy and planning by the government mean we cannot do that. When we look at what is going on here in Canada and bring it back to the price of food, it is not just the price of food that is hurting Canadians; it is the price of everything. Everything they do, like going to Canadian Tire to buy some things for their kids, costs 30% or 20% more. When people get groceries, food costs that much more money. It just never goes far enough anymore. Then we hear the government say that we need to pay more taxes, step up and pay for pollution. The Liberals are right. We do not have a problem with paying for pollution, but there is a problem I hear in my riding. A lot of people say they do not mind paying their share, but they ask what the government is doing globally to make sure that residents in high-emitting countries are paying their share. What is it doing to level the playing field so that when I pay for this on my farm in Saskatchewan, a farmer in Alberta, the U.S., China or Australia is paying the same amount so that the playing field is level? The Liberals have done nothing. They have zero influence on the world stage, and we could go into debate on why that is. It could be a combination of things, like the trip to India or the trip to the U.K. that we just experienced. It could be the way the Prime Minister has conducted himself around the world. It would probably be better if we took away his passport, let him stay here and sent somebody else, because I think it would do our country more honour. Let us come back to what this motion is talking about. It is talking about food; there is no question about that. However, what is hurting our economy and hurting Canadians is not just food. It is a variety of things they are experiencing right now and a government that just does not care or understand. When we start talking about the economy, those members give a blank look. They just do not get it. They do not seem to say they hear us and that they do not know what to do. They do not look at the options sitting in front of them, things like cancelling some tax increases for a period of time. If we look at the tax increases the Liberals are proposing, the carbon tax is meant to change people's conduct with regard to the environment. We have just gone through record fuel prices in North America, Canada, B.C. and Ontario, and the prices are going up again. Should that not have had the same effect as a carbon tax? If the price of fuel is higher, I cannot drive as much. However, I live in rural Saskatchewan, and when I have to go for groceries, I still have to put gas in the truck because I do not have an alternative; I do not have an option. When taxes are increased on me because of that, the government has penalized me. When they take my $50,000 and make it $75,000, they have taken my ability to improve my operations to become more environmentally friendly. They have done worse. Not only that, but I have been weakened in such a way that I cannot provide that cheap food Canadians have come to rely on. Who pays? The most vulnerable pay. Those who have the smallest paycheques pay. They do pay; they pay the most. The percentage of their food bill goes from 50% to 75%, so they do not have a chance to buy new clothes for their kids. They go to shelters and buy there. If we look in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, the food banks have a record high number of people attending them. That is the direct result of bad policy, and if the Liberals do not get that now, then they are not listening. They cannot come back to Ottawa, go to their caucus and say they are dealing with a bunch of people who are in really bad shape and need a break, and then answer with a $500 GST tax credit. It sounds good, but it is not enough. We have to look at the other alternatives and levers we have at our disposal and bring the costs down. That is the same for farming, manufacturing and a variety of industries. We have to get the costs down and back to a relevant number so that we can compete throughout the world, hire Canadians and actually let families feed themselves.

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All Topics

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Oct/6/22 5:16:42 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, talk about being disappointed. Most of the things the member has said are somewhat misleading at best, and that is being about as parliamentary as I can be. When he talks about the farmers or the Prairies, I was in opposition when Stephen Harper got rid of the Canadian Wheat Board. He did not have the courage to have a referendum when the legislation dictated there should be a referendum. Today's government is supporting our farmers with hundreds of millions of dollars in a just transition regarding environmental issues. There is so much more the government is doing, yet the member tries to give a false impression that we are not there for the Prairies. It is just not true. What does the Conservative Party truly believe today on the price on pollution? He seems to be a bit offside with his leader who has said that climate change is not real and we can get rid of the price on pollution. What does the member believe?

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Mr. Randy Hoback

Oct/6/22 5:17:48 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I think the hon. member has a hearing problem because our leader did not say that at all. In fact, he said the total opposite. He said that there were different ways to attack climate change.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Oct/6/22 5:17:48 p.m.
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For example?

