44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 6, 2023 11:00AM
- Nov/6/23 7:04:50 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, let me just start from the beginning. The minister has spoken loudly and clearly, denouncing all forms of hate. If he does not believe me, he should follow him on Twitter and he will see what I am talking about. Everyone in this country has the right to live their life free from fear of attack or abuse because of who they are as an individual.
I want to begin by condemning what we saw here on Parliament Hill this past weekend. The display of a swastika by an individual on Parliament Hill is unacceptable. We must always call out hateful imagery and this was appalling. Anti-Semitism is completely and utterly unacceptable.
Hatred that targets people based on race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or any personal characteristic is counter to Canadian values. Everyone in Canada deserves a safe space to be themselves and to thrive. Unfortunately, hate, intolerance and racism, particularly anti-Semitism, exist in many ugly and dangerous forms throughout Canadian society and the world. Some are in plain sight, some are hidden.
I have no doubt that for many in the Jewish community this has undermined their faith in what Canada stands for as a country. Our government is working to ensure that this hate does not gain momentum in this country. We are working with groups like CIJA to address the challenges we face. I can assure the member that the minister and I, and the entire government, take this issue seriously and have plans to address anti-Semitism, lslamophobia and all forms of hate in this country.
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- Nov/6/23 7:07:37 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, to suggest that any member from any side of this House, or a minister and a member of this government does not stand for the things that he is talking about, is outrageous. He should acknowledge the fact that this government, this minister, has stood firmly and proudly against all forms of hate and our government has taken significant steps in moving forward.
I would ask this member to look hard at what we have done and what we are doing. He too will recognize that we are on the right path and taking all the steps necessary to fight the measures that he is talking about.
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- Nov/6/23 7:12:34 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, if the member for Battle River—Crowfoot thinks that defending the country from the perils of climate change is left-leaning ideology, then he sees the world through a different lens than I do.
Our government understands how important this issue is. Our government understands the impact that climate change is having in our country. We cannot turn on the news without watching the devastating impact it has had on every city, every rural community and every province in this country. Until everybody in the House acknowledges this and endorses that something has to be done about it, we are going to be having conversations that go around and around.
We are standing here on this side of the House defending Canadians. The measures that were taken last week are another example of that. Home heating oil is the most expensive source of heat in this country. As the member wants to talk about the cost of carbon pricing, I note that over 80% of the people in my province of Ontario benefit financially from the carbon pricing mechanism. If this new program were adopted by all the provinces, including his and my own, that number would go from 80% to a higher number. That is what we are striving to do.
I am asking my own premier in Ontario to get on board with the heat pump incentive program. It would help people in rural parts of Ontario and in some of the ridings the member just mentioned. Thunder Bay, where I was born, Sudbury and Timmins are the areas where making this transition can benefit Canadians so that the number goes from 80% to 90% to 100%.
If the Conservatives do not want to take this seriously, I do not know what else we can do. We have taken it seriously and we are going to continue to do that on this side of the House. We are going to keep pushing forward measures because we are standing for all Canadians on this issue, not just those in certain parts of the country as perhaps some other members are doing.
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- Nov/6/23 7:15:53 p.m.
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One minute is definitely not enough time to respond to that rhetoric, Madam Speaker. My mother used to say that common sense is not that common. I give members exhibit A.
This government is doing everything it can to fight climate change. We are standing up for people in my community and we are standing up for people in the member's community. The five generations of farmers he is talking about are exactly the ones we are trying to protect. The sooner the Conservatives realize that, the better off we are all going to be.
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- Nov/6/23 7:19:09 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Nunavut for raising the important issue of the Grassy Narrows situation.
I can tell her that I have been to Grassy Narrows. She may have heard me mention earlier this evening that I was born in Thunder Bay, and I am familiar with Grassy Narrows. I am aware of what has been happening there, which is why I went. That is why I went many years ago. It is because I wanted to see first hand what it looked like and what conditions the people were living in.
The member is correct. The Prime Minister has said on record many times, as have all members of our government, that there is no relationship more important.
With respect to the specific project at hand, I can assure the member that we will do everything within our power to work with the community because that is critical in making sure these projects are not only completed, but also completed properly in conjunction with the community and in a manner the community endorses and respects.
I will say again that I want to thank the member for raising this issue with respect to Grassy Narrows. I understand why it is so important and would be happy to speak with her further at the first available opportunity.
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- Nov/6/23 7:21:45 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the funding has been approved, as the member quite rightly pointed out. The request has been made to the Treasury Board. I am prepared to undertake to explore this issue further and get back to her if she wishes.
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