Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, it has been talked about in the House what is causing diesel prices to rise: the geopolitical situations we find ourselves in. It is hard, but farmers are resilient. We are starting to see some real progress in farming across this country and growth. Growing market access to Indonesia, Mexico and China is really important. We are investing $75 million in AgriMarketing and $27 million in the youth employment and skills program to help farmers hire young people. We have created the productivity superdeduction, which is extremely important to farmers in this country. We are standing alongside farmers and—

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of geopolitical issues causing most of the fuel increases around the world, particularly in Canada. There is a war in the Middle East and one in Europe, and broader supply chain disruptions. We are doing everything we can. We are reducing the excise tax. We are doing more with the groceries and essentials benefit. We will continue to advance Canadian agriculture and agri-food and make investments. I met with the Canadian Cattle Association this morning, and things are moving in the right direction for agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, we are caught in a geopolitical situation around the world. We are certainly keeping an eye on the situation. Hopefully, the peace talks are going forward for the Strait of Hormuz. We understand that there has been a real issue relevant to fertilizer. We are monitoring the situation closely. I met with my G7 partners last week. We had a good discussion. The whole topic was on fertilizer in this country and around the world. We will consider every opportunity to make sure that we stand behind our farmers.

Mr. Speaker, last week was an exciting time for processors, farmers and the Canadian public. This approach is about finding solutions at home that will improve access and affordability, with a $3.2-billion investment, the largest investment in AAFC's history. It means addressing the underlying challenges for food affordability, the way food is being sold, transported and distributed. That will support farmers, consumers and small independent grocers. A more Canadian food system means one that is more reliable and supports local food, lower costs and stronger communities. More choice means more control and more Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member across the way knows exactly what took place at the research station relevant to the organic growth. They are plowing the fields and working the land, as they do every other year, and they will continue to do that. Research is important in this country. We have been doing it for 140 years. We have over 17 stations that will remain open, and we will continue to grow our research in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I have the utmost respect for my hon. colleague. We talk to each other quite often about processing in his area, mostly in and around Leamington, and there are going to be vast investments in Leamington. He knows that. There is Ideal Can, which is moving to Leamington, one of the only canning companies in the country using aluminum and steel from Canada. We are going to continue to invest in the processing sector and in agriculture. There are all kinds of companies. I am talking about Massilly North America's $85-million new food packaging processor and Agropur's plans to invest nearly $1 billion in plants in eastern Canada. We are going to continue to invest in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, that gives me the opportunity to talk a little bit about foreign direct investment. Again, these executives are confident in Canada. Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in Strathcona; Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal; Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg; Froneri, an ice cream giant, is expanding Canadian operations; Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario; and Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a Brampton facility. They have confidence in this country and our workers. Why is it that the Conservatives do not?

Mr. Speaker, sometimes it would be a good question to ask some of the CEOs of these companies that are making massive investments in Canada, like Kraft Heinz investing $250 million in Montreal and Bayer investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg. A couple of weeks ago, I was at K+S Potash in Saskatchewan, which is investing $3 billion over 10 years. Cargill in Saskatchewan is investing $350 million in a new crushing plant, and Imperial Oil in Strathcona is investing in biofuels. Are all these CEOs of these major international and national companies making a major mistake, or do they actually believe in Canadians like we do?

Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, I made it clear that we would work with the provinces, the territories, academia and the private sector to ensure that we have strong, effective research centres across this country. We have 17 of them across the country. We have been doing research for 140 years, and we are going to continue. We have been working with Laval. We have been working with the University of Saskatchewan. We have been working with the University of Alberta. We have been working with the governments in those provinces. We are going to continue to build research in this country because it is needed, but we are going to do research for industry, not for the opposition.

Mr. Speaker, it is always said that politics is a bit of theatre, but that was pretty good, I must admit. Let me say this. We are going to continue to build the agriculture community in this country. We know how important it is. There are going to be good-news announcements coming up very shortly in reference to research. We are working extremely hard. We are granting an exemption for the use of strychnine in Alberta and the Prairies. We are moving to change the mandates of the CFIA and the PMRA. We are adding pasture rentals to AgriStability, enhancements to the APP and new funding for AgriMarketing, and we are introducing the productivity superdeduction. We are just getting started.

