Debates of May 28th, 2025

Democratic Institutions

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a Léger poll shows that 87% of Quebeckers feel zero attachment to the monarchy. That is why Quebec's National Assembly unanimously passed a motion demanding that all ties between Quebec and the monarchy be severed. Quebeckers are democrats, not monarchists.

However, the Liberals' first act after the election was invite the King of England to parade around at Quebeckers' expense, which will cost millions of dollars.

Do they realize that their very first act proves that they are completely out of touch with Quebeckers?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Laurier—Sainte‑Marie for allowing me to serve here for a third consecutive term.

I would also like to remind my colleagues in the Bloc Québécois that the British Crown always reads the Speech from the Throne. There is nothing new there. This time, of course, the King came to read it, which is a great honour for many Canadians, including Quebeckers. I have met some of them.

I would also like to remind my colleagues in the Bloc Québécois that Canada is a sovereign country. Sovereignty is a concept that the Bloc Québécois should understand well.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers did not vote for that. Quebeckers were hoping for a serious government that would table a budget to help Quebec's economy face up to Donald Trump. Today they are seeing that the Liberals' priority was not the budget, because there is no budget. It was not support for the economy, because there is no support. Their priority was pomp and circumstance with the King of England.

How strange it is that when the Bloc Québécois brings up the monarchy, it is always accused of avoiding serious matters. However, the Liberals are the ones not prioritizing serious matters, like the budget. They decided to waste millions of dollars on a royal parade instead.

Can they explain that to us?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the people of Saint‑Maurice—Champlain for electing me for a fourth mandate, which I will fulfill with conviction, humility and passion.

We certainly are taking care of serious matters. They were asleep at the switch. The first thing we announced is a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. We should all be celebrating that here today. There are 22 million Canadians who are going to benefit from a middle-class tax cut. Promise made, promise kept. We are going to build Canada strong together.

Housing

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing two very different narratives on housing: one from the campaign and a very different one from the minister.

The new housing minister, the former mayor of Vancouver who let housing prices go up 179% in just eight years, is saying something very different. The minister answered a resounding “no” when he was asked if home prices should come down from their record highs.

If he is adamant that prices should not go down, how much does the minister think they should go up?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be here.

I want to, first of all, thank the people of Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby for giving me the opportunity to represent them here.

On the issue of affordability and affordable housing, first, I am very proud to be part of a government that is committed to cutting taxes from day one here in the House. I am also looking forward to pursuing the most ambitious affordable housing plan in the history of Canada, delivering a GST cut to first-time homebuyers and ensuring we bring the development costs down in—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Thornhill has the floor.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister ought to know that the housing market is already in chaos. Sellers cannot sell and buyers cannot buy. It is proving out: Only 310 houses were sold across the entire GTA. That is a staggering 89% below the 10-year average. Lower supply and higher prices spell more trouble for Canadians. Instead of building homes and bringing the costs down, the minister is actually building more bureaucracy.

We know that housing prices went up 179% when the minister was in charge of housing in Vancouver. How much higher are they going to get when he is in charge of housing for the entire country?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is not about reducing the value of an individual's home or a senior's home. The member may wish to force seniors to sell their homes for less, but we are going to focus on building more affordable housing and delivering a cut to the GST for first-time homebuyers.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the sale of new homes in the GTA just hit a seventh straight month of record-setting lows. Only 310 new homes were sold in the GTA in April, which is a 72% drop over last year and an 89% drop in the 10-year average, with condo sales plummeting 94%. The report warns that there will be a massive housing shortage in two years.

Prices are too high for buyers, and they are too low for sellers. Can the Prime Minister tell us what he plans to do to help the buyers who cannot afford to buy and the sellers who cannot afford to sell?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is good to be back.

In fact, the Conservatives have not changed; they should listen more. My colleague was very clear about what we are doing. We are eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers in the country for houses up to $1 million. We should all celebrate.

We expect the Conservatives to support the ways and means motion we have put forward, because this is how we can help Canadians.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tax relief is certainly welcome, and it is, frankly, long overdue from the government, but the bigger tax cuts that its members are talking about will save families $70 a month. We are dealing with families that are looking at $5,000-a-month mortgages or more.

Equifax is reporting that the mortgage delinquencies in Ontario are at the highest level ever recorded; they are up 70%. This is not a coincidence. It is certainly not a surprise.

