Debates of Nov. 7th, 2025

Financial Statement of Minister of Finance

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, to my hon. colleague across the way, 500 pages were tabled just the other day. Over 50,000 Canadians have died from overdose since 2016. More Canadians have died from overdose than died in World War II, yet there is no new money for addictions in this budget. Mental health was only mentioned five times. We are now spending more money servicing our debt than we do in health care transfers to provinces.

How does the member rationalize this generational crisis with absolutely no new money?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I know how much of an advocate this member has been on the subject of mental health, and I want to commend him for his advocacy. As a former social worker who has first-hand experience on the impacts on mental health, I have to say it is most important that we continue. I was actually quite pleased to see, in the past few years, our federal government, while doing its accord on health care, increase the capacity of transfers specifically on mental health services to local communities.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada summer jobs program definitely needed to be indexed. We have been getting many requests for years now to promote student employment and give them a great experience. It is true that it is very appealing, but quite honestly, if I had had a choice, I would have pushed for an increase in health transfers because this is what the provinces are really crying out for.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to answer this question because we have increased funding over the past few years for transfer payments. I was previously a member of a provincial cabinet. I can assure the member that funding was increased by more than $200 billion, which the provinces have been able to benefit from in recent years. We will continue to be there for the health of Canadians.

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 is about meeting the moment and building Canada strong. It is a plan rooted in confidence: confidence in our people, in our innovators and in Canada's ability to lead through change. At a time when the world is shifting, with new trade barriers, global uncertainty and the race to harness technologies such as artificial intelligence, Canada is acting with purpose.

This budget invests to protect our sovereignty, supercharge our productivity and empower Canadians to get ahead. It is about spending less to invest more in housing Canadians can afford, in building the infrastructure of the next generation, in clean energy and in creating the high-value jobs of tomorrow.

For the communities I represent, Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, this means accelerating innovation in semiconductors, photonics and AI, and supporting our skilled trades and small businesses, ensuring that the opportunities of the economy are built right here at home.

At the heart of the budget are families and the youth of my community. With budget 2025, we are cutting taxes for the middle class, saving the average two-income family about $840 a year. We have cancelled the consumer carbon price, lowering gas prices by about 18¢ a litre. We are making the national school food program permanent, helping 400,000 kids get a healthy meal at school and saving families up to $800 a year. We are continuing to invest in child care, saving families in my community over $10,000 a year per child.

We are also launching automatic federal benefits so up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians will get the supports they deserve without extra paperwork. For young people, the budget is a game-changer. We are creating 175,000 job placements to help young Canadians gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in high-growth industries of tomorrow, such as technology, clean energy and digital innovation.

These opportunities will ensure that the next generation of Canadians has the tools it needs to help shape the future. For the communities I represent in Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, that means more opportunities for young people and more money staying in families' pockets. Whether it is fuelling the car for hockey practice, paying the mortgage or putting healthy meals on the table, the budget makes life more affordable, more predictable and more fair for Canadian families.

Budget 2025 is about building Canada's future economy, one powered by innovation, research and the incredible talent we have in Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville. The budget invests to supercharge productivity and innovation, introducing the new productivity superdeduction to help companies invest in new technologies and to strengthen the SR&ED tax incentive that fuels R and D.

The budget also makes major commitments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and photonics, including supporting the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre right here in Ottawa, ensuring that we have sovereign semiconductor fabrication capability, world-class research, and manufacturing that stays in Canada.

These investments mean more high-paying jobs, stronger small businesses and new opportunities for our talented engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. In Kanata North, Canada's largest technology park, the budget builds on our strengths, helping local innovators compete globally while creating the careers of tomorrow right here at home.

Strong communities are the foundation of a strong Canada, and budget 2025 delivers with the new build community strong fund. This landmark $51-billion investment over 10 years would help municipalities build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day.

For Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, this means upgrades to local roads and transit connections, expanded recreation and community facilities, and stronger flood and stormwater protection for our growing community. This is about giving local leaders the tools to shape their future, building healthy, connected and resilient communities where families can thrive and where every investment helps make our community and our country Canada strong.

Affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges we face, and budget 2025 takes bold action to address it. Through Build Canada Homes, we are launching the most ambitious housing plan in a generation by investing $25 billion to double the pace of construction, cut red tape and attract private investment. We are also eliminating the GST on new homes under $1 million for first-time homebuyers and training the next generation of Canadian builders through expanded programs for the skilled trades.

In Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, these measures mean more attainable homes for young families, more work for local builders and tradespeople, and more vibrant, complete communities. Whether it is for a first home, a rental or a place to age, this budget is about restoring the Canadian dream of a house that is affordable, available and built right here at home.

