Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2025

Royal Canadian Legion

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as Remembrance Day approaches, it is essential to acknowledge the invaluable role that our Royal Canadian Legion branches play in supporting veterans. Across the country, members of the Royal Canadian Legion look after the well being of those who have served our country with courage and dedication.

In my riding of Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation, regions such as Lachute, Brownsburg‑Chatham, Chénéville, Buckingham and Arundel, which serves the Harrington area, are pillars of solidarity and remembrance. Through their commitment, community activities, and annual poppy campaign, these branches remind each of us to always remember.

I would like to thank their dedicated volunteers who, day after day, support our most vulnerable veterans and keep the flame of remembrance alive. Lest we forget.

Public Safety

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to speak about Abbotsford, where last week there were three shootings in three days. It is devastating to have another member of our community, Mr. Darshan Sasi, killed. I want to thank the Abbotsford Police Department and our first responders for their quick action, but this should not be the norm. The pressures they face to protect our crime-ridden communities are evident.

In September, the Abbotsford police launched a dedicated task force to combat a troubling rise in extortion, with 38 reports since 2023. It is not just Abbotsford; across Canada, violent crime is up nearly 50%, homicides nearly 28% and extortion 357%. The bail and sentencing reform act before Parliament must take these devastating numbers seriously. Public safety should not be a partisan issue.

I have heard everyone who has reached out to me. They should know that the Conservative Party is fighting for the change they want to see in their communities.

Youth

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, young people matter. They are not just our future; they are our now.

I represented Canada at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's 151st assembly in Geneva, and the one thing I learned was that we need to meet young people where they are at. We need to include them in solving the challenges of our time, whether climate change; or humanitarian crises, including Gaza; or artificial intelligence. Their voices matter, and their innovation is going to help us in really solving these challenges.

I really want to challenge all of the members of the House to ensure that we are including young people in our politics and in our ridings, to ensure that they are included in and are at the forefront of what we need to do to solve our world's problems.

The Budget

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been in power for a decade, and Canadians are feeling the results. They are struggling with the high cost of living, including rising food prices, skyrocketing housing costs, and paycheques that just do not go far enough.

This is a simple concept: The more the Liberals spend, the more things cost. Reckless Liberal spending and increasing tax increases are making life harder for Canadians. It is time to reverse course.

Conservatives have a plan for the budget. We have got great demands. We are asking to get rid of hidden taxes on Canadians' food. We want to cut taxes on work, homebuilding, investments and energy. We want the government to keep the deficit under $42 billion.

Canadians are sick of Liberal buzzwords. We are sick and tired of the lectures. We are ready for results. Our budget demands are simple, reasonable and effective. They will help restore the promise of Canada.

Quebec Municipal Elections

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, democracy has spoken in more than 1,000 municipalities across Quebec.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to congratulate all the mayors and councillors who won last night. I want to wish those who were running for re-election as well as the first-time winners every success in fulfilling their mandate. They can count on the Bloc's friendly co-operation.

I would also like to thank all those who had the courage to run for office but were less fortunate. Their commitment to their fellow citizens and to democracy is crucial, in victory as in defeat. I would also like to thank the citizens who took the time to vote, whether yesterday or during advance polling.

Finally, on a more personal note, I want to highlight the victory of our young former colleague Raphaël Guérard, who was elected mayor of Princeville in the first contested election in over 20 years.

Congratulations, everyone. Long live democracy.

Selah Panacci-MacCallum

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last week in Nova Scotia, NHL star Brad Marchand showed us what real friendship and heart look like. In the middle of his NHL season, Brad came home to stand behind the bench for his lifelong friend JP MacCallum, head coach of Dartmouth's U18 major hockey team, who is facing every parent's worst heartbreak: the loss of his 10-year-old daughter, Selah, after a courageous battle with cancer.

More than 1,000 people filled the Halifax Forum to lift the family up. There were bake sales, jersey auctions and a whole community coming together, showing the kind of love and support that defines Nova Scotia and Nova Scotians.

I want to send all the love in the world to JP, his loved ones and the team, and I want to thank Brad Marchand for reminding us that true greatness is not measured just in goals but in heart.

Food Security

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said Canadians should judge him by what they pay at the grocery store. Food Banks Canada did just that and gave him a D on poverty and food insecurity after both rose nearly 40%. That is not an inspiring achievement.

Food inflation remains 70% above the Bank of Canada's target. Potatoes are up 16%, beef is up 33%, grapes are up 24%, and apples are up 14%. These are not luxuries. They are the staples every Canadian family relies on. About 25% of Canadian families are struggling to afford food, and food bank visits have doubled since 2023. However, it does not have to be this way. This week, Conservatives offered a simple solution: to stop hidden Liberal taxes on food. Instead, the Liberals voted to keep punishing Canadians, refusing to scrap the fuel taxes on fertilizer and farm equipment that drive up costs and inflation.

