44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 20, 2023 10:00AM
- Oct/20/23 11:50:09 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, right now, the alleviation of human suffering is our number one priority. We continue, and will continue, to push for all parties to respect humanitarian and international law. This means access for civilians. This means accountability for those who do not follow international law. This means that we are using every diplomatic channel that we have to alleviate the suffering, and ensure that aid gets to the Palestinian civilians and that international law is complied with.
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- Oct/20/23 11:50:50 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the war between Hamas and Israel keeps taking the lives of so many innocent Israelis and Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is getting worse by the minute. People in Gaza have very little access to water, food or electricity. They are forced to flee their homes or be bombed, and half of them are children. Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace, and that is why the NDP has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of the hostages.
Why will the government not do everything in its power to save lives by calling for a ceasefire?
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- Oct/20/23 11:51:27 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada will continue to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza facing urgent humanitarian needs. Our initial commitment of $10 million in humanitarian assistance to trusted partners in Gaza will provide food, water, emergency medical assistance and protection services. We were the first western country to do so, and others have now started following suit. We will continue to be there.
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- Oct/20/23 11:52:01 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, national parks protect Canada's iconic terrestrial and aquatic environments, while provide opportunities for public understanding, education and enjoyment for these protected areas.
Having worked for Parks Canada for more than 30 years prior to politics, I can appreciate the importance of protecting and preserving the beautiful landscapes that represent the very best of Canada.
Can the parliamentary secretary share with this House the progress our government is making to protect and conserve these national wonders for future generations?
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- Oct/20/23 11:52:35 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his advocacy for Parks Canada all these years.
Yesterday our government introduced Bill S-14, the protecting Canada’s natural wonders act. This bill would ensure that, along with its partners, Parks Canada has the authorities and tools to protect these lands for current and future generations. This represents an increase of more than 12 million hectares protected under legislation, which is a land mass slightly smaller than the combined area of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
I hope all parliamentarians can work together to ensure the passage of this important piece of legislation.
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- Oct/20/23 11:53:16 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight long years under the Prime Minister, Canadians expect more than just empty promises on housing. Construction is down and costs are climbing way up. The NDP-Liberal coalition's inflationary spending feels like a cruel joke to those trying to afford a home.
The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost. Is it not time for some common-sense Conservative solutions to ensure every Canadian has a roof over their head?
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- Oct/20/23 11:53:54 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is a bill on this floor that the Conservatives can get behind. The result, if they decide to support it, would be a more affordable situation for builders, because it would lift GST off the construction of rental apartments. They are not in favour of that. They want to tax the construction of rental apartments for the middle class.
On top of that, we are putting forward measures to help support builders by making sure there are training programs so labourers can be available. They have no support for that. It is an entirely reckless approach that they take.
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- Oct/20/23 11:54:36 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight long years of the Liberal-NDP government, seven million Canadians are now struggling to put food on their tables thanks to the carbon tax. When one taxes the farmer who grows the food and taxes the trucker who ships the food, one ultimately punishes the Canadian who buys the food. Now there are Canadians driving across the U.S. border to buy basic grocery essentials. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
Will the Prime Minister do the honourable thing, axe the carbon tax and bring home affordable groceries for all Canadians?
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- Oct/20/23 11:55:14 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Conservatives consistently use the carbon price as a scapegoat for global inflation in this House. I think they are having trouble grasping the concept of magnitude. The Bank of Canada governor recently said carbon pricing contributed 0.15% to inflation, which is equivalent to 15¢ on a $100 grocery bill. The European Central Bank said climate change contributes as much as 3% to the cost of food per year, which is three dollars on a $100 grocery bill. That means climate change has 20 times the influence on food prices than the carbon price. If Conservatives were serious about fighting global inflation, they would have a plan to fight climate change.
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- Oct/20/23 11:56:01 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, of all the provinces, Quebec is the one most affected by inflation. Quebeckers are spending 23% more for their groceries. Food banks are swamped with people no longer able to afford supermarket prices, but this is a matter of utter indifference to this government and to the Bloc Québécois, which wants to drastically increase the tax. Voting Bloc is costly.
Will the Prime Minister show some empathy, do the right and reasonable thing and cancel his costly carbon tax?
