Approximately one month ago, I noted in my MP Report that the House of Commons was at an impasse due to an ongoing debate on a motion of privilege. This privilege motion stems from House Speaker Greg FergusB次元官网网址 ruling that the Trudeau Liberal government 鈥渄id not fully comply鈥 with a House of Commons order.
This order, akin to a court order, required the government to provide documents related to the now-defunct Crown corporation, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
As many now know, the Auditor GeneralB次元官网网址 audit of this program uncovered serious issues. Conflict-of-interest policies were ignored 90 times, resulting in $59 million awarded to 10 ineligible projects. Even worse, the program often exaggerated the environmental benefits of its projects.
As recently as this week, the House Law Clerk has once again tabled a letter in Parliament, indicating that the Liberal government continues to redact or withhold some of the documents. Despite withholding these documents, the Trudeau Liberal government continues to accuse the official Conservative opposition of 鈥渉olding Parliament hostage鈥 as this privilege debate has persisted for nearly two months.
The official Conservative opposition, along with the NDP and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois opposition parties, maintain a united stance鈥攄emanding that the Trudeau Liberal Government comply with the order to produce all documents unredacted.
In my view, Canadians deserve to know what really happened here. No federal government should be able to hide the truth from the people it serves.
Remember, this is a Liberal government that spends billions upon billions under the guise of 鈥渇ighting climate change.鈥
Similarly, the Trudeau Liberal government has implemented a federal carbon tax that is driving up inflation in Canada, including raising prices on groceries.
In many Canadian provinces where the federal carbon tax applies鈥攐r in British Columbia, where the provincial government has agreed to increase its carbon tax in line with the federal rate鈥攔esidents face additional costs during cold winter months if they heat their homes with natural gas or propane.
Despite the Liberals鈥 insistence that their plan is working, Canadians consistently encounter independent evidence suggesting otherwise.
This week, for example, the International Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) released its latest results. The CCPI employs a standardized framework to evaluate the climate performance of 63 countries, which collectively account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada ranked 62nd on this list and is rated as a 鈥渧ery low performer.鈥 This ranking is significant.
Considering the fiscal burden many Canadians face due to carbon taxes and the misappropriation and abuse of funds in programs like the now-defunct Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), itB次元官网网址 clear that Canadians aren鈥檛 getting the results they鈥檙e paying for.
Furthermore, when the Trudeau Liberal government withholds and conceals these documents from the SDTC fund, Canadians are deprived of the transparency and accountability they rightfully deserve.
My question this week: Do you agree with the Opposition parties鈥 current action in Parliament to maintain the privilege debate until the Trudeau Liberal government complies with the order to produce all of the SDTC documents unredacted? Why or why not?
I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-665-8711.
Dan Albas is member of Parliament for Central
Okanagan鈥擲imilkameen鈥擭icola which includes
Summerland and Keremeos.
