44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 15, 2023 02:00PM
- Feb/15/23 2:47:37 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. member for Haldimand—Norfolk.
7 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:47:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, taxing Canadians to death is not going to fix the climate. Statistics Canada is reporting that a quarter of Canadians would not be able to afford a sudden expense of $500, yet the government still plans to triple the carbon tax on April 1. If the government would only cancel its plans to increase the carbon tax this year, Canadians would be able to afford to pay their bills once again.
When will the Prime Minister take responsibility for overtaxing Canadians into poverty and let Conservatives fix what Liberals broke?
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:48:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, if they will not take it from me, they will not take it from environmentalists and they will not take it from experts, maybe they will take it from the Cement Association of Canada, which said about our climate change plan, “Emissions Reduction Plan provides cement industry with predictability”.
Electricity Canada welcomed the smart renewables and electrification pathways program. The oil sands Pathways Alliance, the five largest oil sands producers in the country, said, “With positive industry and government collaboration, Canada has an incredible opportunity to help provide for global energy security while being a leader in producing clean energy.”
That is what we are doing on this side of the House. We are fighting climate change. We are creating jobs and the economy of the 21st century.
134 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:49:05 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Prime Minister, Canadians are suffering and struggling to make ends meet, yet he wants to dismiss their pain and say things have never been better.
John's heating bill has nearly tripled this winter, despite using the same amount as last year, and the PBO is on record explaining the average Canadian will not receive more in their carbon tax rebate than they use. It is long overdue for the Prime Minister to listen to the people he works for. It is time to show leadership and admit when something is not working.
Will he scrap the carbon tax and, if not, will he step down and let us fix what he broke?
120 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:49:45 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the hon. former critic for tourism, and every single Conservative member on that side of the House, ran on a plan to combat climate change. It seems there has been a change of management and now they do not believe in climate change. Guess what, they do not have a plan to address climate change. They do not have a plan to address affordability. They do not have a plan to help seniors. They do not have a plan to position this country for robust economic growth.
We raised 2.7 million people out of poverty, and 326,000 jobs were created since September. We have a plan; they do not. Thank goodness for Canadians.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:50:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals certainly do not have any results.
After eight years of the Prime Minister, Canadians are out of money, and it is destroying their mental health. Anxiety, depression, addiction and suicide continue to rise because of the Prime Minister's outrageous, unethical and wasteful spending. The punitive carbon tax is not compassionate, nor is it responsible leadership. It is not a climate plan. It is a tax plan, and it has failed to meet any emissions targets.
The Prime Minister has a chance right now, this second, to listen, act and help Canadians, so will he do it? Will he scrap the carbon tax?
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:51:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, invoking mental health is something that we should consider at all moments, but I will tell everyone what does not help mental health when the world is going through something as difficult as it is. It is to expand people's fears, to increase people's anxieties. The party opposite refuses to offer solutions. All it offers is fearmongering and pretending that Canada is an island alone while it goes through what the world is suffering.
That is not reality. That is not truth, and it certainly does not help those who are suffering from mental illness.
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:51:43 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, seniors built this country and they deserve dignity, but soaring food and housing costs are leaving so many behind. Under the government, seniors are struggling to keep up with the basic everyday costs, but the Liberals honestly do not seem to care.
The government has failed to raise the OAS for people under 75, so will it raise the guaranteed income supplement in this budget to lift all seniors out of poverty?
74 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:52:14 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenges that all Canadians, including seniors, are facing. That is precisely why we have been there for them every step of the way since 2015 by restoring the age of eligibility for retirement back to 65; increasing the guaranteed income supplement, which has helped over 900,000 seniors, and has actually lifted 45,000 seniors out of poverty; enhancing the Canada pension plan; or, recently, increasing the old age security for those 75 and over by 10%.
We have been there for seniors, and we will continue to make sure that we have their backs now and into the future.
105 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:52:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the City of Windsor and the federal government partnered to address climate change and pollution by tackling devastating flooding under the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund by agreeing to a 60% to 40% cost-share. With rampant global inflation, construction costs have escalated, and now the Liberals are using this as an opportunity to squeeze the partnership and jeopardize important work on the Great Lakes.
