Debates of May 29th, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague and thank him for his speech.

In the Speech from the Throne, the government says it wants to build affordable housing through the “build Canada homes” program. The French name of the program was changed during the campaign after the government had been negligent, verging on careless, with the French language.

I have a simple question for my colleague. In his riding, what would it cost to build affordable housing?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out, we have already had a lot of success with the rapid housing initiative, which delivered results for the citizens of Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park with Dunn House. A second project will be developed on the former LCBO site on Brock Avenue.

As members of Parliament, we represent our communities, and it is good to see ambitious programs being implemented. We need to look at how we can get these programs off the ground.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking all of my constituents who gave me the opportunity to be here today to bring their voices to Ottawa. I want to thank my team, the volunteers, my family, and all of my fellow members of Parliament who are here today and who have supported me at the start of the 45th Parliament.

My question is this. The first measure taken by the new Prime Minister was to lower income taxes, which will put millions of dollars in the pockets of Canadians. Could the member tell us what impact he thinks this measure will have?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is more poverty in my riding than in other ridings. Even a small reduction in the cost of living is good for taxpayers. That measure is set to take effect in July, and it will have an immediate impact.

Many people in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park are living on the margins. Every effort we make to recognize that and make life a little more affordable will bring immediate relief.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate you on taking the seat in the Speaker's chair as Deputy Speaker.

We saw in the throne speech that there was a lot of discussion about the threat towards Canada from the Trump administration, and rightfully so. Canadians and, I believe, every member of the House will be very focused on taking that issue to heart and on protecting Canada and our sovereignty.

At the same time, we also have another threat, and that is the issue of foreign interference. We knew that, heading into the election, our democratic institutions were under threat from foreign interference actors, yet the Liberal government, in the previous administration, did not put in place Bill C-70. We did not have that during the election, and there has yet to be any mention of that anywhere from the government bench, including from the Prime Minister.

Why was that not mentioned in the throne speech?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are a new Parliament. Part of being a new Parliament means bringing in new voices. In my past life at a think tank at the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, we worked a lot on this issue, and I am looking forward to working with the member on this issue if she is interested.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on taking the chair as Deputy Speaker. That is a fantastic thing, and it is well deserved.

I rise in the House today with humility and purpose. I stand here with a promise. It is a promise that shaped my family across generations, which is that if we work hard, raise our family and love our country, we will be free to live in dignity and peace. I am the great-grandson of a pioneer who broke the untamed fields of what would become Alberta before there was power and pavement. I am also the son of a farmer who survived Communism with nothing but his hands, his family and the hope that Alberta would be a place where his children could speak freely, live safely and never bow to a state that hated them.

My father did not come to Canada in 1953 for a handout. He did not arrive on a student visa or as part of some bureaucratic temporary foreign worker program. No, Hubert Bexte came to Canada to build. He came to build a farm, a community, a country and, most importantly, a family. He paid back his own passage from Europe by labouring in Alberta's sugar beet fields, on the southern edge of the very riding I represent here today, with no welfare, no hotel rooms and no Liberal-sponsored welcome package. There was just sweat, sacrifice and a belief that what Canada could be was what we should aspire to be.

I chose to raise my own four children in the Alberta countryside because that is where promise still lives. It lived with my great-grandfather's hands. It lived in my father's footsteps, and it now it lives in my children. Let me say this: I would not be here without the support of my wife Lorelei; my children Kyle, Keean, William and Annalise; my mother Nadine; and the rest of my extended family.

I also want to thank the many people of Bow River, from Grassi Lakes to Tilley, from Gem to Beiseker, from Conrich to Siksika Nation, Arrowwood, Milo, Carmangay and Barnwell, and everywhere in between. They are my neighbours. They are who I aspire to be, and I hold this seat for them.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to 4-H Alberta, a program and a community that shaped me early. I joined when I was nine years old, and it was there that I learned how to speak with confidence, work with purpose and serve my neighbours. It is where I first lived the motto I still carry with me today, which is to learn to do by doing.

