In this episode, we discuss the anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish synagogue in Australia, the devastating loss of two Conservative MPs, and the food bank crisis in Canada. We also discuss the impact of floor crossing in the House of Commons, and what the government should do about it.
00:00:15.240Thanks for making the time. I want to start with what happened in Australia overnight.
00:00:18.460At least 11 people killed at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach. And just for your thoughts on that, sir.
00:00:23.840Well, our condolences for the families. This is another act of anti-Semitic evil and terrorism that have become all too common.
00:00:33.500This is what happens when we allow hate, terrorism, anti-Semitism to be normalized.
00:00:39.220We in Canada have to reflect on the fact that there have been rampaging anti-Semitic riots on our streets,
00:00:44.160fire bombings of children's schools and of Jewish synagogues.
00:00:48.660And it is absolutely unacceptable. We must destroy this terrorism, stand up against anti-Semitism and make Canada and hopefully the world a safe place for people to wear their mezuzahs,
00:01:01.600to put their mezuzahs on their doors, to wear their Stars of David and their kippahs, and to be proud Jews.
00:01:07.160So I'm thinking of all of my Jewish friends and neighbors at this Hanukkah.
00:01:10.480OK, move on to some politics now. And I want to talk politics and a bit of policy as well.
00:01:15.320But let's start with what happened last week. You've now lost two MPs to the Liberal Party.
00:01:20.160Both have pointed to your leadership as issues. Michael Ma saying that he was more interested in unity than division.
00:01:26.140Is this a problem of your leadership at this point?
00:01:28.260No, it's a problem of Mark Carney's leadership that after Canadians clearly rejected a liberal, a costly liberal majority,
00:01:36.920because they knew it would mean higher grocery prices and higher food costs.
00:01:43.180He is trying to manipulate his way through backroom deals to get that majority.
00:01:48.860He's allowed to do this, though, right? Forecrossing is allowed. You've benefited from it in the past, too.
00:01:53.360But he's trying to take a majority, a costly majority, that would drive up the cost of living and enrich liberal elites, of course,
00:02:00.700but not through democratic means. My message to Mark Carney is that if you want a costly majority government
00:02:07.100to drive up taxes and deficits, then you have to go to the Canadian people and have them vote for it,
00:05:39.400If you had put the whole MOU on the table to vote against, it probably would have worked out better for you in that instance.
00:05:45.300But then I would be voting for a costly carbon tax, as you point out, a tax on food, because when you tax the farm equipment and fertilizer, you tax the food, a tax on homes, because when you tax cement, glass, concrete, wood and other things.
00:06:01.080But the premier of Alberta is comfortable with industrial carbon pricing.
00:06:03.500If I could, you asked me why I didn't put it in, because I am against carbon taxes, period.
00:06:08.380Now, let's talk about the amazing and brilliant premier of Alberta, who said just the other day when she was endorsing my leadership that I would not have forced a carbon tax on her.
00:06:20.380And if I were prime minister right now, we'd be well on the way to planning a pipeline, something that is not happening under the current liberal government.
00:06:27.840Now, let's be clear about Mark Carney.
00:06:37.300So you don't believe that he actually wants a pipeline?
00:06:39.700Because the Alberta premier believes that.
00:06:40.980I do believe what he voted against, which was the pipeline.
00:06:46.020And Mark, let's take a look at the history here.
00:06:49.760What you have to believe to trust Mark Carney on this.
00:06:52.040His party killed this pipeline in a 2016—November of 2016 cabinet decision.
00:06:59.840Mark Carney endorsed that decision to kill the pipeline.
00:07:03.120I don't believe that Mark Carney has changed from the things that he wrote for 10 years and that his party did for 10 years, which is to block pipelines and try to keep oil and gas in the ground.
00:07:12.800Then why does Daniel Smith believe him?
00:07:14.080Daniel Smith was very clever, because she forced Carney to flip-flop and break his word to his—leave it in the ground caucus—by withdrawing his threatened emissions cap and clean electricity regulations, because those things would have driven up the cost of energy and killed even more jobs.
00:07:33.600Now, Ms. Smith defended her province by forcing Carney to flip-flop on that.
00:07:38.800But that, at the end of the day, does not mean that we should give him credit.
00:07:43.300He was threatening to do a lot of damage.
00:07:47.120Why doesn't he just get out of the way?
00:07:48.660We know what it takes to get a pipeline done.
00:07:50.780The federal government has the sole legal authority to approve it.
00:07:53.760So approve it, set the corridor, and the private sector will build it, because it's wildly profitable.
00:08:00.060You referenced Northern Gateway, and you know that the problems there—yes, it was a cabinet decision—but the problem is British Columbia and First Nations.
00:08:06.860So what would you do to try and get their support for a pipeline, or would you just say, too bad, we're doing it?