Debates of Dec. 5th, 2025

The Economy

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious that Scrooge is in charge. Since he came to power, production and transportation costs have skyrocketed. The cost of energy, fertilizer and farm fuel has gone up. Farmers have seen their debt load jump by 14% in one year. That is the sharpest increase since 1981. Nearly a quarter of Canadians would eat healthier food if they could afford it. Across-the-board increases are hitting everything in the grocery store, and this Mickey Mouse government is patting itself on the back for its work.

When will the Liberals realize that their policies are costing Canadians dearly?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, no parent should have to struggle to feed their children. That is indisputable. On this side of the House, we are investing $13 billion to build affordable homes. This will help families.

We are investing in child care and dental care. These measures are helping families keep more money in their pockets so they can get ahead and have money to cope with the cost of living. We will continue to invest in those supports and continue to invest in families and children. I encourage the members opposite to help us do that.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians he should be judged by the prices at the grocery store. Perhaps he should be careful what he wishes for. Grocery prices are climbing, families cannot afford the basics and 85% of Canadians say food costs are their top concern. “Canada's Food Price Report” says that, next year, families will pay $1,000 more for groceries.

When will the Liberals cut their inflationary spending, the industrial carbon tax and their new fuel tax, so that Canadians can simply afford to eat?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, instead of harping on about imaginary taxes that the Conservatives know are not real and are not affecting the price of food, they should think about their own conduct in the House. They should think about their votes. When it comes to our budget, our budget does some key things. It improves access to the Canada disability benefit. It strengthens EI to protect workers. It increases investments in social and affordable housing. It makes the national school food program permanent.

Do we know who considers those four things a priority? The Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto says that those are the four things we should be doing to help Canadians with the price of food. That is what we are doing. The—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford.

Small Business

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are eight million kids in Canada, and last I counted, the national food program is not even feeding two million of them.

While families struggle with soaring grocery bills, small businesses are also being crushed by those same inflationary policies and the loss of the purchasing power of Canadian families. Canada has 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs today than it did in the year 2000. That is 100,000 fewer businesses able to support families and communities. Rising costs, higher taxes and endless red tape are driving people out of business.

When will the Liberals admit their taxes and red tape are crushing—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, it appears the members opposite have spent so long on the opposition benches, and have become so disagreeable, that they cannot even agree with the things they have advocated for. It is a shame.

There are things like tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, a GST cut of $50,000 on new home purchases for families, automated tax benefits and tax deductions for businesses so they can invest in themselves to boost their productivity and growth. That is what increases real wages relative to the cost of living. That is how families get ahead.

That is how we support Canadians. Why do the Conservatives not get on board?

The Economy

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians he should be judged by the prices at the grocery store. The average weekly food bill was $159 a week when the Liberals took over, but today that has doubled in the big cities. That does not address remote areas, such as Grande Cache and most of my riding, where it is much worse.

New fuel standards, the industrial carbon tax and inflationary spending all increased the cost of transportation. When will the Liberals consider the consequences of their legislation and stop the measures so Canadians can afford to eat?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, when will the Conservatives recognize what farmers already know, which is that the industrial carbon price has zero impact on food prices? We have heard this from experts in the House.

Let us talk about what is going to benefit all Canadians, which are good jobs and a strong economy. Today, Statistics Canada says we are doing both. We have created over 54,000 net new jobs in this past month. Unemployment is down. GDP is up. Wages are up. Rents are down. That is delivering for Canadians right across this country.

[Alana Hirtle, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as a newcomer to politics, I am finding the Ottawa approach to problem-solving quite perplexing. I am proud of this government's focus on delivering for hard-working families through tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, making sure every kid gets a healthy meal at school, investing billions in infrastructure projects and creating good jobs in our local communities, but these plans for tax breaks and infrastructure investments are being met with obstruction.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance tell us why our practical solutions are being reflexively blocked when hard-working families expect us to work—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary of the Minister of Finance.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to serve with the hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester.

There is only one reason that key pieces of legislation are not moving through this House, and it is the opposition, which is blocking them in committee and in the House. It is wasting time and blocking key legislation. It is the opposition that is stopping the first-time homebuyer's tax savings of $50,000 for first-time home purchases. It is the opposition that is stopping the creation of tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. It is the opposition that is stopping the national school food program from feeding more hungry children—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George.