I also want to recognize the young people watching today. In Alberta's grade 6 curriculum, students learn about our political system, and many are watching these proceedings live. One of those classes is taught by Dr. Brian Jackson of Lyalta, and these students are paying attention. They are learning not from sound bites but from how we carry ourselves in the House.

The riding that sent me here is called Bow River. It is not just a place; it is a people, a home and a promise. Much like the people who rely on it, the Bow does not ask Ottawa's permission to flow. It carves through rocks, sustains life and cuts a path forward, whether or not anyone in this chamber notices. The Bow runs past oil wells that were shut down by people who have never set foot on a rig. It flows past farms that were taxed by bureaucrats who could not grow a weed. It flows past churches that were left to burn. While politicians offer excuses instead of justice, the river flows past the homes of the veterans, seniors and families who have been forgotten by the system but not by me. The beautiful thing about the Bow is this: Even when the government grinds to a halt, it keeps flowing.

When politicians hostile to Alberta try to strangle our economy, the Bow River keeps flowing. When bureaucrats in glass towers write the rules that cripple our farms, it keeps flowing. When unelected judges rewrite our rules and call it progress, it keeps flowing. When they shut down our churches, our rigs and our rodeos, it keeps flowing. The Bow does not care about trendy acronyms or performative politics. It cares about feeding cattle, watering crops and quenching the thirst of a working land. It fuels an ecosystem and an economy, and it helps feed the world. It does not wait for permission. It flows where it needs to flow.

If it has not been clear, I am not just talking about the river. I am talking about the people, because just like the Bow River, we move with purpose, and we are done with waiting for the rest of the country to catch up. We do not need a national strategy; we need Ottawa to get out of the way. I ran to represent the people who built this country and who are now watching it be dismantled by people who do not understand it and, worse, do not even like it.

This week, the Prime Minister stood before the country and promised more of the same: a new housing bureaucracy, a new set of buzzwords instead of a budget, more red tape instead of results, and not a single word about oil and gas pipelines or the workers who drive our economy.

Let us be honest with Canadians. We do not need to renew the consensus on immigration, the one that has fuelled the Liberal political ambition for a decade. We need to rebuild this country for Canadians. We do not need to gaslight working families into accepting out-of-control immigration while wages stagnate, house prices explode and services collapse. We need to restore common sense and put Canadians first in their own country. We do not need more empty promises. We need paycheques we can raise a family on, homes we can actually afford and streets we feel safe walking down. We need less gatekeeping, less government and a whole lot more grit.

I come from the part of Canada that feeds the country and fuels its economy, so I will speak plainly. Where I come from, words matter, but work and deeds matter more. I am here to fight for the honest worker, the family farmer, the rig hand, the rancher, the welder, the widow, the worshipper and every kid who still believes this country can be worth something. I come to the House with one of the strongest mandates in the nation. I earned it by promising to rip this place down to the studs and start rebuilding a country we can recognize again.

This week, the Prime Minister showed he is here to do the opposite. Behind the pageantry and parades, he disrespected the Crown by using the King to deliver a tired and empty speech, meant to distract Canadians from a simple truth, which is that he is still stumbling forward on the heels of Justin Trudeau's failed record. I have a deep respect for our institutions, but what Canadians needed this week was not ceremonial flourishes. They needed substance, not sentiment. They needed solutions, not more speeches from elites in suits. They needed action for the people in coveralls, including the farmers, the builders and the rig hands, and for the parents wondering how to afford groceries and heat at the same time.

Canadians are tired of being lectured. They are tired of being told everything is fine when they can see with their own eyes that it is not. This country has a proud and noble history. It was built by pioneers, sustained by families and defended by those willing to risk everything for the promise of freedom and prosperity. However, after a decade of mismanagement and division from the Liberal front bench, that promise is fading.

