Debates of Oct. 8th, 2025

Employment

[Matt Strauss, Conservative, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to create jobs in Canada, but since he became Prime Minister, we have lost 86,000 jobs, which is a promise broken. He promised to increase investment in Canada, but since he became Prime Minister, we lost $54 billion of investment to the United States, which is another promise broken. Yesterday, we all watched in shock as he promised another $1 trillion of Canadian investment money to the United States.

I hope it is not the case that the Prime Minister plans to keep his promise to Donald Trump after breaking his promises to Canadians. How many jobs will it cost us if he does?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, that member is new to the chamber, so maybe he does not know the record of the party he sits with. The Conservatives have voted consistently against the interests of Canadians. Not only that, but they fought against Canadians' rights. Whether it is labour rights, the right to retire at a decent age, or the right to raise our children with the resources we need, these Conservatives have voted against Canadians, and that is why Canadians do not trust them. On this side, they trust the Prime Minister to get the job done.

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

Mr. Speaker, on the other hand, the minister is not a new member, so she should know her own record, which is 86,000 job losses under the Prime Minister alone, and Canada has the worst youth employment rate in over 25 years. Job numbers come out again this Friday, and the situation continues to get grimmer. Witnesses at our parliamentary public hearings on youth unemployment were very clear yesterday that it is not a wealth distribution problem. It is a wealth creation problem, and the Prime Minister wants to send another $1 trillion to the United States.

Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promises and continuing to ship jobs south of the border?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, youth would be disappointed to know that that member voted against their interests time and time again, whether it was for skills training, whether it was Canada summer jobs or whether it was for investments in research and innovation. I sure hope the nature of that question means he will vote for this budget, because we are going to invest in Canadians, and Canadians know that.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can the Liberals applaud today? The Prime Minister himself has admitted to us that today is a very sad day.

Let us look at the broken promises. He promised to create jobs. As it turns out, 86,000 jobs have been lost. That is a failure. He promised to grow the economy. As it turns out, we have the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. That is a failure. He promised to catalyze Canadian investments to protect our jobs. As it turns out, $54 million in investments are leaving Canada and heading to the United States.

Will the Prime Minister ever keep his promises?

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

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of good news to come, and there will be even more on November 4.

My colleague should know that the first measure our government put forward affected 22 million Canadians. I am sure that my colleague must be telling everyone in his riding that, thanks to the Liberal government, 22 million Canadians are now paying less tax.

On November 4, we will have generational investments and even more good news from that day forward. We will build a strong country, a prosperous country. Together, we will build Canada strong.

Natural Resources

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the recent G7 Leaders' Summit, Canada clearly stated that it would be a leader in the global race for critical minerals. Critical minerals are an essential part of manufacturing electric vehicles, clean technologies and information technologies. Controlling critical minerals also means ensuring good jobs for the middle class and economic security for our country.

Can the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources tell us how the Canadian government is asserting its leadership in critical minerals for the benefit of Quebeckers and all other Canadians?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our government's commitment to making Canada a leader in critical minerals is being put into action. This weekend, I was in beautiful Saguenay, where we announced that Arianne Phosphate has been approved for a $735,000 NRCan research grant.

By investing in resilient and sustainable Canadian critical minerals and mineral processing, we are putting Canadians to work, securing Canadian sovereignty and seizing an opportunity to make Canada a clean and conventional energy superpower.

Firearms

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' $742-million gun grab continues to be mired in controversy after the minister admitted on leaked audio that it will not work. In Cape Breton, residents are angered by the program being launched, and the local police union was left in the dark and not consulted. Now we find out that the Liberal minister is the brother-in-law of the police chief overseeing the program.

Will the Liberals now admit that the only way they can get police forces to participate is to hire their family?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let me just remind the party opposite that the Mass Casualty Commission in Nova Scotia recommended that governments take decisive action to take assault-style firearms off our streets. It is a critical part of the work of ensuring the safety and security of our communities.

I want to thank the people of Cape Breton for the pilot program. I know that the police chief and men and women in uniform are very much engaged in this process.

