Debates of Nov. 20th, 2025

Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for far too long, we have been reliant almost exclusively on one market, which is the United States. It has been a wake-up call. However, Canada has been very fortunate. In the last 10 years, we have done numerous trade deals, like the CPTPP, CETA with Europe, and those with several South American countries. We are the only G7 country with a free trade deal with every G7 country.

In my role as Secretary of State for International Development, I get to go to many countries that are in the beginning steps of reaching free trade agreements or have just reached them. The opportunities are endless. I think Canada has to explore them, and Prime Minister Carney is leading a team and leading—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I will just interrupt the secretary of state. The member cannot use the name of the Prime Minister in the House.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is leading the charge with cabinet ministers and taking a team Canada approach with all these countries to expand our trade opportunities. This is to make the products that Canada needs to give to the rest of the world, and those that Canada needs to ensure we have sufficient, safe and reliable supply chains and have the ingredients to help build an affordable and industrious Canada.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, can the member tell me how much Canadian investment the Prime Minister promised will cross over into the U.S. over the next five years?

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, almost $2 billion a day goes back and forth between the U.S. and Canada. It is a robust economic agreement we have. Our goal is to take it beyond that and double our international trade so we are less reliant on the U.S. That will be our focus for the future.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a huge honour to rise today to discuss budget 2025, which was passed on Monday and Tuesday by a majority of members in the House. It is a budget that will profoundly shape the country we are building for our kids and grandkids.

It offers a practical plan for a better future, a healthy, prosperous and strong future, where we are masters of our own destiny in an uncertain and evolving world.

We cannot control what happens in the rest of the world. However, we can control how we prepare our country for the future: the strength of our economy, the safety of our communities, the resilience of our infrastructure and the ability of our families to prosper. Budget 2025 does just that.

I would like to begin by discussing what I consider the essence of my involvement in politics, which I believe holds true for all members of the House: Canadians, the families in my riding of Honoré-Mercier, young people, workers, parents, and seniors in Anjou, Rivière‑des‑Prairies and across the country.

I would like to highlight some concrete initiatives, such as L'Artère de l'Est, a new transitional housing service for vulnerable youth in Montreal East, which I had the pleasure of visiting last week in Pointe‑de‑l'Île for the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. This project was made possible in part because of a federal investment of $1.3 million. It offers young people 16 to 23 a safe place, personalized support and practical tools to regain stability, independence, and above all, hope.

I am also thinking of the sports and aquatic centre in Montreal North, in Bourassa, a facility that will directly benefit families in the area. This centre will provide a place where residents and our young people can challenge themselves, get in shape, discover their passions, feel safe, and forge strong bonds. This centre will definitely be used by people in Rivière‑des‑Prairies and Anjou. This is exactly the type of project that federal investments, like the ones in budget 2025, make possible. These facilities will improve daily life, create a sense of belonging, and strengthen social cohesion.

I am saying this as a member of Parliament, but also as a father of two young daughters. When we talk about the future, it is critical that we talk specifically about our young people and the opportunities they should be able to have. This year alone, in Honoré-Mercier, the Canada summer jobs program created 177 jobs. More than $800,000 was invested in the communities of Anjou and Rivière‑des‑Prairies. In addition, 31 local organizations received support, including Équipe RDP, CHORRA, Camp YOPI and the organization Association québécoise de la défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées, among many others.

When we talk about the future, we also need to talk about the Canadians who built this country, who passed on our values, and who continue to uphold the spirit of citizenship. I am talking about our seniors. Budget 2025 recognizes them and has committed the necessary resources and investments to support them. One concrete example is the New Horizons for Seniors program. With annual funding of $60 million, the program supports projects that reduce isolation, strengthen social participation and protect the dignity of seniors.

In Honoré-Mercier, I have had the opportunity to support a number of groups that work every day with seniors to keep them active, including the group Aîné-es J'écoute en actions in Rivière‑des‑Prairies and the group Cercle des fermières Anjou.

