Debates of Nov. 25th, 2025

Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I understand my colleague's concerns about safety. However, there is an aspect of the government's bill that is also concerning, and that is the hidden expansion, so to speak, of Bill C‑5.

On page 300 of this bill, part 2 is entitled “Exemptions to encourage innovation, competitiveness or economic growth”. These exemptions give the government broad powers, similar to those set out in Bill C‑5.

In my colleague's opinion, is this not the government's way of doing what it did not dare announce publicly, by hiding it in the budget bill, so it could grant itself excessive powers? Does my colleague agree with that?

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, there are many things I do not support in this. One thing I did not foresee in the budget that is really quite troubling is the amount of debt that has been acquired by the government: $78 billion in deficit spending. That would be enough for not only my children, but my grandchildren and probably their children. That is probably the most devastating thing. I have a tough time looking at my kids, thinking I was a part of this. I tried to stop it for them. Meanwhile, they are going to be handcuffed for many generations to come.

That is probably the hardest thing for me to accept about this budget.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I agree very much with my colleague that treatment is the answer for people suffering from substance abuse disorder. I think that, for a long time, the population has realized this is a health issue and not a criminal issue.

If it is a health issue, we need to create the health care architecture so that everybody can get access to just-in-time treatment, because we all know that when someone needs treatment, they need it right now.

Does the hon. member agree with me that we should be making available, through our public health care system, treatment for substance use disorders so that everybody can get access to the treatment they need without having to pay out of pocket, as is now the case?

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we definitely need to have solutions toward access. That is what I heard over and over again. That would be access to actual recovery, with recovery beds and some type of formation whereby we can actually get access to true recovery, not enabling people to stay addicted.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to begin by thanking and congratulating our colleague, the Secretary of State for Nature, for her strength and courage, as well as her statement on violence against women. Too many women are losing their lives here in Canada and around the world, which is why this call to end violence and promote equality is so important and why we are marking the 16 days of activism starting today.

I rise in the House today to call attention to the tangible benefits of the federal budget tabled on November 4, particularly for my riding of Sherbrooke. The government is presenting a budget to build a strong Canada, a budget that capitalizes on significant, strategic investments to support and stimulate key sectors. These major investments will strengthen our economy, create jobs and improve our quality of life in Sherbrooke and across Canada. I had a host of interesting topics to choose from, but I decided to speak specifically on four topics: housing and infrastructure; affordability; defence and security; and artificial intelligence and quantum.

The budget includes billions of dollars for housing, which is a critical issue in my riding, and for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, water, transportation and hospitals. The government wants to stimulate construction by cutting red tape and empowering industry to be more productive. For Sherbrooke, the budget provides opportunities to build and renovate more affordable housing faster, invest in more efficient public transit, and improve local infrastructure. This will make our city stronger and more resilient. Thanks to this support from the federal government, a number of fantastic projects can now be built. One example that comes to mind is the Coopérative d'habitation des Cantons de l'Est's Quartier du Cap project with 121 affordable housing units.

This budget is channelling significant investments into housing to make housing more accessible for our young families. We are also offering measures that make a real difference in Canadians' lives, such as cutting taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians and renewing programs like the Canada child benefit, which has lifted 400,000 children in Canada out of poverty, the Canadian dental care plan and the national school food program. The Canadian dental care plan is helping more than 30,000 people in Sherbrooke.

Furthermore, many Canadians do not receive the federal benefits they are entitled to, because they believe they do not owe any tax, because they do not need to file a tax return, or because they do not have access to a tax filing service or simply to the Internet. Introducing automatic federal benefits will enable millions of people in Canada, including thousands of people in Sherbrooke, to receive the support they are entitled to.

The budget allocates more than $82 billion to defence and security. Substantial funding will go toward upgrading and sustaining Canadian Armed Forces capabilities, including training infrastructure. When I was first elected in 2019, I worked to secure a commitment from our government to rehabilitate our two armouries, namely the William Street and Colonel Gaëtan Côté armouries, to give our five reserve units facilities that are tailored to their needs. This major project is perfectly consistent with our whole-of-government approach to building sovereign defence capacity.

Other funding amounts have been earmarked for modernizing our digital cybersecurity infrastructure, communications and technologies. The budget also launches the defence industrial strategy to drive innovation within the Canadian defence industry. For Sherbrooke, these investments represent economic opportunities, well-paying jobs, contracts for our local businesses, and participation in defence supply chains. In addition, strengthening our national security infrastructure contributes to stability and builds local pride.