We cannot afford more Liberal failures. Conservatives will continue fighting to deliver an affordable budget so that Canadians can have an affordable life.

Bernard Grandmaître

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured to rise to pay tribute to the late Hon. Bernard Grandmaître, the guardian of the French language and the father of Ontario's French Language Services Act.

This great Franco-Ontarian recently passed away at the age of 92. Born in Vanier, he dedicated over 30 years of his life to serving in public office, first as mayor and then as a provincial MPP. His greatest legacy is Bill 8, which was passed in 1986 and which gives Franco-Ontarians the right to receive government services in their own language. It is thanks to him that institutions like the Montfort Hospital were able to survive and grow.

He was a pillar of quiet strength, a builder, a man of conviction. His love for the French-speaking community was evident in his actions, and he inspired generations of leaders. His unwavering commitment to Ontario's francophonie continues to inspire us and guide our actions.

My thoughts are with his family, his friends and the entire francophone community. May he rest in peace.

Justice

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the disgusting criminals who prey on innocent children must face consequences that reflect the evil nature of their crimes and the suffering of their victims. However, on Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada decided to strike down mandatory jail time for child sexual abuse material offences.

One of the offenders from the case had hundreds of images of young girls, some as young as three. Another had hundreds of videos of young children between the ages of five and 10. As a result of the court’s ruling, these vile criminals will no longer face mandatory jail time. This is absolutely unacceptable. The court made its decision. Now it is time for parliamentarians to take action to protect innocent lives.

Conservatives are unequivocal in that children must be protected from predators, and this decision cannot be allowed to stand. By invoking the notwithstanding clause, we will restore mandatory jail time for these heinous crimes and ensure that these dangerous criminals are locked up behind bars where they belong.

Veterans' Week

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past Friday, history was made in Ottawa. For the first time, the “lest we forget” poppy flag was raised on Parliament Hill to mark the beginning of Veterans' Week and the Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy campaign. This powerful moment was driven by the dedication of Donald Eenkooren, a proud Canadian Armed Forces veteran and member of the New Hamburg Legion in Kitchener—Conestoga.

Donald understands the importance of visibly honouring those who served, and he turned that belief into a national moment. With support from the local New Hamburg branch, Branch 532 of the Legion, and support from my office, his vision was brought to life. Standing with veterans, fellow members of Parliament and the Minister of Veterans Affairs, I was deeply moved as Donald raised the flag for the first time on Parliament Hill. That ceremony reminds us that national traditions can begin with a single determined voice.

Let the poppy flag be a promise that we will remember, we will honour and we will continue to support our veterans and their families. Lest we forget.

Ethics

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, new information has once again exposed the Prime Minister’s company, Brookfield, as Canada’s biggest tax-dodger.

Experts have revealed that Brookfield avoided paying more than $6.5 billion in Canadian taxes over five years by funnelling profits through offshore tax havens in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. As the chair of Brookfield, the Prime Minister personally set up three multi-billion dollar investment funds registered offshore. Let us not forget that the Prime Minister still stands to benefit from these offshore funds personally through future bonus payments.

While the Prime Minister lectures middle-class Canadians about paying their fair share, his company is dodging billions of dollars in taxes that could be supporting Canadian services such as health care. This is the height of hypocrisy. Canadians deserve a Prime Minister who puts the country first, not his personal bank account.

Toronto Blue Jays

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in baseball, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains. What we are feeling this week comes from caring so deeply about this incredible Blue Jays team, a team that finished last just a season ago and somehow gave us a magical run that no one expected.

Sure, the other night hurt, but this season was special. These were players who gave everything, who understood what it means to represent an entire country. For a few weeks, they united Canadians coast to coast and reminded us of why we love this game.

Even in the World Series, our American League champion Jays were called lucky, underdogs against a powerhouse Dodgers team, but we knew they belonged there. They fought hard and held their own, but a couple of bad bounces made the difference. That is baseball.

It is okay to be disappointed, but years from now, we will still be talking about this team, the one that played with heart and determination. We will have to wait a little longer for that next championship, but what a ride this was. How can we not be romantic about baseball?

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will be the 10th costly Liberal budget. For 10 years, the cost of living for Canadians has been going up. Canadians are already paying too much, but the Prime Minister is asking them to sacrifice even more. The choice for Conservatives is simple. If the budget brings down the cost of living, we will support it. If the budget brings up the cost of living, we will vote against it.

