Debates of Dec. 5th, 2025

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, a report from the IMF means absolutely nothing to the workers from Ear Falls sawmill who have lost their jobs. They do not want more big government programs. They just want their jobs back.

The Prime Minister said he would negotiate a win. That has not happened. He said that Canadians should judge him by prices at the grocery store and prices keep rising. By every standard the Prime Minister has set for himself, he is failing.

If the Prime Minister cannot negotiate a trade deal, will he at least cut the inflationary spending, the industrial carbon tax and the new fuel tax, so that Canadians can afford to buy groceries?

[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, when our government moved forward with the first round of major nation-building projects, which would create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and add to Canada's GDP and economic output, what did the Conservative leader say? He called those projects “pathetic”.

He stood out there in the media and said that about projects that would create tens of thousands of jobs, yet here we are being lectured by the Conservatives today about good job numbers that exceeded expectations three months in a row. They cannot seem to even get their stories straight. Whose side are Conservatives on? Are they on the side of Canadians? Are they on the side of affordability?

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, fertilizer production is essential to our Canadian farmers. Over 118,000 people are directly or indirectly employed by the industry, but the Liberal government's industrial carbon tax puts producers at a global disadvantage, burdening them with up to $1.3 billion in carbon costs by 2030. Domestic fertilizer producers cannot pass those costs down to our farmers as they have to absorb them to compete toe-to-toe with the rest of the world.

When will the government finally level the playing field and scrap the industrial carbon tax on Canadian-made fertilizer?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, our farmers are at the front line of something very difficult and very challenging. They are fighting against tariff disruption of trade and also extreme weather events.

That report clearly said that increasingly violent and unpredictable weather patterns are disrupting agricultural production, creating supply challenges and continuing to influence food prices across Canada. The solution is to stand with our farmers.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, if only fertilizer's challenges ended with the industrial carbon tax.

To add to that billion-dollar burden, the government's mandatory bulk fertilizer label changes will cost the industry over $120 million. The Liberals' 30% by 2030 fertilizer emissions target could also lead to $48 billion in losses. These costs are ultimately passed on to Canadian farmers and, by extension, Canadians at the grocery store.

Why is this government so obsessed with making it harder and more expensive for Canadian farmers to do what they do best, which is feed our country?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I fully understand that fertilizer use is very important for our producers to supply the country and the world with really healthy food.

We are working with the farmers and the industry to find solutions to a fertilizer made in Canada, because in Canada we grow the best food in the world. We will continue to work with our farmers to ensure their long-term competitiveness and to help protect the environment.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has adopted a perversely restrictive interpretation of the bulk labelling regulations under the Fertilizers Act. If enforced, the interpretation would impose $120 million in compliance costs on retailers, which will be passed on to farmers to achieve, quite literally, nothing.

If the Liberals are truly committed to reducing red tape, they could instantly override the CFIA by making marginal clarifications to these regulations. Will they do so, or will they allow the CFIA to drive small retailers out of business and drive up costs for Canadian farmers?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, this new government is committed to reducing red tape across government, especially with our agencies, such as CFIA and PMRA.

In committee, we just finished a study on how to effectively reduce red tape across the sector to support our producers and farmers to increase their productivity. On this side of the House, we work with our farmers and our agencies to find concrete solutions to help productivity.

Gender-Based Violence

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, December 6 marks 36 years since the murder of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal. This was a horrific event that shook the entire country.

We have a collective duty to fight gender-based violence.

Can the parliamentary secretary tell the House what measures have been taken to honour the memory of these young students and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again in Canada?

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989, time stood still.

Our society still bears the scars of this mass femicide, 36 years later.

As a government, there is no doubt that we need to invest in the fight to end gender-based violence.

Certainly, one of the tools is to strengthen the Criminal Code, which we are working on. Prevention is another.

Through Canada's national action plan on women, peace and security, we have invested up to $500 million, and we will continue to do so.

The dignity and safety of women in this country are a priority.

Committees of the House

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

The Liberals have been in a panic ever since we brought up in committee how they, through Canada Post, have given contracts to companies involved in the Driver Inc. scheme.

The committee chair has cancelled three meetings in the past month. Twice, we have had to use emergency powers to force him to do his job.

Will the committee chair go ahead with next Tuesday's meeting, or will he continue to hide behind his minister?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal chair's behaviour shows contempt for this institution. He refused to call three meetings. On Tuesday, he even suspended the meeting for technical reasons and then never came back. That is obstruction and abuse of power.

We were talking about the safety of our roads and the safety of Canadians. This is an urgent and serious issue.

The Liberal chair needs to decide whether he serves the government or Canadians.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at last we get a good answer.