Alberta separatism is no longer a fringe idea. I heard it at the doors more times than I can count. I can tell members plainly that Alberta staying in the Confederation is not up to me, and it is not up to the Liberal government. It is up to the people of Alberta, and Albertans know they have options. If the House continues to insult, abuse and neglect Alberta, if it refuses to treat our people and our industries with the respect they have earned, then the future of this country is not guaranteed.

None of us should assume we will have this job here tomorrow. At any moment, the government could lose the confidence of the House. When that moment comes, Canadians will remember who has stayed with them and who stood in their way. When the system stalls, the Bow River keeps flowing. When the government offers platitudes instead of a plan, the Bow keeps flowing. When it forgets who built this country, we remember, and we keep moving.

I want to thank the people of Bow River for one of the strongest mandates in this nation. I am thankful to my family, my friends and my neighbours for trusting me with this duty. I will not let them down. I did not come here to rub shoulders with royalty. I came here to fight for the families, farmers and energy workers who built this country. I will keep fighting until the Liberal government gets the message, because that promise still lives, and I intend to keep it.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I suspect that, going forward, there might be disagreements on a lot of things between that member and me. I, for one, feel very confident in believing that Canadians want a national health care system. They want a national child care system. They want a government that truly cares and can actually deliver. I have listened to the Alberta premier, and I think she might be further to the left than that particular member. When I listen to the member opposite, I am not too sure what side of the issue of separation he is on.

Does the member opposite not believe that Canada, working together, can have a positive outcome for everyone in all regions of the country, and that the federal government does have a very important role in society?

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I take some offence to the member opposite's allusion to my patriotism. Canada is the country that my family came to by choice, for a future. It was very deliberate. It was Canada or Australia, and they chose Canada, and that is the blood that flows through my veins.

I think the problem is that the government is failing on the promise to deliver to the people. We want a society that is good for everyone; we have compassion. We want a society that thrives and survives and develops, but the Liberal government has failed in that promise over the last nine years, and there is nothing in this current circumstance that shows otherwise.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by congratulating you and telling you how relieved I am that you are in the chair. You are a diligent member of Parliament and a formidable opponent when asking or answering questions as a member. I am glad to see you in the chair because it will save us from having to go up against you as a colleague and adversary.

I also want to congratulate the new member for Bow River. I was very fond of his predecessor, my good friend Mr. Shields. I would ask my colleague to pass on my best regards at the earliest opportunity. It was a pleasure serving with him, particularly when it came to heritage matters. Mr. Shields and I both sat on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, and I really appreciated him as a colleague.

I listened to the speech by my new colleague from Bow River. He talked about the Alberta independence movement stemming from Albertans' dissatisfaction on a number of fronts. It is not for me to judge whether that feeling is justified. However, it got me wondering. The independence movement has existed in Quebec for decades, but it has not always been treated with the respect we think it deserved over the years.

As Alberta begins to consider independence, is it not time to have a serious discussion about the future of this country? Perhaps the various regions of Canada should reflect on the best way of tackling the future and its challenges. For our part, we believe that Quebec should be an independent nation. We have been saying that for a long time. What is happening in Alberta leads me to believe that all of Canada should be involved in this process of reflection.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am a little remiss in not thanking former MP Martin Shields for all his support and the duty and the service that he gave in the seat that I now occupy. I will pass on the wishes from the member.

Let me be clear: I want a strong and united Canada. Albertans want a strong and united Canada. However, unity is not something that can be enforced from the top down; it has to be earned through respect, fairness and equal treatment. Right now, Alberta is not feeling much of that and is not seeing much of that.

This House has the opportunity to forge a nation and bring it all together to show all the provinces what the promise of Canada is. If this House wants national unity, then it starts by giving western Canadians a reason to believe in that again.

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to rise in the chamber today. Let me begin by congratulating you on your new role and congratulating all members who got elected or re-elected to the 45th Parliament.

Today, I rise in the chamber to thank the residents of the great riding of Brampton West for giving me the honour and the incredible privilege to serve as their member of Parliament. I recognize and greatly appreciate that I am here today because of the efforts of countless individuals, from family and friends to mentors and neighbours, who have supported me, guided me and inspired me along my journey.

