Buckley Belanger
Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Saskatchewan · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I just want to talk about agriculture for a moment. For the last 10 years, these folks have been here literally doing nothing. Back home in Saskatchewan, we have Saskatchewan's back. In the last 10 years, it has doubled the value of the amount of all agricultural products without the federal Conservative caucus's help.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is methodically building a vast, exciting world partnership. This front bench is dealing with some very tough issues around trade wars and international conflicts. This caucus is doing the work to assist in every way possible. What the country cannot afford is the voodoo economic plan of the Conservatives.”
“Mr. Speaker, it would be really nice if I saw one Conservative visit northern Saskatchewan to deal with the issues that we are struggling with.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am uncertain where that member has been over the last number of years, but I want to give them one good example of how this government stood up for Saskatchewan when 14 of them sat on their hands for 10 long years. I am talking to the Saskatchewan Conservative MP caucus. Why did you not defend this canola deal?”
“Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the members opposite on how to grow the economy. They have been here collectively 51,000 days. That is how long the Conservatives from Saskatchewan have sat here and done absolutely nothing to help Saskatchewan or our Canadian economy.”
“As a correction, Mr. Speaker, we have created 164,000 new jobs since September. The member from Regina mentioned a great leader from Saskatchewan. I will compare Ralph Goodale's record to the entire Conservative caucus from Saskatchewan any day of the week.”
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“(1330) We also spent hundreds of millions of dollars helping the provinces address the challenge of child care. I was in Saskatchewan several weeks ago, where I announced a $1.6-billion child care package. It is meant to help Saskatchewan families so that moms and dads, caregivers, are able to go to work without having really high day care costs to pay. What did I announce that day on behalf of the Government of Canada for all Canadians? I announced that the $10-a-day day care support package will remain in place so day care is affordable for working families. It is working. Men and women are rejoining the workforce because child care is no longer a deterrent. They are building up our economy. They are working. They are making good money. They are paying taxes. Most families that we know are very appreciative of that.”
“The talking point in rural Saskatchewan is not affordability; it is whether families can stay in the community they love, and the government is making sure they can. Let me go to some of the points we are working on. Affordability means access to essential services and support for middle- and low-income families. I am also proud to say we are also going to provide support for people who pay a lot of taxes and for people who realize the cost of living is really high. We know the issues are out there, and we want to do something to address that. I want to go down a list of some of some of the issues I have learned about over the last nine months I have been an MP. The government has delivered a tax break for 22 million Canadians by eliminating the consumer carbon tax. This was done by our Prime Minister , and it was done fairly quickly.”
“As I tour some of the stores back home in my community of Île-à-la-Crosse, I notice that on some of the produce, more importantly the fruit, it says, “product of U.S.A.” Really it comes from California. We ship in food to stock at our store in northern Saskatchewan, and it is products of the U.S.A. We have enjoyed the trade over many decades with the U.S, and we can see that, obviously, the whole world is part of a trading perspective and that trade really does have influence on prices. Back home, what can we as a Canadian government, what can the Prime Minister , cabinet and caucus do to help all Canadians with the affordability issue? I want to spend a few moments on what we are doing to reduce costs and help families that are struggling.”
“I have been an MP for 10 months, and I can say to the people of Saskatchewan, of which I represent the northern part, that I have seen the incredible amount of work the team on this side of the House has done to address the affordability piece, and it is wide-ranging. We are dealing with the challenge of trade throughout the world, including the fact that there have been all the tariffs put in place for Canadians. These are really tough moments for our country. I will point out that the government, this team and all the people, including industry players, provincial leaders, producers and all the other folks, have all come together to stand up for Canada. We know, as we look at trade in general, they dictate a lot of prices.”
“The third point I would make is that, with respect to the plan the Conservatives supposedly have, in my view, they have never developed a plan to address affordability for low- and medium-income Canadians ever. They have never had a plan, will never have a plan and certainly will not address those issues if, heaven forbid, they ever become the Government of Canada. We do not take any lessons from the Conservatives on food affordability, especially not from the Leader of the Opposition , because he does not have any proven track record to address those matters. I just want to say at the outset that I oppose the motion on the premise that the Conservatives' history does not lend itself to having any credible argument when it comes to food affordability.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am practising my French, but I will be speaking in English today. [ English ] I thank members for their patience as I struggle through trying to learn the French language as best I can. I stand today in opposition to the Leader of the Official Opposition 's motion on the affordability matter the Conservatives brought forward, based on two premises. First, in my history in politics, which spans a short time, I remember that, in all the experience I have had in dealing with Conservatives, they talk about low-income people but I have since no evidence in any of their existence that they care about the low-income sector, the low-income families throughout this country. I even dare say I have never seen them do anything about any initiative for the middle-class people of our great country of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am not sure which Saskatchewan people the member is speaking with, but the Saskatchewan people I am speaking to talk about the $10-a-day day care. They talk about the reduction of GST on homes. They talk about the school food program. Now they will talk about the Canada groceries and essential benefit, $11.7 billion that will help many Saskatchewan families. Saskatchewan families do not ask for much, just a fair shot and some breathing room at the end of the month.”
