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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 285

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 26, 2024 11:00AM
  • Feb/26/24 2:24:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is his government's deal with the NDP. While common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax, fix the budget, build the homes and stop the crime, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is proving that he is not worth the cost or the corruption. The Prime Minister managed to find $60 million for his arrive scam app. Now, he is going to reach into the pockets of Canadians yet again and hike the carbon tax on April 1. Canadians are struggling with out-of-control costs, and millions of Canadians are visiting the food bank for the first time. Will the Prime Minister just show some compassion and cancel his plan to hike the carbon tax?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:24:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, who deny that climate change exists and want to take money away from the Conservatives, we have a question for the Conservatives. In particular, what are they going to cut? Are they going to cut $1,100 from Ontario families, $1,800 from Alberta families or $1,200 from Manitoba families? Conservatives deny climate change. They are planning to take away hundreds of dollars from families. That is not common sense.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:25:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are going to axe the tax and not take the money out of Canadians' pockets in the first place. The Liberals' own non-partisan, independent Parliamentary Budget Officer has concluded that Canadians pay far more in the carbon tax than anything they hope to get back in the rebate. On April 1, the Liberals are going to hike it again. Something devastating is happening in Canada: People are starting networks on social media to coordinate efforts to go Dumpster diving. There is actually one in Toronto, and the founder said, “The most common answer we get to the question of ‘why do you want to join this network?’ is ‘too broke to afford food’”. Why are they hiking the carbon tax?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:26:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we should note that the opposition does not rebut the claim that they deny climate change exists. We should note that they are not standing up for future generations of Canadians by protecting sustainability and acting on climate change. The inflation numbers have come down below 3%. Our government is continuing to put money back in the pockets of Canadians. We will be there for Canadians, offering supports to the most vulnerable Canadians, while the Conservatives vote against them every single time.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:26:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, anyone worried about the relationship between the NDP and the Liberals can rest assured that this courtship will keep going strong until 2025, even if it is costly. The top priority is making Canadians happy. It is not about Quebec's priorities. Quebeckers did not ask for day care, they already have it. Quebeckers did not ask for dental insurance, they already have it. Quebeckers did not ask for drug coverage, they already have it. How much will the “majority insurance” of these two lovebirds cost Quebeckers, even though it ignores our priorities?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:27:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to my colleague that if Quebec is a leader in social matters, so much the better. Yes, we draw inspiration from Quebec when it comes to day care. Yes, we draw inspiration from Quebec when it comes to dental care. Yes, we draw inspiration from Quebec every time we implement initiatives that will push Canada to offer more services for Canadians. What has surprised me this morning is that the Bloc Québécois is not talking about investments, particularly Moderna's investment in Laval this week. Canada will have the first Moderna plant in the world. It will be in Quebec. We will be able to ensure the health and safety of Canadians.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:28:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if only the Liberal-NDP “majority insurance” could improve care. A year after the forced deal on health transfers, Quebec has not received a single penny. Ottawa keeps imposing its conditions. Eleven months have passed since Quebec demanded the right to opt out of federal dental coverage, and still nothing. Today, our lovebirds are having their third long-term spat, this one on pharmacare. In the meantime, not a single Quebecker is getting better care. Instead of playing games just to stay in power, why not give Quebec the money it needs to take care of our people?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:28:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is clearly trying to pick a fight. We are seeking solutions. That is why we are having good conversations with Minister Dubé and the Government of Quebec about improving the quality of health care. It is essential that all Quebeckers have access to dental care and a good health care system. That can be achieved through co-operation, not through bickering or this sort of debate.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:29:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, people are getting ripped off by corporate grocery stores in this country; in the north, it is on another level. One litre of olive oil costs $36. The federal government subsidizes corporations working in the north with a program called nutrition north. Nutrition north gives millions of dollars in subsidies to these companies; the companies take a third of it and do not pass it on to consumers. Will the Liberal government reform nutrition north so the benefit goes to the people, not to the CEOs of corporations working in the north?