For all the Liberals' bluster on fighting climate change, one would think that they would show some shame here. Windsor residents need action on the climate emergency, not patronizing lip service. When will the government stop backtracking and live up to its word for a change?
113 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:53:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our government has made record investments to Windsor and the surrounding area. Our commitment to investing in infrastructure is solidified in the fact that we are investing in green and climate-resilient infrastructure.
It is not just about creating good jobs. It is also about creating resilient communities. That is precisely what our infrastructure plan is doing. We are working with communities and partners to set those priorities and make sure that our communities are resilient into the future.
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:54:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the increasing impacts of climate change have made it clear that more needs to be done to fight the climate crisis, not less. National governments play an integral role in leading this work by greening their operations, an area in which Canada continues to demonstrate its leadership on the global stage.
The net-zero government initiative invites governments from around the world to lead by example and achieve net-zero emissions from national government operations by no later than 2050. Could the President of the Treasury Board please update the House on this initiative?
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/15/23 2:54:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his hard work.
Canada has joined the net-zero government initiative, and Canada is showing global leadership on climate change. We are working with countries around the world to pledge to achieve net-zero emissions from government operations by 2050. Our planet needs us to aggressively reduce our emissions, and the government is leading by example.
67 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc-Liberal alliance continues to work against Quebec's best interests. First, their proposed bill, Bill C‑11, fails to ensure that online businesses are subject to Quebec's status of the artist legislation. Second, this bill contains no mechanism for formal consultation with the Quebec government. The Minister of Canadian Heritage has stated that his government is collaborating extremely well with the government, yet he has ignored the input from April 29, 2022, and the letter from February 4, 2023.
Will the government send Bill C‑11 to committee so that it can consider Quebec's proposed amendment?
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, there is a consensus in Quebec on the importance of the bill and the importance of supporting our artists, creators, directors, producers, those who top the best-of lists in music, film and television. Everyone agrees, except the Conservatives, who never talk about culture. In fact, their daily dose of culture comes from their morning yogurt.
59 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, there is more than a consensus in Quebec; there is unanimity. The National Assembly voted unanimously to demand that this government hear what it has to say on Bill C‑11. We realize that members of the Bloc-Liberal alliance may not have read the bill carefully. Clause 7 gives greater power to cabinet to direct the CRTC. This centralizes power at the federal level, and the Bloc Québécois is okay with that.
Could the Liberal or Bloc minister, since it is hard to know which is which, tell the House that, yes, they will allow the Quebec proposal and the amendments to be heard in parliamentary committee?
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether it is because today is Canada's Agriculture Day, but my colleague always seems to be in the weeds. When it comes to culture, there is a consensus in the government with the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Quebec society on the importance of working together to ensure that online broadcasters like Netflix, Disney and others, which are very popular, contribute to the production of homegrown content, in other words Quebec and Canadian content in music, film and television. Everyone agrees, except the Conservatives.
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that everything the Bloc-centralist-Liberal alliance is currently doing for Quebec is not working. Just think of Bill C‑5, which allows rapists to stay at home, or Bill C‑75, which lets criminals who have been released to obtain bail even if they are still violent. Now, there is Bill C‑11.
To add insult to injury, they are refusing to consider the motion that was adopted unanimously. Even the Bloc voted unanimously for the federal government to move on Bill C‑11.
Can the minister tell us if Bill C‑11 will be sent to committee to be studied together with the amendments?
116 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, I thank my Bloc Québécois friends who have understood the importance of culture in Quebec.
I am confused about why Quebec MPs elected by other Quebeckers do not understand how important this bill is to ensure support for our music, television and movies so that we can continue to be not just the best in Canada, but the best in the world.
68 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, who would have thought? Not only is the Liberal government no longer bickering with the Bloc Québécois, but now it is bickering with the Government of Quebec at the National Assembly. That is not what it means to speak on behalf of Quebec.
The fact is that Quebec is the home of the French fact. The Government of Quebec and the National Assembly want to be heard in parliamentary committee.
Could the new star of the Bloc Québécois, who happens to be minister of the alliance between the Bloc Québécois and the Liberal Party, stand up and assure Quebec that, yes, Quebec's grievances over this bill will be heard in parliamentary committee?
127 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
