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Mar/22/22 1:55:47 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, on a point of order. I would simply encourage you to give the opportunity to the hon. member across the way to retract what was a categorical falsehood that he just referenced within this chamber.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Mar/22/22 1:56:03 p.m.
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That is obviously a matter for debate. I will let the hon. parliamentary secretary give a very short answer.

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Mr. Andy Fillmore

Mar/22/22 1:56:11 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague for the wonderful question. Where do I see the future of this? I look no further than my own home province of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic provinces that surround it for the future. The Atlantic loop, which is in discussions now, is going to create an improved electrical grid that would allow us to phase off of coal earlier than we expected and would allow all kinds of renewable inputs, wind, solar and others, as we electrify the lives of Atlantic Canadians.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Mar/22/22 1:56:39 p.m.
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The hon. member for Thornhill will have about four minutes to begin her speech.

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Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)

Mar/22/22 1:56:47 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Red Deer—Mountain View. It is hard to think of a more appropriate debate to expose the consequences of what transpired between the government and the NDP this morning. While today it might seem politically expedient in the moment, Canadians lost out on having a voice in the NDP, who once played a critical role in championing issues like this, issues of affordability. I am actually rather surprised at some of those members, and I will be even more surprised at their silence as time goes on. With the fallout from the broken trust with their constituents, coupled with a fire sale of their principles in exchange for what amounts to broken promises from the government year after year, it is far more important that Canadians understand the consequences of a bad deal, not only for the two political parties in the House but a bad deal for them. To simplify this transaction, the NDP members of the House have agreed to never hold the government to account. In turn, the government has agreed to never control spending: higher spending, higher taxes. While I believe this to be a disingenuous attempt by politicians to protect themselves, I am far more concerned with the devastating impact this deal may have: higher spending, higher taxes, higher prices.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Mar/22/22 1:58:18 p.m.
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I will have to interrupt the hon. member. The noise in the antechamber is really bothersome. I can barely hear the hon. member's speech. Can people please quiet down? We are trying to have proceedings in the House.

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Ms. Melissa Lantsman

Mar/22/22 1:58:32 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, today we have an opportunity to answer the call of Canadians from coast to coast, one that if we have even spent a moment outside of this place talking to anyone, just about anywhere, we would be hard pressed not to hear. It is the loud and clear call that skyrocketing inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is devastating families across Canada. The inflation rate is at the highest point in 30 years. That is 5.7%, and it is growing faster than Canadian wages. For the average Canadian, that is equivalent to a pay cut of 5¢ for every loonie earned. We will hear in the House today the government's greatest hits, featuring a litany of excuses stating that the inflation rate is a result of global supply chains being disrupted by COVID, leading to higher prices. We will hear the one-hit wonders of listing off countries and their corresponding inflation rates. There is also my very favourite, that somehow asking the government to acknowledge a cost-of-living crisis, which members of the House are hearing about from their constituents, is an attack on the Canadian economy and that we should be thankful because everything is absolutely fine. What we will not hear is that the prices for Canadian products are rising the most and the fastest. That is the inconvenient truth of the matter when we speak to people at the grocery store.

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Mr. Chris d'Entremont (West Nova, CPC)

Mar/22/22 2:00:34 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, last Sunday was International Day of La Francophonie. French is the sixth most spoken language in the world. This day was celebrated in francophone countries, but also in the small but important communities of Baie Sainte‑Marie and Par‑en‑Bas. As a proud Acadian who lives in the francophone region, I know how important this day is to all francophones in my community. For many generations, we have been working very hard to preserve our beautiful French language and promote the culture that sets us apart and showcases Acadia to the world. I want to thank and congratulate all those who contribute to growing our francophone communities throughout Nova Scotia. Francophonie Month is not over, and many activities are being held as part of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie to celebrate the francophonie, its diversity and its inclusivity across Canada.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Mar/22/22 2:01:33 p.m.
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Order. I do not know what is going on today. There is a lot of noise, especially outside the House. I would ask that everyone respect the work of the hon. members. The hon. member for Malpeque.

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Mr. Heath MacDonald (Malpeque, Lib.)