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- Oct/20/23 11:56:42 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising the issue of affordability and the Quebec City region.
She is a brand new MP, so she may not know that her Conservative Party colleagues voted against the Canada child benefit in 2016, before her time. Tens of thousands of children and families receive a tax-free cheque every month, lifting 40% of the people in her riding out of poverty.
Would she choose to vote against the Canada child benefit too?
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- Oct/20/23 11:57:19 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal government, Quebeckers are getting poorer. Those are the facts.
According to Statistics Canada, inflation is rising faster than Quebec wages. What is more, the second carbon tax to be applied in Quebec will increase the price of gasoline by 17¢ per litre. Then there is the Bloc, which claims to defend Quebec, yet is further harming Quebeckers by demanding a drastic increase. Voting Bloc is costly.
When will the government abolish its carbon tax and give Quebeckers a chance to get their heads above water?
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- Oct/20/23 11:58:01 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when I talk to Quebeckers, they tell me that voting Conservative is far too costly. The Conservatives are proposing an austerity plan. They want to cut support for our seniors, support for families with children, the help Canadians need to make ends meet.
We are here to support Canadians. The Conservatives are not worth the risk.
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- Oct/20/23 11:58:38 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Amnesty International is calling on Export Development Canada, EDC, to stop funding Canadian mining companies in Colombia, where human rights violations are on the rise.
Some 146 political dissidents were killed last year. That represents 46% of all political assassinations around the world. Environmental activists, farmers, indigenous people and anyone who has reservations about the mining companies' activities are at risk.
Will Ottawa suspend the funding of mining companies in Colombia while there are serious concerns that they are contributing to a climate of violence there?
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- Oct/20/23 11:59:17 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government will always stand up for human rights. This is why we created the CORE to maintain social responsibility of businesses around the world. This is why we will continue always to ensure that when Canadians and others are doing business around the world, particularly mining companies, we will always stand up for human rights everywhere, all the time.
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- Oct/20/23 11:59:46 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, CORE, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, does not even have the authority to call witnesses.
I went to Colombia in 2021 as part of a human rights mission. I can confirm that there are some disturbing accounts there. Ottawa has no idea what is happening with the mining companies abroad. Export Development Canada has no checks and balances or credible monitoring.
Ottawa needs to tighten the accountability and transparency requirements of the companies it funds in countries where human rights are being violated.
In the immediate term, will it listen to Amnesty International and restrict EDC investments in Canadian mining companies in Colombia?
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- Oct/20/23 12:00:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have very strong export control mechanisms. We always stand up for human rights. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise was created specifically so that we can work together with businesses.
We know that there are ways in which that can be strengthened. This is exactly why we are listening. It is why, when the Subcommittee on International Human Rights did a study, the government accepted those recommendations regarding CORE.
We will work together with every member of the House to ensure that Canada and Canadians, when we are abroad, stand for human rights.
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- Oct/20/23 12:01:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the current government and the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister, it is no surprise that the Liberals' billion-dollar green slush fund is lining the pockets of Liberal insiders and is now under investigation. Annette Verschuren is a good friend of the Prime Minister and chair of the board that is doling out taxpayer cash. However, it turns out that her own company received millions from that same fund. The Prime Minister simply is not worth the cost.
How many other Liberal insiders got rich with this green slush fund?
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- Oct/20/23 12:01:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I know that Canadians are wising up to the fact that the Conservatives are just not worth the risk, but let me answer the member's question by saying this: When the minister became aware of the allegations of mismanagement at SDTC, he immediately acted and commissioned a review. The review resulted in an action plan that the executive will now implement by December, and we expect the highest standards of excellence in governance from all of our federal agencies.
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- Oct/20/23 12:02:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is the same scandal that has whistle-blowers pleading for legal and career protection after exposing the latest scandal in this billion-dollar boondoggle. We know that everyone from the board chair to the CEO is in a conflict of interest. They all protect each other and they all make money, and it is all on the backs of Canadians. The Prime Minister simply is not worth the cost.
Will the Prime Minister guarantee these whistle-blowers the same protection afforded to whistle-blowers in Canada's public service?
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