Debates of the House of Commons
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43rd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) VOLUME 149 NUMBER 003 Monday, December 9, 2019 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 69 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, December 9, 2019 The House met at 11 a.m. [English] Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand in the House for the first time. Prayer Before I get into what will be a list of people I want to thank, I ● (1105) would like to reflect for a moment on when my wife and I flew here for the first time after the election for one of the orientation days. [Translation] Although I had been to this chamber and to the chamber in Centre WAYS AND MEANS Block many times, it was an incredible experience to walk onto the floor of this House, the very epicentre of Canadian democracy, to NOTICE OF MOTION see that so clearly demonstrated through the traditions represented, Hon. Bill Morneau (Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the desks, the very carpet, and all that these mean. It truly is a hum‐ pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour to table a no‐ bling experience, the burden that all 338 of us have as we sit here tice of a ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act and representing people from across this country. associated regulations. Danielle and I took a few moments and reflected on the signifi‐ Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that an order of the day cance of what that means in our nation's more than 150-year histo‐ be designated for consideration of the motion. ry. The phrase that kept coming to mind, which I repeated often throughout the election, was the short statement in section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867, regarding the House of Commons and mak‐ SPEECH FROM THE THRONE ing laws “for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada”. [Translation] Although it talks primarily about delegated authority, over these last seven to eight months I spent a lot of time campaigning and RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY talking with Canadians, the people of Battle River—Crowfoot. I The House resumed from December 6 consideration of the mo‐ thought time and time again the prime reason we are here is to en‐ tion for an address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply sure that we have peace, order and good governance. Each and ev‐ to her speech at the opening of the session, of the amendment and ery one of us has that responsibility in representing our many con‐ of the amendment to the amendment. stituents in the diverse regions that make up this country and that we all work toward that in the midst of what often will be differ‐ Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ): Mr. ences, sometimes passionate differences, on policy items. As we Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the follow‐ work in a unique minority Parliament there has to be a level of ing motion: working together to some degree, while we all strive for peace, or‐ That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, at the der and good government. end of debate today on the sub-amendment to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, the question be deemed put and a recorded division be deemed requested and deferred to Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at the ordinary hour of dai‐ I would be remiss if I did not list a few of the people I wish to ly adjournment. thank. I will get to the people of Battle River—Crowfoot in a The Speaker: Does the hon. member have the consent of the minute, but I first I need to thank my family. House to move the motion? My wife Danielle is an amazing life partner. I thank her for the Some hon. members: Agreed. support she has given over these last eight months in the adventure of a nomination campaign and now during the early months as a The Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it member of Parliament. I thank Danielle so much. I am also very the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? proud of my two boys, Matthew and Emerson, who are excited that dad gets to now work in a castle. They are a little young to under‐ Some hon. members: Agreed. stand the dynamics of it, but they like the fact that I work in a cas‐ (Motion agreed to) tle. 70 COMMONS DEBATES December 9, 2019 The Address I thank my dad, siblings, aunts and uncles. When one comes ple are proud of the work they do, including the world-class envi‐ from a farming family, one has a real understanding of the signifi‐ ronmental standards that they work hard to preserve each and every cance of what family is in a situation like this, and I thank my fami‐ day. They were not recognized. They need champions, yet unfortu‐ ly. nately, the throne speech does not even acknowledge them. I want to especially mention my late grandfathers, Jim Hutchings and Felix Kurek, who, throughout their lives, were such an encour‐ I have spoken with the agricultural industry. As a fifth-generation agement to me. They were both very different people, but they farmer, I am proud of that legacy. Farmers are stewards of the land demonstrated so well what it is to be Canadian and all that it repre‐ in Alberta's special areas, yet producers have faced devastating sents. My grandfather Felix had a career in the energy industry. My consequences. Let me outline what that might look like for a pro‐ grandfather Jim was a career farmer and demonstrated well what it ducer, a farmer. Farmers are facing a drop in the price of canola is to be Canadian. from $13 a bushel to $9 a bushel. That has a devastating impact on a farmer's bottom line in an industry that already has very slim mar‐ I thank my campaign team. By the end of the campaign, we had gins. We did not see those issues addressed in the throne speech. more than 200 people who participated in the nomination and elec‐ However, the government seems to brag about its relationship on tion campaigns. It was incredible to have all of these people in‐ the international stage when it is literally being laughed at on late volved in the democratic process, and I thank my campaign team. night television. ● (1110) I would also like to thank my office staff, some of whom I have I talked to other business owners and people within my con‐ worked with before and some of whom are new, for their hard stituency. They are all so close to giving up hope. That is devastat‐ work, support and effort, especially over these last weeks as I have ing for a proud Canadian, whether it be workers in manufacturing, been learning the ropes as a member of Parliament. or whether it be those teachers, nurses, doctors in our small com‐ munities. If they do not have strong communities, those institutions I want to also thank my predecessor Kevin Sorenson. Kevin cannot thrive. demonstrated well what it is to be a strong representative with a principled voice for east central Alberta. He is a principled, good My speaking time is nearly done and I look forward to answering guy. I appreciate Kevin's friendship and his mentorship. I am glad questions. I would simply conclude by saying once again that I am that he is still quick to offer me advice, even though I am now the so honoured to be the member of Parliament for Battle River— one sitting in the chamber and he is farming and taking some well- Crowfoot. I thank God for this country. It is such an honour to be deserved rest. able to participate in this democratic process and all that it means I want to talk about the people of Battle River—Crowfoot, and for the future of Battle River—Crowfoot and this nation. my response to the throne speech and the amendment that our Con‐ servative caucus has brought forward. They go hand in hand. ● (1115) I am a fifth-generation farmer from the constituency of Battle River—Crowfoot. Over the last seven or eight months I have spo‐ Mr. Terry Beech (Burnaby North—Seymour, Lib.): Mr. ken to over 10,000 people who are faced with the reality of the Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Battle River—Crow‐ country in which we live. I need to first thank them for the honour foot and welcome him to the House. of representing them with a strong mandate in this House. I will be their voice in Parliament, making sure that the concerns, the issues I heard him speak about energy workers, and certainly in my rid‐ and all that makes up Battle River—Crowfoot, that 52,000 square ing of Burnaby North—Seymour, I have talked about the plight of kilometres of east central Alberta, get represented in our capital. I energy workers in Alberta. In fact, since my riding is at the end of take that seriously. I thank them again for this honour. the Trans Mountain pipeline that is starting construction, we can hear the pile-driving happening from my house. It is happening As I have travelled over these last eight months, and as I have right now.