Debates of Nov. 19th, 2025

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, unlike the members opposite, Canadians know that we need to invest in ourselves, and that is exactly why they have supported this government and why they support this budget. From Canada's Building Trades Unions to the YMCA to Food Banks Canada, a variety of different stakeholders have advocated for the programs and approach in this budget.

People are happy. They are happy with a government that has ambition on their behalf. We are not going to stop, because we are creating the jobs of today and tomorrow.

International Trade

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, all the Prime Minister has achieved is higher air miles, higher altitudes and higher tariffs. With 28 trips and enough kilometres travelled to circle the earth four times, Canadians expect more than just photo ops and hollow letters of intent.

When he travelled to China, Canadians got higher tariffs. When he travelled to India, Canadians got higher tariffs. When he travelled to Washington, Canadians got higher tariffs.

Why are Canadian families paying the price with higher tariffs for the Prime Minister to jet around the globe for photo ops and deals for Brookfield?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member is from Manitoba and we need to recognize that Manitobans want to vote for this budget. They want to for the port of Churchill. They want us to build, protect and empower the north.

This is the first time we are seeing these types of investments in generations. I encourage the member to get on board and vote for them to ensure we make the national school food program permanent.

The Economy

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House reiterated its confidence in our government and in budget 2025. Indeed, budget 2025 is an expression of confidence in Canada.

In the face of uncertainty, Canadians are going to build a future we want for ourselves. That includes our new buy Canadian policy, which is strengthening our economy by prioritizing Canadian-made steel, aluminum and softwood lumber. It is supporting local jobs, protecting industries impacted by international tariffs and reinforcing our commitment to stable supply chains.

Can the secretary of state speak to the broad support for this buy Canadian policy?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the buy Canadian policy outlined in budget 2025 will leverage every public dollar to strengthen Canada's economy and create jobs. Do not take my word for it. Ask the members for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, Jonquière and Lac-Saint-Jean. They all joined our government in announcing and applauding this policy last week, only to vote against it a few days later.

Canadians notice that while that side of the House is putting partisan politics above results, we are building the strongest economy in the G7.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is acting like a real tourist. In his first eight months as Prime Minister, he has taken 28 trips on a private jet and covered enough kilometres to circle the globe four times. However, he has no agreements or meaningful results to show for it, just good intentions and photo ops on the taxpayers' dime.

Why is it that every time the Prime Minister boards a plane to meet foreign leaders, Canadians end up paying even higher tariffs?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, given the choice between a Prime Minister who visits our allies and trade partners to diversify our markets and an opposition leader who spends his time disparaging our institutions on obscure podcasts, the choice is clear and simple. Canadians made the right choice.

We are focusing on diversifying markets to reduce our dependence on the United States, stimulate our economy, increase our productivity and build the strongest economy in the G7.

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

Mr. Speaker, that makes absolutely no difference to the tens of thousands of steel, auto and softwood lumber workers who have lost their jobs because of the Liberal government's tariff failures.

Canadian businesses are asking for an agreement with the United States to ensure predictable revenues. Why is it that every time the Prime Minister travels to warmer climes, the tariffs go up and Canadians are left footing the bill?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have seen better from my colleague.

I think my colleague should spend more time with people in the auto sector, the forestry sector and the steel and aluminum sector.

Why? These individuals are asking us to open international markets and reduce our dependence on the U.S., as my colleague from Louis‑Hébert was saying. That is because it is very, very important for us to be able to export our aluminum, our forestry products and our steel to Europe and Asia.

That is exactly what the Prime Minister and the team are doing.

The Economy

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, “Sometimes you're trying to choose between bills and feeding your kids.” That is a direct quote from Thunder Bay mom Cassandra Shedden, who relies on formula to feed her infant child. She describes rummaging around her house, looking for things to sell just so she can put formula in her baby's bottle.

Why will the Prime Minister not do something so that parents can afford to buy baby formula?

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

Mr. Speaker, nobody should have to feel the fear that Cassandra feels, but I will note what Cassandra also said. She said she could hardly wait until the Canada child benefit arrived on the 20th of each month because it helped her feed her baby, as she lived on Ontario disability.

The member voted against the Canada child benefit. She voted against school food. She voted against the very people she has the temerity to stand up and quote in this House.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, since 2017, inflation on baby formula has become double what it is in the U.S. We are overly reliant on imported infant formula, and we only have one plant in Canada, which means that every single tax on transportation, every supply chain disruption and every single tariff threat hits Canadian families harder. This is due to a lack of any kind of action from any of the Liberals for the last 10 years.

Will they finally make this a priority so that parents can afford to feed their babies formula?

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

Mr. Speaker, maybe the member did not read the article where Canada research chair Ms. Lesley Frank said that the Canada child benefit should be increased, which, by the way, it is every year because it is pegged to inflation, and where the experts said that formula should be produced in Canada. In this budget, we have money for innovation in agriculture.

How does that member think that Canada will be able to do anything if she votes against Canadians' interests time and time again?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, what is deeply wrong is the fact that parents are waiting every single day for those cheques just so they can afford to put groceries on the table. What is deeply wrong is that mothers are begging strangers online for money just so they can afford to buy baby formula. What is deeply wrong is that parents are resorting to buying opened bottles and cases of powdered formula, just so they can feed their kids. This is because of the government's lack of action.

Will the Liberals actually do something other than just create more bureaucracy? We need action.

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

Mr. Speaker, members like that one, with the fake outrage as their colleagues stand up and vote against the very—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. minister.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just the other day, the member for Bowmanville—Oshawa North suggested that hungry children should go without because parents should be able to afford to feed their kids. Well, I have a news flash: Single mothers, just like I was in my day, need all the help they can get, and that is what we do for moms every single day in the House.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is from a minister who is completely out of touch with Canadians, who are struggling day in and day out to afford the very basic necessities of life.

Meanwhile, the members across the way are heckling me while Canadians struggle and are going to food banks in droves. That is because of the government's mismanagement, and it can do something about it. One of the things the Liberals could do about it would be to scrap the fuel tax, which would bring down the cost of groceries. Why is the government hell-bent on keeping the fuel tax and making sure that Canadians cannot afford basic necessities?

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

Mr. Speaker, what the member opposite fails to acknowledge is that she voted against every measure that helps single mothers right now, every single day. Whether it is fees reduced for early learning and child care, access to dental care for children who do not have dental care benefits or fighting against school food, these Conservatives stand up to say they feel the pain of moms, especially single moms, but when push comes to shove, they vote against them time and again.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, what the minister is saying is that, through socialist programs, Canadians can be provided for. Canadians should be able to make ends meet—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There is nothing unparliamentary about that word.

The hon. member for Lethbridge, from the top.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, grocery prices in this country have risen 40% faster than in the United States of America. That goes to prove that it has a whole lot to do with the government and its socialist policies.

Statistics Canada shows that beef is up 17%, chicken is up 6%, apples are up 4% and baby formula is up 6%. Baby formula is the most stolen item in a grocery store because parents are desperate due to the government's mismanagement. Folks are suffering.

I hosted a town hall last week. Their faces and their stories came forward. These are more than stats, folks. What will the government do about it?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is why I am so proud to be a Liberal. Liberals believe in helping each other.

We believe that, when a single mom is having a tough time, we should be there for her. We believe that, when a family is down on their luck, we should have an employment insurance program that helps people out when they lose their jobs. We believe that, when people cannot access dental care, sometimes for up to 20 years and are living in pain, we should do something about that as a country.

That is what Canadians believe. It is why we are known for our universal health care system. We care about each other.