I would like to thank the wonderful team that ran my campaign and committed countless hours of their time and efforts: the volunteers, the supporters, the donors and the staff. Running in the election also required a lot of sacrifices from our families. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife, Amandeep Gill, and my son, Rajvir Gill, who sacrificed a lot of time and gave me the unconditional support and encouragement to run in the election and serve the residents of Brampton West.

I am thankful to the Brampton West residents for the faith and trust they have put in me to serve them. I am committed to discussing the priorities that matter to them and hold the government accountable not only to the residents of my riding, but to the whole city of Brampton. With humbleness, I carry the great responsibility of representing Brampton West and representing their values, concerns, hopes and dreams of a bright and uplifting future for themselves and their children in this beautiful country of ours that we all feel proud to call our home.

After completing my post-secondary education in engineering and political science and an MBA, I immigrated to Canada in 1998. I am personally very grateful to be able to call Canada my home. Like many of the Brampton West residents, I come from humble beginnings. I come from a family of service, as my grandfather and father both served in the armed forces during World War I and World War II, respectively. Because of their sacrifices, I experienced first-hand that freedom and opportunities are gifts of dedication and selfless service passed from one generation to the next. Their legacy of duty and courage reminds me that I must also work diligently out of these values of hard work, determination and perseverance to contribute toward a life of freedom and opportunities for the next generation.

While my father gave me the discipline and commitment to duty and service, my mother gave me the values of care and compassion. Through her example, she taught me the importance of taking care of each other with patience and understanding and nurturing growth and togetherness in our families and our communities. It is with these values of service, hard work, dedication and commitment toward excellence for the benefit of all that I stand here today on behalf of the residents of Brampton West.

Brampton has been my home for over 20 years. I am grateful that, as a newcomer, my efforts and hard work were rewarded by the Canadian promise, and I received opportunities that allowed me to advance my professional career with diverse experiences: from quality assurance in the automotive, industrial and aerospace sectors to a distinguished tenure as an adjudicator at Tribunals Ontario, all while raising a family in a safe and prosperous city.

Today, I rise not just as the member of Parliament for Brampton West to express my gratitude, but as the voice of a community that has been promised much and delivered far too little.

The Speech from the Throne spoke of ambition, inclusivity and recovery, but for my constituents, those words ring hollow. They ring hollow to families that can no longer afford groceries, residents afraid to walk down their streets, and young people watching their dreams of home ownership slip away. The throne speech does not reflect the reality faced daily by the people of Brampton.

Let me paint a picture of what the reality is for Brampton residents regarding the key issues of safety, cost of living, employment, housing, immigration and business opportunities, or lack thereof.

On public safety, while the government claims it is strengthening public safety, the people of Brampton are living in fear. Violent crime is up 50%; auto theft is up 50%; extortion is up 400%. Soft-on-crime Liberal policies, Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 have unleashed the crime waves in Brampton. This is part of the worst crime wave this country has ever seen. The Peel Regional Police even had to launch Project Warlock, recovering vehicles and solving violent home invasions. It is for these reasons that the Peel Regional Police Association endorsed the Conservative Party, including my candidacy. I look forward to working closely with those police officers.

The throne speech mentioned more tools for law enforcement, but after eight years of inaction, communities like mine know the truth: There is no safety in a press release. What is needed is real funding, tougher bail reform and support for local police, not recycled announcements.

On affordability and the cost of living, the throne speech spoke about affordability, yet in Brampton the average home price in April 2025 stood at just under $950,000, a dream slipping further out of reach for working families. The cost of living is almost $2,900 per person per month. Grocery prices have surged. Rents are up. Interest rates are punishing mortgage holders, and still the government added more carbon taxes and deeper deficits. There is no clear plan to cut wasteful spending or to put money back in Canadians' pockets.

On jobs and the economy, the throne speech promised economic growth, but the numbers tell the truth. Brampton's unemployment rate is up. Canada's unemployment rate is up. Small businesses are struggling, choked by red tape and high taxes. We need policies that lower taxes, encourage investments and get Canadians better paycheques.