The Minister of Transport is ordering his members to disrupt the work of the committee, with more than 10 hours of Liberal obstruction. What a waste of money. They are throwing money out the window.

Why is the minister doing what it takes to avoid transparency? Why does the minister want to hide the truth from Canadians? Why is the minister condoning these obstruction tactics? Why is the minister preventing the committee from doing its work, to the detriment of road safety for the residents of Beauce?

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we are unwavering in our support for victims and their families, who have been impacted by the exploitation and illegal operation within the trucking industry.

The Conservatives are always looking to block things at committee. At this particular committee, they have an opportunity to focus on solutions, yet they bring up problems, like they bring up problems here. When the time comes to vote on solutions for Canadians, they bring up the problem and vote against the solution every single time.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, to the chair of the transportation committee, it should not take opposition parties calling emergency meetings to get a parliamentary committee to meet, like it is supposed to, but that is exactly what the opposition parties have been forced to do. When we had a meeting, in the middle of it, the Liberals suspended and ran out the back door.

Will the chair confirm that there are scheduled meetings, or will they run out the back door again?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal chair's conduct shows contempt for this institution. He has refused to convene meetings three times, and even suspended one for technical reasons before leaving, never to return. Worse, a Liberal MP has been filibustering for the past month, not only resisting hearing from victims, but deliberately delaying recommendations that could save lives. Every day those recommendations are stalled, the Liberals put Canadians at risk. That is shameful.

A Conservative notice of motion has been filed, condemning this misconduct. The Liberal chair must decide if he is a political operative serving the government or an impartial chair serving this country.

Foreign Affairs

[Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Ukrainians are fighting bravely for their freedom in the face of unwarranted aggression from Russia. Right now, Ukraine needs military resources, such as fuel, medical supplies, communications equipment, winter gear and more.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on how Canada and NATO are supporting Ukraine at this time?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, over the past three and a half years, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $22 billion in multi-faceted support for Ukraine's military, as well as financial and economic support. This week, at NATO, I committed another $235 million for Ukraine in the defence of its sovereignty and security, and to ensure that its soldiers can make it through the winter as they fight on the front lines against this illegal and unjustifiable invasion.

Canada will always stand for the rules-based, international order that has kept us all safe since the end of the Second World War.

Farm Credit Canada

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in last month's budget, the finance minister said he made tough decisions to find savings, so I was surprised and disappointed to learn that the CEO of Farm Credit Canada racked up $300,000 in travel expenses this year and last year. Furthermore, almost all of those expenses were within Canada, to talk with FCC employees at their offices.

Why can the FCC not spend $20 on a Zoom subscription, instead of $300,000 on the CEO's travel expenses?

[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 can assure members that in the preparations leading up to budget 2025, there was a comprehensive expenditure review that looked at all possible operational savings the federal government could make in order to invest in the Canadian economy. This will ensure that we have a capital budgeting framework that ensures we achieve capital formation; that we grow the Canadian economy; that we attract investment; that we diversify our trade; that we build infrastructure, defence capabilities and the housing that Canadians want; that we can defend our sovereignty; and that we can build an affordable future for all Canadians.

That is exactly what this government is up to. We are building Canada strong.

The Economy

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, food prices are exploding. Groceries are up 4% to 6%, costing the average household as much as $1,000 more per year. Experts point to extreme weather events, supply shocks and corporate greed.

Not only do the Liberals not have a climate plan; they keep protecting their corporate friends, while people across Canada are starving for a fair deal at the checkout. When will the government act and deliver a real public option for food?

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

Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 set out to make life more affordable for Canadians. The member voted against the very programs that are going to support families in her community.

Budget 2025 cuts taxes for 22 million Canadians, makes the national school food program permanent, delivers automatic tax filing for over 5.5 million Canadians, makes generational investments in housing and infrastructure and supports important programs like the Canada disability benefit. These are exactly the programs that are going to help families and make life more affordable for them and their kids.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, coastal communities are running out of time. Key federal programs to protect wild salmon and restore critical habitat expire in March, and they were not included in this budget. The government still has not confirmed their renewal, and communities cannot wait for a spring economic statement.

On the west coast, wild salmon are vital for food security, culture, the ecosystem and the economy. First nations, hatcheries and restoration groups are doing the work, but they cannot plan without federal certainty.

It is essential that we not take our foot off the gas. Will the minister renew these essential programs now?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that the program funding continues through to March 2026. I am actively engaging with members across the country to talk about the effects of the program in their communities, what was very strong and what we need to look at in the future.

The climate changes and the stock of salmon and other seafood changes. We need to be able to align our programs to the reality in the waters and in communities.

I am happy to continue to dialogue with the member.

Government Response to Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to seven petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.