SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 318 - May/27/24

Mr. Darrell Samson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Lib.)

May/27/24 1:44:52 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing time with the member for Nepean. I am very happy to speak on Bill C-49. As an Atlantic Canadian, I am, of course, a strong supporter of this bill, which talks directly to the Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic accord and the Nova Scotia petroleum resource accord. The first question I ask myself is: Why is the Conservative Party still, today, against Atlantic Canadians, against prosperity and against sustainable jobs for Atlantic Canadians? I think of my colleague, Bill Casey, who was a Progressive Conservative, and not a Conservative that we see today. He defended Atlantic Canadians and the Atlantic accord. I will read what Mr. Casey, who was elected in 1988, said in an interview at the end of his career. The article said that “a rather significant hitch disrupted his career when, in 2007, he voted against the budget tabled by the Stephen Harper government,” progressive conservative government, “saying it broke the Atlantic Accord.” It was “the most unforgettable moment of his time in Parliament.” He said, “I managed to get my vote in and a second later I was thrown out” of the party. He was expelled from their party. He had to sit, of course, as an independent and continue to fight for Atlantic Canadians as an independent. Again I ask, why is the Conservative Party against Atlantic Canadians? Why is it against Nova Scotia? Why is it against Newfoundland and Labrador? It is because the Conservatives are doing the exact same thing. Here we are three days away from a year since the introduction and first reading of this bill, and still we are not able to get this bill done. Why? It is because the Conservatives spent seven weeks talking about everything else except the bill that was to be debated in committee. It was seven weeks wasted in filibustering, which is pretty sad when we think about the importance of getting legislation across to help Atlantic Canadians. Why is this offshore renewable energy so important? It is important on many fronts. First, we are seeing emerging growth, twentyfold since 2010. Clean energy is the way to the future, and the world is moving toward that future. Where is Canada? We need to get there. The International Energy Agency is saying that, from now until 2040, the sector is going to attract up to $1 trillion of investment. Canada has a major opportunity to be a leader in this renewable energy. Of course, it will also help us achieve our net-zero emissions by 2050, which is a very important piece of our work, but not the work of the Conservatives who are okay to let the planet burn. It is also going to give us good, sustainable jobs, which is very important to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and my riding of Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook. We want jobs. We have seen, with the Irving shipyard 30-year contract, that people are coming back home from various parts of the country. They know they can get good, sustainable jobs, which is really important for them to move back to Atlantic Canada. It is also important because Canada has the longest coastlines in the world and the fastest wind speed in the world. This is the industry for Atlantic Canada. This is why we need to move quickly on this project. We are well positioned for local and international markets, and it is going to allow provinces to decarbonize the electricity grid. However, today, still, there is not a single offshore wind farm in Canada. Is this a federal-led project or a provincial-led project? It is the provincial government asking us to move this bill forward as quickly as possible, because it represents economic growth. It is Nova Scotia's Premier Houston, and Houston of course is a Conservative, as well as the Liberal government in Newfoundland. They are asking us to move on this as quickly as possible. The Premier of Nova Scotia, last year, said, that they are setting targets to offer leases to make sure that they are supporting offshore wind energy. He said, “Setting this target sends a clear signal to the world that Nova Scotia is open for business and becoming an international leader in offshore wind and green hydrogen development.” Contrary to what the Conservatives are saying, we are taking every opportunity to develop our renewable energy market, not only to fight climate change, which Conservatives do not even believe exists, but also to create green jobs for Nova Scotians. Again, the provinces are asking us to move forward, and this government, working closely with provinces, intends to do just that. It was not so long ago, last August, that I attended an announcement in Halifax about two companies, DP Energy and SBM Offshore. These global leaders in the world in this industry are set to establish Canada's first offshore wind farm, which is really important. Think about it; there are trillions of dollars to be had. It means great positioning in the world and an opportunity for sustainable jobs, and yet the Conservative Party is voting again against Atlantic Canadians. It is very difficult to understand. This bill— An hon. member: Oh, oh!

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

May/27/24 1:52:12 p.m.
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Order, please. There seem to be a lot of comments and questions being posed while the hon. member has the floor. I would ask members to please wait until the appropriate time. There will be a whole 10 minutes of questions and comments. The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

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Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:52:29 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, it is simple: The truth hurts. When Conservatives hear the truth, it hits them and it hurts, because some of these individual members care about Atlantic Canada, but their leader does not, so they cannot. It is a simple game. This is what we are witnessing as they keep screaming on the other side and not supporting our government simply because their leader does not support our government and does not support Atlantic Canadians. Our amendments are very clear and very straightforward. We can get this done very fast. As a matter of fact, tomorrow afternoon Conservatives are going to get their opportunity to show their colours. I am asking for at least the members on the other side who are from Atlantic Canada to do like the former member Bill Casey did. He stood up for his principles and stood up for Atlantic Canadians. That is what I am asking them to do. It is not complicated. We are asking to modernize and expand the mandate. By passing Bill C-49, both provinces would follow mirror legislation. They are ready to go. Nova Scotia will launch a call for bids in 2025. The federal government and the provincial government are working together to support Canada, to support Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and the people of Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook.

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Mr. Rick Perkins (South Shore—St. Margarets, CPC)

May/27/24 1:54:11 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it was very comical to hear that the Liberal government actually listens to provinces; that will be a first for them. Let us talk about Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick. All four premiers are asking the government to get rid of the carbon tax. It is not listening to them very much when it comes to that. I would ask this member if he knows what the levelized cost of energy is for offshore wind without subsidies. It is 15¢ a kilowatt for offshore wind right now and it is 4.5¢ for coal in Nova Scotia. Who is going to pay that two-thirds difference, ratepayers?

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Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:54:55 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I was sitting in a meeting about four months ago when my colleague from across the benches made that argument in front of the Premier, a Conservative premier, of Nova Scotia. He made that same argument, and the premier said he was talking baloney. His numbers are not correct, and we can get this done.

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Mr. Rick Perkins

May/27/24 1:55:22 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The premier of the province never appeared in the committee—

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Premier

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

May/27/24 1:55:30 p.m.
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That is not a point of order; it is debate. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): Order, order. The hon member for South Shore—St. Margarets had an opportunity to ask a question. If he has more, then he should wait until the appropriate time. The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

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Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:55:41 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the baloney is clear, because it means the member is wrong. His numbers are wrong. He can go somewhere else and talk about it, but he should not come in this meeting and talk about it. That is what is happening. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

May/27/24 1:55:55 p.m.
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Order. If the hon. member has another question, he should wait until the appropriate time. The hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay has the floor.

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Mr. Richard Cannings (South Okanagan—West Kootenay, NDP)

May/27/24 1:56:05 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the member across the way's speeches are always passionate and entertaining, and I just want to give him— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

May/27/24 1:56:17 p.m.
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I am going to get the hon. member to start from the beginning, because there seems to be cross-debate. I would ask those members, if they wish to have conversations, to please take them out into the lobby. The hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay has the floor.

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Mr. Richard Cannings

May/27/24 1:56:29 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is always entertaining to hear the member from Nova Scotia speak in this House about how he cares for the people of Atlantic Canada. The bill is important. It is essential for the people of Atlantic Canada, for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia, to develop sustainable resources, which they have in spades, that will drive a real boom of jobs for the future. I am just wondering if the member can comment on that and on how the provinces, as he mentioned, have asked for this, and yet the Conservatives have blocked it, have filibustered and delayed it. It is as if they do not really care about Atlantic Canada at all.

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Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:57:21 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, because he is 100% right. I said it from the beginning. The Harper government did not care about the Atlantic accord. It wanted to take the royalties away. Now the Conservatives have a chance to make it up. They are doing the same thing, because the Leader of the Opposition does not care about Atlantic Canadians. To the member's point, the provincial minister of Nova Scotia said that this is probably the greatest opportunity in decades that Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and P.E.I. have. We must take advantage of it, and I want to see the people who moved away from Atlantic Canada, probably because of the 2007 decision by the Conservative government, come back home. It is time to come home. It is 2024, and we care about Atlantic Canada.

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Ms. Yvonne Jones (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence), Lib.)

May/27/24 1:58:16 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I want to express my support for Bill C-49 and say what a rousing speech my colleague just gave in the House of Commons. Bill C-49 is allowing Atlantic Canadians in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to kick-start a new economy and to lead a new initiative that will bring jobs and wealth to our provinces. Why are the Conservatives so dead against Atlantic Canada leading the way in this new technology and this new energy sector?

