Debates of Oct. 21st, 2025

Small Businesses

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, spark innovation and build local pride. With October 19 to 24 being Small Business Week here in Canada, I am reminded this week and every day of just how much small businesses in my riding of Bay of Quinte provide to our local communities. This week is about recognizing the hard work, creativity and resilience of small businesses, especially through these challenging times.

Small Business Week is also a moment to reflect on the challenges ahead and to recommit to supporting every entrepreneur with the tools they need to thrive. Our government stands with them, ensuring they have the opportunities and tools to shape Canada's future.

I look forward to honouring some of these businesses at the Quinte Business Achievement Awards this coming Friday, where many local small business champions will be recognized. I thank all small businesses in Canada and those in the Bay of Quinte.

Property Rights

[Chak Au, Conservative, Richmond Centre—Marpole, BC]

Mr. Speaker, residents of Richmond are deeply concerned about the Cowichan land ruling. This decision raises serious questions about long-standing private property rights in British Columbia. People want to know if their land titles are secure and what this means for their homes and their future, yet the Liberal government has remained silent. There has been no explanation, no reassurance and no plan. As a result, Richmond is holding a public information session on October 28 so residents can get the answers the federal government has failed to provide.

Property ownership is a foundational Canadian right. It is not optional; it is the responsibility of the federal government to protect it. Canadians are watching. They expect the government to stand up for their rights, not stand by in silence.

Anti-Semitism

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to welcome the Jewish community leaders from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Jewish Federations of Canada, who are here on Parliament Hill for their annual advocacy day. They come at a time when Canada's Jewish community is facing an alarming rise in anti-Semitism.

Though Jewish Canadians make up just 1.2% of the population, we make up 70% of all religious-based hate crimes in this country. In 2024 alone, police reported over 900 such incidents, the highest number on record. Across Canada, synagogues, schools and community centres have had to assume extraordinary security responsibilities, spending more than $40 million each year to keep their members safe.

These leaders are here to call on all of us, regardless of party, to confront anti-Semitism with the seriousness it deserves. There have been firebombs, people assaulted and Jewish students targeted on campus.

This must end now. Let us stand with Canada's Jewish community and affirm that hate has no place in this country.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has dropped another bombshell, and it landed right on the steps of the Canada Revenue Agency.

The AG reported that the CRA answered just 33% of the 32 million calls it got last year. That 33% is not a service level; it is a batting average. Perhaps the Blue Jays should hire the CRA.

When a call was answered, 83% of the responses given by the CRA were incorrect, which is less accuracy than a Liberal budget projection. Here is the kicker: Call centre employees do not even have to worry about giving wrong answers. In performance reviews, the CRA ranks showing up for work and going on coffee breaks as having a higher importance than delivering proper responses to taxpayers.

The CRA cannot answer phones, but it has increased the number of audits it is doing on Canadians by 10%. This is not a public service; it is a disservice to Canadians. After 10 years of Liberal mismanagement, Canadians deserve better.

Economic Delegation from the Quebec City Area

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to welcome to Ottawa a delegation of entrepreneurs and economic leaders from the greater Quebec City area, led by Québec International and its president and CEO, Carl Viel.

In these times of economic uncertainty, these women and men brilliantly embody the drive, creativity and expertise that form the backbone of our regional economy. Their presence here today demonstrates a strong commitment to building bridges, sharing their expertise and exploring new ways of collaborating with the federal government.

I join my colleagues, the Minister of Government Transformation and the MP for Québec Centre, in recognizing their outstanding contribution to innovation, job creation and the sustainable prosperity of our communities. The Quebec City area stands out as a gateway to America, an economic engine, a hub of innovation and a true source of national pride.

I welcome them to Ottawa and thank them for promoting Quebec City on the Canadian and international stage.

Toronto Blue Jays

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last night, for a few hours we were a nation united, gathered around our TVs watching the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Mariners in seven games to reach the World Series for the first time in 32 years.

The season started slow, but around the middle of May, something clicked. Playing with grit, hustle, good pitching, defence and no easy outs in the lineups, the Blue Jays went 73-45 to finish in first place, and they have not looked back.

We love Vladdy, and we have dreamt of what he could do since we signed him at 16 years of age. There is Gausman, Yesavage, Bieber, Scherzer and Hoffman. The list of all the great pitching goes on and on. Then there is Kirky. How could we not admire him, a fan favourite and the everyman in the lineup? George Springer found the fountain of youth and had a career year.

We love these Blue Jays because 41 million Canadians can see themselves in them: in an underdog, in their hard work, in never giving up and in believing in themselves.

There are four more. Let us win it all.

Women's History Month

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, October is Women's History Month, a time to honour the women who have shaped our country and to recommit ourselves to building a Canada where everyone can thrive.

Today, women hold nearly 43% of leadership roles in Canada, a real improvement from just a few years ago, but representation is still uneven. Indigenous women, women with disabilities and other marginalized women remain under-represented, especially in senior and board positions. These numbers remind us that equality is not guaranteed and that it is something we must keep working toward.

That is why I was proud to join an event put on by the Reaching the Un-Reached Foundation earlier this month in my riding of Brampton Centre, an organization dedicated to empowering and supporting women. I spoke with community leaders and discussed how we can continue to break down barriers for women in every sector.

This month, and every month, let us continue to advance gender equality and uplift women everywhere. To everyone watching, happy Women's History Month.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar that this Prime Minister spends is costing Canadians a lot. Since he doubled the deficits left behind by Justin Trudeau, inflation has picked up speed. Statistics Canada announced today that the inflation rate is rising. In fact, four of the indicators are above the targets, and grocery costs are rising at two times the target rate.

