QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change

Senator Gold, I hope you don’t consider this a partisan question. Opération Père Noël is a charity in your province of Quebec that provides presents or gifts to children in need. Last week, they said 27,000 children under the age of 17 had already sent in their requests, an increase of 2,000 over last year. The charity also said it is surprised how many children are asking Santa for basic needs, not gifts or toys. Children are asking for food for their families and snacks. A large number of children are asking for snow boots and snowsuits. One teenager wrote to ask for deodorant and a toothbrush.

This is in Canada, leader. As a father and grandfather, this is heartbreaking. Will the Trudeau government reverse course and end its inflationary carbon tax on food and provide a brighter new year for children across Canada?

Thank you for the question. The question, or at least the preamble to the question, is troubling. The thought that anyone in this country, let alone a child, feels that instead of getting the gifts we all want to give our children and grandchildren at holiday times, they’re asking for food and clothing, is heartbreaking.

I’m a father and grandfather. You don’t have to be a father or grandfather, grandmother, grandparent or parent to feel that, and the cost of living is posing enormous challenges for all Canadians. I know everyone in this chamber hopes and wishes that will be alleviated soon. There is not the ability of the government to fix all the problems that we are facing, and the carbon tax and the position of this government is not the cause for this —

If someone stood in front of your door and block your door, you would remove that person. That’s what the carbon tax does — remove it. A volunteer at this charity told a Quebec newspaper last week that they manage to provide a little relief, but asked what happens the rest of the year.

It’s a good question, leader. A report today says Canadian families will spend $700 more on groceries in 2024. What will happen then, leader? How many more children and their families will need help to feed themselves next year, leader, with this tax?

I can’t escape the concern that I have for these families, and therefore you’ll forgive me if I don’t answer with the same partisan or political intensity that you do. The carbon tax is an important tool to combat climate change. The government provides support for Canadians, as do provincial governments and others. Really, at this holiday time, let us do what we can to provide the help to our families and to their children, and not indulge in this ongoing —