Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have two young kids, so it is okay. I have dealt with people yelling at me when I am trying to do my job. Food prices in Canada, as in many countries, have been influenced by a range of global factors. Supply chain disruptions, geopolitical instability, extreme weather and rising production costs have always played a role in putting pressure on food systems worldwide. These are chal…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be clear that I and this government take food affordability concerns seriously. We know that families across the country are feeling the pressure of higher grocery bills. That is why earlier this year we introduced the Canada grocery and essentials benefit, previously the GST credit. This new benefit will boost payments to Canadians by 25% for five years plus a one-time 50% inc…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be absolutely clear. We will not tolerate financial wrongdoing. Budget 2025 introduced new, strengthened measures to ensure stronger financial oversight and improved detection and prevention of financial crimes across Canada. We are committed to ensuring that our industries are not only protected from this current global environment, but strengthened and able to adapt to changi…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to the particular matter raised by my colleague, it would not be appropriate for a minister or parliamentary secretary to indicate an opinion on criminality. This is a matter for law enforcement and the courts to determine. However, it is important to acknowledge the member's concerns. Canada's new government takes financial crimes seriously. This is why our government has…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to a man I was lucky enough to get to know over the last 10 years. David Barnett of my riding of Vancouver Quadra passed away on February 5 at the age of 53, after a courageous battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Dave was executive vice-president of the Dayhu Group of Companies, working alongside his brother Jonathan to buil…
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Mr. Speaker, I have seen that the Canada school food program has worked in my own community, where I see smiling happy kids every morning going off to school, coming home with full bellies and actually excelling in school for the first time in their lives. That is something that we need to be proud of. At a time when global supply chain disruptions are driving up prices, the government is focused …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to start off by saying that I was a basketball player growing up in high school, but I guess I am a hockey player tonight, and this is my hat trick. Here we go. The global economy is more than a year into a profound rupture, with economic security, industrial policy and geopolitical competition increasingly shaping economic, financial and supply chain decisions. On top of…
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Mr. Speaker, the government will not take steps that weaken Canada's competitiveness or create uncertainty for industries that support good jobs in this country. Industrial carbon pricing and the clean fuel regulations are carefully designed policies that reduce emissions while protecting Canadian competitiveness and encouraging innovation. They provide flexibility for businesses, maintain investm…
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Mr. Speaker, I just want to address the fact that Canada's climate strategy is about more than meeting commitments; it is also about building a safer, stronger and more prosperous country. By putting a price on pollution, investing in clean energy and supporting indigenous-led solutions, we are reducing emissions while creating jobs and economic opportunity. Our national adaptation strategy and ac…
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Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise to engage with my dear colleague from Saanich—Gulf Islands. The government does and will always take climate change commitments very seriously. In 2015, Canada, alongside 194 other countries, adopted the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement sets a global goal to limit warming, strengthen resilien…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from British Columbia for the question. I am so proud to stand on this side of the House as we build Canada strong from coast to coast to coast. Building Canada's housing is very important not only in cities and provinces but in first nations communities. I live in a first nations community with a housing list of over 500 people. These people want to come home to …
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Mr. Speaker, I will repeat this because it matters: Farmers do not pay the industrial carbon price, and groceries are not subject to the carbon price. Industrial carbon pricing focuses only on major emitters and gives them practical options to reduce pollution at the lowest possible cost, while it also drives investment in clean technology in Canada. If the opposition succeeded in dismantling thes…
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Mr. Speaker, I just want to make sure we make it clear that the member is presenting a picture of the industrial carbon pricing system that simply does not reflect how it works or to whom it applies. There is no carbon tax on food, and farmers are not subject to the industrial carbon price. That is a fact. Independent modelling backs this up. An analysis from the Canadian Climate Institute and Nav…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart but in celebration of one of my matriarchs. Barbara “Mary” Charles passed away at the age of 96 last year. Better known to thousands as Aunty Mary, she grew up as a Tsleil-Waututh member, went to a Catholic day school for much of her youth and at 17 married into Musqueam. She had 13 children and became the leader of her family, but also a leader in Musq…
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Mr. Speaker, industrial carbon pricing is about fairness and economic responsibility. When pollution imposes real costs, those costs should be borne by the largest emitters, not by families and not by farmers. The system is designed to protect industrial competitiveness, reward efficiency and align Canada with global clean market rules. Scrapping it would not lower grocery prices or strengthen ind…
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Mr. Speaker, I know some people think one should not do this after February 1, but I would like to wish you a happy new year, because it is the first time I have been able to engage with you. The purpose of Canada's industrial carbon pricing system is straightforward and fair. Large producers should take responsibility for the pollution they produce. That is the principle at the heart of the polic…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand before the House today to speak about the monumental agreement signed between the governments of Canada and Alberta. We know that this country is facing a pivotal, once-in-a-generation moment and that to overcome the challenges of our time, we must bolster and diversify our economy, working hand in hand with provinces, indigenous groups and the private sector to …
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Mr. Speaker, I have known the member opposite for many years. I know that he has done great work for his community. I know that this government respects aboriginal title and rights in this country. I do know that those conversations are going to be important as we move forward, as we go toward major projects in this country. The member opposite represents many of those coastal first nations in nor…
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Mr. Speaker, that is why, in my speech today, I did indicate that free, prior and informed consent is something that we will seek to achieve with indigenous communities right across the province of British Columbia.
