OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)

House of Commons Debates Volume 151 No. 244 1st SESSION 44th PARLIAMENT Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Speaker: The Honourable Greg Fergus HOUSE OF COMMONS CANADA (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) COMMONS DEBATES November 1, 2023 DEBATES No. 244 No. 244 N o 244 Volume 151 244 01 11 2023 2023/11/01 14:00:00 Débats de la Chambre des communes House of Commons Debates House Of Commons 1 44

The House met at 2 p.m. Prayer

Statements by Members

(1400) [ English ]

The Speaker :

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Elgin—Middlesex—London . [ Members sang the national anthem ]

Statements by Members Statements by Members

[ English ] Public Safety

Ms. Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, keeping our communities safe is important to Brampton residents. While community safety is a shared jurisdiction with the provinces and municipalities, this government has been working hand in hand with law enforcement and other partners. We are strengthening Canada's Criminal Code and our community safety by keeping repeat violent offenders in prison with Bill C-48 and supporting the CBSA with historic investments that make our border secure. Most importantly, we are working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners in Peel and right across the country to combat auto theft.

I know that fighting car theft is an important issue. This is why, earlier this year, we made an important investment of $120 million in Ontario to combat gangs. In partnership with CBSA and other agencies, Peel Regional Police has successfully recovered over $130 million worth of stolen vehicles this year and put many criminals behind bars. We are committed to continuing to work to strengthen measures to combat auto theft to ensure a safe environment for Brampton.

(1405) The Speaker :

I would remind members, as much as possible, to stick to their 60-second time limit for Statements by Members. The hon. member for Prince Albert.

Raiders Wall of Honour Inductee

Mr. Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Bruce Vance of Prince Albert, who was inducted into the Raiders Wall of Honour. Bruce spent 14 years with the Raiders and was responsible for bringing many special events to our community. He is also the former president of the Crescent Heights Community Club, the former co-manager of the Mann-Northway Northern Bears and co-founder of the Girls Prairie League Softball. Despite being diagnosed with colon cancer for the second time in 2020, Bruce continues to take on whatever challenges life may throw at him.

Just this past year, the Northern Bears hosted an event with his team jerseys. They auctioned off the jerseys and raised $23,000 for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. Bruce is an idol in our community. We thank him for his service and ask him to please keep up the good fight.

Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law Building

Mr. Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor—Tecumseh, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, I attended the grand reopening of the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building at the University of Windsor after transformative renovations. I met generations of alumni, like Frank and Peter, who made the drive to Windsor to reconnect over the two-day celebration. On hand were the chief justices of Canada and Ontario. The $38-million renovation is truly spectacular. The architects pulled off the impossible: inserting light into a stone. The moot court is a showpiece, with gorgeous views of the campus, the Ambassador Bridge and Assumption church.

A generous gift provided by the Rodzik family, the court is fully accessible, and one of the three rooms is set up to host smudge ceremonies. Seeing all the alumni and donors highlighted the real sense of family and pride that are the hallmark of University of Windsor law. I know my predecessor and the founding dean, the late Hon. Mark MacGuigan, was smiling proudly on this day too.

[ Translation ] 70th Anniversary of Zoo de Granby

Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, for many people, “Granby” means “zoo”. Founded in 1953, we owe the non-profit Société zoologique de Granby to the mayor at the time, Pierre-Horace Boivin, a visionary and animal lover. In 2023, the Zoo de Granby is celebrating its seventieth year. Over the decades the zoo has thrived, modernized, and created moments of wonder and family memories for young and old alike. Besides being a major economic driver and tourist attraction for the region and for Quebec, it has a critical mission to protect species and promote conservation and biodiversity.

These efforts have earned it an international reputation. All of Granby proudly celebrates the zoo: giant statues of exotic species have been placed around the city, including a pink elephant near Lac Boivin, a blue gorilla and a yellow meerkat. Let us take advantage of this anniversary year to visit, or go back to visit, the Zoo de Granby.

Jacques Fortier

Mrs. Élisabeth Brière (Sherbrooke, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, in June, the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Sherbrooke awarded Jacques Fortier the title of Eastern Township resident of the year for 2023. He received the honorary title of Grand Estrien with all of the humility he is known for, despite his impressive record. Jacques Fortier is a passionate and active supporter of his Sherbrooke community. He has supported residents for 45 years as a claims adjuster, including during the great ice storm and the Lac-Mégantic tragedy.

He is also a very active volunteer, especially in the health care network, where he led a major project to renovate the Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke hospital complex and played a key role in setting up the centre mère-enfant. A huge sports fan, he significantly contributed to the return of major junior hockey in Sherbrooke and is still involved with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He is unwaveringly supported by Marie-Claude, the love of his life. Together, they are a remarkable couple, always there for their community. His involvement speaks to his boundless generosity and selflessness.

My congratulations to Jacques Fortier, our Grand Estrien for 2023.

[ English ] Carbon Tax

Mr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Calgary Forest Lawn, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the flailing Liberal-NDP Prime Minister flip-flopped and admitted that he and his scam of the century, the carbon tax, are just not worth the cost. The Governor of the Bank of Canada confirmed scrapping this inflationary scam would bring down the cost of everything and put a massive dent in the inflation crisis. It is hypocritical for the Prime Minister to only put a pause on this tax where his polling numbers are low yet punish those Canadians who do not vote Liberal by quadrupling it.

Liberals sold this carbon tax scam to Canadians by telling them they would get more back in phony rebates than what they would pay into it and that somehow it would fix the environment. Both have been proven false. Even a Liberal minister admits that Liberal MPs are utterly useless and have no voice in their own caucus. Only our common-sense Conservative leader will axe the tax to keep the heat on and bring home lower prices for all Canadians. Why does the out-of-touch Prime Minister not shove the carbon tax scam and his woke policies where his polling numbers are, in the gutter?

(1410) London and District Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour two new inductees into the London and District Business Hall of Fame. The first is Allan Drewlo, president of Drewlo Holdings. He helped make the company one of the country's largest leading real estate development and property management firms. On top of that, he is an important philanthropist in our community. He has supported, among others, the Kidney Foundation, the London Food Bank, Mission Services, Habitat for Humanity and the Grand Theatre. He continues to be steadfast in the community's vision for the future. Jill Wilcox, the owner of Jill's Table, is the second.

She is an award-winning specialty food and kitchen store entrepreneur in London. In addition to running a very successful business for more than 25 years, Jill has been a leading entrepreneur, organizing cooking classes and culinary tours to Europe. She is another philanthropist. Since 2012, she has helped fund food-related education projects in support of Investing in Children, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Growing Chefs and others.

Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador

Hon. Judy A. Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely honoured to recognize the stellar career path of the Honourable Judy Foote, a colleague and a friend to many of us in this House. As she is leaving her position as Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to thank her for her dedicated service to Canadians for over 30 years in politics. Ms. Foote brought the best practices from the place where she started, in education and television journalism. She made history, being the first female lieutenant governor for her province. As the Prime Minister announced earlier, Ms.

Foote brought passion, energy and an unwavering dedication to serving Canadians during her historic mandate. Her diverse experience of public service enriched not only her province but the whole of Canada. On behalf on my family, my colleagues and me, I want to thank my dear friend. We wish her all the success in her future endeavours.

Carbon Tax

Mr. Scot Davidson (York—Simcoe, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the desperate NDP-Liberal government's plan to pause the carbon tax on home heating will not help 97% of Canadians. This includes residents of York Region. They rely on natural gas and propane to heat their homes. The Rural Economic Development Minister said an exemption was not offered across Canada because those regions did not vote Liberal. News flash: 70% of York Region is represented by Liberals. It seems there is no carbon tax relief for York Region families because of the incompetence of Liberal MPs in Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Newmarket.

These York Region Liberals are just not worth the cost. Instead of treating Canadians like contestants on a reality show, pitting them against each other and picking winners, losers and survivors, how about we axe the tax and vote all these Liberals off the island?

Public Safety

Mr. Francesco Sorbara (Vaughan—Woodbridge, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, making sure Canadians are safe and feel safe in their community is a priority for our federal government. It is not optional; it is not political. In my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, public safety is at the centre of many conversations. We know the federal government has a leading role to play. Vaughan residents support the co-operation and collaboration seen from all levels of government, law enforcement and victim advocates working together to crack down on crime, keep guns away from our streets and protect Canadians.

Canadians asked that we strengthen the justice system to keep repeat offenders behind bars. As a response, our government introduced Bill C-48 on bail reform, which would amend the Criminal Code and reinforce public confidence in Canada's justice system. We also introduced a national freeze on handguns, supported the Province of Ontario with $120 million to combat guns and gangs, and provided over $500 million to CBSA to protect our borders. By providing the funding, working with all levels of government and passing impactful bail reform legislation, we are doing everything it takes to keep Canadians safe.

(1415) [ Translation ] Carbon Tax

Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, scarcely a year ago, in the House, we Conservatives asked the government to cancel the carbon tax on home heating. All parties in the House voted against us, including the Bloc. It is costly to vote for the Bloc. Last Thursday, because he is plummeting in the polls, the Prime Minister announced a temporary pause for home heating oil. He did this only with his Atlantic members. Why? The Minister of Rural Economic Development explained it: The other regions just have to vote Liberal. Where are the members from Quebec when it comes to protecting taxpayers’ money?

Are they with the Bloc, which wants to radically increase the carbon tax? Not only is this measure unfair to 97% of Canadians, but it is also divisive. Even the Liberal carbon tax’s architect, Catherine McKenna, said she was heartbroken over this Liberal flip-flop. The current Minister of Environment said that if saw another one, he would slam the door. Things are not going well with the Liberals. For us, Conservatives, it is clear. Eliminating the carbon tax is just common sense.

[ English ] Carbon Tax

Mr. Terry Dowdall (Simcoe—Grey, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Liberal-NDP government is desperate. Its polling numbers are in a free fall, and it will now do anything to stay in power, even telling Canadians, “Vote for us, or we'll tax you more.” In pausing his carbon tax until the next election for Atlantic Canadians only, the Prime Minister has admitted that his gimmicky carbon tax rebate did not give them more than they paid in, yet he stands here and tells rural Ontarians that we are getting more back than we pay in. He seems confused, but Canadians are not. They know that the Prime Minister cannot be trusted.

