Debates of Oct. 3rd, 2025

Forestry Industry

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our forestry industry just got more catastrophic news. Donald Trump just announced an additional 10% tariff on our lumber, on top of the existing illegal 35% tariffs. This is devastating news, especially since the funding that the Liberals announced at the beginning of August has still not been released.

Unifor is calling on the federal government to wake up. Its Quebec director says that the industry urgently needs help now, not two weeks from now.

When will the federal government finally implement a real strategy to support our forestry industry?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry and other ministers are fighting for workers, particularly in the softwood lumber industry. For example, in the case of Kap Paper in northeastern Ontario, meetings are being held with management.

We have the backing and support of the strategic response fund. We are providing a great deal of support to workers at these companies. We will always work on behalf of workers and businesses.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us hope that the Prime Minister's trip to Washington next Tuesday will be more fruitful, because so far, Canada has been negotiating so poorly that it is easier to import European lumber into the United States than Quebec lumber.

In the meantime, the assistance for the sector is stuck in Ottawa's coffers, while Quebec's entire forestry industry is in jeopardy. Tariffs have caused the price of lumber to drop by 15% since July across the board, even for companies that do not do business in the United States. Our sawmills are operating at a loss, even when they sell domestically.

When will the federal government get the financial support out the door?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, obviously, the forestry industry has not been doing well when it comes to foreign trade for quite some time now. We believe that the tariffs and the actions taken by our neighbours to the south are completely unjustified, wrong and bad for consumers in the United States.

We will always stand up for our forestry sector. In my own region and in that of my colleague from Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, in Maniwaki, we have workers who are affected.

We will always stand up for our workers and the forestry industry.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in June, the Prime Minister said that he would reach an agreement with Donald Trump within 30 days. Since then, he has chalked up one defeat after another.

Our softwood lumber industry is being hit with new tariffs, talks are under way to allow more American milk into the country, Ottawa has eliminated the digital services tax, and now it is backtracking on a global minimum tax for U.S. giants that use tax havens. It is just one defeat after another.

The Prime Minister is meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday. He cannot afford another defeat.

What is he going to bring back from Washington?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we have always said that we intend to work relentlessly to negotiate and sign agreements with the United States. We believe that the steps it has taken toward the forestry sector, and the tariffs in general, are completely unjustified.

The Prime Minister will, of course, be visiting the White House next week to continue this process. Canadians can rely on our Prime Minister, our diplomatic team and the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade to negotiate and sign agreements that will secure our economic future.

Justice

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-75, the Liberal soft-on-crime bill, allows violent offenders to be released on bail. These offenders are not being punished; the good people of Canada are. My community of Haldimand—Norfolk is still heartbroken by the murder of 28-year-old Greg Pierzchala, a constable at work who was killed by a violent offender released on bail.

The Prime Minister promised to reverse Liberal bail laws. Will he finally keep his word or get out of the way so Conservatives can fix this crime mess?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the seriousness of intimate partner violence. Addressing it requires tough laws and thoughtful laws developed with survivors, communities and all levels of government to achieve real solutions.

With Bill C-75, we strengthened Canada's response to IPV by defining an intimate partner in the Criminal Code, creating a reverse onus for repeat offenders and ensuring that judges consider prior convictions. Penalties are higher for repeat IPV, and it is shameful the Conservatives want to repeal this progress.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question was about a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, and it was not answered.

The Prime Minister promised to fix the justice system and the bail system, and every day, victims continue to die. Gun crimes are up 130% under Liberal bail laws. Lives are at stake and Canadians cannot wait another day.

If Liberals are serious about bail reform, why will they not support our common-sense Conservative Bill C-242, the jail not bail act? When will the Liberals scrap their failed bail laws or get out of the way so Conservatives can do it?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is encouraging to see there is an alignment between the Conservative opposition and this newly elected Liberal government when it comes to improving public safety, including through the adoption of stronger laws to build safer communities.

I have good news for my colleagues. The Minister of Justice will be introducing new legislation this parliamentary session to strengthen bail reform in this country and have harsher sanctions for violent repeat offenders to make sure that we have the support to help keep communities safe and make direct investments in law enforcement.

They want to do the work. We want their support.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, business owners in my province feel like they are under siege. There are break-ins, theft, arson, smashed windows, extortion and open drug use. Prolific offenders are wreaking havoc on our streets. In Kelowna, a recent report reveals that just 15 criminals were responsible for over 1,300 police reports in 2024. The Liberals' catch-and-release Bill C-75 forces courts to release violent career criminals at the earliest opportunity under the least onerous conditions.

Will the Prime Minister scrap his failed hug-a-thug policies and adopt our jail not bail bill, or will he get out of the way and let Conservatives do it?

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves to feel safe. We heard Canadians and we are acting on that. We are taking action. We are bringing forward bail reforms. We are going to introduce longer, tougher sentences for repeat offenders and violent criminals, and we are taking action in communities to stop drug trafficking, limit illegal firearms and get assault weapons off the streets.

We are taking action for Canadians. We are listening to Canadians.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised bail reform, and he has broken that promise.

