Debates of Oct. 31st, 2025

The Economy

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Madam Speaker, right when the Prime Minister was telling young Canadians they would have to make sacrifices, he was signing off on bonuses for Liberal elites. These taxpayer-funded payouts included $11 million for the fat cats at Via Rail, $30 million for the bureaucrats at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and $60 million for the bankers at the Business Development Bank, all while everyday Canadians struggle to afford the necessities of life.

Instead of asking Canadians to sacrifice more, why does the Prime Minister not cut off insiders cashing in on Canadians' misery?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Madam Speaker, we understand the pressures that Canadians are facing, but at the same time, the Conservative Party offers nothing new. Our government is empowering young Canadians to build lifelong careers. This is one of the reasons we are fast-tracking the Build Canada Homes program to get homes built and fast-tracking major projects to create tens of thousands of high-paying careers across this country. Those careers are available to young people, and we know they are at the heart of building Canada strong and building the strongest economy in the G7.

We encourage members opposite to support the budget and avoid a Christmas election.

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is impressive that the Liberals are actually recognizing Christmas. Canadians are being asked to pull the wagon through the mud while Liberal cronies ride comfortably on top.

The government is not worried about families lining up at food banks; it is too busy lining the pockets of insiders. The Liberals are not bothered with cutting home prices; they are too focused on cutting cheques to bumbling bureaucrats. They do not care about rising debt and inflationary deficits so long as the money keeps flowing to Liberal elites.

When will the Prime Minister stop using tax dollars to reward his friends—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[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)]

Madam Speaker, I see the Conservative misinformation spin cycle continues and continues, but it never produces a grain of truth. If the Conservatives want the truth, we will tell them the truth.

The true story is that the Conservatives never stand up in this House when it comes time to support youth. They actively undermined their futures by voting against student loan support and by voting against grants for students. They voted against the national housing strategy many times in this House. They voted against the tax-free savings accounts for youth to help them realize the dream of home ownership. They voted against the national school food program. They—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Kenora—Kiiwetinoong.

Finance

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

Madam Speaker, according to the Liberals' own numbers, they overspent on the bureaucracy at FedNor by 60% of what was planned last year. That is $2.7 million spent on themselves that should have been used to support communities across northern Ontario.

While people across the country are struggling with housing costs, which have doubled, and a record 2.2 million people are visiting food banks, the Liberals continue to fund bureaucracy. When are they finally going to stop their out-of-control spending and deliver an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Madam Speaker, we keep hearing about the Conservatives' deep concern for youth, but they continue to vote against any project or program that would support the youth of this country. They vote against it all. I would like, for once, to hear exactly what they would reduce in order to meet their absurd budget demands.

Let us have a good budget and an affordable budget on November 4, and let us have the support of the Conservatives.

Transportation

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Madam Speaker, after years of wilful blindness, Ottawa is finally taking action on the Driver Inc. scam, but it is not doing nearly enough.

We were told that 100,000 inspections had been done in the trucking industry, but in the end, the government was forced to admit that it did only 1,000, not 100,000. That is one hundred times less. When we pressed the government further, it finally admitted that it had not done 1,000 inspections, but rather 650. The rest were more like outreach. As for any fines issued, they were never paid. It is a good thing that ridicule never killed anyone, but Driver Inc. drivers do.

When will the government get serious about tackling this problem?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience]

Madam Speaker, our top priority is keeping our roads and drivers safe. The minister made an honest mistake, but budget 2025 includes funding for a targeted $77-million program to address the issue of non-compliance related to contractor services and service fees.

The Bloc Québécois can vote for that and for the budget, thereby preventing a Christmas election. Will the Bloc do so?

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Madam Speaker, let us be clear, if not for the Bloc Québécois, nothing would ever have happened. We presented 10 solutions to resolve the Driver Inc. issue. The Liberals are implementing one of them and acting as though everything is fixed. There are nine left to go.

There is still no federal inquiry. Temporary immigrants are still getting permission to incorporate. Dating sharing between governments is still not happening. So much the better if the Liberals are cracking down on tax cheats, but the core of the problem concerns dangerous drivers ignoring the rules of the road on our streets.

When will Ottawa finally get serious?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience]

Madam Speaker, let me reiterate that our top priority is keeping our roads and drivers safe. Budget 2025 includes important measures to ensure roadway safety. The two opposition parties have a choice.

Will they vote in favour of a budget that advances the cause of trucker safety? I hope so.

Finance

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Madam Speaker, on Halloween we expect ghosts and goblins, not ghoulish government spending, but the Prime Minister told students they need to make more sacrifices, more spooky words from a government that has already drained their wallets.

Young Canadians are haunted by high prices, buried under debt and scared stiff for their future. Liberal spending is out of control. It is a fiscal fright fest.

