44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 12, 2023 10:00AM
- Dec/12/23 2:35:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will fight for Canadians every day. Let us be very clear. We are seeing, again, for Canadians who are watching at home to not be fooled, the Conservative ideology to fight against anyone, any institution, even one they voted for in this House in 2001, that would fight climate change.
We suspended the funding of the organization. We called for an investigation. The leadership has resigned. We will get to the bottom of this.
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- Dec/12/23 2:35:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister will not tell us which Liberals got rich. Government officials, last night, admitted that they were in every single board meeting where this happened in the Liberal green slush fund.
According to the whistle-blower, the former chair and directors took over $150 million of taxpayer money to their own companies. Government officials were present during these meetings and allowed it to happen.
Why did the minister not fire these corrupt Liberal directors?
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- Dec/12/23 2:36:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is great to see my hon. colleague from Atlantic Canada stand up. I wish he and his seven other colleagues had stood up last week.
On this side of the House, we know the great work that the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency does for communities, for not-for-profits and for businesses. If the member truly believed in the great work of ACOA, he would have done what his colleague from Cariboo—Prince George did, who abstained on his beliefs.
What is he going to say to the people of South Shore—St. Margarets and the 108 projects that ACOA funds in his riding? I am going to tell them we have their backs.
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- Dec/12/23 2:37:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is just not good enough that they will not deal with Liberal corruption at the green Liberal slush fund. In fact, it took the minister 35 months under his watch to suspend the green slush fund when his own officials were in the meeting. The whistle-blower testified last night that the chair of the green slush fund tried to get $2.2 million from the fund into her own vanity project, the Verschuren Centre, a direct conflict of interest.
Since industry officials were in the meeting, why did the minister not fire this Liberal corrupt director the minute that happened?
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- Dec/12/23 2:37:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. Just last week, Canadians saw them vote against CSIS. They voted against funding for affordable child care in this country. They voted to cut the Canadian dental care program.
On this side of the House, we will stand up for Canadians. We will stand up for growth, and we will continue to fight for Canadians at every step of the way.
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- Dec/12/23 2:38:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the billion-dollar Liberal green fund paid out $150 million in subsidies to Liberal cronies over a period of months, despite the fact that government officials, his eyes and ears on the green fund board, attended meetings during which Liberal friends lined their pockets.
After eight years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Instead of continuing his cover-up, can the Prime Minister tell us when his Liberal friends will return their ill-gotten gains to Canadians?
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- Dec/12/23 2:38:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are all about “chop, chop, chop”. Last week, the Conservative leader ordered his far-right caucus to cut funding for the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue activities. The Coast Guard saves lives. The Conservatives stood up 120 times to vote against measures that support Canadians. Shame on them.
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- Dec/12/23 2:39:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this costly NDP-Liberal government learned in May that Liberal friends it had appointed to the Liberal green fund board had dipped into the $1‑billion fund to further their own interests. What did the minister do about it? Nothing.
It gets worse. The minister “lied”, to quote a whistle-blower who testified at committee. He let it happen, and Liberal friends continued to line their pockets with more money. After eight years, this Prime Minister is not worth the cost of all the payouts to his cronies. When will Canadians get their money back?
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- Dec/12/23 2:40:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister has already adequately answered this question.
What we do not know is why the opposition member, just a few days ago, voted against the dental plan that was announced yesterday. In his riding, nearly 30,000 people will be eligible for this dental plan by 2025. Without this plan, they would not be able to go to the dentist or dental hygienist, which would create the kinds of serious health problems that often land people in the ER or hospital.
Why did the member betray the interests of 30,000 people in his riding?
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- Dec/12/23 2:40:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when people are calling for someone's resignation, it is probably not a good time for them to go on an overseas trip. However, CBC/Radio Canada's CEO, Catherine Tait, left for Australia shortly after announcing that 600 CBC/Radio-Canada employees are being let go. I am sure everyone will agree that that shows a lack of judgment.
Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage still have confidence in Catherine Tait? Does she approve of the CEO's decision to go ahead with these layoffs?
