House of Commons Hansard #65 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.
Closure of Algoma Steel Plant Pierre Poilievre requests an emergency debate on steelworker job losses at Algoma Steel, blaming American tariffs and the Liberal government's carbon tax. He criticizes a $400 million investment without job guarantees. 500 words.
Admissibility of Committee Amendments to Bill C-12—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules on a point of order concerning nine amendments adopted by committee to Bill C-12, an act relating to border security and immigration. The deputy government leader argued the amendments violated the "parent act rule." The Speaker declares eight amendments, primarily concerning the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, inadmissible, finding them outside the bill's scope, but upholds one amendment to the Oceans Act as consequential. 1600 words.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1 Second reading of Bill C-15. The bill implements the 2025 budget, which opposition members criticize as leading to generational debt and a rising cost of living. They allege it contains "corruption" and "favouritism" benefiting Liberal insiders and the Prime Minister's corporate buddies, hindering job creation. Government members defend it as a "generational investment" to build a strong economy, citing increased defence spending, infrastructure, and social programs, while accusing the opposition of "character assassination" and "filibustering." 51200 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act Second reading of Bill C-241. The bill proposes a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting to enhance coordination and data sharing across Canada, addressing the increasing impacts of climate change. While supporters emphasize the need for cooperation among different levels of government and improved water management, critics argue it risks becoming another Ottawa-driven exercise in paperwork without providing real solutions or timely funding for disaster mitigation. Concerns are raised about duplication with existing services, respecting provincial jurisdiction, and the lack of concrete action or funding mechanisms to support communities. 7400 words, 1 hour.
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, we obviously face challenges in Ontario, in the GTA in particular, around housing starts. That is exactly why we got Build Canada Homes launched. That is exactly why we are investing in affordable housing at an unprecedented scale. That is exactly why we brought forward the first-time homebuyers' GST tax cut, which members opposite have stalled since June.
We need to take action. We are taking action in this House. The Conservatives are voting against action on affordable housing.
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's fourth housing bureaucracy, Build Canada Homes, replaces Justin Trudeau's life-changing national housing strategy with less money and even bigger promises.
We need 480,000 homes per year in the next 10 years to restore affordability, but the Parliamentary Budget Officer reports that Build Canada Homes will only build about 26,000 over the next five. So, why will the Prime Minister not listen to home builders, housing experts and the Leader of the Opposition and axe the tax on all homes under $1.3 million?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, we had a lot of engagement with the homebuilding industry, with mayors and with ministers. We have put in an enormous amount of effort. Members opposite can go out and talk to people in the community and home builders we are working with who are supporting Build Canada Homes. We have just launched and opened the portal for that. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says 87,000 homes will be built as part of this initial effort. The national housing strategy starts again in the years ensuing. It is a combination that will deliver affordable housing at an unprecedented scale.
Jonathan Rowe Conservative Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government promised billions in housing spending, but today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer exposed that this program is exactly like the last four: an absolute failure. This is just another example of the Liberals promising the same old things and never delivering. Their new housing program is supposed to get only 26,000 homes built in five years, only a fraction of the 2.5 million promised.
How will the Prime Minister tell this horrible news to young people? Will he simply ask them to make more sacrifices?
Joanne Thompson LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for me to point out that my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador has voted against every opportunity to help Canadians: housing, the school food program, $10-a-day child care, dental care, and on and on. This is nothing but a circle of tired notes.
We need to work together. Canadians want us to work together. I will tell my colleague that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to see results.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, people should be able to work hard, save their money and buy a reasonably priced home in a reasonable timeline. That was the Canadian promise. However, today, the parliamentary budget watchdog confirmed that the Liberal Prime Minister has broken this promise. The report says that the Liberals' brand new housing bureaucracy is nothing more than a shiny, billion-dollar photo-op machine, building only 26,000 homes in five years. That is barely 2% of the 1.25 million homes promised. What is worse, the report says that the Liberal government has no plan whatsoever to achieve its own target.
Instead of lecturing young Canadians about sacrifice, why does the Liberal Prime Minister not just admit that he bulldozed the dream of home ownership, buried it under bureaucracy and walked away with the shovel?
John Zerucelli LiberalSecretary of State (Labour)
Mr. Speaker, the member was speaking very fast, and I could not keep up with the question, but I do want to say one thing. Canadians elected us to do big things. We are going to build a stronger economy and a stronger country. We are making the largest infrastructure investment in Canadian history. That party voted against it. We are going to be building roads and bridges, community centres, hospitals and transit, using Canadian steel and Canadian lumber. However, the Conservatives voted against all of that, every single part of it, against housing and against major projects, which are opportunities for Canadian workers.
On this side of the House, we will keep building. We are going to be standing with our workers, unlike the Conservatives.
Gabriel Hardy Conservative Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC
Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Regroupement des offices d'habitation du Québec and the Alliance des corporations d'habitations abordables du territoire du Québec shared their deep concerns: The demand for social and affordable housing is skyrocketing and yet the Liberal response is more bureaucracy.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer also confirms that the Liberals' big promise of 250,000 homes will actually produce only 26,000 homes, that is, 10 times fewer homes. In Montmorency—Charlevoix, the average price of a home has grown from $205,000 to $400,000 under this Liberal government. The Prime Minister said that young Canadians would have to make sacrifices.
