Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2025

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague and I thank him for his question.

I have indeed noticed the same thing, and yet there is a certain logic to it; it is something to be expected. The job market is not great for everyone. If a unionized company with too many workers operates according to seniority, young workers with less permanent ties to their jobs will leave.

There are solutions. For one thing, we need a decent employment insurance system that allows people to switch to something that matches their skills. There must surely be other positions of the same kind. We need to make it easier for people to get job training, return to school or take one-year reskilling programs. Sometimes, going back to school for three or four years can seem daunting, whereas a year might be just the thing. For that to happen, people need the right information.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and for his interesting point of view, despite the rather unpleasant interruptions he was subjected to. That being said, we are accustomed to this kind of interruption from the government benches.

Indeed, the youth unemployment rate is high. However, the national unemployment rate for the same period has come down. Walking down the street in our communities, we see businesses that have closed because they cannot hire staff. Restaurants are reluctant to reopen or are closing at certain times of the week because of the labour shortage. It all seems a bit strange.

Could it be that young people do not want to work in the current conditions, particularly because there is a housing shortage? If they have to pay up to $2,000 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, they do not want to go work for minimum wage. Could there be a link between our lax federal legislation and young people's lack of interest in the labour market?

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rivière‑du‑Nord for his very good question.

Yes, there is a link, and I touched on it briefly in my speech. Since the cost of living has risen dramatically in recent years, the minimum wage is not enough to pay $2,000 in rent and buy enough food with decent protein content. Even if it is possible, people should not eat low-quality products that are not good for their health. Rather than doing that, young people are staying with their parents for a few more years and waiting.

That might factor in. That is why I said earlier that it is important to provide adequate information and support during employment transition periods. When I talk about adequate support during the employment transition, I am referring to EI, which people contribute to but do not qualify for.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the member made reference to temporary work permits. I will quote a CTV News story from back on September 3: “[The Conservative leader] calls on Liberals to axe temporary foreign worker program”.

[An hon. member]

Hear, hear!

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, he says, “Hear, hear!” but it was an extreme statement.

I wonder if the member could provide his thoughts as to why it is dangerous to make statements of that nature. In Manitoba, the Minister of Immigration and the premier have communicated with me that in rural communities, there is a great deal of concern in regard to small businesses and the impact of work permits. I believe that to be true. They want to retain temporary workers. They want the national government to renew temporary visas.

I wonder if the Conservative leader is being short-sighted by not listening to what the provinces are saying. Could the member provide his thoughts on that?

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I agree that statements like the ones made by the Leader of the Opposition can be dangerous when members of the public who are not fully informed take them for the truth, leading to a polarized society. Unfortunately, too many politicians use polarization to score points.

However, I want to tell my colleague that I also consider it dangerous to radically and suddenly change a policy the way his government just did. I spoke about a transition period, which seems perfectly reasonable to me. I am counting on my colleague to spread the word internally. We need to give our businesses with 20% foreign workers a buffer period to lower that proportion to 10%. All of the affected sectors will comply. They are all going to do it, but they need time so they can retain their most productive workers. I think we owe our businesses that much.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member would comment on what he would say to young people in my riding of Oshawa about this. We recently put a post on social media about two fast-food restaurants that had applied for temporary foreign workers, and I simply asked whether it was possible that young people in my riding did not want the jobs. Many folks wrote that it was not true; they had applied and, for some reason, could not get a job.

I wonder how the member would respond to those young people.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the reality in downtown Oshawa may not be the same as in Berthier—Maskinongé. That could be a true story; it is quite possible. I am not saying that things are perfect. It is like when we talk about agricultural producers who take on foreign workers. There was one example of abuse. The following week, they were all being called villains.

Generally, temporary foreign workers cost employers more. It is not supposed to be their first choice. I assume that what my colleague is telling me is accurate, because I assume she is acting in good faith. However, I do not understand the employer in question. I think he should have advertised the position locally.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, youth unemployment is high. It has been said that people need to first get a job in order to gain experience. Often, that is a problem. If people do not have experience, they do not have the required qualifications and they do not get hired. The Canada summer jobs program allows young people to gain that initial work experience.

