House of Commons Hansard #2 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was build.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Speech from the Throne King Charles III delivered the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government's agenda for the new session. Priorities include transforming the economy, building alliances, improving affordability, removing internal trade barriers, enhancing national security, advancing reconciliation, reforming immigration, and implementing fiscal discipline by controlling government spending. 2500 words.
Business of Supply Members adopt a motion changing House rules for considering Main and Supplementary Estimates in Committee of the Whole until June 23, 2025, including time limits and process rules. 500 words.
Address in Reply Members debate the Speech from the Throne, outlining the Liberal government's agenda for economic transformation. They discuss reducing the cost of living, increasing housing supply, strengthening trade, energy policy, security, and fiscal management. Opposition parties criticize the speech for lacking detail and failing to address specific regional concerns and policy issues like the carbon tax and housing for renters. 7200 words, 1 hour in 2 segments: 1 2.
A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as follows:
Mr. Speaker, it is the pleasure of His Majesty the King of Canada that this honourable House attend him immediately in the chamber of the Senate.
Accordingly, the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber:
And the House being returned to the Commons chamber:
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I have the honour to report that, the House having attended on His Majesty the King in the Senate chamber, I informed His Majesty that the choice of Speaker had fallen upon me, and in your names and on your behalf, I made the usual claim for your privileges, which His Majesty was pleased to confirm to you.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-1, An Act respecting the administration of oaths of office.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Speech from the Throne
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I have the honour to inform the House that when the House of Commons did attend His Majesty the King this day in the Senate chamber, His Majesty was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament. To prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy, which is as follows:
Speech from the Throne
King Charles III
Honourable Senators,
Members of the House of Commons,
It is with a sense of deep pride and pleasure that my wife and I join you here today, as we witness Canadians coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity, and hope.
I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people. This land acknowledgement is a recognition of shared history as a nation. While continuing to deepen my own understanding, it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed.
This is my 20th visit to Canada, spread over the course of more than half a century, and my first as Sovereign. As I have said before, “Every time I come to Canada… a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream – and from there straight to my heart.” I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognized across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defence of national values, and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.
To the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples – you have welcomed my family and myself to your traditional lands with great warmth and hospitality, for which I am humbly grateful.
This year, we mark the 80th anniversary of V-E Day and V-J Day. On Juno Beach, at Dieppe, on the Somme, at Beaumont-Hamel, at Ypres, and on Vimy Ridge… At those places, and many others, forever etched into our memories, Canadians fought and died alongside our closest allies.
Today, I see representatives from every part of Canada – from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Victoria, British Columbia, and Arviat, Nunavut. I see the guardians of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Canadian Charter and, as King, I thank you for your service to your fellow Canadians, across the length and breadth of this vast and great nation.
You speak for your communities, representing an incredible richness of cultures, languages, and perspectives. We owe it to this generation, and those who succeed us, to think and act for the greater good of all. While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics, and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.
By fostering collaboration and engaging in respectful, constructive debates, you will ensure this Government is capable of bold and fair action to support Canadians.
It has been nearly 70 years since the Sovereign first opened Parliament. In the time since, Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its Constitution, achieving full independence, and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French, and Indigenous roots, and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural, and committed to reconciliation.
The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present. As it should, it stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism.
Opening
When my dear late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, opened a new Canadian Parliament in 1957, the Second World War remained a fresh, painful memory. The Cold War was intensifying. Freedom and democracy were under threat. Canada was emerging as a growing economic power and a force for peace in the world. In the decades since, history has been punctuated by epoch-making events: the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the start of the War on Terror. Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.
The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.
We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.
Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity. An opportunity for renewal. An opportunity to think big and to act bigger. An opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War. A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.
Building new relationships with the United States and the world
The Prime Minister and the President of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S., rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.
In parallel, the Government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognizing that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects.
Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas. In this new, fast-evolving world, Canada is ready to lead. This will be demonstrated in June, when Canada convenes the G7 Summit.