They know he is not worth the cost. Seniors in my community are telling me they are worried about their heating costs. Some have even told me that they cannot buy fresh vegetables any more. When will the Prime Minister stop the games, treat all regions fairly, axe the carbon tax and give all Canadians a break?

Orléans

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the poppy campaign kickoff of the Orléans Royal Canadian Legion. It was an honour beyond words to place the very first poppy on the lapel of esteemed veteran retired warrant officer Serge Millen, a gesture symbolizing our immense gratitude for his service and sacrifice to our country. Let us all help our Canadian legions by donating to them and by wearing our poppy with pride. In addition, I extend my warmest congratulations to Andrea Baird, owner of AKA Beauty Concepts, as she celebrates a decade of successful business in Orléans.

I was so impressed by Andrea's leadership after she told me that her salon is certified as a sustainable salon by Green Circle Salons. That means that up to 95% of the beauty waste is recovered and recycled, giving beauty waste a new life and joining the fight against climate change.

Gender-Based Violence

Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, last week, Canadians were collectively heartbroken by the barbaric act of intimate partner violence that took the life of Angie Sweeney and three young children in Sault Ste. Marie. As we grieve for Angie and the children, we must redouble our efforts against intimate partner violence. Gender-based and intimate partner violence in Canada has increased for five consecutive years. In 2021, the rate of IPV was 336 victims per 100,000 people.

Women and girls represent almost 70% of victims. [ Translation ] In 2021, the rate of gender-related homicides of indigenous women and girls more than tripled compared to the total number of gender-related homicides. In Ontario, the number of women and girls killed as a result of acts of violence involving a male offender increased by 39% between 2018 and 2022. [ English ] This epidemic cannot continue. We must implement the recommendations from last Parliament's justice committee report on stopping coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate relationships.

Women need us to stand up for them now more than ever.

(1420) [ Translation ] Fisheries and Oceans

Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, we have seen successive moratoriums and closures in our vital fishing sector, but since 1992 the federal government has provided no compensation, no valid options to help our fishers face hard times. To date, fishers of mackerel, herring, yellowtail, winter flounder, turbot and now shrimp have been hard hit or threatened with closure. Add to that the problems with lobster, North Atlantic right whales, the overpopulation of seals, and now clams and seaweed harvesters. Workers in processing plants are also struggling. There is a real fishing crisis, and new-generation fishers are becoming hard to find.

Our fishers' patience and resilience have limits. The good news is that fishers and scientists have solutions to offer, including alternative or sentinel fisheries, communal licenses, integrated ecosystem management and financial compensation. The fishing community knows the ocean and everything living in it, and it wants more than anyone to protect the resource and renew it. We must act, and quickly. The Bloc Québécois hears them, supports them and will make their voices heard.

[ English ] Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Larry Brock (Brantford—Brant, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, outright incompetence is how senior officials to the Prime Minister describe the scandal around the $1-billion green slush fund, $40 million of which is under investigation for suspicious payments. Leaked audio has been recently released, and members will not believe what a Liberal government official had to say about it. He called this fund “a sponsorship-scandal level kind of giveaway”. After eight years of the Prime Minister , he is simply not worth the cost. The unholy alliance of the NDP and the Liberals, with its spending, scandals and corruption, has now caused sponsorship scandal 2.0.

The previous Liberal sponsorship scandal began with an Auditor General investigation. Today, we learned that the Auditor General is now investigating the taxpayer abuse at the $1-billion green slush fund. Liberal corruption must stop. Common-sense Conservatives will finally clean up this mess.

[ Translation ] Member for Bourassa

Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour for me to have sat for 16 years as an MP at both the provincial and federal levels—and as the only member of Haitian origin, I might add. However, the time has come for me to take my leave. I thank the Prime Minister for this opportunity to serve Canadians. [ English ] I thank all members and staff of the House of Commons for their friendship. [ Translation ] I thank the Quebec CPA Order for the Emeritus Certified Accountant award and the title of Fellow. I thank UQAM for the special tribute award for teaching.

I am grateful for the Governor of Canada Medal regarding my work at the Canada Revenue Agency. I thank the Hon. Jean Charest for his sincere friendship. I thank all the residents of Viau and Bourassa, my brothers and sisters, my supporters and my employees. From the bottom of my heart, I thank my wife, our children, their spouses and our grandchildren.

Manman, Papa, mèsi anpil pou toute sacrifice nou fè pou mwen.

It was with a lot of emotion that I informed the Prime Minister that I would not be seeking re-election.

AvèwMapMaché.

ORAL QUESTIONS Oral Questions

[ Translation ] Carbon Pricing

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister flip-flopped and paused his carbon tax on heating oil, it did nothing to help Quebec. Quebeckers will have to pay the second carbon tax, which will drive up the price of both gas and groceries. Why is the Prime Minister raising taxes for Quebeckers? It is to finance a $1-billion fund. A senior official was caught on tape saying that this is just like the sponsorship scandal and that it is outright incompetence. Why is the Prime Minister forcing Quebeckers to pay for another Liberal scandal?

(1425) Hon. Diane Lebouthillier (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I have a brief question for the Conservative leader. What is the Conservatives' plan to protect the environment? The answer is simple: They have no plan and no solutions. A real solution would be to develop a plan to fight climate change. A real solution would be to protect our environment for future generations. The Conservative leader must know that Canadians do not have the memory of a goldfish. They know what the Conservatives do when they are in office. It is chop, chop, chop. The Conservatives are not worth the risk.

[ English ]

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that Wednesdays would be Prime Minister's question period. His public itinerary indicates that he is in Ottawa, and he was even spotted in the building. The question for the Prime Minister is about the carbon tax chaos he has unleashed. He has paused the tax on some heat for some people, leaving the Government of Alberta to threaten a lawsuit, the Government of Saskatchewan to threaten to not collect the tax, NDP provincial parties in the west turning against it and some first nations saying the entire thing is illegal. Will he reverse all of this chaos and just axe the tax?

The Speaker :

Before I have the hon. minister answer the question, I would like to remind all members that it is important for one to not do indirectly what one cannot do directly. The hon. minister.

Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, let us bring the temperature down and talk about exactly what we have done here. We have accelerated the replacement of home heating oil with heat pumps. It is a national program. If the Premier of Alberta and the Premier of Saskatchewan want to make sure that people who heat their homes with oil in those provinces have access to the same heat pumps, do members know what they can do? They can join three Atlantic provinces and B.C. and sign up for a plan to help low-income people in their province. Will they do it? Time will tell.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Prime Minister . He has unleashed carbon tax chaos across the country. After saying he would never bend, he backed down because I kept beating him in these debates in the House of Commons. He has put a two-year pause on some heating oil for some people, causing Saskatchewan to threaten not to collect the tax, Alberta to threaten a lawsuit, six provinces to come out against the plan and first nations to say it is illegal. If he is so proud of himself and what he has done, why will he not stand up now to defend it?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the hon. Leader of the Opposition seems to be too busy patting himself on the back to do his homework. At the end of the day, heating oil costs anywhere between two and four times the price of natural gas. It is a particular driver of energy poverty in this country. We have taken steps forward to improve affordability by enabling the implementation of heat pumps, which will save people up to $2,500 a year, but we are doing so in the context of a plan to fight climate change, something he has said nothing about in the year since he became the Leader of the Opposition .

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I feel bad for the Liberal minister , who has been abandoned by his leader. The leader of the Liberal government will not even stand and defend his own decisions. We know that on Thursday, after having his door beaten down by terrified Liberals about to lose their seats, he decided to flip-flop and bring in a temporary pause on a tax until after the election, dividing Canadians once again into two different classes. If the Prime Minister is so proud of how he has divided people, if he is so proud of how he is forcing Canadians to choose between heating and eating, why does he not have the guts to stand up and say so now?

(1430) Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House who is feeling abandoned by their leader. It is Conservative Albertans, New Democrat Albertans and Liberal Albertans, because Danielle Smith is trying to take Albertans out of the Canada pension plan. What do we hear from the Leader of the Conservative Party ? We hear weak sauce and platitudes. The pretender to the throne can stand here today and give a full-throated defence of the Canada pension plan, while his 30 Alberta MPs stand in silence. Will he or will he not? I know we will. Albertans can count on us defending them every single day, along with their pensions.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, that carbon tax question was for the Prime Minister on Prime Minister's question period day. I know I do not have my glasses on, but that guy does not look like the Prime Minister. I have a very simple motion, which says, “That, given that the government has announced a ‘temporary, three-year pause’ to the federal carbon tax on home heating oil, the House call on the government to extend that pause to all forms of home heating.” Will the Prime Minister have the courage to stand up and indicate whether the vote on this motion will be a free vote for his members?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, those of us on this side of the House prefer to do good public policy rather than simply playing politics. I know that is an idea that seems to be foreign to the Leader of the Opposition . Heating oil is two to four times more expensive than natural gas. It is a particularly acute issue for people in a number of provinces, not just in Atlantic Canada. The program that we are putting in place applies across the country. It is to ensure that we are addressing concerns around affordability in a thoughtful way, while also addressing concerns around climate change, which I am sure their children will tell them is a very important issue.

[ Translation ] Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois motion we are voting on shortly calls on the government to review its immigration targets starting in 2024, after consulting with Quebec and the provinces about their integration capacity. The minister, however, is preparing to unveil his immigration targets even though no one has been consulted. During a scrum today, Quebec's immigration minister confirmed that there had been no consultation. Instead of doing one thing and voting the opposite, will the minister cancel his press conference and consult Quebec before announcing his immigration targets?

Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, first of all, that is not true. We are constantly consulting with Quebec. There is direct communication between our public services every day. I would also like to point out that I have spoken directly to the Quebec minister about these targets, the integration target and sponsorship for refugees. I have asked her to make an extra effort. We are certainly consulting. We disagree sometimes, but I would ask the member to look at the plan that talks about the Canada-Québec accord and says that that is to be determined. The entire determination process remains in the hands of Quebec City. It is perfectly good consultation.

Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, there has to be a limit to spouting nonsense. Quebec was not consulted about the federal government's immigration targets. Quebec has said as much. This means that the targets the federal government is going to announce do not take into account Quebec's integration capacity. Does the minister know how many additional classrooms will have to be opened to accommodate the children of families immigrating here in 2024? Does he know how many teachers, psychotherapists, speech therapists and special educators will need to be hired? If the minister does not have those answers, will he at least cancel his press conference and look for the answers with Quebec and the provinces?

Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, in an hour and a bit, people will have a chance to see the plan, and I would ask them to take a look at it. As for Quebec, the Canada-Quebec accord has been in place since 1991. Under this agreement, we send Quebec $700 million a year. Do we demand accountability? No, we do not, because that is the relationship we have with Quebec. Perhaps we should be asking questions, but the fact is that Quebec has complete freedom to use this money to adapt its integration capacity, and we are going to support it.

(1435) [ English ] Taxation

Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has made it very clear that only those who vote for Liberals will get relief on their home heating, which has divided Canada and undermined the fight against the climate crisis. Canadians want to do the right thing, but they cannot, for example, navigate the onerous government programs for a heat pump. They end up giving up. Therefore, instead of dividing Canadians, will the Prime Minister tax the excess profits of oil and gas companies and use that revenue to help all Canadians?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would encourage the hon. leader of the New Democratic Party to do his homework. In terms of an onerous program, people who actually are going to be in receipt of a heat pump go in and sign up online; three days later, they get a cheque to ensure that they can do the installation. There is no onerous program. At the end of the day, we have developed a plan to address a key affordability issue in a manner that is consistent with fighting climate change. It is good public policy, and we will carry it out.

[ Translation ]

Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, the government has been clear. Anyone who wants a bit of help with their home heating has to vote Liberal. Duplessis would be proud. Who benefits? The big oil and gas companies benefit as they keep taking in federal subsidies and raking in record profits. Will the Prime Minister put a stop to these Duplessis-style politics and give all Canadians some help?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the program we are talking about today applies across Canada and it is very important. We introduced a program to ensure affordability, but also to make sure that we could fight climate change. It is a good policy that is very important for all Canadians.

[ English ] Carbon Pricing

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I have another question for the Prime Minister . The lone Liberal MP in Edmonton was asked, “Western Canada is being left out of this whole home heating oil and the exemption for home heat from the carbon price. Should natural gas be added to that?” He said that he is not concerned at all. He then went on to say that if Albertans want to have the exemption, they can switch their furnaces over to oil. Does the Prime Minister agree with the member from Edmonton Centre that Albertans should spend thousands of dollars putting in a more emitting source of energy just to avoid paying the carbon tax?

Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the hockey team that plays in my home city is called the Oilers and we just handed a defeat to his former team, the Flames. That being said, if I misspoke, let me be clear in this House. Albertans right now can actually use a federal program to go from natural gas to a heat pump with a $5,000 credit from our government or a $40,000 interest-free loan. It is the green homes program and the green loans program. If Premier Smith wants to extend free heat pumps to Albertans to get off of heating oil, she can join Atlantic premiers and work with the feds to make exactly that happen.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I can understand why the Prime Minister did not want to stand up and defend that comment from the Liberal member. This comment is similar to what we heard from Paul McLauchlin. He is the president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. He said, “If I have an understanding that I can buy heating oil—which is effectively kerosene—and I can buy it with no carbon levy, I would change all my grain drying and my barn heating to heating oil....

I'll tell you right now, there are folks doing the math.” Therefore, the government is now incentivizing farms to spend money shifting from natural gas drying and heating to oil heating, which has higher emissions. This makes no sense. Why will the Prime Minister not just shake off this lunacy and axe the tax?

(1440) Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member does not understand this: Heating oil is two to four times as expensive as natural gas. It is a particularly acute issue with respect to heating and affordability. He should also be aware that the exemption is for three years, during which time, people are expected to implement heat pumps to ensure that they actually have an affordable way to address this issue, but in a manner that is consistent with fighting climate change. This is certainly something that the hon. leader either does not believe in or does not think is important.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, while the question was for the Prime Minister , I am glad the member answered, because he reminded Atlantic Canadians that it is just a pause. If they re-elect the Prime Minister, they will get a massive tax increase on their home heating oil. Where is all the money going? We now know that 60% of Canadians pay more in carbon taxes than they get back in rebates. The difference is funding the wasteful government. We now know that a senior member of the Liberal government's bureaucracy compared their billion-dollar green fund to the sponsorship scandal, saying that it was massive “incompetence”. Who got rich, and who will have to pay?

Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry welcomes the decision of the Auditor General to conduct an audit. He also welcomes the invitation he received to committee next week, where he will be answering Conservative questions with respect to this entire issue. I would also note that the organization has agreed to co-operate fully and is enabling all documents and information to be provided to the Auditor General.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, now the carbon tax chaos continues. The incoming leader of the Liberal Party, Mark Carney, has weighed in and said, “I would have looked for other ways to provide ... support than the route chosen, not least because what is important is that clarity in terms of the overall plan, the overall direction.” Now we have an incoming Liberal leader taking potshots at an outgoing Liberal Prime Minister who is in hiding. How much longer can Canadians deal with this carbon tax chaos before we get an election and choose a common-sense Conservative plan?

The Speaker :

Colleagues, before I give the floor to the parliamentary secretary to answer the question, I would like to remind all members, out of profound respect for the position and office of Leader of the Opposition , to please take a look at the statement I made regarding decorum in the House, in terms of understanding what all members have to do in their work. The parliamentary secretary has the floor.

Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, it is 2023, and if someone does not have a plan to fight climate change and protect the environment, then they do not have a plan for the economy or for affordability either. It is very clear that the Conservative plan is just to cut funding for social services, such as the Canada child benefit, seniors funding and the dental benefit, which has just recently surpassed helping 200,000 children. The Conservative plan to fix global inflation by cutting people's services is not going to work. It is risky, irresponsible and absolutely reckless, as is the Conservative leader .

The Speaker :

Again, I would like to remind all members, in their questions and answers, to make sure they are not impugning individual members. On matters regarding their courage, intelligence or even their presence in the House, I ask members to exercise restraint and decorum. We can have passionate debates in the House and do so within the rules that have been established by this place. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

(1445) Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, instead of answering my questions and engaging me in debate, the Prime Minister forces yet another random Liberal to read off PMO talking points about the carbon tax payoff that is unfolding in this country. He has one province threatening lawsuits and another not collecting the tax at all. He has NDP provincial governments and parties turning against him even though he is in coalition with that same party. Will the Prime Minister end the carbon tax chaos and agree to my motion to simply treat every single Canadian equally and take the tax off so Canadians can keep the heat on?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure whether the hon. member is actually listening to the responses, but at the end of the day, heating oil is two to four times as expensive as natural gas. It is a particularly acute issue with respect to affordability. We have come up with a program that will enable folks to put in place something that will save them significant money while being consistent with the fight against climate change.

It is, I would say, appalling that in this day and age we still have a party in the chamber, the Conservative Party of Canada, that has no policy on and not even any belief in the reality of climate change. It is time that changed, and Canadians will make that happen in the next election.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he would have Wednesday Prime Minister's question period, that he would show up for work and answer questions, but here we are less than a week after he had to back down and pause his signature policy, the massive new carbon tax. His plan now is to quadruple that tax to 61¢ a litre, forcing seniors everywhere to choose between eating and heating. If that is really the right thing to do, then why does he not have the guts to stand up and defend that policy before Canadians here and now?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the price on pollution is one part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the climate issue. It is implemented in a manner that is affordable. The majority of Canadians get more money back than they pay on the price on pollution. Having a thoughtful approach to climate change is an important part of being a real and realistic political party in this country. We cannot actually have an environmental policy without a climate policy. We cannot actually have an effective economic plan for the future without recognizing the reality of climate change. It is time the Conservatives entered the modern era.

[ Translation ] Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois motion that the minister will be supporting later today is about successful immigration. Immigration cannot be successful when thresholds do not take integration capacity into consideration. Indeed, the Conference Board of Canada indicated yesterday that the number of disappointed immigrants who end up leaving Canada has skyrocketed. In 2017 alone, 60,000 immigrants left; two years later, it was 67,000. Problems with access to housing and economic integration were among the reasons cited. Will the minister get back to work and consult Quebec instead of announcing immigration thresholds that are completely disconnected from our integration capacity?

Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, obviously, we have to keep increasing our efforts to integrate newcomers. The flip side of those numbers is the unprecedented volume of people who want to come to Canada. I do not blame them, but the reality is that so many people want to come here because Canada is a welcoming country. I think that criticizing Canada and Quebec by saying that we do not have the integration capacity shows bad faith and is essentially a refusal to listen to what is going on in the country.

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

The Speaker :

I would encourage members who have not been recognized by the Speaker to allow the ones who have to ask and answer questions. The hon. member for Saint-Jean.

Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, Quebec has confirmed that it was not consulted. This means that the immigration thresholds that the minister will unveil shortly do not take into account the availability of health care. They do not take into account space in our schools. They do not take into account child care spaces. They do not take into account capacity for French-language training. They do not take into account the housing crisis. They do not take into account the infrastructure that needs to be built to support population growth. Did the minister consult his astrologist to come up with the thresholds he will be announcing shortly?

(1450) Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to talk about astrology. The member opposite was in the House when I gave my speech yesterday but she must not have been paying attention or she would have heard the details of what we are doing with Quebec to ensure that there is co-operation and coordination. We have disagreements, of course, but what she does not understand—and this is odd because the agreement has been in place for as long as the Bloc Québécois has existed, since 1991—is that this falls under Quebec jurisdiction.

