44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 16, 2023 10:00AM
Mr. Speaker, just imagine: Montreal West Island Integrated Health and Social Services Centre had to take to the media to set the record straight after the member for Saint-Laurent spread misinformation about Bill 96 and the Charter of the French Language.
In Quebec, francophones can get care in French and anglophones can get care in English. Even a patient who speaks neither English nor French can get services in their language, even if that means using interpreters, because we care.
Will the minister call the member for Saint-Laurent to order and demand an apology?
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They care, Mr. Speaker. As for judgment, I am not so sure.
I am glad the Bloc Québécois is interested in French. It just had a whole opposition day, and members could have talked about the environment, our seniors, the fight against poverty or even French, but no, they got together and decided to talk about the Constitution. That is their priority.
Meanwhile, Liberals are working for all Canadians, including all Quebeckers.
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- Feb/16/23 2:44:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have finally admitted failure. We all know that their carbon tax is not an environmental plan but simply a tax plan. Today, they have admitted that their real plan; the only way that they were able to reduce emissions was because of COVID. The Liberals' carbon tax will cost farmers up to $150,000 a year. That cost is crippling to a family farm.
It has been eight years. For the sake of Canada's farmers and all Canadians, will those Liberals finally axe the tax?
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- Feb/16/23 2:44:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is complete disinformation. It is irresponsible to increase the anxiety of farmers when they are the first ones to be impacted by climate change—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Feb/16/23 2:45:13 p.m.
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I would ask the hon. minister to please start from the top so that we can hear the full answer.
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- Feb/16/23 2:45:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is sharing disinformation; this is totally false. They are twisting the facts of a certain study. They are not giving the full information. It is misinformed, and it is increasing the anxiety of farmers. I think it is totally irresponsible.
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- Feb/16/23 2:46:00 p.m.
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I just want to ask all the members, including the ministers, to be very judicious with their words when they are in the House.
The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.
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- Feb/16/23 2:46:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we heard today from the Governor of the Bank of Canada that after eight years of the Liberal Prime Minister, inflation continues to be a concern and interest rates will stay high for the foreseeable future. Despite the fact that Canadians are continuing to struggle just to heat their homes and to feed their families, on April 1, the Liberal government will increase the inflationary carbon tax.
Will the Prime Minister finally axe this tax or at least get out of the way so that Conservatives can?
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- Feb/16/23 2:47:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times in this House, it would be enormously important for Canada if we actually had an official opposition that believed in the reality of climate change and understood that we actually had to have a plan to address climate change. Like our American, British, German and French friends, we plan to address it in a manner that will promote economic growth and opportunity in every region of this country.
We are working to do exactly that to ensure we leave a planet that is sustainable and prosperous for our kids.
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- Feb/16/23 2:47:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when someone is losing an argument, they distract and deflect. The truth of the matter is that the Liberals are as incompetent at fighting climate change as they are the affordability crisis. The Liberals do not have an environmental plan; they have a tax plan. I was there at public accounts when the environmental commissioner scolded the Liberals for not hitting a single target.
Will the Liberals finally get out of the way so the Conservatives can fight climate change and bring prosperity back to our country?
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- Feb/16/23 2:48:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when this government came to power in 2015, we inherited a target from the Harper Conservatives, which was 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. The problem with the Harper approach was that there was no plan to achieve that target.
We put together the most comprehensive climate plan Canada has ever had. We built a plan that would not only meet but actually exceed that target. After that, we raised the target by 50% to make it science-aligned to ensure we are actually fighting climate change and doing so in a manner that will leave a prosperous and healthy environment for our children.
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- Feb/16/23 2:48:45 p.m.
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Uqaqtittiji, rural and remote indigenous communities are in dire need of housing. Nunavummiut are living in canvas tents in the winter, sleeping in shifts in overcrowded rooms and waiting years for adequate housing. Together, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik have asked for $500 million over three years, starting in the upcoming budget.
Will the government properly invest in Nunavut housing so northerners can sleep in safe, comfortable homes?
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- Feb/16/23 2:49:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the lack of safe, quality housing across the north is unacceptable. This is why our government, in collaboration with partners, is making historic investments. Our government has been clear that we will not impose solutions on northerners. Instead, we will work with them to support their priorities. Through Northern Affairs alone, we are investing $200 million to support housing and related infrastructure in the north. This flexible funding allows territorial partners to continue to advance their most pressing housing needs.
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- Feb/16/23 2:49:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that answer was not the one expected by the member for Nunavut.
The member asked for $500 million, and $200 million is not even close. In my riding, it is no better. It is Edmonton Griesbach's worst problem. We have indigenous people who are living on the streets and enduring the housing crisis; they have been let down by the Prime Minister and the premier of Alberta. Too many are paying more than they can afford. They are living in overcrowded homes or have no homes at all.
Will the government stop the rhetoric and start investing in indigenous housing, for indigenous and by indigenous, now?
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- Feb/16/23 2:50:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we believe in a “for indigenous, by indigenous”-led urban, rural and northern indigenous housing strategy. That is why budget 2022 included over $4 billion more to close the gap in indigenous housing. It included $300 million as an initial investment in a dedicated urban, rural and northern indigenous housing strategy informed by a for indigenous, by indigenous approach, and that is the beginning of the process. We will continue to invest to close that gap.
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- Feb/16/23 2:51:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the murder of George Floyd, our government has announced several measures to combat systemic racism.
We know that Black people are overrepresented in prisons. Yesterday, the Minister of Justice announced the establishment of the steering group for Canada's Black justice strategy. Can he tell us more?
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- Feb/16/23 2:51:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the member for Bourassa, for his question and for participating in our announcement yesterday. The reality is that Black people are overrepresented in our justice system, both as victims and accused persons.
We therefore established a steering committee consisting of nine Black experts who understand and live the current reality. The discrimination they face is systemic, and our response must be ambitious, comprehensive and fair.
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Mr. Speaker, for over 10 months now, the alliance between the Bloc Québécois and the centralizing Liberal Party of Canada has scorned Quebec with respect to the bill on the CRTC.
Ten months ago, the Quebec government asked to be heard. The Bloc-Liberal alliance refused to respond to that. The Quebec National Assembly voted unanimously on a motion to that effect just this week. There was even one a year ago, but with the complicity of the members of the Bloc-Liberal alliance, nothing was done.
Time is running out. It is imperative that Quebec be heard. Will the Bloc-Liberal alliance agree to hear Quebec in a parliamentary committee, to hear what Quebec has to say and—
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- Feb/16/23 2:52:55 p.m.
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The hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage.
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Mr. Speaker, the bill was introduced over a year ago. On the House side, 12 meetings were held, 80 witnesses were heard and 52 briefs were tabled. On the Senate side, 31 meetings were held, 138 witnesses were heard, and there were 675 hours of study.
Is it only now that my colleague is waking up, a whole year later? Even Sleeping Beauty did not sleep that long.
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