For this progress to last, we need a strong economy that can create lasting prosperity in a world marked by uncertainty. With this budget, Canada is on track to attract nearly $500 billion in responsible investment over the next five years. These investments will create good jobs, make us more competitive and ensure sustainable growth. Budget 2025 allows us to take control of our economy, our sovereignty and our future, and to become our own best customer here at home.

However, building a modern economy also requires bold action on another fundamental pillar: climate action. Budget 2025 makes it clear that economic prosperity and climate action go hand in hand. Not only are they not mutually exclusive, but they also reinforce each other.

Our long-term economic health depends on the health of our environment. Our jobs depend on the quality of our resources. Our security depends on climate stability. Our well-being depends on nature, air, water, forests and ecosystems. That is why the 2025 budget places a strong emphasis on climate transition, while supporting economic growth.

As announced by Minister Dabrusin at COP30, Canada wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% to 50% by 2035. This is not just an environmental target, it is a plan for economic and ecological resilience. The goal is to attract more clean investment, to become a competitive country in a global economy where green innovation is becoming indispensable and to protect the health, safety and well-being of our communities. Budget 2025 gives us the tools to achieve this goal by strengthening industrial carbon pricing, a powerful driver of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and investment in clean innovation. It is a win for competitiveness, a win for the economy, a win for the climate and a win for Canada.

Budget 2025 also strengthens other important tools: tougher methane emissions regulations, a clear taxonomy for sustainable investments, a modernized sustainable bond framework and climate disclosure rules to help businesses plan, innovate and grow. These actions will result in meaningful movement toward Canada's climate goals while driving innovation, investment and job creation.

Supporting this transition and supporting our growth also requires robust infrastructure. That is why budget 2025 would invest $280 billion over five years to build modern, sustainable, safe and resilient infrastructure. These investments include $51 billion specifically for community infrastructure. This means safer roads, modernized bridges and more efficient and climate-resilient buildings.

Montreal is home to one of the flagship projects: the metro's blue line extension, which includes a station in Anjou. This project will improve mobility, make the east end of Montreal more attractive, reduce commuting time and contribute to a better quality of life for thousands of families.

I hope to eventually improve transportation in the east, especially for people in Rivière‑des‑Prairies. Last week, young people in my riding told us that it takes about an hour and a half to get from Rivière‑des‑Prairies to the Université du Québec à Montréal, McGill University or Concordia University. We are going to keep fighting to improve transportation in Rivière‑des‑Prairies and in Anjou.

A budget that builds for the future also has to address the immediate needs of Canadians. Budget 2025 proposes several critical measures to make life more affordable. It starts with something simple, something fundamental, like automatic access to benefits for millions of Canadians. Automatic tax filing for low-income families will give hundreds of thousands of people automatic access to the credits and benefits they are entitled to receive. Though humble in appearance, it has a mighty impact.

Speaking of impact, let us turn the discussion back to our kids. The national school food program now receives permanent annual funding of $216 million. No, this program is not garbage. A child who gets better nutrition is able to learn better. A child who learns better is more likely to succeed. This program is an investment in the human future of the country.

Since we are talking about human dignity, let us also talk about health. The Canadian dental care plan, which was strengthened by the budget, now covers more than five million Canadians, including 23,000 residents of Honoré-Mercier, representing nearly one-quarter of the population of my riding. That is why budget 2025 invests heavily in the future, including in the RCMP. These resources will help keep our neighbourhoods safe, whether in Anjou, Rivière‑des‑Prairies or elsewhere in the country.

Budget 2025 is a generational budget. It is modern, grounded in reality and, above all, compassionate. It will enable Canada to take control of our economy, our sovereignty and our future. We will have a Canada that is ready to face an unstable and rapidly changing world, as well as a fairer, more prosperous Canada.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I must remind the hon. member that members are not to use ministers' names. He was talking about the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his speech and congratulate him on his election. I know it has been a long time, but I still want to congratulate him on his first term in the House.

My question is very simple. We know that his government likes to talk about a generational budget. We keep hearing that it is generational, that it is going to be talked about for generations, that it is going to impact generations. Can you tell us how many generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have to pay for the $78.3-billion deficit?