[ English ] Finance

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the irony is, and this question is, for the Prime Minister , that the carbon tax chaos is unfolding within the Liberal tent itself. We saw last week, just as I was about to hold a thunderous rally with a thousand common-sense Nova Scotians to axe the tax, the Prime Minister was in a sweaty ball on the ground. He had to flip-flop and hold a hastily called and humiliating press conference. Now, Mark Carney has come out against his flip-flop, and Percy Downe, a loyal Liberal senator, has called for the Prime Minister to resign because of his fiscal irresponsibility. Is that why he is hiding under his desk and refusing to answer questions today?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, other than trying to find ways to do indirectly what he is not actually allowed to do directly, the one thing that is consistent about the Leader of the Opposition is that he loves to pat himself on the back continuously. At the end of the day, what we are interested in on this side of the House is good public policy. We have put into place a plan that will assure affordability for Canadians, that applies across the country and that does so in a manner that actually addresses the reality of climate change. Once again, it is appalling and a shame that the Conservative Party does not believe in climate change and has no plan to do anything about it.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Senator, Mr. Percy Downe wrote:

The opportunity for a [Conservative] government was created by a lack of fiscal responsibility [by the Liberal] government, and the damage it caused our economy is now showing up in the opinion poll numbers. Within the Liberal Party, many members who are in favour of fiscal responsibility...have given up on this current iteration of the [Liberal] party.

Hence, the leader should resign. However, he will not stand and answer questions, even though his itinerary shows that he was in this building today. If the Prime Minister will not show up and do his job, which I will, why will he not get out of the way?

The Speaker :

Over the last two weeks, many members have taken it upon themselves to quote my statement back to me, and I am quite happy to defend that statement as your Chair. Again, I will say that it is important for us to recognize that all members of the House have duties, regardless of which side they belong to, duties that sometimes take them out of the chamber. That is the reason why we try not to mention whether or not a member is present in the House. It is part of the duties. We are going to continue. I believe the hon. House leader is going to answer this question.

Hon. Karina Gould (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I find the last thing that the hon. Leader of the Opposition said particularly troubling, because it is Canadians who decide who sits in the House; it is not the Leader of the Opposition. Let me be very clear that it is troubling but not surprising, because when he was the minister of democratic reform, he made it harder for 150,000 of Canada's most vulnerable citizens to vote. He was also sanctioned by Elections Canada for violating electoral law. While what he is saying is completely inappropriate, it is unsurprising, given his track record and his lack of respect for democracy.

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

(1455) The Speaker :

Order. Could I ask the member for Surrey—Newton to please allow me to continue? Colleagues, I ask all members to please exercise discretion. These are the things which you all raised with me and others in terms of improving discretion. Temperatures are running hot today. May I ask all members to respectfully sit down until I recognize them to speak, please? The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Carbon Pricing

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I can understand that as the Liberal members watch their Prime Minister in a panicked huddle, in the fetal position, shaking and trembling, they are losing control of themselves. The last few days of carbon tax chaos have been very hard on them, and now their leader is defending them. The minister says we should let Canadians decide, so why do we not pause the carbon tax on all home heat until the vote, when Canadians will decide whether they want the Prime Minister 's plan to hike the 61¢ a litre or my common-sense plan to axe the tax for everyone forever?

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, there are several things that we as Liberals are united on. We are united on the fact that the Leader of the Opposition is trying to destroy the action that our government is taking on climate change, not only our government but governments across the world that are finally turning the tide. He wants to go back to the time when they were attacking climate action. We are united in the fact that we led the G7 in 2022 in growth, that we are going to be number one again in 2024 and that 64,000 jobs were created in Canada. Which country would he change places with when he denigrates Canada?

What country does he think is better? This is the greatest country in the world, and we will stand up for it.

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, we have someone now auditioning for the job of prime minister. When the cat is away, the mice will play, but we do not need any more of this chaos. If the NDP would actually do its job and hold the government to account, it would announce today that its members would vote in accordance with the views of the NDP in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and now Manitoba, all of whom agree that people in cold climates, whether it be in Timmins, Kapuskasing or Churchill, should enjoy tax-free heat. Will they vote to keep the heat on by taking the tax off, or will they once again serve the out-of-touch Prime Minister ?

(1500) Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, as I have said a number of times, and perhaps the hon. Leader of the Opposition has not heard me, home heating oil is up to four times as expensive as natural gas. It creates challenges with respect to affordability for Canadians. We have come forward with a plan that applies in every province and territory in this country. It will address that particular issue in a manner that will be affordable and will ensure long-term savings for families, but will do so in a manner that continues the fight against climate change, a fight against climate change that would not happen if he was on the other side of the House.

Foreign Affairs

Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, a Palestinian refugee camp was bombed by the Israel Defence Forces. We saw lifeless children being pulled out of the rubble. We heard agonizing screams of the worst human suffering. Palestinians in Gaza are being used as human shields and being bombed for crimes they have not committed. Canada cannot stand by while innocent people die. We must demand a ceasefire and a release of all hostages now. How can the Prime Minister defend abstaining from the UN's call for a ceasefire?

Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I think every member of this House of Commons is looking at the situation in Gaza and Israel as a crisis that is of proportions that are dire and are causing us to lose sleep at night. We continue to negotiate the best way possible for hostages to be released. We continue to work at getting humanitarian aid into the area and getting Canadians out. We will continue to monitor the situation even as hearts are breaking.

[ Translation ]

Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, the media is reporting that members of the Canadian Forces are currently in Israel. Canada cannot participate in this blood bath and in the deaths of innocents. The Prime Minister is not calling for a ceasefire and is abstaining from the UN's call for a ceasefire. Can the Prime Minister confirm that no Canadian troops will participate in the war?

[ English ]

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear: We are not providing military assistance to Israel. What we are doing is providing force protection for Canadians and assisting the Canadian embassy in Israel with contingency planning. This is similar to the CANSOFCOM presence and assistance we have provided in other instances, including in Sudan.

Child Care

Mr. Wilson Miao (Richmond Centre, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on building a Canada-wide early learning and child care system, but we know that this will not be possible without the hard work of all our early childhood educators. Attracting and retaining educators is critically important, and for too long, their working conditions and compensation have not met the desired standard. To the minister , what is our government doing to change this situation across the country and in my home province of British Columbia?

Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, early childhood educators deserve to be well compensated and respected. That is why on Monday, alongside the Province of British Columbia, my colleague, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development , announced a two-dollar-per-hour wage increase for eligible early childhood educators, effective December 1 of this year. In the first two years, British Columbia has created an additional 10,000 child care spaces, and parents have been saving up to $550 per month per child. This is what happens when governments work together. We can deliver even more for Canadians.

(1505) Innovation, Science and Industry

Mr. Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, Canadians are struggling to eat as well as heat and house themselves, but money from the carbon tax is lining the pockets of Liberal insiders. One government official said that it is “a sponsorship-scandal level...giveaway”. It is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost when his $1-billion green slush fund already has $40 million under investigation. One insider, Annette Verschuren, is a friend of the Prime Minister. It turns out she is also chair of the board. Can the Prime Minister stand up and tell us how much his friend received in contracts from his billion-dollar slush fund?

Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the Conservative member began his question by talking about the affordability crisis here in Canada but did not end it that way. Allow me to address the fact that Canadians are struggling right now and that the supports we have put in place are helping them to make ends meet, whether they are supports through our child care program or supports to Canadians who are having a hard time paying their rent or mortgage. We have lifted over 2.3 million Canadians out of poverty since coming into government. These programs work and we will continue to make sure that Canadians benefit from them.

Mr. Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, it is astounding to hear the member say this program works. This program is under investigation, and $40 million is the subject of gross mismanagement and conflicts of interest in the Prime Minister 's billion-dollar green slush fund. After eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, it is picking Canadians' pockets with the carbon tax and putting it into Liberal insiders' pockets. The Prime Minister clearly is not worth the cost. His friend is chair of the board. She is receiving contracts. Can the government tell us exactly how much of the money it has taken out of Canadians' pockets he has put into the pocket of his friend?

Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier with respect to SDTC, the Minister of Innovation welcomes the decision of the Auditor General to conduct a full audit. The SDTC has agreed to provide all of the information and documents necessary to the committee. I understand the Minister of Innovation will be appearing before the committee next week in order to answer everyone's questions.

[ Translation ]

Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Liberal government, another Liberal scandal involving the mismanagement of public funds has come to light. This time, it has to do with the $1-billion green fund that is currently under investigation by the Auditor General. That fund comes from the money collected through the carbon tax, which the Bloc Québécois supports and wants to radically increase. Today, Daniel Leblanc reported on CBC that a senior official said, “That is almost a sponsorship-scandal level kind of giveaway.” Will the Prime Minister rise in the House and clearly indicate which Liberal friend benefited from this misplaced generosity?

Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, we expect the organizations to adhere to the strictest standards of governance. As I was saying, the Minister of Innovation welcomed the decision by the Auditor General of Canada to proceed with an audit. The minister himself is appearing before the committee next week to answer questions.

Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, according to the report, whistle-blowers are very disappointed at how slow the federal government is to act. Again in the report, a senior official states that this is about “sloppiness”, “laziness” and “outright incompetence”. That is how this senior official describes this management of public funds by this Liberal government. After eight years of this Liberal government, here is more evidence that it is not worth the cost. What interest did the Prime Minister have in dragging his feet in this case, which, unfortunately for all Canadians, brings up sad memories, namely the sponsorship scandal?

Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm today that the department has been working in close collaboration with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on this issue from day one. As I said, the Minister of Innovation welcomes the decision of the Auditor General to proceed with an audit and he is prepared to answer questions from the Conservatives and all members of the committee next week.

Small Business

Ms. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, 250,000 businesses are at risk of bankruptcy if the federal government does not push back the deadline for repaying the Canada emergency business account loans without loss of subsidy. If the government thinks it is expensive to help businesses, it has not calculated how much it costs to abandon them. How many companies will be unable to repay the loans in full? How many collections will it have to undertake to get its money back? How many workers will end up on employment insurance? When will the minister finally realize that causing 250,000 bankruptcies is going to cost her dearly?

(1510) Hon. Rechie Valdez (Minister of Small Business, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that small businesses are still trying to recover from the pandemic. That is why we recently announced a one-year repayment extension, more refinancing flexibility and more time to access loan forgiveness. This is in addition to our increase in the Canada child benefit and $10-a-day child care, which has enabled more women to enter the workforce than ever before.

