Debates of Oct. 10th, 2025

The Economy

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Prime Minister promised to “Build, baby, build.” He promised to fast-track nation-building projects and that these projects would be built at a speed not seen in generations. He said he was committed to “building the strongest economy in the G7”.

Unfortunately, most of us thought he was talking about the Canadian economy, not the United States'. When the Prime Minister was in Washington this week, he promised to invest $1 trillion in the American economy. That is on top of the $500 billion in investment that fled Canada in the last five years and the $50 billion that left just this year.

Canadians deserve a government that keeps its promises and stands up for Canadian jobs and Canadian investment in the Canadian economy.

Ruth Phyllis Kavanaugh

[David Myles, Liberal, Fredericton—Oromocto, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of a beloved constituent, Ruth Phyllis Kavanaugh. Ruth devoted her life to serving her community. She was a founding member of Fredericton's Women in Transition House in 1980, the province's first shelter for abused women and children. She would later take on the important role of coordinator at the Oromocto Food Bank. Under her leadership, the food bank expanded to include clothing and furniture, recognizing that nourishment comes in many forms, including warm meals, warm coats and a place to sit with dignity.

Her energy level never dropped, even as she approached retirement at the age of 72. Her spirit will be felt by the community for years to come, in every family she helped, in every volunteer she inspired and in every moment of kindness that is her legacy.

Her legacy is one of resilience, compassion and unwavering dedication to her family and community. She will be remembered by many.

Employment

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal policies are causing a deepening youth unemployment crisis, leaving the next generation in an increasing state of desperation. Today's unemployment numbers show a further spike in youth unemployment, now up to 14.7%, which is approaching half a million unemployed Canadian youth. Youth unemployment was already at recession levels before these further increases. The Liberals promised change, but their broken promises are pushing more young people out of work.

Do the Liberals understand that these unemployment numbers are not just hurting youth today but are setting them up for more struggle and pain throughout their lives?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about those jobs numbers today. Statistics Canada reported that employment has increased by 60,000 jobs. That includes 28,000 jobs in manufacturing, 14,000 new jobs in health care and 106,000 full-time jobs.

We have a plan. We are making progress, and we are going to be there to create good-paying, career-starting jobs for all Canadians.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, only an out-of-touch Liberal would try to congratulate themselves when we have a significant increase in youth unemployment in this country. These are the facts: Over 17,000 young people in Ontario alone lost their jobs in the last month and overall unemployment remains at 17.1%. It continues to increase in major cities, including the city the parliamentary secretary is supposed to represent.

How can the Liberals try to pat themselves on the back when Statistics Canada today is showing that even more young people are out of work?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, let us deal in facts. These jobs numbers are for September. At the end of a summer, many youth are leaving jobs and going back to school or back to other work.

Coming back to what the Liberal government is doing, we are investing a billion dollars, for example, in Red Seal trades for apprenticeships. We are investing in work-integrated learning. We are investing in co-ops. Most importantly, we are going to be building the houses and investing in the projects that are going to create tens of thousands of jobs for all Canadians right across the country, beginning with our young people.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary said that these numbers might reflect young people leaving the workforce to go back to school. That suggests she does not actually understand how the unemployment rate is calculated, because the unemployment rate is the percentage of those in the workforce who are trying to work and are not able to.

The unemployment rate has gone up. It is approaching 15%, which is approaching half a million young people who are unemployed. That is one in seven. It is time for the Liberals to stop trying to pat themselves on the back and recognize that this is a crisis for Canadian young people.

It is time for them to reverse course. When will they?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the data does not lie. In September, we created over 100,000 new full-time jobs in this country. Those are good jobs for all Canadians. We are embarking on a plan that is not only going to build projects, but build homes and make those homes more affordable for young Canadians. We are bringing forward a budget next month that is going to make a generational investment in Canadian industry, Canadian workers and Canadian families. I really hope the members opposite can convince their whips to vote for it.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the slowest-growing economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment, and young Canadians are paying the price. The youth unemployment rate is nearly 15%, which is, with the exception of the COVID years, the highest it has been since 2010. There are 17,000 young people in Ontario who have lost their jobs in the last month, and the Prime Minister wants to send $1 trillion of investment to the United States, which will only lower wages and push jobs to the south.

With rising youth unemployment, why is the Prime Minister selling out young Canadians?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, it seems the Conservatives have an allergy to the facts. It is a fact that Canada created 60,000 new jobs last month. It is a fact that Canada has experienced real wage growth year over year of 3.3%. Those are good stats. These are the economic fundamentals that will allow budget 2025 to make a generational investment in our economy.

I would offer the Conservatives a Benadryl, but maybe they could just accept the truth for once.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada still has the slowest economic growth of the G7 and the second-highest unemployment rate.

Worse still, things are not getting any better today. The unemployment rate remains stuck at 7% and, despite all the Liberal promises, only 22,000 net new jobs were created since January. The cherry on top is that the Prime Minister wants to send $1 trillion to the United States.

Why is the Prime Minister sacrificing our workers to help the Americans?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting to watch the Conservatives repeat the talking points that their leader prepares for them, but facts do not lie.

