House of Commons Hansard #12 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
National Housing Strategy Act First reading of Bill C-205. The bill amends the National Housing Strategy Act to ban forced encampments on federal land and mandate consultation for housing alternatives for those experiencing homelessness. 300 words.
National Strategy on Brain Injuries Act First reading of Bill C-206. The bill establishes a national strategy on brain injuries to reduce incidents, improve care, and address related challenges like substance use and homelessness. 200 words.
Canada Pension Plan First reading of Bill C-207. The bill requires approval from two-thirds of participating provinces for a province to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan, aiming to protect it and give Canadians a say in its future. 200 words.
Opposition Motion—Canada Carbon Rebate and Payment to Quebec Members debate a Bloc motion demanding Quebec receive $814 million, its estimated contribution to a federal carbon rebate paid to other provinces after the consumer tax was eliminated. The Bloc calls the payment an election giveaway funded by all taxpayers, excluding Quebeckers who have their own system. Liberals argue the payment was necessary for families who budgeted for it in participating provinces and highlight other benefits for Quebeckers. Conservatives support ending the tax but agree the rebate timing and exclusion of Quebec were unfair, also raising concerns about government spending. Discussions touch on climate policy and industrial carbon pricing. 55400 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26 Members question Ministers on the government's estimates. Discussions cover fiscal responsibility, budget deficits, national debt, US tariffs and trade diversification, support for Ukraine, and measures for affordability like tax cuts and housing. Specific topics include collected tariffs, debt servicing costs, unemployment, budget timing, internal trade barriers, and support for industries like steel, aluminum, and canola. 36200 words, 4 hours.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Deputy Chair Liberal Alexandra Mendes
I would remind the hon. member to speak through the Chair and not directly to another member.
The hon. minister.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, in terms of apology, I think the member should apologize to all Canadians for having voted against every measure that would support Canadians. Whether it was about child care, dental care or any program that helps Canadians, the member voted against it. That is not exactly good.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, I find the minister's indifference to the one million Ontarians regularly using a food bank to feed their families, quite frankly, disgusting.
How many Ontarians were full-time employed and went to the food bank in 2015?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, one thing every member in the House should be careful about is being authentic. When members vote against measures that help the people they represent, they cannot stand in the House and moralize to other members.
The member has voted against measures to help Canadians, and he knows that very well.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, if the minister does not know the answer to the question, he can just say it. We are talking about people who have to go to a food bank. That is the Liberals' track record. The answer is 8%.
How many Canadians using a food bank regularly in 2025 are full-time employed as opposed to in 2015?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, I am sure people watching at home tonight are wondering, “What is the member going to tell the people who are using the food bank about why he voted against programs that would help them?” That is really the question people watching at home are asking tonight.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, these programs were in place for the last 10 years. These programs have been in place, yet the numbers at food banks keep rising. The minister knows the number of people using food banks now who are employed full-time is 25%. It has also tripled after 10 years of the Liberal government.
Will the member apologize to those people who are employed full-time and now must go to a food bank to feed their families?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, would the member apologize to the children of Canada, including the children in his riding, for voting against a food program for children?
When we make an allegation in this House, we have to be careful of the answer. He voted against a program to help children.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, one in three people regularly using food banks in Ontario is a child. Your programs do not work.
Minister, you said in 2023 that you were going to make grocery prices—
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Deputy Chair Liberal Alexandra Mendes
Can I remind the hon. member to speak through the Chair, please?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, the minister said in 2023 that he was going to work hard at making groceries more affordable. Did grocery prices go up or down after he made that statement?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, I have a lot of respect for the member, but why did he vote against a national school food program for children? That is the question people are asking tonight. If he wants to go with this line of questioning, I am happy to answer, but people—
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Madam Chair, the minister knows that grocery prices have gone up every single month since he made that statement.
He either misled Canadians or was completely incompetent in his job to bring down grocery prices. Which one was it?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, again, I do not want to go down this line of questioning with the member, because he is an honourable member, but why did he vote against a program to support children, the national child care program?
If the member wants to go down that line of questioning, he has to be able to take the heat from his constituents, who are going to ask, “Why did he vote against the program?”
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Madam Chair, the minister prepared a spending plan, but he did not make the time to prepare a plan for how he was going to pay for it. Why is that?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Madam Chair, can I take the opportunity to welcome the member to the House? I will be happy to answer all her questions, but first I think she deserves to be welcomed in the House. We are delighted to have her with us tonight.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Madam Chair, many thanks for that. I do request an answer, though.
Why did the minister make the time to prepare a spending plan but not a plan for how he was going to pay for it?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, my colleague will be pleased to see that in the main estimates for Finance Canada, 99% of the funds requested are for statutory programs. Only 1% of it is for the operation of Finance Canada.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Madam Chair, for 60 years, governments have tabled budgets in the spring. Why can the minister not do the same?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, since 1994, five budgets have been tabled after the fiscal year began, and a number of times it has been under a Conservative government.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Madam Chair, does the minister not have the will to prepare a budget this spring?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, not only do I have the will, but I have the desire to present a great budget for Canadians that the member can be proud of and set in her own jurisdiction and her own riding.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Madam Chair, if the minister has the will, does he not have the time, then, to prepare it?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Chair, I know the member is anxious to present it to her constituents. It is going to be a great budget. We are going to build Canada strong. We are the true north, strong and free.