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House Hansard - 272

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 31, 2024 02:00PM
  • Jan/31/24 2:42:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have recognized from the very beginning that Quebeckers are shouldering a heavy burden when it comes to supporting irregular arrivals. First, it was through Roxham Road, and now that we have worked with the Americans to resolve that issue, these immigrants are arriving via airports. We are here to help. We are working hand in hand with the Government of Quebec. We are in discussions with that government to determine how we can support it properly. We have seen the Government of Quebec's request for funding and we are working with Quebec because we recognize that, yes, Quebeckers are shouldering that burden, and we will be there to help.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:42:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, take a good look at his hand. The only hand he is holding belongs to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Does the Prime Minister really want to make that commitment in an election year? Does he want Canadians and Quebeckers to think that when he gives his word, it cannot be believed? Does he want to make them question whether his word is worth anything, whether he is reliable or trustworthy?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:43:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, at every step, we are always there to work respectfully with the provinces and territories, with Canadians and governments across this country. It is true that, at times, we have to navigate differences of opinion and different perspectives, but, at every step, we know how to work respectfully, while keeping our word and focusing on what is in the best interests of citizens across this country. We will continue to do so. Yes, we can be a trustworthy partner, and we have demonstrated time and again that we always will be.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:43:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has hit Canadian farmers with a carbon tax that drives up food prices at the grocery store, food prices that are rising again only months after he promised they would come down. I asked him late last year if he would talk to the Medeiros farm about their rising carbon tax bill. They just got their bill for December, and it is $21,000 in carbon taxes alone. I ask now, as I asked back then, how exactly will the Medeiros family pay this bill when it quadruples to over $80,000 a year?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:44:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the Conservative leader is asking the government to help out the Medeiros family farm now, because, back in 2014, when the Medeiros family came to him in government and asked him for some support as they were trying to make investments and trying to continue to move forward, he told them that their project needed to “stand on its own two feet”. That is what he told that farm. We are there to support farmers right across the country, with $1.5 billion over the past few years in investments and supports. We are going to continue to be there for farmers as they fight climate change.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:45:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, actually, when the Medeiros family asked me for help, I went to Enbridge and helped them to get lower-cost natural gas to power their operation. That is the real story. Instead of reading the disinformation from the kids in short pants over in PMO, why does he not deal with the thing that is really hurting that family right now, a $21,000 monthly carbon tax bill that is passed on to the trucker who ships the food and the grocer who sells the food? Once again, how much will Canadians have to pay in higher food prices when he quadruples the carbon tax?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:46:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, back in 2014, he told that farm family to stand on their own two feet. We know what is making farmers vulnerable across this country. It is climate change. It is the fact that a changing climate causes droughts, floods and fires. Droughts, floods and fires end up hurting crops and end up hurting growers. That is why we are stepping up on fighting climate change. Farmers across this country know how important it is to sustain and protect our land. That is exactly what we are doing. That is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:46:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he mentions drugs. That is another crisis that he has caused. Going back to the cost of food, heat and groceries, the Prime Minister plans to raise the carbon tax again on April 1: another hike to the gas, the heat, the grocery bills; another hit to the Nova Scotia families who cannot afford to pay their utility bills, and another hit to working-class families while he jets around the world carbon tax-free. If he cannot have the common sense to axe the tax, will he at least cancel his plan to hike the tax on April 1?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:47:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what is the Leader of the Opposition proposing to cut for Canadians? It is the carbon rebate, the cheques that Canadians get while the price on pollution is in place, which they are relying on to enable them to both fight climate change and support their families. We are going to continue to be there to fight climate change and put more money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadian families. When he talks about cutting climate action, he is also talking about cutting those cheques that arrive in families' bank accounts four times a year.