How does my colleague explain the fact that the government has cut this program in half?

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am getting some very good questions. I have been asked to explain something. If the government wants to take concrete action in response to what young people are calling for, it can increase the budgets for Canada summer jobs. This program is a great opportunity for young people to get that first work experience. Then they have something to write on their resumé that will get them hired by a second employer, because they have a certain amount of experience.

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, what a tragic situation we find ourselves in here in Canada today: record-low employment levels, the worst in 25 years; housing insecurity at dangerous levels; food prices out of control; money printing and deficit spending at unsustainable levels; and a doubling of the national debt in just nine years. Who bears the brunt of this disastrous policy? It is young people.

As one of just a few members of Parliament under the age of 30 here today, I feel this keenly. It is my generation of Westman residents, the people I grew up with, who are trying to buy their first home and start their family but who are financially broke due to Liberal policies.

Contrary to popular belief, young people in gen Z would work hard if the Liberals' disastrous economic policies would get out of the way so they could actually get a decent job. We do not want to still be living in our parents' basement in our mid- to late-20s; we just cannot actually find a house for which the bank would allow us to take out a loan to buy. This is particularly felt by young people in Westman, home to Manitoba's oil and gas sector and part of our robust agricultural heartland, areas of our economy that have been most depressed by Liberal government policy.

That is not a lack of work ethics; it is devastating failure of government policy. To the people in gen Z, many of whom voted for the Liberals in 2015, it is a brutal betrayal that this is how their support is being rewarded: no chance of a debt-free future, no hope for a good job, and increasingly less likelihood of being able to own their own home. If the Liberals had been paying attention, they would know that this is why more young people under 40 voted Conservative in the last election than have done in decades.

Young people do not want more housing bureaucracies; they want housing built. Young people do not want handouts or food programs; they want affordable food they can purchase themselves. Young people do not want a bloated government bureaucracy in Ottawa; they want good-paying jobs close to home. In short, young people in this country do not want to be forced to rely on government handouts to stay afloat. They want the dignity of being able to build an affordable life for themselves.

Where do we go from here? Conservatives have a youth jobs plan, unlike the Liberals across the aisle, and it is built on four key pillars. Number one is to unleash the economy by cutting taxes, reducing red tape and attracting investment. There are three more important pillars.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings at this time and put forthwith the question on the motion now before the House.

The question is on the motion that the question be now put.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the motion be carried.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The next question is on the concurrence motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded division.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the division stands deferred until Tuesday, November 4, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Espace Hubert-Reeves

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today the people of Charlevoix are sending a clear message to Ottawa by asking me to present this petition to the Liberal government so that Espace Hubert-Reeves can finally become a reality. Espace Hubert-Reeves in La Malbaie is more than just a science centre. It is a gateway to the universe, to the earth and to our future. Located in the heart of the 400-million-year-old Charlevoix crater, Espace Hubert-Reeves will tell the story of our planet, of space in general and of humanity's impact on its environment.

This project combines science, education and tourism. It will inspire our young people, attract visitors from around the world and revitalize our region. The municipalities and RCMs, the Quebec government and the private sector have already indicated that they are on board with the project. The only thing missing is the Liberal government.

By the end of 2025, let us make Espace Hubert-Reeves a symbol of knowledge, pride and the future, because after all, time passes quickly and we are nothing but star dust.

Electric Vehicles

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of Guelph and Wellington County, Ontario.

The petitioners are concerned that Canada may fall behind in the production of affordable, Canadian-made, battery-electric light-duty vehicles. They call upon the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy to designate the mass production of affordable, Canadian-made, battery-electric light-duty vehicles as a project of national interest and to make it a reality by 2030.

