Debates of June 10th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that we will always be there for our agriculture sector, but that is out of my scope. That is a question for the Minister of Agriculture. However, I want the agriculture industry to know that we will continue fighting for it and opening up new markets.

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak to this committee of the whole today.

I would especially like to speak to some of the spending measures outlined in these main estimates, which aim to support Canadians during a time of significant economic volatility while preparing for the opportunities that lie ahead.

I want to maybe focus a bit more specifically on budgets and estimates being moral documents. They are statements of values, and that budget is coming. Meanwhile, we have the estimates in front of us. Really, with the finance estimates, it is riches, because we could describe any number of issues—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for London West, on a point of order.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is trying to give a speech. We cannot hear him because there is—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That is a problem, so we should be a little quieter.

The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, these documents, these estimates, are statements of values. These are moral documents. They are statements of values and principles, and they are right in front of us today.

I want to talk, in particular, about some of the initiatives in here that speak to the fundamental things a federal government does, and it is really around national unity. What I was hearing a lot about in the recent election, and what this document speaks to very clearly, are concerns around safety and security. If a government cannot offer and take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of the people in its country and abroad, then it has an issue. We know that safety and security for Canadians has been on their minds for a long time, especially since the U.S. presidential election, and I will talk about three items in these estimates that I think really speak to those concerns.

There is a set of concerns that are very important to my constituents in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, which are concerns around security in eastern Europe. For me, this really became crystallized in a different way on the U.S. presidential election night when I spoke to a constituent who was in Estonia that night. She was reporting back to me about what the people in Estonia were realizing was happening, and they were maybe realizing it more immediately than we did. It took us a few weeks, a few months really, to realize the full measure, but in Estonia, on the U.S. election day, they realized that the game had changed and the security guarantees, the security protections they had taken for granted from their main ally in the United States, were not going to be available to them anymore. That evening, the very night of the U.S. presidential election, the people in Estonia were looking to Canada for increased security and increased reassurance that we were going to be there for them.

Subsequently, in my conversations at the doors during the election campaign, my constituents, many of whom are Ukrainian Canadian, were really looking for that protection. They were asking me, “Will Canada continue to be there for us? You've been there for us all along, but it's about to get harder for us. Will you be there for us?”

A few weeks ago in the riding, and maybe members in the House may have celebrated in their own communities, we celebrated Vyshyvanka Day, which is a day of celebration of Ukrainian culture and heritage. We know that the best way to try to eliminate a nationality, to try to dominate in an imperial sense, is to try to wipe out a country's culture, a nationality's culture. Vyshyvanka Day is actually a fairly recent phenomenon, developed by university students just 20 years ago, which reclaims this very traditional, very important piece of embroidered clothing, the vyshyvanka, and has now been celebrated in Canada and around the world for almost 20 years.

We were wearing the vyshyvanka. We were Ukrainians, Ukrainian Canadians, people who had arrived in the country a few weeks ago, people who had been reclaiming their heritage and allies who were not Ukrainian Canadian themselves, and we marched all the way to High Park in my riding. Along the way, I was presented with a key chain that reads, “Made in Russia. Recycled in Ukraine”. It is a piece of the remains of a Russian tank that was destroyed by the Ukrainians in the war. It is an effort that continues, and Ukrainians and Ukrainian-Canadians, with this war now in its third year, are wondering, “Is Canada still there for us?”

Budgets and estimates are moral documents, and I am so pleased that these estimates provide money through the World Bank to support Ukrainian relief and economic development efforts. More importantly, the supplementary estimates are coming. They are tabled through the Department of National Defence and have yet more funding for Canada's support effort in Ukraine.

Ukrainians are wondering if we are we going to be there for them. These estimates are moral documents. These estimates show, as well as the supplementary estimates, that yes, Canada is there for Ukraine and in this battle. Even though some allies may have drifted away or even perhaps changed their position, Canada will be there.

Canadians are looking for safety and security from their national government, so they look for that outside of Canada. What can Canada do to project its power outside this place? Again, the estimates do that with support for Ukraine. However, they are also looking for it closer to home. When we think about what the national government does to help support the safety and security of Canadians, obviously there is the federal government's role in health care, not as a deliverer of health care, but as a funder, as a transfer partner, as an ally with provincial governments, which are supporting the health care initiatives in their provinces, something that is very important and is reflected in these estimates.