Mar/22/22 2:01:52 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise to recognize Eliot River Elementary School and its environmental and climate change initiatives. With a student body of 470, Eliot River recently won a national contest put on by Earth Rangers, a conservation organization. Eliot River collected over 3,000 kilograms of used batteries for proper recycling. Eliot River's environmental spirit also led its students to another challenge of collecting over 300,000 single-use plastic bags through the plastic bag grab challenge. Using contest prize money and returns from a daily recyclable school program, Eliot River reinvested to help finance climate initiatives such as school roof solar panels, EV chargers and garden green spaces. We could all learn from these elementary-aged students, their teachers and administrators. The staff and teachers, such as Darren Ford, are dedicated to educating children and their families through sustainable initiatives at the school. Our future is important to them, so as policy makers, their futures should be just as important to us.

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

Mar/22/22 2:03:00 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, a feeling I am sure all of my fellow parliamentarians share. Twenty-seven days ago the people of Ukraine found themselves under siege from a foreign government, an escalation to a conflict they had already been facing for years due to a ruthless dictator who wishes to own them by any means necessary. This attack on democracy cannot and will not stand, and the people of Ukraine have shown just that. Citizens who have never been part of the military have fought back with a voracity that has shocked their attackers. Their leaders have shown what it truly means to lead a country, to protect and sacrifice for the good of their people, and to be champions. To the neighbouring countries of Ukraine that have opened their arms to all those fleeing, we give thanks. To the people of Ukraine who are defending true democracy, I thank them for their courage, their sacrifice and their inspiration. We are all with them, and we send them our love. They will prevail, because darkness is overcome by light, and they, our friends, are the light.

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Ms. Sylvie Bérubé (Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, BQ)

Mar/22/22 2:04:19 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Lev Chayka, a Ukrainian priest who settled in Abitibi-Témiscamingue in 1952. He was 98 years old and the oldest priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada. He devoted almost 70 years of his life to communities in northern Ontario and Abitibi. He founded Ukrainian parishes in Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda, in addition to having churches built that are still standing today. His first church was built in Val-d'Or in my riding in 1954. It quickly became the pride of the 375 Ukrainian families living there at the time. Some years ago, we could also hear him on the radio on Sunday mornings, speaking a language that we did not understand. May Mr. Chayka rest in peace. After all the outstanding work he did for the Ukrainian communities in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, he is most deserving.

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Mr. René Arseneault (Madawaska—Restigouche, Lib.)

Mar/22/22 2:05:27 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we have all dreamt of becoming a superhero, but Jeremy Bouchard was called upon to don a superhero cape and muster all of his courage on the night of March 15, 2022. That night, this 16-year-old from Edmundston woke up to find his house engulfed in flames. He managed to escape through his bedroom window. Once outside, he saw his stepmother trapped by the flames and calling for help. He kept his cool, punched through the window and went into the burning house. His only thought was that he needed to save this mother of two young kids, and he succeeded. Jeremy and his stepmother suffered injuries but came out alive. Fortunately, they were the only ones in the house that night. Way to go, Jeremy. All of Madawaska—Restigouche is proud of him. We wish him and his stepmother a speedy recovery.

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Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)

Mar/22/22 2:06:48 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, for Dr. Kosta Bulavintsev, who is from Ukraine, seeing Russia’s illegal invasion has hit especially close to his heart. In an incredible community initiative through his dental clinic, he has been accepting donations to support the Ukrainian military. So far, they have raised $20,000 and counting. Dr. Kosta has personally committed to matching every single dollar that is contributed. It is simply great to see the generosity in our community and even more so to see the steadfast support for the Ukrainian people and for the country of Ukraine, which we know to be a democratic ally and partner. I am proud to say that the Kenora riding stands with the people of Ukraine and that Canada stands with the people of Ukraine.

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Mr. Michael Coteau (Don Valley East, Lib.)

Mar/22/22 2:07:46 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we often do not get to witness politicians who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and who think beyond the four-year election cycle. I had the distinct honour of serving with the 25th premier of Ontario, the Hon. Kathleen Wynne. The first woman and openly gay premier of Ontario, Kathleen was a trailblazer. Her policies were embraced by governments across this country. She introduced basic income, took serious action against climate change, raised the minimum wage, introduced pharmacare for children and youth, created the anti-racism legislation, ended race-based carding, increased public pension for Ontarians and introduced free post-secondary education for low-income students. Premier Wynne was relentless in her fight for a fairer Ontario. Now, as the 25th premier of Ontario bids farewell at the Ontario legislature after almost two decades, I want to take this opportunity to thank Kathleen Wynne from the bottom of my heart for her passion, her integrity and her service to Ontario. I know history will look back at her time in office and see someone who was not afraid to stand up and who would not leave anyone behind.

