House of Commons Hansard #63 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaties.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act Second reading of Bill C-10. The bill proposes creating a Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation to review and monitor federal performance on modern treaties. Conservatives argue it is unnecessary bureaucracy that duplicates the Auditor General's role and a "leadership failure" by the government. Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Québécois largely support the bill, emphasizing it is Indigenous-led and crucial for accountability and reconciliation by ensuring treaty obligations are met. Some Bloc members also seek improvements to reporting timelines. 17600 words, 2 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Admissibility of Committee Amendments to Bill C-12 Arielle Kayabaga raises a point of order regarding nine amendments to Bill C-12, arguing they were inadmissible at committee due to violating the "parent act rule." Conservatives indicate they will dispute this. 400 words.
Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act Second reading of Bill C-235. The bill seeks to amend the Criminal Code to allow judges to increase parole ineligibility from 25 to a maximum of 40 years for offenders who abduct, sexually assault, and murder the same victim. Proponents argue this would spare families of murdered and brutalized persons from repeated parole hearings. Opposition and Liberals raise concerns about its constitutionality, citing the Supreme Court's Bissonnette decision, while suggesting amendments to ensure compliance. 7400 words, 1 hour.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Shelby Kramp-Neuman Conservative Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON
Madam Speaker, Bill C-10 clearly, with no doubt, would only add another voice that governments have been ignoring for years. The issue is not people's raising awareness; the issue is the government's ignoring them, and that would not change with Bill C-10.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Madam Speaker, when we talk about treaties, we are not talking about paperwork; we are talking about promises, solemn commitments made between the Crown and indigenous people. They are commitments that define land, governance, rights and the very shape of our shared country, and the truth is that a promise is only as strong as the people responsible for keeping it. For decades, indigenous partners have asked for something that every Canadian understands: respect, fairness, and a government that keeps its word, not just speeches and photo-ops but real action.
Bill C-10, which would create a new commissioner for modern treaty implementation, is supposed to be that answer, but we cannot solve a problem of execution by creating more bureaucracy. Accountability does not come from a new office; it comes from leadership, responsibility and courage to deliver on commitments that already exist in law.
Before we talk about implementation, we need to be clear about what modern treaties actually are. A modern treaty is not symbolic; it is a legally binding agreement, a negotiated settlement that clarifies land ownership, resource rights, governance and jurisdiction. In many cases, it includes self-government provisions that give indigenous communities authority over education, health, culture and local services.
These agreements were meant to end decades, sometimes centuries, of litigation and uncertainty. They are not suggestions; they are federal law, so when Canada signs a treaty, the honour of the Crown is on the line, and that honour cannot be delegated to another office and cannot be outsourced or buried inside a new bureaucracy. It has to be lived out in real action.
Here is the heart of the issue. The problem is not that there is too little oversight; the problem is that there is too little action. There is no shortage of reports; there is a shortage of results. The Auditor General, time and time again, has already told Parliament exactly where the system is breaking down: late funding, inconsistent interpretation of agreements, poor coordination across departments, unclear accountability, and almost no consequences when obligations are ignored. There have been multiple audits over the years by the Auditor General of treaty-related obligations, and there are still delays, missed commitments, and indigenous governments being forced back to the table to fight for what was already agreed to.
Now the government has proposed a new commissioner, someone who would monitor, assess and report, but reports are not roofs, and they do not build homes, bring clean water, deliver policing or create economic opportunity. The new office would have no power to compel compliance or enforce obligations. It would have no direct accountability to Parliament. It could not direct departments, impose consequences or resolve disputes. It would be just more smoke and mirrors, because oversight without enforcement is a system built to observe failure, not to fix it.
Indigenous leaders have shown us what real partnership looks like. Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band captured it well when he said, “We're business people. Our goals are to build a strong future [and] to pursue the good life”.
That is the spirit we should be supporting: indigenous communities building their own future through hard work, collaboration and opportunity. A government that keeps its word and delivers on modern treaties does not create dependency; it creates the space for that success to flourish. Good things happen when everyone does their part: when indigenous governments lead, when local businesses invest and when Ottawa actually follows through on the commitment it has already signed.
We know that the agreements can be negotiated and implemented when the government is focused, disciplined and accountable. Modern treaties and self-government agreements are possible. They are not easy files; they require discipline, focus, trust and constant conversation with indigenous partners, but they can be delivered.
