SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 118 - Oct/26/22

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/26/22 3:06:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and all Canadians know full well that climate change is a reality we need to face. They also know that we need to take this opportunity to grow our economy by making a greener shift. That is exactly what we are doing by putting a price on pollution. It is no longer free to pollute anywhere in the country. The Conservatives want to go back to those days, but we know that we need to move forward. We need to be there to put a price on pollution and put money back in Canadians' pockets, and that is exactly what we are doing.

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Context: House Hansard - 118 - Oct/26/22

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/26/22 3:18:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there has been a long-standing disagreement between the Liberal Party on this side and the NDP on that side about the use of investing, for example, in CCUS technology to ensure that we can decarbonize our oil and gas production, so that we can continue to deliver the energy that the world needs while we go through this energy transition at lower emission levels. That is why we are working closely with industry on decarbonization measures. That is why we put a price on pollution, to give a clear price incentive for companies to reduce their carbon emissions. This is the kind of work that we are doing, because we know that we need to be there for workers and build a strong future—

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Context: House Hansard - 118 - Oct/26/22

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/26/22 3:34:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the average family of four in this country in the jurisdictions where the carbon tax backstop applies receive more money from the climate action incentive than they pay on average in the price on pollution. We are moving forward in a way that both fights climate change and supports the families that need it, like how we are moving forward on supports for low-income renters and for families that cannot pay for their kids to go to the dentist, but Conservative politicians are standing against support for dental care and support for low-income rentals. Why?

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Context: House Hansard - 118 - Oct/26/22

Mr. Terry Beech (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Oct/26/22 7:10:56 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would be happy to discuss monetary policy with my friend from the interior at any time, but his speech actually focused more on fiscal policy, as did his original question. I want everyone who is listening to know that our government is working to build an economy that works for everyone and is focused on tackling affordability. We have done this while lowering Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio, increasing wages, maintaining Canada's AAA credit rating and maintaining our debt servicing cost at 1% of GDP, almost six times lower than it was in the 1990s. In the member's original question, which led to this late show, he cited $2.13 per litre for gas in his riding. Indeed, it has been as high as $2.40 in metro Vancouver. This is an increase of more than a dollar per litre over the last three years. It is putting a tremendous burden on Canadian families. However, we also need to acknowledge that the price on pollution in British Columbia has increased by only two cents during the last three years. It was nine cents in 2019 and is 11¢ today. That means 98% of that increase has nothing to do with pricing pollution. It is the result of global inflation. The Conservative Party of Canada readily ignores these facts and therefore ignores 98% of the problem. It also ignores the real cost of climate change. In B.C., we have seen fires devastate communities and spread smoke throughout our summers. We have floods and droughts that have already caused billions of dollars in damage, yet the Conservative Party of Canada continues to call on our government to stop fighting climate change and to mortgage our future. It does that when it asks us to stop fighting climate change. It does that when it asks us to stop funding seniors' pensions. It does that when it asks us to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67. It does that by trying to eliminate the CBC and by trying to stop kids from getting the dental care and education they need. It does that by obstructing assistance for impoverished renters who need it the most. I do not know if there is such a thing as an economic ostrich, but if there was, it would be a tremendous mascot for the Conservative Party, as it continues to suggest irresponsible economic policies as if its members were committed to keeping their collective heads in the sand. In contrast, our government has put together a plan that makes life more affordable and builds an economy that works for everyone. In jurisdictions where the federal government has a price on pollution, and B.C., by the way, is not one of those jurisdictions, a rebate is provided through the climate action incentive, which actually makes life more affordable for eight out of 10 Canadian families. We are also doubling the GST credit for six months, which will provide hundreds of dollars to 11 million families who need it the most and more than 50% of our seniors. I compliment the member opposite for supporting this measure. I think it is important that we continue to work together to make life more affordable, but we need to do it in a way that is open, honest and transparent. Let us not use the worst economic shock since the Second World War to gain political points. Canada has a great opportunity in front of it. We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Our inflation rate is significantly lower than those of the U.S., Europe and the OECD. We produce a tremendous amount of food and energy, the two commodities that are facing extraordinary price pressures from around the globe. Our best times are in front of us, but we can get there only if we continue to work together to make life better for all Canadians.

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