On immigration, I am an immigrant and I know first-hand the value that newcomers bring to this country, but I also know that growth without planning leads to strain. In Brampton, over 52% of the population are immigrants, a testament to our multicultural strength, but this rapid growth has outpaced housing, transit and health care.

Housing was mentioned in the throne speech, but the crisis has worsened under the Liberal government. Brampton has one of the fastest-growing populations in Canada, but building permits and completion lag far behind demand. Promises to work with municipalities have not delivered enough shovels in the ground. Where is the federal leadership on zoning reform, infrastructure investment and rental construction? We need action now to build homes fast and to put the dream of home ownership back within the reach of Canadians.

On small businesses and opportunities, the throne speech says that Canada is open for business, but for entrepreneurs in Brampton the reality is burdensome paperwork, rising costs and policy uncertainty. Business owners in general are begging for tax relief and streamlined licensing. Instead, they get more red tape and rising payroll costs. The Conservative vision is clear: cut the red tape, incentivize innovation and support the backbone of our economy that is small businesses.

Brampton West elected me because they are tired of promises and now they want to see the results. They are tired of headlines without substance, slogans without strategy, and speeches that speak of ambition without any road map to achievement.

Brampton West residents resonated with the values of the Conservative Party: fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic opportunity, and respect for families and businesses. While the government celebrates headlines, I will fight for families, seniors and young Canadians trying to build a life.

I hear the people of Brampton West, and I stand with them. I will continue holding the Liberal government to account until their voices are truly reflected in the decisions made in this House.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Brampton is a wonderful, beautiful community in Canada. Many of my constituents have relations and family in the community of Brampton.

Having said that, the member spent a great deal of his efforts and time on the issue of crime. I am very sensitive to that issue, as I know that my colleagues, in particular my colleagues in the Brampton area, are very much concerned about crime.

I am sure the member recognizes that when it comes to the issue of crime, there is jurisdictional responsibility. The provincial government, the federal government and the municipal government all have a very important role to play. In looking at dealing with crime in our communities, would the member not agree that the province needs to step up, that the city needs to step up and that the federal government also has to step up?

That is one of the reasons why the Prime Minister of Canada indicated today that we can anticipate more issues and legislation dealing with things such as bail reform. Does the member not see that as a good thing? Can we anticipate the member's support?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is a wonderful question. I know that he is concerned about crime as well, and this gives me the sense that if we work together, we will achieve certain things.

Let me tell members who is not strengthening the laws. The leadership has to come from the top to the bottom. We are in a position where we can strengthen the laws. We can ask our provincial counterparts and our municipalities to implement those laws once we have strict laws and the bail reforms are there. In my opinion, and I always say this, repeat violent offenders should be in jail, not out on bail. I also hear, time and time again, that these things are taking time.

Let us work together to eliminate crime in cities and across Canada.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague and congratulate him on his election.

He spoke on a very important topic, namely immigration, which was also addressed in the Speech from the Throne. More specifically, it mentions plans to cap temporary immigration. It even mentions rebuilding public trust in our immigration system. In recent years, however, since the Liberal government took power, the Liberals have been utterly obsessed with managing the immigration system.

Canada's population growth is among the highest in the world. My colleague from Brampton West mentioned it in his speech when he pointed out that newcomers have certain needs, like infrastructure and public services.

For a long time now, Quebec has been asking for control over its own immigration so that it can take its capacity to receive and integrate newcomers into account and protect French, its national language.

Does my colleague agree with that approach?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I said in my speech that I came as an immigrant. I understand the importance of immigration for the country. I know what immigrants bring to the country. I also agree that we have to be united and strong together. Once we are united and strong, we can have immigration policies that benefit all of Canada. We are in a position where we can be the envy of the world when we start unleashing our resources to build our economy and build our strengths.

