Oh, oh!
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.
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.
The EconomyOral Questions
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, I was in my riding last weekend. I served food in a school. In my riding, the educators and the administrators all spoke about how important that program is to the 400 children in that school. I also want to remind the member opposite that I had many meetings in the riding with constituents, with Progressive Conservative business owners. They are thanking me for the budget that is investing in this country, that is building this country. We have solutions.
I will not play this political rhetoric game.
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's costly credit card budget piles his inflationary spending and debt on to our children and our grandchildren. Canadians are putting nearly 50% more on credit cards for basic living expenses than they were just 10 years ago. Now, Fitch Ratings warns that the government has blown past its own fiscal anchors and says “finances run a high risk of further deterioration”.
How many more red warning lights need to start flashing before the Prime Minister stops treating taxpayers like a limitless credit card?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, the only word the opposition seems to know is “no”. It is time for them to take yes for an answer. We said yes to investing in our businesses and entrepreneurs. They said no. We said yes to a national food program. They said no. We said yes to affordable homes and investing in our military. They said no.
It is time for them to say yes to Canada and build this country strong.
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Mr. Speaker, Fitch Ratings is sounding the warning. Yes, Canadians are drowning in credit card bills after a decade of Liberal inflation, and, yes, the Parliamentary Budget Officer says the Liberals have abandoned their own debt-to-GDP anchor, the very same anchor they said protects their AAA rating. The PBO further concluded that the Liberals have almost no chance of achieving their declining deficit-to-GDP ratio. It is no wonder the costly Prime Minister wants to fire the PBO.
How many more fiscal watchdog reports have to come out for the Prime Minister to rein in his inflationary spending?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are not buying what the Conservative leader and his party are selling. In fact, 70% of Canadians have no confidence in him to lead. Last week, we passed a historic budget by Canadians and for Canadians, so we will never be reliant on one country again.
It is time for that member to put down the talking points and get on board with us; let us build Canada.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, this credit card budget loads today's spending on to tomorrow's taxpayers. Fitch credit ratings, which rates the government's credit, says the Liberal government frequently blows through its fiscal anchors and has “a high risk of further deterioration”. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says the government abandoned its previous fiscal anchor, which was there to preserve its AAA rating.
How many more disastrous independent reports is it going to take for the Prime Minister to rein in his spending?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from these guys, but Kevin Page, a former parliamentary budget officer, will give them some lessons. He said:
We need to focus on economic growth. We need capital investment to boost innovation, improve our infrastructure and diversify trade. We live in dangerous times, and we must meet our NATO spending targets.
I believe Parliament should approve the budget plan....
On this side of the House, we will fight for Canadians because every day is a good day to fight for Canadians.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the $78‑billion deficit budget is dangerous. The Liberals have maxed out Canada's credit card. We are being warned by experts, including Fitch Ratings, which gives government credit ratings. They are saying to be careful because there is a high risk of making Canada's financial crisis worse. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer, an impartial officer of the House of Commons, says that this government is putting Canada's AAA rating at risk.
Who can make the Prime Minister listen to reason so that he will change his ways and stop spending so recklessly?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, we have the best fiscal position of all the G7 countries, the best debt-to-GDP and deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7 and a AAA credit rating.
There is a reason why the International Monetary Fund is praising Canada's approach. There is a reason why the economists in the House are on this side of the chamber. There is also a reason why I am sure that, deep down inside, my colleague from Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier was pleased to see his colleagues hiding behind the curtains to make sure that budget 2025 was passed. It is because this is a good budget.
Steeve Lavoie Liberal Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, our government has passed an ambitious budget that includes transformative investments in our transportation system. The Minister of Transport visited both the port and the airport in Quebec City to discuss these initiatives. Prior to that, he visited the Magdalen Islands.
Could the minister provide more details on the important announcement he made and what it means for the community?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have had a great time touring around and promoting all of the good transportation news coming out of this budget for Quebec. In fact, after receiving numerous requests from the Bloc Québécois, including one to extend the runway on the Magdalen Islands, I was very pleased to go there and share the good news.
I would like to thank the people of the Magdalen Islands for their warm welcome.
