44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 21, 2022 11:00AM
- Nov/21/22 2:30:32 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the government refuses to acknowledge that corporate greed is making life more expensive for families. We now know that since 2019, the profits of big grocery stores have gone up by 118%. The Liberals refuse to point the finger at these excess profits as one of the causes of the increased cost of living, but they have no problem blaming workers' wages. How hypocritical.
Why attack workers' wages? Why will the Liberals not go after corporate greed?
79 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:31:10 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I respect my colleague and his question.
In the budget, we asked the banks to pay their fair share. We increased the tax rate for banks. In our fall economic statement, we implemented a 2% tax on share buybacks.
Here in Canada, we are asking every business and every individual to pay their fair share of taxes. We have an affordability plan, and it includes having businesses and individuals pay their fair share.
75 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:31:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that did not even come close to answering the question. A new report reveals that the profits of big grocery stores have increased by 118% since 2019. These companies are making massive profits while Canadian families are struggling. In Alberta, food banks have seen a whopping 73% increase over the last three years, yet in the latest government report, the Liberals blame workers' wages for inflation. They do not blame the billionaires. They do not blame the skyrocketing corporate profits. They are blaming workers.
When will the Liberals stop protecting corporate profits and start taking action to protect Canadians?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:32:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are concerned about how much they are paying for gas and groceries. That is why earlier this year the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry wrote to the Competition Bureau to make sure that it was using all of its tools to detect and deter unlawful behaviours in the food sector. Following up to prevent businesses from taking advantage of high prices and profiting off Canadians, we have asked the bureau to immediately look into these matters. We will continue to make life more affordable for Canadians.
93 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:32:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, today's reannouncement of more government spending does not address the real issue of inflation and unaffordability. The Liberal government has demonized and kicked down Canada's energy industry for years. Instead of building energy projects in Canada that would have helped make home heating more affordable, the Liberals cancelled projects, killing good energy jobs while helping China build pipelines instead. As the government keeps spending, it drives up inflation, making gas, groceries and home heating more and more expensive.
Why will the Liberal government not do the right thing and cancel the carbon tax on all home heating?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:33:26 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, certainly it is unfortunate that it is only the Conservatives in the House who think that it should be free to pollute in this country. It should not be free to pollute in this country. We need a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. That includes putting a price on pollution. It includes regulations. It includes investments in creating prosperity and jobs for the future and investments in ensuring affordability, just like the $250 million announced this morning to help to transition off home heating oil. That is something that will help people with affordability and fight climate change.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:34:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, instead of selling green fairy tales and telling Canadians to cancel their Disney+, the government should stop its inflationary spending and stop the plan to triple the taxes. Billions of dollars of cancelled projects, because of the costly coalition's climate zealot ideology, has made home heating unaffordable while not hitting a single emissions reduction target.
Why will the Liberal government not stop day dreaming, do the right thing and cancel its carbon tax on home heating?
79 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:34:31 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as our natural resources minister has said, we have the most ambitious climate plan in Canadian history. We have invested $100 billion since 2015, including a $9.1-billion investment in our emissions reduction plan. This is going to reduce pollution. This is going to drive innovation. This is going to enable us to hit our very ambitious climate targets.
62 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:34:59 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, 60% of Canadians pay more in carbon tax than they get back, and the Liberals plan to triple it. Home heating costs have already skyrocketed in Canada and will double this winter. Half of Atlantic Canadians use heating oil to heat their homes, and it is up 56% overall since last year. It is up 77% in Newfoundland and Labrador and 68% in Nova Scotia. Tripling the carbon tax will cost them $900 more a year just in tax to heat their homes.
Why will the Liberals not cancel their carbon tax on home heating?
