Will Greaves
Victoria, British Columbia · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, across British Columbia, workers and communities know how important the forestry sector is to our economy. As Canada's forest ministers met this week in Langford on beautiful Vancouver Island to discuss the future of forestry, workers face unjustified U.S.”
“Mr. Speaker, wild Pacific salmon are a part of who we are for everyone who calls British Columbia or Yukon home. Climate change and habitat loss are already putting additional pressure on this threatened species. We have a responsibility to help this species rebuild.”
“The Salish Sea, which surrounds my region and my riding, is an intricate ecosystem, home to species such as the southern resident killer whale and the chinook salmon. These species are put at risk when pollutants are introduced in our waterways, and we have a duty to act. The clean coasts act is a common-sense, preventative measure.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to speak as the member of Parliament for Victoria in support of the clean coasts act, put forward by my colleague, the hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country .”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to continue. I want to start again by expressing the thanks and appreciation that everybody in my community has to the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of southern Vancouver Island, the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ nations, whose stewardship of and care for the lands and waters that we live on today…”
“There is not one perfect solution to this issue, but I commend my colleague for putting forward Bill C-244 , which would take important steps in the right direction. The bill would target the irresponsible transfer of vessel ownership. In Victoria, I hear of these instances far too often.”
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“The Government of Canada is continuing to work on fulfilling its obligations under modern treaties and building and maintaining true nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Inuit-Crown relationships with modern treaty partners. Though we have made important progress like developing Canada's collaborative modern treaty implementation policy, there is still much more to do. For more than 20 years, modern treaty partners have been calling for more oversight to address persistent modern treaty implementation issues and to hold the federal government accountable to Parliament for its modern treaty responsibilities. That is exactly why, in May 2024, at the intergovernmental leaders' forum, the government announced its intention to create a new agent of Parliament: the commissioner for modern treaty implementation.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Pickering—Brooklin. Kwe kwe , ulaakut and tanshi . Let me start by acknowledging that Canada's Parliament is located on the unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin people, whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. I am pleased to speak today about the proposed commissioner for modern treaty implementation act and to highlight some of the key points contained in this legislation as well as the roles and responsibilities of the newly proposed agent of Parliament. For 50 years, modern treaties have been fundamental to our work to advance reconciliation with indigenous peoples. They promote strong and sustainable indigenous communities and help make sure that indigenous peoples can decide what is best for their future.”
“Notwithstanding, the issue I question the member on is whether he will accept the view of coastal first nations in our province, who have said very clearly just in the last week that they do not support a project from Alberta that is as yet completely unspecified being built to the B.C. coast. The member is clear and correct in his assertion of first nations' rights and title. He is deeply experienced on this file. Will he respect the rights and title of coastal first nations in B.C.?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is frustrating to hear my hon. colleague, who is also from British Columbia, repeating some of the selective amnesia of his fellow members on the other side of the aisle around just how much development has happened in our province over recent years. Despite the member's assertions otherwise, there have been at least four major energy projects, including two major pipelines; a major LNG facility, which I know the member knows well; and the Site C dam have all been constructed in B.C., with a value that the Vancouver Board of Trade estimates at around $80 billion for British Columbia's economy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very encouraged to have heard both the hon. member and his Conservative colleague who spoke earlier refer to the impacts of climate change in their addresses before the House. It is a refreshing change. We hear a great deal of criticism from our Conservative colleagues about, more or less, every climate change and emissions reduction policy that the government has undertaken. I would love to hear from the member what suggestions he would put forward for how, in his community, in his riding and in Atlantic Canada, we could implement policies that would address the root cause of climate change and improve adaptation to climate change in a way that the member would find acceptable.”
“When the government is supporting major projects or other projects, it is doing so not with a vision to the energy future of the past but with its eyes clearly set on the horizon of the clean energy future of tomorrow.”
“Madam Speaker, as the member for Carleton said earlier in his remarks, the world is in the midst of a clean-energy transition. This is a revolution in the way human beings produce the energy that we need to live our lives, and it is well under way across this planet. When I hear concerns about stranded assets and when I hear concerns about making poor investments, what my mind goes to and what the conversation in my province of British Columbia goes to is the risk of sinking billions and billions of dollars of investment into what is ultimately the 20th century's form of energy, which will not be profitable over the long term in this century.”