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The member used the word “you”. The Chair will not answer the question, but I invite the hon. member for Honoré-Mercier to respond.

The hon. member for Honoré-Mercier.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for asking such an excellent question during our first exchange in the House. I thank him for the outstanding work he does in his riding.

To answer my colleague's question, our budget includes operating costs and investments. We are making significant investments in projects. We talked a little earlier about transformative projects like the Alto project. Last week, there was also an announcement about the Crawford mine in Timmins, in northern Ontario.

The idea really is to invest and think about our children's future. I have two young daughters, aged six and 10. We really need to think about their future.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague from Honoré-Mercier really surprises me.

He formed an environment and climate change committee within the government out of concern that the government is completely giving up on the fight against climate change. Today, he shows up in the House and delivers a speech that is literally greenwashing, where he brags about a budget that has been so harshly criticized that Canada won a fossil award, an international booby prize.

That budget cuts Environment and Climate Change Canada's spending, abandons important measures, gives billions of dollars to oil companies and abandons the emissions cap for the oil and gas sector. I would like my hon. colleague to explain to me how he can support and praise a budget that surrenders to climate change, that is criticized by NGOs, that is criticized internationally, and that gives money to oil and gas companies. It is shameful.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Repentigny for his question and his commitment, but I must correct some of his comments. He mentioned an environmental committee. I think my colleague is referring to the caucus within the Liberal Party. All parties have caucuses, and this caucus was created to fuel discussion. It gives us an opportunity to discuss climate change.

My colleague's remarks are not accurate. As I mentioned in my speech, our government is working on measures that my colleague supported. These include taxonomy and methane regulations, which is truly one of the most effective ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Then there is industrial carbon pricing, another measure that my colleague also supported. We know that this measure is very effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, could the member elaborate on how measures such as industrial carbon pricing, methane regulations and investments in clean energy are benefiting Canadians in Honoré-Mercier and all across the country?

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that there was some support in the budget for the youth climate corps, support that will help youth advance work on important issues in protecting the environment.

As I mentioned, there is also a sustainable bond framework, which is helping to advance green bonds. There is also advancement on climate disclosure. There are a lot of measures that are going to benefit the folks in my riding.

Last week in Montreal, there was an announcement of the REM extension, increasing public transportation and some further work. As I mentioned, there is $51 billion being invested in infrastructure projects across the country. We are very happy and excited to continue this great work.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, thank you for calling me to order. It appears that I addressed another member using the informal form “tu”. I am quite embarrassed and must apologize. I have been an elected official for 17 years and yet I made this mistake. Even in my private life I tend to address everyone with the formal “vous”. Well, it happens to everyone.

It is Thursday evening. It has been a good day, and I am in a good mood, so I want to start this speech, my response to the budget speech, on the right foot. There is one thing in this budget that makes me very happy, and that is page 82.

On page 82 of the budget, there is a box, a separate bit of text, that very clearly defines the political philosophy that inspires me here in the House. It addresses the idea of “one project, one review”, meaning one environmental review.

My colleagues will recall that, a little over two years ago, I introduced Bill C-375 in the House. After eight years in the House of Commons, this was the first time I had the opportunity to introduce a private member's bill that would be debated in the House. There is a lottery, and those who win get to introduce a bill.

Before I go any further, I wish to say that I will be sharing my time with the member for Regina—Wascana.

About two years ago, I introduced Bill C‑375, which aimed to do exactly what is found word for word in the budget speech on page 82, specifically, “one project, one review”.

The purpose of that bill was to speed up the process and make it much more efficient and pragmatic so that projects could get done. Now more than ever, we need to unlock our full potential in terms of energy, natural resources and green projects. We know that in the past, a project had to undergo a provincial assessment and then a federal assessment. Sometimes, these assessments contradicted each other and, ultimately, everything had to start over from scratch. It was completely inefficient.

