SoVote

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.)

Nov/6/23 2:21:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I have explained to the Leader of the Opposition through many different question periods over the past number of days, home heating oil is two to four times as expensive as natural gas. It accelerated by 75% in 2022. We have put in place a plan that will enable people to get off heating oil and have free heat pumps. It will save them up to $2,500 a year. It will make things more affordable, and at the same time it will allow us to fight climate change. That is true for the 270,000 households that use heating oil here in Ontario.

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Context: House Hansard - 247 - Nov/6/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.)

Nov/6/23 2:33:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to Canadians that people are serious in bringing forward policy prescriptions, not simply tag lines. We have put into place measures that will address a critical affordability issue. Home heating oil is two to four times as expensive as natural gas. It went up 75% during 2022. There is an opportunity to reduce the energy cost for people on an ongoing basis, all while addressing the issue of climate change, something that the Leader of the Opposition clearly does not believe in. It is something that is important for Canada. It is important for the 270,000 Ontario homes that currently heat with heating oil.

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Context: House Hansard - 247 - Nov/6/23

Hon. Dan Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Lib.)

Nov/6/23 3:07:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member is talking about a national program to get rid of polluting, expensive home heating oil and to transition those homes with free heat pumps. This national program is applicable across Canada. It is applicable in Manitoba where there are thousands of people who use home heating oil. It is great for the environment. It is great for affordability. I plan to support this.

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Context: House Hansard - 247 - Nov/6/23

Hon. Dan Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Lib.)

Nov/6/23 3:09:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is time for that member to stop spreading misinformation. This is a national program that aims to transition from expensive environmentally damaging home heating oil into free heating pumps. This is a national policy that is applicable across Canada. There are thousands of homes in Manitoba that are eligible for the program. This is great for the environment and it is great for affordability.

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Context: House Hansard - 247 - Nov/6/23

Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC)

Nov/6/23 7:08:30 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as always, it is an honour to stand and represent the people of Battle River—Crowfoot, especially on such an important issue like what I asked last week in question period about the common-sense Conservative plan to axe the carbon tax on all home heating. Let me take things back to what happened here a number of weeks ago. The Prime Minister, instead of providing leadership and acknowledging that his carbon tax has failed to meet any of its objectives, decided to carve out a small portion of those who are disproportionately affected, there is no question, but exempt a few and leave 97% of Canadians to suffer his carbon tax pain. Home-heating oil and the dynamics associated with it is not a new conversation. Conservatives have consistently brought up the realities for so many Canadians, whether it has to do with home-heating oil, that small 3% of Canadians benefiting from the carbon tax exemption, propane, natural gas and other carbon-based fuels that heat so many homes across Canada during our cold winters. However, what we have seen over the last number of weeks is carbon tax chaos. The Liberals admitted that their plan is failing, that it drives costs up and that it has become unaffordable for Canadians, yet instead of taking the opportunity to vote in favour of the motion Conservatives brought forward last week, they continue to divide Canadians for their personal political gain. It is driving Canadians into energy poverty. In a country that is so richly blessed with natural resources, no Canadian should have to worry about turning the heat down so they can afford food at the grocery store, but that is the reality that the Prime Minister, the members of the government and the Liberal-NDP coalition have brought our country to. Last week, I asked a simple question of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. I asked why he would suggest that he had not heard about whether or not the carbon tax was impacting Canadians' ability to pay their bills. I have learned since that question that people have reached out, including from the minister's own constituency, saying they have shared their concerns and pain with him, yet he refuses to respond or acknowledge it, as is the case with so many Liberals and their coalition partners in the NDP. The Liberal minister from Edmonton had his “let them eat cake” moment, saying it does not concern him. We cannot make this stuff up. The Liberal minister from Edmonton said that he is not concerned at all, I believe is the exact quote, about the costs that the crippling carbon tax is placing upon his constituents and Albertans. The Liberal member from Calgary has consistently run offence for the Prime Minister's failed policies in Calgary, as well as a host of other rural Liberal members of Parliament. What is interesting is that some areas of the country have traditionally had safe Liberal seats that are now in open revolt against their own Liberal members of Parliament because they are not able to afford the necessities due to the carbon tax pain that is being inflicted upon them by the Prime Minister and his Liberal leftist ideology and coalition partners in the NDP. They are in the constituencies of Sault Ste. Marie, Nickel Belt, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, Thunder Bay—Superior North, Sudbury and Saint Boniface—Saint Vital. Time and time again, we see Liberals who refuse to acknowledge the reality—

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