Instead of building a third federal housing bureaucracy, why do we not just get more homes built?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, on the one hand, it is encouraging to hear that the Conservatives will support our motion, but it is concerning to hear a member talk down a measure that will help 22 million Canadians in this country; it is shocking. This is up to $840 for a family with two incomes.

The people in my riding and in the member's riding are welcoming this measure, and we hope that the Conservatives will support us. This is how we support Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, on the campaign trail, I met hundreds of young people from Montmorency—Charlevoix who are completely discouraged by housing prices. After more than a decade of this Liberal government, the costs of mortgage payments and a down payment on a home have doubled.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, housing prices in Quebec increased by 10% last year alone. However, on his first day in office, the Minister of Housing said that housing prices were fine. That statement is completely out of touch with reality.

How can the minister look our young people in the eye and tell them that housing prices are fine the way they are?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, had my colleague listened carefully today, he would have heard that there is good news for Canadians.

We are going to eliminate the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers. That will deliver savings of $50,000. It is an amazing measure. It is a measure that helps young families. It is a measure that is going to help Canadians.

That promise was made, and it is the first promise kept by the Prime Minister's government.

The Economy

[Jessica Fancy-Landry, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last month, voters in my riding of beautiful South Shore—St. Margarets voted for change, a change to address the cost of living, which has eroded Canada's quality of life. They voted for a change that puts more money in their pockets, and they voted for change that builds a more affordable Canada. As we build the strongest economy in the G7, we need to ensure that we leave no Canadians behind.

Could the Minister of Finance and National Revenue please share with this House how the government is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Minister of Finance and National Revenue.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, what a great question. I think the Conservatives should follow this lead.

I want to congratulate my colleague for her election and for the hard work that she is putting in on behalf of the people of South Shore—St. Margarets.

As the member mentioned, last month Canadians voted for a government that has a plan to build the best economy in the G7, and that is what we are delivering. We are going to address the cost of living in this country, which is why one of the very first announcements of this government was to cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We should all celebrate.

Public Safety

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal policies like Bill C-5 have led to a crime wave across Canada. Violent crime is up 50%, and gun violence is up 116%. Just yesterday, a drive-by shooting shook our small rural community of Cayuga. This crime wave is no accident. It is a direct result of Liberal policies like Bill C-5, which has ended mandatory jail time for serious gun offences and drug crimes.

Will the Prime Minister end this crime wave by repealing Trudeau's Bill C-5?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I will just take a moment to thank the people of Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park for my fourth consecutive mandate.

To my friend opposite, my heart goes out to those who were impacted by the violence in her community just yesterday. I want to assure her, and I want to assure all Canadians, that we will address issues of serious violent offenders seriously. We will make sure that we tighten up bail reform, and we will ensure that our government will always be there to protect Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a serious issue is the will of Canadians to live in peace, which they once did. Now they live in fear because of Liberal soft-on-crime policies. Liberal policies like Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 put repeat violent offenders back on the streets, contributing to the suffering of communities across Canada. Premiers, police, legal experts and civil liberties advocates all demand change.

I ask the question one more time: Will the Prime Minister restore safe streets and repeal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, yes or no?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, on April 28, Canadians gave us a mandate to ensure that our streets are safe. Since that time, we have been working together with law enforcement to work towards safer communities across Canada.

I want to just outline some of the highlights from the chief of police for the City of Toronto, who indicated that auto thefts, for example, have decreased by 39%, home invasions are down by 42%, homicides are down by 67% and shootings are down by 46%.

We have a lot more work to do, and we will work together with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians. Our government will always be there to protect Canadians.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, families across Canada feel helpless because the Liberals have done nothing to stop violent crime rising across the country. They are sticking to their ideological soft-on-crime policies. That is why extortion gangs are targeting Canadian businesses and their families. In fact, just this month, we have seen more shootings, arson and even a murder potentially linked to extortion, yet Canada still has no mandatory minimum penalty for extortion.

Will the Prime Minister work with Conservatives to bring in the same legislation that I brought forward in the last Parliament to bring in tougher penalties for extortion?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, you heard it in the throne speech yesterday: It is a top priority of this new government. We are partnering with police services across this country to fight organized crime. We will make it tougher for violent criminals to get bail. We will impose stricter sentences for repeat offenders.

We are serious. We are going to get to work, and we are going to fight crime.