House of Commons Hansard #52 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debt.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Criminal Code First reading of Bill C-255. The bill amends the Criminal Code regarding mischief to religious property, shifting financial burden from victims to criminals. It expands coverage to all vandalism at places of worship, not just hate-motivated acts. 200 words.
Financial Statement of Minister of Finance The debate focuses on Budget 2025, with Members discussing its impact on Canada's economy and citizens. The Conservative Party criticizes the budget as reckless, citing a $78-billion deficit, rising national debt, and increased cost of living, while alleging it fails to address affordability for Canadians. Liberals defend the budget, highlighting investments in housing, infrastructure, and social programs like dental care, asserting Canada maintains a strong fiscal position with low debt-to-GDP in the G7. The Bloc Québécois and Green Party raise concerns about wasteful spending on oil companies, a lack of environmental funding, and increasing poverty. 45500 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Clean Coasts Act Second reading of Bill C-244. The bill C-244 aims to strengthen Canada's ability to prevent and respond to marine pollution and abandoned vessels. It proposes to clarify that marine dumping is a strict liability offense under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and to prohibit the transfer of vessels to individuals the seller knows lack the means to maintain or dispose of them safely, seeking to hold polluters accountable and prevent future issues. 8100 words, 1 hour.
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, the member has risen in the House many times to address public safety concerns, and I know that his constituents in Brampton have those concerns, because they are my constituents too.
In this budget, there are historic investments. There is $1.7 billion to the RCMP. We are deploying a thousand new officers and a thousand new CBSA agents. The Conservatives said they are not going to support it, but that does not surprise me, since their leader thinks the RCMP is despicable.
Louis Villeneuve Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Speaker, as a former mayor, I am concerned about issues related to aging infrastructure and the housing shortage. This affects not only urban ridings, but also rural ridings like mine, Brome—Missisquoi.
The government has committed to investing in housing and infrastructure as part of the “Canada Strong” budget. This is a once-in-a-generation investment. Can the Minister of Finance and National Revenue tell the House what measures are being taken to build faster and more boldly than ever before in ridings like mine?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we have lots of good news for Canadians, but only 30 seconds to explain it.
Yes, with Build Canada Homes, we are going to build more affordable housing. With the community-building fund, we will be able to invest in water systems and municipal infrastructure. We have set up a health infrastructure fund, as Quebec requested.
All members of the House should stand in support of a generational budget. We are going to help future generations and build a strong Canada. We believe in Canada.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister introduced his first budget, much more costly than Canadians had anticipated. A $78-billion deficit is a high hurdle to get over, but the fiscal year is not final yet, and the government has never set a spending target it has not blown past. Do not worry; there is more debt ahead.
The next five years of forecast deficits have doubled under the Prime Minister, and I will correct the Prime Minister, because 10 years ago under the last Conservative administration, debt servicing was $28 billion and going down. It is now $55 billion and going up.
Why is the Prime Minister choosing to ignore the inflation he is causing, and driving up costs for Canadians?
Jill McKnight LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, this is a generational budget that will increase Canada's competitiveness and prosperity. That is good news for our small, medium and large business owners. The president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Candace Laing, said that “the government has heard business’ call to focus on the economy and has made some tough choices to attract investment.”
This is about building the strongest economy in the G7. I hope we can count on our colleagues' support.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, that did not answer the question. It was a lot of fantasy, at the end of the day.
The government once again has revised its so-called fiscal anchors. That is another target the Liberals keep missing. That is no problem; they just change the definition. This year's anchors are so weak that they are practically meaningless. When they change a definition to fit their narrative, they undermine trust and accountability. Canadians deserve stability, not a government that moves the goalposts whenever it suits it.
Canada's fiscal position is adrift. Will the minister admit that this budget has no fiscal responsibility and that his so-called anchors are political spin?
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the government recently announced a three-year extension of Operation Reassurance, Canada's largest overseas military mission, with over 2,000 CAF members stationed in Latvia.
Is the member seriously suggesting that Canada should not pass a budget that would allow us to give the strongest expression of our commitment to NATO as Canadians reinforce NATO's eastern flank by contributing to collective defence and co-operative security in the region? Canada is leading a 14-nation multinational brigade there.
I would suggest that the members opposite join us and support our Canadian Armed Forces.
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Mr. Speaker, the current government is the most expensive in Canadian history. Every dollar that the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians. The more he spends, the more things cost.
The Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would keep the deficit at less than $62 billion; instead, it is $78 billion. He told Canadians that he would get rid of the consumer carbon tax; instead, the industrial carbon tax is set to rise and make food even more expensive by driving up the cost of fuel, fertilizer and farm equipment.
Why is the Prime Minister increasing the industrial carbon tax, and why does he want to make food more expensive?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, a working-class Canadian voting Conservative would be like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders, my goodness.
When I talk to people who live in rural Nova Scotia, they want simple things. They want good jobs, better health care and lower taxes, and this budget would deliver all three. Members do not have to take my word for it; they can listen to a statement from the provincial Progressive Conservative government in Nova Scotia, which congratulated the Prime Minister on his budget based on more money for health care infrastructure, for housing and development and for tax incentives that will create good jobs for the people who live in my communities.
Conservatives from different parts of the country know this is a good idea. The only Conservatives who disagree seem to be the ones who sit on the other side of the House of Commons.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have tabled the most costly budget with the biggest deficit in Canadian history, outside of the pandemic. The cost of their budget will drive up the cost of food, housing and everything Canadians need. Our families are paying the price at the grocery store for the industrial carbon tax, which the government has increased.
A few weeks ago, I asked the government a question about a woman in La Pocatière, in my riding, who was forced to choose between food and housing. We did not get an answer.
Why is the Prime Minister increasing the industrial carbon tax, which is making food more expensive for my constituent and for all Canadians?
Nathalie Provost LiberalSecretary of State (Nature)
Mr. Speaker, I am a bit surprised by my colleague opposite's reaction. In this budget, there are jobs at Davie. There are jobs in La Pocatière thanks to the action we are taking.
My riding of Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville is home to one of Quebec's longest borders, a feature we share with the ridings of several of my colleagues. In this budget, there is $1.7 billion to strengthen security at our borders. That is what we are getting with this budget.
If my constituents need it, I am sure that people in other places need it too.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had the opportunity to lighten the load on Canadians, but since this Prime Minister came to power, prices have skyrocketed. Strawberries cost 25% more, beef costs 25% more and coffee costs 20% more. It is unbelievable.
The industrial carbon tax is widening the price gap with the United States and will keep food inflation high. These are not my words, but the words of Professor Sylvain Charlebois. He even said that inflation would continue unabated for years to come.
Once again, why is the government increasing this tax and making food even more expensive for our families?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, building a strong Canada means making generational investments in infrastructure. Budget 2025 includes $5 billion for a health infrastructure fund that will help build new hospitals, emergency rooms, health care centres and medical schools, to name just a few. That is what the provinces, including Quebec, and the territories asked us for, and that is what we are putting in place.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Conservatives support lowering taxes so Canadians can have more money in their pockets. Do members know where the Liberals decided to cut taxes? I hope they are sitting down for this. They decided to cut taxes on private aircraft and luxury boats. This is not a joke. It is intended for the Liberals' friends.
I encourage members to come to the grocery store with me, talk to single moms and seniors, and tell them that luxury boat owners will be getting a tax cut, not them at the grocery store.
Mandy Gull-Masty LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleague opposite to speak to all of his constituents.
In this budget, we have decided to protect the position of first nations. It is important to note that we have also included investments in infrastructure, such as clean drinking water and housing. I encourage the opposition to work with us to protect these decisions, to protect indigenous nations. I know my colleague has indigenous communities in his riding.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, Pierre‑Olivier Zappa, who is a leader in economics and finance, wrote an article about how the federal government is out of touch with reality. The minister is talking about the first nations when I am asking about luxury boats and planes. I do not understand her answer.
Who decided to lower taxes on private jets and luxury yachts while our constituents are suffering and struggling? There is nothing for our seniors, nothing for our people. Who made that decision?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I find it fascinating when an MP from Quebec stands up and says that Quebec's aerospace industry is not important. Thanks to the government's decision, yesterday, Bombardier announced that it would be creating 600 new jobs in Quebec.
As a former colleague of François Legault at the National Assembly of Quebec, my colleague should call the premier of Quebec and tell him that he is against 600 new jobs in Mirabel.
Leslyn Lewis Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, in a democracy, everything can be debated, but some moral lines should never be blurred; protecting vulnerable children must remain one of them.
The Supreme Court recently struck down a one-year mandatory prison sentence for two men who possessed hundreds of sexual images of children, some as young as three years old. These are real victims of abuse and trauma.
Why is the government more focused on protecting the charter rights of pedophiles than on defending the dignity of children?
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, plain and simple, child abusers should face the toughest penalties under Canadian law.
We are bringing forward legislation that would protect children. I hope the Conservatives can support it. Their past record is that they have not supported the online harms legislation and have not supported lawful access tools for law enforcement so we can catch child predators. They put politics before the safety of our children.
Leslyn Lewis Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, the sexual exploitation of children is one of the clearest and most horrific crimes imaginable. Recently the Supreme Court struck down the one-year mandatory sentence for possessing child sexual abuse material, yet the government refuses to use section 33 of the charter, the notwithstanding clause, to restore the minimal penalties for pedophiles.
Why is the government choosing to protect the charter rights of predators over the safety and the innocence of our children?
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, child predators are the worst criminals in our country, and they should face the toughest sentences. That is exactly why we are bringing forward new legislation to toughen sentences and make sure child predators stay behind bars.
I would like the Conservatives to promise that they will support that piece of legislation and Bill C-19, which is currently before this House, because they have not supported us in the past when it comes to helping and protecting children.
Please put your politics aside and support the children of this country.
JusticeOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Members should go through the Chair, please.
The hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester.
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 is a generational investment in our economy, in our industries and in Canadians. Canadians are paying lower prices for cellular services, with a 40% decline in prices over five years, but these bills still eat into the pockets of Canadians. Budget 2025 has proposed measures to lower costs for Canadians and improve competition.
At a time when Canadians are concerned with rising costs and keeping their monthly bills affordable, can the Minister of Industry tell us how the government is working to lower cellphone bills?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Cumberland—Colchester and I, and this government, are laser-focused on making sure that we bring down costs in the telecom sector. We took the right decision this summer to uphold the decision of the CRTC to increase competition in the telecommunications sector. We also said we would be hawkish on competition.
We will do more in this budget to increase competition and make sure that we reform our telecommunications sector.
Billy Morin Conservative Edmonton Northwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have introduced the most costly and largest budget deficit in history outside of COVID. The cost of the Liberal budget will drive up the cost of food, housing and everything else Canadians buy.
Young families, seniors and veterans in Edmonton Northwest are having to make hard choices as the snow falls. It is costing more to heat their homes and feed their families, but every day in this House, the Liberals say families are just imagining higher living expenses while their taxes and spending increase.
Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise to spend less and is pouring more inflationary fuel on the fire?