Ms. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, presenting information in this fashion is called disinformation. It is unbelievable that we have to explain to the government that forcing 250,000 businesses to go bankrupt is not economically viable, but we will keep trying. The government thinks that taking a hard line with our SMEs helps curb inflation. On the contrary, all these bankruptcies will increase the scarcity of goods and services, which could impact the prices people have to pay. This could in turn drive up the cost of living while hurting local economies. Why take such a risk when the government could simply show some flexibility with our SMEs?

Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of National Revenue, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that scaring our SMEs is a good idea. We were there for them with the Canada emergency business account, wage subsidies and rent supports. The federal government provided $8 out of every $10 of relief during COVID‑19. We are there for SMEs, and we are making the transition. It is now up to commercial banks to continue the work. We encourage businesses to make the transition as well, but we are still there and programs still have three years of flexibility and many different terms and conditions.

Carbon Pricing

Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change said that he will not grant any more carbon tax exemptions while he is minister. He seems to think that people in the Atlantic provinces are the only ones suffering as a result of these taxes. Meanwhile, what is the Bloc doing? The Bloc is asking the government to drastically increase the Liberal taxes. It seems as though the Conservatives are the only ones who care about Quebec's interests. I have a question for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Will he get out of the way so that we can cancel the carbon tax across the country?

Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, again, I repeat that there is no federal carbon tax in Quebec. Not only do the Conservatives still not have a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent climate change, but they also have no vision on how to adapt to the effects of climate change. That is not just irresponsible; it is incompetent.

[ English ]

Mr. Jake Stewart (Miramichi—Grand Lake, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, last week, a desperate Prime Minister admitted his punishing carbon tax is making life more expensive for all Canadians. He also said that if re-elected, the NDP-Liberal government will quadruple the carbon tax on home heating, gas and groceries. After eight years, the Prime Minister is now admitting he is just not worth the cost. Will the Prime Minister stop the gimmicks, stop the temporary measures, stop the bogus claims and axe the carbon tax for all Canadians for good?

Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, if there was ever any doubt, the leader of the Conservatives has made it perfectly clear for Canadians that the Conservatives have no plan to fight climate change. They want to take Canada backward on climate action. The Conservatives all ran on a promise in 2021 to price carbon, but when they ditched Erin O'Toole, they ditched any progressive values they once had and the words “climate change” from their vernacular. Their lack of a plan on climate change is risky and irresponsible. They should get with the program and realize that climate change is a real problem in Canada and around the world.

(1515) Mr. Rick Perkins (South Shore—St. Margarets, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the panicking Prime Minister is plummeting in the polls and the nervous Nellie Atlantic Liberal MPs are whining to please help save them. The NDP-Liberal government's solution is to put the carbon tax up 61¢ after the next election. In other words, people should vote Liberal to quadruple the carbon tax after the next election or vote Conservative to axe the tax. The flip-flopping Prime Minister now admits he is not worth the cost. Will the Prime Minister come clean and tell Atlantic Canadians how much the carbon tax will cost after the next election?

Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour and Seniors, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am going to come back to the Conservative leader 's comment about the thunderous rally that was held on the east coast and perhaps refer to the gigantic one that was held in my riding. There is a user on Twitter called “The Answer Is No”, and it is kind of funny. They spread it around and criticize me quite often too. The trick is that they ask a question but the answer is always no. Last week, his question was whether the Conservative leader 's gigantic rally drew more people than a Saturday at the St. John's dump. The answer was no, it did not. As one Mount Pearl resident noted, there were more people at the Cowan Plaza Bingo.

[ Translation ] Health

Mr. Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, COVID‑19 has proven how important it is to prepare for pandemics. Vaccinations are one of the most effective tools we have to help protect public health from COVID‑19 in general and to prevent severe forms of the illness. Can the Minister of Health tell the House about his visit to the new Moderna factory in Laval and its impact on Canadians?

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question and his excellent work. Clearly, vaccines have saved millions of lives. Canada's response to the pandemic was one of the best in the world. I had the privilege of visiting the new Moderna plant in Laval last Friday. It is a site where future vaccines will be manufactured here, in Canada. Producing the next vaccine here, in Canada, is extremely important to protect our health and safety.

[ English ] Carbon Pricing

Mr. Pat Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the desperation of the NDP-Liberal government proves the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Liberals admitted that the carbon tax exemption was not granted to western Canadians because they do not vote Liberal. The minister from Edmonton Centre and the member for Calgary Skyview are either so ineffective that the Prime Minister just ignores them or they actually agree that Alberta should pay more to keep the heat on. Will the Prime Minister take the heat off home heating for all Canadians, yes or no?

Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we have the opportunity in Alberta to join the federal government and provide heat pumps for those who need it, but let us look at the facts. What have the MP for Calgary Skyview and the MP for Edmonton Centre, who happens to be me, done for Albertans? We have worked with the Liberal government to cut child poverty by over half. We have delivered a Canada child benefit to our ridings. We have implemented $10-a-day child care, and we got a new pipeline to tidewater, which is something the members on that side of the aisle could never accomplish. Two Liberals have done more than 30 MPs in six years. They do not like it, but we do, and so do Canadians.

Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is finally admitting he is not worth the cost. He removed his punitive carbon tax on home heating oil, temporarily relieving the burden on the backs of 3% of Canadians. Over 90% of Saskatchewan households are heated with natural gas. Are there higher taxes for them because they do not vote Liberal? Well, Saskatchewan cleaned its house in 2019, and now coast to coast to coast, Canadians are calling for a majority common-sense Conservative government that will axe the tax. How about them apples, Mr. Prime Minister ?

(1520) Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, as I have said a couple of times, heating oil is up to four times as expensive as natural gas. It creates affordability challenges. We have put into place measures that will ensure affordability and save families up to $2,500 a year going forward, but in a manner that also addresses the climate crisis. I would say to the hon. member, she also may want to do her homework on the programs in place that enable the replacement of natural gas-fired furnaces with heat pumps. It is called the greener homes loan.

[ Translation ]

Mr. Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, now, Quebeckers know that voting for the Bloc Québécois is costly. The Bloc Québécois voted in favour of the second carbon tax. The Liberal government decided to create two classes of Canadians: people from Atlantic Canada and everyone else. Quebeckers and other Canadians will not get the temporary carbon tax rebate. The Prime Minister says that it will not make any other exceptions. It is outrageous. After eight years, this government has lost control and Canadians are getting poorer. Can it regroup and cancel the carbon tax for all Canadians?

Hon. Diane Lebouthillier (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am rather shocked by the participation of my colleagues from Quebec who are in the Conservative Party. I would like my colleague across the way to ask his colleague from Louis‑Saint‑Laurent why, when he was at the National Assembly of Quebec, he said he was so happy with the carbon exchange. He said:

[We are] glad...that there will be a greenhouse gas emissions registry, and the fact that this information will be made public confirms to us the desire for transparency that unites us all here in this chamber.

It is truly shameful to speak out of both sides of one's mouth.

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

The Speaker :

Order. The hon. member for Sudbury.

[ English ] Natural Resources

Ms. Viviane Lapointe (Sudbury, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, to the detriment of our economy, the Conservative Party is blocking two vital pieces of legislation that would create sustainable jobs, bring workers to the table and build important renewable energy projects. First, it blocked workers from speaking at committee. Then it cancelled debate in this chamber, and now it is filibustering the natural resources committee to stop consideration of Bill C-50 and Bill C-49 . Could the minister inform the House of the importance of the sustainable jobs act and the Atlantic accords act?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her hard work for her community and for workers across Canada. The Atlantic accords act and the Canadian sustainable jobs act are key to unlocking generational economic opportunities for Canada. The Atlantic accords act would allow for the development of an offshore wind industry, which would create thousands of jobs in Atlantic Canada. The sustainable jobs act would bring workers to the table and equip them with the tools and skills they need to thrive.

I call upon the Conservative Party to end its wasteful filibuster and allow committee members to consider these bills. It should heed the call of premiers, industry, workers and the House to advance Bill C-50 and Bill C-49 . It is simply wasting time and the money of taxpayers.

Health

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, the NDP moved a motion at the health committee to launch an independent public inquiry into Canada's COVID response. Shockingly, the Conservatives joined with the Liberals to defeat this common-sense proposal. New Democrats believe that Canadians deserve transparency on and accountability for how their government handled every aspect of the pandemic. No stone should be left unturned. Can the Prime Minister explain why his party teamed up with the Conservatives to block this overdue, essential inquiry?

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his work in this space. As he knows, and as I mentioned earlier in question period, Canada had among the best responses to COVID-19 anywhere in the world. Thanks to vaccines and to other measures, we saved literally hundreds of thousands of lives, which is something we should be deeply proud of. We are going to be conducting not only the review that the member is talking about but also a forward-facing review. There are all kinds of reviews now to take the lessons that we learned during the pandemic and apply them to our entire health system.

I want to thank everybody who was on the front lines of keeping us safe. We are going to honour that work by making sure we learn and do everything we can to keep people safe.

(1525) Government Priorities

Mr. Kevin Vuong (Spadina—Fort York, Ind.) :

Mr. Speaker, 24 Liberal MPs supposedly represent Toronto. Using the Minister of Rural Economic Development 's handbook to get things done, how come none of those 24 MPs are standing up for people sleeping on Toronto streets? They are also missing in action to get the government to honour its promise to assist Toronto with our COVID budget shortfall. Many Torontonians will struggle to heat and, hopefully, keep their homes this winter. They would like a carbon tax deferral too. While the two Liberal MPs from Alberta can hold their regional caucus in a phone booth, can the Prime Minister explain how this Toronto 24 have simply disappeared?

Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, the member fails to mention the advocacy of Toronto MPs who pushed for this government to invest no less than $290 million for the City of Toronto so that it could respond to homelessness challenges. That is exactly what is happening. We will continue to work with that municipality and with other municipalities across the country. This is an unacceptable situation that we find ourselves in, but we have a choice. Do we respond, and how do we respond? We respond with co-operation. We respond by working together. That is what we will continue to do.

[ Translation ] Presence in Gallery

The Speaker :

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the recipients of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Awards, including the winners of the John C. Polanyi Award, the Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering, the Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research, the Synergy Awards for Innovation, and the Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

Points of Order Oral Questions Points of Order

Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I rise before my colleagues in the House today to respond to a concern raised yesterday regarding a response I gave to the Bloc Québécois. I used some language yesterday that I will not repeat for the purposes of this point of order. I understand that the words I used may have offended some people. I therefore withdraw them and apologize.

