House of Commons Hansard #59 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was investments.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Canada's International Development Assistance Members debate a motion to strengthen Canada's international development assistance by improving accountability and effectiveness. The motion proposes integrating reciprocal economic benefits for Canadian small businesses and innovators, establishing a dedicated economic partnerships window leveraging Canadian strengths like agriculture and digital technology, and requiring annual reports to Parliament on aid effectiveness and Canadian participation. The Bloc Québécois emphasizes ensuring regional organizations outside major urban centers can access federal funding. 6800 words, 1 hour.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1 Second reading of Bill C-15. The bill implements Budget 2025, which the Liberal government calls an "investment budget" making "historic investments" in productivity, housing, defence, and clean energy. Opposition parties criticize it as the "costliest budget" leading to "generational debt" and higher inflation. Concerns include "creative accounting," "arbitrary firearms policy," and the "Prime Minister's nonchalance" on trade, while the Bloc highlights insufficient funding for provinces. 42800 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Tatiana Auguste Liberal Terrebonne, QC
Madam Speaker, our government is investing in Canadians. That is what we are doing, and that is what we will continue to do. We will work with Canadians and for Canadians. I hope the member will join us in working for Canadians.
Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba Liberal Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC
Madam Speaker, we are a new government and we are presenting a new budget. As my colleagues opposite can see, this is a completely new government.
My colleague talked about the need to invest in young people and the importance of this new budget. Can she explain what impact this budget will have in Quebec?
Tatiana Auguste Liberal Terrebonne, QC
Madam Speaker, the major projects office will enable us to get several, very useful projects off the ground that will create good jobs in Quebec. I am thinking in particular of mines and the high-speed rail project, which will enable many people to travel across the country. This will allow Quebeckers to discover the country. It will create jobs and help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
That is just part of what this budget does for Quebeckers. There is even more.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Madam Speaker, part of the justification for this generational debt binge by the Liberal government is the sorry state of our trade relationship with our most important trading partner: the United States. Just yesterday, when asked a question about whether he was speaking with the President, the Prime Minister said, “Who cares?... I'll speak to him again when it matters.”
Does the member opposite agree with the Prime Minister that it does not really matter whether we are negotiating with the United States or not, who cares and we will get to it when it is important?
Tatiana Auguste Liberal Terrebonne, QC
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and his team are talking to our U.S. counterparts. I know that we are diversifying our supply chains. We are making investments elsewhere. We are also making the country much more resilient.
That is what we are focusing on.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, a document that should reflect the government's true priorities and stand as an exercise in rigour, transparency and accountability. Once again, sadly, that is not what we have before us.
The budget is traditionally tabled in the spring. This year, in a completely unwarranted move, the Liberals decided to table it in the fall. They promised a fresh start, a new way of doing things. They even pilfered a few Conservative ideas to try to pretty up their plan and make it more appealing to voters. With the Liberals, however, the more things change, the more they stay the same. This budget does not offer a fresh start. It is just a continuation of the past 10 years of out-of-control spending, chronic deficits and haphazard management. The projected deficit for this year is $78.3 billion. That is the largest in Canadian history, not counting the massive pandemic-era deficits.
Here again, the Liberals' projections are usually about as reliable as the weather forecast for a month from now. Cost overruns have become a tradition, if not a Liberal hallmark. The amounts they announce are astronomical to begin with, but Canadians know that, as usual, they will balloon even more. Every billion adds to the burden on future generations and, while the Liberals continue with their wasteful spending, it is our children and grandchildren who will have to foot the bill.
In an attempt to conceal the scope of the problem, the government has come up with some new accounting sleight of hand. Its latest gimmick is separating operational spending from so-called investment spending so it can claim that it will be able to balance the budget one day in some imaginary future. In other words, it decided that part of what it spends is no longer spending. By changing the way the math works, it magically made the state of Canada's public finances appear less catastrophic than it really is. This is what we call creative accounting, but it is so creative that it may eventually create problems for the Liberals.