Building a more affordable Canada
The Government is guided by its conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. Many Canadians are struggling to get ahead. The Government is responding, reducing middle-class taxes and saving two-income families up to $840 a year. It will cut the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, delivering savings of up to $50,000. And it will lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.
The Government will protect the programs that are already saving families thousands of dollars every year. These include child care and pharmacare. In addition to these, the Government has recently expanded the Canadian Dental Care Plan to cover about eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year.
Building a stronger Canada
The Government’s overarching goal – its core mission – is to build the strongest economy in the G7. That starts with creating one Canadian economy out of thirteen. Internal barriers to trade and labour mobility cost Canada as much as $200 billion each year. The Government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.
Numerous premiers have already taken vital steps to break down provincial and territorial barriers to trade. Together, we will build on that progress to deliver free trade across the nation by Canada Day. This is critical to unlocking Canada’s full economic potential, but it’s not enough.
To build Canada strong, the Government is working closely with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples to identify and catalyse projects of national significance. Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada’s ties with the world, and that will create high-paying jobs for generations.
Given the pace of change and the scale of opportunities, speed is of the essence. Through the creation of a new Major Federal Project Office, the time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two; all while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.
The Government will also strike co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of “one project, one review.”
When Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last.
By removing these barriers that have held back our economy, we will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever. It will enable Canada to become the world’s leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. To build an industrial strategy that will make Canada more globally competitive, while fighting climate change. To build hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades. And to build Canada into the world’s leading hub for science and innovation.
Critically, the Government will undertake a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating an entirely new housing industry – using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers, and Canadian lumber. The Government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating Build Canada Homes. This mission-driven organization will act to accelerate the development of new affordable housing. It will invest in the growth of the prefabricated and modular housing industry. And it will provide significant financing to affordable home builders. The Government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The Government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down.
Building a safer and more secure Canada
To be truly strong, Canada must be secure. To that end, the Government will introduce legislation to enhance security at Canada’s borders. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will have new tools to stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export, to prevent the transport of illegal and stolen products, including cars.
The Government will protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will boost Canada’s defence industry by joining ReArm Europe, to invest in transatlantic security with Canada’s European partners. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the North, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats.
The Government will discharge its duty to protect Canadians and their sovereign rights, from wherever challenges may come at home or abroad. To keep communities safe, the Government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. It will change firearms licensing and strengthen enforcement of yellow and red flag laws. Weapons licences for those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders will be revoked. Through the deployment of scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel, and K-9 teams, the Government will stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs across the border.
It will take these steps while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and Indigenous Peoples’ longstanding hunting traditions.
The Government will bring a renewed focus on car theft and home invasions by toughening the Criminal Code to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders charged with committing these crimes, along with human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Building a united Canada
During this time of great change, Canadians are uniting behind what makes Canada unique.
The French language and the Quebec culture are at the heart of the Canadian identity. They define the country that Canadians and I love so much. Canada is a country that respects and celebrates its official languages and Indigenous languages. The Government is determined to protect the institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, like CBC/Radio-Canada. It will protect the people who give us access to fresh, healthy, and quality food: agricultural producers. And it will protect supply management.
Nature is core to Canada’s identity. In 2022, Canada convened COP15 in Montréal, which concluded with 196 countries striking a historic agreement to protect 30 percent of their lands and 30 percent of waters by 2030. To this end, the Government will protect more of Canada’s nature than ever before through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas, and other conservation initiatives.
The Government will always protect the rights and freedoms that the Charter guarantees for every Canadian.
The Government will be a reliable partner to Indigenous Peoples, upholding its fundamental commitment to advancing reconciliation. Central to this commitment is the creation of long-term wealth and prosperity with Indigenous Peoples. For that reason, the Government will double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion – enabling more Indigenous communities to become owners of major projects. As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the Government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.
Canada’s immigration system has long been a source of pride for Canadians and of dynamism for the economy. The Government is dedicated to rebuilding the trust of Canadians in immigration by restoring balance to the system.