I always believe in one thing: that immigration should be on a skills basis. If we need people, we have to bring them in. I am in favour of a united and strong Canada, and we will work toward that.

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to see you in the chair. Congratulations on your new role.

I also congratulate my colleague from Brampton West, in particular for his advocacy on crime.

On car thefts and auto thefts, we have seen them in my community. We see them in his community and across the GTA, yet there has been no serious action from the government in terms of bail reform or what is seeping out of our ports in terms of stolen cars. Would the member comment a little on auto theft and the importance of that issue in Brampton?

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, crime was the number one issue when I was campaigning in Brampton West. People are really living their lives in fear. People are not going out. When they come to their driveways with their cars, they look left, right and centre before they enter their houses. This is a very big problem, and the Liberals have not done anything to make it better. Let us start working on that issue, and let us eliminate crime from the country and from Brampton West.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to congratulate you on your new role as Deputy Speaker. I also want to congratulate the Speaker of the House. Bad habits are hard to break. Given the respect that all members have for you, I am confident that you will be able to maintain order and decorum in the House.

I will be sharing my time with the member for Don Valley West.

I would also like to congratulate all re-elected and new members, especially the members for Compton—Stanstead and Brome—Missisquoi. We form a strong Eastern Townships caucus focused on the needs of our beautiful region.

I would also like to take a moment to thank the voters in my riding of Sherbrooke. Earning their trust for a third term is a great privilege, and I can assure them that I will always represent them with the same commitment, attentiveness and tenacity.

After an election campaign in which all voices were heard, Canadians gave us a mandate that comes with certain obligations and expectations, as always, and that is demanding and deeply realistic. To fulfill this mandate, we must now present an ambitious plan.

The first part of the vast transformation we are undertaking for our economy consists of three measures.

First, we are cutting taxes for nearly 22 million Canadians, saving two-income families up to $840 a year. This middle-class tax cut will promote economic growth and help families feel financially secure. To provide them with a little more relief, we are keeping programs such as the child care program and the Canadian dental care plan, which now covers even more Canadians. These programs are having a real impact on people's lives.

Second, we are eliminating the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers and lowering the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Third, we are getting rid of consumer carbon pricing. Carbon pricing for large industrial polluters continues to apply. It is part of our emissions reduction plan, which seeks to flatten the curve and meet Canada's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030.

Canadians have called for change, for a concrete plan to deal with the rising cost of living. The government is answering that call.

At a time when the entire planet is facing unprecedented challenges relating to global peace and stability, the economic situation and climate change, we are proud to look to our communities, which have all the know-how and determination needed to find solutions.

In this context, the government's role will be to act as a facilitator to attract new investment and create wealth. It must create the conditions that will enable our entrepreneurs to use their energy and ideas to drive economic growth.

Our business people have shown great resilience in the face of tariffs, both actual and potential. When I visit businesses in Sherbrooke, I am always impressed by their ability to adapt and the fact that they are constantly looking for solutions.

They are ready to diversify their markets, innovate and pursue a green transition.

We must offer them a clearer, longer-term vision. We must provide them with the tools they need to continue to grow and remain competitive. I will address three points in that regard.

First, we need to leverage our strengths and skills. In Canada and in Quebec, we have outstanding expertise in clean technologies, like Hydro-Québec, as well as substantial natural resources and unique digital technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

With its Quantum Institute and the scientific ecosystem surrounding it, Sherbrooke is a world leader in quantum science and technology. The Quantum Institute works with internationally renowned partners such as IBM and Pasqal. C2MI in Bromont continues to expand by focusing on manufacturing superconducting quantum microchips to ensure that Quebec companies are at the forefront of this booming industry.

These are two examples from the Eastern Townships, but there are many other centres of expertise and leadership across Canada that need our support in order to maintain our position as a leader.

Let us talk about labour. Faced with the aging workforce and the labour shortage, business owners are turning to foreign workers. I hear about that a lot. Sherbrooke's business community is mobilizing and looking for solutions, particularly when it comes to temporary foreign workers.