Instead of trying to provoke a costly election on a costly budget, why not present an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we are of course listening attentively to what the opposition has to say. The good news is that I think I just heard the Leader of the Opposition say he is going to get all his colleagues to support the budget because it will, in fact, be an affordable budget. It will be a budget that builds Canada. It will be a budget that Canadians will be very proud of. We very much welcome the support of the Conservative Party and the Leader of the Opposition.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, for 10 years, the Liberals have been making exactly the same promises. The Minister of Finance and National Revenue, who used to be the industry minister, is the one who has caused the biggest decline in investment in Canada after promising that deficits would promote investment. Ultimately, the debt, the number of people in food bank lineups and the cost of housing have all doubled.

Instead of forcing Canadians to make more sacrifices and triggering a costly election on a costly budget, why not table an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it will indeed be an affordable budget for an affordable life. Not only that, but it will be a budget that opens the door to opportunities for Canadians and young Canadians across the country, for tradespeople, for Canadian softwood lumber, steel and aluminum. We are going to build this big beautiful country in an affordable way. We are going to make history by building a better Canada.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will be the 10th costly Liberal budget. After the Liberals doubled housing costs, doubled food bank lineups and doubled the national debt, now they are making exactly the same costly promises. The Prime Minister says that Canadians who cannot afford to eat or heat or house themselves need to make more “sacrifices”.

The choice for us is simple. If the budget brings down the cost of living, we will support it. If it brings up the cost of living, just as every other Liberal budget has, we will vote no. Instead of trying to provoke a costly election on a costly budget, why not have an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, obviously we have listened attentively to what the opposition has to say, and I think I just heard good news, with the Leader of the Opposition saying that he is going to order his troops, and himself, to walk in here and support this great, affordable Liberal budget that is coming tomorrow.

It is a budget that brings down taxes for Canadians, a budget that brings down taxes and GST for first-time homebuyers, a budget that makes life more affordable and a budget that creates opportunities for young people all over this country. It is a generational budget, and a budget that I know will be glad to have the support of the Leader of the Opposition—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Carbon Pricing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been making those promises for the last nine Liberal budgets, which doubled housing costs and drove 2.2 million people to the food bank because of higher grocery prices.

If the member wants ideas for an affordable budget and an affordable life, here is one: There is the Liberal industrial carbon tax, which applies to the steel, cement and other inputs to build homes, and it applies to the farmers and their fertilizer and equipment. Will the Prime Minister, instead of provoking an unnecessary election, get rid of the industrial carbon tax so that we can bring down food and housing costs?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it was going so well up until now. We still have hope, though, that the Leader of the Opposition will not want to send Canadians, including our great farmers, to the polls over the Christmas season.

The Conservative leader continues to bring up these imaginary taxes. We would be happy to explain, once again, that farmers in this country are mostly exempt from any of those industrial carbon taxes.

The budget will be affordable. The budget will be great. The budget will build this country and build opportunities for farmers, young people and all Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the member has to get his story straight. First, he started his answer by saying that there is no industrial carbon tax, and then he finished it by saying that the industrial carbon tax is great and does not cost anybody any money. He has to decide which it is.

Here is how it works, for a prime minister who does not understand that Canadians need steel: The industrial carbon tax on steel, cement, plastic and other inputs raises the cost of building homes. The tax on farm equipment and fertilizer raises the cost of food.

If the Liberals want an affordable budget for an affordable life, why not scrap the industrial carbon tax on food and homes?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, Canadians elected a new government with a strong mandate to build the strongest economy in the G7. Tomorrow we will table a generational budget. We will invest less in government operations so we can invest more in Canada. We will build Canada. We will invest in Canadians. We will invest across this country, from coast to coast to coast, and build the strongest economy in the G7.

It is time for the leader and his party to stop the rhetoric, join us and support this budget.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the member has been in the Liberal government for 10 years. He says that he is new but he is making the same promises that deficits will result in investment. The last time the current finance minister promised that, we saw that investment dropped more than in any time in Canadian history and more than in any other G7 country. What went up? The cost of housing doubled. Food went up, doubling the number of people in food bank lineups. They doubled the national debt.

Why not have an affordable budget for an affordable life by getting rid of the industrial carbon tax on food and homes for a change?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot make this up: The member has been in the House for 20 years, has sat in opposition now for 10 years and has not supported one affordability measure the government has put forward.

We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We have cut the tax for first-time homebuyers. We are moving forward on automatic federal benefits, getting benefits to 5.5 million Canadians.

Conservatives do nothing but vote against affordability measures. The member has been in the House for 20 years and has produced nothing.