Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I really appreciate the advocacy from the member opposite, who I know recognizes that in modern times, the incidence of extreme weather events happens more frequently because of climate change. We have an obligation to ensure that the data and reporting from those weather stations is up to date and fully functional. That has a direct impact on the safety of our neighbours, particula…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, we know that the Conservatives do not value the work of journalists, but we do. Over 500 newsrooms have closed in the past 10 years. That is why we passed the Online News Act, to level the playing field for journalists against the web giants. The publication of our final regulations is the final step in the process for Bill C‑18.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Last month, we announced a historic agreement with Google to compensate local journalists for their important work. This agreement will enable newsrooms to keep producing local content for their communities. We know that all media outlets are in crisis. We are doing our part to ensure that they can continue delivering the news to Canadians acro…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I would like to point out that the stunt, the overnight filibuster, the member pointed out cost taxpayers $2 million, so as he preaches about fiscal responsibility, it is a bit tough to stomach. The food report he references said explicitly that it is misleading to suggest that carbon-pricing policies are affecting food prices. Moreover, Trevor Tombe said last week, “If we got rid o…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I, too, would like to wish everybody in this House a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, happy holidays and a happy new year. I also hope that the Conservatives come back willing to work in the new year. Conservatives continue to take farmers for granted. Not only do they vote against Canadian farmers, they have also abandoned Ukrainian farmers. Ukraine is the breadbasket of the worl…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, thinking back a few short months ago, we arrived back in the House of Commons to continue supporting our neighbours with ambitions to support housing affordability and the rising cost of living and to make key improvements to health care delivery in Canada. Last summer was also the worst year on record for wildfires and extreme weather, so our obligation to address climate change wa…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am also eager to ask questions, but I am also eager to point out that it was a $1-billion CMHC loan, the largest ever from the federal government, to the Squamish Nation.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my hon. colleague, but Canadians have some questions for the Conservative Party after its leader's $2-million temper tantrum last week. The first question is, since an average family of four in Ontario receives more than $300 back from the climate action incentive, why are the Conservatives so hell-bent on taking money from lower- and middle-income Canad…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to, once again, say that Canada was the first nation ever to put a cap on oil and gas emissions at COP28. That comes in the exact same week as Canada was the first country ever to suggest that we were going to reduce our methane oil and gas emissions by 75%. That is leadership in climate action. I welcome the questions from the Bloc and the NDP abo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canada is at COP28 to show that we are committed to advancing the low-carbon economy. We are working on a plan to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector and ensure that this sector makes a significant contribution to meeting Canada's climate targets.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are always trying to cancel climate action, but last week. the leader of the Conservatives tried to cancel Christmas too. Instead, he just cancelled his credibility. Last week, the Conservatives voted against the GST being taken off psychotherapy and counselling. Last week, the Conservatives voted against seniors getting their teeth fixed. When will he admit that his…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are always trying to cancel climate action, but last week the Grinch, or the leader of the Conservative Party, tried to cancel Christmas as well. Instead, he cancelled—
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Canadians from coast to coast continue to feel the effects of climate change. While our government is putting forth important funding to move forward on our environmental agenda, Conservatives want to reverse our government's progress and put us in reverse on fighting climate change. Last week, they voted against $10 million in funding for restoration efforts for damaged infrastructur…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, since axing the tax would recklessly cost the average family of four in Ontario $300 a year, I would request a recorded division.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is clear the member does not agree with climate action. I wonder if his children would agree with climate action. It is going to impact next generations more than it affects us. When Conservatives show Canadians who they are advocating for, they take notice. I would pose a question back to the Leader of the Opposition. As a family of four, he would have received $976 in climate act…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is clear the member opposite does not believe in climate change, but I wonder if he believes in math. A Calgary-based economist did a study on our carbon pricing program, and I will give him two quotes: first, “A clear majority of [Canadian] households do receive rebates that are larger than” the pollution price costs; and, second, “If we got rid of the carbon tax and rebate, this …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we have solutions, not slogans, for fighting climate change and affordability. I appreciate the question since it gives me the opportunity, on this side of House, to announce that, in the same week our government committed to a 75% reduction in methane emissions from oil and gas, as of today, we are the first oil and gas producing nation to put a cap on oil …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, “2022-2023 Reports by Federal Authorities with Obligations under Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012”. Furthermore, as required by subsection 14(1.1) of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, I would also like to table, in both official languages, “2023 Progress Report on the 2030 Emissions …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we do not need