Will the Prime Minister use his budget to eliminate these inflationary taxes and deficits and make life affordable for Canadians?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the Leader of the Opposition is looking forward to November 4. I am too, as are all Canadians. Why is that? It is because we will have good news for Canadians this November 4. We are going to present them with an ambitious plan.

When I was in Washington last week, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund cited Germany and Canada as examples of countries with the fiscal room to make generational investments. That is exactly what we are going to do. We are going to build an ambitious Canada, a strong Canada, a Canada to make every Canadian proud.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we do not work for Washington bankers; we work for single mothers who cannot afford groceries.

Today, we are seeing runaway inflation at a time when the government is forcing Canadians to spend 70% more on the CRA. Today, the Auditor General revealed that only 15% of calls are being answered on time. Even when a call does get answered, the information is wrong 83% of the time.

Why should Canadians pay so much for such lousy service?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I have more good news for the Leader of the Opposition. He will be happy to hear that we on the government side have already put measures in place. We have presented a 100-day plan to fix the situation at the Canada Revenue Agency.

That is because on this side of the House, we are aware that we need to do better and keep Canadians informed. Here is another thing that we do on this side of the House: We respect the people who work in the public service.

We will always respect the people who work in the public service, and we will always do more to serve Canadians.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he admits they have to do better. It is not possible for them to do any worse.

The reality is that today we learned that inflation is again on the march. All four measures of inflation are above the Bank of Canada's targets; two are outside of and above the acceptable range. Food price inflation is rising at two times the rate the Bank of Canada targets. It is no wonder we have two million people lined up at food banks every single day.

This inflation has exploded since the Prime Minister doubled the deficit. Will he reverse his inflationary deficit and taxes in this coming budget?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I think we all know on this side of the House, and Canadians know, that math might not be the cup of tea of the Leader of the Opposition, and neither may be economics.

Let me quote one of the authorities in the world, who is the director general of the International Monetary Fund. She said just last week:

And then we have countries in the G7 that are in a better position. Germany and Canada stand up in that regard.

Both Germany and Canada recognize that in this very testing time, they need to use their fiscal space.... In the case of Canada, the Canadian authorities have been very decisive [in taking] action....

We are—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, his banker friends in Washington may think they have fiscal space, but the single mothers who cannot afford groceries have no space left at all to pay for Liberal inflation.

The government is forcing them to spend 70% more on the Canada Revenue Agency. Today, the Auditor General revealed that only 15% of calls get responses on time, and even if someone does pick up the phone, there is an 83% change they give the wrong answer.

Why does the government force Canadians to pay so much for such terrible service?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives; trust me on that.

At every step of the way, they fought against dental care. At every step of the way, they fought against the national school food program. At every step of the way, they fought against pharmacare. At every step of the way, they fought against programs that would support Canadians at a time of need.

No one on that side of this House will tell us what to do. We are going to fight for Canadians. We are going to make Canada strong.

Automotive Industry

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is another day with more costly slogans from that member of Parliament. Now Canadians are learning it was a bait and switch, with another terrible tragedy.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

As they laugh, Mr. Speaker, 1,200 workers at the Ingersoll CAMI plant learned they would lose their jobs after the Prime Minister promised he would negotiate a win and that he would keep their jobs here in Canada. They join with 2,000 workers in Brampton and many more in Oshawa.

How does the Prime Minister look in the eyes the very workers he sold out and betrayed?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House how the Prime Minister will deal with the auto sector. He will look the auto workers in the eyes, and he will say that we will fight for their jobs. This is exactly what we are doing every single day. We are negotiating back in Washington, but it is also important to say that I met this morning with the Canadian CEO of GM. I was in conversation with the head of the labour union, of Unifor. I also talked to Doug Ford, and I talked to Vic Fedeli. We are putting in place a response group. We will make sure we fight for these jobs. We need to make sure—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, she announced, just now, that she talked to this person, and she talked to that person, and she talked to this other person, and she talked, and she talked, and they talked, and they talked, and nothing gets done. Canadians are tired of talk; they want their jobs. The Prime Minister looked these workers in the eye and said he would negotiate a win, that he would protect auto jobs, that there would be an all-in-Canada supply chain that would keep them working. They even gave a quarter-billion tax dollars to GM for this plant. Now those workers do not know how they are going to pay their bills.

How does the government explain the broken promise and betrayal?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we will fight for these jobs, and we will hold the companies to account. That being said, let me talk about important jobs. There are 150 new jobs in Saint-Bruno at Alstom, 700 new jobs at AstraZeneca, 500 new jobs at Ferrero in Ontario, 50 new jobs at K+S Potash, 500 new jobs at Hitachi Energy. This government is building a strong Canadian economy.

Justice

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Université du Québec à Montréal wisely banned a talk by Imam Uthman Ibn Farooq, but he will be wreaking havoc in Brossard anyway. Yes, this preacher will be able to spread his message of hatred and incitement to violence in Canada absolutely legally. Why? It is because he has the right to do so.

Will the Liberal government remove the religious exemption from the Criminal Code?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I think those of us on this side of the House share the Bloc Québécois leader's concern. Hate speech has no place in Canada. That is why the Minister of Justice introduced amendments in Bill C‑9 specifically to address hate.

In the last Parliament, we introduced a bill on online hate. We will keep working to ensure that hate speech has no place in Canada.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice is dancing around the issue, but he is not addressing the root of the problem, which is the religious exemption that remains in effect in their law.

Spreading hatred is a crime in Canada, except when done under the guise of religion. Assaulting a woman captured in a war zone, for example by Hamas on October 7, 2023, is therefore something a man can do if he wants. It is halal.

Is that what Liberal values look like?