Forestry Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Drax pellet plant in Williams Lake announced it was shutting down. This week, Domtar pulp mill in Crofton announced a permanent closure. That is over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs lost and another 1,000 families that are facing financial uncertainty. It has been 10 years, and the Liberals have failed to negotiate a fair softwood lumber agreement with the U.S.

The Prime Minister is now in Washington for a third photo op, this time for FIFA. Will he stand up for our devastated forestry families, or will he once again kneel before Donald Trump?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, obviously, we stand with the affected communities. It is terrible to see the job losses. The minister has talked to Domtar and the B.C. minister of forestry. We want those jobs back, and we are going to work very hard to get them back.

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

Mr. Speaker, they say they stand with the workers who have lost their jobs. Have they stood with them in the unemployment line? Have they stood with them in the food bank line? Have they stood with them when the bank forecloses on their home? Have they stood with them when they have lost their business? That is the reality our families are facing.

I am not sure the member fully understands the dire situation we are in. Entire communities are drying up in the province of British Columbia.

When will the Prime Minister get serious about forestry, protect our families, grow a spine and stop caving to Donald Trump?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we stand with them. We stand with them with supports that allow them to keep those jobs. We stand with them when they lose those jobs and are in those unemployment lines, with more supports there as well. We stand with the companies by investing in them heavily. We will always stand with our forestry communities.

I invite the member to work with me to bring even more supports to those communities, because this is vital to Canada's culture and economy.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister invited Canadians to judge him by the prices at the grocery store. Seven months later, shoppers are still going home with half the cart for twice the price. The latest food price report says it is going to get 1,000 bucks worse next year. Meanwhile, another mill is closing in my community.

As more people lose their jobs, anxiety is the only thing up more than the cost of food. With even full-time workers starting to rely on food banks, when will the Liberals cut their inflationary spending, so Canadians can afford groceries again?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of good news that has been coming out over the last few months related to jobs. If members take a look at the month of September, there were over 50,000 jobs created. Most of that was in manufacturing. In the month of October, there were over 50,000 jobs created. Most of that was in the province of Ontario. Today, we got an announcement of 60,000-plus jobs. In total, that is well over 150,000 jobs.

That is actually good news. The members opposite should recognize when good news hits them in the face and say this is a good way for our building a strong—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

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

Mr. Speaker, these Liberals must be shopping in the fantasy aisle because Canadians are still getting skewered at the checkout. Conservatives voted against policies that make life more expensive. This Parliament, the Liberals voted against our motions that would have saved jobs, kept communities safe and lowered costs.

Inflationary Liberal spending is driving students, seniors and now full-time workers to food banks. When will the Liberals stop raising taxes on the people who grow, transport and sell our food, so Canadians can put food on the table?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, talk about fake outrage. Time and time again, we get the Conservative Party of Canada preventing legislation from being able to pass, even the budget legislation and the implementation of the budget. Day after day, we hear Conservative bafflegab, as opposed to them allowing legislation to go through. Day after day, we hear obstruction on important legislation, such as bail reform legislation to make our communities safer.

Whether it is providing supports for Canadians or providing a sense of security, the Conservative Party is more focused on the Conservative Party than it is on Canadians. Shame on them.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he should be judged by prices at the grocery store, but seven months later, prices are skyrocketing and Canadians are struggling to put food on the table. Canada's food price report shows that Canadians will have to pay an extra grand to buy groceries next year. To make matters worse, sawmill workers across the country are facing job losses as their mills close.

The Prime Minister promised he would negotiate a trade deal. He has failed to do so, and now he just says, “Who cares?”

With more Canadians struggling to buy groceries, more job losses and more broken promises, what is it going to take for the Liberals to finally care?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to take the Conservatives at their word in the House when they stand up every day to complain about the Canadian economy, while we receive good news on this side and rejoice in it. The economy is actually faring well. The IMF just came out with a report that said Canada's economy is weathering the shocks of the tariff war, or the trade war, better than expected.

We have heard that message again and again. The numbers show the same thing with job numbers exceeding expectations three months in a row, real GDP growth and real wage growth over 33 months in a row. That is more money in the Canadian economy.