Let me remind the House what success looks like. Tsawwassen is located just an hour from my riding. The Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement, which happened under Prime Minister Harper, is one of the most significant modern treaties in our country's recent history, not because it made headlines but because it made progress. It came into effect in 2009, giving the Tsawwassen First Nation clear authority over its land, its resources and its economic future. It replaced uncertainty with clarity, and decades of stalled negotiations with a real and enforceable partnership.
However, what stands out about Tsawwassen is not just the treaty itself but what the community built with it. It used its rights, the way any government should: with discipline, vision and a plan for the next generation. We can see it in the development around Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwassen Commons. We can see it in the jobs created, the businesses launched and the sense of momentum that did not depend on speeches and symbolism but on hard work and steady leadership.
Here is the real lesson: When the treaty is clear, when the federal government does its part, when the rules are respected by everyone at the table, indigenous communities do not just participate in the economy, they help drive it. The Tsawwassen treaty succeeded not because Ottawa created a new office; it succeeded because the agreement was honoured and because the Tsawwassen people turned opportunity into outcomes.
We love to take our grandkids out to the Tsawwassen Mills mall to wander around Cabela's checking out the displays. When it first opened, we threw a few gutter balls in the bowling alley at Uncle Buck's Fishbowl and Grill, and the kids loved it. It is a living example that when we keep our word, show up, follow through and respect the commitments we have already made, good things happen: stronger communities, stronger partnership and a stronger Canada.
More agreements like the Tsawwassen agreement will not come from a new office, a new commissioner or a new layer of bureaucracy. They will come from a government that respects the negotiating table, honours deadlines and holds itself accountable for results. They will come from ministers who show up, officials who execute their mandate and indigenous partners who share the future of their communities.
Conservatives believe in accountability. We believe in honouring the Crown. We believe in a strong nation-to-nation relationship grounded in trust. Yes, oversight matters, but real oversight comes from Parliament, from the Auditor General, from the treaty governance bodies and from the courts, not from yet another monitoring office.
Conservatives believe there is a better path forward, one rooted in accountability, partnership and respect. We would strengthen responsibility inside the ministries that already exist, setting clear expectations, forcing performance milestones and requiring regular reporting to Parliament, with real consequences when obligations are missed. We would use the tools already written into modern treaties, the dispute resolution clauses, the courts and the work of the Auditor General. Instead of creating more layers of bureaucracy, we would put responsibility back on ministers and departments, where it belongs.
If the commitment is delayed, Canadians deserve answers from the people who signed the agreement, not from another office with no power to enforce it. We would honour the sovereignty and self-determination of indigenous partners by making accountability something we build together, not something imposed by Ottawa. Above all, Conservatives are focused on results, because homes, infrastructure and opportunity are delivered by governments that do their job, not by more commissioners and more reports.
Indigenous governments have been clear: Yes, they want accountability, but more than that, they want progress. They want the federal government to deliver what it already agreed to. They want implementation that is timely, consistent and respectful. Bill C-10 would give us new reports but not new results. Canadians, indigenous and non-indigenous, expect more than that.
Reconciliation is not a new title, a new commissioner or a new office on Wellington Street; reconciliation is when a treaty is honoured, when communities see a real change and when the federal government does what it already promised to do. Let us choose the path of integrity and a future where treaties are not words on paper but living commitments, upheld with discipline and delivered with honour, measured in real progress on the ground. We do not need more bureaucracy; we need a government that does its job.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, Bill C-10 is before us because of the strong leadership from indigenous people and the grassroots from indigenous community members, along with a co-operative government seeking through reconciliation to bring forward positive legislation. That is the driving force of what we are voting on, but the Conservatives continue to want to filibuster to prevent the legislation from passing. My question is why.
While the member is addressing that particular question, maybe she can also address the issue of how we can reconcile the Conservative Party's, and in particular the leader of the Conservative Party's, approach in dealing with the pipeline going through B.C., feeling that there is absolutely zero obligation to indigenous people or the Province of B.C.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Madam Speaker, let us be honest. The question distracts us from the core problem. The government's answer to every failure is to stack another layer of paperwork on top of the last one. Bill C-10 would create just another monitoring office that would not be able to enforce a thing. There is more paper with the same problems.
The budget is full of new departments that will not solve a thing. It is time to get serious and ensure that departments that already exist actually follow through on their responsibilities.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
November 28th, 2025 / 10:55 a.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Parkland, AB
Madam Speaker, once again, we listened to the Liberal parliamentary secretary talk about how Conservatives are not honouring reconciliation in our treaties. Meanwhile, the Liberal government is attacking indigenous children who have autism, fetal alcohol syndrome and other vulnerabilities. It has cut funding for indigenous education that was mandated by the Supreme Court of Canada and the treaties.