“Madam Speaker, there are a number of tools that the Government of Canada has introduced to ensure that people in the business and industry sectors have the signals and the regulatory framework necessary to drive down their emissions. One of the most important tools is the industrial price on carbon. This is the cornerstone of how it is that heavy emitters in this country, very much including the oil and gas sector, would have the price incentive to clean up their business model to reduce how much pollution they produce in the course of their operations. This government and the Prime Minister have committed to maintaining and strengthening the industrial price on carbon alongside new measures that will be introduced in the coming session.”
“Madam Speaker, I am not sure that the hon. member directed a question to me in his remarks. He referred to the member for Carleton . I was an excellent student and never spent any time in the principal's office. I will defer to my hon. colleague for his time in detention, which undoubtedly exceeds my own.”
“Canada can position itself as a global leader in responsible energy production and clean technology development. We can and we must. This is not just about reducing emissions; it is also about building the economy of the future, one that sustains prosperity, meets our climate commitments and ensures that Canadian workers, communities and businesses have the tools they need to thrive.”
“The clean technology, clean hydrogen, clean electricity, and carbon capture, utilization and storage investment tax credits implemented by our government will play an important role in driving investments, including in the oil and gas sector. To further support this goal, the government will ensure that the full value of the CCUS investment tax credit is extended to 2035. In short, clean tech is the key to unlocking emissions reduction in the oil and gas sector. It will allow us to reconcile two vital imperatives: cutting our emissions and sustaining our prosperity. Our government will continue to work with industry, provinces, territories, indigenous partners and communities to drive down emissions, foster innovation and build a low-carbon economy that is competitive, resilient and sustainable.”
“Leading Canadian clean technology firms have gained international success because of our government's efforts on methane. Federal, provincial and territorial carbon pricing systems for industry play a key role in driving clean technology. The government is committed to improving the federal system and actively working with provincial and territorial governments to ensure that carbon markets continue to function well and to ensure that they establish a long-term signal to lock in future investments. The Canada growth fund plays a pivotal role in accelerating emissions reduction in Canada's oil and gas sector by addressing one of the main barriers to large-scale investment: market and policy uncertainty around future carbon prices through carbon contracts for difference.”
“Failure to meet evolving international standards could severely restrict Canada's access to these crucial markets in future. By acting swiftly and effectively to reduce methane emissions, Canada's energy industry can enhance its competitiveness, secure access to global markets and diversify its energy exports from traditional reliance on the United States. This strategic shift is vital from both an economic and an environmental perspective. The government is committed to helping the oil and gas sector succeed in its commitments to decarbonize. Our actions include methane regulations implemented by the federal and provincial governments, which have spurred an internationally recognized ecosystem of innovation and a robust methane mitigation industry here at home.”
“Another area in which the oil and gas sector must curb its emissions is with respect to methane. In 2023, 45% of Canada's total methane emissions originated from the oil and gas sector. Methane mitigation is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions. Canadian companies are already global leaders in this space, from designing sensors and satellites to detect emissions to developing the software and analytical methods to process the data, providing the service to repair leaks, and designing and manufacturing the equipment to reduce or capture vented and flared gas. (1800) Many of these reductions can generate revenues that help fund GHG mitigation efforts. This creates good jobs at home and gives us an edge in international markets from Europe to Asia that demand cleaner energy.”
“The government is committed to becoming a world leader in carbon removal and sequestration technology, but industry itself recognizes what is at stake and has committed to developing carbon capture utilization and storage technologies as a key tool for reducing the environmental impacts of the energy sector and meeting its obligations. The Pathways Alliance was recently identified by the government as being on track for consideration as a project of national interest. This industry group represents 95% of Canada's oil sands production and has proposed a vast carbon transportation and storage network to cut its emissions by 22 million tonnes per year by 2030. This reflects the scale of change required and represents an opportunity to lower emissions and grow Canada's clean tech sector.”
“Canada is a world leader in clean tech and is home to several companies developing innovative clean technology solutions that are important for decreasing emissions from the oil and gas sector. This includes methane detection and measurement, nuclear fusion, geothermal energy, long-duration energy storage, and carbon capture and storage. These and other technologies have the potential to better manage our resources while working to eliminate scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. Canada's strengths position us to lead in developing, deploying and exporting the solutions needed to reduce emissions not just from oil and gas but across all heavy industries.”