I recall that, about two years ago, the federal deal was being made with the provinces to support an enhanced multi-year investment in health care with conditions, such as accountabilities around data and primary care. At the time of this historic agreement in February 2023, which, I believe, was a 5% escalator in spending all the way out to 2027-28, I was teaching public policy at Toronto Metropolitan University. We had a little unit on health care. If students are going to understand how their government works, how public policy works and how this place works, then one of the biggest expenses, definitely, for the provincial government, and the thing that is in their day-to-day lives, is health care.

As I was explaining this complex system of transfers and the British North America Act and all the things that go into how health care is delivered in Canada, they really just had one main question for me, and that was, “What will this mean for me in my community?” They wanted to know what it meant for their mother or their grandmother who is looking for primary care, what it meant for the health care system they are dealing with in Ontario. They also wanted to know, maybe, what is happening with their own health care situation or what is happening with their health care data. They had some ideas around how to make the health care system work better. These are the questions that were coming to me as a teacher.

I had to say that there is some complexity here. The federal government is a funder. It puts conditions on some of these transfers, but it is really up to the provinces. I am very pleased that these estimates continue the commitment that was made two-plus years ago.

Governing is about making these decisions, but these estimates are moral documents. They are statements of values. We have the statement of values in this ongoing commitment to funding health care, including all the primary care commitments that are in that particular agreement, and I commend to people the platform of our party, which goes beyond and redoubles its commitment to the Canada Health Act and makes very specific commitments around funding medical school spaces, funding more primary care, and again, safety and security.

Canadians are looking for safety and security from their national government and these estimates communicate the kind of depth of concern that, I think, we have on this side, based on a strong set of values and on one of the most fundamental Canadian values of Medicare. It is one that I commend to the House.

Finally, safety and security are expressed through the economic lives of our constituents. As I was campaigning, I recall going to an area in the northwest part of Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park called “the Valley”. There is a street there called Old Dundas Street, and there is an apartment building. A lot of my constituents there would be in their forties, fifties and sixties. They are still working, but they are looking around the corner to when they might have that chance of a little relief, maybe taking that little vacation, getting some support from their children, after they have given so much to their children.

We have a lot of immigrants from eastern Europe in that particular part of the riding, the Valley, also known as Warren Park. I remember going to one particular building. A constituent in her sixties was asking me what the offering would be for her in this campaign. I explained to her the different things, and she understood the bigger things that were at stake. She understood the bigger picture. I think she understood some of how our proposals were meeting her safety and security needs, but for her, it was about the end of the month. It was about how much money she was going to have to be able to take that vacation she had been putting off this year.

I explained to her that there was a tax cut coming, and that we did not have all the details at the time. It is not in the estimates. It is in our ways and means motion and in the bill. I am going to be happy to be communicating to her that, in July, there is an immediate action. There is an immediate action in these estimates and in the measures that this side of the House is putting forward in this session that are going to meet her concerns, and, I think, more broadly, the safety and security concerns of Canadians.

To follow up with a question about the income tax cut that is in the legislation, I want to ask the minister his perspective on what the motivation is and what the understanding is around how we came to this particular proposal for the income tax cut.

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

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his election and his very important role as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Industry. I just listened to an eloquent speech.

I think we can all agree that the member gave a very thoughtful speech, in which he raised a number of important issues. I am proud to have him as a colleague in caucus. We will learn a lot from him. He was involved as a teacher for years and is someone who cares about Canada.

The member mentioned two things. I will come back to his question, but I cannot resist saying that at the last G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, we had a special guest, which was the minister of finance of Ukraine. I can say that at that time, there was a moment when the world or at least the G7 colleagues were standing shoulder to shoulder. We understand that Ukraine is fighting for democracy, and for all of us really. They are fighting for dignity.

The member will be pleased to hear that, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Canada has committed $19.7 billion in different supports for Ukraine. This is something my colleague will be happy about. In the estimates, he will see that there is an increase in the development of financial intermediary response for Ukraine of $200 million. The message is loud and clear that we are there for Ukraine and will be shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. I am also pleased to say that, for the upcoming leaders' summit in Kananaskis, the Prime Minister has invited the President of Ukraine. He will be there. That is another show of solidarity.