The Speaker :

I thank the hon. minister not only for withdrawing his comments, but also for apologizing. That is very kind of him. I think it enhances the decorum of the House.

[ English ]

Hon. Marc Miller :

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Pursuant to subsection 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the 2023 annual report to Parliament on immigration.

Mr. Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey—Newton, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I have been in the House for many years, and I have always been respectful to the Chair and tried never to be disrespectful. However, today, it went beyond my tolerance when you, Mr. Speaker, were not respected. The rule of the House is that when the Speaker is up, every member should sit down. The Leader of the Opposition did not follow that. He was so arrogant that, time and time again, you told him, but he never sat down. That is why—

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

The Speaker :

It is important for all members to respect not only the regulations but also the traditions of the House. There is certainly an understanding that, when the Speaker takes his or her feet, all members should sit down. I did not ask for a while, but when I asked, I would note that the members did all sit down. I appreciate that they followed this important tradition of the House. The hon. member for Lakeland has a point of order.

(1530) Mrs. Shannon Stubbs (Lakeland, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, certainly I would not be one to raise any issues about decorum, because I think it is fair to suggest that I am a fairly assertive advocate on behalf of the people of Lakeland after eight years in the House of Commons. I certainly would not want to be hypocritical. Mr. Speaker, you have noted the importance of decorum, of how we speak to each other and of ensuring that the temperature can remain low as we do our duty on behalf of Canadians in this place of democracy for the common people.

However, given this, I would note that, during question period, the member for Ajax quite directly challenged whether our leader and Conservatives truly care about Canada, the future of this country and, ultimately, all constituents, as well as whether we are patriots. I can say not only on my own behalf and certainly that of the leader , but also on behalf of every single member of Parliament in the Conservative Party, and I would like to assume in every other party, that we care deeply about this country and Canadians.

I hope I can be forgiven afterwards for doing so, because I did not ask for permission in advance. I just wanted to raise that for your consideration, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker :

I would like to thank the member for Lakeland for bringing up the issue of decorum. I would also like to cut the member a bit of slack. All members, from time to time, can be very passionate about their debates, so they know that there will be interventions that are made. I made that clear in the statement about decorum, which I am glad the member supports. I am glad, listening to the applause from members in the House, that all members support improving decorum in this place and following the guidelines that have been set out from the Chair. I will certainly take a look at that issue.

I was a little preoccupied today, trying to make sure all members were acting in a decorous manner. If I missed that, I certainly will look. However, raising the issue about any hon. member's commitment to their ridings, to their region or to their country is something we should all avoid. Every member here has taken the steps to represent their communities, and they do so with honour. We need to make sure we never question that, as we should also make sure we do not question members, as I indicated, about their courage, presence in the House and so on.

I encourage all members to refer to the statement I made two weeks ago. I thank the member for Lakeland for that. I thank the members who supported her and applauded her for making that intervention, and I would truly hope that, for the rest of the day and going forward, we will all try to avoid what happened here today during Oral Questions. I thank all hon. members for that.

Government Orders Business of Supply

(1535) [ Translation ] Business of Supply Opposition Motion—Immigration Threshold and Integration Capacity Motion

The House resumed from October 31 consideration of the motion.

The Speaker :

It being 3:35 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Saint-Jean relating to the business of supply. Call in the members.

(1545) (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

(Division No. 438)

YEAS Members Aboultaif Aitchison Albas Aldag Alghabra Ali Allison Anand Anandasangaree Angus Arnold Arseneault Arya Ashton Atwin Bachrach Badawey Bains Baker Baldinelli Barlow Barrett Barron Barsalou-Duval Battiste Beaulieu Beech Bendayan Bennett Bergeron Berthold Bérubé Bezan Bibeau Bittle Blaikie Blair Blanchet Blanchette-Joncas Blaney Block Blois Boissonnault Boulerice Bradford Bragdon Brassard Brière Brock Calkins Cannings Caputo Carr Carrie Casey Chabot Chagger Chahal Chambers Champoux Chatel Chen Chiang Chong Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek) Cooper Cormier Coteau Dabrusin Dalton Damoff Dancho Davidson Davies DeBellefeuille Deltell Desbiens Desilets Desjarlais Dhaliwal Dhillon Diab Doherty Dong Dowdall Dreeshen Drouin Dubourg Duclos Duguid Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry) Dzerowicz Ehsassi El-Khoury Ellis Epp Erskine-Smith Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster) Falk (Provencher) Fast Ferreri Fillmore Findlay Fisher Fonseca Fortier Fortin Fragiskatos Fraser Freeland Fry Gaheer Gainey Gallant Garon Garrison Gaudreau Gazan Généreux Genuis Gerretsen Gill Gladu Godin Goodridge Gould Gourde Gray Guilbeault Hajdu Hallan Hanley Hardie Hepfner Hoback Holland Housefather Hughes Hussen Hutchings Iacono Idlout Ien Jaczek Jeneroux Johns Joly Jowhari Julian Kayabaga Kelloway Kelly Khalid Khanna Khera Kitchen Kmiec Koutrakis Kram Kramp-Neuman Kurek Kusie Kusmierczyk Kwan Lake Lalonde Lambropoulos Lametti Lamoureux Lantsman Lapointe Larouche Lattanzio Lauzon Lawrence LeBlanc Lebouthillier Lehoux Leslie Lewis (Essex) Liepert Lightbound Lloyd Lobb Long Longfield Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga) MacDonald (Malpeque) MacGregor MacKinnon (Gatineau) Maguire Majumdar Maloney Martel Martinez Ferrada Masse Mathyssen May (Cambridge) May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) Mazier McCauley (Edmonton West) McDonald (Avalon) McGuinty McKay McKinnon (Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam) McLean McLeod McPherson Melillo Mendès Mendicino Miao Michaud Miller Moore Morantz Morrice Morrison Morrissey Motz Murray Muys Naqvi Nater Noormohamed Normandin O'Connell Oliphant O'Regan Patzer Paul-Hus Pauzé Perkins Perron Petitpas Taylor Plamondon Poilievre Powlowski Rayes Redekopp Reid Rempel Garner Richards Roberts Robillard Rodriguez Rogers Romanado Rood Rota Ruff Sahota Sajjan Saks Samson Sarai Savard-Tremblay Scarpaleggia Scheer Schiefke Schmale Seeback Serré Sgro Shanahan Sheehan Shields Shipley Sidhu (Brampton East) Sidhu (Brampton South) Simard Sinclair-Desgagné Singh Small Sorbara Soroka Sousa Steinley Ste-Marie Stewart St-Onge Strahl Stubbs Sudds Tassi Taylor Roy Thériault Therrien Thompson Tochor Tolmie Trudeau Trudel Turnbull Uppal Valdez Van Bynen van Koeverden Van Popta Vandal Vandenbeld Vecchio Vidal Vien Viersen Vignola Villemure Virani Vis Vuong Wagantall Warkentin Waugh Webber Weiler Wilkinson Williams Williamson Yip Zahid Zarrillo Zimmer Zuberi -- 323

NAYS Nil

PAIRED Members Brunelle-Duceppe Champagne Lemire Lewis (Haldimand—Norfolk) MacAulay (Cardigan) Ng -- 6

The Deputy Speaker :

I declare the motion carried. Motion agreed to

Private Members' Business Private Members' Business

[ English ] Criminal Code Bill S-205. Second reading

The House resumed from October 27 consideration of the motion that Bill S-205,

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders) , be read the second time and referred to a committee.

The Deputy Speaker :

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill S-205 under Private Members' Business.

(1600) (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

(Division No. 439)

YEAS Members Aboultaif Aitchison Albas Aldag Alghabra Ali Allison Anand Anandasangaree Angus Arnold Arseneault Arya Ashton Atwin Bachrach Badawey Bains Baker Baldinelli Barlow Barrett Barron Barsalou-Duval Battiste Beaulieu Beech Bendayan Bennett Bergeron Berthold Bérubé Bezan Bibeau Bittle Blaikie Blair Blanchet Blanchette-Joncas Blaney Block Blois Boissonnault Boulerice Bradford Bragdon Brassard Brière Brock Calkins Cannings Caputo Carr Carrie Casey Chabot Chagger Chahal Chambers Champoux Chatel Chen Chiang Chong Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek) Cooper Cormier Coteau Dabrusin Dalton Damoff Dancho Davidson Davies DeBellefeuille Deltell Desbiens Desilets Desjarlais Dhaliwal Dhillon Diab Doherty Dong Dowdall Dreeshen Drouin Dubourg Duclos Duguid Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry) Dzerowicz Ehsassi El-Khoury Ellis Epp Erskine-Smith Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster) Falk (Provencher) Fast Ferreri Fillmore Findlay Fisher Fonseca Fortier Fortin Fragiskatos Fraser Freeland Fry Gaheer Gainey Gallant Garon Garrison Gaudreau Gazan Généreux Genuis Gerretsen Gill Gladu Godin Goodridge Gould Gourde Gray Green Guilbeault Hajdu Hallan Hanley Hardie Hepfner Hoback Holland Housefather Hughes Hussen Hutchings Iacono Idlout Ien Jaczek Jeneroux Johns Joly Jowhari Julian Kayabaga Kelloway Kelly Khalid Khanna Khera Kitchen Kmiec Koutrakis Kram Kramp-Neuman Kurek Kusie Kusmierczyk Kwan Lake Lalonde Lambropoulos Lametti Lamoureux Lantsman Lapointe Larouche Lattanzio Lauzon Lawrence LeBlanc Lebouthillier Lehoux Leslie Lewis (Essex) Liepert Lightbound Lloyd Lobb Long Longfield Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga) MacDonald (Malpeque) MacGregor MacKinnon (Gatineau) Maguire Majumdar Maloney Martel Martinez Ferrada Masse Mathyssen May (Cambridge) May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) Mazier McCauley (Edmonton West) McDonald (Avalon) McGuinty McKay McKinnon (Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam) McLean McLeod McPherson Melillo Mendès Mendicino Miao Michaud Miller Moore Morantz Morrice Morrison Morrissey Motz Murray Muys Naqvi Nater Noormohamed Normandin O'Connell Oliphant O'Regan Patzer Paul-Hus Pauzé Perkins Perron Petitpas Taylor Plamondon Poilievre Powlowski Redekopp Reid Rempel Garner Richards Roberts Robillard Rodriguez Rogers Romanado Rood Rota Ruff Sahota Sajjan Saks Samson Sarai Savard-Tremblay Scarpaleggia Scheer Schiefke Schmale Seeback Serré Sgro Shanahan Sheehan Shields Shipley Sidhu (Brampton East) Sidhu (Brampton South) Simard Sinclair-Desgagné Singh Small Sorbara Soroka Sousa Steinley Ste-Marie Stewart St-Onge Strahl Stubbs Sudds Tassi Taylor Roy Thériault Therrien Thompson Tochor Tolmie Trudeau Trudel Turnbull Uppal Valdez Van Bynen van Koeverden Van Popta Vandal Vandenbeld Vecchio Vidal Vien Viersen Vignola Villemure Virani Vis Vuong Wagantall Warkentin Waugh Webber Weiler Wilkinson Williams Williamson Yip Zahid Zarrillo Zimmer Zuberi -- 323

