44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 28, 2023 10:00AM
- Nov/28/23 2:46:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is clear that I am not the one hurling insults. The irony in all this is that the Bloc Québécois claims that this is solely a federal jurisdiction, which is totally false. I think that the Bloc has spent too much time in Ottawa to say that this is an exclusive jurisdiction. Just look at section 95 of the Constitution, which very clearly indicates that this is a shared responsibility. Our two governments are responsible for this issue. I am sitting down with the representatives of the provincial government in a week and we will talk about it like adults.
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Mr. Speaker, it does not matter what the government thinks about Bill C-234. It does not matter what the Senate thinks about the bill, because taxation and spending are the exclusive right of this House, not the Senate. In our system, there is no taxation without representation. Section 53 of the Constitution says that all financial legislation must originate in this House. Standing Order 80 says that this House “alone grants aids and supplies”.
When will the Prime Minister direct his representative in the Senate to respect this democratic institution, the only democratic institution in this country, and pass the tax bill?
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- Nov/28/23 2:47:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the irony coming from the other side of the House is almost too thick to handle today, when we hear members opposite talking about respecting democracy or democratic institutions. There is a pattern of behaviour that I thought was maybe just with the Leader of the Opposition. I did not expect it from the member for Wellington—Halton Hills. However, as he would know, there are no Liberal senators on this side. There are only Conservative senators.
The Senate is independent. Unfortunately, they are bullying senators to force them to step back. That is totally unacceptable.
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- Nov/28/23 2:47:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we used to live in a country where the governor regularly ignored bills passed by the elected legislative assembly. We used to live in a country where the appointed upper chamber used to regularly ignore bills passed by the elected lower chamber. That was a country long, long ago whose institutions where abolished after the rebellions of 1837. Now the unelected Senate thinks it is some sort of a château clique or Tory compact, ignoring a tax bill passed by this elected House.
Again, when will the Prime Minister direct his representatives in the Senate to respect the right and will of this House and pass the tax bill?
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- Nov/28/23 2:48:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, speaking of respecting the will of this House, perhaps the leader of the Conservative Party would like to talk to the Conservative senators who sit in his caucus and ask them to pass the bail reform bill that was passed by the House of Commons. The Leader of the Opposition thought it was so important that he was going to recall Parliament last summer to pass it. Conservative premiers regularly talk to me about the importance of passing that legislation, so perhaps he would talk to the Conservative senators about that important bill for keeping Canadians safe.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberal senators are the ones preventing this bill from passing. After eight years, it is clear that this Prime Minister is in panic mode. He is downright desperate. Bill C‑234, which aims to exempt farmers from the carbon tax, is stalled in the Senate. The Prime Minister wants senators to overstep their role as unelected parliamentarians by literally asking them to kill this bill, which was properly passed by elected members of the House of Commons.
Why does he want to push unelected senators to disrespect both the Constitution and hungry Canadian families?
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Mr. Speaker, let us keep talking about respect for democracy in the House of Commons. Unelected Conservative senators are blocking the passage of an important gun control bill that passed the House. If our friends across the aisle want to do something for democracy, they should ask the Conservative senators in their caucus to pass Bill C‑21, which was passed by the House of Commons, to protect Canadians from illegal firearms in Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House that the Constitution is clear. Section 53 of the Constitution Act, 1867 provides that any bill “for appropriating any Part of the Public Revenue, or for imposing any Tax or Impost, shall originate in the House of Commons”. House of Commons Standing Order 80 is clear: A financial measure is not alterable by the Senate. The Liberals' attempt to block Bill C‑234 and bully senators is unconstitutional. It violates the Standing Orders of the House and is anti-democratic.
Will the Liberals stop their unconstitutional obstruction of Bill C‑234 and end the inflationary carbon taxes imposed on farmers so that people can eat this Christmas?
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- Nov/28/23 2:51:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, as they often do in the House, the Conservatives pretend to be interested in bills that protect Canadians from gun violence, for example, or ensure that bail is truly effective in keeping communities safe, like the Conservative premiers have asked. Premier Ford has asked me this a number of times.
If they want to send messages to their Conservative senator friends sitting in their caucus tomorrow morning, they can go right ahead.
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- Nov/28/23 2:52:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, people with full-time jobs are sleeping in their cars, yet the Liberals are delaying funding for public housing until 2025. Experts are saying that investing in community housing is not only socially responsible but economically sound. Deloitte just released a report that says increasing the community housing stock could boost GDP by up to $136 billion. While the corporate-controlled Conservative leader is off demonizing community housing, the Bank of Canada says it is anti-inflationary.
Will the Liberals stop delaying housing investments in the fall economic statement to get affordable housing built now?