Budget 2025 delivers a generational investment in Canada's security, and that means generational opportunities for Ottawa's defence and technology industries. With a historic $30-billion investment over five years to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, our budget would ensure that Canada meets NATO's 2% target this year, five years ahead of schedule, while strengthening our domestic defence industrial base.

We are creating a new defence investment agency and launching the defence industrial strategy that puts Canadian companies first. That means growing local supply chains, expanding production capacity and supporting made-in-Canada innovations, from advanced sensors to cybersecurity, AI-enabled systems and secure communications.

For my communities of Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, where defence innovation is part of our DNA, this will mean new contracts, new jobs and new partnerships for companies developing the technologies to keep Canadians safe. From the engineers designing next-generation command systems to the skilled trades supporting our bases and equipment, Ottawa is ready to lead. It is not just an investment in defence; it is also an investment in our people, our technology and our place in the world.

Budget 2025 is about leading with confidence and with discipline. It is a plan that balances ambition with responsibility, because Canadians expect their government to be a careful steward of their hard-earned tax dollars. This budget introduces a new approach: spending less to invest more. We are slowing the growth of government operations, cutting red tape and focusing every dollar on priorities that grow our economy, such as housing, innovation and clean energy.

We are maintaining Canada's lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We are also introducing a capital budgeting framework to clearly separate day-to-day spending from long-term investments that build our country's strengths.

Budget 2025 is more than a fiscal plan; it is a nation-building blueprint for a stronger, more confident Canada. It is about protecting what we value, building where we need and empowering every Canadian to help shape our future.

In Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, we see what that future looks like: innovators pushing the boundaries of technology, families working hard to build a life, and communities coming together to create opportunity. This budget invests in them: in affordable homes, good jobs, clean energy and the next generation of Canadian ingenuity.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the red lights go off when I hear about all the investments the Liberals are going to make into tech companies and other businesses, especially when there were so many conflicts of interest with all the tech companies like those in the green slush fund that Liberal insiders and friends were getting their money into. This included COVID contracts' being given to former Liberal ministers.

How many contracts, are we going to find out, are really getting friends and families of Liberals rich?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I consider myself quite lucky in the role I am in and in being able to represent over 700 companies in Canada's largest technology park.

Budget 2025 puts forward major opportunities for businesses across this country. Whether that is the productivity superdeduction, enabling companies to write off their investments and increase their productivity in the short term; investments in AI and the AI compute fund, creating sovereign digital cloud across this country; or enhancements to the SR&ED credit, these are tangible ways that our government is moving forward to make this country more competitive and increase productivity within our companies.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is one thing missing in this budget that we would have liked to see. It is the renewal of the fisheries fund.

I come from Gaspésie. In the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands, the fisheries fund has historically made it possible to invest $40 million to spur innovation and promote scientific research. The fund's goal was to ensure that the fisheries sector remained up to date on the issue of new technological advances.

This time, the fisheries fund was not included in the budget. It was not renewed. Can my colleague explain why that is?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is wonderful to hear the connection made between fisheries and technology, because we know that by enabling and leveraging technologies, we are able to increase productivity. That extends across so many sectors across our country.

A case in point is the productivity superdeduction, an opportunity for companies and fishers to invest in their businesses and get the equipment they need to be able to be more productive. This is a tangible way that our government is demonstrating our commitment to them and their future.

Build Communities Strong Fund

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our new budget is about empowering Canadians and strengthening our economic future. It invests in our resilience, our competitiveness and our confidence in the future, not just through big, national projects, but through meaningful investments in smaller communities, where local projects have a tremendous impact on people's daily lives. This is why I am so proud of the build communities strong fund, which would ensure that communities of every size receive the support they need to grow and prosper.

I am thrilled that the White Rock Pier is one of the projects supported in this budget. The pier is more than a landmark; it is the focal point of my community, a gathering place and the main driver for tourism. I have been advocating for its restoration since the day I began campaigning.

Central to the budget 2025 plan is building major infrastructure, more homes and stronger communities, one community at a time.

Darshan Singh Sahsi

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, too frequently now, I rise in this chamber to speak to shootings in my community because of the rapid rise of gun crime.

Last week, Darshan Singh Sahsi was fatally shot and killed in Abbotsford. He was a father, a philanthropist and a man who came from humble beginnings. I knew Mr. Sahsi personally, and I am struck by the reality that I will never see him again. I trust that the Abbotsford Police Department is doing everything in its power to bring justice to the Sahsi family.

To his children and loved ones, I express my deepest condolences. I am so sorry for their loss. As a friend and a member of Parliament, I am here for them.

