Debates of Dec. 4th, 2025

Automotive Industry

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, unlike that minister, I have actually read the contracts, and if she actually had a legal case to do anything about the 3,000 workers who were fired in exchange for $15 billion, the government would have sued, but it has not.

All Canadians should know the extent of the incompetence of the Liberal government. The jobs guarantees in those contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. If I had drafted that as a first-year law student, I would have gotten an F. How does this minister stand here to defend this terrible contract?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we have no lessons to take from the Conservatives.

In 2009, when the Harper government decided to bail out and shake hands with GM and Chrysler. At the time, it gave them $28 billion of Canadian taxpayers' money with no job guarantee. Two GM plants closed, one in Oshawa and another in Windsor, and one Ford assembly plant closed as well. An Orion Bus plant also closed in Mississauga. This is their record.

We are creating jobs, and we are fighting for Canadians.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals committed $15 billion to Stellantis only to have it ship 3,000 jobs south of the border. In fact, just in the White House yesterday, Stellantis says it is investing $13 billion in the U.S. to create 5,000 jobs.

Every time the government makes a deal, it seems like executives get taken care of while employees get overlooked.

When will this Liberal government prioritize jobs for Canadians instead of corporate welfare for executives?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of jobs, we are focused on creating jobs for the good workers in Brampton and across Ontario.

The Prime Minister committed $2 billion to build small modular reactors in Ontario, a project that will create 18,000 jobs in Ontario and help build Canada as an energy superpower. We can look at the opportunities we are creating through nuclear exports, a sector valued to create 90,000 jobs in 250 businesses in Ontario.

We remain relentlessly focused on creating jobs in nuclear and energy across Ontario communities, including Brampton.

Foreign Affairs

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for over three years, Ukrainians have fought valiantly against Russia's illegal and brutal invasion, defending not just their homeland, but also the principles that borders must not be changed by force and that every nation has a right to determine its own future.

Canada has stood with Ukraine from day one, and now more than ever, Ukrainians need our support on the battlefield, where it matters most.

Can the Minister of National Defence update the House on the latest steps Canada is taking to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to win?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, this week, we announced our purchase of a package of critical military capability under NATO's prioritized Ukraine requirements list, or PURL, in partnership with other NATO allies. Our $200-million contribution to this PURL package will include capabilities that have been specifically identified by Ukraine as its urgent requirements to support its defence against Russia's aggression and war.

Make no mistake, Canada will stand with Ukraine until victory.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last year, over half the people who became Canadian citizens did so by clicking a box online. That is crazy. There is no justification for this. In-person citizenship ceremonies are an essential unifying bedrock of Canada's civic life. Swearing the oath of citizenship in front of an official should be upheld as an integral part of committing to the responsibilities that come with being Canadian.

Will the minister immediately end one-click, virtual citizenship ceremonies?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I respect that member, and I know he knows that is not correct. I know he recognizes that we have a robust system in this country and that there is no such thing as one system. We have multiple layers.

When it comes to citizenship ceremonies, there is no such thing as that. There are multiple layers of defence when somebody is coming out of a port of entry, 100% of those people spend considerable time with—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister completely did not answer the question. She did not listen to it.

My colleague asked why she was allowing one-click citizenship, which, to repeat a famous line in the House, we found on the government's website.

People get their citizenship by doing a virtual ceremony and clicking a box. That is what we are talking about here. I cannot believe she is still the minister.

Will she end one-click, virtual citizenship ceremonies?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, here are the fact: Virtual citizenship ceremonies started during the time of the pandemic. We all know that during COVID, life shifted. Even in Parliament, we now have the voting app, for example.

We are always looking for opportunities to celebrate our citizenship, to bring people together, to celebrate and build the Canadian economy and make it strong. We will continue to do that.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last year, well after the pandemic, where were more than half of Canadian citizenships conducted? It was online, by clicking a box. How does that unify Canadians? How does that imply and impart the responsibilities of being Canadian?

She is standing up here and defending a postnational strategy.

Will she end one-click, virtual citizenships?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, again, I am correcting the record for that member and those who are listening.

Virtual citizenship ceremonies started during the pandemic. That is correct. There are still some that are happening. However, for all new Canadians, it is still being done under a secure, fully fledged citizenship ceremony, with officials present.

Disaster Assistance

[Juanita Nathan, Liberal, Pickering—Brooklin, ON]

Mr. Speaker, cyclone Ditwah has devastated communities across Sri Lanka, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed over 465 lives and left hundreds more missing.