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Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.)

Mar/22/22 2:09:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, World Water Day is a day to promote awareness of the urgent need to protect and sustainably manage this precious resource that is essential to human life, the environment and the economy. Water security is a more serious issue than ever because of the impact that climate change is having on the quantity and quality of our drinking water. A clear policy priority on fresh water can not only help to better protect this resource in Canada, it can also translate into a new kind of Canadian leadership. Promoting international water security can become the new peacekeeping. With expertise in water science and governance, Canada can and should make addressing the global water crisis a pillar of our foreign policy. I look forward to the role that a Canada water agency could play in serving as a centre of expertise in responding to water challenges, both here in Canada and around the world.

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Mr. Chris Lewis (Essex, CPC)

Mar/22/22 2:10:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on the second anniversary of the pandemic, workers across Canada are getting a nasty surprise from their government. Eligible workers are finding out that those who went back to work anytime before the end of the CERB program are now expected to pay back the $2,000 lump sum. As members know, Conservatives strongly supported the CERB in principle. In practice, however, the CERB disincentivized work. It was also not made clear that this $2,000 would be clawed back. This latest fiasco is another in a long line of ill-conceived and poorly executed programs that have cost the Canadian treasury billions of dollars and created hardships for the workers they were intended to help. I cannot help but wonder if this what Canadian workers can expect from an NDP-Liberal coalition government. The past predicts the future. The past two years have shown that the grandiose programs the NDP will demand to continue to prop up the Liberals for the next three years will prove disastrous.

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Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, Lib.)

Mar/22/22 2:11:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Nowruz marked the arrival of spring and is a time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to good things to come in the year ahead. This weekend, Persian, Afghan, Kurdish, Zoroastrian, Baha'i and central Asian communities, and my own Ismaili community, celebrated Nowruz, or Navroz. After two long years of battling COVID-19, communities in Vancouver Granville and across Canada finally gathered together safely with family and friends this Nowruz. However, even as we celebrated Nowruz, many of us had in our thoughts the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face hardship, difficulty and, this year, a government-imposed limit on the celebration of this important festival. The resilience of Afghans in the face of horrific daily circumstances, whether fear of oppression, a food crisis or a true humanitarian catastrophe, is a reminder of the need to continue our work to build a more pluralistic world. On the occasion of Nowruz, I wish us all and the people of Afghanistan good health, strength, peace and prosperity. Nowruz Mubarak. Navroz Mubarak.

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Hon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC)

Mar/22/22 2:12:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, next week the Liberal government will yet again increase its carbon tax that disproportionately punishes rural Canadians, like those living in my riding of Fundy Royal. While the price of gas is already breaking records in New Brunswick, the Liberals want to shatter those records by raising their carbon tax to an additional 11¢ per litre on April 1. However, 11¢ per litre is going to look quaint by 2030, when the Liberal carbon tax is fully implemented and charging Canadians an additional 40¢ per litre. The Liberal carbon tax does not care if people have to drive to work in order to pay the bills and provide for their families. It does not care if someone is a senior on a fixed income. All it does is add pressure on the increasingly strained wallets of everyday Canadians. This is unacceptable. In fact, 53% of Canadians say that they simply cannot keep up with the cost of living right now. The last thing we need is another tax that makes life less affordable. People are struggling, and the government can no longer pretend that it is helpless to do anything about it. It is time the Liberals did the right thing and suspended their carbon tax increase on April 1.

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Mr. Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, CPC)

Mar/22/22 2:13:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the election, I have been speaking about the NDP-Liberal coalition government. Well, today it is official. My constituents in Saskatoon West know the dangers of the NDP and its love affair with propping up tired Liberal governments. These champagne socialists, who care more about their expensive cars and shutting down economic development on the Prairies, are now officially on the government gravy train. Last night's pact guarantees a socialist lock on government into 2025, which is well past its due date. The NDP-Liberal government will raise taxes, implement anti-energy policies and push house prices further out of reach. Canadians deserve to know how much this pact will cost them. The Liberals and the NDP used identity politics to divide Canadians into us against them. As a result, this country is more divided than ever. This place we stand in today should be about democracy, not secret backroom deals. Fortunately for Canadians, we have a strong united Conservative Party ready to form government and restore faith in democracy and our institutions.

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