Infrastructure Investments

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey Newton, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the proposed improvements to the Newton Athletic Park in the heart of Surrey Newton. Thanks to budget 2025, federal funding will support a new artificial turf field, a practice field, tennis courts and lighting for the walking paths. By creating a more welcoming environment, this project will promote active living, foster community well-being and maximize the park's use throughout the year.

Investments like this, along with upgrades to the Royal Athletic Park in Victoria and the White Rock Pier my colleague already talked about, and support for a new Filipino community and cultural centre in metro Vancouver strengthen community bonds and promote wellness.

I will continue to advocate for Surrey Newton and its residents to ensure our community remains safe, vibrant and thriving for everyone.

Addiction Services

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, families grieve, addicts struggle and communities do their best to backfill for government failure, and the Liberal government's transformational budget has nothing for us. The word “addiction” appears only once, on page 247, to remind us that $1.2 billion in provincial transfers to support not only addictions, but home and community care and mental health services will vanish after the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Today, I am standing up and saying what the 20 Liberal MPs from British Columbia do not have the guts to say, even though Pandora Avenue and the Downtown Eastside are both in Liberal ridings. With this budget, the Liberal government has abandoned us. There is no national strategy, no support for local treatment and recovery and no recognition of the crisis that is unfolding in towns and cities like mine.

In Nanaimo, we need funding for local treatment and recovery beds. Our frontline workers need support, and our communities need a real path to healing.

Francophone Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, ensuring the vitality of francophone minority communities remains a priority for our government, and francophone immigration is an essential part of achieving this goal.

As we celebrate National Francophone Immigration Week, it is important to remember the progress that has been made and the next steps to be taken. Thanks to the 2026-28 immigration levels plan announced in the 2025 budget, we are aiming for a steady increase in francophone admissions outside Quebec: 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028. Since 2022, we have consistently exceeded our admission targets and are on track to reach a new historic high of 8.5%. I would also like to highlight the francophone community immigration pilot, which helps skilled workers settle in rural francophone regions.

As Canada stabilizes its immigration levels, our government is choosing to protect and strengthen francophone immigration.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court ruling yesterday removed the last chance these decades-old ostriches had, and I sympathize with the tens of thousands of Canadians who have been caught up in the drama unfolding on a farm in Edgewood, B.C.

For the past 10 months, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency operation has disrupted life in the peaceful town of Edgewood, B.C., driven the farm deep into debt and cost Canadian taxpayers millions of dollars in police overtime and agency costs. Perhaps most chilling has been the silence of both the Liberal Minister of Health and the Liberal Minister of Agriculture. They allowed this to drag out for far too long, keeping Canadians in the dark and even laughing at the plight of these people.

This is not how the government should treat our citizens. We still live in a democracy, despite the Liberals' best efforts, and Canadians deserve to know what our government is up to and why.

Chester W. Ruttle

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over 1.1 million Canadians served in the war effort during World War II. More than 45,000 of those brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice, and another 55,000 were wounded. Among them was Chester W. Ruttle.

Chester proudly served in the merchant marine. His work, and that of his fellow service members, was perilous. No one was immune from the threat below the waterline, and Chester was no exception. Both vessels he served on were torpedoed, and both times, he found himself at the mercy of the frigid waters. He was pulled to safety, but not before he suffered nerve damage and lost partial circulation in his legs.

If his service had any silver lining, it came in the form of a nurse who cared for him named Marion. They fell in love, married and had five children, including my father-in-law, Darrell Ruttle, and seven grandchildren, including my wife Paula Ruttle.

On behalf of the Ruttle family and all grateful Canadians, I am honoured to thank Chester for his service and his sacrifice. He was indeed part of the greatest generation.

Bone Marrow Donors

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, every year, so many Canadians and their families face the unimaginable challenge of searching for a life-saving bone marrow match.

Becoming a bone marrow donor is one of the most selfless and meaningful acts a person can do. lt does not require wealth or status, just a willingness to help a person in need, like my nephew, Lincoln, who received a bone marrow transplant from his generous donor, Ann, and like Ollie Ferguson, who is with us here in Ottawa today.

Ollie was in need of a bone marrow donor and found one in his sister Scarlett. Because of Scarlett, Ollie has been able to chase his passion for driving race cars. He races pro late model cars, and he is only 15. Because of Scarlett, he can enjoy climbing the ranks of racing.

I encourage everyone to join Canadian Blood Services' stem cell registry. Sign up online and get a cheek swab. It is a simple act that could easily save someone's life.

I thank those who have already registered as a donor. Together, we can continue to show the compassion and generosity that makes Canada so great.