“The good news is that Canadian companies are stepping up, with innovative clean technology companies working with the energy sector through initiatives like the Clean Resource Innovation Network, which received $227 million from the strategic innovation fund. These collaborations help make our energy sector more sustainable by decreasing emissions. Clean technologies will be central to that effort, providing solutions that reduce environmental impact, boost resource efficiency and support economic growth. Adopting clean technology is a strategic choice that, when commercialized and adopted at scale, will enable our industries to support the achievement of Canada's climate targets. No single solution will deliver all the reductions we need, but taken together, they can lower emissions, improve efficiency and support good jobs.”
“The global energy system is changing at an unprecedented speed, and countries that can produce energy while driving down emissions will be the ones that succeed in the decades ahead. While Canada's energy resources have helped support our economic prosperity, oil and gas production accounts for 30% of our overall greenhouse gas emissions as a nation. While Canada's emissions across the economy have fallen by 8.5% since 2005, emissions from oil and gas have increased by nearly 7% over the same period of time. This contrast underscores the scale of this challenge. If other sectors are doing their part, Canada's biggest-emitting industry must do so as well.”
“Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands . I am pleased to rise today to speak to the motion submitted by the member for Battle River—Crowfoot . To succeed in a more competitive world, Canada must define and invest in its competitive strengths. This includes our energy sector, which remains a major driver of our economy and jobs across the country. In 2023, oil and gas accounted for 7.7% of Canada's GDP and $160 billion in exports. We also have proven reserves of over 1.7 billion barrels of oil, most of which are found in Canada's oil sands. At the same time, for Canada to prosper we must find ways to reduce emissions from oil and gas and lay the foundation for a low-carbon economy. Building a competitive low-carbon economy is not just an environmental imperative; it is an economic one.”
“I invite the member to actually come to British Columbia and see that this narrative that the Conservative Party is propagating is incorrect.”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague and I represent ridings on opposite sides of the country, and there is a lot of space between Newfoundland and Vancouver Island, and my riding of Victoria. I understand that the member may not be entirely familiar with what we have lived through in British Columbia over the last 10 years. I will share that we have seen a huge amount of economic development, growth and resource extraction in our province. We have seen the government support not only the construction of a new pipeline to tidewater but also new LNG projects in our province. We have seen investments in mines and infrastructure. We have seen a 400% increase in the number of oil tankers that pass my riding of Victoria every day from the port of Burnaby, where the TMX pipeline ends.”
“Mr. Speaker, as a fellow member from Vancouver Island, I share the concerns about the crime that is affecting many of our communities, but under the previous Conservative government, many of the criminal justice reforms that were passed have since been struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, so I wonder if the member could share with the House what measures or due diligence she and her colleagues have taken to ensure that these Conservative reforms are constitutional.”
“Some of those proposed changes include requiring the disclosure of a criminal record to one's partner upon receiving a marriage licence, as well as a variety of other measures that I trust the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada will take up in this session.”
“Mr. Speaker, my thanks go to the hon. member opposite for bringing attention, and her passion, to this very important and indeed deeply touching issue. I wish to bring to the member's attention, in case she is not yet aware, a petition that has been moved by the loved ones of Bailey McCourt from Kelowna, whom the member referenced. This tragic story, which occurred this summer in British Columbia, my home province, touched many of us and has rippled out widely across our communities. In that context, it is my great privilege to be the parliamentary sponsor for a petition that Bailey's loved ones have brought forward. It calls for a number of revisions to the Criminal Code to address some of the shortcomings and gaps that may have contributed to the tragic loss of her life at the hands of her former partner.”
“Mr. Speaker, as a fellow member from British Columbia, I wonder if the hon. member for Cloverdale—Langley City would recognize the significant investments in infrastructure and fossil fuel development that have happened in our province in the last 10 years: not only the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion but also LNG Canada, the largest private sector investment in this country's history, of $40 billion, and the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Contrary to the hon. member's statements, there has been a lot of growth and investment in this sector. Will the member acknowledge it?”
“My question for the hon. member opposite is this: Will he stand up and stand with this government's commitment to both growing Canada's energy sector, our energy economy, and protecting our environment?”