NAYS Nil

PAIRED Members Brunelle-Duceppe Champagne Lemire Lewis (Haldimand—Norfolk) MacAulay (Cardigan) Ng -- 6

The Deputy Speaker :

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Motion agreed to (Bill read the second time and referred to a committee) [ Translation ]

The Deputy Speaker: I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 25 minutes.

Routine Proceedings Routine Proceedings

[ English ] Government Response to Petitions

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 11 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Committees of the House Finance

Mr. Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Finance, entitled “Merger of Royal Bank of Canada and HSBC Bank Canada”.

[ Translation ] Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Building a More Climate Resilient Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. I want to thank our clerk, our analysts, the interpreters and the committee members for their usual amazing work.

[ English ]

Mr. Dan Muys (Flamborough—Glanbrook, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a supplemental report on behalf of my Conservative colleagues on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. I echo the committee chair and express our gratitude to the witnesses, staff, analysts and clerk. While we support several recommendations in the report, we believe it is vital to highlight key concerns, including the widening infrastructure gap, largely due to Liberal bureaucracy and its failures, which is a pressing issue. Layering more red tape on this will not help fix that.

Also, with the housing affordability crisis, we need to prioritize affordable energy-efficient homes. More bureaucracy, which is contained in the recommendations in this report, is not the answer. Common-sense Conservatives want to see results: more keys in doors and building homes, not bureaucracy. More details on this and other recommendations in our supplemental report are included.

(1605) [ Translation ] Procedure and House Affairs

Hon. Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 51st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. [ English ] Pursuant to Standing Order 92(3)(a), the committee reports that it has concurred in the first report of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business advising that Bill C-339 ,

an act to amend the Competition Act (efficiencies defence), should be designated non-votable.

Liaison

Hon. Judy A. Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 107(3), I have the honour to present, in both official language, the seventh report of the Liaison Committee, entitled “Committee Activities and Expenditures: April 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023”. This report highlights the work and accomplishments of each committee, as well as detailing the budgets that fund the activities approved by committee members.

Albanian Heritage Month Act

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre, Lib.)

Bill C-361. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-361, Albanian Heritage Month Act . He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill entitled the Albanian heritage month act. The bill, if passed, would designate the month of November every year as Albanian heritage month across Canada. I would like to thank the member for Toronto—Danforth for seconding this bill. I hope all members of the House will support it. Canada is home to many Canadians of Albanian heritage.

Their contributions to our economic lives, our cultural lives, our social lives and much more span from coast to coast to coast. This bill, if passed, would give us another opportunity to celebrate Albanian heritage month. It would give us a chance to celebrate those contributions. It would also give Albanian Canadians and all Canadians another chance to say this: [ Member spoke in Albanian ] [ English ] (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Committees of the House Foreign Affairs and International Development

Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC) :

Motion for concurrence Mr. Speaker, I move that the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented on Tuesday, February 14, be concurred in. I will be sharing my time with my great colleague from Yorkton—Melville . This is an important report from the foreign affairs committee that focuses on the many actions required from Canada to continue and strengthen our support for the people of Ukraine.

This week, at the Subcommittee on International Human Rights, we had harrowing testimony noting that as part of its illegal, genocidal invasion of Ukraine, Russia is using child abduction. Children are being abducted from Ukraine and brought to Russia, and this is part of the genocidal campaign of the Putin regime. It was harrowing testimony, and we will be hearing directly from victims at next Tuesday's hearings. This underlines how critical it is that we stand with Ukraine, that we fight for freedom and that we stand for truth and justice.

During yesterday's testimony, the point was made about Ukraine's territorial integrity that territorial integrity is not simply or primarily a matter of land. It is a matter of people. When Russia takes over or tries to take over territory, it is not just stealing land. The Russian regime is involved in a campaign of stealing people, of forcing people into its authoritarian orbit, of sexual violence and of stealing children from their families.

Therefore, when Ukraine fights for territorial integrity, when it demands respect for territorial integrity, this is not just or primarily a matter of land; it is a matter of people and preventing the Putin regime from stealing people. This report, a unanimous report from the foreign affairs committee that we are seeking to concur in today, has many different recommendations, all of which are important and many of which speak to justice, to bringing the aggressor to justice and to the steps Canada can take to do this, including, for instance, supporting the special tribunal for the crime of aggression.

Recommendation 4 speaks of expelling diplomats. The report includes some creative ways of getting information to the Russian people, such as “supporting a free and open internet in Russia through the use of technologies such as virtual private networks”. There are many recommendations that are valuable and would be relatively uncontroversial in this House. I want to focus my remarks on two recommendations. Those are recommendation 12 and recommendation 15.

Recommendation 12 of this report says, “That the Government of Canada not grant a sanctions waiver to Siemens Energy Canada Limited for Nord Stream 1 pipeline turbines as long as sanctions remain in effect.” This was an important recommendation because last summer, instead of working to bring Canadian energy to Europe to displace Russian oil and gas exports and instead of trying to use Canadian energy as a tool to reduce European dependence on Russia, the government was granting an exception to sanctions to allow the export of turbines to facilitate Russian energy exports to Europe.

Rather than helping to create jobs in Canada and supporting energy exports from Canada to Europe, the government was more interested in allowing turbines that would facilitate the export of energy from Russia to Europe. Russian energy exports have been critical for the Putin regime as it tries to maintain its war. Its selling of energy is fuelling the violence we are seeing.

The area where the government has been the weakest when it comes to supporting our allies in their fight against the Putin regime is not understanding the importance of energy security and not understanding the crucial role that Canada could play there. It is a win-win-win. Exporting our energy, developing our energy sector and supporting the rapid export of energy resources to Europe are good for European security and good for our economy. Often we talk about energy as an economic issue only.

It is an economic issue but also a global security issue, because most of the world's democracies are geographically small, densely populated nations that rely on energy imports. As long as those nations are buying gas from Russia, they are sending back money that is being used as part of this horrific campaign of genocidal violence against Ukraine.

(1610) Canada, as a geographically large and sparsely populated country rich in natural resources, has a unique and special role to play if we develop our energy sector and we export that energy, displacing that dependence. Last summer, instead of thinking about this economic opportunity and security imperative, the government was granting a turbine to facilitate continuing exports of gas from Russia through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. This was a massive betrayal of our allies in Ukraine.

The ambassador from Ukraine came before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and was very clear that this was not at all what the Ukrainian government wanted. The Ukrainian government recognized the vital importance of allies standing united in opposing those sanctions, and the government failed. That is recommendation 12. It is important the House concur in that recommendation as a sign of support for Ukraine and to be clear that never again should we allow the kind of weakening of sanctions we saw last fall.

Finally, after months, the government pulled back on that permit after sustained opposition pressure, but frankly it sent a very negative and counterproductive message at the time. Finally, I want to speak about recommendation 15. Recommendation 15 calls on the Government of Canada to list the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, as a terrorist group under the Criminal Code. This would be a critical step. The Wagner Group is responsible for horrific violence in Ukraine but also for violence in other parts of the world.

The Wagner Group is notionally a private military organization with close affiliations with the Russian government. Historically, of course there have been some structural changes since the abortive coup and some further developments since this report was tabled, although it still makes good sense to list the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization as per this recommendation, as well as to look for the ways in which the institutional architecture of this oppression shifts as the Russian government responds to the abortive coup.

The call for the listing of Wagner Group as a terrorist organization is important in terms of delivering justice for the people of Ukraine and holding these violent terrorists accountable. It is also important for people of many other countries. There are many countries in Africa where the Wagner Group has been operating and has been, in effect, stealing from the people of those countries and has been responsible for absolutely brutal campaigns of violence within those countries.

We see the increasing deployment and use of the Wagner Group in particular in Africa responsible for so much death and destruction and a kind of neocolonial policy of the Russian government trying to subject African countries and deploying this violence against vulnerable people. The Liberal government has refused calls to list the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization. There was a unanimous consent motion in the House calling for that listing. There was this recommendation of the foreign affairs committee, a unanimous recommendation I believe, calling for the listing of Wagner as a terrorist organization.

This is another way where we need to see the Liberal government step up in terms of its support for Ukraine. There are many different positive recommendations in terms of bringing the Putin regime to justice and providing military and humanitarian support for Ukraine. These are all recommendations Conservatives support. We strongly support the actions required for quickly delivering the support necessary to the people of Ukraine. Again, I want to particularly highlight these two recommendations, where the government has been unfortunately missing in action. Number 12 is on energy security.

If Canada is going to support Ukraine effectively, we must attend to the energy security dimension of this conflict. We must attend to the reality that the Russian regime relies on energy exports in order to fund this aggressive war. Canada can provide an alternative for countries that have in the past been dependent on Russia. We must attend to the energy security dimension and we must recognize the terrorist groups like the Wagner Group that the Russian regime is using for violence in Ukraine, for violence at home and indeed for violence around the world.

