SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 200 - May/18/23

May/18/23 2:02:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, hockey is Canada's game. Men's and women's hockey bring families together at rinks and around televisions across the country to cheer on our favourite teams. These athletes have dedicated parents and team owners, great coaches, fantastic teammates, dedicated fans and fabulous volunteers to support them on their journey. The Provincial Junior Hockey League of Ontario provides an opportunity to showcase our amazing young athletes. Seventeen hockey clubs make up the western division of the PJHL, including three from my riding of Essex: the Amherstburg Admirals, Essex 73's and the Lakeshore Canadiens. Although I am dating myself, I was a proud goaltender for the Kingsville Comets junior C hockey club back in the day, and these clubs were my rivals. Today, I stand to congratulate the Lakeshore Canadiens for winning the western conference championship. Although the Schmalz Cup was not in the cards this year, we are all proud of them. Let us bring it home next year.

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Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

May/18/23 2:03:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Parksville has lost a legend. Phil St. Luke was lovingly known throughout the community as Flyin' Phil. He brought joy to all who knew him, and most people did, whether through waving during his daily walks through the streets of Parksville, working with him as a community volunteer, cheering him on during the annual Canada Day parade or chatting with him in a local coffee shop or at community events. Flyin' Phil represented the very best in humanity, and his kind, loving and uplifting spirit is greatly missed. He succumbed to cancer in January at the age of 70. Our community will gather to celebrate his life next month, and funds are being raised for a public statue so his spirit will live on. Rest in peace, Flyin' Phil. He enriched the lives of an entire community, and for this we are forever grateful.

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Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

May/18/23 2:04:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Cercle de fermières de Saint-Cyrille is celebrating its 85th anniversary. The year 2023 is a historic year for the group. Our farm women will have plenty of opportunities to showcase their many talents. The group consists of 36 extraordinary volunteers, dedicated to improving the living conditions of women and families, and to passing on their cultural and artisanal heritage. They are women of boundless generosity, whose actions have an impact throughout the community. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of some long-standing members of the Cercle des fermières for their exceptional contribution. Congratulations to the longest-serving member, Cécile Langelier, member since 1975, as well as Jeanne Descôteaux, France Houde, Annette Faucher and Gisèle Boudreault. Without these women and their successors, our traditions would surely disappear. I am feeling happy and reassured to see that Quebec's rich history and the continuity of our artisanal heritage are in good hands. We will be kicking off the festivities this evening at the Lauzière heritage house. Happy 85th anniversary to the Cercle des fermières de Saint-Cyrille.

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Ms. Annie Koutrakis (Vimy, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:05:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on May 18, the Tamil community celebrates the day of remembrance, Mullivaikkal, which commemorates the lives lost during the 25-year civil war in Sri Lanka. As we honour the victims of this tragedy, we are reminded of the strength and resilience of the Tamil community in Canada and around the world. During the Mullivaikkal massacre in 2009, Tamils held rallies and protests in Canadian cities, raising awareness of the violence taking place and calling for action to prevent further death and destruction. I have met many Tamil Canadians who survived the civil war in Sri Lanka but lost loved ones. Despite all the adversity the Tamil community has faced, it has made a rich and valuable contribution to our country. I thank the Tamil community for its commitment to denouncing the human rights abuses and atrocities committed. As we reflect on the pain of these events, we continue to look towards healing and making the world a safer place for all.

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Mr. Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, CPC)

May/18/23 2:06:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week, Alberta’s NDP MPs in the House teamed up with their Liberal partners to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, creating a duplication of regulations on tailings ponds and hydraulic fracturing. Going forward, the resource industry will need to go through two regulatory bodies. So much for reducing regulations on the mining industry to get mines producing in less than 20 years. This is a flip-flop by Liberals on their position at the environment committee. This is no surprise, I suppose. However, the last thing we need is more jurisdictional clashes caused by the federal government overstepping its constitutional bounds. It is shocking for the Alberta NDP to work hand in hand with the Liberals to override provincial jurisdiction. If it is not obvious, let us be clear in saying this: Notley’s NDP is colluding with the Liberal government to restrict Alberta’s resource development.

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Mr. John Aldag (Cloverdale—Langley City, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:07:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, at this time of year, we celebrate the academic achievements of those who have finished their studies for the year. This includes those who are done another year of post-secondary studies, such as my daughter Hattie, and those who have convocated. We also celebrate the achievements of elementary and secondary schools in Cloverdale—Langley City. I congratulate all grade 12 students who are preparing to celebrate the significant milestone of graduation, including my daughter Kalani. As these students pursue post-secondary education, trades training and entry into the workforce, I would like to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments in pursuit of their passions and life goals. Congratulations go to the graduating and convocating classes of 2023. I look forward to seeing these graduates shape our future ideas, policies and investments as they become leaders in our country.

