44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 4, 2022 10:00AM
- Mar/4/22 11:33:07 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary says that building pipelines takes too long. That has been our point for a very long time. Let us speed up that process and let us put in place these measures for the long term. Europe's reliance on Russian gas has constrained its ability to sanction Russia. Some European countries are less dependent on Russian gas, but rely heavily on coal. Europe needs energy. Canadian natural gas is safer than Russian gas, and it is cleaner than coal.
When will the government realize the need to significantly increase energy exports to Europe and put in place the measures to ensure that going forward?
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- Mar/4/22 11:33:47 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to direct the member opposite to the International Energy Agency's actual report. It has a 10-point plan to reduce the European Union's reliance on Russian natural gas. It points to renewables. It points to wind and solar. It points to many solutions that it has made and that it is working on. Renewables are a part of the solution to the energy security issue in Europe.
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- Mar/4/22 11:34:18 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it needs to be all of the above and Canada needs to get in the energy export game to Europe.
Many Ukrainian Canadian organizations are doing incredible work confronting the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine. The government's matching program only applies to the Red Cross. We have seen previously how, such as in the case of Lebanon, the government's matching program excludes Canadian charities with strong, on-the-ground experience. This is a missed opportunity for those charities.
Will the government expand and broaden its matching program to at least include established organizations, such as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association?
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- Mar/4/22 11:34:53 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all thank the Ukrainian Canadian Congress for the incredible work it is doing. I would note that the $10-million matching fund program for the Canadian Red Cross is just one part of what we are providing. There is also $50 million in humanitarian aid already announced, plus the UN flash appeal of $100 million, where Canada is leading the world in terms of what we are providing. This is going to provide support for displaced populations with essential life-saving services such as shelter, water, sanitation and food. We are doing our part and we will continue to do that.
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- Mar/4/22 11:35:32 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when asked in question period about the Russian navy's 40 armed nuclear-powered icebreakers roaming the Arctic, the defence minister said basically not to worry about Canadian sovereignty because here we “have the Coast Guard working for us.”
Now, does the Minister of National Defence realize that our Coast Guard, as good as it is, is a civilian service and does not have armed naval vessels? I am pretty sure the Russian navy is aware of that.
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- Mar/4/22 11:36:05 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic is long-standing and well-established. We are making landmark investments to increase our ability to operate in the Arctic, including conducting joint exercises in the Arctic, purchasing six Arctic offshore patrol ships and enhancing surveillance and intelligence capability in the Arctic.
We will remain firm and unwavering in defending Canada's sovereignty, the people and the communities in the north, and our national interests.
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- Mar/4/22 11:36:47 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, windmills and fairy tales have not gotten Germany and other countries off of Russian oil. The government is doing nothing.
Russia sits on the executive of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, which governs what we can catch internationally, including in the Grand Banks off of Newfoundland. It is a multilateral forum that we all abide by. Yesterday at the fisheries committee, my motion to have Russia removed from that executive was unanimously approved.
Since Russia no longer abides by the international rules of order, will the government lead the charge to expel Russia from the executive of NAFO?
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- Mar/4/22 11:37:25 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Russia's war on Ukraine is a war on freedom, democracy and the rights of Ukrainians. This aggression will not go unpunished. Earlier this week, our government announced a ban on all Russian-owned or registered ships and fishing vessels from docking in Canadian waters.
I am aware of the motion the member opposite brought before the DFO committee. Yesterday, Russia stepped down as the chair of NAFO. We are examining this issue closely and will always stand with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
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- Mar/4/22 11:38:01 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, even now, new moms who were let go from their jobs while on parental leave cannot collect employment insurance.
When these women, who have just started their families, lose their income, Ottawa abandons them. The federal government has been refusing to fix this injustice for years. Six women took the government to court and won. Instead of fixing the problem, Ottawa appealed the decision. These are young mothers who have lost their jobs, and the government is dragging them to court.
Why not help them instead?
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- Mar/4/22 11:38:42 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know it is very hard for women who do not have access to employment insurance.
The Social Security Tribunal is an independent tribunal, and it made a decision. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission, which is also independent, opted to appeal the decision.