When will the government stop its reckless tricks and finally give Canadians the treat of affordability?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Madam Speaker, it is fortunate that next week we will have an affordable budget for Canadians. We hope the members opposite will join us in supporting that budget. It will include many ways to invest in young people, in young families, in making homes more affordable, in making food available at schools and in making dental care available, with a number of other things that will support Canadian families. I trust the Conservatives will support us and avoid a Christmas election.

The Economy

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Madam Speaker, Canadians have been struggling for a decade. They have nothing left to give. Canadians are being told to cut back while the Liberal government refuses to cut its own wasteful spending.

Nationwide, food bank visits have hit 2.2 million, including 700,000 children. In my home province of B.C. alone, food bank visits have gone up 80% since 2019.

Canadians cannot afford groceries or basic necessities. They certainly cannot afford another Liberal budget. When will the Prime Minister finally deliver an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Madam Speaker, Conservatives claim to care about youth and affordability, but on this side, we are about solutions, not slogans. We are cutting income taxes, cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers, putting together a national school food program and launching Build Canada Homes to increase home affordability, and we have launched the Major Projects Office.

Canadians do not live in a pretend world. They know we are here to help them, support them, make life more affordable and build the strongest economy in the G7.

We hope the Conservatives can support us, as I am sure they really care about youth and affordability, on November 4.

International Trade

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Madam Speaker, manufacturing companies throughout the greater Chaudière-Appalaches region, including Armoires Bernier in Lévis, are being stifled by 25% U.S. export tariffs.

On January 1, those tariffs are going to double to 50%. The U.K. has 10% tariffs. The European Union and Japan are at 15%. Canada's situation is outrageous. Canadian companies cannot cut into their profit margins indefinitely.

The Prime Minister promised an agreement with the Americans. Why did he break his promise?

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Madam Speaker, I would remind our colleagues that the U.S. is the one that triggered this trade war. We are going to come up with an arrangement with the Americans, but not at any price. We will not make just any arrangement. A bad agreement is worse than no agreement at all.

Our main interest is to defend Canadian workers and maintain access to the U.S. market. We will wait as long as it takes for the Americans to return to the table.

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

Madam Speaker, an agreement was finally reached last night at the APEC summit in South Korea. Unfortunately the agreement was between the United States and China, but not Canada, to reduce tariffs. The Prime Minister flew to Asia, met with the Chinese President and had a nice photo op, but there is still no deal.

In this international game of Deal or No Deal, why is it always no deal for Canada from the Prime Minister?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I want to reassure people that Canada is on the diplomatic stage every day, both diversifying trade and defending Canadian interests. We will continue to work every day to ensure that Canadian businesses, Canadian citizens and Canadian residents are well protected in everything we do.

We will continue to negotiate every trade deal we can. The United States is our biggest trading partner, and we are ready to be at that table while we continue to diversify our trade around the world.

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

Madam Speaker, it is not just Chinese canola tariffs that are punishing Canadian farmers. India has slapped a 30% tariff on Canadian peas and a 10% tariff on lentils. Canada cannot export beef to the United Kingdom, but the U.K. can and does export beef to Canada.

When will the Prime Minister finally stop with the photo ops and finally get a deal for Canadian producers?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Madam Speaker, we will always stand up for Canadian farmers, whether they are beef farmers or farmers who grow wheat. We will make sure that we will get the best deal for them all around the world.

That is the work the Prime Minister is doing. He has been in Asia, meeting with various leaders from around the world to make sure we open new markets, new opportunities for Canadians, so we can double our non-U.S. exports over the next decade. We will do that for Canadian farmers, for Canadian manufacturers and for Canadian workers.

Veterans Affairs

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have seen first-hand the extraordinary work of our Canadian Armed Forces, its members' courage, their sacrifice and the quiet toll that their service can take. I have seen how easily that service can be overlooked in the rhythm of our daily lives, even though Canadians feel such gratitude.

Could the Minister of Veterans Affairs update the House on how the Government of Canada is commemorating and recognizing Canada's veterans for their service and dedication?

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

Madam Speaker, I note the presence on the Hill today of my colleague, the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam's spouse, Gaetan, a 22-year Canadian air force veteran.

I also thank the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for leading the first poppy flag raising on Parliament Hill this morning.

The poppy is an enduring symbol of leadership, of loss and of the responsibility to remember those who have served and sacrificed in uniform. As the Royal Canadian Legion launches the 2025 poppy campaign, I encourage all Canadians to commemorate and remember the veterans who have served.

Finance

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, Food Banks Canada has reported a record-smashing 2.2 million visits to the food bank in just one month, the most ever. The CEO of Food Banks Canada said she is shocked that people are stopping at the food bank on their way home from work because they cannot afford groceries. She said, “It's really shocking to see just how far people are falling behind every single [day].”

After a decade of Liberal deficits and inflationary spending, people just cannot keep up. When will the Liberals realize their inflationary deficits are driving up the cost of food and driving people to the food bank?