The member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis.
House of Commons Hansard #5 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was plan.
House of Commons Hansard #5 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was plan.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply Members debate the Throne Speech, focusing on the government's agenda. Conservatives criticize the lack of a budget, increased federal spending, rising prices, housing affordability, approach to justice, and the natural resource sector. Liberals defend initial tax cuts and building housing plans, emphasizing cooperation and addressing public safety. Bloc MPs raise concerns about the British monarchy, infrastructure investments, and reforming employment insurance. NDP MPs highlight cost of living, basic health care access, and the opioid crisis. 26300 words, 3 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Conservative Party Caucus Conservative caucus chair Scott Reid reports on four internal votes covering expulsion, chair election, leadership review, and interim leader election, adopted as required by the Parliament of Canada Act. 300 words.
Pride SeasonStatements by Members
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, after a throne speech that seemed to draw inspiration from the fiscal prudence advocated by the Conservative Party, the actions taken by the new Prime Minister quickly dashed any hopes. He promised restraint in the morning and went on a spending spree in the afternoon. They are handing out another $6 billion for consultants while families in Lévis have to line up for food hampers.
For a moment, we thought the Prime Minister had finally understood the Conservative logic: Reduce the tax burden by reducing the size of government. He only partially understood. The government cannot cut taxes while increasing spending. That is not responsibility, that is inflation. Uncontrolled Liberal inflation has doubled the number of food bank users in some organizations in my riding in just three years.
The Prime Minister appears to be continuing in the same direction as Justin Trudeau. Canadians deserve better. The House deserves answers. Above all, it deserves a budget this spring.
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to draw the House's attention to the fact that Rimouski is hosting the Memorial Cup for the second time since 2009. This is a very important Canadian junior hockey event. Since the start of the tournament, our region has shown that we think big outside the major cities. This event is already a great success.
Every so often, the Lower St. Lawrence becomes a land of champions. At the heart of this success is the Océanic de Rimouski, the team of an entire region that the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League once again entrusted to host this prestigious event. Thank you to the Tanguay family, the organizing committee led by Sébastien Noël, the volunteers and residents for all of their hard work.
I also want to commend the young players for their talent and sportsmanship. Together, they proved that regions can successfully host the largest events with pride, passion and determination. Good luck to the finalists and happy Memorial Cup.
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of Ottawa Centre. It is a true honour to serve my community, and a responsibility I carry with deep humility and commitment.
Throughout the campaign, I heard a clear call for leadership that listens and delivers. That is what I am here to do. I will keep working hard to expand access to dental care, build more affordable housing on public lands and advance a seniors' health and housing hub at Confederation Heights.
Revitalizing our downtown is also a top priority, from transforming Dow's Lake and the Arboretum into year-round community destinations to improving bike paths and supporting local businesses.
I am excited to keep pushing to bring the Ottawa Senators to LeBreton Flats, part of a bold, community-led vision that includes affordable housing, indigenous culture and French-language education.
I will always stand up for Ottawa Centre and for a stronger, more inclusive Canada.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Speaker, this is what it looks like when a country is flying blind: no budget, no plan and millions of families left in the dark. Parliament was shut down for half a year, and then came the snap election. Now, the new Prime Minister wants to spend half a trillion dollars but is refusing to deliver a budget. There are no answers, just smoke and mirrors, while real people are struggling to stay afloat.
I know a young couple in the GTA who are doing everything right. They are working hard and saving every dollar, yet they still cannot afford a home. Pre-construction sales are down over 70%, and experts say a housing shortage is just around the corner. The dream of home ownership is slipping away. For families who already own, mortgage payments are falling behind, groceries and gas are eating up what is left of the paycheque, and our young people, kids just starting out, are drowning in credit card debt.
No business would ever let a new CEO get away with this. The board would demand a budget, and Canadians deserve the same.
Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the honour of being sworn in once again as the member of Parliament for Kanata. Standing with my family, friends and dedicated volunteers who helped make this journey possible was deeply moving and a moment I will never forget.
Public service is a privilege, and I am incredibly grateful for the trust that the residents of Kanata have placed in me once again. I am ready to work hard every day to be their voice here in Parliament and to champion the issues that matter most in our community. It is an honour to serve on behalf of the residents of Kanata, Bells Corners, Stittsville and Carp. This seat belongs to all of them.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, it turns out that the Prime Minister was telling the truth when he said he was different from Justin Trudeau; he is actually worse.
This week, the Prime Minister introduced his first spending bill, called the main estimates, for the coming year. It is a half-a-trillion-dollar spending bill with no budget. He promised to cap spending increases to 2% but then, one hour later, stuck Canadians with an 8% spending hike, nearly three times larger than inflation and population growth combined.
Single moms, seniors and small business owners have to budget before they spend. Why is it that the Prime Minister does not? This is all from the guy who said he was the man with the plan and would be a strong fiscal manager.
The Prime Minister will claim these are “investments” that will make Canadians better off, but the only ones getting richer are government consultants, who will get a record-breaking $26.1 billion this year. That is 36% more than even what Trudeau gave them. That is $1,400 from every Canadian household going to federal government consultants. Brookfield shareholders would never have stood for this, so why should Canadians?
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, recently I had the honour, for the fourth time, to be sworn in as a member of Parliament, now representing the constituency of London Centre. Naturally, I thank my colleagues and look forward to working with everyone in this House.
I thank my family, my beautiful wife Katy, our daughter Ava, and all the volunteers who put aside so much time to put in signs, to knock on doors and, yes, to write cheques so the campaign could happen in the first place, all of those things. I know that every member in this House feels equally about those volunteers. Nothing happens in democracy without them.
The work begins. We are prioritizing matters like trade. I am from London, Ontario. London is situated in southwestern Ontario, an area of the country that is disproportionately impacted by the Trump tariffs. With regard to housing issues, I have spoken about housing and homelessness many times in previous Parliaments. That will continue. That work is absolutely vital. Of course, affordability issues are paramount for all of us. Let us work together to get it done.
Mike Lake Conservative Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago this week, ink hardly dry on my University of Alberta business degree, I started selling season tickets for the Edmonton Oilers hockey club.
Those were difficult years, post-dynasty in a tough Canadian economy, and our small Edmonton market was in imminent danger of losing our NHL team to a wealthy U.S. buyer, but then something magical happened. Edmontonians stepped up in spectacular fashion, cobbling together complicated season ticket-sharing schemes with their friends, family and neighbours to, in mere months, double our season ticket base to save the Oilers from the American threat.
Over my 10 years there, and for 20 more years since, the Oilers fan base has never wavered in its support. In recent years, Oilers fans have been rewarded with one of the most exciting teams in the history of our great game. Today, the Oilers stand once again on the edge of glory, an entire nation cheering them on.
I know that all members of this House, rarely united on anything, can unite behind this remarkable Oilers team. At this one critical moment in history, it is undoubtedly Canada's team. Bring it home, boys.
Lisa Hepfner Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, I thank the constituents of Hamilton Mountain for electing me for a second term, and I thank all of the amazing volunteers who brought such passion and hard work to help make it happen.
I would like to remind colleagues and Canadians that this weekend marks the start of National Indigenous History Month. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a Red Dress Day ceremony at the Native Women's Centre in my riding, and the tears were flowing all around the room as we lit candles to illuminate the names of dozens upon dozens of local missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. I wore the red dress pin that I beaded myself under the tutelage of a master beader at an earlier event at the centre. I clearly do not have my teacher's talent, but the process of beading was painful and intensely meaningful.
Let us all take time this June to reflect on the history of indigenous peoples and how we can advance reconciliation.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister spent weeks parading around the country and promising Canadians he would “spend less”. However, the guy who was supposed to give us fiscal restraint dropped an 8% spending hike after promising he would cap government spending at 2%, a big broken promise and a half-a-trillion-dollar spending bill without an actual budget. He called himself an Ottawa outsider, but he is picking up pretty quickly on the ways of old Liberal Ottawa.
Businesses and households across the country spend their money and live within their means. Why can the Prime Minister not do the same?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we have more good news for Canadians.
Statistics Canada just announced this morning that the Canadian economy grew by 2.2% in the first quarter. This is a plan that is working. This is a plan about building the strongest economy in the G7. This is about transforming our economy. This is about an ambitious, confident and prosperous Canada. We will deliver for Canadians.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, leave it to the Liberals to tell Canadians that a half-a-trillion-dollar blank cheque and an 8% spending hike, after promising to cap it at 2%, mean good news for Canadians.