Homes, infrastructure and local economies have suffered serious damage, and communities across the country are struggling to deal with the aftermath, especially in the northeast hill regions, which are already struggling due to poverty and war.

Canada has always been known as a partner that we can count on in moments of hardship. Could the Secretary of State for International Development inform the House of Canada's—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Secretary of State for International Development.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, our hearts are with those affected by the devastating floods in Sri Lanka, which has declared a state of emergency.

In times of crisis, Canadians step up. To support an urgent and immediate response, Canada is providing an initial $1 million in humanitarian aid to help the Red Cross, the Humanitarian Coalition and other partners deliver life-saving relief. This means emergency shelter, water, health services and other essentials to the most affected. This builds on support Canada has already provided to the World Food Programme's emergency response.

We are closely following developments across the region and will continue to stand with communities facing these impacts.

Justice

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Yesterday the Liberals got up in question period and accused Conservatives of obstructing work on Liberal Bill C-9, which takes aim at religious freedom and freedom of expression. The Liberals said they wanted to conduct clause-by-clause review today, but this morning, the Liberal chair cancelled the meeting, obstructing the Liberal government's own agenda and denying our right as legislators to do our work.

Why did the chair cancel the meeting, and will he commit to calling our scheduled meeting on Tuesday, so we can get to work?

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I became chair of the justice committee just two short days ago. I am honoured to take on that responsibility, and I take it very seriously.

It quickly became very apparent to me that the committee was having a great deal of trouble, emotions were running high and the members did not have a path forward to deal with some very important legislation that was before the committee.

Acting in the best interest of the committee members, the members of the House and the members of the public who want this bill to pass, I decided to cancel the meeting so the members could regroup to find a path forward.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That is enough.

The hon. member for Nunavut has the floor.

Housing

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, options for housing in Nunavut are limited.

Mould leads to chronic illness, and overcrowding leads to abuse of women already in unsafe conditions. There are 3,700 families on the waiting list, according to Nunavut Housing Corporation.

Once these houses are built, it will cost over $3 billion to maintain them. This government has only promised 700 new homes. Why are the Liberals not fully funding Nunavut to meet the urgent housing need?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, our new government is delivering on its commitments.

We are dedicating $2.3 billion to urban, rural and northern homes. We are also partnering to deliver over 700 new homes and fast-tracking them. We are also building on 450 additional homes that will start in the next few years.

In the Northwest Territories, we are funding 150 social homes, and in Whitehorse, we are funding 100 new affordable homes. This is just the beginning, because we are delivering on the 3,000 homes by 2030.

Finance

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, some might call it a flip-flop, but a flip-flop is a sandal, and this is a betrayal. On page 348 of the budget, it says clearly that investment tax credits will not be available for enhanced oil recovery, yet a memorandum of understanding with the Province of Alberta says it will extend federal investment tax credits to various parts of carbon capture and storage, including enhanced oil recovery.

My question for the Minister of Finance is this: With this additional handout to big oil, has the government recalculated how deep the deficit will be? How much above $78 billion is it now?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the memorandum of understanding with Alberta, which provides many opportunities for us to move forward on industrial carbon pricing, on clean electricity and on building interties with neighbouring provinces. These are all steps that are incredibly important for us as we try to build a clean economy and build our country strong for the future. We will keep on working to build a strong Canada going forward.

Oral Questions

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, you clearly established your right to cut short questions before they were even finished if, in your opinion, they were not related to government business. In two days, not once, not twice, but three times, the government's response not only had nothing to do with the question but had even less to do with the business of Parliament. This goes beyond the issue of adjournment debates. It is truly a deliberate weaponization of the work of the House. It is an insult to the democratic institution that is the House, and an insult to people's intelligence.

I would like to ask you to clarify the extent to which it is allowed, during question period, to say any old thing, both when asking a question and when answering it. I would like to quote from the procedure handbook we were just given.

Chapter 11.11 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, fourth edition, states the following:There are no explicit rules which govern the form or content of replies to oral questions. According to practice, replies must be as brief as possible, deal with the subject matter raised and be phrased in language that does not provoke disorder in the House. As Speaker Jerome summarized in a 1975 statement on question period, several types of responses may be appropriate. Ministers may: answer the question; defer their answer; take the question as notice; make a short explanation as to why they cannot furnish an answer at that time; or say nothing.

Nowhere does it say that the response can be about something that is not related to the business of the House. I would simply like you to clarify the following: If a question cannot pertain to anything other than the business of the House, should the same not apply to an answer?