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:30:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely committed to ensuring that 100% of the retail subsidy is passed directly to northerners. We know that prices are too high in the north. We have worked and will continue to work with territorial governments, indigenous partners and, more importantly, people who live in the north and the Arctic to make progress. Progress has been made, but there is a lot of work to do.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:30:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister knows the program is an abject failure. There is no denying that grocery retailers in the north are gouging people and that the Liberal government is giving subsidies to these companies. Instead of helping ordinary people, these companies are giving massive handouts to the CEOs of big grocery retailers. The question is simple. When will the Liberal government fix the program so that it works for the people and not for CEOs?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:31:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that important question. Our government is committed to ensuring that 100% of the retail subsidy goes directly to northerners. We know that prices are too high in the north. We are working with the territorial government, our indigenous partners and the people who live in the north and the Arctic to make progress on this issue. This is such an important issue, and there is so much work to do. We will get it done.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:31:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Liberal-NDP Prime Minister is not worth the crime, the corruption or the cost. Common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax because the NDP-Liberal carbon tax coalition has failed. It has not hit a single emissions target. Do members know who has succeeded? Farmers. According to the Global Institute for Food Security, the carbon footprint for wheat grown in Saskatchewan is 67% lower than the rest of the world. Why is the Prime Minister punishing Canadian farmers for this incredible accomplishment? Instead of blaming farmers for his carbon tax failures, will he not axe his plan to increase the tax on April 1?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:32:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, being a farmer, I fully understand the importance and the effects of climate change. I understand how important it is to take care of the land. That is why we, as a government, have invested $1.5 million to help farmers and processors reduce their environmental footprint and stay on the cutting edge. We will continue to fight climate change and work with farmers and ranchers right across this country.
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Mr. Speaker, the fact is that farmers are succeeding where the Liberal-NDP carbon tax coalition is failing. What is the farmers' reward for this? A 23% increase in the carbon tax on April 1. Common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax and reward farmers for those accomplishments. Do members know that wheat grown in Canada can travel around the world three and a half times before it has the same carbon footprint as wheat grown in Europe? Canadian farmers have accomplished this through innovation, not carbon taxes. Will the Liberals finally admit they were wrong, pass Bill C-234 unamended and axe their plan to increase the carbon tax on April 1?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:33:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, just last week, in fact, I was visiting a farmer in Peterborough who is working on regenerative agriculture, but I find it—
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  • Feb/26/24 2:33:57 p.m.
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The Chair is having great difficulty hearing the response from the minister due to other folks taking the floor. I also see that the member who asked the question is having difficulty hearing it with his earpiece. Therefore, I would ask all members to please keep it down. The hon. minister from the top.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:34:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I find it quite ironic to be lectured by the Conservatives on support to farmers when at the end of last year they voted against the on-farm climate action fund to support sustainable agriculture. They voted against the dairy innovation and investment fund for farmers. They voted against funding in support of dairy, poultry and egg supply management producers. On this side of the House, we believe in our farmers, we support our farmers and we help them fight climate change.
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  • Feb/26/24 2:35:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes, stop the crime and fix the budget. That is our commitment to Canadians. Meanwhile, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister cannot help but skyrocket the crime and increase the corruption. Of course, he is just not worth the cost because he is causing it to go through the roof. He is incredibly hypocritical because for him pollution is free. He can jet-set around the world while Canadians continue to pay. On April 1, they will see an increase of 23% on the carbon tax. My question is simple: Will the Liberals finally side with Conservatives and scrap the tax?
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  • Feb/26/24 2:35:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think the most appropriate question is: Will the Conservatives actually look at the data? The data will tell us that eight out of ten Canadian families get more money back, and that it is actually an affordability measure. If the hon. member would actually look at the research done by the University of Calgary she would know that. However, I think Canadians really need to understand that the Conservative approach to climate change is to let the planet burn. It is to leave an impoverished environment and an impoverished economy for the future of our children. Shame, shame, shame.
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