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Mr. Speaker, the short answer is no, I did not want to be a Conservative. The long answer is, I do believe in climate change. I do believe in aboriginal title and rights, and I do believe in the respect to come and speak in meaningful consultation. That is what the commitment has been. In fact, today I had the honour of sitting down with coastal first nations to let them know that I will continue …
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Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be here as the first member of my first nation for my home riding of Vancouver Quadra. I have watched over the years as my mother, who was chief, as my grandfather, who was chief, as my uncle, who was chief, have further succeeded in making sure that our interests are always first and foremost. The government on this side has made great strides in ensuring that we res…
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Mr. Speaker, as the eyes of the soccer world descend upon Washington, D.C., today as the World Cup draw comes near, the eyes of Vancouver soccer fans and soccer fans across Canada will be on Miami tomorrow as we celebrate the exciting achievement of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are western conference champions in Major League Soccer and will play in the championship game for the very first time, t…
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Mr. Speaker, we would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Mr. Donner and Mademoiselle Abreu for their years of service and leadership at the net-zero advisory board. Their important contributions to the board have helped guide our government's work in advancing decisive climate action in Canada, and we are better off for their contributions.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to express our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Donner and Mademoiselle Abreu for their years of service. Our government values the role of the net-zero advisory board as an independent expert body that provides important advice to inform climate policy. We remain committed to working closely with the board, as we continue advancing Canada toward a net-zero future.
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Mr. Chair, the short answer to my colleague is no, but we have to look at our automotive manufacturing capacity. Canada's EV market has seen growth in the number of EV models available to Canadians. Now over 100 different models are available to consumers and we want to grow that. We want to give Canadians more choice and make sure that they can go to any dealership across this country and find an…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak about Canada's ecological gifts program and provide information that may help members in their debate on Motion No. 15. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation. I would also like to recognize that the lands and waters across Canada are the homelands and …
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Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for St. Catharines. It is a privilege, being a first-time member of Parliament, to rise in this House to speak to today's take-note debate on the automotive industry. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that we are standing upon the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation. I am going to focus my remarks on the electric…
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Mr. Chair, I take offence to that comment because I am the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, who happens to be a first nations MP from the province of British Columbia who grew up on the coast. I recognize that the coast is a very supernatural place for me to grow up, and I have worked with first nations all my life. We have been very emphatic that first na…
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Mr. Chair, there are a number of members in my family who have chosen to have electric vehicles and they very much enjoy driving them. They enjoy driving them and finding places they can go on a single charge. I do recognize that we need to ensure we expand our electric charging stations across the country, whether it be in rural or remote areas, or within urban centres. We do need to ensure that …
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Mr. Speaker, Saanich—Gulf Islands is right across from my community. I am a proud member of the Musqueam first nation, which is at the mouth of the Fraser River right as it flows into the Salish Sea, so I recognize and understand the vast biodiversity and the vast amount of beautiful wilderness right up and down the coast, including the Hecate Strait between Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert. As a pro…
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Mr. Speaker, I must reiterate that there is no carbon tax on groceries and farmers do not pay the industrial carbon price. Industrial carbon pricing and the clean fuel regulations are targeted tools that reduce pollution in a global market that is moving rapidly toward clean energy. Scrapping these measures would not lower grocery bills. It would weaken Canada's industrial base, deter investment a…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from the beautiful riding of Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, a place I have visited many times over the years in my home province of British Columbia. I want to address the member's question, which I believe is based on incorrect assumptions. Let me be very clear. There is no carbon tax applied to groceries. Farmers do not pay the industrial carb…
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Madam Speaker, affordability matters, and so does economic security. The government will continue to pursue policies that protect workers, strengthen competitiveness and ensure that Canada leads in the clean energy future. That is how we build an economy that works for Canadians today and delivers opportunity for the next generation, for my children's generation and for six or seven generations ah…
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Madam Speaker, I too would like to start by congratulating the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It is a little-known fact that my stepmother is a born and bred Swift Current resident. She moved into our home in 1994, and she is a diehard Saskatchewan Roughrider fan. I rise to address the member opposite's question and to set the record straight: There is no such thing as a food packaging tax in Canada, a…