“Mr. Speaker, as with any serious disease, the government will respond to this. We will work with all the officials involved, including our provincial counterparts. The House leader, who has a very kind heart, said to be kind when he answered the questions in some of your interventions. I am going to wish you all the gift of greater tolerance for all people. In the new year, I wish the Conservatives would place the priorities of Canada above your own political agenda. In this new year—”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister answered that question twice already. I am not a mathematician, nor am I an economist, but when we talk about investments, I calculate that the 14 Saskatchewan Conservative MPs who have been sent to Ottawa over the last 10 years cost us $30,800,000. There is no return on investment. The people of Saskatchewan deserve better. Merry Christmas and happy new year.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us see what this tired, old opposition has accomplished in the last 10 years. As for addressing food affordability, there is zero achievement. As for addressing housing needs, there is zero achievement. As for building major projects, there is zero achievement. As for addressing the challenge of tariffs, there is zero achievement. However, their negative attitude towards Canada must stop, because if the Conservatives do not stop attacking Canada, I am saying today that I am going to take every single one of them off my Christmas card list.”
“Mr. Speaker, once again, they are calling down Canada. They are calling down Saskatchewan. As the Leader of the Opposition pontificates from the comfort of Stornoway, our leader, the Prime Minister of Canada, is busy fighting for every inch of trade opportunity in this changing world. The men and women on this side of the House are helping win that fight, and Canada is going to continue that fight, with or without the opposition.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the Saskatchewan Conservative caucus that 14 of them were elected over a period of 10 years. That is 140 collective years that we have had Conservative representation from Saskatchewan. What have they accomplished in those 10 years on housing, on trade and on infrastructure? They have accomplished nothing.”
“Mr. Speaker, for 10 long years, I have been telling the people of Saskatchewan that, as a result of the mismanagement under Stephen Harper, the government has spent these years cleaning up Harper's mess so we can go on a bold new journey. There is $51 billion set aside to help Canada build its communities. That is an impressive amount of money. The Saskatchewan MP should wake up, vote for the budget and back up Saskatchewan.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the Conservatives have not developed a budget in the last 10 years, so they are a little out of practice. What part of this budget would they cut? Would it be the RCMP heritage project? Would it be the thousands of houses that we are going to commit to building in Saskatchewan? Would they shut down the nation-building mine in northern Saskatchewan, or take out the $370 million in biofuels to benefit our canola farmers? Would they vote against $257.6 million for firefighting aircraft? Where would you cut? What would you sacrifice on Saskatchewan's behalf?”
“Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that when it comes to the budget, Saskatchewan is watching. Saskatchewan is here. For 10 years, the Saskatchewan Conservatives have voted against billions of dollars in project commitments and programs that would have helped my home province move faster and build stronger. They did this just for their petty and immature political games. That ends today, because this Saskatchewan MP is voting for the budget and for the interests of Saskatchewan.”
“The Conservatives stand up and have the audacity to attack this budget. Can the member elaborate on what she would cut and what she has turned down in the last 10 years?”
“Madam Speaker, in terms of the generational investments we speak of in this budget, I will ask the member from Saskatchewan what exactly the Conservatives would cut from it if they had that opportunity. I want to hear her perspective on that. More importantly, for the last 10 years, Saskatchewan has been sending Conservative MPs to Ottawa. What exactly did they advise the people of Saskatchewan not to do regarding the opportunities and programs offered by the federal government, in particular this government, for the people of Saskatchewan? Why have the Conservatives not taken advantage of the opportunities over the years? In the last 10 years, 14 Conservative MPs have represented my province in the House. How much did they turn down because of their political agenda versus what was good for Saskatchewan?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that rural Canada wants the investment the budget affords. It is all that Canada needs. We are going stand to support rural Canada. In Saskatchewan, I want to tell our MPs and Conservative MPs that Saskatchewan is watching. All we are asking those guys to do is what they have been doing for the last 10 years on the budget vote, which is to sit this one out so that Saskatchewan can finally get help for the province to reach its full potential. Come on board.”
“Mr. Speaker, I ask the Conservatives to join the rest of the country and love our country. I love Canada. They all seem to call Canada down. On this side of the assembly, we are marketing Canada, something those guys should do. On this side of the aisle, we are defending Canada, something those guys should do as well. At the end of the day, we are building while they are tearing down Canada. Shame on them. Let us get on the same page. Canadians deserve that.”