Last fall, a senior in my riding, Bob Hubbard, returned home to find his home being robbed. When he tried to stop the perpetrators, they ran him over, dragged him down the road and left him for dead. They were caught that same day and released hours later, while Mr. Hubbard lay in hospital with life-threatening injuries. This is the Liberal government's legacy.

Conservatives are proposing a solution. Will the Prime Minister scrap his failed bail policies or get out of the way so we can do it?

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, our condolences go out to the victim and to the families. These are unbearable situations. We are going to do everything we can to keep them from happening.

The Conservatives have a single solution to all the problems: build prisons. We are going to do a lot more than that. We are going to reform the bail system. We are going to impose harsher sentences. We will also ensure that law enforcement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency are better equipped. We are going to make sure that Canadians feel safe.

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

Mr. Speaker, Liberal bail has unleashed crime and chaos on our streets. The Liberals' law, Bill C-75, requires courts to release violent career criminals at the earliest opportunity under the least onerous conditions. Just two weeks ago in Regina, a man under a probation order terrorized a neighbourhood by chasing multiple people down the street with a machete.

The Prime Minister promised to flip-flop on bail, but his bail laws are still in place six months after taking power. Will the Prime Minister scrap Liberal bail, or will he get out of the way and let us do it?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, will we let them do the work? We will take no lessons from the Conservatives' outrageous record on crime legislation. In 2008, the tackling violent crime with firearms act was struck down in the Nur case. In 2009, the Truth in Sentencing Act was struck down in the Safarzadeh-Markhali case. In 2011, the ending sentence discounts for multiple murders act was overturned in Bissonnette. The list goes on and on.

Let me assure the House that we are working on a serious bail reform bill that is fully constitutional and strong against repeat violent offenders. This is the kind of—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Regina—Wascana has the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised criminal justice reform, but half a year later he has broken that promise. Liberals are obstructing the jail not bail act from passing, keeping in place Liberal soft-on-crime, catch-and-release laws. Because of lax Liberal bail laws, homicides are up nearly 30%, auto theft is up 25% and sexual assaults are up 76%.

Today, Conservatives are proposing to pass the jail not bail act immediately to keep Canadians safe. Will the Liberals scrap their failed bail policies, or will they get out of the way and let Conservatives do it?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, we have said it time and time again: Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. Our government is cracking down on repeat violent offenders with new legislation to strengthen bail, sentencing and court efficiency. We are working closely with provinces and territories to reform bail and sentencing and address delays, giving police and prosecutors stronger tools to keep violent offenders off our streets. This is what Canadians elected us to do: improve public safety, restore confidence in the justice system and ensure violent offenders face real consequences.

We are ready to do the work and we will do it.

Veterans Affairs

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I am speaking, there is a ceremony going on in Owen Sound paying tribute to Corporal Robert Thomas James Mitchell, who made the supreme sacrifice in Afghanistan 19 years ago today. Over 100,000 Canadians have made the supreme sacrifice in service to Canada. On Remembrance Day in my hometown of Tara, 200 names will be read out.

Many ridings have dozens of cenotaphs that request wreaths for Remembrance Day. The Liberals are now telling MPs that VAC will only pay for two.

Veterans Affairs uses the tag “Canada Remembers” on social media, so why is the Liberal government now choosing to forget our veterans?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his service.

I remain committed to ensuring that all those who have served and continue to serve are honoured meaningfully and respectfully. Proposed changes for the wreaths for parliamentarians program were made with the understanding that MPs would work directly with the Royal Canadian Legion, with proceeds supporting their local branches.

I am learning the changes could be significantly disruptive to Remembrance Day. I have instructed my department to revert to the previous format for this year.

This Veterans' Week, I encourage all Canadians to support their local legions and support the work our veterans have done for this country.

Canada Post Corporation

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

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the week, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Jobs have been asking Canada Post and the union to go back to the bargaining table to settle the general strike. Before this government got involved, there was no general strike. Before last week, the parties were negotiating. The union was waiting for an offer from the employer, and mail was being delivered.

Will anyone on the government side recognize that the Liberals are the only ones responsible for the crisis at Canada Post?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has a short memory. In November 2024, Canada Post employees were on strike in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This labour dispute has been going on for 20 months.

As far as we are concerned, it is now essential that we modernize this institution, which, I would remind the House, is losing $10 million a day. Canadians are paying $10 million a day to keep the lights on at Canada Post. I understand that the Bloc Québécois has never had to think about a budget. I understand that the Bloc members have the luxury of not taking things seriously and that they find this situation acceptable, but it is unacceptable to us. It is important that the union and management come to an agreement in the interest of all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I hope the minister will not always be this arrogant. We are talking about thousands of workers who are at risk of losing their jobs and who have been calling for reform for 20 years. It is not like Canada Post only started losing $10 million a day one year ago.

It takes some nerve to ask the two parties involved in the postal dispute to be reasonable and return to the bargaining table when it was the government that got them into this mess. This dispute is solely, completely and absolutely the Liberals' fault.

Even though we do not make budgets, we are all aware that Canada Post's business model needs a major overhaul. Did the Liberals give the union just two minutes' notice of their plans to—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement.