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.
Stephen Fuhr LiberalSecretary of State (Defence Procurement)
Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 would enable Canada to step up to meet the moment by including $82 billion for defence and security.
Here is a fun fact. Stephen Harper's 2009 budget, adjusted for inflation, is actually the biggest deficit budget in Canadian history, with little to show for it. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is adjusted for the inflation that they caused.
The Liberals' new budget is generationally expensive. It is historically expensive. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends will come out of Canadians' pockets. The more Liberals spend, the more things will cost. Through either taxes or inflation in the future, the costs will come.
Eighty billion dollars is $2,000 for each man, woman and child in our country. That is $2,000 for my three-year-old daughter and $2,000 for my one-year-old son. Why should they have to pay this generational debt the Prime Minister is saddling us with? Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise to spend less?
Rebecca Alty LiberalMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Mr. Speaker, this budget invests in lowering the cost of living and creating jobs, including with $2 billion for the critical minerals sovereign fund. Critical minerals are in our phones, computers, solar panels, medical equipment and more. Canada is rich in minerals, with projects in ridings held by Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Liberals, including in my home, the Northwest Territories. These investments mean good jobs, including in Ontario, and stronger communities and will keep Canada a leader in technology, defence and health care.
The Mining Association of Canada has applauded the budget, and I hope members opposite will too.
Colin Reynolds Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, this government is the most expensive in Canadian history. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians. The more the Liberals spend, the more things cost.
The nearly $80 billion in deficit spending means that $450 a month is coming right out of Canadians' pockets. This will make it even harder for Canadians to buy groceries and pay their bills. Instead, we get a bloated bureaucracy and high-priced consultants.
Why does the Prime Minister believe he can spend hard-working Canadians' money better than they can?
Rebecca Chartrand LiberalMinister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Mr. Speaker, we are focused on securing our sovereignty in the north and the Arctic, with a $1-billion infrastructure fund for airports, seaports and all-season roads in the north and in northern Manitoba. We are focused on $2.3 billion for clean water in indigenous communities.
The Conservatives are voting against having an Inuit Nunangat university to build skills and hopes for northern youth. We are focused on building, protecting and empowering Canadians. They need to get on board.
Eric St-Pierre Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, residents in my riding have expressed concerns about the cost of living. Budget 2025 is full of great initiatives that will empower them and Canadians across the country—
Financial InstitutionsOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Clearly, there are many in the House who would like to hear the member from the top.
The hon. member for Honoré-Mercier.
Eric St-Pierre Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues are very excited to hear me today.
Budget 2025 is full of great initiatives that will empower Canadians across the country to get ahead financially. Increasing competition is one way to achieve affordability, and in budget 2025, there are several pro-affordability measures related to making the financial sector more competitive.
Could the Secretary of State for CRA and Financial Institutions inform the House about how the government is making life more affordable for Canadians by reforming the financial sector?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, in our generational budget, Canada's new government is making life more affordable for Canadians by making our financial system more competitive and innovative. Among other things, we are providing Canadians with more financial options by helping credit unions and smaller banks grow and compete and by advancing open banking, which will make it easier for Canadians to find lower-fee chequing accounts, cheaper loans and higher-interest savings.
On this side of the House, we are laser-focused on making life more affordable for Canadians.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians that they need to sacrifice more to pay for the Liberals' inflationary deficit, but the Liberals sure are not sacrificing much. Yesterday, an Ottawa gossip rag feted the Liberals for attending a lavish deficit cocktail party hosted by rich Ottawa insiders, lobbyists and media firms, who were thrilled with the billions of tax dollars for their wealthy clients and owners.
Will the Liberals apologize for popping champagne corks with rich lobbyists to celebrate a massive inflationary deficit while Canadians cannot even afford a case of beer?
Buckley Belanger LiberalSecretary of State (Rural Development)
Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that rural Canada wants the investment the budget affords. It is all that Canada needs.
We are going stand to support rural Canada. In Saskatchewan, I want to tell our MPs and Conservative MPs that Saskatchewan is watching.
