44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 6, 2024 10:00AM
- Jun/6/24 2:48:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have seen 12 straight months of record-breaking temperatures, more extreme wildfires and more extreme weather events. This is a climate crisis. The Liberals have been asleep at the wheel, letting oil and gas CEOs pollute more and more each year, and the Conservatives cannot even agree on whether climate change is real.
The UN Secretary-General is calling for a windfall tax on oil and gas profits to help fund climate action. New Democrats agree with this.
Why are the Liberals letting big oil rip off Canadians and destroy our climate?
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- Jun/6/24 2:49:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, we have introduced a new clean fuel standard, something Conservatives pledged to do during the last election campaign. However, they changed their minds to please their leader and voted against.
We have also raised the price on pollution, and we are putting a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. We are the only major oil-producing country in the world to do so. Our emissions are so low that the last time they were this low in Canada was shortly after the Canadiens won their last Stanley Cup. It would be nice if, when the going gets tough, the NDP did not vote with the Conservatives on carbon pricing.
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- Jun/6/24 2:49:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, one loses someone and is trying to grieve and then somebody else dies. This is the feeling of the Piikani Nation, which has seen an unfathomable amount of death because of the toxic drug crisis. First nations in Alberta are dying from toxic drugs eight times faster than the rest of the province's population. The Alberta Conservative model is just not working, and the federal government has shown no leadership.
When will the Liberal government have the courage to intervene in dangerous Conservative policies and save indigenous lives?
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- Jun/6/24 2:50:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. It is a tragedy that we are losing our brothers, our sisters, our mothers and our fathers to this toxic, polluted drug supply that we see all across the country, including in and predominantly among first nations. That is why our government has invested billions of dollars to support indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness. We will continue to work with first nations leaders on the solutions that will work for them. This crisis has to end.
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- Jun/6/24 2:51:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the world has seen unprecedented scientific and technological advancements in artificial intelligence in recent years, but this change is plagued by misinformation and disinformation targeting hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We recently saw how Conservatives, such as the member for Portage—Lisgar, intend to misuse this technology to mislead Canadians.
Could the President of the Treasury Board explain how our government is working responsibly to adapt to these changes and to protect Canadians, their information and the country as a whole?
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- Jun/6/24 2:51:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, now more than ever before, researchers and companies are using AI to create innovations and job opportunities, from drug discovery to energy efficiency and housing innovation. That is why we have begun to develop the first-ever government strategy on AI for the public service, removing barriers and filling gaps for the responsible, transparent use of AI. Instead of spreading misinformation, our side of the House is committed to embracing new technologies that allow local businesses, educators and our broader economy to flourish.
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- Jun/6/24 2:52:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there has been $123 million handed out to ineligible companies. There have been 186 conflicts of interest, and 76 million taxpayer dollars have been given out to well-connected Liberals. After nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, it is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption of his billion-dollar green slush fund.
Conservatives are calling for the evidence of corruption to be handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, so will the NDP-Liberal government end the cover-up and call in the Mounties?
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- Jun/6/24 2:53:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Sustainable Development Technology Canada is an independent organization that has been around for over 20 years and that was supported by all members of Parliament at the time. I understand that the Conservatives' opposition to fighting climate change gives them an ideological bent against the organization.
However, notwithstanding the governance structure of the organization, when we learned of mismanagement, we investigated. We triggered numerous independent reviews, including the Auditor General's report, which we collaborated with, and now we are actioning a new governance framework for the organization.
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- Jun/6/24 2:53:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we almost could not hear that answer over the paper shredders that are running over at the billion-dollar green slush fund.
We know that in 2017, the Auditor General gave a clean bill of health to the organization, which Conservatives stood up to fund clean green tech, but the Liberals got into office and decided to line the pockets of well-connected Liberal friends. What did we see in the Auditor General report that the Conservatives called for and the Liberals opposed? We saw 186 conflicts of interest and over $100 million being misappropriated.
Conservatives want the Liberals to end the cover-up. Will they turn over the evidence to the RCMP, yes or no?