Canadians do not have that luxury. Canadian households do not have that privilege. When a family makes a budget, they do not have the freedom to decide that certain expenses do not count. They have to live within their means. When they buy a house, they know it is an investment, of course, but that does not change the fact that they will have to pay for it, that the mortgage has to be reasonable and that their income has to keep pace. This government, however, acts as though money grows on the trees behind the Parliament buildings. It refuses to acknowledge that today's choices have a real, tangible and unavoidable impact on tomorrow's taxpayers.
I am not alone in calling out this creative accounting. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, Jason Jacques, whom the Liberals want to send packing and whom I commend for his impartiality and rigour, expressed the major concerns he has. His report on the budget recommends establishing an independent expert body to determine what might reasonably be considered an investment expenditure according to objective criteria. He said this because the definition chosen by the Liberals is subjective, malleable and overly expansive. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, whom the Liberals are trying to get rid of in short order, noted that the government categorizes a wide range of expenses, some of which relate to business tax credits, operating subsidies and permanent tax measures, as capital investments.
That just does not wash. Even the U.K. model, which served as inspiration for the Prime Minister, does not include such measures. Applying objective criteria, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, whom the Liberals hope to fire a few days from now, estimates that the expenses characterized as investments are in some cases overstated by more than $20 billion. That is not a little mistake, that is major manipulation. This difference clearly shows that the government is attempting to hide day-to-day operating costs beneath a veneer of investment. In reality, this is simply additional spending on the government credit card that will drive up the deficit.
Let us also talk about how others are looking at our situation. Credit rating agencies are scrutinizing our finances. They are looking at our budget trends, our fiscal credibility, and our ability to bring spending under control. They are concerned about what they have observed in recent years, just as much as economists and financial institutions in the country are concerned.
Canada was once a beacon of fiscal discipline. It had an enviable reputation for its capacity to balance budgets, rein in debt, and provide a stable and predictable financial environment. This reputation is now fading. A loss of international credibility has tangible consequences, including higher borrowing costs for the government, families facing higher rates, less flexibility for investing in actual needs, and lower investor confidence. All these things will chip away at Canada's economic resilience.
What are families going through while the Liberals are spending recklessly? Their grocery prices are constantly on the increase, rents and mortgages are skyrocketing, day-to-day expenses are exceeding their income, and they are feeling more tax pressure year in, year out. This budget has not addressed these concerns. It does not offer any plan to make life affordable. It is not tackling inflation. It does not promote prudent fiscal management. In fact, it is adding more fuel to the fire.
We are dealing with a Prime Minister who calls himself an economist, but he is driving this country into a wall. The Prime Minister likes to talk about the fact that he is a former governor of the Bank of Canada, but his time there does not appear to have had a long-standing impact on his ability to manage public finances. He is now acting more like the prime minister of a bankrupt Canada than a responsible head of government. This may not be an enviable title, but unfortunately, that is the title he is in the process of acquiring.
Conservatives have a clear approach: we have to live within Canada's means, protect taxpayers' money, cut wasteful spending, promote actual economic growth, put an end to chronic deficits, and most importantly, put the fiscal house back in order. We know that a country cannot spend more than it makes indefinitely. We know that today's deficits are tomorrow's taxes. We know that prosperity cannot be decreed: It is built through work, innovation, private investment, and a stable and predictable economic environment. Our proposals make sense, they are realistic, and they respect taxpayers.
I cannot help but conclude by reminding members about the Prime Minister's world tour, which has not brought down any of the tariffs imposed by our trading partners. While the Prime Minister is gallivanting around the world, we may well wonder whether he is defending the interests of small and medium-sized Canadian businesses or the interests of Brookfield.
On that note, I would like to point to the convergence of the budget's orientations with Brookfield's own, a company that manages assets of over $1 trillion. Like the government, this firm has their hands just about everywhere. The Prime Minister was still with Brookfield just before he threw his hat into the Liberal leadership race back in January, seeing as he resigned from the company on January 16.