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:48:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, 60% of Canadians are paying more in carbon tax than they get back in rebates, and now we learn that 40% of Nova Scotia households are struggling to pay their electricity bills. The carbon tax, of course, applies on the share of electricity that is generated through traditional hydrocarbons and other fossil fuels. The Prime Minister is going to hit Canadians with yet another tax hike on April 1. If he cannot summon the common sense to axe the tax, will he at least cap the tax so Canadians can afford to heat?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:48:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are fighting climate change and creating a stronger economy at the same time as we ensure affordability for Canadians. The carbon rebate cheques that go right across the country in areas where the federal price applies help out eight out of 10 families with more money than they pay for the price on pollution. We will continue to be there to both invest in families and support them, while the Conservative leader proposes to cut rebate cheques to Canadians. We are going to keep doing it while we fight climate change.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:49:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, millions of Gazans rely on UNRWA for food, water and shelter. People are starving. Children are eating grass just to survive. Yes, serious allegations need to be investigated and prosecuted. No, children should not pay for this. Why is the Prime Minister fuelling this war with Canadian arms and punishing Palestinian children who did not commit a crime?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:50:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are, of course, deeply concerned with the devastating scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We recognize UNRWA's essential role in providing life-saving assistance under dangerous conditions, so we will work with the agency and other donors to support the investigation into the serious allegations against its staff. Let me be extremely clear: Our determination to provide relief to Palestinian civilians has not changed, and our work with our partners is constant. We are looking at ways to continue to provide additional support to those desperately in need, in addition to the $40 million we just announced yesterday.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:50:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knows well that no other group can do this work. I want to talk about Halifax. Halifax has the highest rate of poverty in Canada: One in five children live in poverty. Only once has a Liberal MP for Halifax raised the issue of skyrocketing food prices in the House. How out of touch is that? That is the problem with the Liberals. They pretend that everything is fine if everything is fine with their rich CEO friends. When will the Prime Minister stop working for Galen Weston and start working for Haligonians?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:51:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are working closely with the Competition Bureau. We are making sure we are passing legislation that strengthens its ability to go after the large grocery chains in this country, which are making record profits while Canadians are struggling with food prices. We will work with communities. We will work with individuals. We will work with the Competition Bureau to ensure that actually happens. We are continuing to be there for Canadians with initiatives like dental care, like increasing the Canada child benefit and like cutting child care costs in half across the country. We will continue to be there for people in Halifax and right—
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  • Jan/31/24 2:52:08 p.m.
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The hon. member for Etobicoke Centre.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:52:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister on our support for Ukraine. Ensuring Ukraine's victory is vital to Canada's security. Ukraine must win, otherwise Europe, the U.S. and Canada will be next in defending ourselves against Russia's aggression. Every Ukrainian fighting today is one less Canadian who will have to fight in the future. Every dollar we spend today means millions of dollars less that we will have to spend in the future. We understand this, but Conservatives continue to vote against support for Ukraine and against support for Canada's national security. Can the Prime Minister assure Canadians that this government will stand with the Ukrainian people until they win, until we all win?
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  • Jan/31/24 2:52:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member for Etobicoke Centre is right. Before the holidays, Canadians all witnessed the Leader of the Opposition forcing his caucus members to turn their backs on Ukraine. They turned their backs on fundamental Canadian principles and bowed down to the pro-Russian narrative. I know the leader will not change his mind, but Ukrainian-Canadians across the Prairies are hoping that at least some brave Conservative MPs will do the right thing and vote with their conscience and their principles. Let everyone in this House who stands with Ukraine stand up and be counted.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:53:36 p.m.
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I know it is Wednesday; I know it is caucus day and I know that people are primed, but I am going to ask members to please restrain themselves so that we can hear the questions and we can hear the answers. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.
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  • Jan/31/24 2:53:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister has is a pro-Russia energy policy that forces Europeans to buy their energy from Russia by denying Canadians the ability to sell our own. He prefers military equipment for Putin instead of paycheques for Canadians. He does want to export detonators and turbines to Putin, so he can pump his gas and power his landmines. Why does the Prime Minister not stop using Ukraine as a political tool and actually do something to stand up and help win the war?
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