The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands has the floor.
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.
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
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, in 2017, our current Prime Minister said that most fossil fuel reserves are “unburnable” under any reasonable climate targets. In 2022, he said that transitioning our economies to net zero is an enormous opportunity and that the transition is “capital-intensive” and “job-heavy”, and is what the world needs for the future and right now.
Given that growth in solar, 25%, and batteries, 50%, now outpaces fossil growth by a scale of 12 to 1, will the minister reallocate subsidies to match and fast-track critical minerals for batteries?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is true that we have attracted record levels of investment in renewable energy. We have attracted record investment in the EV sector to build a full battery supply chain. I think it was Bloomberg that even ranked Canada ahead of China for the resiliency of our battery ecosystem, so we are going to continue to invest. We have a number of investment stack credits that we have put forward to make sure we attract these investments.
The member is right to say that the biggest challenge for humanity—
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, in March, the government announced temporary EI relief because of foreign tariffs. It was lowering the hours needed, waiving the waiting weeks and suspending the severance clawbacks, but those changes are only temporary. I am wondering whether the government will be making those changes permanent for Canadian workers.
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
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member. She is a great member of the House.
We have made the changes because they were necessary. We wanted to make sure we had tools in our tool box to make sure we can support workers. This was at the core of what we wanted: to make sure that we have a number of measures that we put in place to support workers. She knows that the government really cares, like she does, about workers, their families and their industry.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, will the minister be making those measures permanent for Canadian workers, as the New Democrats have been asking for some time?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, we have always paid attention to the requests from members and our colleagues from the New Democrats. Like I said, we have a set of measures that were in place that met the moment to support our workers, and we will always be there for our workers. I know the member will keep—
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, with the ongoing genocide in Gaza by Netanyahu, the expansion of settlements, the announcement of 22 new settlements planned for the West Bank, and Canada's obligation under the Genocide Convention, is your government planning to suspend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement as New Democrats have asked you to do?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Questions go through the Chair, please.
The hon. Minister of International Trade has the floor.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Brampton East Ontario
Liberal
Maninder Sidhu LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question, and I will let the Minister of Foreign Affairs answer that as it is under her scope.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, I would believe that questions on trade agreements would be something that the trade minister should be able to answer, and the fact that the minister is not answering that question makes me think he does not actually want to provide an answer to Canadians.
Will the government introduce mandatory supply chain due diligence legislation requiring companies to address human rights, including forced labour and child labour, as promised in the last Parliament? When can we expect this legislation?
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
Maninder Sidhu Liberal Brampton East, ON
Mr. Speaker, we expect all Canadian companies to follow all guidelines and, of course, protections for labour provisions, protections for environment and protections for indigenous peoples. That is what we expect. We do have systems in place to ensure that there is a complaint line and there are follow-ups through the national contact point.
Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It being 10:30 p.m., pursuant to order made on Tuesday, May 27, it is my duty to end the proceedings. The debate in committee of the whole will continue on the next designated day. The committee will now rise, and I will now leave the chair.
This House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
(The House adjourned at 10:31 p.m.)