Brookfield has investment projects in minerals, petroleum, housing, the railway sector, carbon capture, clean energy, the nuclear industry, data storage, and artificial intelligence. All these projects have restrictions. In this budget, we can see that the government wants to loosen these restrictions. Some would say that this is a coincidence. I would call this overlapping interests between a powerful global investment fund and a government whose Prime Minister worked for this fund just a few days before getting into politics.
The fact that the Prime Minister was well familiar with Brookfield's orientation is an open secret that becomes apparent upon going through the budget page by page and seeing the overlapping areas. This budget is neither responsible, nor transparent, nor is it credible. It conceals expenditure and makes excuses. It saddles future generations with debt. It threatens Canada's economic stability. It shows contempt for Canadian families which have to balance their budget at the end of the month.
The government could have done better. It ought to have done better. Instead, once again, it chose the easy way out: spend, borrow, and hope no one would look at the numbers too closely.
We will keep a close eye on those figures. The Conservatives will continue to stand up for the interests of Canadian families, to speak out against questionable practices and to work for an affordable budget for an affordable life, because Canadians deserve better and because the country's future depends on it.
Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba Liberal Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC
Madam Speaker, I am really disappointed to hear my colleague talking about investments without understanding what is being said. When a person invests in a home, they pay for it. They have a mortgage. I take care of my home. I mow the lawn. I make repairs. I can even change the way it looks from the outside. I invest in my home to increase its value.
We have introduced a budget that includes investments to reduce the deficit. Members across the way voted against this budget. How can my colleague rise today to say that this budget does not include any investments?
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, I would just like to remind my colleague that, according to an international convention, budgets must include all expenditures for every single year. When a government spends money, it must include those expenditures in the budget. If Canada changes the rules, we are changing the whole way things are done internationally. As a result, our budget will no longer have any credibility and it will no longer be considered by rating agencies. Members can guess what will happen after that.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Madam Speaker, we completely agree that the attempts to pass off spending as investment in the budget is all smoke and mirrors. Can my colleague give us other examples of spending that is billed as investment?
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, I will go a step further.
I just came from a meeting of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. The committee just heard from Brookfield officials, who actually said in committee that the Prime Minister had deferred shares, meaning that he had a stock certificate in his back pocket when he left Brookfield, one for which he will receive payment in 10 years. When the government invests in companies that Brookfield funds, we can only imagine what the Prime Minister will be able to collect.
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Madam Speaker, we saw the previous finance minister quit the government because she said that what turned out to be a $36-billion deficit from last year was so fiscally irresponsible. The current finance minister then dropped a budget with a $78-billion deficit.
What does it say about the current finance minister? He says this is something Canadians would celebrate, when the previous finance minister quit over the financial irresponsibility of a $36-billion deficit.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his interesting question, but I have my doubts about what the Minister of Finance was able to choose in his own budget. Put simply, I am not even sure that he wrote the budget himself. However, he is a good communicator, I will give him that. He repeats the Prime Minister's Office's messaging.
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, I was very surprised to hear my colleague say that he voted against the budget, especially given that there are several projects that will have a direct and significant impact on Quebec's economy, which is the province he represents in the House. I am specifically thinking about the Contrecoeur container terminal project, the eastern energy partnership and the Alto high-frequency rail project in the Quebec City-Toronto corridor, which will have a direct impact on the region my colleague represents.
Why is my colleague opposed to projects that will have a significant impact on the economy of the province he represents in the House?
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, I am extremely pleased to respond to my colleague.
I will have the good fortune of welcoming my eighth grandchild in April. Babies often cry when they come into the world, and there will be a good reason for this one to cry: He will owe the federal government $35,000 from the moment he is born. That is why I voted against the budget.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Madam Speaker, I am guessing that my colleague has a number of seniors in his riding, as I do.
Does he think that the government should increase pensions for those aged 65 to 74, as it did a few years ago for people aged 75 and over?
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, unfortunately, the government refused to increase their pension. The government has left our country in a sorry financial state, and the entire community, all Canadians, will have to pay for that.