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Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:08:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, [Member spoke in Gaelic] [English] What I just said is that May is Gaelic month in Nova Scotia. This is an opportunity to celebrate Nova Scotia's rich history and connection to Scotland and the Gaelic language. Like thousands of Nova Scotians, I can trace my family's history to Scotland. The contribution of Scottish Gaels to Canada, particularly Nova Scotia, is significant; the language has been spoken there for almost 250 years. Our province is home to one of the largest Gaelic-speaking populations outside of Scotland itself. Gaelic cultural identity continues to be a vibrant part of Nova Scotia's diverse peoples and communities. I want to thank the Gaelic community, which continues to promote the language today. This month, and always, we should celebrate the unique connection that exists between Canada and Scotland, especially in Nova Scotia. This year's theme is “Say Yes to Gaelic”. In that spirit, I say this: Dualchas na Gàidhlig,'s ann leibhse a tha e.

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Mr. Marc Dalton (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, CPC)

May/18/23 2:09:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years under this Prime Minister, everything feels broken. Life is more expensive, work does not pay and housing costs have doubled. The Prime Minister devised a way to control the people. Worst of all, crime, chaos, drugs and disorder rage in our streets. Nowhere is this worse than in the opioid overdose crisis that has expanded so dramatically in the last several years. When I walk outside in Maple Ridge's downtown core, more often than not, I see men and women strung out on drugs. It is tragic and heartbreaking, and it is the same in cities across B.C. Needles are everywhere, and thousands are dying. In B.C. alone, yearly overdose deaths have spiked 300% since the Liberals came into power. The Liberal-NDP solution is to have more free drugs and death. Why does the government cling so stubbornly to its failed drug policies—

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The Speaker

May/18/23 2:10:23 p.m.
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The hon. member for Scarborough—Rouge Park.

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Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Scarborough—Rouge Park, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:10:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Tamils around the world stand in solidarity with victims, survivors and their families in the north and east of Sri Lanka to ensure that we find the truth, hold those responsible for atrocities accountable, and attain justice and peace. This past January, our government imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankan officials, including Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They have both been credibly accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. These past presidents of Sri Lanka have blood on their hands and cannot evade justice. As part of our Indo-Pacific strategy, Canada reaffirms our resolve to ensure accountability on the island. Canada will continue to demand accountability by working with multilateral partners, including the United Nations Human Rights Council. As we mark this day, let us also ensure that the Tamils' inherent right to self-determination in their homeland is entrenched and that they attain peace and security.

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Mr. Richard Martel (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, CPC)

May/18/23 2:11:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to paint a picture of what Canada looks like after eight years under this Prime Minister. It is not pretty, even though the Prime Minister thinks that everything is fine. Canada is experiencing the worst inflation in 40 years. Housing is unaffordable and food banks cannot keep up with demand. The Liberals have been hurting the Canadian economy for the past eight years. The least they could do is scrap the carbon tax, which is already costing Canadians 41¢ more per litre of gas, but no. We just learned that, instead, they are going to add a second tax on top of that. The two taxes combined will mean that Quebeckers who are already unable to make ends meet will have to pay 61¢ more a litre. That just adds insult to injury. The second tax will apply in Quebec and will cost Quebeckers an average of $436 a year—and the Bloc Québécois supports it. There is a glimmer of hope, however. Once the leader of the Conservative Party takes office, he will bring back common sense by scrapping both carbon taxes and putting Canadians back in control so that they no longer have to choose between putting clothes on their backs, food on the table or a roof over their heads.

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Mr. Warren Steinley (Regina—Lewvan, CPC)

May/18/23 2:12:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the reckless Prime Minister, along with his NDP-Liberal carbon tax coalition, is secretly implementing a second carbon tax, carbon tax 2. We all know the sequel is far worse than the original. The first carbon tax cost Canadians an additional 41¢ per litre at the pumps. Carbon tax 2 will force Canadians to pay even more for gas, groceries and home heating. A PBO report released today shows that Saskatchewan families will be hit the hardest in the country by carbon tax 2, paying more than $1,100 a year. This is on top of the $1,500 from the original carbon tax. The Liberals are targeting families, farmers and small businesses, while missing every environmental target they have. A Conservative government will make work pay again by putting more money back into the pockets of Canadians. The more the current Prime Minister goes woke, the faster Canadians go broke. It is time to bring home common sense and axe the carbon tax.