The Government will cap the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five percent of Canada’s population by 2027. By doing this, the Government will attract the best talent in the world to build our economy, while sending a clear message to Canadians working abroad that there is no better time to come home.
Building Canada Strong by spending less and investing more
In all of its actions, the Government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline: spend less so Canadians can invest more.
Day-to-day government spending – the government’s operating budget – has been growing by nine percent every year. The Government will introduce measures to bring it below two percent.
Transfers to provinces, territories, or individuals will be maintained. The Government will balance its operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication, and deploying technology to improve public sector productivity.
In parallel, the Government will take a series of measures to catalyse new investment to create better jobs and higher incomes for Canadians. The scale of the Government’s initiative will match the challenges of our times and the ambitions of Canadians.
Conclusion
Honourable Senators,
Members of the House of Commons,
When my dear late mother addressed your predecessors seven decades ago, she said that in that age, and against the backdrop of international affairs, no nation could live unto itself. It is a source of great pride that, in the following decades, Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values, as a force for good.
I wish to express to you and to the people of Canada my heartfelt gratitude, and that of my wife, for the warmth of the welcome which we have received.
As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!
Members of the House of Commons, you will be asked to appropriate the funds to carry out the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament.
May you honour the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I understand just how exceptional that was, and I have a deep appreciation of the House. I also think it is a reflection of how exceptional today is.
I move:
That the Speech of His Majesty the King, delivered this day from the Throne to both Houses of Parliament, be taken into consideration later this day.
(Motion agreed to)
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election.
The government is taking real action to bring down costs for Canadians. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I would like to table, in both official languages, a notice of ways and means motion containing measures that will deliver real change by cutting taxes for Canadians, bringing down costs and putting more money in the pockets of Canadians.
Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that the order of the day be designated for consideration of this ways and means motion.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Pursuant to subsection 15(3) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, it is my duty to lay upon the table the list of all sponsored travel by members for the year 2024, as provided by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
Shafqat Ali LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I move:
That the business of supply be considered at the next sitting of the House.
(Motion agreed to)
Business of Supply
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is my duty to inform the House that four days in all shall be allotted to the business of supply for the period ending June 23.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate you on your election.
There have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House, until the end of the current supply period ending June 23, 2025:
(a) Standing Orders 81(4) and 81(5) be replaced with the following:
“Main estimates and any supplementary estimates shall be deemed referred to a committee of the whole House immediately after they are presented in the House, provided that,
(i) a minister of the Crown, after consultation with the House leaders of the other parties, shall designate four days to consider these estimates in committee of the whole, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on each day for a period of time not exceeding four hours,
(ii) the said committee of the whole shall convene for the sole purpose of asking questions to the government in regard to the estimates,
(iii) during the time provided for the consideration of estimates in committee of the whole,
(A) no member shall be recognized for more than 15 minutes at a time and the member shall not speak in debate for more than 10 minutes during that period,
(B) the 15 minutes may be used exclusively both for debate and for posing questions to a minister of the Crown or a parliamentary secretary acting on behalf of the minister,
(C) when a member is recognized, he or she shall indicate how the 15 minutes is to be apportioned,
(D) members speaking during the debate may indicate to the Chair that they will be dividing their time with one or more other members;
(E) no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair,
(iv) at the conclusion of the time provided for the debate, or when no member wishes to speak, whichever comes first,
(A) on the fourth designated day, but in any case, not later than two sitting days before the last allotted day in the current period, the estimates shall be deemed reported back the same to the House,
(B) on the four designated days, the committee shall rise, the debate pursuant to Standing Order 38 shall not take place, and the House shall immediately adjourn to the next sitting day, and;
(b) Standing Order 81(14)(a) be amended by replacing the words “Twenty-four hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates, provided that for the supply period ending not later than June 23, forty-eight hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates” with the words “Twenty-four hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in these estimates for the supply period ending not later than June 23.”