All we are asking those guys to do is what they have been doing for the last 10 years on the budget vote, which is to sit this one out so that Saskatchewan can finally get help for the province to reach its full potential. Come on board.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, there was much hype about the budget. Much had already been made public in the pre-budget announcements. My question is about what is not in the budget.
The impact of the 15% cut across most departments, including the loss of 40,000 workers, is buried in buzzwords like “streamlining”, “modernizing” and “recalibrating”. Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians what programs are being cut, which ones will end when the funding sunsets and how people in our communities will be impacted? Canadians deserve to know.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague saw in the budget that we were true to our values, Canadian values. We made sure that, while we did a budget focused on the future and investment, we protected people, child care, pharmacare and dental care. We understand on this side of the House that affordability and supporting Canadians at a time like this are essential.
At the same time as we are going to build a great future, we are going to take care of Canadians today, because we believe in Canada.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is increasingly clear that the government's budget fails to deliver the transformational change promised and fails to meet the moment. It fails to provide any relief right now to the millions of Canadians suffering through an affordability crisis. Sixty per cent are having trouble meeting their monthly expenses. Half are using credit cards or borrowing money for daily needs, paying interest rates of 19% or more.
Why did the Liberals fail to provide concrete measures to help the millions of Canadians who need help now?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, my colleague will remember that the first thing we did for Canadians was cut taxes for 22 million Canadians because we understood that affordability is at the heart of the concerns of Canadians. More than that, I am sure he saw in the budget an initiative that I know he supports, because we talked about it when we made benefits automatic for Canadians.
That is the way we want to do things. We want to cut red tape, support Canadians and build a great country together.
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is time for everyone's favourite moment of the parliamentary week, the Thursday question. I am hoping the government can update the House as to the business of the chamber for the rest of this week and the week after the break week.
While I am on my feet, as this is the Thursday before Remembrance Day, I want to thank all our men and women who currently serve in uniform, all those who have ever donned the Canadian uniform with the Canadian flag on their arm, and all those who have put themselves in harm's way to defend and protect Canada and our allies. We cannot thank veterans and current members of the armed forces enough for what they do.
I hope all Canadians take a moment on November 11 to thank a veteran and to commemorate their service.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I want to join my hon. friend in saluting our country's veterans, their families and their communities, and all of those we take a moment to remember on November 11. I know all of those people deeply appreciate the support that Canadians demonstrate in their communities on Remembrance Day. I want to join my friend, the opposition House leader, in sending along those wishes.
I want to thank members for an eventful budget week. We are looking forward, of course, to continuing debate on the budget today.
The vote on the Conservative Party subamendment will take place later today. We will resume debate on the budget tomorrow, as well as on the Monday after we return from spending the week of Remembrance Day in our ridings.
On Tuesday, Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act, will be debated again at the second reading stage.
On Wednesday, we will move to the report stage and third reading of Bill C-4, an act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure.
I must express a little puzzlement. We called Bill C-4 for debate on Monday afternoon. I know the Conservatives are not against taking the GST off of homes for first-time homebuyers. I know they are not against the income tax cut, and I know they are not against removing the carbon tax for Canadians. I am pretty confident about all of those things, so I know they will want to co-operate in advancing this very important piece of legislation on Wednesday.
I wish all members a good week of work in their constituencies as they ponder that final vote on this year's budget, which, as we saw today in question period, contains multitudes for so many Canadians who are looking for a hand up and a way forward.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner—Speaker's RulingPrivilegeOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised on October 24 by the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes concerning the approval process for forms relating to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
In raising his question of privilege, the member alleged that several forms posted on the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website, including those members use to report gifts, benefits and sponsored travel, had been modified without the necessary approval from the House. He pointed out that these documents must be submitted to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and then adopted by the House, in accordance with section 30 of the code.
The member further stated that these unauthorized changes constituted a contempt of the House, and asked that the matter be ruled a prima facie case of privilege and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
In response, the deputy House leader of the government stated that the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs is already considering the matter and it would be premature for the Chair to review it until the committee has reported its findings.