I wonder if my hon. colleague could talk about the hypocrisy from the Liberals on indigenous funding.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Madam Speaker, we Conservatives oppose the approach the government is taking. A new bureaucracy does not hold anyone to account; it shields ministers from responsibility. Instead of fixing delays, the government creates another office to talk about the delays. That is not progress, and it adds a whole lot more cost.
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Madam Speaker, it was my absolute honour to participate in the Tree of Hope ceremony organized by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
This is an important event that raises awareness about the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. There was a procession beginning at the Ottawa police station, leading to Ottawa City Hall and finishing right here at Parliament Hill. Along the way, we lit red lights in trees as a reminder of the lives lost and as a call to action to support and protect indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ community members.
I thank the elders and the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition for hosting this important event and for their continued leadership to advocate on behalf of the urban indigenous community in our city.
Scott Anderson Conservative Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC
Madam Speaker, nestled deep in the mountains of my riding lies the historic town of Sandon, British Columbia. It was once a thriving silver mining hub and was the first community in our province where every citizen had access to electricity.
At its heart stands the Silversmith Power and Light plant, commissioned in 1897, which is still humming along today using equipment made when horses were still our primary mode of transportation. Now in its 128th year of continuous operation, it remains Canada's oldest hydroelectric facility, producing clean, renewable energy that can power almost 500 homes.
For decades, Hal Wright and his family have dedicated their lives to preserving this extraordinary piece of Canadian history. Through their stewardship, Sandon remains not just a ghost town, but a living symbol of resilience, innovation and heritage.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, in the last election, the Prime Minister talked a great deal about expanding trade opportunities. To that end, we have seen the Prime Minister and the government travelling the world to ensure that we are able to expand our export markets. This is so critically important for all of Canada.
Personally, I am looking at some of the things that have come out of that, such as a commitment to work with the Philippines to try to get a trade agreement in 2026, and working with India to try to get a trade agreement in 2026.
These are interesting times we are in, and there are so many opportunities through trade. Canada is a trading nation. We have 0.5% of the world population, yet we contribute 2.5% of world trade. This is a Prime Minister who understands the importance of trade.
Sukhman Gill Conservative Abbotsford—South Langley, BC
Madam Speaker, Christmas cheer is all around us, especially in my community of Abbotsford—South Langley. I hope families will come out and enjoy the Aldergrove Christmas Light Up Parade. I would be thrilled to see them there as I hand out candy canes.
Throughout this month, our office will be collecting non-perishable food items for our local food bank. Times are hard, and if people are able to give back in any capacity, it truly helps.
I want to take this moment to thank our volunteers, first responders, parade organizers, local charities and organizations that make this season so special for us all.
To my friends back home in Abbotsford—South Langley, I wish them the merriest Christmas and happiest new year as Christians celebrate this holy season and the birth of Jesus Christ.
Fares Al Soud Liberal Mississauga Centre, ON
Madam Speaker, since 1978, every year on November 29, we commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, but the solidarity did not begin in 1978.
For over 75 years, millions of Canadians and hundreds of millions around the world have stood in recognition of a reality defined by displacement, loss and enduring hardship. It is also a day that reminds us of the extraordinary resilience of a people who have endured far more than any ever should.
The perseverance of the Palestinian people in the face of decades of hardship reminds the entire world of the power of hope and human dignity.
Canada's proud role on the international stage carries a collective responsibility that we owe to all who face injustice. It is one that demands not only our sympathy, but our humanity in action.
I rise proudly on behalf of many in my community and across this country to send a message to the people of Palestine. They have not been forgotten and they are not alone. We stand with them.
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and CommunitiesStatements by Members
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
Madam Speaker, members of Parliament, above all else, are servants of the Canadian people. Whether we are working in the chamber or in the committee rooms, we must carry that hallowed responsibility wherever we go. Constituents are counting on us to carry out the work they sent us here to do.
Right now, members of the transport committee are being denied that opportunity to work and serve. Liberal MPs are obstructing our work because they do not want to hear the testimony of victims in our study of unsafe truck driving practices.
Voting against our motion to hear from victims is the Liberals' democratic right. However, cancelling meetings to avoid a vote is not just wrong; it is undemocratic. Enough is enough. Liberal members of the transport committee need to fulfill their democratic responsibility, let victims be heard and let parliamentarians get back to work.
Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Madam Speaker, aging is difficult for most people, but for those who have experienced addictions and mental health challenges, including hospitalization and periods of homelessness throughout their lives, it is even more challenging.