Concurring in this 10th report, including recognizing the importance of those particular recommendations, would go a long way. We are proud to propose that the House take these steps today to make these important acts of recognition.

(1615) Mr. Randeep Sarai :

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I made an error in my vote on Bill S-205 . I wish to vote yea. I ask for unanimous consent from this House to have that changed.

The Deputy Speaker :

Is it agreed?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the House would agree with me that we are witnessing a certain level of hypocrisy today. On the one hand we have a Conservative Party that likes to pretend it is supporting what is taking place and Canada's position with the allied forces against what Russia is doing in Ukraine. Today, we were supposed to be debating Bill C-57 , which plays a direct role with respect to Canada-Ukraine relations and what is taking place in Europe today.

Instead of debating that bill, not only for the first time but now for the second time, the Conservatives are preventing it from being debated and being passed to go to committee. The question I have for the member is this. His colleague, the member for Cumberland—Colchester , said that Bill C-57 , the Canada-Ukraine trade deal, is woke. He said that Canada is taking advantage of Ukraine at a time of war by bringing in the bill. Is that why the Conservative Party continues to play the game of preventing the debate on Bill C-57 and it going to committee?

(1620) Mr. Garnett Genuis :

Mr. Speaker, it is clear the member does not want to talk about listing the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization. It is clear he does not want to talk about the important work that needs to be done around supporting European energy security. I can tell members that our party strongly supports free trade. We want to have strengthened trade on energy. We believe there is an urgent need for Canada to do more to engage in energy partnerships in co-operation with other countries.

I think it is also clear that the government's priorities, when it comes to international engagement, have not actually been on leveraging the opportunity and importance of energy security. It likes to say the word “trade”, but it does not believe in the opportunities that come with trade in natural gas and other commodities that Canada is blessed with and has an opportunity to use to advance global security. Our party stands with Ukraine. We stand on the side of strong free trade that recognizes the opportunities and benefits to all countries.

I think energy security is a key part that the government is missing, which is why this report is so important.

[ Translation ]

Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ) :

Mr. Speaker, naturally, this is a very important report. I would have liked to talk about Bill C‑57 , but this is an important report nonetheless. I would like my colleague to talk about recommendation 6. For a long time, the Prairies of western Canada were considered Canada's breadbasket, that is, the place to source wheat and other grains. Ukraine has taken on this role globally. What consequences does war have on the world's food supply? How can recommendation 6 help avoid food security problems around the world?

[ English ]

Mr. Garnett Genuis :

Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. Ukraine is critical for global food security. We have seen the implications of this conflict, this brutal invasion of Ukraine, in that it has been much more challenging for Ukrainian farmers who grow food for their own communities and for export. There are many countries in Africa, for example, that are very much reliant on imports of food from Ukraine.

Therefore, it is an important area that recommendation 6 deals with in regard to the Government of Canada strengthening global food security and recognizing the role Ukraine plays in joining in the efforts to support the Black Sea grain initiative. Russia has continued to play games in this area to make it more difficult to continue to export grain. Of course, the circumstances of a war have created great challenges for Ukrainian farmers. It underlines the importance of this conflict. Negative implications are not just limited to Ukraine but are global in their reach.

We need to act urgently to support the people of Ukraine in their struggle to restore territorial integrity and a strong victory as soon as possible.

Mr. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, we heard from the member about the many important things in the 10th report, and I do not disagree with him about the importance of the report. However, given that it was adopted unanimously in the committee, and now that we have had those important recommendations brought to the attention of the House, would the hon. member not agree that if we simply had no more people rising to speak on this, we could pass it, deal with the report and move on to other equally important business of the House?

Mr. Garnett Genuis :

Mr. Speaker, it was a unanimous report, but I would draw the attention of the member, respectfully, to the government response, which does not concur with all the recommendations. In particular, the government did not concur with recommendation no. 15. I believe it was actually a member of his party that put forward the unanimous consent motion to recognize the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization. Certainly, Conservatives had been calling and continue to call for the listing of the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization as well. We have seen no action from the government.

It has not listed the IRGC, despite the will of the House, and it has not listed the Wagner Group, despite the will of the House. The Liberal government has been soft on, and reluctant to recognize, terrorist organizations as terrorist organizations. In support of the people of Ukraine, also recognizing the many victims of Wagner in Africa and other parts of the world, it is important that we talk about it, and take action on recommendation no. 15.

(1625) Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues and you, Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to the concurrence of the 10th report on Ukraine. I am of Ukrainian heritage. My mom's parents came here after World War I and began a whole new life here in Canada. Because of that, Ukraine has a special place in my heart, although growing up, I knew very little about it because of some of the challenges my grandparents faced in coming over and in having experienced war.

When I would talk to my grandmother about Ukraine, she knew actually very little about the history other than that the borders changed a lot, and she was not exactly sure where she had come from. Ukraine has faced a lot of challenges throughout its history, and I am proud of the fact that Canada was the first, I believe, to recognize Ukraine's independence. I also had the opportunity to visit Ukraine as a brand new member of Parliament. We sometimes hear the question of why members of Parliament should even do that and whether it is a waste of time.

From my personal experience, it has enriched me greatly in my ability to do my work in this place. I was able to go after the war had started on Ukraine's border with Russia earlier on, and it was overwhelming to have the opportunity, in Kyiv, to go to the hospital and to see the injured soldiers and the conditions under which people were trying to take care of them. At the time, 20 Canadian surgeons were there.

We did not get a chance to see them or to interact, because they were very busy, first of all, doing surgeries and, second, working on a textbook for the hospital, because the hospital had not experienced these types of injuries in a long time and did not have the capacity to do the surgeries it needed to do. Canadians were there on the ground in that hospital, helping out. As well, my own communities played a

part in making sure there were new ambulances provided to Ukraine, Our relationship with Ukraine is significant, and I am very grateful for my heritage and for the fact that the previous ambassador, Andriy Shevchenko, came to my riding to visit, with the huge Ukrainian community we have there. They talked so appreciatively of Canada's support for them in the past, and I cannot help but boast about the fact that here in Canada, Ukrainian community members are committed to their lives here in Canada, as was the case with my mom and dad.

In the midst of all of that, they have done such an amazing job of maintaining their culture and their heritage, with their appreciation of their language, dance, food, dress and special occasions, that it has impacted my life. I just want to give a shout-out to the wonderful Ukrainian community in my riding of Yorkton—Melville and our opportunity to work together with it in light of the circumstances that are going on with the horrific war in Ukraine at this time. It is due to an invasion by Russia that has been absolutely horrific, yet Ukrainians stand tall and continue to work.

I know of veterans, being involved in Veterans Affairs, who have made the personal decision to go over to help train and provide resources to the Ukrainian army in these circumstances, and they find it an incredible privilege to be able to do that on their own effort. I have had circumstances in my riding where two individuals did pass away while there.

As a new member, when I would be part of a delegation that would welcome Ukrainian dignitaries, we were asked over and over again, in early 2016, why the government had removed our satellite surveillance system that was available to them and that showed the border line along Russia so Ukrainians could know for sure and be able to show the world what was happening on the ground. For some reason, the government took that away and would not reinstate it, and to this day I do not understand the rationale for why it chose to do that.

Even now, the reality is, in so many of these wars, that the people on the ground suffer regardless of which side of the border they are on.

(1630) I do want to show the fact that, in my heart and mind, of course there is sympathy for the people whose lives are ruined on the ground in their own countries or in serving their governments, but, in this case, there is no question that Ukraine needs and deserves any help we can give it. I appreciate the work that was done on this concurrence report and the recommendations that are here.

I will just mention, very briefly, the one that is near and dear to my heart, which I know that the government has responded to, but again, when I read its response, it is somewhat vague in the true level of support that we should be giving. This is in regard to recommendation 13. I will just read it: “That the Government of Canada adopt as a policy goal the enhancement of the energy security of Canada’s democratic allies, while fully complying with Canada’s domestic and international obligations related to climate change.” On a political level, constantly in the House, accusations are made.

On this side of the floor, the importance of balancing our economic growth and our economic resources with protecting our environment is constantly belittled and not reflected truthfully in regard to our perspectives on the importance of our environment. I sometimes feel that the response of the government is to blame Canadians beyond what is deserving. Of all the countries in the world that could be helping Ukraine in the circumstances it finds itself in, where Russia has been its source, let us say, of oil and gas, it is not there.

The reason it is not there is that it is choosing to negatively impact the best oil and gas in the world that could have been available in the way that this country needed and that Germany needed. The idea of “no business case” goes beyond the pale, because there definitely is a business case, especially when we are talking about global energy security and sustainable energy, good, clean energy, rather than what Russia is doing.

Geopolitical stability would have happened sooner and far better, with far fewer lives lost, if we had acted the way that we know Canadians can act, to make something happen in a case where it is needed. Of course, in terms of diversification of energy resources as well, Canada is on the cutting edge and has been for a long time, as 75% of the research going on in regard to alternative energy sources has been done by our oil and gas industries. They are exemplary in the world, and we should be proud of them.

Instead, what we are doing is causing an economic lack of benefit for Canadians in the name of environmental responsibilities, which are talking points and messaging that is not accurate and is causing a great deal of angst in our country and, as result, in Ukraine specifically at this point in time. The economic benefits are great. The opportunity for global security is great if we were to actually move ahead in the way that I know, on this side of the floor, we see the ability of Canada to do.

Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.) :

Mr. Speaker, I could tell a certain sense of understanding of the issue and, indeed, the support felt for Ukraine. With regard to the timing of this particular concurrence motion, I cannot help but wonder what is going on here. The last time we debated this issue, the member for Cumberland—Colchester got up and said that we are taking advantage of Ukraine and that the legislation we were supposed to debate today regarding the free trade agreement with Ukraine is “woke”.

Since then, we have not been able to debate this, because every time we bring it forward and put it on the calendar or on the Order Paper for debate, Conservatives move concurrence. I genuinely believe that the member supports Ukraine, but can she tell me whether that support is felt throughout the Conservative Party, and, if not, whether that is one of the reasons why Conservatives are preventi