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- Jun/6/24 2:54:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as soon as allegations of mismanagement of Sustainable Development Technology Canada surfaced, our government acted immediately. We triggered an independent review of the governance model and an independent review of the HR practices in the organization. We issued a management response action plan. We have done everything right along the way to address the concerns. Rightfully, Canadians should expect the highest standards of governance when dealing with public funds.
That is exactly what we are doing and are committed to. The organization is going to be reconstituted within the National Research Council in order to have better oversight.
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- Jun/6/24 2:55:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for years Canadians have been struggling because of this Liberal government, yet close friends of the Liberals have been profiting.
What is the latest discovery about those Liberal friends? It involves the use of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada green fund. Liberal friends have taken it upon themselves to dip both hands in the cookie jar. According to the Auditor General, $123 million of taxpayers' money was misused. To get to the bottom of this, those documents need to be seen.
Is the government going to give the RCMP access to all the documents so it can get to the bottom of this scandal?
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- Jun/6/24 2:55:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that question has already been answered many times. Perhaps I will just add that the Canadian government will, obviously, always co-operate with the RCMP and any other agency to help them do their work.
Perhaps the member is not yet aware of the fact that this week has been a very good week for Canadians, since it was announced for the first time in four years and for the first time in the G7 that interest rates are starting to drop.
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- Jun/6/24 2:56:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us be serious. Does the minister realize that the Liberal scandal involving Sustainable Development Technology Canada's green fund is reminiscent of the sponsorship scandal?
I am not the one saying that. It was a public official who testified during the Auditor General's investigation and who also said that the government is completely incompetent.
Will the minister rise again and say that he did not see anything or some such thing? The reality is that Canadians want the truth and they want all the documents. Will the government give them to the RCMP, yes or no?
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- Jun/6/24 2:56:47 p.m.
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Before I give the floor to the minister for his answer, I would like to encourage all members, particularly the ministers, not to speak when someone else has the floor.
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- Jun/6/24 2:57:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my esteemed colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent is talking about information. Unfortunately, the first piece of information he did not adequately convey is that all the reports, including the Auditor General's latest report, made it very clear that there was no political interference of any kind. Anyone who claims otherwise is, unfortunately, spreading disinformation.
Speaking of disinformation, my colleague is from the Quebec City area. Could he ask his Conservative leader to apologize for misleading people and, unfortunately, discouraging the tens of thousands of seniors in the Quebec City region from enrolling in the new Canadian dental care plan?
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- Jun/6/24 2:57:44 p.m.
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Before moving on to another question, I would like to remind the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, who had the opportunity to ask a question, to speak only when he is recognized by the Chair.
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- Jun/6/24 2:58:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last year was disastrous for our farmers. One in five farms is unable to pay its debt. After months of demonstrations, the farmers have been heard by their government, the Government of Quebec.
Now it is Ottawa's turn to listen, warned the Union des producteurs agricoles. Quebec already asked the federal government in November for a one-time relief payment through the AgriRecovery program. The farmers needed it in November. We are in June.
When will the minister offer reasonable compensation through the AgriRecovery program without unnecessary red tape?
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- Jun/6/24 2:58:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, obviously our hearts go out to the farmers who went through some tough times last year.
As my hon. colleague is well aware, AgriRecovery is a partnership between the province and the federal government. We are working to determine whether the program will apply and will have a response very soon.
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- Jun/6/24 2:59:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, while Ottawa drags its feet, the processor Saladexpress in Châteauguay—Lacolle has just shut down its operations. When workers arrived this morning, the doors were locked. This means that a lot of our growers found out just this morning, after the planting season, that they had lost their one and only buyer.
This comes on the heels of a disastrous season in 2023 and repeated natural disasters. Unless Ottawa wakes up and adapts to climate change, one in 10 businesses will close within the year. Is the minister finally going to launch AgriRecovery?
We need a date.
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- Jun/6/24 2:59:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, AgriRecovery involves an analysis conducted not only by the federal government, but also with the province. This is done in collaboration with the Government of Quebec. The two work in partnership. I am sure they will have an answer very soon. However, I understand all too well that, in times of crisis, an answer can never come fast enough.
In the future, we will keep working with all the provinces to ensure that our programs respond more quickly to these climate change crises.
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