SoVote

Mr. Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP)

Nov/2/23 3:35:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think this is an important pedagogical opportunity, because the Conservatives do not seem to understand what a coalition is in a Westminster parliamentary system. It has come to the point where it is causing a considerable amount of disorder, including interfering with the proper terms of question period. A coalition government is where more than one party is represented in cabinet. That would mean that a member of the New Democratic Party would be eligible in question period to answer for the actions of the NDP. There is no universe in which any Liberal gives answers on behalf of New Democrats. It is why we are up asking questions in question period every day of the government and not mincing words. The idea that we are in a governing coalition and somehow Liberals get to answer for our actions is completely unacceptable. It has come to the point that it is making a mockery of question period, which Conservatives get up and say is a sanctity in this place. While I am inclined to agree that question period is one of the more important moments in the parliamentary day, the fact of the matter is that if they are going to talk about the sanctity of Parliament, they should bother to learn the rules.

217 words

Context: House Hansard - 245 - Nov/2/23

Mr. Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP)

Nov/2/23 3:50:36 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister was wrong to introduce regional divisiveness into Canada's carbon pricing system, but he was not the first person to do that. Actually, the Conservatives have been talking about taking off the carbon tax as though it would save every Canadian money, when it surely would not. All sorts of provinces have their own carbon pricing scheme, and the federal backstop does not apply there. He talks about an NDP plan, but he did not mention anything to do with our plan, which was to take GST off home heating. Why would we do that? We have an established tradition of not charging GST on essentials. GST applies everywhere in the country, which means every Canadian would get a break. Moreover, it would apply to all forms of home heating, including when people heat their homes with electricity. When we presented an amendment last year to one of their carbon tax motions, they said no. When we presented a motion today to take the GST off in parts of the country where the federal carbon tax does not apply, they said no. Who is practising regional divisions, and why did he fail to mention the actual NDP plan, which has nothing to do with what the Liberals have proposed?

214 words

Context: House Hansard - 245 - Nov/2/23

Mr. Daniel Blaikie

Nov/2/23 3:52:41 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the member mentioned B.C. He knows full well that B.C. has its own carbon tax. It was introduced by the Liberal-cum-Conservative government in B.C., just as there have been carbon taxes imposed by Conservative governments elsewhere in the world. What a bunch of BS that is, just as talking about an NDP-Liberal coalition is BS. We just had a point of order before he got up to give his speech. He sat through the whole bloody thing. If he wants to talk about the truth, he could start by telling some.

99 words

Context: House Hansard - 245 - Nov/2/23

Mr. Daniel Blaikie

Nov/2/23 3:53:33 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I do apologize for using that term. I forgot how difficult it can be to call a spade a spade in this place.

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