Firearms

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as a proud, law-abiding firearms owner, I have the great privilege to present this petition to the House. It comes from law-abiding firearms owners who are concerned about past legislation from the Liberal government and a stream of orders in council that serve no other purpose than to target the law-abiding community of gun owners in this country.

The petitioners say that Bill C-21 notably does nothing to tackle firearms violence; rather, it adds red tape and regulation to law-abiding Canadians.

The petitioners also describe how the bill does not tackle the true sources of firearms used in crime, which are gangs, organized crime and a porous border.

The petitioners are calling on the government to repeal Bill C-21, devote greater resources to policing to combat these sources of illegal firearms and not go after law-abiding Canadian citizens.

Falun Gong

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of a number of my constituents. I have a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians, most of whom reside in my constituency of Calgary Crowfoot. They draw attention to the transnational repression of Falun Gong practitioners here in Canada by the Chinese Communist Party. They call upon the Government of Canada to publicly call on the Chinese regime to end its persecution of the Falun Gong and to continue to impose sanctions and take stronger measures to protect the Falun Gong community targeted by the CCP.

I am pleased to table this on behalf of many of my constituents, who have brought this petition to my attention.

Military Chaplaincy

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a few petitions to present tonight.

The first petition comes from Canadians across the country who are concerned about the treatment of the armed forces chaplaincy. They are concerned about recent reports that have come out saying that chaplains may not pray at Remembrance Day ceremonies. They note that Canada has a long tradition of respecting and honouring the role of faith traditions in the Canadian Armed Forces. These Canadians are calling upon Parliament to reaffirm that the Canadian Armed Forces ought to be free to support servicemen and servicewomen who, through public prayer, keep their hard-won and honourable traditions of the armed forces, especially on Remembrance Day.

Firearms

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have to present comes from Canadians across the country who are concerned about the way the Liberal government treats law-abiding firearms owners. They talk about the host of orders in council that the government has put in place targeting law-abiding firearms owners. They talk about Bill C-21, which does nothing to tackle firearm crime, but rather, adds red tape to law-abiding firearms owners and goes after law-abiding firearms owners, and makes them paper criminals. They talk about how this bill does little to tackle the true source of illegal firearms and fails to go after organized crime and gangs.

The petitioners are calling on the government to bring in real legislation to tackle crime in this country and repeal Bill C-21, and devote greater resources to policing so that they can combat these sources of illegal firearms.

Human Rights in India

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have is from Canadians across the country who are concerned about human rights abuses around the world. In particular, they note the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom that pointed out that various actors are supporting and enforcing sectarian policies in India to establish India as a Hindu state.

The petitioners say that Christians in India are being targeted by extremists vandalizing their churches, attacking church workers and threatening or humiliating congregations. They also wanted to point out crimes against the Dalit groups, including Dalit women and girls who are increasingly facing crime in India. The petitioners call on the Indian government and the Canadian government to work together to bring this kind of persecution to an end. They also wanted to point out Indian Muslims are also at risk of assault and sexual violence in India.

The petitioners ask that the government ensure that any trade deal that we may be pursuing with India be premised upon mandatory human rights positions, that extremists be sanctioned and that the government promote a respectful human rights dialogue between Canada and India.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have to present comes from Canadians from across the country who are concerned about the MAID regime in this country.

Choosing medical assistance in dying because of a lack of available services or treatments is not a real choice. That is what the petitioners are pointing out. They also point out that allowing medical assistance in dying for those with disabilities or chronic illness, but who are not dying, devalues their life and tacitly endorses the notion that life with a disability is optional and, by extension, dispensable. They are concerned that offering medical assistance in dying as a solution for a disability or chronic illness reduces the incentives to improve treatment and care for people with these conditions.

These Canadians do not want an ableist health care system where the lives of those with disabilities are not seen as worth living. Many disability advocates from across the country have expressed concern and are opposed to track 2 of the MAID regime.

Therefore, the folks who have signed this petition are calling on the Government of Canada to protect all Canadians whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable by prohibiting medical assistance in dying to those whose death is not foreseen in the next six months.