A number of economic players in Sherbrooke already contribute to this industry, such as Royer, which manufactures boots for the Canadian Armed Forces, and there are many others that look forward to playing a role.

More broadly, in terms of industrial prosperity, to build Canada strong, we must focus on what we can control. For example, we can control who we buy from. That is why we are adopting the new buy Canadian policy. It will apply to all federal agencies and corporations, but with the renewed sense of unity that is sweeping the country, many individuals and businesses have already embraced this approach and started buying local.

The budget also invests $925.6 million over five years in developing a sovereign public AI infrastructure. A portion of this funding will be used to create a sovereign Canadian cloud that would give researchers and businesses access to secure, national resources. The government is going to implement TechStat, or the artificial intelligence and technology measurement program, which will measure the adoption of AI and its impact on the Canadian economy.

At the same time, the government's office of digital transformation will work with industry to identify and support AI projects of national interest.

With the Université de Sherbrooke and our research centres, Sherbrooke is already an innovation hub, and this funding will strengthen our capacity to execute ambitious AI projects. This will help us attract researchers, support the development of start-ups, and build public-private partnerships.

The budget earmarks substantial funding for the quantum ecosystem as part of the defence industrial strategy. For my riding, this means that Sherbrooke will remain a quantum centre of excellence, as it is already home to the Université de Sherbrooke's Quantum Institute, university laboratories, technology start-ups and defence sector partnerships. These investments will create highly specialized jobs and position our region as a strategic player in the technology economy of the 21st century.

With businesses such as Nord Quantique, which is working on developing an error-correcting quantum computer, Sherbrooke is a major player in global innovation. When it comes to quantum, all roads lead to Sherbrooke. Our complete ecosystem, with its technologically advanced infrastructure, is where innovative companies come together to collaborate. It is the envy of the world.

In summary, the November 4 federal budget will create exciting opportunities for Sherbrooke. These include more affordable housing and modernized infrastructure, as well as shorter permit processing times to encourage affordable housing projects. It also includes $1 billion to provide transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness. Jobs will be created through our investments, particularly in defence, and many businesses in the region will be able to participate in terms of products and supply chains. The budget includes a boost for artificial intelligence and quantum, strengthening our local innovation ecosystem. Finally, it will lead to sustainable prosperity rooted in cutting-edge technologies and a resilient economy.

In Sherbrooke, we have good reason to be optimistic. These investments are more than just a promise. They are laying the foundation for a brighter, more innovative and more prosperous future.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague whose riding is in the Eastern Townships. I also had the opportunity to visit the Université de Sherbrooke's Quantum Institute this summer, and it is true that it is impressive.

That said, here is my question. When it comes to the media, the budget made announcements about Radio-Canada, but the people at Cogeco, 107.7 FM and TVA in Sherbrooke are extremely concerned about the future. They are very disappointed to see that the government did not understand how important it is to have a diversity of voices and media pluralism.

Given the current media situation and the loss of advertising revenue, does my colleague not think that the government should have helped not only Radio-Canada but other media outlets as well?

I do not want her to talk to me about the local journalism initiative. Yes, it helps local media, but that is not what is going to help community and private media outlets.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for pointing out the quality of the work done at the Université de Sherbrooke's Quantum Institute.

I fully support our local media. I believe in the importance of local journalism. I had the opportunity to speak to Jasmin, a TVA reporter in my riding, and obviously, I understand the repercussions of this decision, particularly just a few weeks before Christmas.

However, the budget sets out major, historic investments to support various cultural and media sectors. Yes, we announced a $1-million investment earlier to support local journalism, We need to do more and we will be there to help this industry.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my riding is home to many seniors, and I did not see many measures in the budget to help seniors cope with the cost of living. Could the member comment on that?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question, and I congratulate her for asking it in French.

In fact, 7.5 million seniors receive Canada's old age security pension. We have increased funding for the New Horizons for Seniors program, which supports projects that promote social participation among seniors and help them remain active in their communities. The tax cut for 22 million middle-class Canadians will also benefit seniors.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to sit as a seat mate with my colleague and good friend. I see her as a very strong advocate on the whole arts file and on the French language.