Marianne Dandurand Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to speak to budget initiatives that will have a positive effect on my constituents, the people of Compton—Stanstead in the Eastern Townships. Compton—Stanstead is a wonderful region that extends from Lake Memphremagog to Mont‑Mégantic. It shares a border with the United States and includes a good part of the city of Sherbrooke.
It is a very diverse region. I have travelled around my riding in recent weeks, and many people have had good things to say to me about the budget. They are very optimistic about this budget and they are grateful for what it will do for communities in our area.
Border communities are so close to the United States, and the people there are concerned about the economic uncertainty resulting from our relationship with the U.S. That is creating instability for businesses and for families living on both sides of the border. People really want to see initiatives that will make us a little less dependent on the United States. They want to see more economic activity in Canada and they want people who are still struggling with the inflation we have been experiencing in recent years to have a little breathing room. I think that, in this budget, people are seeing measures that will help us protect ourselves, become more resilient, increase our development and support the population.
That is what I am hearing back home, and I am happy about it. I am also very pleased with the investments made possible in my region. Businesses will be able to keep growing because of what is in the budget. For the next few minutes, that is what I want to talk about. I want to talk about investments that are important for our businesses, such as issuing government contracts, developing new markets, launching major projects and investing in the defence sector. For individuals, we have announced income tax cuts. We are also going to make it easier to access benefits, reduce certain fees and help improve access to housing. In addition, we are going to help municipalities invest in housing and infrastructure in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, of course.
In my view, this budget tackles current economic challenges while laying the foundation for the future. The goal is to become increasingly resilient and to be proactive in dealing with the challenges that will arise in the future, because we know that we are facing a profoundly changing and increasingly uncertain world. This calls for certainty and long-term projections. I think the investments in the budget will enable us to work for a long time and develop our economy, as I said earlier. With this budget, our government is choosing economic resilience, productivity and Canadian sovereignty.
I would like to begin by talking about people. The people in my region are very happy that we are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. For a couple, that is a saving of up to $840 with a simple tax cut on the lowest tax bracket. This is a measure that people back home are very happy about. It allows for some breathing room, so to speak, in budgets that are sometimes very tight. We are also going to eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers on homes up to $1 million. Where I come from, this measure will benefit most first-time buyers. For many young people, this investment will make home ownership more accessible.
Unfortunately, my region is also one that has lost some of its vitality. In some places, there are larger pockets of poverty. We are going to make benefits automatic for lower-income individuals. This measure will target people who think they are not entitled to government benefits because, with no tax to pay, they do not file their tax returns. These people are missing out on important benefits like the Canada child benefit. They may be missing out on the Canadian dental care plan or seniors' benefits. Automatic tax filing will enable these people to receive financial benefits that will help them make ends meet.
We are also going to work to reduce certain banking fees. In some cases, we are seeing a rapid rise in banking fees. We are going to bring down some of these fees, a measure that will also be very welcome.
The mayor of Martinville will be very pleased to note that we are working on cellular connectivity. Michel-Henri Goyette is a key partner when it comes to cellular connectivity in the regions.
We are making investments, and we will continue taking action to expand cellphone coverage.
The CRTC says that 99% of Canadians are connected to the cellular network. That would mean that the other 1% all live in my riding. However, some of my colleagues from the regions might disagree. Everyone thinks their riding has that 1%.
In short, we must continue to improve cellular connectivity in the regions, and that is what this budget does. New steps are being taken to provide cellular connectivity to the people in my region. I see this not only as an economic issue, but also as a safety issue, because emergency services must have access to cell service in an emergency situation. It is also a simple matter of fairness between people in the regions and people in urban centres, who generally enjoy much better access to cellular services.
I would also like to talk about what this budget is doing for businesses. That is where the largest share of investment is going. I have had many telephone conversations with people from chambers of commerce and business owners who are very pleased with what the budget has to offer. This budget will really help them make investments to increase productivity through the productivity superdeduction. Businesses will be able to reduce or write off all of their investments right from the first year. This will make Canada extremely competitive with other G7 members because it already has a very advantageous tax regime in this area. Canada is enhancing its position through this accelerated investment incentive.