Social Economy Month

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important, in this month of November, that we call attention to this year's Social Economy Month, because it builds on the advocacy and promotion surrounding the 2025 Social Economy Summit. The summit was so historic that the advocacy work and resulting call to action were unanimously supported by the Quebec National Assembly.

The turnout included 1,500 people from all regions and all sectors, including the economic, cultural, community, union and political sectors. Their common goal was to highlight the transformative potential of the social economy for responding to Quebec's collective challenges, such as population aging, the housing shortage, the protection of our natural environment and cultural vitality.

This being Social Economy Month, it seems fitting and necessary that the Bloc Québécois support the next steps in this effort and continue building an economy that works for us.

Craft Brewers

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Port Coquitlam's Patina Brewing on its success at the 2025 BC Beer Awards. On October 17, at New Westminster's Anvil Centre, Patina earned second place in the mixed-style beer category for its Italian Pilsner. This recognition reflects the skill and pride of a hometown team that keeps raising the bar for quality and community.

Our region's craft beer scene is thriving. Local brewers brought home six awards this year, with strong showings from Burnaby's Dageraad Brewing, Port Moody's Yellow Dog Brewing and New Westminster's Steel & Oak Brewing Co.

These achievements come during challenging times for the industry and they speak to resilience, creativity and the support of loyal customers across the Tri-Cities and New Westminster.

Congratulations, Patina. Keep brewing excellence.

The Budget

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Liberal waste, Canadians hoped for change. Instead, the Prime Minister delivered the costliest budget outside of COVID with a bloated, inflation-fuelling deficit that punishes work, drives up prices and shatters every promise his government made. He vowed discipline, but his budget explodes the deficit to $80 billion, piles on $90 billion in new spending and drives both debt and inflation higher.

While the Liberals borrow and spend, investment collapses, unemployment climbs and the cost of living crushes working families. Canadians pay more in interest on Liberal debt than Ottawa transfers for health care. Every dollar does not go to doctors or nurses but rather bankers and bondholders. Ordinary Canadians are paying the price in higher bills, higher taxes and vanishing hope for their kids. Canadians have sacrificed enough. They cannot afford another inflationary Liberal budget.

Conservatives will fight for the people who work, pay their bills and build this country, and we will keep working to restore the affordable life Canadians deserve.

Movember

[Jake Sawatzky, Liberal, New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, November is Movember, a month for men's health awareness. We lose far too many men to suicide every year.

I urge the boys and men hearing this today to take care of their health. It is easy to feel alone, but there are many people who care about them very much and they can talk to. Their existence as people is valuable. If they are ever considering self-harm, I ask them to please fight back against that voice in their head. It is okay to reach out for help. That is the brave thing to do. They just need to talk about it. It is brave to be open about these things.

I encourage everyone to take part in Movember, whether that is by growing a moustache, fundraising, exercising or organizing men's health events. This is a very important cause.

The Budget

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the long-awaited federal budget was tabled, and while a new Liberal leader was supposed to mean a new direction, this budget proves it is the same government with the same wasteful spending and the same pain for Canadians.

Families are cutting back on groceries, young people cannot afford homes and retirees are watching their savings shrink. Under the new Liberal leader, nothing has changed. Actually, that is not true. Things are getting worse.

Yesterday, Statistics Canada confirmed that food inflation is rising again. Canada is the only G7 country to see four straight months of rising food inflation. Between March and September, food inflation jumped sharply across everyday staples. Coffee and tea prices rose 15% and beef and berries are up 25%. These are not luxury goods; they are essentials.

Conservatives put forward a plan to lower food prices by cutting the industrial carbon tax, the food packaging tax and the costly fuel standard, and by ending inflationary deficits, but the Liberals voted it down. Canadians deserve better. Conservatives will fight for an affordable budget for an affordable life for all Canadians.

Veterans' Week

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this Veterans' Week, I would like to pay tribute to all those who have served Canada with courage and dedication in times of war, conflict and peace.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces have protected our country, defended our values and contributed to international peace and security. Their service reflects Canada's commitment to freedom, democracy and solidarity among nations. On November 8, we pay tribute to indigenous veterans who served with bravery and loyalty. By fully recognizing their contributions, we honour their legacy and affirm our commitment to remembrance and reconciliation.

On November 11, we mark Remembrance Day to honour the memory of those who gave their lives so that we could live in peace. Their courage and sacrifice remain a source of inspiration for all Canadians. Let us all proudly wear our poppies during this week of remembrance. Lest we forget.

The Budget

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Liberal government released its 10th budget, with the costliest deficit outside of COVID and double what the Prime Minister's predecessor left behind. Mark Carney broke every promise he made. He promised he would keep the deficit at $62 billion—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We cannot refer to members of this House by their proper name.

The member for London—Fanshawe.