In fact, was he actually asking them to sacrifice their dream of one day owning a home?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, it is a big leap for a Conservative member to talk about affordable housing. In my 10 years in politics, I have never met a housing organization that has praised the Conservative Party. At every turn, that party has always voted against investments in affordable and social housing. That is, when they do not outright disparage the concept.
On this side of the House, we are investing $13 billion to build affordable housing in a way that Canada has never done before.
Wade Chang Liberal Burnaby Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, victims' groups, police chiefs, police associations, provinces, territories and municipalities have all called for the quick passage of Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act. As hate crimes continue to rise, communities across Canada are urging us to move forward on Bill C-9, the combatting hate act. However, instead of helping advance this important work, Conservatives have been filibustering the justice committee, blocking witnesses and delaying progress.
Can the secretary of state update this House on the impact of these Conservative delays and tell us what needs to happen so that we can get this done for Canadians?
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, do members know who is paying the price for these Conservative games? It is Canadians. While victims' groups and frontline police officers are asking for us to act urgently and respond to the crisis, the Conservatives are spending their time filibustering with nonsense speeches about cats and dogs. Members heard that right: cats and dogs. These are procedural stunts that they are playing in order to stop these bills from passing through committee. They are obstructing the committee from doing its job. When it comes to public safety, the Conservatives have a lot of bark, but no bite. They are standing in the way—
JusticeOral Questions
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Algoma Steel laid off 1,000 workers, and those workers remember when the Liberal Prime Minister stood on their shop floor in Sault Ste. Marie just days before the last election and promised to protect their jobs. Today, those same workers face U.S. tariffs, no deal and now no job. To add insult to injury, the Liberal government just gave Algoma Steel $400 million with no jobs guarantees, apparently, because now there are 1,000 Canadian workers out of a job before Christmas.
When will the steelworkers get the promised protection for their jobs from the Liberal government?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, of course, our thoughts are with the workers at Algoma Steel. I have been in contact with the company. I have also been in contact with the union. We know the entire business model of the steel sector in Canada is based on U.S. automakers. Obviously, with unjustifiable tariffs of 50% by the U.S. administration against our steel sector, this can happen. We have been working with the company by offering $400 million to get through these difficult times as it is pivoting with new products and new markets.
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to protect Canadian jobs, yet the reality is that thousands of Canadian families are now going without their primary source of income because the Liberals have not delivered on their promises. Softwood lumber mills are closing, auto companies are cancelling projects in Canada and moving them to the United States, and now in Sault Ste. Marie, 1,000 people have just lost their jobs at the steel mill. Workers do not need more Liberal platitudes, corporate handouts or broken promises. They need their jobs back. They need results.
When are Canadians going to get the trade deal they were promised?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I have a news flash: We are in a trade war. Therefore, because of what is happening right now, we are fighting for the jobs at Algoma Steel and across the steel sector in the country. That is why we have been there for the—
International TradeOral Questions
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, my point is that we will continue to fight for these jobs. The company was clear today: If it was not for that $400 million and the $100 million from Ontario, the very existence of Algoma Steel would be in jeopardy.
Kerry Diotte Conservative Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Mr. Speaker, I say condolences to the 1,000 workers laid off from Algoma Steel in my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. My dad, Tony, worked at Algoma for over 30 years. The Prime Minister is squarely to blame for these layoffs. In the election, our elbows-up PM said he was the guy who could get a good trade deal with Donald Trump. Instead of a deal, the PM said, “Who cares?” We then saw higher tariffs on Canadian goods. The results are these layoffs and others.
When will the Prime Minister finally get a deal with Trump?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague and a lot of respect for his dad and for all the people who have worked or are working at Algoma Steel. That is why our priority and my priority is to make sure they can continue to earn a great salary at Algoma Steel as the company is adapting to new types of steel for the defence sector and also for the housing sector.
I must say that our buy Canadian policy is also helping Algoma and other steel plants as we continue to fight for these jobs across the country.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of talent to create unemployment while spending $15 billion.
Food banks are swamped, but the Prime Minister would rather act as an ATM for multinationals. He is giving $15 billion to Stellantis and $400 million to Algoma Steel, and yet the result is job losses.
Can the Prime Minister explain his wonderful strategy that involves paying big business to layoff Canadians?
Anna Gainey LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are protecting essential programs that millions of Canadians count on. Six million children count on the Canada child benefit and 5 million people count on the Canadian dental care plan.
On this side of the House we are busy helping and supporting families, while the members opposite oppose all of those measures and vote against them.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure she understood my question, so I will ask it again.
Canadians can no longer afford to put food on the table because of the cost of living, and this government continues to empty their pockets and fill those of big corporations. This Prime Minister found $72 million for Nokia, $400 million for Algoma Steel and $15 billion for Stellantis. What do the Liberals get in return? Job cuts.
Is this the new Liberal strategy: make Canadians poorer in order to make big business richer?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, this side of the House feels it is important to support the sectors that have been affected by the tariff war with the United States.
I would note, however, that my colleague voted against a tax cut that represents approximately $800 per family in Canada and Quebec. She voted against Canada's national school food program, which helps the most vulnerable families save approximately $800 per family. She voted against the Canadian dental care plan, which helps at least 10,000 people in her riding of Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis. She voted against investments in the Davie shipyard, which is struggling to recruit the staff it needs. These are good jobs for our people. I hope she will come to her senses and support the government's action.