Recently, I toured the soon-to-open Ottawa Salus 54-unit affordable housing complex in my riding of Ottawa West—Nepean. This federally funded project will provide low-barrier supportive housing to older adults with complex social and health issues. This unique, purpose-built apartment and townhouse project near the City View Curling Club has a variety of bright social and recreation spaces, clinics and other services. It is very impressive, and it will allow residents to age in place in dignity and safety.
This is just one tangible example in my riding of how our housing strategy is working and will change lives for the better.
Jeff Kibble Conservative Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Madam Speaker, families across my riding on Vancouver Island are struggling to house and feed themselves as the cost of living continues to rise.
The Duncan Foodbank and Lunch Kitchen and the Goldstream Food Bank in Langford are beyond capacity and are struggling to keep up with demand. This is heartbreaking. There is a new veterans food bank in Langford scheduled to open in mid-December, yet it is already being overwhelmed with requests for assistance from veterans, and even serving members of the military. This is heartbreaking.
I have risen in this House multiple times to fight for vital industries, like fisheries and forestry, that are in dire situations and facing shutdowns that will kill jobs and force even more people to food banks. These are all signs of a failing economy driven by the government's handouts and subsidies, which are fuelled by endless borrowed and printed money that serves only to further drive up the cost of food.
We must act now to help Canadians who are struggling. We must scrap the industrial carbon tax which drives up the cost of fertilizer and farm equipment and, ultimately, the cost of food. We do not need deficit-funded handouts. Canadians deserve more than—
Cost of FoodStatements by Members
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan.
Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC
Madam Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has listened to workers, including those in seasonal industries, who felt that they were not understood or taken into consideration in the latest Liberal budget.
There is nothing for EI, even though groups defending the rights of the unemployed, unions and the Bloc Québécois are demanding a major overhaul of the legislation. The measure that had temporarily increased regional unemployment rates was not extended, even though it provided a breath of fresh air for workers.
As the holiday season approaches, the Liberal government is once again offering us nothing, even though the spring gap is just a few weeks away for workers in seasonal industries. The Liberals may ignore workers, but the EI spring gap does not spare them.
These workers are essential to keeping our regions alive and ensuring the success of our forestry, tourism, fishing and other industries. I want them to know that the Bloc Québécois will reintroduce a bill that will propose real EI reform.
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Madam Speaker, Whitby is not just talking about sustainability; it is demonstrating action. At last week's Durham Greener Buildings awards, which recognizes success in achieving climate targets, with two awards, our community walked out with some serious hardware.
First up is the Whitby Centennial Building, which earned the Best Emission and Energy Performance Award for Performing Arts. It proves we can honour our heritage while still hitting new heights in energy performance.
Second is Whitby's sports complex, which also stepped up. It received a Leadership and Sustainability Impact Award, showing how a local recreational hub can and will lead the charge on environmental responsibility. Our government backed that vision with a $25-million investment through the green and inclusive community buildings fund. That is paying off.
Together, these wins say something very meaningful. Whitby is building a future that lives up to the hype and will be smart, sustainable and vibrant for generations to come.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Speaker, earlier this week, I said it is always a good day for Brookfield. Yesterday was a great day for Brookfield as the Province of Alberta was pushed into a $16.5-billion deal on carbon capture. One of the companies looking forward to a windfall will, of course, be Brookfield.
Let us not forget that last week, the Prime Minister gave a $500-million contract to the European Space Agency which is housed on property 50% owned by Brookfield. Let us also not forget that three days after the Prime Minister had a meeting with President Trump, the President personally signed an agreement for $80 billion with Brookfield for nuclear energy. Just this week, the CEO of Brookfield testified at committee saying that when Brookfield does well, the Prime Minister does well because of how many shares he has in Brookfield.
The question that Canadians want an answer to is this: With 2.2 million Canadians going to a food bank every single month, why is the Prime Minister's focus enriching Brookfield and himself?
Lisa Hepfner Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Madam Speaker, as a kid at Christmas, all I wanted to unwrap was the latest Little House on the Prairie or Nancy Drew book, and as I hit my teens, it was all about Margaret Atwood. Her books informed my feminism, inspired my sense of humour and instilled in me a lifelong love of dystopian fantasy fiction.
Earlier this week, at the start of 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence, I saw her on stage in Hamilton in front of 1,500 rabid fans, and I was reminded of just how powerful a woman's voice can be. This event was for Interval House of Hamilton, which supports women fleeing violence and trains men and boys to avoid hypermasculine misogyny.