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- Nov/28/23 2:52:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for joining me this morning to discuss the need to build more affordable housing with community housing providers, who are in Ottawa today.
With respect, the crisis we are dealing with nationally is a result of 30 years of failure to invest in affordable housing. We changed that with the adoption of the national housing strategy in 2017 and continue to advance measures today. The fall economic statement included a recapitalization of our affordable housing programs to the tune of $1 billion and an additional $300 million that will flow early in the new year, just weeks from now.
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- Nov/28/23 2:53:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a 12-year-old boy in British Columbia has died by suicide, linked to cyber-bullying and sextortion. This is a tragedy, with the most common targets of this criminal behaviour being children. Despite this, Conservatives do not even want to see big tech regulated responsibly.
The Liberals promised an online harms bill within 100 days of the last election. Over two years later, we are still waiting. Will the government finally make the Internet safer for our kids, or is this another Liberal broken promise?
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Mr. Speaker, when I say my heart goes out to this family, I say that on behalf of every member in this chamber. No family should have to experience what this family is currently going through.
We recently passed Bill S-12 in this House, which addresses some of these concerns about online safety. The protection of children in our society is of utmost importance. I have a commitment from this side of the House, and from all sides of the House, that we will do everything we can to make sure they are protected.
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- Nov/28/23 2:54:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every day, people across the country lose loved ones to overdoses caused by the increasingly toxic illegal drug supply. Tackling this national public health crisis requires us to leverage all the tools at our disposal.
I am the son of an addictions doctor working on the front lines of this crisis in Winnipeg every day. Like many of us in this chamber, members of my own family are suffering from the harms of substance abuse. For me, as for so many Canadians, this is deeply personal.
Could the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions please update this chamber on the renewed Canadian drugs and substances strategy?
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- Nov/28/23 2:55:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all know that the member is a compassionate and tremendous advocate on these issues, championing them to help support our most vulnerable who struggle with substances.
Recently we announced a renewed Canadian drugs and substances strategy, a comprehensive framework guiding our efforts to address the toxic drug supply and overdose crisis. It is centred on promoting public health and protecting public safety. In his riding, we supported Sunshine House recently, which is doing tremendous work. Together, we will continue to work to address and end the toxic drug supply and overdose crisis.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the NDP-Liberal government is just not worth the cost.
Greenfield Global operates in Chatham, buying corn and converting it to a variety of alcohols, from pharmaceuticals to biofuels. It buys corn from Canadian farmers and from nearby American farmers, who do not pay the carbon tax on fertilizer, the delivery of seed, and the delivery and drying of their corn.
Could the Prime Minister explain what happens to Canadian farmers' bottom lines when they pay the carbon tax and have to compete with American farmers, who do not, in their own backyard? Why is he interfering with the so-called independent senators blocking Bill C-234?
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- Nov/28/23 2:56:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is well aware that farmers and ranchers are on the front lines of climate change. They expect parties to have a plan to deal with climate change. We have a plan. My hon. colleague's party does not.
For example, two weeks ago, I was in Winnipeg and announced $9.2 million for living labs. Living labs are to make sure that farmers, ranchers, scientists and the industry itself work together to make sure that farmers and ranchers stay on the cutting line.
We have and will continue to support our farmers.
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Mr. Speaker, we know why the Prime Minister is blocking the carbon tax carve-out for Canadian farmers. It is because his environment minister has threatened to quit if Bill C-234 passes.
The environment minister does not care about Canadian farmers. He is jetting off to Dubai for two weeks. It is the middle of the day in Ottawa, but it is the middle of the night in Dubai.
Will the Prime Minister at least allow senators to pass a carbon tax carve-out while his minister is asleep in Dubai?
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- Nov/28/23 2:58:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yes, I will be proudly representing Canada at COP28 in Dubai, and I will be in good company. The Premier of Alberta will be there. Premier Smith is leaving tomorrow for COP28 with the largest provincial delegation we have ever seen in the history of COPs. The Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, will be there as well with the largest Saskatchewan delegation we have ever seen. Quebec will be there with more than 120 representatives from civil society, business and trade unions.
I will be proud to represent Canada at COP28.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure we all look forward to see what those high-carbon hypocrites come up with.
After eight years, it is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. The Hunger Report has said that food bank usage has gone up for seven years in a row.
The NDP and Liberals' carbon tax has hiked food prices and forced Canadians to skip meals or cut the basics. Common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax for all, for good. However, a quick fix is Conservative Bill C-234, which would cut it from farm fuels.
Will the Prime Minister stop interfering with the senators and let them pass it so farmers can afford to feed Canadians and so Canadians can afford to eat?
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