A request for a half-a-trillion-dollar blank cheque is not a plan; it is the exact opposite. So far, the plan is that the government wants to spend $1,400 per Canadian family for government consultants. The Prime Minister said the Liberals would cut it by $7 billion; instead, they increased it by $6 billion.
If the Prime Minister is the man with the plan whom people want to hire in a crisis, why does he need to hire so many—
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting question, but here is the real question this morning: By how much did the Canadian economy grow in the last quarter? The answer is 2.2%. That exceeds economists' expectations.
It is clear that we have a plan to grow the Canadian economy, to make Canada's economy the strongest in the G7, to transform our economy and to create an ambitious and prosperous country.
That is what Canadians asked us to do, and that is exactly what we are doing.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, if the government had a plan, it would have tabled a budget yesterday and told Canadians exactly how their money is being spent.
Of course, nothing says affordability like hiring the architect of the housing crisis to fix the problem here. The new housing minister let Vancouver home prices rise by 179% when he was in office.
I have a very simple question. Can the minister tell us, with the government's inflationary spending, how much each Canadian mortgage will go up as a result?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I like the question period this Friday because we have so much good news for Canadians.
It is an interesting question, but the real question is that we have a plan, and our plan is working, with 2.2% in terms of growth in the last quarter. This is what Canada is about. It is about investing in our people. It is about investing in our industry. It is about investing in Canada. Not only do we have growth, but we always have a AAA credit rating, one of two countries in the G7. Imagine, Mr. Speaker. That is a confident Canada. That is an ambitious Canada. That is the Canada we will build together.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, all those folks were elected after promising Canadians that they would control spending. On Tuesday, the King even mentioned a new fiscal discipline with spending increases capped at 2%. That was Tuesday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, the Liberals introduced their first bill. What was in that bill? It includes an 8% increase in spending. Who would have thought that this internationally renowned, brilliant banker would do worse than the drama teacher?
My one, simple comment to the finance minister is that he should get Justin Trudeau out of his head.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. He is a very experienced member. However, I do not understand why he wants to distract Canadians from today's good news. For once, the Conservatives should be happy on a Friday morning.
Canada's GDP grew by 2.2%, which is higher than what economists were expecting. We have a plan to grow the Canadian economy. We have a plan to build the economy of tomorrow. We have a plan for a strong Canada. That is exactly what we are doing.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, what is really increasing by 36% is Liberal government spending on consultants. Last year it spent $20 billion on consultants, which was preposterous, and now that figure has gone up to $26 billion. That shows a complete lack of control over spending. Canadians want a government that will control spending.
Why is the Minister of Finance refusing to table a budget?
He was even criticized by his leader last week. Will the finance minister commit to tabling a budget this spring to—
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
He spoke about drama, and I must say that he is also being rather dramatic. We see his rather frequent theatrics every day in question period. The truth is that, during the election campaign, the Conservative Party presented a plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. It was a fully costed platform that was ridiculed by everyone in the country who knows how to count.
On this side of the House, we were elected with a very clear mandate to make government more efficient, reduce our reliance on outside consultants and give our public servants the means to accomplish our ambitious agenda.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is not theatre; these are facts. During the election campaign, he himself said that he was going to cut back on consulting contracts. In fact, the exact opposite is true: there are 36% more contracts. I want the people watching at home to know that these consultants are going to cost them $1,400 per family. That is par for the course for this government.
Could the minister remedy the situation and tell the Minister of Finance that spending more on consultants yet again is a bad move?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, we have reduced the use of consultants, but we were also elected to office with a very firm and strong mandate to improve government efficiency, particularly with the use of new technologies.
When my colleague talks about Canadian families, bear in mind that we tabled legislation in the House this week that aims to cut taxes for every Canadian family by an average of $840.
Will the Conservatives be supporting that? It is common sense, after all.
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Mr. Speaker, elected officials should never blindly spend Quebeckers' money. However, that is exactly what the Liberals are proposing today. They are asking the House to adopt measures worth more than $200 billion without presenting a budget. There is no budget, not even an economic update. This is literally a spending spree. If the new government wants to break with the frivolous image of the Trudeau years, it is off to a bad start.
Will it come clean and disclose the true state of public finances to Quebeckers?