“Madam Speaker, I must say it is disappointing to hear our Conservative colleagues yet again attacking this government's environmental record, including policies that are vital to us in the real west, living on the Pacific coast in British Columbia, who have seen full well the government's commitment to both environmental protection and energy extraction. However, we know the Conservatives are not entirely opposed to environmental policy, because they love recycling. Currently, they are in the process of recycling their leaders. The current Leader of the Opposition is also the former leader of the opposition, having been judged and rejected by the Canadian public in 2019. The former member for Carleton is in the process of being recycled, though I do not know if this is upcycling for the people of Battle River—Crowfoot.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member opposite on his election. I look forward to working with him in this chamber. However, like we did from many of his colleagues, we heard in his maiden speech more hyperbole and exaggeration than actual fact or analysis of the reality of this country after a number of very difficult years due to major, historically world altering circumstances. The member suggested that Canadians deserve honesty and respect, and I could not agree more. I wonder whether the member would agree that one way to show honesty and respect to Canadians would be to acknowledge that, in the election that we just had, his party was found wanting, his party's leader lost his seat and Canadians chose the Liberal Party to form the Government of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt about the impact that the trade war thrust upon us by the United States is having on Canada's economy. That is why the government is focused on ensuring and strengthening our domestic economy so that we can provide employment to all Canadians, including young Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, the priorities that I have been sent here to Ottawa to advocate for by my community are very clear. As a community, we have deep concerns about the state of critical infrastructure across Victoria and across the south island. We need to invest in infrastructure that will make us more resilient in the face of climate impacts and extreme weather events, as well as the kind of infrastructure that will help us to actually reduce our emissions, such as more dense and sustainable housing built with Canadian materials and public transit so that people can get to work without driving their vehicles. That is how we are going to tackle climate change every day.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada, like the governments of all other countries, is not quite the same thing as a family. We are a Canadian family, but government finances look a little bit different. We will be seeing the government introduce a budget in the fall, and we look forward to being able to address the member's concerns then.”
“Mr. Speaker, the impacts that Abbotsford experienced from extreme weather events and natural disasters show the vulnerability of British Columbian communities, and communities from coast to coast to coast, to the effects of climate change. The natural disasters and climate-related impacts in 2021 alone cost British Columbia between 3% and 5% of our GDP. That is exactly why we cannot afford to not take action on climate change and why the government is committed to continuing to invest in critical infrastructure and adaptation that will prevent such disasters in the future.”
“A vibrant part of our city has been hollowed out by a national drug crisis that continues to take lives and dignity at a staggering pace. People in the grip of addiction are dying in plain sight. Some are beyond the reach of help; others are begging for it. This is not just a housing crisis. It is a drug crisis, a mental health crisis and a call to action for improved national coordination. We must offer real solutions that restore safety and dignity, both for those living on the streets and for the communities around them. That too is what economic leadership looks like. As a proud—”
“In fact, under the Liberal government, Alberta oil output is at record levels while it maintains some of the highest standards for oil production in the world. [ Translation ] Despite the opposition's rhetoric, our government takes Canadian jobs seriously. Today, we are supporting jobs while preparing our economy for the energy system of the future. (1515) [ English ] That means scaling up clean technology and renewable energy projects and building the national west-to-east infrastructure to support them. Our platform is clear: A prosperous future must also be a sustainable one. However, sustainable growth is not just about GDP or emissions targets. It is about ensuring that no community is left behind. In Victoria, the toxic opioid crisis has pushed entire blocks of our downtown core, such as Pandora Avenue, to the brink.”
“We will draw on the wisdom of indigenous knowledge, the strength of modern technology and the power of a united Canada to protect more lands, more waters and more of the natural infrastructure that sustains us. We have an opportunity to lead the world in sustainable economic growth and to leave our children a country worth not only inheriting but celebrating. Canada truly has the power to be the strongest economy in the G7. By investing in our resources, our skills and our people, we can show economic leadership in sustainable ways. Canada is an energy superpower, which is clear to those of us in the west because Canadian oil moves through the Trans Mountain pipeline and goes to market on tankers that sail past my riding every day.”
“Mr. Speaker, as a coastal community, we in Victoria are surrounded by the evidence of climate change: rising sea levels, intensifying storms, smoke-choked skies and forests devoured by wildfires. We live it. We breathe it. We see the damage mounting with every passing season. As I speak, the province of Manitoba is under a state of emergency, and I extend my sympathies to the people being evacuated from their homes and to their representatives in the House. Tomorrow, it could be anywhere. The climate crisis is not a future threat. It is a present reality. It is costing us more than just our natural spaces. It is taking our livelihoods, our health and, if we fail to act, our children's future. I am proud to stand with a Liberal government that understands what is at stake. That is why we are acting with urgency and ambition.”