None of that changes our government's commitment and our focus on modernizing and adapting the EI system to the realities of the 20th century.
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- Mar/4/22 11:39:15 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, at the moment, it just looks cheap.
The minister cannot hide behind the commission. It is up to Parliament to amend legislation, as the commission itself pointed out. It is entirely the minister's responsibility.
There are exceptions to the law that allow people claiming EI to calculate their income over two years rather than 52 weeks. People who cannot work because they are sick, injured or incarcerated are entitled to this.
Why are new mothers who have lost their jobs not entitled to the same thing? It seems pretty simple to me.
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- Mar/4/22 11:39:54 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand the situation these mothers are in. It is very difficult. This is my motivation for changing the EI system. We can absolutely do better.
The system simply has not kept up with the way Canadians work, which is why we are spending so much time and effort on our modernization efforts for EI. We have heard from many mothers in this situation, and we are working to make things better, more equitable and fairer for women and for all workers in Canada.
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- Mar/4/22 11:40:24 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the cost of gas in Rivière‑du‑Loup has been more than $1.85 a litre. The cost of groceries will jump by more than $1,000 over the next year. That has been announced.
This year, costs are spiking everywhere, and I am talking about just those two things. I am not even talking about housing. With the $500‑billion deficit that the government added to our country's debt, inflation just keeps on climbing.
When will the government start to address inflation?
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- Mar/4/22 11:41:06 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that there is inflationary pressure everywhere in the world right now.
Our government is there to support vulnerable Canadians. We are there with programs to help everyone, including seniors and families.
My colleague across the way, a member from Quebec, should know very well that we are also dealing with a global climate crisis, and we have to make sure we protect the environment.
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- Mar/4/22 11:41:45 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, “Newfoundland gas prices to skyrocket Friday.” “Windsor housing costs reach new heights in February.” “Farmers concerned as cost of production soars.” “A second mortgage: Record gas prices strain consumers struggling with the rising cost of living.” “Inflation rates continue to jack up the cost of living.”
These are the headlines in Canada today. They are a result of failed Liberal policies over the last six years. Things are getting harder for Canadians. What is the government's plan to tackle the cost of living and the out-of-reach increases in inflation?
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- Mar/4/22 11:42:21 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives often accuse us of over-investing in Canadians, but I will remind the member opposite that in the last election the Conservatives actually promised to spend more than what our government is actually investing. At the same time, their promised policies were assessed by experts and were noted to under-deliver on housing, under-deliver on climate change and under-deliver on child care.
We have renewed the inflation target of 2% with the Bank of Canada, and we will continue to focus on affordability for Canadian families going forward.
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- Mar/4/22 11:42:50 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that response was completely out of touch with what Canadians are going through.
The last time Canadians saw inflation surpass 5%, they were hearing the word “Internet” for the first time. Our finance minister continues to ignore and only compare Canada with others to justify Canada's inflation. Other countries in the G7, including the U.S., Germany and the United Kingdom, acknowledge their high inflation and have announced various plans to tackle inflation in their countries.
When will the Minister of Finance announce her plans on how she will tackle inflation in Canada?
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- Mar/4/22 11:43:35 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member knows that inflation is in fact a global phenomenon, and anything that affects affordability is important to our government. We know that while inflation in Canada is at 5.1%, it is lower than the U.K.'s, lower than the U.S.'s and lower than the G7 average, as well as that of the G20 and the OECD.
Our government is taking measures to make life more affordable. That includes cutting taxes for the middle class. That includes the CCB, which has lifted 435,000 children out of poverty. It includes making tuition more affordable. It includes increasing the OAS and GIS, and indexing those to inflation for seniors. These are all measures that the Conservatives have voted against. If they care about affordability—
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- Mar/4/22 11:44:13 a.m.
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The hon. member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge.
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- Mar/4/22 11:44:19 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, $2 a litre: for the first time ever in Vancouver, that is the price of regular gas. We know what happens when gas goes up. The price of everything goes up. It is what happens any time the government rolls out its policies. Whether it is its anti-energy obsession or its reckless fiscal plans, the result is the same. Canadians pay more.
Will the government admit that it is the problem, or will it simply brush it aside and say that it is “Justinflation”?
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