I know that within the budget there are commitments that are going to help a lot of people in Quebec. I am thinking of the Montreal port, for example, and of the aerospace industry through the military expenditures we are making. There is a lot of support in all the different regions, but if we were to focus on the province of Quebec, I think we would see that there is a lot to be very proud of in supporting the budget.

I wonder if my colleague could provide her thoughts in regard to why it is such an important budget to pass, for all Canadians but in particular for the province of Quebec.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to answer my hon. colleague's question.

This budget contains several significant and essential investments for Quebec. With its 44 members from Quebec, the Liberal caucus proudly defends the interests of Quebeckers. These investments will enable large-scale projects to take shape. To strengthen Canada's economy, we must help Canadian businesses become more productive and competitive, and that is exactly what we are doing with the measures that we are proposing in the budget.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-15, the budget 2025 implementation act, no. 1.

Bill C-15 is a massive omnibus bill. It is over 600 pages long and packed with legislative changes that touch nearly every corner of government, from departments and agencies to Crown corporations. Ironically, when they were in opposition, the Liberals strenuously condemned Stephen Harper for using omnibus bills to “prevent Parliament from properly reviewing and debating his proposals.” They called it an “undemocratic practice” and pledged to end it. However, here we are, ironically faced with a bill that does exactly what the Liberals once condemned. Now Parliament is expected to rush a bill through that would make fundamental changes to law and policy without the scrutiny Canadians expect and deserve.

Budget implementation legislation should be about accountability. It should give Parliament the opportunity to examine the government's economic commitments in detail. Instead, this bill forces us to vote on a grab bag of measures, some positive and some deeply concerning, all bundled into a single package. This is not transparency. It does not display respect for Parliament or for the Canadians who sent us here.

Canadians are struggling. Unemployment has climbed to its highest level in a decade, leaving young people desperate for work. Half of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque. The cost of essentials, from groceries to rent, continues to rise. Our economy is teetering on the edge of recession, while U.S. President Donald Trump threatens further damage. The Liberals promised Canadians, both during the last election campaign and over the last several months, that they would respond to these serious and entrenched problems. In fact, they promised transformational, generational change, yet in the face of these challenges, this budget has been roundly determined from all quarters to be anything but that. Instead, the Liberals have missed the opportunity to positively adjust the Canadian economy, deeply invest in long-ignored Canadian infrastructure and strengthen the institutions that Canadians rely on and that define us as a nation.

At its core, the government is not offering creative solutions. Instead, it is demanding sacrifices from workers while handing out billions to the wealthiest individuals and the most profitable corporations. It is neglecting to build our public health care system, a cornerstone of Canadian identity and a key economic advantage for Canadian employers. It is failing to tackle the housing crisis or ease the crushing cost of living with the immediacy and depth these crises call for. It is massively ramping up military spending to 5% of GDP over time, a greater portion than even the United States spends to maintain its global military empire. In the midst of a jobs crisis, it is slashing services and eliminating tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs. Many of these represent a profound betrayal of the promises Liberals made to the Canadian people just months ago, an about-face to the progressive folks who placed their faith in the government at election time and a surprising embracing of Conservative policies.

Let us examine a few examples. During the last election, the Liberals promised to cap, not cut, public service employment, yet budget 2025 takes a hatchet to the public services by eliminating 40,000 jobs. The Prime Minister led Canadians to believe, and in fact did so in writing, that he understood both the urgency and opportunities of dealing with the climate crisis, yet he cancelled EV metrics, abandoned emissions targets and is poised to approve fossil fuel pipelines and reverse half a century of tanker bans, jeopardizing sensitive B.C. coastal waters. He led Canadians to believe he would protect health care, yet his budget has no money to honour Liberal pharmacare commitments or ensure that health transfers keep up with health care inflation.

Let us be clear about what this means for people's lives. When we slash tens of thousands of positions, frontline services suffer. Do Canadians want to wait months to renew their passports? Do they want to speak to someone about their taxes or be put on hold with a computerized menu? Do they want delays in receiving their old-age security cheques?

According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Liberals are withholding information on $60 billion in cuts announced in budget 2025. Instead of specifics, Canadians are being given empty buzzwords like “streamlining”, “modernizing” and “recalibrating”, along with vague assurances that artificial intelligence will somehow fill this gap. After the Conservatives' Phoenix pay system disaster, Canadians have every reason to be skeptical of grandiose promises based on unproven technology. These broken promises and hidden details matter because they reveal the true priorities behind this legislation. While Canadians face true, real hardship, the government is making choices that deepen inequality and weaken the services people rely on.