Mr. Speaker, it is extremely important to talk about what we do invest in, and farmers are what we are investing in. We have invested more than $1.5 million toward initiatives that will help farmers and processors. We have the productivity superdeduction to boost productivity and encourage innovation. We also recently announced $27 million for the youth employment and skills program. These are important programs that are going to help our farmers, producers and ranchers across the country, and we will continue to support them.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the hon. member disagrees with child care, dental care, the Canada child benefit, the national school food program, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, an increase in health transfers, the OAS, eliminating the carbon tax, a tax break for 22 million Canadians, the productivity superdeduction, investments in domestic processing for the breadbasket of Canada, an increase in AgriMarketing, and the advance payment program.

Mr. Speaker, just recently, we have seen that foreign direct investment is at an all-time high in decades. Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal. Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg. Froneri ice cream giant is expanding its Canadian operation. Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario. Coca-Cola is investing $141 million into its Brampton facility. All of these companies believe in Canada and Canadians. Why does the opposition not?

Mr. Speaker, I heard a little bit of chatter about RBC's most recent report. It says, “Canada is back on the radar of global investors...Canada reached nearly $100 billion, the highest level since 2015.” We are strengthening domestic food processing, increasing capital public partnership investments, reducing regulatory impediments, and growing and diversifying our markets. We are working alongside business communities right across the country, to make this place a much better place.

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that global instability has created an atmosphere where we had to react, and we are reacting. I credit the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for coming forward with this. I hear from the farmers on the front line every other day that they are concerned about the crop they are going to put in. It is the second-fastest growing economy. That is a contribution from our farmers. It is 28¢ less a litre since this new government has been put in place, and $2.4 billion back in the pockets of Canadians. It is a good day.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great discussion today, and there are good questions. We are all concerned about Canadians, but one thing we have missed talking about is the geopolitical situation we find ourselves in. We are not in charge of everything that is happening in the east, but we are certainly looking at all applications. When we talk about investments, we are talking about $1.5 billion towards initiatives to adopt clean technologies for our farming communities, $3.5 billion in sustainable agricultural partnership with the provinces, the superdeduction productivity fund and a $27-million investment into youth employment two weeks ago. We are doing everything we can to make life more affordable.

Mr. Speaker, we eliminated the divisive consumer carbon price, and they are still complaining. We know that the industrial carbon tax has a negligible effect on food. If the member goes out and buys an F-150 Ford tomorrow from the highest emissions contributor of steel and aluminum in this country, I can tell him that he can go back to the Leader of the Opposition and get his triple-triple, because it is cheaper than what it is costing us in GHG emissions.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue down the path. We must change our direction in regard to research. Let me quote some of the numbers over the past few years. The research and development system is becoming less diverse. Public investment in agriculture knowledge generation, which includes R and D, has declined by 15%. Private sector outsourced R and D to universities is down 77%. The number of enterprises conducting research and development has shrunk by 30%. If the members on the other side want to continue down this path, it will put us at an unfair advantage politically, economically and universally.

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member said, this is a difficult situation that we find ourselves in due to a lack of investment over a number of years through many governments. Maintaining our presence in every province, streamlining research and development and building a more collaborative science system that supports producers and strengthens our competitiveness is what this government is going to do. We are not going to put ourselves at an uncompetitive level at the national level or international level.

Mr. Speaker, this is an extremely important question for the prairie provinces and Alberta. I am certainly disappointed, and I have said publicly that I supported the application. I am disappointed in the PMRA's decision, but ultimately it is an independent agency. We will keep working with the provinces and farmers to find an effective alternative. It is crucial that our farmers and producers have the tools they need to feed Canadians, and we will do what we can to help them.

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, it is vital we find ways to streamline our services and focus our efforts in the right place. I have had the opportunity to sit down with representatives of Laval university to talk about AAFC and the partnerships we have. Streamlining research in collaboration with academia and the private sector will prioritize our high-impact areas and duplication, and align ourselves for the future. We are going to continue to be the biggest science entity in the country, and we will use that to our advantage in our trade negotiations.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is going to continue to invest in our farmers and ranchers right across this country. We will continue to make sure that they lead the world in science, as we talked about. I also want to come back to the industrial carbon tax. We know that it is negligible to the cost of food in this country. However, one thing I want to say to everyone is that it is not the farmers who are making the money.

Mr. Speaker, I travel around the world, and our farmers are the envy of the world for what they do here at home. They are some of the best farmers in the world, and we will continue to ensure that they continue to be that. Blaming farmers for the cost of food is not appropriate. We are talking about many different types of issues that defuse some of the costs around groceries and items. We will continue to support them as best we can.

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly glad that the opposition is now starting to talk about canola. It has been how long since we returned from China? I never heard a word about canola. The Leader of the Opposition has canola in his new riding. We are working hard. We will continue to work hard. The lines of communication are open with China, and we will continue to work with China and with every trading partner. I met with the canola farmers last week in Ottawa, and we had a really good meeting. We will continue to work with China and the contacts we have there.