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:35:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as the minister responsible for ACOA, I have had the challenge of going to Atlantic Canada and meeting with some people who have really seen the destruction in their homes and in their businesses. I have to say it has been really difficult to hear these personal stories. Once again I am really confused with respect to the Conservatives. It is truly important to make sure that we have a comprehensive plan to fight climate change because we are seeing the destruction is extremely real. That is why we are really hoping on this side of the House that we are going to be able to move forward with an ambitious plan to make sure that we meet our targets.
122 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:36:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the minister just gave zero answers whatsoever about how to alleviate the cost of home heating for Atlantic Canadians and people right across the country. They need relief now. Canadians cannot wait for programs that will not even cover half of the $10,000 to $20,000 it will take to install a new home heating system, which will still need a backup. They cannot wait a year to install new windows or reinsulate their homes, or years to replace their furnaces.
Canadians live in the real world, not in the Liberal fantasy. In that real world it gets really cold in December. Canadians are freezing, and the Liberals are freezing them out.
Why will they not cancel their cruel carbon tax on home heating?
127 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:36:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Atlantic Canadians faced the worst climate catastrophe in history just one month ago. We are going to be there with $300 million to help them recover and rebuild. We are also going to be there to help them with the transition to greener forms of energy. There was a wonderful announcement this morning that is going to help Canadian families. It is going to help Atlantic Canadian families. We are there for Atlantic Canadians, ever and always.
79 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:37:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, COP27 just ended.
Something very important happened on Novebmer 15. The Canadian Minister of Environment issued a challenge to the rest of the world, calling on all countries to impose a carbon tax, as his government is doing to all Canadians.
Could the Minister of Environment tell us, a week later, how many countries have accepted this invitation to impose the carbon tax?
66 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:37:57 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, affordability is extremely important, and we have taken concrete action to address these issues, including doubling the GST credit. Regardless of what the Conservatives might say, eight out of 10 Canadians are better off because of the climate action incentive.
It is worth noting that the Conservatives misled Canadians in the last election when they campaigned for a carbon tax. Given their position, every Conservative in the House is breaking promises they made to their constituents who elected them.
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:38:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, I am pleased to congratulate the minister on his French, but he could have answered my question, because the answer is the same in either English or French: Not one country has taken up Canada's invitation to impose a carbon tax. Why?
The reason is very simple. The Liberals have governed Canada for seven years, and the carbon tax has existed for seven years. Far worse, Liberal Canada ranks 58 out of 63 countries in the fight against climate change.
Will the Liberal government understand that tripling the carbon tax is not good for all Canadians?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:39:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, many countries around the world have a carbon tax. Sweden and many European countries have a carbon tax.
It is part of a comprehensive climate plan to fight climate change in a way that will accelerate Canada's energy transition and prosperity. It is something we work on every day and that perhaps my colleague could consider.
63 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:39:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, on the topic of health, the Prime Minister came out of his meeting with François Legault at the Sommet de la Francophonie a changed man, I would say.
He said that Quebec is doing, and I quote, “a very good job” with data collection. It is amazing how things progress when we communicate. Imagine how much progress would be made if the Prime Minister brought all the premiers together to address the issue of transfers.
My question is simple. When will the Prime Minister invite his counterparts to a public summit on health care funding?
We have been asking for over a year.
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:40:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question. Our health care system is facing major challenges.
Our government remains committed to working with the provinces and territories to further discuss health priorities, missions, and outcomes in order to improve health care services for all Canadians, in particular by reducing backlogs and supporting our health care workers, improving access to family health services, improving mental health care and addictions services, helping Canadians live in dignity closer to home and—
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:41:22 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. member for Jonquière.
7 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/21/22 2:41:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is a fine grocery list, but that is not what we are talking about.
Incredibly, this is the first time in over a year that the Prime Minister has had anything good to say about Quebec or the provinces in terms of transfers. All it took was a face-to-face meeting. In my mind, that would suggest that organizing meetings could lead to an agreement on increased funding for health care.
I have a very simple question for my colleague. Why is the federal government stubbornly refusing our request for a public summit on health funding? What is so scary about that?
106 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