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Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:13:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for our country, for our ancestors, united let us march. Nan mitan n pa fèt pou gen trèt. For the flag, for our country, let us toil joyfully. Nou gon drapo tankou tout Pèp. Se pa kado, blan te fè nou. Se san Zansèt nou yo ki te koule. [Member spoke in Creole] [Translation] These words come from La Dessalinienne, the national anthem of the Republic of Haiti, which is celebrating the 220th anniversary of its flag today. Today, Haiti needs all of its daughters and sons. This May 18, I call on all of the country's key players to set aside their personal interests and join forces to rebuild Haiti with dignity. This May 18, I ask the criminal gangs to lay down their weapons and end the violence in Haiti. Long live Haiti.

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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)

May/18/23 2:15:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in my community of Port Moody—Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra, we support the work to end period poverty. On May 28, as part of the Period Promise campaign, Soroptimist International of the Tri-Cities will highlight this important cause by hosting a fundraiser and donation drop-off. With a 6% increase in the price of personal health care products, even more Canadians cannot afford menstrual products like pads, tampons and cups. Lack of hygiene products causes B.C. residents who experience menstruation to miss school, work and social gatherings. The United Way's Period Promise campaign is working to address this inequity. I will be stopping in at Como Lake Village in Coquitlam on Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to support the Soroptimists, who collected 700,000 units to end period poverty last year. I raise my hands to the work of every community organization that has made the period promise. Their work is invaluable.

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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ)

May/18/23 2:16:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada has just realized that long before the Madonnas and the Lady Gagas of this world shocked audiences with their extravagance and filled stadiums with their voices, there was the great Diane Dufresne. Yes, the great Diane Dufresne will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame tonight, after 60 brilliant years of magnificent music. She is the first Quebecker to be inducted in 45 years. There is no doubt that this belated but well-chosen recognition of Quebec songs will breathe some life into the Hall of Fame. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to congratulate this great ambassador of culture and of Quebec's soul. This honour is so well deserved. Calgary is in for a treat when she performs tonight. She said in an interview that she plans to put on her Diane Dufresne clothes and go for a stroll. Yes, Calgary is in for a treat, especially if she sings, in French, one of the signature songs from her famous show Magie Rose. My congratulations to Diane Dufresne. Quebec shines brightly every time she is honoured.

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Mrs. Anna Roberts (King—Vaughan, CPC)

May/18/23 2:17:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government tried to sell Canadians a bill of goods, stating that they would get back more than they pay in carbon tax. However, Liberals' own study proved them wrong. Now, the Liberals want to impose a second carbon tax. These two taxes combined would create approximately $2,000 in net new costs, above and beyond any rebates. This is at a time when many seniors are having to rely more and more on local food banks. A local Toronto food bank has seen its yearly food budget of $1.8 million become their monthly food budget. With the Liberals' second tax grab, their annual food budget would increase to $43 million. The PBO report released this morning revealed that the carbon tax would have a greater impact on lower-income households. Our Conservative Party would cut the tax and bring hope back to seniors.

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Ms. Jenna Sudds (Kanata—Carleton, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:18:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when the pandemic impacted our semiconductor supply chain, one thing became very clear, which is that Canada needs to nearshore this critical economic sector. I am proud that our government is working to do exactly that by building a semiconductor corridor across North America. Canada is in a unique position. We have the resources, the critical minerals and the talent to get the job done. Just look at the innovators in my riding of Kanata—Carleton, such as CMC, Ranovus, Marvell, Alphawave Semi and GaN Systems. This is just to name a few innovators; they are designing, assembling and testing semiconductors that are smaller and faster than ever before. Building out this ecosystem promises to be a transformative step for Canada’s economy. We will not let this once-in-a-generation opportunity pass us by.

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Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

May/18/23 2:19:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer revealed today that this Prime Minister is imposing a second carbon tax on Quebeckers, on top of all the taxes Quebeckers must pay on gas. It will add another 17¢ to the sales tax for a total of 20¢ per litre, for each Quebec family, each farmer and each business. How much will every Quebec family have to pay?

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Hon. Steven Guilbeault (Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lib.)

May/18/23 2:20:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I believe that Quebeckers listening to us today know how important it is to fight climate change. They know that, on this point, the Conservatives have nothing to say; they have no plan and they have no measures, despite the promises they made in the last election campaign. In fact, they do not even believe that climate change is real, in spite of the flooding in Quebec and Ontario and the record forest fires in Alberta. I believe that Canadians want a government that has a responsible plan to address climate change. Unfortunately, they will not get that with the Conservatives.

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Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

May/18/23 2:21:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this minister will say just about anything. Quebeckers are already the greenest people in the world and this Liberal government is blocking the construction of dams and other green hydroelectricity projects. In the meantime, it wants to force Quebeckers to pay another 20¢ a litre, or $500 per family. The government is planning to to do this with the support of the “woke” Bloc. Only the Conservative Party has the common sense to want to eliminate this regressive tax. Will the government listen to common sense and get rid of the tax?

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