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Mr. Randy Hoback

Oct/6/22 5:17:48 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, he talked about nuclear energy as one example. I heard it right here in the House. Therefore, if we want to look at different options and alternatives, we should at least have an open mind to consider them. When the member talks about the Canadian Wheat Board or the other things he mentioned in his question, he is so out of touch with the farming community. Does he not realize that net incomes at the farm gate went up substantially when the wheat board was repealed. If we went to the farming community today and said we wanted to bring the wheat board back they would kick us out. They want nothing to do with a marketing board of any type. That is the reality. If the Liberals think they can do that, then they can do it—

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Oct/6/22 5:18:32 p.m.
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Questions and comments, the hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Oct/6/22 5:18:43 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am curious. I know the member speaks quite passionately about helping people. However, that is not what we have seen historically. I wonder if the member wants to put his words into action today and support this motion to start calling to account the ultrarich CEOs who continue to line their own pockets at the expense of everyday families. Actions speak louder than words. The member and the Conservative Party have shown that they are not there for people.

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Mr. Randy Hoback

Oct/6/22 5:19:13 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we are going to vote in favour of this motion I will repeat again. The member has probably heard it 30 other times today. Did I say it clear enough? I have reservations and concerns. My concern is that the NDP have prejudged the outcome before the committee has had the chance to do the study. That is a fair and reasonable concern. Let us bring the witnesses to committee. Let us let the committee actually do the work it is supposed to do. If the results show that the carbon tax or other items in our supply chains are responsible for the higher food prices, fair enough. I challenge the New Democrats. If it is the carbon tax, if it comes out that way and that is the factor, will they bring these guys down? Will they quit supporting the Liberals? Will they actually take—

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Oct/6/22 5:19:57 p.m.
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Questions and comments, the hon. member for Trois-Rivières.

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Mr. René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, BQ)

Oct/6/22 5:20:02 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am happy to see my colleague defend his constituents in Saskatchewan so passionately. I have been listening to this debate. Like the member, the Bloc Québécois will support the motion. However, there is one thing I would like to know. Other than the carbon tax reduction, which seems to be a big deal here, are there other measures that could apply and that would help Quebeckers?

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Mr. Randy Hoback

Oct/6/22 5:20:30 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, there are quite a few. Quebec has a strong agricultural base. It has some strong marketing boards. It has some great farmers and agricultural operations. Using more local food is definitely one of the options, when we can provide it from the farmyard to the grocery stores. That means making sure that there is shelf space for that locally grown food, and having the resources to see the manufacturing of our food products here in Canada or in Quebec instead of chasing them out of Canada because we have made it too expensive to do that production here. What are we going to do? We are going to export the grain and all the resources to make the product and then we are going to import it back into Canada and buy it at retail. Does that make sense? That is the policy we are facing right now with the current Liberal government.

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Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/6/22 5:21:17 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am going to reflect on the loss of the wheat board and its unintended consequences, such as the failure to organize grain shipments properly, which is causing the long delays that have been very difficult for grain farmers, and the fact that the residual assets of the wheat board are now owned by Saudi Arabia. For my constituents in Saanich—Gulf Islands, the inefficiencies in delivering grain to the Port of Vancouver are leading to anchorages, which is basically free parking, in my riding while the freighters that come to pick up the grain are cooling their heels waiting because of the inefficiencies created by the loss of the wheat board, which is hurting farmers, shippers and those who need the grain delivered.

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Mr. Randy Hoback

Oct/6/22 5:22:04 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, again, it shows why there are no Green members elected in Saskatchewan, because they are not in touch with the agriculture community in Saskatchewan. If the member is concerned about what is going on in the Port of Vancouver, I am too. When they are ranked second last out of 400 as a port for Canada, that tells us they have had bad policies and are not putting the infrastructure in place that is required for Canadian shippers, and the member is paying for it in her riding. There is no question about it. If the government had actually put in the processes, had actually modernized the ports and spent the money in an appropriate manner, made it capable of taking on the next generation of ships that might be hydrogen-based, if it would do things like that, then we would actually see some results, but it has done nothing and the—

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