Debates of Nov. 4th, 2025

The Economy

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister told young Canadians that they must make some sacrifices. They have already had to sacrifice good-paying jobs and the dream of home ownership, and they have already paid the price as food costs keep going up. Liberal inflationary deficits throw fuel on the fire.

A 19-year-old girl from Halifax said it best on the national news: Food insecurity is not good; finding a job is even harder. Youth unemployment is now approaching 15%, the highest rate since 2010 coming out of the great recession.

Will the Liberals stop asking young Canadians to make more sacrifices and finally keep their promises so young Canadians can have an affordable budget for an affordable home?

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, I have travelled across this country and met with union leaders and workers, and they are excited about our plan to build big, build bold, build infrastructure projects and build Canada homes because of the opportunities it creates, opportunities to bring in high school students, opportunities to bring in apprentices and opportunities to invest in the next generation of skilled workers.

If the Conservatives want an affordable budget for an affordable life, they have the opportunity to vote for one today. Will they join us?

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing generational with Liberal deficits is the debt the next generation must pay.

Liberal inflationary deficits are driving up the cost of everything. Young Canadians cannot find jobs, they cannot afford homes and they cannot even afford food. Twenty-five per cent of Canadians face food insecurity. They are sacrificing by cutting back on nutritious food. It has gotten so bad that recipes for “poverty potlucks” and “struggle meals”, like those using Hamburger Helper and instant ramen, are now trending on social media.

When will the Liberals finally stop breaking their promises, get spending under control and deliver what young Canadians actually need: an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, we keep hearing those words from the Conservatives, but the reality of the situation is that every time there is an opportunity to vote for measures that help Canadians, they vote against them. They voted against dental care. They voted against the national school food program, which they called “garbage”. They said no to the increase to the Canada child benefit and no to a tax cut that helps 22 million Canadians.

While they keep saying no, our government is investing to help families. It is yes to lowering costs for Canadians and yes to building a stronger future for Canadians.

Today, the Conservatives will get another chance to vote for a budget that is affordable for Canadians. Will they join us?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, A 19-year-old from Atlantic Canada has said that food insecurity is not good and that finding a job is even harder.

Youth unemployment is skyrocketing, at nearly 15%, and the Prime Minister told Canadians that they needed to make more sacrifices; however, they have already sacrificed enough. Young people are having to sacrifice working in their hometown; they have to go away for work. This means that our kids will be sacrificing dinners with grandma.

When will the Liberals get over their overspending and get spending under control so Canadians can have an affordable life and not get stuck with the bill?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand today, in reference to the question from the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador, and talk about the measures we are putting in place for young workers to train in construction, welding and the other work we need in order to build Canada strong. This is happening in my province, and I was so proud to make that announcement last week. That is just one of the many measures, not to mention the programs for children and families.

I really hope the member votes for the budget.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, the world economy is shifting, and Canada must rise to meet this unprecedented moment. Global trade is in disarray, tariffs are reshaping markets and our largest trading partner is increasingly unreliable. Budget 2025 is our chance to act.

Can the Secretary of State for the Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions explain how Canada will meet this moment with a historic investment budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member's question is a great one.

This is a transformational moment. We will pivot from an era of reliance to resilience. With budget 2025, we are laying the groundwork for some of the biggest investments this country has seen since the Second World War. We will spend less on government operations. We will invest more in Canadians and invest more in Canada.

This is our moment: our time to build big, build bold and build now. It is time to build Canada strong.

The Economy

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, food inflation is up another 4% because of the Liberals' hidden industrial carbon tax and tax on food packaging. The Liberals would like to say that these are just imaginary taxes, but experts at the agriculture committee yesterday confirmed that not only are these taxes not imaginary but that they are also in fact driving up the price of groceries. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois said that wholesale food prices have increased, and that one of the factors driving this is the carbon tax. He said that he is very concerned and that he expects food inflation to be a problem moving forward.

Will the Prime Minister stop his inflationary budget and scrap his taxes on food so Canadians can afford to feed their families?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I will say that there is no tax on plastic food packaging. The Conservatives can keep saying it if they want, but it does not make it true.

Do members know what is true? We are going to be tabling a budget today. It is is going to support Canadians. It is an important and big moment for our country; as we build our country and build it well, I hope the Conservatives will support us.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, well, Deloitte and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois have already confirmed what Canadians know: The taxes are not imaginary. Canadians are struggling to pay these taxes every single day at the grocery store. The food professor said that as a result of the industrial carbon tax and taxes on food packaging, Canada is the only G7 country where food inflation has increased for four straight months and that it is only going to get worse, which is scary, when 2.2 million Canadians are being forced to use a food bank.