Many large projects have also been launched. Although no major project is coming to Compton—Stanstead, the investments will create opportunities for many small businesses in regions like mine that are located outside major urban centres to partner with projects associated with the large investments that will be rolled out in the coming years. This is somewhat similar to the buy Canadian policy. Ensuring that the Canadian government becomes the top client for Canadian businesses or includes them in its contracts will give local businesses access to this type of contracts.
The budget is doing the same thing with defence procurement. Procurement in general and defence procurement in particular will provide contract opportunities in regions like mine. I was with the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement just two weeks ago and we met with some 40 business representatives from the Eastern Townships, from large businesses like Cascades and BRP to many smaller businesses like PPD Group and Laboratoire M2. We discussed how to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses in the regions can avail themselves of these contracts. The discussions were very meaningful and rewarding for the entrepreneurs, who will be ready to participate as soon as the government unveils the contracts. Businesses will be ready to participate in and benefit from these investments, which will boost the economy and create good, well-paying jobs in my neck of the woods. That is great news for people in my riding. We had a great meeting.
Late last week, my colleague from Brome—Missisquoi, my colleague from Sherbrooke and I met with people from three niche manufacturing sectors that are very well represented in our region. They operate in what I would call “primary” sectors, namely rubber, textiles and electronics. We met with around 60 entrepreneurs from across Quebec, and the discussions we had with all of them were similar. The people on the ground say that they are very pleased with what the government is doing to support economic growth in our region.
I had a very fruitful discussion with the new mayor of Sherbrooke, who was my predecessor in this place. I want to take a moment to congratulate Marie‑Claude Bibeau on being elected mayor of Sherbrooke. I had an excellent discussion with Ms. Bibeau about the investments that the government plans to make to help the municipalities build housing and establish community centres and sports facilities.
There are some really significant investments. I hope we will reach an agreement with Quebec quickly so that money can go out to support the municipalities.
I believe that our budget will meet the needs of the people of Compton—Stanstead and people throughout the Eastern Townships. I look forward to the opposition supporting us in implementing the budget.
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, November 25 marks the start of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. This moment is supposed to be about moving beyond talk and delivering real action, yet once again, the federal government has provided zero dollars in this year's budget to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, even after the former prime minister recognized this violence as an ongoing genocide.
In Winnipeg Centre, women, girls and gender-diverse people continue to go missing and be murdered. This is not a crisis we can acknowledge only in words; it demands immediate investment and urgent political will. The Liberal government must act now. That begins with funding life-saving community supports, such as the North End Women's Centre in Winnipeg, and providing the resources indigenous women and gender diverse people have been calling for for decades.
Our communities deserve safety, dignity and justice. Action must start today.
Philip Earle Liberal Labrador, NL
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an important moment that speaks to the deep and historic trade ties between Canada and Europe.
On November 7, in Pasaia, within the Basque country in Spain, the San Juan, a fully reconstructed 16th century Basque galleon, was launched with plans to sail it to Canada in 2027.
The original San Juan was part of the transatlantic trade network linking Pasaia with Red Bay, Labrador, now a UNESCO world heritage site. This trade, among the earliest between Europe and North America, carried not only goods, such as whale oil and lumber, but also knowledge, technology and partnership. The voyage of the San Juan reminds us that Labrador has long been a gateway of commerce and co-operation between countries.
As Canada continues to strengthen its modern trade relationships with Europe, we can look to our shared maritime history for inspiration. The San Juan stands as a powerful symbol of the enduring economic and cultural connections that continue to unite Canada and Europe across the Atlantic.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie South—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, as we begin the Christmas season, it is important to remember the spirit of giving and compassion that defines the time of year.
In Barrie and Innisfil, local charities, such as Community for Kids, Christmas Cheer, Senior Wish Association, the Salvation Army, our local churches and the Rotary clubs, work tirelessly to support families, provide meals and bring hope to those in need.
Food banks in both Barrie and Innisfil have seen a demand increase and a rise in use. Speaking with Barrie Food Bank executive director Karen Shuh over the weekend, I learned that it has seen a 16% increase in usage year over year. Sadly, people who never imagined they would have to use the food bank now are. The same is true in Innisfil.