There are provisions in this act that New Democrats support because, in the main, they reflect priorities we have long fought for and have been instrumental in advancing. These include a tax credit for personal support workers, high-speed rail between Quebec and Ontario, a permanent national school food program, a waste biomass tax credit to help our ailing forestry sector and improved information sharing to address worker misclassification and fraud.

Unfortunately, these are overshadowed by Liberal choices that take our country backwards. For example, this legislation removes the luxury tax on yachts and private jets, a blatant gift to the wealthy at a time when working families are struggling just to make ends meet. It repeals the digital services tax before it even got into play, a measure that would have ensured the biggest U.S. tech giants and billionaires on the planet, like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, pay their fair share. Instead, the Liberals are scrapping it at the behest of Donald Trump, which is just the latest in a long line of one-sided concessions to the U.S. that have delivered precisely nothing for Canada.

Let us remember that, during the last election, the Liberals promised to keep their elbows up, stand firm and fight for Canadians. Now, when it matters most, they have dropped their elbows and caved to pressure from Washington. New Democrats do not want a budget that delivers for Donald Trump. We want a budget that delivers for Canadians. This bill eliminates the underused housing tax, which helped fight speculation from foreign investors and freed up homes for Canadian families. It is a blatant gift to the property development industry, and it weakens environmental protections in the Competition Act.

There is so much more that could have been and should be done, in our view. Now is the time to invest heavily in our country, our companies, our people and our infrastructure. Now is the time to help the millions of working and marginalized Canadians, from improving their health care and creating good, family-sustaining jobs to building creative supports like disability benefits that folks can actually live on. Budgets are about choices, and choices reveal values. Budget 2025 reveals that the Liberals value yachts over youth employment, private jets over public pharmacare, tax breaks for tech giants over relief for families, and military expansion over health care for Canadians.

New Democrats believe in a better path. We seek a future where every family has an affordable place to call home; where our men and women in uniform have the tools they need, but so do our doctors, nurses and teachers; where climate action meets the urgency of the moment; and where fair taxation ensures that those at the top contribute their fair share and that we have the revenue to properly fund the government and the services it provides. It is a future where families can access quality child care; where seniors can retire with dignity; where everyone who wants a job can find one, with fair pay and decent conditions; where communities have reliable public transit, clean water and healthy food; where indigenous peoples have justice, respect and real reconciliation; and where universal pharmacare, dental care and mental health services are there for Canadians when they need them. This is how we build a country where everyone can thrive, not just the privileged few.

Canadians sent us here to tackle the pressing challenges they face and improve their lives. Instead, this budget locks in choices that burden families and further enrich the wealthy. New Democrats will oppose the measures in this legislation, because this budget is about the country we want to build. Liberals have shown their priorities. New Democrats will show ours by putting working people first.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my hon. colleague across the aisle.

I would like to know whether he supports the measures in the 2025 budget to combat the economic abuse of seniors and others.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that question really asks whether this budget addresses the very serious issues facing seniors in this country.

I would like to focus on pharmacare because we believe that every person in this country should be able to get the medication they need when they need it. Who are the heaviest users of pharmaceuticals in this country? It is seniors. I am shocked this budget does not allocate a single dollar for the government to honour its commitment in law from the last Parliament to sign agreements with every province and territory so that every senior in this country can get the pharmaceutical medication they need with their health card, not their credit card.

The Liberals have failed to keep that promise.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the member's speech and heard him talk about a number of things that he likes in the budget. I could not help but think that this is what a budget is supposed to be about. People will never get a budget they like completely. He did list off a number of things that he likes. He talked about high-speed rail. He talked about the national school food program. He talked about ensuring that pharmacare is not touched, to the degree it has already been implemented, yet he and his party either voted against the budget or abstained from voting.

Does the member not see a benefit in the stuff he does like? Is he willing to vote against it, despite the fact that he does like that stuff?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that all budgets have things in them that are worthy of support and other things that we do not like. In a 600-page document, this is going to be the case.

This gives me a chance to underscore a practice that has developed in Parliament: implementing omnibus bills, wherein all sorts of things that have nothing to do with a budget are tossed into the budget. Again, that is something the Liberals disliked in opposition, and they are doing it in government.