The government is listening. It continues to monitor labour market conditions and provides employers with training programs to improve the skills of their current workers. We will take steps to build trust in our immigration system and restore balance.

We will also remove barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility. In times of crisis, such as the one we are experiencing with the United States, we need to be open to changing our approach. Change can be destabilizing, but it also presents opportunities. Working together with the provinces, territories and indigenous peoples, the government will create a nationwide free trade system by Canada Day.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the CFIB, strengthening strategic ties and reducing trade barriers could benefit hundreds of thousands of SMEs. Currently, juggling the different rules and standards that exist from one province to the next adds costs and hinders internal trade in practically every sector. Tax measures, duplication, when it comes to inspections for example, and issues related to transportation and logistics are the primary barriers.

Eliminating interprovincial barriers by harmonizing regulations will help increase GDP, inject $200 billion into the national economy and reduce the impact of U.S. tariffs. Seizing this historic opportunity to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, the government started by abolishing 20 of the 39 federal exemptions. The provinces and territories are obviously invited to follow suit and take similar measures. Some already have, in fact.

This is a fitting time to implement an industrial strategy. Now is the time for major projects that will strengthen our national economy and create well-paying jobs. With the establishment of a major federal project office, projects will be completed more quickly. In the wake of these major changes, we are taking a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating a housing industry that will use Canadian technology, our skilled workers and our lumber, all while meeting our climate challenges.

With the “build Canada homes” program, we will accelerate the development of new affordable housing, invest in the prefabricated and modular housing industry and provide significant financing to affordable home builders. In fact, we have already begun work utilizing the programs put in place during our previous mandate, and projects such as La Grande Vie in Sherbrooke have been completed.

The desire to build a better and stronger Canada is at the heart of the government's agenda. Canadians are rallying with renewed national pride. This is an opportunity to think big. This is an opportunity to work together to achieve great things. Let us put aside empty slogans and fruitless debates.

The Prime Minister talks about leadership in action. That is what we are putting into practice. It is time to take action.

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

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to you on your role.

I want to pose a question regarding a budget. The new Prime Minister was elected with the promise that he would be the man with the plan to take on the United States and get our economy back on track, but a key part of that plan is bringing forward a budget. We now know that this will not happen this spring, if at all this year, and I am wondering if the member can explain why the government would make the irresponsible decision not to bring forward a budget this spring.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is, this is a choice we have to make today and in the few weeks remaining before this session ends. We have already announced tax cuts and the elimination or reduction of the GST based on a new home's value. We have measures to put more money back in people's pockets.

People have told us that the cost of living is an important issue for them, and that is what we are addressing.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague and congratulate her on her re-election.

The government says it wants to defend the economic sovereignty of Canada and Quebec through the back door. However, the Speech from the Throne does not mention the words “aluminum”, “forest”, or “aerospace”, which are three important economic pillars for defending economic sovereignty, among other things.

The question I would like to ask my colleague from Sherbrooke is very simple. Does this silence mean that defending Quebec's economic interests is just not a priority for the current government?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I too congratulate my colleague on his re-election.

As I mentioned in my speech, we need to focus on the strengths, the leadership and expertise hubs in Canada and Quebec. The three sectors that the member mentioned are obviously pillars of the Quebec economy and the national economy. That is why the government is always there to support these sectors, especially in the current context of the tariff crisis with the United States.

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my colleague on her re-election in Sherbrooke and thank her for her help and leadership in our region.

I would like to come back to what she said about working closely with her Eastern Townships colleagues. How does she intend to develop and continue her work with her colleagues so that the Eastern Townships are stronger and the wishes of the regions are heard in Ottawa?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question and congratulate her on her election and her first question in the House.

Our Eastern Townships caucus is incredible. There are three of us, one re-elected member and two new ones with big shoes to fill. There is no shortage of projects in our region. We also have great strengths. I talked about the Quantum Institute and the C2MI in Bromont. All these people and all businesses can count on us to continue supporting their projects and being their strong voice here in Ottawa.