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- Dec/12/23 2:41:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the term of CBC/Radio-Canada's CEO ends at the beginning of 2025. Starting in early 2024, I will be striking a committee to search for the best candidates in the country to lead this organization, which is absolutely essential to Canadian democracy.
On this side of the House, we believe in a strong public broadcaster that provides services to Canadians from east to west, in French, English and eight indigenous languages. We will continue to defend our public broadcaster.
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- Dec/12/23 2:42:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the recent economic update, the government announced that it would increase the tax credit for newsrooms from 25% to 35%, which is very good. Even if that does not solve the media crisis, we know that it will help.
It will help, but only print media. Unfortunately, television and radio journalists are not eligible.
It is clear to us that Bell Media, Quebecor and Cogeco are struggling too. Electronic media outlets are all struggling.
Will the minister make the tax credit for newsrooms available to electronic media as well?
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- Dec/12/23 2:42:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I must begin by congratulating and thanking my colleague from the Bloc Québécois for being an advocate for newsrooms, for democracy and for journalism, which the Conservatives, unfortunately, try to destroy every chance they get.
As my colleague knows, we have modernized the Broadcasting Act, giving the CRTC the authority to lighten the regulatory burden on our broadcasters, which are indeed struggling right now. The CRTC will also be able to decide whether to create a new fund to support the news across Canada.
We will continue to work with the entire sector to deal with the media crisis.
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- Dec/12/23 2:43:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are abandoning victims of sexual misconduct in sport. They promised an independent public inquiry. The victims want sport organizations to clean house.
Yesterday, the Liberals backed down. They proposed a voluntary commission. A voluntary commission has no power to compel sports federations or abusers to appear. A voluntary commission has no power to compel documents. A voluntary commission does not have the power to clean house or to force changes within Sport Canada.
Why are the Liberals protecting the federations instead of protecting victims?
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- Dec/12/23 2:44:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday we announced a commission on the future of sport in Canada that is trauma-informed and focuses on the victims. It is looking to determine the future of sport in our country.
My priority is athletes, victims, survivors and safe sport in Canada.
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- Dec/12/23 2:44:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Premier of the Northwest Territories wants to axe the tax. Other premiers are saying they will not collect the carbon tax. First nations are suing the government because of the carbon tax. We have a coast to coast to coast revolt against the carbon tax led by Conservatives.
As a result of the carbon tax, 40% more Ontarians have to use a food bank. The Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost. Will he cancel his plans to quadruple the carbon tax on farmers, families and first nations for good?
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- Dec/12/23 2:45:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when this government came into power after 10 years of Stephen Harper and the member for Carleton, emissions in this country were projected to go up by 15% versus 2005 levels by 2030.
Last week, we released the emissions reduction plan update for Canada. It shows that we have far exceeded the Harper target. We raised the target. We will achieve the interim objective in 2026. We will achieve the 2030 objective of a 40% reduction.
We have a climate plan that is working. Where is his climate plan?
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- Dec/12/23 2:45:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Liberals have achieved is 800,000 Ontarians going to the food bank. Let us think about that. That would be the third-largest city in all of Ontario completely dependent on using the food bank to exist.
According to Feed Ontario's CEO, it used to be that having a job meant one did not have to access a food bank, but after eight years of these incompetent Liberals, that is the new reality here in Canada.
Why do the Liberals care so little about Canadians? Will they axe the tax so Canadians can feed themselves?
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- Dec/12/23 2:46:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives actually do care about supporting families, their actions last week speak differently, and actions speak louder than words.
The Conservatives voted against much-needed investments to increase access to child care in underserved communities. They voted against moving forward with a framework to create a national school food policy, which would put food back into schools for children who need it. The Conservatives are just not worth the risk.
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- Dec/12/23 2:47:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, inflation is shattering the dreams of Quebeckers from age 18 to 45. In fact, 75% of them are postponing or abandoning their plans to buy a home or start a family. The costly Bloc‑Liberal coalition that wants to radically increase the inflationary carbon tax is simply making life impossible.
Will the Prime Minister axe the tax and the inflationary deficits so that Quebeckers can achieve their dreams?
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