There are things in this budget New Democrats will support. That is a fair comment to make, but we have to examine a budget as a whole. When one takes a broad look at this budget, there is such lost opportunity. With the Trump administration upending Canada-U.S. relations, now is the time to be investing in our country, building more here, becoming more self-sufficient, getting more value from our raw resources and diversifying our trade relationships.

While the government is taking some steps in that regard, we lost a real opportunity in this budget to reset our Canadian economy in a way that puts us first and that would raise the living standard of every single Canadian. Instead—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that concern me about this budget is the sheer amount of additional debt it is going to put on Canadians and future generations.

The comment I have for my colleague is this: Right now, Canadian taxpayers are paying approximately $55 billion in interest on the current national debt. Now there is an additional $80 billion being added to that. More money goes, on an annual basis, to pay the interest than it does to health care for our provinces and territories.

Could the member comment on the challenge we have when we are paying more in interest than we are sending to support health care for our provinces and territories?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have the best record for balancing budgets per year of government of any party in the House, from 1867 to today. We agree that crushing levels of debt and massive deficits are not healthy. That is why I call this budget a Conservative budget.

The Liberals cut revenue and have responded by cutting taxes. They cut the capital gains inclusion measure. They cut the digital services tax. They refuse to make our income tax system more progressive. Then, when there is a revenue problem, they respond by cutting services that Canadians rely upon. That is a classic small-c conservative approach to government.

The NDP believes we should be raising taxes progressively so we can have a robustly funded government, so Canadians can get the services they need and so we can have the ability to pay for them without going into a massive deficit.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 is about building a stronger, more resilient Canada with an economy by Canadians and for Canadians.

As we look at the world around us, it is clear that we are at a hinge moment. Global uncertainty is rising, supply chains are shifting, technology is accelerating and countries everywhere are choosing whether to retreat or to step forward. Canada chooses to step forward. Budget 2025 would strengthen our sovereignty, accelerate interprovincial trade and position Canada to become its own best customer, making our supply chains, our industries and our workforce more resilient and more competitive.

Today, I want to speak directly to issues that my constituents in Port Moody, Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra care about. This budget is much more than numbers on a page; it is homes, jobs, affordability and opportunity right here in my community.

The first thing is housing. The housing crisis is hitting families hard in the Tri-Cities. In Coquitlam, young families are struggling to find homes they can afford. In Port Moody, seniors want to downsize without leaving the community they love. In Anmore and Belcarra, residents want to protect their communities' unique character while ensuring options for future generations.

Budget 2025 sets out six major housing actions to increase affordability and supply. Key investments include $25 billion over five years to double housing construction using Canadian materials. Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency, will partner with industry and municipalities to build faster and with greater certainty, and meaningful projects are already under way. For example, in Coquitlam, the Hoy Creek Housing Co-op expansion will deliver 146 new affordable homes, including 33 fully accessible units. This means real progress for real people.

The second thing is infrastructure. Our region is growing, and our roads, bridges, water systems and community spaces need to keep pace. Budget 2025 introduces build communities strong, which is a fund with $51 billion in investment over 10 years that would revitalize local infrastructure and support the essential services that Canadians rely on. This includes nearly $28 billion for local roads, bridges, water systems and community centres, and about $17 billion for housing, health care and education infrastructure through provincial and territorial channels. These investments would help cities across B.C., including Port Moody and Coquitlam, plan and deliver the infrastructure that supports the quality of life for our residents.

The third thing is affordability and fairness. Families in my riding are feeling the squeeze from everyday costs. Budget 2025 would deliver a full suite of measures to directly lower monthly costs for Canadians. Some supports are universal. We would lower cellphone and Internet bills, and we would ban transfer fees and bring real transparency into banking so that people know what they are paying for. By expanding dental care to Canadians with household incomes under $90,000, we would make sure that adults, children and seniors can finally access much-needed dental care.

Other measures are targeted and designed to help families with children. For us in the Tri-Cities, this really matters. Teachers and families across School District No. 43 rely on the school food program every single day, and it is making a real difference. Our government would make that program permanent. That stability would mean that children can focus on learning and not much else.

We are also strengthening child care, because affordable, reliable care is what allows parents to build stability, return to work and build a future for their families. We remain committed to creating even more $10-a-day child care spaces, helping parents get back into the workforce and helping employers across the Tri-Cities fill critical labour shortages.

