Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon didn’t address the question, instead highlighting response.
On Nov. 18, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took aim at Prime Minister Carney and how his meetings with other leaders are hurting farmers.
“He met with the Chinese, who increased tariffs on our farmers and fish harvesters. He met with the Indians, and they increased tariffs on Canadian peas. He met with the Brits, and they are keeping their blockade on our beef,” Poilievre said.
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu responded by reminding the House that Germany signed a deal with Lockheed Martin worth about $1 billion.
Conservative Ag Critic John Barlow also pressed the government on the carbon tax.
He wants to know why the government is increasing the industrial carbon tax when food is already expensive.
Ag Minister Heath MacDonald fielded the question by highlighting budget commitments for the ag sector.
Barlow pressed the issue, reminding the House that “Canada is the only G7 country where food inflation has actually increased for four straight months.”
MacDonald reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “stand alongside our growers, our ranchers and our farmers.”
During question period on Nov. 19, Melissa Lantsman, the Conservative MP for Thornhill, highlighted some of the prime minister’s shortcomings and how they affect producers.
“He went to China and came back with more tariffs on Canadian canola. He went to the U.S. and came back with double the tariffs on cars and triple the tariffs on steel and aluminum,” she said. “Now the two sides are not even talking. Then he went to the U.K., and he still could not land a basic deal for our pork and beef farmers.”
House Leader Steven MacKinnon responded saying Lantsman and the Conservatives should demand more of Poilievre.
On Nov. 21, Conservative MPs continued to ask why the prime minister travels if he can’t secure deals benefitting Canadians and farmers.
“Every time the Prime Minister gets near a plane, Canadian farmers clutch their wallets in panic,” said Kyle Seeback, the Conservative MP for Dufferin—Caledon. “If all his travel results in worse conditions for Canadians, why does he keep doing it?”
Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon told the House of Canada’s deal with the U.A.E. worth about $1 billion.
Seeback pushed back saying the tariffs on farmers are hurting now.
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister actually got a letter that could maybe deliver $1 billion someday. Meanwhile, the effect of tariffs on canola is $4.5 billion a year. The effect of tariffs on peas is $1 billion a year,” he said.
Conservatives also pressed the government for answers about the carbon tax.
“Why is the prime minister increasing the carbon tax and making food more expensive?” asked Ned Kuruc, the Conservative MP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.
Sophie Chatel, the parliamentary secretary to Minister MacDonald, took the question.
She cited a recent ag committee meeting including multiple members of the grocery industry.
“They all agreed that the main factor was weather conditions, like the droughts we have experienced recently, as well as commodity conditions and currency,” Chatel said.
When Kuruc asked for answers a second time, Leslie Church, the parliamentary secretary to multiple secretaries of state, answered.
She reminded the House of the Canadian Climate Institute’s stance on the industrial carbon tax.
“Industrial carbon pricing has essentially no impact on the price of food and the agricultural sector. Farmers do not pay the industrial price,” Church said.