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Ag in the House: Sept. 23 – 27

Ag in the House: Sept. 23 – 27

Conservatives continued to challenge the Liberals to call a carbon tax election

The Conservatives used their time in question period multiple times to challenge the Liberals to call an election.

On Sept. 23, for example, Eric Duncan, the Conservative MP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, highlighted how the carbon tax affects Canadians.

“The trucking industry says it adds $4 billion a year. Farmers are going to pay $1 billion more in carbon taxes, and food banks in every part of this country are seeing skyrocketing use,” he told the House before asking the government for an election to let Canadians decide on the carbon tax.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault responded by saying interest rates, inflation, gas prices and pollution are all down.

On the issue of taxation, Stephanie Kusie, the Conservative MP for Calgary Midnapore, told the House that the new capital gains tax “will add a 30% tax increase on food producers at a time when the cost of food has already skyrocketed.”

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s response said “only 40,000 individual Canadians have capital gains above $250,000,” and that it makes sense for those who have more to support everyone else.

On Sept. 24., John Barlow, the Conservative ag critic, told the House that the carbon tax is driving up costs for farmers, truckers, food manufacturers, and at the grocery store.

He then called for a carbon tax election.

Élisabeth Brière, the parliamentary secretary to the ministers of families, mental health and addictions, and health, responded by saying the government’s school food program will help feed children.

On Sept. 25, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet asked Prime Minister Trudeau if his government will commit to the Oct. 29 deadline to pass bills to protect supply management and support seniors.

“Mr. Speaker, we, on this side of the House, have already repeatedly demonstrated that our priorities include help for seniors and protecting supply management. We have shown that and will continue to do so,” Trudeau told the House. “We are very open to continuing to work with other members of the House to respond to the expectations of seniors and farmers.”

For context, the Bloc put an ultimatum on the Liberals to pass two bills by Oct. 29 or it would work with other parties to topple the government.

One of those is Bill C-282, which protects supply management from future trade deals. That bill is currently in the Senate.

Blanchet pressed the prime minister on the issues later on in question period.

“Does the Prime Minister realize that the clock is ticking?” Blanchet said. “Will he actually start delivering results for seniors and farmers?”

Trudeau reaffirmed his commitment to dairy producers.

“With regard to farmers, I made a promise that no new negotiations or any negotiations for free trade agreements would infringe on or take anything away from our supply-managed sectors,” he said. “We are here to protect our farmers. I have made this firm commitment, and we will always fulfill that commitment.”

On Sept. 26, a Bloc MP asked the government again about Bill C-282.

Yves Perron, the Bloc’s ag critic, wants the bill to be passed in the Senate.

“The House voted in favour of the bill, but it has been stuck in the Senate for more than a year,” he said. “The Prime Minister appointed 80% of the senators. Will he tell them that it is time to release the bill?

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay responded.

The government supports supply management.

“We supported Bill C-282 because, of course, we have supported and always will support supply management, unlike the Conservatives, who fell shamefully behind when important funding for supply management came to the House and voted against it,” the minister said.

The Bloc continued its call for support of Bill C-282 on Sept. 27.

Luc Theriault, the MP for Montcalm, asked if the government would send a message to the senate – pass C-282 or an election will be called.

Francis Drouin, the parliamentary secretary to Minister MacAulay, provided a response.

He said the government stood up for dairy farmers in CUSMA negotiations in 2018.


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