Together, these universal and family-focused measures form part of a comprehensive affordability package that would support young families, seniors on fixed incomes and individuals and businesses right across my riding.

The fourth thing is jobs and skills. Our riding is full of talent, from students attending nearby Douglas College or SFU to skilled tradespeople building our communities. Budget 2025 would invest in people with a re-skilling package for 50,000 workers, especially in construction, clean tech and digital skills. The youth employment and skills strategy opens direct pathways to higher-paying careers, and the new youth climate corps would offer paid training for young people who want to develop green skills and contribute to our climate resilience.

This leads me directly to climate leadership, which is the fifth thing. Folks in Port Moody—Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra care deeply about environmental sustainability. Budget 2025's climate competitiveness strategy is both a climate plan and an economic plan for B.C. It would mobilize capital for clean energy projects and accelerate critical mineral development, which is essential for EV batteries, renewable technology and Canada's long-term economic competitiveness.

The sixth thing is seniors. Seniors are the backbone of my riding. Budget 2025 would strengthen the new horizons for seniors program, funding local projects that reduce isolation and promote active living. It would also launch Canada's first national anti-fraud strategy to protect seniors from scams and financial abuse, which are a growing concern today.

Budget 2025 is a plan to build Canada strong, and that starts in communities like mine, with more homes, better infrastructure, lower costs for families, good jobs for youth and workers, a cleaner, more competitive economy and support for seniors.

We can give ourselves more than any foreign government can take from us. We will be our own best customer. When we build in Canada, buy in Canada and believe in Canada, we can build an economy that works for everyone across our communities and our nation. When we build Canada strong, we build Port Moody—Coquitlam strong.

I hope we can count on the members opposite for their support.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty safe to say the hon. member cannot count on my support for this budget.

Right now in Canada, the debt is more than the budget, so the amount of debt we owe is more than the entire budget of the federal government. Every dollar spent is a dollar borrowed from Canadians and future Canadians.

According to Fitch Ratings, right after the budget was announced, “Canada's...proposed budget, announced in Parliament on Nov. 4, underscores the erosion of the federal government’s finances”. It continued, “persistent fiscal expansion and a rising debt burden have weakened its credit profile and could increase rating pressure over the medium term.”

This has happened before, with crushing impacts on the social programs Canadians care about and benefit from. In the 1990s, after similar ratings pressure, the Liberal government of the day was forced to cut 32% from the federal health and social transfers over just two years.

Is the member not concerned about the same thing happening today?

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada currently has the highest credit rating, which is the AAA rating, and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the world.

I have incredible hope. There is something to be said about the speed of trust. Our Prime Minister is meeting with leaders from other countries right now. There is so much respect for our Prime Minister that, on that speed of trust, he is respected on the world stage. They know he is no stranger to balancing budgets and can lead Canada into a strong economic future.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's glowing speech on the budget, and I understand why it was so glowing, because she is in government, but she should also be somewhat concerned. As a member from British Columbia, she will see her Prime Minister announce a pipeline from Alberta on Thursday without the consent of Premier Eby, and even in the face of a lot of harsh criticism. What we see in the budget right now is the government allowing itself to waive all environmental assessments for projects similar to those in Bill C-5, deemed projects of national interest.

My colleague may not know this, but she may very well be getting a pipeline shoved down her throat.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, so far, B.C. has been the recipient of several projects from the nation-building projects office. I am very excited about the future. Those projects will bring thousands of jobs to the coast.

I cannot speak to the member's question directly because the project is not yet on the table. I have not seen an agreement, so I will leave it at that.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to congratulate my hon. colleague on becoming the co-chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association. I know she will do good work alongside Senator Gignac in that role.

It is interesting because we see Conservative members in the House sometimes suggesting that we need to engage with China to remove tariffs on canola, but at the same time, we see other Conservative members suggesting that any engagement with China is a bad thing. It is interesting to see the Conservatives not able to pick a lane on that. Maybe the member would like to opine on that.

On the debt question, it is important to recognize that we have a AAA credit rating. Both S&P and Moody’s have continued to maintain it. We have a stable debt-to-GDP ratio over time. To put it into perspective, we are spending less than 10¢ of every dollar on debt management. Under the Conservative government in the 1990s, it was 35¢. It is important to take that into consideration.