What are the facts? The fact is that Statistics Canada reported today 60,000 new jobs in Canada in September and 106,000 new full-time jobs. Those are the kind of results that can be delivered by a serious government with a serious plan to grow the economy, to build one Canadian economy and to invest in our country.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, they can applaud themselves all they want, but the reality is that we are shedding jobs in Canada, in our regions. The reality is that factories are closing and small and medium-sized businesses are struggling. Not everyone is making ends meet.

What is the Prime Minister doing? He is investing $1 trillion in the United States instead of helping workers here in Canada. Why is the Prime Minister creating jobs in the United States instead of creating jobs in Canada?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I think it must be fascinating for those watching question period to see the Conservative Party's lack of understanding of economics. This should come as no surprise, since the leader of the party has spent his entire adult life here in the House thinking up clever one-liners for question period.

The reality is that, on this side of the House, we are working to create one Canadian economy, invest in our young people so they can have good jobs, invest in housing to build across the country and ensure that we grow the Canadian economy. The results speak for themselves. Today, Statistics Canada reports that 106,000 full-time jobs were created in September alone. We will not stop there.

Employment Insurance

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the conflict with Donald Trump is far from over and yet Ottawa is already abandoning our workers. On October 11, Ottawa is set to make cuts to its emergency measures for accessing employment insurance and reduce the adjusted unemployment rates that allowed more workers to quality. It is creating an additional distinction between different types of workers at the expense of seasonal workers, contract workers and other such workers.

Yesterday, all the major unions in Quebec demanded that the Liberals reverse course. Will they listen to the unions and continue to protect workers?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we are supporting the retirement security of health care and home care workers. We are investing in union training and in the skilled trades. We are building major projects and new homes. We are creating tens of thousands of quality jobs across the country for unionized workers.

Our government will continue to support unions and unionized workers.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the same Prime Minister who returned from Washington empty-handed cannot now abandon workers as if the tariff war were over. Every Quebec labour union is demanding that Ottawa maintain all of its emergency measures related to access to EI.

They also point out that if the Liberals had reformed employment insurance like they have been promising for the past 10 years, we would not need emergency measures today. Workers need a reliable system, but in the meantime, will Ottawa at least cancel its October 11 cuts?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we continue to invest in our workers right across the board and in making EI easier to access. In addition, we are investing in all sorts of union training and skilled trades, building major projects and new homes, and creating tens of thousands of good jobs right across the country.

Our government is going to continue to stand with workers, making sure they have access to the programs that are going to support them through these volatile times. I hope the members are on board with that.

Transportation

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Driver Inc. truckers are a danger to the public. It is good news that Ottawa wants to tighten up income traceability for incorporated truck drivers, as the Bloc Québécois has been calling for. That is a first step. However, a first step is not enough when people are being killed on our highways and Quebec is launching a public inquiry. Temporary immigrants must be prevented from working as incorporated drivers. Highway controllers must be better equipped, automatic audits must be conducted and so on.

When will Ottawa finally use all the tools at its disposal to solve the problem of Driver Inc. truckers?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, licensing is a provincial responsibility, so it is up to the provinces to take appropriate action. We will stand up for truckers who deserve fair wages and who deserve to be protected under the law. Misclassification in the trucking industry is illegal and we are ensuring that the law is enforced. More than 1,000 inspections and awareness activities have been carried out since 2023.

Our top priority is keeping our roads and drivers safe.

The Economy

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, here is what we know. Every dollar that the Prime Minister spends drives up inflation, which increases the cost of living for Canadians. He said he would be judged by the prices at the grocery store. The report card is in, and it is a big F, a failure.

Susie in my riding is a senior who is finding it difficult to be able to afford both rent and groceries. She has worked hard her entire life to make a go of it and has been rather successful. Now she is in a position where she is actually having to choose to skip meals to be able to pay her rent. That is not right. We live in Canada. It is one of the richest countries in the world. Why is it that, under the government, people like Suzie are struggling so much?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I have good news for Susie and the member's riding and good news for all Canadians. This morning, our Prime Minister announced a package of more affordability measures, including making permanent the national school food program, which is great news for all Canadians. This program will feed 400,000 more kids per year.

I know the member opposite has voted against this program in the past, but I cannot understand how she can stand up here and try to lecture the Liberal Party on standing up for Canadians on affordability.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the member just told me that I should go back to my riding and tell Susie, a senior in my riding who has worked hard her entire life to make ends meet and now cannot pay for rent and groceries and is therefore skipping meals, that she should enrol in grade school so she can take advantage of the government's bureaucratic school program.

That is what the member just told me. Is he for real? If this is the definition of success, I would hate to see the definition of failure.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to clarify for the member opposite. There is a package of three affordability measures. One is automatic tax filing, which will help millions of Canadians, including seniors, to access benefits to which they are entitled. This is thousands of dollars for many Canadians and includes the Canada child benefit, the GST rebate, the disability benefit and the many other benefits that Canadians will be able to take advantage of because of this government's actions. Automatic tax filing will make it easier for Canadians all across the country to access—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Cambridge.