It is true that the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs plays a key role in issues pertaining to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, which can be found in Appendix I to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons. Standing Order 108(3)(a)(viii) provides that the committee's mandate includes:
the review of and report on all matters relating to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
In addition, section 30(1) of the code, which the House adopted on June 11, 2007, provides as follows:
The commissioner shall submit any proposed procedural and interpretative guidelines and all forms relating to the code to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for approval.
(2) Any guidelines and forms approved by the committee shall be reported to the House and shall come into effect when the report is concurred in by the House.
(3) Until the guidelines and forms are reported to the House, they shall remain confidential.
In the time since the question of privilege was raised in the House, the commissioner has admitted, in a letter to the Speaker dated October 28, that he made a mistake. The commissioner wrote that he wrongly assumed that the committee’s approval was not needed because the changes were, in his view, minor. He said that the forms in question have since been removed from his website. The commissioner also acknowledged that, under section 30 of Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, all forms and guidelines must be submitted to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for approval before being made public and must remain confidential until they are approved. He further stated that he has subsequently submitted the new documents to the committee for approval.
It is unfortunate that this matter had to be raised in the House, but in light of the explanations provided by the commissioner, there no longer appears to be any doubt about the meaning of section 30 of the code or the need for the commissioner to have any changes to the forms approved by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and by the House itself.
Furthermore, as noted earlier, the Standing Orders already mandate the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to consider issues relating to the code. The Chair is convinced that the committee will follow up on this matter as it sees fit, as evidenced by the meeting it held with the commissioner about the forms on October 30.
Taking into account the explanations and apology the commissioner has offered and the committee’s ongoing study of matters pertaining to the code, the Chair, given the circumstances, considers the matter closed.
I thank all members for their attention.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, we would also increase the Canada mortgage bond annual issuance limit from $60 billion to $80 billion, starting in 2026, unlocking thousands of new housing units every year and helping to finance large multi-unit projects. To help first-time homebuyers take the first step, budget 2025 introduces the first-time homebuyers GST tax credit, which would eliminate the GST on new homes priced under $1 million and reduce it on homes up to $1.5 million. This is about restoring the dream of home ownership, about making sure that young people in Pickering—Brooklin do not have to leave the communities they love, to afford a place to live. I am proud to say that budget 2025 would deliver exactly that.
Affordability is about more than mortgages and rent. It is about everyday life, including the grocery bill, the hydro bill and the cost of getting to work. Canadians want to know that when they work hard, they can get ahead, and budget 2025 answers that call. To support young Canadians entering the workforce, the government would invest $1.5 billion over three years, starting in 2026, to strengthen youth jobs programs such as Canada summer jobs, the youth employment and skills strategy and the student work placement program, which would reach roughly 175,000 young people in 2026-27 alone.
We are also ensuring that no Canadian is left behind. Budget 2025 would invest $115.7 million over four years to make it easier to access the Canada disability benefit, including a one-time supplemental payment of $150 for each disability tax credit certification or recertification, while reaffirming that the benefit would be exempt from income calculations under the Income Tax Act.
For millions of Canadians living on low or modest incomes, automatic federal benefits would make it easier to get the support they deserve. By 2028, the CRA would automatically file taxes for 5.5 million low-income Canadians, ensuring they receive benefits such as the GST and HST credits and the Canada child benefit, which they so rightly deserve. Finally, upcoming legislation would make the national school food program permanent, providing $216.6 million per year to ensure that every child can learn without having to think about their next meal.
These measures are not abstract line items. They are about peace of mind and dignity. They are about making sure that every parent, student and senior in Pickering—Brooklin feels that their government is standing up with them. I am proud to say that the government would deliver on these exact promises.
As we talk about homes and affordability, we cannot forget what makes communities thrive: the infrastructure that connects us, supports us and defines us. From a shortage of needed electrical power supply or high-speed Internet in communities such as Ashburn and Claremont to necessary road safety enhancements for the burgeoning growth of Pickering and even a much-needed new hospital to serve Brooklin residents, these are all necessary infrastructure projects that the community of Pickering—Brooklin requires to safely and effectively house the exponential growth of this region in the coming decades. Budget 2025 would deliver exactly that: a nation-building investment in infrastructure through the new build communities strong fund, a $51-billion investment over 10 years, with an ongoing annual investment of $3 billion to help local governments plan, build and grow sustainably.