The pilot is working. I look forward to reporting back to the House on its progress. I also look forward to the expansion of the program nationwide.

Northern Affairs

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, eminent Arctic expert Professor Franklyn Griffiths wrote that Canada needs to consider the possibility that the U.S. President will without our permission send American warships through the Northwest Passage as a show of force. He asked a very pertinent question: What will Canada do? He asked whether the Prime Minister would be prepared to start by thanking the Inuit people of Nunavut for protecting Canadian sovereignty through the assertion of Inuit ownership of those lands.

Will the Prime Minister respond to that brilliant suggestion?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, our new government is strengthening Arctic security by investing in people, infrastructure and partnerships that protect Canada's sovereignty and support resilient communities. We are working with indigenous governments and territorial partners to ensure Canada's presence in the north is secure, visible and enduring. That means investments in dual-use infrastructure like ports, airstrips, bridges and clean energy. That reinforces defence priorities and lasting benefits to communities in the north.

Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Ukrainian Heritage Month Act

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

moved that Bill S-210, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month, be read the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce Bill S-210. If passed, the bill would declare September as Ukrainian heritage month across Canada every year.

I would like to thank Senator Kutcher for introducing this bill in the other place and the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore for cosponsoring it.

Since 1891, Ukrainians have been coming to Canada. Most were very poor, but they carried with them something very important: a relentless work ethic and a resolve to preserve their Ukrainian heritage. Today, there are over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage. Ukrainian Canadians have made and continue to make an important contribution to our country that spans communities from coast to coast to coast.

It has never been more important for us to pass this bill than it is today. As we speak, Russia is attempting not only to conquer Ukraine, but to destroy the very heritage that this bill aims to honour, which generations of Ukrainian Canadians worked so hard to preserve.

Ukrainian heritage month would give us a special opportunity to honour Ukrainian heritage, honour the role that Ukrainian Canadians have played in Canada and honour the role that Canada has played in supporting Ukrainian Canadians.

Slava Kanadi. Slava Ukraini.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Public Safety

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to present a petition on behalf of the people of Riding Mountain.

The people of Swan River are experiencing an alarming increase in violent crime, which has threatened the safety and well-being of families across our region. A recent report by the Manitoba west district RCMP found that over an 18-month period, four offenders in Swan River were responsible for 239 offences.

The petitioners continue to suffer the consequences of soft-on-crime Liberal policies like Bill C-5, which repealed mandatory jail time for serious crimes, and Bill C-75, which forces judges to release repeat violent offenders right back onto the streets. The petitioners of Swan Valley want to see an end to the Liberals' reckless catch-and-release policies so that criminals can stay behind bars. That is why the people of Swan River are demanding jail, not bail, for violent repeat offenders.

I support the good people of Swan River.

Study Permits

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present e-petition 6522, which is signed by over 500 Canadians who are deeply concerned about recent federal policy changes that reduced international student study permits by over 40% and restricted post-graduation work permit eligibility without stakeholder consultation.

The petitioners warn that these cuts undermine Canada's ability to meet urgent workforce needs in health care, education, technology and the skilled trades. They note that universities and colleges, already underfunded, now face layoffs, program losses and reduced accessibility. The policy also destabilizes immigration pathways, delays certification for newcomers and threatens Canada's reputation as a global leader in education.

The petitioners call on the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to amend these caps, restore alignment with labour force needs, increase federal funding for post-secondary education, support affordable student housing and defend the vital role of higher learning education in Canada's economic future.

Immigration and Citizenship

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Kanata.

This petition, to date, has over 1,000 signatures from individuals who have expressed concerns about the situation in Iran and are seeking government support for family members who are already lawfully in Canada. They share that the current situation has created severe consequences for families: years of waiting and uncertainty, an inability to plan for the future and being separated from loved ones. This results in emotional distress and financial hardship for families here that are trying to build stable lives in Canada.

The petitioners also share that many have been invited by the Canadian government to apply for permanent residency, but their applications have been prolonged by federal security screening. Their petition seeks to resolve these lengthy delays by issuing timely temporary resident work and study permits to immediate family members of Iranian nationals who are lawfully here in Canada.