Madam Speaker, it is an important issue. Science has played an integral role in the building up of agriculture and agri-food in this country, and it is going to continue. I had the opportunity to meet with the president of the University of Saskatchewan, just this week. I was in Laval, at the university there, as well. We had good discussions. It is important that we move forward with a revised science program, and we will continue to do that.

Mr. Speaker, it warms my heart that the Conservatives are now concerned about science and research. I am happy to reassure them that the federal government will continue as the largest agriculture researcher in this country. In fact, just last month we invested $9.7 million with the Government of Saskatchewan in science and research. We are not going anywhere. We still have 17 centres across the country. We are going to work with our stakeholders and with academia to make research better than it has ever been.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Science plays an integral role and will continue to play an integral role in this country for agriculture and agri-food. We are maintaining our research and development presence in every single province, and the department continues to be the largest science service centre in this country, with 17 sites. By streamlining our research, we are prioritizing high-impact areas, reducing duplication and better aligning our needs with our ranchers and farmers across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that member's memory serves him correctly, but I will go back to 2011 and 2012, which may jog his memory a little bit: A focused agriculture research presence should move away from scattered soil research, siloed projects and toward a mission-driven, outcome-oriented system that treats food production as a cornerstone of national security, economic resilience and climate adaptation. This is what we are hearing from our stakeholders. We are going to move agriculture forward, and we are going to make science and research a big part of it.

Mr. Speaker, from talking to stakeholders across this country, we have a real opportunity to advance our research, and we will continue to do that. The department continues to be the largest agriculture researcher in Canada, but this opportunity for transformation in the research sector is most prominent in our agriculture and agri-food divisions. We are going to continue to invest in agriculture and agri-research, partner with our academics, talk to our stakeholders and move forward with the best science in the world, as we have today.

Mr. Speaker, when I have travelled around the country, I heard many times that we can do better in research and development. We will continue to build on that. We will listen to the professionals in this regard. We are not going to go down the path of not having science in this country. It is extremely important to our trade. It is extremely important to our agriculture and agri-food communities, and we are going to continue to build on that.

Mr. Speaker, we know this is going to be a difficult time for some, but this was the mandate that Canadians elected us for: streamlining research, collaboration with academia and the private sector, prioritizing high-impact areas, reducing duplication and aligning projects with the needs of farmers and ranchers across this country. We are going to work with stakeholders and move this industry and sector forward that has been neglected for over 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague gets it as a farmer. Canadians want access to Canadian-grown food, and our world-class farmers, producers and ranchers are ready to deliver. On Monday, our new government announced immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings. This will allow producers to fully write off greenhouses that become available for use before 2030. We are developing a national food security strategy, investing $20 million into a local food infrastructure fund and much more. Simply put, we are improving affordability for more than 12 million Canadians, and building a more domestic, resilient food system here at home. I hope the Conservatives can agree.

Mr. Speaker, the government is focused on delivering support where it is needed. I cannot understand why the opposition is so against that. By taking action now, we are helping families manage essential costs, improving affordability and strengthening a more resilient food system. Twelve million Canadians are going to be affected by this. It is going to help our domestic production. It is going to help our farmers and ranchers, and it is going to help our economy.

Mr. Speaker, let us drill down into the report everybody seems to be talking about. Let us quote it: “Food prices are influenced by a variety of global factors, including climate change, geopolitical conflicts, input and energy costs...food distribution, food processing...and regulations”. It is not the Liberal Party. It is what is happening around the world, everywhere around the world. Let us get serious about this and help Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, we have already gone down this path. The Canadian Climate Institute has said there is a negligible impact on the price of food; the industrial carbon tax has a 0.08% impact, so we know that is not the case. There are other factors in the world like a geopolitical trade war, climate change, and drought in the prairie provinces. These are all adding to the rising cost of food. The Conservatives know that, so let us get on board and treat Canadians fairly.

Mr. Speaker, this budget meets the moment, speeding up national building projects and boosting trade diversification for agri-food and agriculture, for our economy and for the generations to come that the member speaks of. There is $150 billion for infrastructure alone in the plan, including for trade corridors, AgriMarketing, AgriStability, the clean fuel regulations and biofuel incentives; CFIA funding for digital trade; and investments in CanExport, EDC and Global Affairs. This is all for trade diversification and growing agriculture. There is also the buy Canada plan, which is so important to all our agriculture farmers and ranchers out there.