Conservatives to tell us how to help farmers. Farmers are the most impacted by climate change. The last season was one of the worst, with 20% lower wheat yields in the Prairies. The culprit was a hotter season. That is climate change. Now, we already know that Conservatives do not believe in climate change, but it seems like they do not believe in math either as 94% of …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, farmers are on the front lines of the climate crisis. They are the first to feel the effects of floods and droughts. Wheat yields are down 20% in 2023. Why is that? It is climate change, yet unlike the Conservatives, farmers have no problem identifying climate change as the culprit for the reduction in their yields. Speaking of wheat, if the Conservatives really want to support food s…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there are no Liberal senators and the Conservative senators did not even vote. We already know the Conservatives do not believe in climate change, but it seems like they do not believe in math either. University of Calgary-based economists conducted a thorough review of our price on pollution and facts are facts: 94% of families that earn less than $50,000 receive more back through ou…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the only senators who sit in any caucus are Conservative senators, and I would note that up to one-third of those Conservative senators did not vote yesterday. Climate change, not pollution pricing, is driving food inflation. Farmers are on the front lines of climate change. They know about climate change. They experience the effects of droughts, floods and storms first-hand, and, unl…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take a moment to welcome my friend and colleague back to the House. It is good to have her back, not only because it is good to talk about how we fight climate change and not whether we fight climate change in this House. I think the idea of having a youth environment corps to fight climate change and bring forward great ideas is an awesome one. I am looking forwa…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, again, I will note that our carbon pricing mechanism sends more money back to lower-income families. That includes both the fiscal amount and the economic impact. Something the Conservatives love to not focus on is the impact of climate change. Climate change impacts the price of food more than any other factor. We are also helping farmers, because farmers are the ones that know clima…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, again, I will focus my response on an economist's response to the rhetoric in the House with respect to the carbon price. He said that if we got rid of the carbon tax and the rebate, then this would harm a much larger fraction of lower and middle-income households than it would higher-income households. Very clearly, the economist from Calgary indicates that our carbon price sends mor…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is important that we focus on affordability for families. It is also important that we look at facts when it comes to the carbon price that we have put in place. It is also important to remind Conservative members that they ran on a carbon price. Carbon pricing is the most efficient and the cheapest way to lower our emissions. With respect to food prices, particularly those facing …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is important for me to say once again that there is no federal tax on carbon for farmers in Quebec. Just like everyone in this House, I share the goal of ensuring the success of our Canadian farmers. That is why our government has created a rural top-up for rebates to directly return the proceeds of the price on pollution. Our government has already returned $120 million to farmers…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, just like every member of the House, I share the goal of ensuring the success of our Canadian farmers, and that is why the government has exempted gas and diesel for farm use from pollution pricing. We have created a rural top-up for rebates; we have doubled it. We have directly returned the proceeds collected in proportion to the amount collected. We have also returned $120 million t…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, for the fourth or fifth time, I would like to remind the Conservatives that the only senators who sit in a caucus sit in their Conservative caucus, and that the Senate is independent. I would like to raise the fact that the Conservatives have had a really troubling trend of bullying, particularly of female senators, whenever they are not getting what they want out of the Senate. That …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, from the beginning, we have been delivering for Canadians. From a personal perspective, I would like to highlight what, a couple of weeks ago, the Conservatives continued to say: When we build affordable, non-profit, non-market co-op housing, they say it is Soviet-style housing. That plays right into the Conservatives' recent vote against the Ukraine-Canada free trade agreement. Wha…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, we are advancing the government's plan to grow the middle class, build more homes faster and build an economy that works for everyone. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have become this one-issue party claiming that axing the tax will solve all the country's problems. It will not. This week, we introduced Bill C-59, our fall economic statement, which is going to help deliver on key measu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, as a first move at COP28, Canada is announcing support for developing countries to address loss and damage due to climate change, with a $16-million contribution to the start-up cost for a global fund. This is a significant step and a big win for the planet as we are helping climate-vulnerable developing countries that face the harshest impacts from climate change. We are honoured t…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I will reiterate that there is no relationship more important to the current government than Canada's relationship with first nations and indigenous peoples. No one understands the risks and dangers of climate change better than first nations communities. They are on the front lines with the record wild fires and horrible destruction we have seen over the last couple of years. Like …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I have been paying attention to the same headlines, but I do not just read the top line; I read the entire article. What a lot of the poverty reduction organizations, the food banks and the organizations that are helping keep some of the most vulnerable Canadians afloat during challenging times are asking for is continued programs, like