This fund would include three major streams: a community stream, which would provide $27.8 billion over 10 years and $3 billion per year ongoing to support local projects; a direct delivery stream, with $6 billion over 10 years for large-scale retrofits, regional projects, climate adaptation and critical community infrastructure; and a provincial and territorial stream with $17.2 billion over 10 years for housing-enabling projects, including things like roads, water and waste-water systems, hospitals and post-secondary infrastructure. Within that, $5 billion over three years would establish a dedicated health infrastructure fund, ensuring our hospitals and care facilities could meet the needs of Canadians.
Infrastructure is not simply concrete and steel or brick and mortar; it is the foundation of opportunity. For Pickering—Brooklin, it is about ensuring that as we grow, we grow well, with strong roads, sustainable water systems, accessible health care, and spaces that bring people together.
No plan for Canada's future is complete without supporting the small businesses that power our local economies. From the machine and tool businesses like Toromont Cat to a visit to Sugamaze for our delectable sweets, or to the tech entrepreneurs setting up in downtown Pickering, small businesses are the lifeline of our community. They create jobs, sponsor local teams and drive Canadian innovation. Budget 2025 recognizes our economic strength depends on their success, and it will deliver exactly what they need to thrive as we build Canada strong.
We are creating an environment that rewards investment and innovation, especially in the industries of the future. The government is introducing and enshrining in law a suite of investment tax credits to give Canadian businesses the confidence to invest: the clean-electricity tax credit, which is soon to be legislated and will be retroactive to March 2023; the clean-technology tax credit, which is now law, providing a 30% incentive for businesses investing in clean innovation and which is also retroactive to March 2023; and the clean-technology manufacturing tax credit, offering a 30% incentive retroactive to January 2024.
We are also strengthening industrial carbon pricing by developing a post-2030 trajectory that gives businesses long-term certainty to plan and invest responsibly.
These measures are not only about clean growth; they are also about empowering Canadian businesses, large and small, to compete and thrive in a low-carbon global economy. For small businesses in Pickering—Brooklin, this means more support to expand, hire and lead in a world that is moving toward sustainable growth.
Canada's new government is investing in our local economy and in Canadians. We will spend less on government operations so we can invest more in growing our economy and protecting the essential programs that make life more affordable.
In the face of uncertainty, Canadians are going to build the future we want for ourselves. Budget 2025 is our plan to do just that: to build, to protect and to empower Canadians. This is our moment, our time to make generational investments to secure Canada's place as a leader among nations.
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, this is yet another Liberal budget that adds billions in inflationary spending while not growing our economy at all. Our health care system is crumbling, our immigration system is broken and the cost of living is impossible for so many Canadians. Today, young people are struggling to find work, and seniors cannot live off their pension.
Does the member believe it is fair to punish our seniors, who have worked so hard all their life, with more skyrocketing inflationary debt?
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this budget clearly protects our seniors. There is the new horizons funding, for example, which takes a lot of seniors out of isolation. I am grateful the program did not get cut. We are investing in the gains and benefits seniors are receiving right now. I want to assure the member opposite that seniors are very well taken care of in the 2025 budget.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. I would like to pick up on what the Conservative member who spoke before me asked her.
Frankly, it is insulting. This budget is an insult to seniors. The New Horizons for Seniors program was renewed, as is only right, but there is not a penny more. It is great that there will be activities to help seniors feel less isolated, but they will not have enough money to go anywhere. Seriously, the only thing people aged 65 to 74 want the government to do is correct the unacceptable unfairness that emerged when it created two classes of seniors. Poverty does not wait until people turn 75; nor does illness.
Why is the government bent on maintaining two classes of seniors and subjecting those aged 65 to 74 to financial insecurity?
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the new horizons program because I worked with seniors in my past life for many years, and I understand that the program takes seniors out of isolation. I am very passionate about it.
My colleague referred to a two-class system. I think that as seniors age, their needs also increase. The government has recognized that, hence the two-tiered system. I think it is needed.
As we are able to earn more and build Canada strong, we will bring more programs to seniors in the future.