Business of Supply
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
All those opposed to the hon. minister's moving the motion will please say nay. It is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
(Motion agreed to)
A message from Her Excellency the Governor General transmitting estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, was presented by the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Speaker to the House.
Shafqat Ali LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the main estimates, 2025-26.
The House proceeded to the consideration of the speech delivered by His Majesty the King at the opening of the session.
Corey Hogan Liberal Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
I would also like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on being elected by the members of the House yesterday. We have conferred upon you great responsibilities as Speaker, and though I have known you only a brief time, I am confident you will serve this Parliament well.
Today is a momentous day for this country and an unforgettable day for all of us in the chamber. I am personally honoured to rise in the House as a newly elected member of Parliament. I would like to thank my family for their love and support: my wife, Lori, and our children Annelies, Ben and Sam. I ran for office in no small part because I want them to have the opportunities Canada provided me and then some. I also want to thank my volunteers. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
We all went through a vibrant election campaign just a few weeks ago. Canadians were given the chance to look at the options the candidates for office put before them and make their choice by casting their ballot. It is democracy at its best.
The result of this election is such that every one of us here has been given the honour of serving our constituents. I know that we take this privilege to heart. I congratulate all of my MP colleagues.
As this parliamentary session begins, I am committed to working collaboratively with everyone on behalf of the people who sent us here.
I am deeply honoured that the people of Calgary Confederation have put their trust in me to be their representative in Parliament. As a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian, I stand here today in the chamber in genuine awe of the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon me, and all of us, at this important moment. This is a great nation, a nation of ten provinces and three territories, all working hand in hand with first nations, Inuit and Métis people, with whom we share our history.
We are a nation of regions from coast to coast, but we are one nation. It is especially important, at this moment in our history, that we remember this. No matter where we come from in this wonderful country called Canada, we are called upon to work together as a united people. That is at the core of our government's agenda to build a better and stronger Canada. It is also at the core of the Speech from the Throne. Let us review some of the highlights.
We are at a critical point in our nation's history with regard to our place in the world and the system of global trade. We are facing a turning point that we cannot shy away from. The trading system is changing, and we must understand that the relationship with our trading partners is evolving. It is a turning point that requires us all to accept what needs to be done and work together to accomplish it. In the throne speech, our government faces that reality.
Canadians understand that, since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous or unstable, but amidst this instability, there is an incredible opportunity. Our government intends to lead a confident Canada into the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War. We will stay true to our values and build new alliances to strengthen our economy. As the throne speech reminds us all, “Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away” from us.
As Canadians, we all know of the long-standing relationship our country has with the United States. It dates back many generations. We have friends there. We have family there. I am no exception. It is a relationship of two good neighbours built on mutual respect and a desire to strengthen each other's economies and national security.
This year has brought a fresh perspective to that relationship, one which has awoken the patriotism of Canadians and sharpened our resolve to maintain our national identity. The Prime Minister has been clear about his own resolve. He has visited the President of the United States in Washington, D.C., and as the throne speech notes, he and the President have begun to define “a new economic and security relationship” between our countries. That relationship will remain “rooted in mutual respect” and founded on our common, yet sovereign, interests. As we move forward, we will work towards delivering transformational benefits to both countries. As we do this, our government is determined not to avert our attention away from the rest of the work ahead.
Canada has much of what the world wants and needs, so our government will be strengthening Canada's relationship with reliable trading partners throughout the world. We will work towards building a coalition of nations that believes in co-operation and is ready to engage in the free exchange of goods, services and ideas. Canada can lead the way, and this will become even more apparent when we chair the G7 summit in my home province of Alberta next month.
I would now like to turn my attention to something closer to home. Throughout the country, many Canadians are having difficulty paying their bills. The cost of living has become unaffordable for many people. They are struggling to keep up and to get ahead of the daily pressures.
Our government will act to help Canadians get ahead. We will be reducing middle-class taxes as part of our economic agenda. This is a priority for us. Canadians can count on it.
The tax cut will put money back into the pockets of Canadian families. It will save the average two-income family up to $840 a year. We will cut the GST for homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers. This will deliver savings of up to $50,000. We will also lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.