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Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:58:56 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the first thing that comes to mind is jealousy, but I guess that is too simple. The real answer is that the Leader of the Opposition does not care about Atlantic Canadians and does not care about us having good-paying sustainable jobs for Atlantic Canadians. That is what it is all about. People would come back to Nova Scotia. Many people have returned because of the shipyard contract. Many more will return now. These are opportunities for Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and all of Canada. We are going to lead the world into this industry. The opposition should get out of the way and let us do our job.

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Mr. Chandra Arya (Nepean, Lib.)

May/27/24 1:59:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan achieved its Independence Day on May 28, 1918. I had the pleasure of hosting its Independence Day celebration on Parliament Hill last Friday. On Saturday, I participated in an event, raising the Azerbaijan flag on Parliament Hill grounds. Azerbaijan became the first democracy in the entire Muslim world, and it is also one of the first nations in the world to grant women the right to vote. Religious minorities, including Jews and Hindus, have equal rights to practice their faith in this Muslim-majority country, and they enjoy state support too. Azerbaijan's geographic location gives it great strategic importance as an energy producer and transit hub. I would also like to recognize the contributions Azerbaijani Canadians have made and continue to make toward our country, Canada.

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Mr. Mel Arnold (North Okanagan—Shuswap, CPC)

May/27/24 2:00:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this weekend we celebrated eight members of the Vernon Search and Rescue Group Society for decades of search and rescue service and community safety in North Okanagan—Shuswap and across Canada. At the ceremony we recognized Robert Cross, for 28 years of service; Geoff Vick, 31 years; Robert Hurtubise, 34 years; Coralie Nairn, 35 years; Don Blakely and Leigh Pearson, 37 years; James Viel, 50 years; and Pete Wise, 60 years, the longest-serving search and rescue volunteer in Canada. These volunteers have committed their time to assist and often lead in the search and rescue of many Canadians no matter the time of day or the weather conditions. They also assist emergency services during evacuations and disaster response. Their families make sacrifices and contributions by supporting them. Employers give them time away from work, while sponsors provide resources. I thank these volunteers and the thousands more across Canada who embody the professionalism, sacrifice and courage to the search for and rescue of Canadians across the country.

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Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Whitby, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:02:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as we approach World Ocean Day on June 8, it is timely to reflect on the ocean's profound contribution to our economy, climate and way of life, and to Canada's prosperity as a whole. The ocean sector contributed close to $52 billion toward Canada's GDP in 2022 and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. There are opportunities to create many more jobs in the fisheries, aquaculture, shipping and tourism industries, as well as emerging industries like offshore renewable energy and marine biotechnology. This evening, representatives of Canada's Ocean Supercluster will be hosting a briefing reception at the Shaw Centre to discuss Ambition 2035, its vision for fivefold growth in the ocean economy. I encourage all members to attend and learn more about how we can enable this vital sector.

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Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)

May/27/24 2:03:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we learned of the closure of the community organization Loisirs St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache, which has played a key role in the lives of hundreds of families in Longueuil since 1995. I would like to especially thank Dolorès Vaudeville, who ran the organization with passion and dedication for 17 years, and Sophie Hébert, who greatly contributed to the organization's development thanks to her unfailing commitment and dedication. Loisirs St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache was located in a neighbourhood where people face daily challenges, but each action taken by the organization made a difference in the lives of many people in the community. I would like to express my gratitude to all the volunteers, partners and community members who supported this cause over the years. We hope that the legacy of St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache will continue to inspire other community initiatives in the future to help the least fortunate among us live with dignity.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:04:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, do members know that the heart of Canada's Filipino community is located in Winnipeg North and that June is Filipino Heritage Month in Canada? No matter where someone goes in Canada, they will be encouraged to participate in a wide spectrum of Filipino hospitality. One of the things they will notice is that it does not matter what kind of event they go to; they will experience hospitality, kindness, love and hard-working people. These are the types of things that are embedded in our Filipino heritage community. Today, over one million people in Canada are of Filipino Canadian heritage. That is something all of us should be very proud of. I would encourage all members to get out and promote Filipino heritage in the month of June no matter where they live in Canada.

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