“We are a sovereign nation with a voice, a vision and a vital role to play in the world, and we are stronger than those within our borders who would seek to divide us for their own political gain. They have tried before and failed. They may try again, but they will fail again, because Canadians are rightly proud of what we have built and clear-eyed about what we must still do together. One thing we must do together is combat climate change. Climate change is not a debate; it is a fact: undeniable, unrelenting and already shaping the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. In my riding of Victoria, we do not have the luxury of denial. As a coastal island community, we are surrounded by the evidence of rising sea levels, intensifying storms, smoke-choked skies—”
“I am the proud son of a Canadian mother and a Dominican father, the grandson of an English-Canadian grandfather and a French-Canadian grandmother, and the product of a history of peoples in Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. [ English ] As an academic and professor who has lived and worked across Canada and around the world, I have seen how fortunate we are and understand the work it takes to build a just society and maintain a robust democracy. We are bound to our past, not defined by its mistakes but guided by its lessons: resilience, progress and a deep well of national purpose. I want to be clear: Canada will never be another country's 51st state. We are not a footnote in anyone else's story.”
“However, that story is incomplete if we fail to acknowledge that the prosperity many of us enjoy was built unevenly and, too often, at the expense of others. I am grateful for the stewardship of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territories Victoria is built; this is where my family is so fortunate to reside. Ours is a country where pride in our past must walk hand in hand with the courage to face its shadows so that we may build a future worthy of all who call this land home today. (1355) [ Translation ] That includes the founding agreement between the French and English peoples, which is the basis of the Confederation and sets us apart in the world. Bilingualism and multiculturalism are at the heart of Canada.”
“Fact: Canada is one of the oldest and most successful constitutional democracies in the world. Our tradition of parliamentary government reaches back well before Confederation, evolving through generations of change, struggle and hard-won progress. I am deeply honoured to carry that legacy forward. Before there was a Parliament, before there was a Canada, this land was home to vibrant and self-governing indigenous nations. Their cultures, languages and legal systems shaped these territories for millennia before the expansion of colonialism brought profound harms that continue to shape the lives of indigenous peoples to this day. Our shared history includes settlement, immigration, trade, conflict and transformation. It has made Canada a diverse and peaceful country, one admired around the world.”
“I commit to ensuring that the voices of my constituents on southern Vancouver Island are heard and respected in Parliament. Victorians and Vancouver Islanders are proud Canadians who want to build up an even stronger Canada. Unlike some, we do not threaten to dismember our country to score cheap political points. In Victoria, we believe in a strong, free and united Canada. Governing this remarkable country is hard and requires common ground, common sense and common adherence to some basic truths. Truths are not always easy to accept, but that is the point. They are true regardless of how we may feel about them, and our success or failure hinges on whether we can come to terms with them. As some of my hon. colleagues opposite have been fond of saying in the past, facts do not care about our feelings.”
“That hard work was recognized last year with the award for the best Liberal riding association in British Columbia, and it set up our campaign for unprecedented success. Led by my extraordinary campaign manager, adviser and friend, Naomi Devine, I am proud to say that our efforts resulted in the second most votes of any candidate in B.C. and the most votes for any Liberal candidate west of Ontario. I also thank the voters of Victoria, without whose support I would not be here today. They have sent me to Ottawa to support a strong Liberal government and to represent our west coast and island values, interests and priorities. Indeed, being all the way to one side of this great country, we know a few things about being far from Ottawa.”
“I am indebted to all of them, and I know that they join me in thinking of our loved ones who are no longer with us but would be so very excited today: my grandparents, Wilf and Peggy; my Abuela Maria; and my mother, Sherry, whose son I am so proud to be. I also owe a debt of gratitude to the incredible team of Liberals in Victoria. Not only did the members of the Victoria EDA give so much time, energy and passion to our recent campaign, but, for many years, they also did the hard, unglamorous and often unrecognized work of maintaining a functioning organization. Victoria Liberals kept the lights on, the engine warm and the bank account full over the two decades since our party last won this seat.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to say hello to you and all my colleagues in the House. It is a great honour for me to be here today. I am very proud to have the opportunity to represent my community of Victoria. [ English ] First and foremost, I thank my wife, Carolyn, and our daughter, Eleanor, without whom I would not be the person I am today. I love them both more than I can say, and I am so grateful for their support and sacrifice as we undertake this new political journey together. My gratitude and love extend to all my many Greaves, Thomson, Mendez and Cornford relations spread across Canada and around the world.”