The purpose of Bill C‑375 was to move projects forward in a positive and constructive manner. The goal was not to take away accountability, but rather to eliminate the consecutive and often conflicting assessments. The objective was to work together to cover all the environmental aspects of a project by requiring one assessment, not two, to get to the bottom of the matter immediately.

I am very pleased that the government has adopted my proposal. However, I would like to point out that the bill was introduced on February 12, 2024. There was a debate in the House on March 18 of that year and a vote on May 8 of the same year.

What happened? Obviously, we Conservatives voted in favour. Since the bill was at second reading stage and the vote was on the principle of the bill, the Bloc Québécois members at the time supported the essence or spirit of Bill C-375. They had some reservations, of course. That is perfectly fine. That is how democracy works. There were 150 votes in favour of the bill, but unfortunately, this bill to create a single environmental assessment was defeated by 177 votes from the NDP and the Liberal government.

I see members opposite who remember that situation. At the time, they insulted us for wanting to axe the carbon tax. In the end, they axed it themselves. They were against the “one project, one review” principle back then, but now it is reproduced word for word on page 82 of the budget. I just wanted to point that out.

That is one of the only things in this budget that I see as positive. The government keeps referring to this budget as “generational”, saying that it is truly a turning point in the history of the country and that generations of Canadians will be able to benefit from it.

Well, it is not. Generations of Canadians will pay the price because we are living beyond our means. We are living on credit. It is a credit card budget.

There will be a $78.3‑billion deficit. That is twice as much as Prime Minister Trudeau's deficit. The man had many fine qualities—really, I mean that sincerely—but there is no denying that he was spendthrift.

No one could have ever believed that a Prime Minister with such international prestige, a banker who is highly regarded around the world, would do worse than Mr. Trudeau, but that is what happened.

I would like to remind members that the Liberals were elected on a promise to run a deficit $19 billion lower than what they are now saying. Members should also recall that the deficit is twice as high now as it was last year at around the same time.

What is even more shocking about this budget is that there is no timeline for getting spending under control and balancing the budget. There is no timeline at all. On the contrary, deficits will pile up: $78.3 billion this year, $65.4 billion next year, $63.5 billion the year after that, $57.9 billion the year after that, and finally $56.6 billion. There is no plan to get back on track, and $321 billion is being added to the debt. Again, what this current Prime Minister is doing is twice as much as Mr. Trudeau planned to do. These people did not get elected by saying that they would do twice as badly as Justin Trudeau, yet that is exactly what they have done.

It is our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will have to pay for this. I am blessed by the gods and very privileged in life. I am a father, and for the past five years, I have been a grandfather. That is why, even though I cannot show it, I am wearing a little bracelet made by my three-year-old granddaughter. I try to wear it as often as possible in the House because I have always believed that we are here thanks to our parents, but that we are here for our children and grandchildren. This belief has been a driving force for me throughout my 17 years in politics. More than ever, that is how I see it and that is what I want.

Debt is a bill that we pass on to our children. Debt has to be paid off at some point. Interest on debt has to be paid every year. That interest amounts to $55.6 billion that we are going to pay. The people watching at home need to know that every dollar and cent of the GST we pay is not used to improve services or make transfers to the provinces to improve health care services or other things. It is used solely and exclusively to pay the interest on the debt. Every penny of the GST will be used for that instead of investing more in health care. The government is investing $54.7 billion in health care, while GST revenues total $54.4 billion. That is why it is imperative for the government to get the finances under control, to get the deficit and debt reduction under control and, above all, to have a timeline for returning to a balanced budget.

Allow me to remind the House that, yes, a balanced budget is possible. Here in the House, we have an experienced man who was once elected to the National Assembly and who now serves all of Canada as a member of the House of Commons. On March 11, 2015, he said, “Balancing the budget...is a way to cement the credibility of the province and the financial stability of the province.” Who said that? It was the current Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry. I had the pleasure of serving alongside him in the National Assembly in another life. The current parliamentary secretary to the current government's Minister of Industry balanced Quebec's budget. That means that yes, it can be done. As a Quebecker, I am very pleased to have had that man around at the precise moment when he was the finance minister because, thanks to him and the government he belonged to, including the member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, Quebec was able to balance its budget. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Unfortunately, this man who sits here in the House could serve Canada much better if he were in cabinet. Since he is not, could the Prime Minister at least consult him on how to tackle the deficit issues? This is a very heavy burden that will have far-reaching consequences for the future of our children and our great-grandchildren.