Will the Prime Minister scrap his taxes on food so Canadians can afford to feed themselves?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, these are imaginary taxes; they do not exist. There is no tax on food packaging. The member can cite all the imaginary people he wants to, but there are no taxes on food packaging. Good news is that the budget will not include any either.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Liberal government spends comes straight from the pockets of hard-working Canadians. More government deficits means higher taxes and more inflation, jacking up the cost of living already.

Canadians are struggling. Nicole, a single mom from Oxford, works two jobs, 70 hours a week, barely sees her kids and still cannot make ends meet. Stories like this from Nicole and others are now becoming the norm thanks to Liberal deficits.

Instead of trying to cause a costly election on their costly budget, why will the Liberals not table an affordable budget for an affordable life?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight today that the opposition can offer Nicole and single-parent households the support of a future that is based on today's budget that will be presented. My colleagues today have the chance to protect the very futures they speak about, including those of the young indigenous children, the fastest-growing population, who need us and depend on the programs we have put in place.

Canadians chose a Prime Minister with a vision they trust. We hope the opposition will prioritize protecting the Canadians' budget, which they need at this critical time. We know that we all—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Oxford has the floor.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have seen this nightmare before. Empty Liberal promises cannot feed empty stomachs. When Liberals recklessly spend, it is Canadians who pay the price with higher grocery prices, higher rents and more money on gas. The only thing that is growing in the Liberal economy are the lines at food banks, with over two million folks now visiting food banks in a single month.

Liberal deficits mean higher taxes and higher inflation, meaning that life is more expensive for Canadians.

I will ask again, instead of trying to cause a costly election on their costly budget, why will the Liberals 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, once again the opposition is talking about imaginary taxes.

I will tell members something that is not imaginary, because I get to be the House leader and actually see things that are not imaginary. We are debating Bill C-4, which would do three things: cut income taxes for every single person who pays income tax, cut the GST for first-time homebuyers, and, guess what, get rid of the carbon tax.

The Conservatives play games, use procedures and talk around things to delay and delay affordability measures that are quite real, not imaginary, for Canadians. They should—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Beauce has the floor.

Finance

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Liberals spend comes directly out of the pockets of Canadians in the form of higher taxes and inflation. With the record-setting deficit in this budget, the Liberal government is mortgaging our children's future. That is unacceptable. With the record-setting deficit in this budget, the government is shattering our children's dreams. That is unacceptable.

The Liberals are engineering a costly election with a costly budget.

Why not put forward an affordable budget so Canadians can have an affordable life?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, to use one of the Conservatives' lines, every word a Conservative member recites obviously comes straight from the office of the Leader of the Opposition. My colleague recites them very well.

He wants to talk about the future. They do not take question period very seriously, so it is no wonder that Canadians chose a serious and ambitious government that gives the middle class more buying power, gives young people more opportunities, and gives us all more major projects so that we can build our country from coast to coast to coast.

I encourage them to be ever so slightly ambitious for Canada for once and to support our 2025 budget.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think we are entitled to be a little nervous. For the Liberals, one plus one equals 10. That leaves us feeling a little on edge.

The Liberals are presenting us with a record deficit. We were expecting $42 billion, and it is going to be a lot worse. This government is spending recklessly and has lost all touch with reality. It is completely disconnected. Every dollar that the Liberals spend comes directly out of the pockets of the people of Beauce.

Why not introduce an affordable budget so that the people of Beauce can have an affordable life?

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

Mr. Speaker, it may not be written in the notes that the Leader of the Opposition just passed him, but the member should talk to his colleagues, the ones who are delaying the passage of Bill C‑4, since it reduces taxes for everyone who pays income tax in Canada, lowers the GST on homes for first-time buyers and eliminates the carbon tax.

The member opposite should rise and stop delaying a bill that offers affordability to all of Canada.

Justice

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I spent much of my legal career prosecuting Internet offences against children. This included possession of child sexual abuse material. Let us be clear: Victims often serve a psychological life sentence.

Last week the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the mandatory one year in jail for possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The minister said today that he will not use the notwithstanding clause on this ruling.

The question is this: Why are the rights of victims second and the rights of sex offenders first?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, through actions, we are standing up for victims of crime. It is plain and simple: Child abusers should face the toughest penalties under Canadian law. That is why we introduced the—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!