Claudia on Carbon Tax

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth South.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I can't say that I'm pleased to stand and say a few words to this motion, because I have to say that I find the wording of this motion extremely offensive. I'm not a Liberal, I'm a New Democrat, but I would never stand up and condemn an individual - which was actually the wording of this motion, as well as the fabric of the speech that we heard from the government - because we're not here to talk about individuals. We're not here to condemn individuals; we're here to discuss policy. We're here to not impugn the reputation of individuals, yet in this motion, in this debate, and every time we stand up and say anything that the government is uncomfortable about, this is the Tories' favourite political partisan ploy: What about the carbon tax? If it weren't so tiresome, it would be entertaining.

I want to say that we are here to talk about policy. Yes, Nova Scotians are facing huge cost of living challenges. Yes, we have been talking about that day in and day out because that is what we hear about from our constituents. And yet we see so little action from this government to address it. For every time that this government says, "Liberal carbon tax," referencing a federal issue - I would say we hear that seven times as many times as we hear one constructive policy piece that actually addresses the challenges that Nova Scotians are facing.

The member opposite talked about what we could do. We could have efficient public transit. That would help people get out and reduce their carbon footprint. It would, but we don't because this government has not brought it in. We could have renewable energy. It would, but we don't because this government has not acted quickly enough. The big renewable energy projects we see right now are clearing forests and building wind capacity for a green hydrogen plan that is decades away, if it ever comes to pass.

We could empower rural communities; the government certainly isn't doing that. That's what we spent this afternoon talking about. They have abandoned rural coastal communities by not passing the Coastal Protection Act. We hear all the time that the detrimental impact of the carbon tax on rural communities is that people are forced to drive - they don't have any other options. That's true, and that's true in large part because this government has not created those options for people.

Last, as always, the member opposite raised the issue of targeted solutions. Let's talk about the targeted solutions. The Heating Assistance Rebate Program is a targeted solution; this government cut that program this year. The HEAT program from the Salvation Army - that's a targeted solution; this government cut that solution. Income assistance, that's a targeted solution, and yet the majority of income assistance recipients yet again, in real dollars, are falling farther and farther below the massive spot below the poverty line that they are already at.

It's a little bit difficult to sit here and hear this government rage against a federal policy that I guess I'll reiterate is their fault for not negotiating with the federal government when that was on the table. The previous government at least went to the table and had a conversation. This government stomped their feet and went home. Now we have the carbon pricing that is the federal backstop and that's what we're left with. That is the legacy of this government and I want that to be very clear.

You know what would really help us? You could lower our energy bills. You know how we could lower our energy bills? By reducing demand. This government could massively increase funding to reduce the demand on electricity to lower our bills, so that we use less electricity.

The Canada Greener Homes grant. You want to get mad at the federal government? Let's get mad at them for cancelling the Canada Greener Homes grant. I'd be mad at them about that. We could step into that gap. We could be leaders in demand-side management of energy and we could lower people's bills. This government is not doing that.

Instead of taking the action that we need on our climate, this government wants to yell at Ottawa. Do we think that the carbon tax increase on April 1st needs to be paused? Yes, we have been clear about that. Again today, a perfect example, that this government - their new favourite tactic is to bring in a notice of motion with no notice, in their wording, and force everyone to either vote for it or disagree. Although it was imperfect, we did support the motion that was brought in to pause the carbon tax.

What does the Minister of Environment and Climate Change do today in debate? Stand up and talk about how the Opposition supports the federal carbon tax, on the same day that the Opposition voted for their motion. It's a partisan political ploy. It's cynical, it reduces the public's trust in this place . . . (interruption).

THE SPEAKER « » : Order. The honourable member for Dartmouth South.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : It reduces the public trust in this place.

I want to close again by saying that this government - which brings a motion to condemn individual politicians in a time of deepening partisanship, in a time when it is harder and harder to do this work, in a time when this government does us no favours in terms of having a real democratic process in this House - is offensive and it's wrong. I don't even know what else to say about it.