I just want to say in the House of Commons that, in my mind, this budget is good for one aspect, one project, one evaluation. We have that definition on page 96 of this budget. This is very interesting. This is exactly what we proposed two years ago here in the House, but unfortunately, the Liberals voted against it at that time. Today, they are doing what we were asking them to do two years ago.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

It is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 38, to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, Foreign Affairs; the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, Employment; the hon. member for Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, Carbon Pricing.

I recognize the member for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard the member opposite speak a few times. He is an excellent speaker, and I think he would make an excellent leader of the opposition.

The member opposite has spoken about streamlining evaluation across jurisdictions. I think that is a very important point. He was at a Green Building event recently, speaking very highly of and advocating for green building standards. Of course, the Canadian debt is a concern, so I thank him for highlighting that.

I was wondering if the member opposite could also acknowledge that, in the current geopolitical context with the United States and shifting trade alliances, we are in a different reality now, and this budget addresses some of those realities.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the world has changed. I remember pretty well the Prime Minister, while he was campaigning, saying, “Elbows up”. What happened? He went to the White House twice, and was it elbows up? No, it was thumbs up. The reality today is empty hands. He went from elbows up to thumbs up to empty hands. That is not the way to address the reality of the geopolitical situation right now.

Talking about the Leader of the Opposition, he was so efficient and so good that he convinced the Liberal Party to kick out Justin Trudeau and to cut the carbon tax. This is a leader who is very efficient. I can assure the member of that.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am torn. Yes, we need to have control over public finances, but we also need to consider the social aspect. I started my week by attending a press conference to announce a food drive being organized by SOS Dépannage in Granby. I found out that more and more seniors are requesting food hampers.

My colleague used to be a journalist. I would like to hear his comments on the critical issue of helping regional media survive. I know he is aware of this issue. I studied journalism, so I understand the link and how important it is, in a democracy, to have local media in the regions. What are the consequences of investing in only one media outlet, namely Radio-Canada, and completely failing to support other media outlets, whether private or community-based? This is particularly important given the advertising crisis we are currently experiencing. This has direct consequences for democracy in our regions.

What does my colleague, a former journalist, think about that?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question and congratulate her on her work. Yes, I am a former journalist, so I can truly appreciate what is going on, but I recognize that everything also happens on social media now and that the media has to adapt. There used to be a local newspaper in my riding, but it has now become much more of a virtual newspaper that is much more in tune with everyday reality, which is evolving very quickly.

We also need to recognize that the Liberal Party's commitment to give the Crown corporation alone another $150 million is not the best approach. Our approach was completely different, of course. The Liberals won, and that is fine, but I sincerely encourage them to reconsider the $150 million they are offering to CBC/Radio-Canada.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this budget means that Canadians will pay more in interest on the national debt than the federal government will transfer for health care and than the government collects in GST. It is as though every dollar collected from GST revenue will go to interest payments, not to doctors and nurses.

How do you think Canadians feel about the government prioritizing debt payments—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I have to interrupt the member. The member referred to hon. member directly. The member has speak through the Chair to the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk.

I will let the member finish her question, and I will then let the member respond.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what does the member feel that Canadians feel about the government prioritizing debt payments to make bankers and bondholders rich instead of addressing the crisis in our health care system?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her hard work in the House and in her riding. By the way, she is among the few people who unseated a Liberal MP. I am very proud of that.

The question raised by the member is very important because we are talking about where the priority of the government is. Does it want to put more money in the banking system or in directly helping Canadians? This is why we will fight. Our job is to fight through some difficulties that we will address, but in this situation, what we see is the government putting too much money in the deficit, and they live over the—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Regina—Wascana.