guaranteed livable income strategies, the Cana…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, on the one hand, it is good to see the Conservatives finally talking about poverty reduction strategies, but on the other hand, it is clear that they are still reading only the headline and not the article. While the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy, I would like to take an opportunity to remind them of a couple of key facts. There have been over 1.1 million …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, what the Conservatives do not realize is that when they continue to talk down the Canadian economy, they are talking down Canadian workers, Canadian innovators and Canadians, who are working hard to build up our economy. On this side of the House, we know that Canada is the best country in the world. That is why I am glad to share some more good news. Canada had the strongest growth…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, while the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy, I would like to take the opportunity to remind them about some of the key results of our economic plan so far. Canada is working because Canadians are working. Our GDP today is actually 4.1% above prepandemic levels. That is higher than Italy, the European Union, France, the U.K. and Germany. The IMF projects that C…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, today is World AIDS Day, and I am wearing a red beaded ribbon pin to remember the significance of this important day, when we commemorate the millions of lives tragically taken by HIV and AIDS. However, we must also celebrate all of the incredible innovations in treatment we have seen over the past decades. Though fewer people die from this disease, more and more people are living w…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I will reiterate that we are committed to ensuring that all Canadians experience sport environments that are free of harm and all forms of maltreatment. Since 2018, we have worked to ensure that safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone by requiring all federally funded sport organizations take measures to prevent and address maltreatment, and the results speak for them…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with my friend and colleague about this very important issue and to have the opportunity to address the House of Commons this evening. Our government strongly believes that Canadians deserve a sport system that reflects and celebrates our Canadian values of equality, fairness and inclusion, a sport system that is safe for kids and all Ca…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, we know that homelessness and addictions are closely tied into the very challenging network of issues that contribute to homelessness. That is why I was really disappointed last week to hear the member for Spadina—Fort York perpetuate stereotypes in this House about people who suffer from addictions. It was very consistent with when the Conservative leader released a video on social…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's concern for Torontonians, and I agree that we need to be there for our constituents. However, I strongly disagree with the allegation and assertion that the 24 Liberal members of Parliament who reside in Toronto are ineffective. They are extremely effective. They have great relationships with Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, and the previous mayor, John Tory…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would start by reminding the members opposite that the Senate is independent and that the only senators who sit in a caucus sit in that Conservative caucus. I would add that farmers understand the importance of fighting climate change and reducing emissions. I thank that farmer for running her last election campaign on pricing carbon. That is why our pollution pricing policy reflect…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my Bloc Québécois colleague and friend. The oil and gas sector is a major contributor to Canada's economy, yet it is also the country's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. That is why setting an emissions cap for the oil and gas sector is a key commitment in our emissions reduction plan. Our government intends to publish a framework on the design…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I see that the Bloc Québécois recognizes that the federal and provincial governments each have an important role to play in projects with environmental impacts that fall under federal jurisdiction. I find it rather ironic that the Bloc Québécois is asking the government to cancel projects that are supported by the provinces when their position is always to tell the federal government …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, COP28 is the important next step in our collective efforts to advance human safety, economic prosperity, health and the well-being of our planet. We recognize that there are still some challenges to address. Canada is working with its partners to accelerate global efforts to keep within reach the objective of the Paris Agreement, namely to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw that remark. The Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement represents Canada's opportunity to assist in the rebuilding of Ukraine, and it is utterly disappointing to see the Conservatives stand opposed to that. Ukraine can continue to count on Canada on this side of the House.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is said that one truly realizes who one's friends are when one needs them most. The Conservatives made it abundantly clear last week that they cannot be trusted to support Ukraine, our friend and ally, when the chips are down. Last week, every Conservative voted against the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement. It is a shocking new low for the Conservative Party of Canada. The leade…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, allow me to say it again: The affordability challenges being faced by Canadians right now are a top concern of the government. We are putting forward real solutions to help meet the moment and make sure that they can afford things such as home heating, groceries and rent. Finding real solutions means meeting the moment and finding ways we can actually help Canadians. However, if the…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, what an absolutely out-of-touch question this is from an urban member of Parliament who clearly has no idea what it is like living in a rural part of the country. There are lots of members in our society who live too far away from a natural gas pipeline, who still use home heating oil to heat their homes. It is not a regional thing. There are lot of people in Atlantic Canada who sti…
Read full speech →