I have read them all, but my favourite Margaret Atwood book is the MaddAddam trilogy, where we read, “we must be a beacon of hope, because if you tell people there's nothing they can do, they will do worse than nothing.” Beacons of hope, like Margaret Atwood and Interval House, remind us that we can all do something about gender-based violence.
Kurt Holman Conservative London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Speaker, Canadians pay their taxes and expect fairness, but surprise, surprise, the Prime Minister's budget did nothing to inconvenience powerful corporations like Brookfield and prevent them from enjoying Canada's two-tier tax system.
Canadians cannot ignore that not long before taking office, the Prime Minister served as the chair of Brookfield, a senior position of a company now known for pushing tax avoidance to the max. During an ethics committee meeting, we heard that Brookfield is the most aggressive tax-avoider in the country, shifting profits into offshore havens and dodging $6.5 billion in Canadian taxes.
While the government protects these loopholes, it saddles Canadians with the biggest budget in our history. Workers pay for it twice: once through higher taxes and again through the hidden inflation tax that follows the massive deficits and drives up the cost of everything.
Families in London deserve better than a system rigged for insiders. Conservatives will fight for fairness.
Abdelhaq Sari Liberal Bourassa, QC
Madam Speaker, today I am extremely proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of a youth robotics team from our riding of Bourassa.
I want to give a shout-out to the gold medallists of the FIRST Global Challenge world championship in robotics: Aaraf Alam Choudhury, Ashley Carolina Vazquez Cabrera, Donnovon Manlius, Iyad Zaabi, Justine Dubuc, Kenlee Suy, Manuela Christy Nzali Wakem, Raul André Vargas Ramirez, Sara Kaïdi and Taha Bouhou.
These young people took the gold medal at the FIRST Global Challenge, a world championship in robotics held in Panama. After the NBA success stories of Luguentz Dort, Bennedict Mathurin and Chris Boucher, here comes another group of young achievers charting the future of robotics in Bourassa, Quebec and Canada.
Congratulations to each and every one of these young people, who are with us today in Ottawa.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Madam Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister called himself the master negotiator, bragging that he alone could land a deal with President Trump by July 21. He puffed out his chest, promised “elbows up” and told Canadians he was ready to fight, but now that he has failed, he shrugs, asking, “Who cares?” and says he does not have a “burning issue” to discuss with the President.
In months, he went from lacing up his gloves to throwing up his hands. He has not negotiated; he has surrendered. While he wanders the world for photo ops, our workers are getting knocked to the mat.
Conservatives care, and so do the 40,000 manufacturing workers in Ontario whose jobs have vanished since April, not because of global forces, but because the Prime Minister fumbled the negotiations and left Canada without a deal, without a plan and without a lifeline. Those workers do not have the luxury of saying, “Who cares?” because their mortgages care, their grocery bills care and their futures care.
Will the Prime Minister look those 40,000 workers in the eye and tell them he cares about their jobs, their paycheques and their livelihoods, or will he just keep throwing up his hands, walking away from the table and asking, “Who cares?”
Jaime Battiste Liberal Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS
Madam Speaker,
It's not for me to rock the boat,
But what's the deal on last week's vote?
We won the thing, so I won't gloat
But Robert Fife, I'd like to quote:
He spoke about some sneaky deeds
Where two were, hiding in the weeds,
Which served the Tories voting needs
“Embarrassing!”—the headline reads.
Their outline makes it all but certain
The two that hid behind the curtain,
With a snap election, they were flirtin'
Credibility shot, their polling hurtin'!
They tried to blame it on the app,
But fact and fiction showed a gap!
The answers shared were all over the map
It sounds like just a pile of...inconsistencies!
So what it is, I'll try to say
Next time try to make your way,
Into the House, and make our day
By voting for the BIA!
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC
Madam Speaker, a growing number of Canadians are wondering how they are going to pay their bills, but not the Prime Minister. His personal fortune keeps growing a little bigger every day as his decisions make his company, Brookfield, richer.
For example, he went to see the U.S. President and returned empty-handed, with nothing for Canadians, yet his company signed a $80-billion nuclear deal that filled its pockets. People say he manages his cabinet like a private company.
Why does he get to pocket profits while Canadians always get stuck paying the bill?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this morning, Canadians are celebrating the results of our incredibly strong economy, which is becoming the best in the G7. The Canadian economy grew 2.6% in the last quarter.
What does that mean? It means opportunities for our young people. It reflects our military spending. It reflects our economic development efforts. It is the result and the fruit of our work with the provinces to build and achieve the economic ambitions of all of Canada.