My colleague mentioned the health transfer. He and his students, who are probably watching tonight, because I know they are keen to see their former teacher, will be happy to hear that we are looking at these issues. If we look at the main estimates, there is an increase of $2.6 billion in Canada health transfers. The Canada health transfer in 2025-26 will be a total of $54.7 billion. This is very significant. The member's students would be proud to see that their former teacher is part of a government that believes in providing Canadians with services that are dear to their hearts. When I think of the Canada health transfer, I think of us investing to support services in hospitals and medical care for Canadians. This is the very essence of who we are as Canadians.

I know the member not only cares about Ukraine and spoke about the health transfer, but he also raised a very important issue. One of my colleagues, the former finance minister in Quebec, from whom I learn every day, mentioned one of the first things we did.

I know the students watching at home believe in deeds. Words are easy. We have to listen to them every day. I have been here for almost a decade, and I have listened to a lot in the House coming from the Conservatives. What people at home are wondering about and care about is action. It is deeds.

The first thing the Prime Minister did in this new government was to present a ways and means motion to reduce taxes for 22 million Canadians. This is a promise made and a promise delivered. That is the kind of thing that builds trust in a society. When political parties put forward platforms and deliver on what is in them, it builds trust. These are confidence-building measures.

I am sure the member's students would be proud to see their former teacher in the House tonight, at what is a late hour for some of us who are a bit older, responding to questions to make sure that our democracy is functioning well.

Let us look at the estimates. I say that because I know my Conservative colleagues are very keen to read the main estimates. If we look at the 2025-26 main estimates, we present a total of $486.9 billion in budgetary spending. What the member's students will find interesting, and they will pay attention because there might be a question on the exam, as will my Conservative friends, because sometimes they learn a thing or two from us, is that the majority of the amount, $295 billion, is in transfer payments for provinces, territories or individual Canadians. Therefore, 60% of what we see in the main estimates—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I will have to stop the minister there.

The hon. member for Calgary Signal Hill.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to advise you that I will be splitting time with the member for Beauce and the member for Richmond Hill South.

My question is for the Minister of International Trade. He said at the time of his cabinet appointment that Canadian businesses are expecting us to open new global markets for them. Can the minister tell us what new markets he is prioritizing for Canadian businesses?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member opposite for his recent election win and welcome him to the House. The member is talking about new markets. My first trip was to Ecuador. I was sworn in, and a week later I was in Ecuador to finalize negotiations on a trade agreement. We are working with Indonesia as well to unlock more markets there, and we have committed to finalizing an agreement with that government as well.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think I actually heard an answer to my question in that response, but I would ask the minister to tell us what Canadian products he is prioritizing for new export market development.

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this gives me a chance to highlight our recent announcement in the defence sector. Our defence sector plays a crucial role in our exports, and I look forward to working with the industry to get it into newer markets, as well as growing into existing markets such as the European Union.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister said today in the House of Commons, “Canada has what the world needs.”

Does that include liquefied natural gas?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. At the G7, we will be talking about energy security, as it plays a critical role in Canada's negotiation power. Of course, Canada has what the world needs. We have energy, critical minerals, expertise and innovation, so we have a lot of what the world needs.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister agree that LNG is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel in the world and helps replace dirtier emissions worldwide, contributing to international climate goals?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are known for a lot of different types of energy supplies. We have sustainable energy; we are talking about the nuclear sector, and we are talking about LNG. There are a lot of things that Canada has to offer to the world, and that is what the world wants from Canada. That will be a critical conversation at the G7 coming up on energy security.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, what actions will the minister take to promote LNG exports?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of actions we are going to be taking as the government. This is a new government with a strong mandate from Canadians to make sure that we are able to get our critical minerals, our energy, out to new markets around the world, and that is what the world wants.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister support LNG exports to Germany?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I support Canadian jobs; I support Canadian industry. I think it is very important to note that the world wants what Canada has. That is what I am hearing in the European Union, that is what I was hearing in Ecuador and that is—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to make this very simple. Is the minister aware that Germany's Chancellor Scholz stated three years ago that Canada was Germany's partner of choice for LNG supply? It is a yes-or-no question.

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the world is looking to Canada for our expertise in innovation and energy. I was born in Calgary, so I have a soft spot for that part of our country, especially when we talk about energy. I think it is very important to note that people want what Canada is building.

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister today told the German chancellor that the Canadian energy industry would be proud to supply Germany with our clean LNG.