I am happy to table this petition today to ensure that their voices are heard.

Justice

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Saskatoon West. These are residents of Fairhaven, Meadowgreen, Parkridge and Confederation Park in Saskatoon who are concerned about crime in the city. Violent crime is up 10% in Saskatoon, with an increase in assaults, murders and robberies. Saskatoon has had 14 homicides in 2024, an almost 15% increase from the number of murders committed in 2023. As a result, these residents feel unsafe in their homes.

The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to reform the catch-and-release bail system to prevent dangerous repeat and violent offenders from serving their sentences in their community; to establish new indictable offences, reporting obligations and limitations on weapons possession for previous offenders who break conditions; and to pass legislation so that an accused charged more than twice with certain indictable offences must be detained in custody while subject to a summons, an appearance notice or a release order.

I support this petition.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

I will remind members that we do not endorse petitions.

The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.

Social Media

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House today to present e-petition 45-1, initiated by one of my constituents, Ms. Jenny Perez, a passionate advocate for children's online safety. This petition has garnered the support of nearly 2,000 Canadians, including parents and concerned citizens from coast to coast to coast.

The petitioners draw attention to the growing concern that smart phones are becoming a gateway to harmful content for Canadian youth. They note that the majority of children now own a device by the age of 12. They further raise concerns about algorithm-driven social media platforms, which are designed to maximize user engagement, often in ways that can be addictive and detrimental to the emotional and mental well-being of young people.

The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to raise the minimum age for social media use to 16 through mandatory age-verification systems and meaningful enforcement measures, similar to recent actions taken by countries like Australia, and to strengthen the privacy rights of minors under the age of 18 by ensuring that social media companies are prohibited from collecting, storing and sharing personal data from youth, including data gathered through age-verification technologies.

Canada Post

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising to present a petition on behalf of the citizens of Yellowhead.

A growing number of taxpaying residents of the Ghost Valley and Waiparous area, including Benchlands, the Summer Village of Waiparous, Ghost Country Place, Pearce Place and households along Richard Road, require access to a functional postal code in order to fully participate in modern daily life. Postal codes are essential for accessing critical services. Residents need them for claims for rural status, filing taxes with the CRA, opening bank accounts, registering children for school, shopping online, requesting supplies for delivery and reporting utility outages. The absence of a functional postal code creates unnecessary barriers for residents and undermines their ability to access basic services that other Canadians take for granted.

The government must provide a functional postal code for the communities in Waiparous and Ghost Valley.

Electoral Reform

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today with a petition from the residents of Saanich—Gulf Islands who express concern about the electoral system. They cite a number of statistics on the level of public support across Canada in response to the distorted electoral results that have occurred due to the first-past-the-post voting system. The petitioners favour a form of national citizens' assembly to review our electoral process and give the citizens of this country a leadership role in determining the shape of electoral reform.

The petitioners call on the House of Commons to take action to move toward a citizens' assembly and ensure it completes its work within 12 months.

Social Media

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today, along with my colleague in the Liberal Party, to present a petition representing the voices of many parents across the country who are concerned about social media use and smart phone use by children, especially those much younger than 18 years old.

These parents have recognized that smart phones have become a direct gateway to harmful content for children. They are addictive. Algorithm-driven social media platforms are designed solely to increase engagement and push some harmful content at children. Parents face significant challenges in controlling their children's own use of smart phones and their activities online.

These parents are asking the government to raise the minimum age for social media and to secure privacy rights for youth under 18 so that social media companies cannot use any data collected from children under the age of 18.

Electoral Ballots

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today to present my first petition as the member of Parliament for Brandon—Souris.

It is e-petition 6573, initiated by constituent River Klassen and signed by hundreds of Canadians. It calls for action to address the morally bankrupt stunts of the longest ballot committee, which predominantly harm the ability of seniors and those with disabilities to cast their vote.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on the procedure and House affairs committee to address the recommendations in this petition.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time.