44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 4, 2023 11:00AM
- Dec/4/23 2:37:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues have already said, there is only one party in the House that controls its senators, and that is the Conservative Party.
If the Conservatives wanted to lower prices for Canadians so they would have better access to food, they would have supported the free trade agreement with Ukraine.
We can only hope that the leader of the Conservative Party lets his MPs vote independently so that prices can come down and we can support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.
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- Dec/4/23 2:38:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while this government is trying to divert everyone's attention, here is the reality. Santa Claus received a list from a young Quebecker who was asking for a gift card so he could have a good meal this Christmas. Fifty-four per cent of young people aged 18 to 45 have seen their standard of living fall after eight years of this government's inflationary policies.
The costly Bloc-Liberal coalition does not understand that. They do not understand how desperate young Quebeckers feel. It is costly to vote for the Bloc. The Bloc Québécois wants to drastically increase the carbon tax that raises the price of everything.
Will the Prime Minister finally scrap his plan to drastically increase the carbon tax on farmers and families?
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- Dec/4/23 2:39:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have a tremendous amount of respect for my colleague opposite, but I am confused, because as a Quebecker, he knows very well that Quebec is not part of the federal pollution pricing system. I do not understand why he continues to mislead Quebeckers and Canadians.
What we can say is that, at every opportunity, the Conservatives have voted against support for Canadians. It is nice that they are now showing an interest in Canadians, but it is new for them.
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- Dec/4/23 2:39:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, asylum seekers are a federal responsibility. The federal government must reimburse Quebec for the $460 million it has spent taking in asylum seekers.
If the minister thinks that is too expensive, it is precisely because Quebec is providing more than its share. Even though our public services and community organizations are swamped, we are finding a way to open new integration classes every week. We are finding a way to help with housing. We are finding a way to help with social services. The more we find ways to help people, the more reluctant the federal government is to pay.
Will the minister finally thank Quebeckers and pay them back?
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- Dec/4/23 2:40:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all Quebeckers and all Canadians who are contributing their fair share. As the member opposite knows, we have a special agreement with Quebec whereby we allocate more than $700 million to Quebec for integrating newcomers into French-speaking society.
I have a meeting with Minister Fréchette this Friday, and I would be happy to update her on it.
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- Dec/4/23 2:40:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in order for it to be a shared jurisdiction, the minister would first have to do something.
He is not just refusing to pay, he is also refusing to ensure that asylum seekers do not have to wait ages for work permits. He is refusing to ensure that the Immigration and Refugee Board reviews refugee claims in a timely manner. Basically, the federal government's involvement boils down to pushing asylum seekers into hardship and then penalizing the people who help them by providing them with services.
When will the minister reimburse Quebec and do his damn job?
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- Dec/4/23 2:41:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is not a damn job; it is a job that I love.
It is true that there are challenges associated with the migration flows that are affecting the entire world. Roughly 100 million people have been displaced around the world. That is a record number. Canada is also dealing with a record number of migrants.
In the past year, we have made progress and reduced the backlogs and delays. Some challenges still remain, but I think that Canada and Quebec are capable of overcoming them.
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- Dec/4/23 2:41:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec is doing everything and the federal government is doing nothing. That is no way to share responsibility.
Quebeckers take in half of all asylum seekers in Canada, yet they pay 100% of the costs, instead of Canadians. The minister tells us that the government is not an ATM. I have news for him: Quebeckers are not money-printing machines either. Quebeckers will keep doing their part and more to take in asylum seekers, as long as they are not doing it alone.
The minister keeps saying that he is going to meet with his counterpart in Quebec City. May I suggest that he bring along his cheque book this week?
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- Dec/4/23 2:42:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when the Bloc Québécois is in power, it can make all the suggestions it wants. In the meantime, it will have to rely on the federal government.
Obviously, we can be a Canadian and Quebecker at the same time. I am a proud example. We already give more than $700 billion to Quebec, including for integration and francization. Yes, Quebec is doing its fair share and we have a great partnership. I think we can succeed as a country.
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- Dec/4/23 2:43:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government's punishing policies, Canadians are hungrier than ever.
First, Canada's premiers asked for a carve-out. The Prime Minister said no. Then, farmers asked for a carve-out, and the Prime Minister said no. Now Ontario's first nation leaders are asking the federal court to exempt their communities from the federal carbon tax. Canada is unified, and one thing is clear: The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
Will the Prime Minister finally cut the carbon tax for farmers, families and first nations?