As we do this, we will take concrete steps to double the rate of homebuilding in this country, using technology, skilled work and lumber that comes from Canada itself. We will take action to ensure the housing market works better, including cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing.
The plan is clear. The government will drive the housing supply up to bring housing costs down. The bottom line is that our government knows Canadians need relief, and we are supplying it.
We will ensure the future sustainability of programs that have already saved families thousands of dollars a year. This includes child care and pharmacare. It also encompasses the recent expansion of the Canadian dental care plan, which is now available to another 8 million Canadians, saving the average family more than $800 per visit.
Our government has a fundamental goal with regard to the Canadian economy: It is our core mission to build the strongest economy in the G7. As we move towards that goal, it is imperative to recognize that we must create one Canadian economy out of 13 economies. For far too long, we have been held up by internal barriers to trade and labour mobility, and these barriers cost us as much as $200 billion per year. The throne speech made it clear that our government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.
We are moving quickly because the time for action is now. We cannot delay. The premiers of several provinces and territories have already taken steps to remove barriers. Our government is committed to working with all the others to continue moving in this direction.
As we move this way, it is important that we, as Canadians, recognize that this is a time to not only build but also build big. We must now build major projects to further secure our national economy and create high-paying jobs that will last for generations. To assist in this, our government will create a new major federal projects office, through which the time needed to approve projects will be shortened from five years to two years, a goal that would make us among the best, if not the best, in the OECD. This will be done while upholding Canada's environmental standards and its constitutional obligation to indigenous peoples.
Removing these obstacles will put Canada in a better position to withstand any trade war we might experience. The change will create jobs and make us stronger. As the throne speech says, it will enable us to become a superpower in both green and conventional energy. This is a message Canadians from all regions should hear. It is certainly music to Albertans' ears.
The government recognizes that Canadians have legitimate concerns about the safety of their neighbourhoods and streets. We will introduce legislation to enhance security at our borders. We will introduce new tools for our law enforcement intelligence agencies to stop the flow of fentanyl. The criminal code will be toughened to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders convicted of crimes such as car theft, home invasion and human trafficking. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to crack down on the stolen car trade to prevent the transport of illegal products.
To further protect our communities, the government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. We will take action to stem gun violence through changes to firearm licensing and through the use of scanners, drones and helicopters to stem the flow of drugs and guns across the border.
Earlier, I spoke of how we live in a world of uncertainty and instability. Our government has the responsibility to protect Canada's sovereignty, and we will do that. The government will rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Forces. We will work with our European allies to strengthen transatlantic security, and we will invest in the Canadian north as part of our commitment to keep the country safe from existing and emerging threats.
As an Albertan and the son of a Quebecker, I am proud to live in a country where the French language and the Quebec culture are embodied in our very national identity. The throne speech makes our government's values clear and respects the country's official and aboriginal languages. Moreover, it is a commitment to protecting the institutions that are a showcase for those cultures, like CBC or Radio-Canada.
Our government is also deeply committed to upholding fundamental obligations to advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. We must and we will assist in the creation of sustainable prosperity for them. As part of that, we will increase funding for the indigenous loan guarantees program to help more indigenous communities own major projects.
Also central to our identity is the pristine beauty of our land. Canadians are rightly proud of their natural habitat. Our government will protect this distinct feature of Canada by creating new national parks and marine protected areas.
For many decades, Canadians have taken great pride in our immigration system. It has helped paint the portrait of the Canadian mosaic while also fuelling the engine of the economy. Maintaining public trust in the system is integral for the system itself to be sound. Our government will take steps to build trust and restore balance. We will place a limit on the number of temporary foreign workers and international students while taking steps to attract the best talent in the world to come here and join us in building our economy.
Let me end with some remarks about the government's commitment to responsible fiscal management. Our government brings a new approach to this matter. The throne speech notes that the government's operating budget has been growing by 9% every year. That must change. It will change. Our government will bring in measures to reduce the growth of that budget to below 2%. Moreover, we will set a responsible target for deficit reduction. The government will balance its operating budget over the next three years through responsible and prudent fiscal management.