“Mr. Speaker, for 10 long years, we sent 14 Conservative MPs to Ottawa. That is 140 collective years over which they have not stood up for Saskatchewan or voted for any positive measures to help with the affordability issue across the country. They can help today by voting for the budget. If they want a Christmas election, they should remember that Santa Claus wears red.”
“Mr. Speaker, in the last number of weeks, I have been trying to learn French. I want to say to the people of Canada, when we see a lot of measures that we are undertaking as a government to make life more affordable, we see opposition from the opposition on really good measures. I have learned, in English, to say that they are the problem. In my native language of Cree, [ Member spoke in Cree ] [ English ] I have now learned, in French, tu es le problème . The bottom line is—”
“Mr. Speaker, as the Conservatives speak about the challenges in this country, I am going to ask the Leader of the Opposition what he got as severance when the current member for Carleton defeated him at the polls. How much did he take?”
“Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the question, because we all know, on this side of the House, that the Conservatives never gave a dang about low-income people and never will. I will point again to a memo to the Conservatives: First, Canadians do not want a Christmas election, and second, I would ask the Leader of the Opposition — Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative MPs coming to Ottawa, collectively, with the 14 of them coming, that is 140 years, and that is the first question we got from a Saskatchewan perspective. In my riding, Saskatchewan is finally here on the government side. We are going to address housing. We are going to address the cost of living. I am glad that the Conservatives from Saskatchewan have finally woken up.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to point out from a Saskatchewan perspective that people are celebrating the hundreds of thousands of homes we are building for families across the country. That celebration is in Saskatchewan as well. We have the lunch program, as indicated, and all the supports of different types for families across this great country. Again, from the federal government perspective, we are going to be there for families, and that includes in Saskatchewan.”
“Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that I have been hearing the Conservatives complain about food prices, but not hearing one solution, not one idea, nor one iota of support for some of the measures we have taken on this side of the House. Those are empty, hollow words. My message to the Leader of the Opposition and the Conservative caucus is this: Slogans do not put food on the table.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke in French, and then she spoke in English, and the Tories still did not get it, so I will speak slowly. This is not about hunting. This is not about infringing upon people who are out there legally hunting. I have met a lot of people from rural Saskatchewan and northern Saskatchewan who enjoy hunting. This is not about hunting; it is about stopping the violence, stopping the AK-47s from crossing our border and keeping—”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is the third-largest oil-producing country in the world. That is something we should be proud of. In Saskatchewan, where I come from, we have a phrase: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. These guys cannot lead, and they are too arrogant to follow, so they should at least get out of the way.”
“Mr. Speaker, the problem with the Conservatives is that half of them do not like Poilievre, the other half like Poilievre and the other half cannot count. They ought to look at Canada as a country with the third-largest— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Of course, Mr. Speaker, we support oil and the development of all energy options across this great country, but we also support the indigenous community because we realize, as a country, we must engage the indigenous community. Even for them, this is a journey of economic and social justice. The benefits of anything we do, oil, gas or development, that engages indigenous people will be long-lasting. We must reach all the people of our great country, including the indigenous community, in every corner of our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, absolutely, compassion comes first. There is no question in my mind that resilience will come second. However, we have to have a full partnership of federal, provincial, local, municipal and indigenous people who can really build a solid response to this crisis.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question to ask. It is one of the reasons why, as a federal government, we have to make sure we coordinate and work very closely with all the partners involved. That is exactly what we intend to do. We are going to work with the premier and the people of Saskatchewan to address this issue head-on. All it takes is co-operation. At this point in time, I want to thank the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience , who has been doing an amazing job. She has provided great leadership, and I really admire some of the extra work that she has put in these last several weeks. We will stand with Saskatchewan at this very devastating time.”
“Mr. Speaker, in this time of crisis, when families are being threatened and their homes are being burned, there are things that we can do to address the situation as we speak. The member speaks of the forestry industry. The forestry industry is a vibrant part of our economy and a vibrant part of our country. I am going to say again that at the present time, homes are burning and businesses are being destroyed. When the west is on fire, we get this kind of response from the members opposite. Shame.”
“I am telling them that the northern part of Saskatchewan is burning up, as it is in Manitoba, and we are here to share their stories and push hard to tell them that there is hope. I want to recognize all the folks who have done tremendous work: the first responders, the Red Cross, the leaders, the men and women who are helping care for the evacuees and the evacuees themselves. This is not something that we simply speak about. We need to have action attached to words. Once again, I will say that from our perspective as a federal government, we will be there for Manitoba, we will be there for Saskatchewan and we will be there for all of Canada.”
