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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 264

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 7, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 264 - Dec/7/23
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/23 10:26:56 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is interesting that there is so much attention being paid to first nations in this country, though I wish it were in a more positive light. How many first nations were consulted about including them in this opposition day motion? We have heard from Ontario chiefs on this issue, but there are over 630 in the country. What kinds of consultations and conversations have been had?
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Context: House Hansard - 264 - Dec/7/23
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/23 11:14:27 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I wanted to go back to the piece my hon. colleague mentioned about the carbon price tax not being a tax. The carbon pricing regime on fuel charge is not a tax in constitutional terms, according to the Supreme Court of Canada. It is revenue neutral due to the rebate program and climate action incentive funds. What this looks like in my home province is Eel Ground first nation, or Natoaganeg, a Mi'kmaq community, receiving funding to complete energy efficiency upgrades and retrofitting its band office. Also, five schools in New Brunswick have seen the Government of Canada investing carbon pricing proceeds into improve energy efficiency. This is what is at stake, so I would like to bring the facts back to the conversation. Could the hon. colleague comment on that?
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Context: House Hansard - 264 - Dec/7/23
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.)
  • Dec/7/23 11:59:51 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I know my hon. colleague is deeply passionate about this and knowledgeable. She is a mom of young kids. It deeply concerns me the kind of future we are handing over to our children. I was privileged enough to sit in on a finance committee meeting when we had the Parliamentary Budget Officer with us. He clarified for I think the millionth time in this place that 0.15% of food inflation could be attributed to the carbon tax, whereas 3.5% was attributed to drought, disease and an unpredictable growing season. It really is the climate impacts we need to address in this House. I am glad she highlighted that. Also, I find the tokenizing happening with respect to indigenous peoples offensive and disturbing. I really want to reiterate that Métis and Inuit people were excluded from this opposition day motion. I will move quickly to the piece about windfall tax profits. I would like to learn more about this, as I am concerned about it. We cannot trust oil and gas companies to do the right thing. Would it be possible to pass on those taxes to the consumer through increased prices? I am looking for more clarity on that.
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