What happened next? We got back to Ottawa and the Bloc Québécois voted against this project, against the Port of Saguenay and the other proposals, including the one involving Contrecoeur. Unfortunately, the Bloc Québécois—
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, after Justin Trudeau killed a pipeline in 2016 and backed the west coast shipping ban, the Liberals want credit for reversing their own damage. Reality has finally caught up and Canadians do not know which Prime Minister they might get. One day he is a climate crusader who wrote himself into green stardom, and now he is scrambling to review the very projects he spent a decade sabotaging.
Will the government admit that its “keep it in the ground” crusade strangled our economy, weakened our sovereignty and left workers with the bill, or will it keep pretending that this was not all self-inflicted as it dances around a pipeline announcement?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite is nostalgic for the previous government, but that is not who is working right now.
Canada will be a leading global energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. We did not ask for this trade war, but we will win it. We got elected to build strong nation-building projects. We got elected to grow our economy. We got elected to reinforce Canadian autonomy and independence. We will do that in conjunction with indigenous peoples and environmentally responsibly.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Alberta is expecting an east-west pipeline. The media is also reporting on the announcement of an east-west pipeline. The only ones who have not said it are the ones who are directly responsible for it. The Liberals cannot even utter the word “pipeline”.
I have a simple question. Is the government in favour of an east-west pipeline, yes or no?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, this government will look at any project, including a pipeline brought forward by a proponent. We have a process under Bill C-5 to look at it.
When a pipeline comes forward, if the Government of Alberta wants to bring it forward, we will look at it then.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, no matter how hard the days get for average Canadians, like the 2.2 million Canadians who go to a food bank every day, it is always a good day for Brookfield. The latest good news for Brookfield is a $500-million contract with the European Space Agency, which is housed in a property that is 50% owned by Brookfield.
Why is it the priority of the government to line the pockets of the Prime Minister's former company with a $500-million contract when there are 2.2 million Canadians lining up at food banks because they cannot afford to feed themselves and when there is a 6.9% unemployment rate?
Karim Bardeesy LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, on a day when we have Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian astronaut, here with us, I would like to quote from another astronaut, Marc Garneau: “The best way for Canada was to work with other countries, as we had with NASA since the 1960s. That is why Canada signed an agreement with the European Space Agency in the 1970s, as well as several bilateral agreements with other countries, allowing us to fly Canadian hardware on their spacecraft in return for sharing the scientific results. Maintaining those relationships will continue to be important.”
This is what we do when we build Canada strong.
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, one of Canada's greatest strengths is our ability to take decisive action and seize opportunities around the world. That is important for businesses in my riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and for businesses across Canada that want to grow and expand. Our government is working hard to gain entry to new markets and secure major contracts and investments.
Could the Minister of Finance tell Canadians about the concrete investments that have come about under the Prime Minister's leadership?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, it feels good to get such a great question.
Although words fail the opposition when it comes to celebrating our economy, our Prime Minister has announced a $70‑billion investment in Canada's economy made possible by the quality, experience and know-how of our workers.
On this side of the House, we will always work to build a strong Canada and a strong economy because we understand what Canada has to offer.
Let us celebrate Canada together.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, a friend is a friend for this Prime Minister, who is very proud of his European roots and his Brookfield pedigree.
While a quarter of Canadians have to go into debt to pay for groceries, the Prime Minister is giving $500 million to the European Space Agency to create jobs in Europe at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. Can anyone guess who owns 50% of that campus? Let me end the suspense. It is Brookfield.
Is this another coincidence or another scheme to line the pockets of the Prime Minister's friends?
How can the Prime Minister let 600,000 Quebeckers line up at food banks while sending their money and their jobs to Europe?
Karim Bardeesy LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, this year is Canada's year for space, and the question from the member opposite surprises me, especially since we have an astronaut here with us today.
The investments we are making in Europe will help grow the Canadian economy. Every dollar invested in the European Space Agency generates more than three dollars in sales.
A briefing will be held on December 11, and I encourage the member to attend so that businesses in his riding can benefit from this.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to diversify trade, but we want to diversify trade with democracies that share our values and that respect human rights.
Now we are cozying up to the People's Republic of China. I have not heard that it is starting to treat the Uyghurs well. I do not understand how we can want to do deals with countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which right now have been caught with personnel carriers carrying out war crimes in Sudan.
Do we trade away our values and our souls when we trade with those countries?