“Sadly, in this day and age, wildfire season has become a permanent fixture for too many people across our great country, but as I mentioned, the people of Saskatchewan, and in particular the people of northern Saskatchewan, are resilient. Tonight is a tough night for them. The next several weeks are going to be tough for them, and the next several months even tougher. Through helping each other, supporting each other and, quite frankly, in many ways praying for each other, I think we will survive this storm, but boy, there are a lot of people who are hurting and who are devastated by what is happening in my own community. I will tell the people of Canada that, yes, I wish that I was there right now, but I am not; I am here.”
“I came home several days ago, and I came back to Ottawa after visiting my home communities and seeing the devastation first-hand. I am now going back in a couple more days. Canada has to realize that these families, these areas and these regions need our assistance. As I said at the outset, when I was asked a question about how we can help and make things better, the answer is that the federal government is ready and standing by to help. One of the reasons I am here in Ottawa is to tell the people of Canada that the west has always been a proud part of our country. They need our understanding now, and most certainly they need our help.”
“(2135) A young mother, Shayna Richie, from Denare Beach, said that she just got confirmation that her whole house burned down and her whole neighbourhood is gone. These are some of the quotes of the many people who are impacted by this wildfire. As I mentioned at the outset, the devastation is complete. There is something we have to say as MPs for that area. We are telling Canadians that it is time for us to look at the wildfires of the west and help the cause in some way, with a telephone call, a donation or even just prayers, because we are battling a huge crisis in northern Saskatchewan. It is my home territory. It is my home riding. Some people may wonder what I am doing in Ottawa when I should be with my communities and my people.”
“For the first two or three days, it was basically their local volunteer firefighters working on this fire. The SPSA then brought in some firefighters, but not nearly enough. With high temperatures and high, uncooperative winds, air support has been very inconsistent. They have been asking for everyone they can think of to come and help because they are in dire need of more firefighters and other resources. Their neighbouring community has lost numerous homes and infrastructure. This fire is now on three sides of them, and they are in desperate times. He said he is cognizant of proper protocol, but they need help, whether from the province or the federal government. They are working to save their community and residents and need support.”
“The next leader is Chief Joyce Naytowhow McLeod of Montreal Lake Cree Nation. Chief Joyce said: These wildfires are pushing our communities to the edge, and the situation is growing more serious by the hour. We’re seeing the toll this is taking—on our families, on our health, and on our homelands. This joint declaration reflects our urgency and our unity. We are asking for timely and coordinated action so that our Nations can continue to protect our people with the full backing and partnership of government. Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council said, plainly and simply, “This is the time for real partnership and immediate action.” Bruce Fidler, the mayor of the town of Creighton, Saskatchewan, said that for eight days now, there has been a fire burning right on their doorstep.”
“This is not a movie. It is really a tragic time for the people of Canada. I spoke about telling the stories of the people who are bravely out there, and there are many leaders who certainly have answered the call as well. I want to share a few comments, which I think are really important. One such leader is Chief Peter A. Beatty of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. He said: We've already seen over 5,500 members [of our community] evacuated, and the situation is changing by the hour. With wildfires forcing full evacuations in Denare Beach and Pelican Narrows—and thousands more at risk—we are facing an escalating crisis. Many of our communities are becoming boxed in due to road closures and limited evacuation routes. We are doing everything possible on the ground, but this situation is beyond our capacity to manage alone.”
“There are so many brave people trying to do their very best, yet despite the fact that we always speak of Saskatchewan's resilience and of northern Saskatchewan's people's strength and resilience, it is devastating to see that some homes have been burned to the ground and that families have scurried out of our communities in a hurry so their lives do not become threatened. As we speak, a number of homes have burned. Some say it is as high as 150 homes in Denare Beach. Some say it is 30 homes in Sucker River. There are businesses burning in La Ronge, which is one of the biggest towns in my riding, as we speak, and there are some very brave men and women trying to fight back. Despite the smoke and the impending fire that will be coming their way, many of them are still at the front line trying their darndest to save their homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Oakville West . I want to preface the messages that I have tonight by saying that I have always promised as a candidate, before having the courtesy of serving as the MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, to tell our stories, so I have come here to share with the people of Canada and the House of Commons some of the challenges, some of the opportunities and some of the aspirations of many of my constituents back home. Unfortunately, tonight it is a story of fires, of how families have lost their lives, their belongings and their homes, and of how businesses, as we speak, are burning.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a very serious matter. I was home in Saskatchewan this weekend; I met with the premier, and we had a very good press conference. I met with Métis and indigenous leaders. I met with local leaders, and I met with a lot of different groups, including evacuees who are struggling during this very challenging time. Many of my constituents were forced to flee their homes. Certainly our prayers are sent out to them. I will say quickly that the federal government is ready to assist. We will be there for Saskatchewan. We will be there for Manitoba. We will be there for all of Canada.”