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Madam Speaker, I want to be clear: Canada's environmental policies are designed to reduce pollution and drive innovation, not to raise grocery prices. Clean-fuel projects, such as Imperial Oil's renewable diesel factory in Alberta, Char Technologies' clean-energy projects in Ontario and Quebec, and Air Products' hydrogen complex in Edmonton are creating jobs and keeping Canadians competitive in th…
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Madam Speaker, Canadians expect a government that protects affordability and secures their future and their children's future, not one or the other. The opposition paints climate action as a bill Canadians cannot afford, but what Canadians cannot afford is inaction. Climate-driven droughts, wildfires and storms are already disrupting our supply chains, our agricultural sector and our communities. …
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday's budget makes our direction unmistakable. It backs industrial carbon pricing with long-term certainty and focuses on measures that deliver the greatest emissions reductions and competitiveness benefits at the lowest cost to Canadians. These policies are not a tax on Canadians; they are strategic economic tools that reward innovation and protect jobs. They ensure Canadian st…
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is suggesting that responsible climate policy is a burden. This is simply not true. Canadians want a secure future, Canadians like my son and my daughter, one where they can earn a good living, put food on the table and breathe clean air. They also want a government that protects them from climate disruption and builds an economy that can win in a world moving towa…
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Mr. Speaker, even before I was part of the House, I knew this was a very important issue for the hon. member and his constituents. He has raised it many times. What parts of this bill, when it is implemented, will ease the minds of his constituents when he goes back and talks to them about it?
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Mr. Speaker, faced with unjustified tariffs from the U.S. and shifting global supply chains, our new government is well aware of the affordability challenges facing Canadians. Although we have begun to see encouraging signs of stabilization, housing prices have gone up in recent years; although Canada's inflation rate has been within the Bank of Canada's target for 21 consecutive months, we know t…
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Mr. Speaker, as Canadians, we take care of each other. It is a promise at the heart of who we are, and it goes back generations. From universal public health care to employment insurance and strong, stable funded pensions such as the Canada pension plan, there has always been in our agreement that we will take care of our neighbours when they are in need. Our government is laser-focused on lowerin…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell Parliament that I have a lot to celebrate this year. However, my family came together in mourning this summer. My 91-year-old uncle, Gordon Grant, passed away. He was the oldest member of our family. He comes from a unique background. My grandfather Hong Tim Hing immigrated from China. My grandmother Agnes Grant was a Musqueam member. Gordon was the first mixed Ch…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to begin my speech with the facts: There is no food packaging tax. Industrial carbon pricing is not applied at the grocery store checkout. It is applied to large industrial emitters, the biggest polluters in Canada, and is structured in a way that ensures Canadian industries remain competitive while cutting emissions at the lowest possible cost. Canada's pricing system gives co…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be perfectly clear that there is no food packaging tax in Canada. There is no industrial carbon tax on groceries. These are environmental and economic policies designed to cut pollution, protect health and support competitiveness. Independent analysis confirms that food price inflation has been driven by global supply disruptions, not by federal climate measures. Abandoning pol…
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Mr. Speaker, the last two people I talked to were my children, who are 17 and 14. I think about their future. I know the Liberal government has a strong message: We want to fight, protect and build Canada strong while protecting our environment. That is the commitment I have for my children. That is the commitment this side has for all children and youth right across this country. This country wil…
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Madam Speaker, I am well aware of the threat that continued wildfires pose to communities right across this country; they threaten infrastructure, health, the economy and the environment all across this country. Keeping Canadians safe is of the utmost importance to our government. We are carefully considering all options as we re-evaluate how the federal government can best support emergency situa…
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Madam Speaker, I want to start by commending the member opposite for the compassion she has for all constituents. I have seen it first-hand, being across the Salish Sea from her for many years, and I thank her for the question. Persons with disabilities have the right to be fully included in their communities. They have the same right as all Canadians, the right to live a decent life. It is why we…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for the opportunity to discuss our government's response to wildfires across the country. We know that natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, and all levels of government must work together to protect Canadians and our communities. The 2025 wildfire season has been the second-most severe on record in our country, surpassed…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my friend opposite for her advocacy for Canadians with disabilities. I am sure we all share her concern. Every barrier, be it physical or attitudinal, is a barrier to the well-being of persons with disabilities, especially to their mental and financial well-being. Allow me to bring colleagues up to date. The application portal for the Canada disability benefit opened on June…
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Mr. Speaker, as we continue Gender Equality Week, I want to echo the words of the chair of the women's caucus, who said that every 48 hours in this country, a woman or girl is killed, often by an intimate partner. Unfortunately, another stat is that indigenous women and girls are disproportionately a part of that statistic; thirty per cent of them are indigenous women or girls, when they make up o…
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