44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 18, 2023 10:00AM
- May/18/23 2:59:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the decriminalization of hard drugs by the Liberals and NDP, we have seen a record number of opioid deaths in the province of British Columbia. Not only that, the government has failed to uphold its part in the agreement as it relates to the protection of children. Why has the government not done more to protect kids from exposure to crack pipes and needles at schools and parks across British Columbia, despite its still being illegal?
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- May/18/23 2:59:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think every member of the House understands that the increase in opioid deaths is because of the extraordinarily toxic drug supply that came in after the reduction of deaths in 2019 in British Columbia, so this is hugely important. The exemption we have approved in British Columbia specifically states that playgrounds and areas attached to schools and day cares are not exempt and must be enforced.
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- May/18/23 3:00:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Conservatives know that a healthy recovery is the answer to the captivity of addiction. There are 34,000 Canadians who have died from opioids from 2016 to 2022 alone.
Today, we are told Ottawa plans to join a B.C. class action accusing its favourite $100-million consultant McKinsey, which turbocharged the opioid sales, of reckless opioid marketing. This is a copycat of what Conservatives called for on March 14.
Why did it take the Liberal government two years after the U.S. settlement to sue McKinsey and big pharma?
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- May/18/23 3:01:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, the opposition is behind the times. Since 2018, we have been working with British Columbia on the litigation against big pharma and those who enabled it, and we were part of the Purdue settlement in June 2022. At our request, B.C. also amended its legislation to reinforce the federal government's participation in these class actions. Canada has also addressed big pharma's predatory practices by further restricting the marketing of opioids and increasing the maximum financial penalties.
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- May/18/23 3:01:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the Conservative Party's pollution pricing flip-flop. In 2007, the Harper government proposed a $15 carbon tax. In 2008, that same government promised to introduce a cap-and-trade system. In 2011, the Conservatives ditched that idea along with every other climate measure. During the 2021 election campaign, they once again supported carbon pricing.
Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change tell the House about the ambitious climate measures our government is proposing to—
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- May/18/23 3:02:37 p.m.
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The hon. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
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- May/18/23 3:02:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.
When it comes to climate change, Canadians expect the government to do the right thing and take action. That is exactly what we are doing with pollution pricing that has prompted industry to reduce emissions by over 50 million tonnes in recent years, an emissions reduction plan for all sectors of the economy, an oil and gas emissions cap and a national climate change adaptation strategy.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, the Conservative Party leader, has still no plan to fight climate change and even continues to deny the crisis.
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- May/18/23 3:03:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec's minister of higher education has asked universities to cancel their partnerships with Huawei, which is a threat to Canada's security. Since this is a matter of federal public safety, she also asked the Prime Minister to provide the provinces with guidelines for banning Huawei from provincial institutions. She has asked for this, but this Liberal government still refuses to respond.
From the very beginning, the Prime Minister has been dragging his feet when it comes to Chinese interference. The danger is real.
When will he respond to Minister Déry?
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- May/18/23 3:03:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, national security is everyone's responsibility: federal and provincial governments, universities and researchers. In February, we made our position clear on the protection of Canadian research and intellectual property. We have introduced new and much more rigorous approaches. We expect all partners to take measures as well. We will continue working to promote an open and collaborative research system while safeguarding national security.
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- May/18/23 3:04:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the World Health Assembly will be meeting next week in Geneva. Taiwan had an exemplary response to the recent global COVID-19 pandemic and has much to contribute to pandemic preparedness and global health initiatives.
Does Canada support Taiwan's participation at next week's World Health Assembly?
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- May/18/23 3:04:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada reconfirms our support of Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations. Its absence would be detrimental to global interests. That is why we support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organization. Taiwan's participation would benefit both the people of Taiwan and those around the world. We will continue to invest in our relationship with Taiwan while working to enhance peace and civility across the strait.
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- May/18/23 3:05:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, G7 leaders will meet this weekend in Hiroshima, Japan, where the nuclear bomb was first used. They are expected to meet survivors of that bomb. They are also expected to issue a joint statement on the use of nuclear weapons, in light of Russia's threats against Ukraine and the west.
Will the government take this opportunity at the G7 to urge our closest ally, the United States, to resume the strategic stability dialogue on nuclear weapons with Russia?
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- May/18/23 3:05:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Japan for prioritizing this as part of the G7. Canada believes in a world free of nuclear weapons, and the current arsenals around the world remain far too large.
We call on Russia to fulfill its international obligations, including under the New START Treaty. Putin's rhetoric is dangerous and reckless. Russia needs to end its unjustified war and come to the table for peace talks. We will continue to work with our allies toward this very crucial goal.
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- May/18/23 3:06:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Ontario's Greenbelt is a crown jewel, protecting nearly two million acres of environmentally sensitive land, yet Doug Ford calls the Greenbelt a “scam”. It is clear he is working to parcel it off to his developer friends. We cannot let him do that.
What does the Minister of Environment think of Premier Ford calling the Greenbelt a scam, and will he stand up for the Greenbelt with every tool available?
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- May/18/23 3:06:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I profoundly disagree with the characterization that the Premier of Ontario has made about the Greenbelt. Protecting green spaces, so that our kids and grandkids can have access to green spaces, clean air and clean water, is no scam. Working to ensure that our kids and grandkids continue to have a bright future is no scam.
The federal government will use all of its available tools to ensure that we can continue protecting the lands in the Greenbelt, as well as jewels like Rouge National Urban Park.
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- May/18/23 3:07:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a new report shows the number of Canadian teenagers regularly vaping is now shockingly among the highest in the world. This puts the health and lives of youth at great risk, and experts say it is Liberal inaction fuelling this growing crisis. The government's refusal to take on big tobacco is allowing it to use flavoured products to hook a new generation of Canadians.
Why are Liberals standing back while big tobacco uses flavours like cotton candy to lure teenagers into become addicted to nicotine?
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- May/18/23 3:08:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for this question. We have met with a number of key stakeholders in the area, including this morning with the Canadian Cancer Society. We are grateful for all of its input. We know how tremendous the impact of vaping and smoking is in our society, including for younger Canadians and youth. That is why we have already put into place strong regulations over the last few years on packaging, publicity and content of vaping products, and we will be doing more.
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- May/18/23 3:08:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, moments ago, the Minister of Environment said he will use every tool available to the federal government. Those tools are lying idle while Doug Ford is revving up the bulldozers.
We know that we could use endangered species legislation or look at impact assessments, but the strongest tool is probably the international, legally binding agreement of the Great Lakes annex to prohibit the movement of water within the Great Lakes from basin to basin. Eight U.S. states, two Canadian provinces and two federal governments stand behind that annex.
When will the federal government stand up and demand that the Ontario government, under which Mike Harris signed that accord, live up to its terms?
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- May/18/23 3:09:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we can use the Species at Risk Act once projects are proposed. No such projects have been proposed so far. We have already started an impact assessment review of the impacts of said development on Rouge National Park. We did not wait. We are already acting and we are looking at other areas of Ontario where we could launch similar studies to look at the impacts of de-zoning the Green Belt plans on federally protected lands.
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- May/18/23 3:09:52 p.m.
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I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the 2023 Killam Prize laureates, which are awarded to Canadian scholars who have distinguished themselves through sustained research, excellence in science and innovation. We have Pieter Cullis, Ajay Heble, Praveen Jain, Sarah Otto and Charles M. Morin.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear!
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