By donating or volunteering, we can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbours and strengthen the bonds that make our communities so special. This Christmas, let us come together to share kindness and ensure that everyone can experience the joy of the season.
Dominique O'Rourke Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Guelph's newest Nobel laureate, economist Dr. Peter Howitt. Born and raised in Guelph, he earned the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking model of creative destruction, developed with Philippe Aghion.
Dr. Peter Howitt's path began at Victory Public School and then Guelph CVI, amazingly the same path as Dr. Donna Strickland, 2018 Nobel laureate in physics and the third woman in history to earn that honour. Guelph's Nobel roster also boasts Dr. David Card, Nobel laureate in economics in 2021 and graduate of John F. Ross CVI; Dr. James Orbinski led Médecins Sans Frontières when it received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1999; and this fall, Dr. Paul Hebert of the University of Guelph earned the Nobel Sustainability Trust Award for his pioneering work as the founder of DNA barcoding.
From local classrooms to global acclaim, Guelph and Canada could not be prouder. These brilliant minds remind us that, when we invest in education, we invest in world-changing ideas.
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Mr. Speaker, over the last several months, I have travelled across Canada on a “jail not bail” town hall tour listening to thousands of Canadians pour out their fear and frustration.
Everywhere I go, Canadians say the same thing: They no longer trust their justice system. Who can blame them? Criminals are laughing at law enforcement, knowing they will be arrested in the morning and back on the street by lunch. There is no deterrence, no consequence and no accountability because the Liberal government took it all away.
That is why I launched a national petition to strengthen our laws to keep violent, repeat offenders behind bars. Over 66,000 Canadians responded, demanding safety and real consequences. If the Liberals truly cared about ending the crime crisis they created, they would repeal the principle of restraint, restore mandatory minimums and support Conservatives' jail not bail act. Anything less is a choice to either stand with the criminals or prioritize community safety.
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour André Genest's 35 years of community service. Born in Wentworth‑Nord in Les Pays‑d'en‑Haut, André spent his life serving everyone in his community. In addition to his career in municipal government, he worked as an educator in a youth centre and even welcomed into his home children who were homeless and lacked hope.
He was elected as a municipal councillor in 1990 and served six terms as mayor of Wentworth‑Nord and two terms as reeve of Les Pays‑d'en‑Haut RCM, directly elected by the people, from 2017 to 2025. He also represented the 1,050 municipalities of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités on the board of directors.
Although André successfully managed a number of major projects during his career, I am confident that the sports complex is the one he is most proud of. He brought together nine municipalities around a $45-million collective project, which will be his legacy for future generations.
After 35 years of service, his last day as an elected official was November 2. I would like to wish my friend André, on my own behalf and on behalf of the members of the House, a happy retirement.
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, there is big news for Red Deer as the 51st IIHF World Junior Championship is returning to Alberta. The World Junior is not just a hockey tournament; it is where legends are born, such as “Sid the Kid”, Connor McDavid and the next generation of superstars. These young talents light up the ice.
The last time Red Deer hosted was all the way back in 1995, and Canada won gold. Now, over 30 years later, we are bringing hockey back to the heartland to chase gold. Fourteen thrilling games will be played at the Marchant Crane Centrium. Let us pack the stands in red and white, cheer on team Canada and show the world our central Albertan hospitality. I know our boys will battle it out, skate fast and shoot hard. The future of hockey is coming to Red Deer. I will see everyone at the rink in 2027.
Go, Canada, go!
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey Newton, BC
Mr. Speaker, today marks the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, a towering figure not only in Sikh history but also in the history of humanity. His supreme sacrifice to defend freedom of conscience and to protect the rights of those persecuted is a timeless lesson in moral courage.
Long before the world spoke of universal human rights, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji stood firmly for equality, justice and interfaith solidarity. His legacy is a reminder that the strength of Canada is rooted in these very values. Today, we honour his memory and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding human rights and religious freedom for all.