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- Dec/4/23 2:43:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just like every member of the House, I share the goal of ensuring the success of our Canadian farmers, and that is why the government has exempted gas and diesel for farm use from pollution pricing. We have created a rural top-up for rebates; we have doubled it. We have directly returned the proceeds collected in proportion to the amount collected. We have also returned $120 million to farmers in the last year. In addition to that, there is half a billion dollars in R and D for new technologies to make sure that grain drying is less and less emitting.
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- Dec/4/23 2:44:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is almost like the Liberals think that farmers have not had it so good and that Canadians have not had it so good, but they are struggling to put food on their tables and to afford food.
Brian, a farmer in my riding, told me he has paid over $16,000 in carbon taxes to heat his two chicken barns this year. The Prime Minister wants to quadruple the carbon tax. It is really not that difficult to understand. If it costs farmers more to grow food, it costs more to buy food. Clearly, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
Will the Prime Minister finally remove the carbon tax for farmers, families and first nations?
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- Dec/4/23 2:44:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what farmers and ranchers cannot understand is why the member's party does not have a plan for the environment.
I can tell my hon. colleague that we do have a plan for the environment. We are working with farmers and ranchers. That is why we are able to make announcements like we did in Manitoba a couple weeks ago to announce living labs. This gives an opportunity for scientists, farmers and industry itself to work together to make sure we keep farmers on the cutting edge. We have made sure and will continue to make sure that farmers remain on the cutting edge.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal government, we have reached the point where Canadian children are asking for food for Christmas, not a Tonka truck. That is what is happening in Canada after eight years of this Liberal government.
One cannot talk about food without talking about farming. As everyone knows, Bill C-234 is currently being blocked by senators appointed by this Prime Minister. Now the Bloc Québécois, which voted in favour of the bill, is happy to see the senators delaying its passage in the Senate. Voting for the Bloc Québécois is very costly.
Will the Prime Minister finally scrap his plan to radically increase the Liberal carbon tax on farmers and families?
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- Dec/4/23 2:46:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, like many countries around the world, Canada is feeling the effects of inflation, and Canadians are feeling the pressure.
Since taking office, we have introduced measures that have helped Canadians, such as the Canada child benefit, which has lifted hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. We intend to stay the course.
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- Dec/4/23 2:46:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, major grocery CEOs raked in billions in profits as they jacked up prices for Canadians just trying to put food on the table. What did the Prime Minister do? Nothing.
Now, Sobeys workers in Halifax are on the streets demanding fair wages so they can afford to buy the food they sell. The Sobeys CEO, who makes $6.8 million a year, has insulted its workers with a five-cent raise per hour, a nickel.
What is the government doing to tackle the corporate greed that is exploiting workers from coast to coast?
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- Dec/4/23 2:47:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government absolutely believes that everyone in Canada needs to pay their fair share. That is why we have permanently increased corporate income tax on financial institutions by 1.5%. That is why we implemented a COVID recovery dividend of 15%. That is why we are introducing historic changes to competition law in Canada; these would increase competition, particularly in the grocery sector.
That is going to help Canadian families from coast to coast to coast.
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- Dec/4/23 2:47:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians with loved ones in Gaza have spent many sleepless nights worrying about their families as the humanitarian crisis worsens. UNICEF now calls Gaza the most dangerous place for children in the world. Today, the NDP joined with the coalition of Palestinian families and community groups to call for special immigration measures so people in Canada can reunite with their loved ones. The Australian government is already doing it. Canada must do the same.
Will the Liberals immediately enact special immigration measures to include extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents from Gaza?
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- Dec/4/23 2:48:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree that Gaza is one of the worst places to live in the world right now. We are very preoccupied by the fact that too many children and too many women have lost their lives. I met with many humanitarian groups earlier today to share my concern and to hear their thoughts on how we can make sure that Palestinian civilians are protected.
Meanwhile, I must say that we are extremely happy that 130 Canadians were able to cross Rafah last night and are now back in Egypt, heading toward Canada.
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- Dec/4/23 2:49:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on this 10th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, it is crucial to highlight that the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people is ongoing.
With the magnitude of this national tragedy, we must continue to work together on a comprehensive response and to addressing its root causes and the need for accountability.
Can the hon. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations shed light on the specific actions the government is currently undertaking to address the ongoing crisis?
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