Transfers to provinces, territories and Canadians themselves will be maintained. These are the actions of a new government determined to set concrete objectives to build Canada into a stronger and more prosperous nation for its people. Today's throne speech provides a road map for how we will get there. It is an ambitious agenda. It is an agenda that Canadians, working together, can achieve.
I move, seconded by the hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville, that the following address be presented to His Majesty the King:
TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:
MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN:
We, Your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
Billy Morin Conservative Edmonton Northwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals put forward a plan that includes a section on Canadian unity but does not mention the west once. The Liberals offer empty words on making Canada an energy superpower but provide absolutely no concrete action to spur investment and growth in our energy sector. This is what the Prime Minister's energy minister offered in Calgary last week: empty words, void of tangible commitments.
Let us be clear: The job losses and cancelled projects in our energy sector are the direct result of Liberal laws and policies. Making Canada an energy superpower begins with repealing the Liberal anti-energy laws. We must repeal Bill C-69, the no new pipelines act, which blocks energy infrastructure; Bill C-48, the oil tanker ban, which landlocks our energy; and the oil and gas production cap, which will gut $20 billion from the Canadian economy and kill 54,000 jobs, many of them in my own riding.
The energy minister failed to do it, so here is the chance for the Prime Minister to unequivocally commit to undoing the Liberal anti-energy laws. Will the Prime Minister repeal the no new pipelines law, the oil tanker ban and the oil and gas production cap so that Canada can build energy infrastructure and get our resources to market?
Corey Hogan Liberal Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, I was with the Minister of Energy when he made that speech, and the vibe in the room was very different. We ended up hearing a very positive response from people who were looking forward to turning a page and having more productive conversations, something I would encourage all members to take to heart. It is not surprising the minister got a positive response, given that the Liberals received the highest percentage of votes that they have had in Calgary in generations, since 1968.
This is a new government that will bring new balances to our energy and environment conversations, and those are needed. I will remind the members opposite that pipelines were going down to failure long before any of the bills they listed as possible reasons for it. In fact, northern gateway did not manage to pass court challenges, because the environmental reviews and the indigenous consultations were deemed too insufficient by the courts, a problem that this side of the House has cleaned up.
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the people of Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine for putting their trust in me. I will endeavour, at every opportunity, to be worthy of them and stand up for the interests of Quebec and its regions.
The Speech from the Throne in no way prioritizes the interests of our regions. We have just come out of an election campaign that was entirely focused on the importance of protecting our economy against Donald Trump, but the Speech from the Throne makes no mention of Quebec's forestry industry and its needs in the softwood lumber dispute. It makes no mention of aluminum, which is one of the sectors hit by the U.S. tariffs. It makes no mention of the fishery, an important and fragile sector whose exports rely far too heavily on the Americans.
This text was read by a British monarch and it is so disconnected from the needs of Quebeckers that it could just as easily have been written in London. Where are Quebec's interests in that document?
Corey Hogan Liberal Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question.
Canada is a nation of regions. I know this well as an Albertan. A speech of this nature is about the nation as a whole. There is much detail to come afterward and much discussion to have in the days to come.
Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
This is the first test, I guess.
The hon. member for Winnipeg North.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, I missed my Conservative friends too, especially Pierre Poilievre.
Having said that, Canadians elected a new government here in Canada. It is a government that understands the benefits of building a strong economy and a strong nation for all Canadians. We have seen that clearly demonstrated in the throne speech delivered by the King of Canada earlier today.
Would my friend and colleague from Alberta not agree that one of the most impressive initiatives the Prime Minister took on day one was to give Canadians a tax break? Hundreds of millions of dollars will go into the pockets of Canadians in every region of our country.
Corey Hogan Liberal Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with my colleague. This is another example of a new government bringing a new agenda, and Canadians will be well served by that government in the weeks, months and hopefully years to come.