Debates of June 11th, 2025

Housing

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I had a very good conversation with the Auditor General. We accept the recommendations in her report, but I would note that, if my colleagues will take the time to read it, it says very clearly that we are on track to meet our affordable housing targets.

I congratulate the member opposite on his arrival in the House, but I would like to point out that when his leader was in charge of housing, only six affordable housing units were built. That was after decades of federal government disengagement from housing under the Conservatives.

The Conservatives have nothing to teach us about affordable housing.

Public Safety

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 1,000 pounds was the amount of cocaine that was seized by Peel police according to media reports just yesterday. The public safety minister previously said that the bail system was sound, yet six out of nine of those arrested are already on bail.

Given what we see and hear when it comes to bail, does the public safety minister still think the bail system is sound?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let me first of all thank the work of Peel Regional Police and also acknowledge the incredible work of the chief of police for the City of Toronto, who is in Ottawa today. Chief Demkiw is an incredible leader who has been working on the front lines, along with members of Peel police and law enforcement across Canada, to ensure that drugs are off our streets. This is a moment for us to ensure that we support them and continue to acknowledge the incredible work of our police services.

[Michael Ma, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Peel Region had the single largest drug bust in its history yesterday, with 1,000 pounds of cocaine worth $47 million. This would be a cause for celebration if six out of the nine who were arrested were not already out on bail.

Liberal laws like Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 are the root cause of this madness. These Liberal laws put repeat criminals back into our communities.

Will the Liberals reverse their soft-on-crime policies to keep criminals behind bars?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it is important to recognize the incredible collaboration of Peel Regional Police and other police services, which had one of the greatest drug busts in Canadian history. Their work will continue with the support of the federal government and our agencies, which are working in tandem to ensure that drugs are off our streets.

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, crime is at its peak and cities like Brampton are being hit hard. Peel police had the single largest drug bust in its history, but six out of nine drug dealers were out on bail.

Gun crime is up 116%. Gang homicide is up 78%. The only solution to control the crime wave is to repeal the soft-on-crime Liberal laws Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 and put repeat violent offenders in jail.

Will the Prime Minister reverse Liberal soft-on-crime laws so that drug dealers like these get jail, not bail?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it is important to acknowledge the work of Peel Regional Police, as well as their colleagues in the different police services, who work together to ensure that drugs are off our streets.

This matter is going through the courts, and I know that our justice system is strong. We will ensure that there will be continued work, collaborative work, within police services so that we can constructively get drugs off our streets.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Journal de Montréal reported today that crimes against persons in Montreal have gone up by an average of 28%. Worse yet, more than 20% of those crimes are committed in a context of domestic violence. Over the past 10 years, the Liberals lost control. This Liberal government must act quickly to keep the public safe.

When will the Liberals start cracking down on crime and finally protect the victims?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, the new government is focused on making sure that victims are put first. Previously, bail reform was brought in to make it harder for perpetrators of domestic violence to be released. We will continue to do the important work needed to make laws stricter and make sure that bail is tougher to get.

The Economy

[Giovanna Mingarelli, Liberal, Prescott—Russell—Cumberland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the one Canadian economy act will remove federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, in addition to advancing essential projects of national interest to stimulate the growth of domestic productivity, develop our energy sector and keep this country safe.

Can the Minister of Industry tell the House about this bill, which was introduced last week?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for the question and congratulate her on her election.

Canadians elected us with a clear mandate: to be bold and ambitious. That includes the important task of building the economy with the strongest growth in the G7. That is why we are moving forward. This important bill will help build one economy out of the 13 provincial and territorial economies. I hope that the opposition parties will answer Canadians' call and help fast-track this national interest bill.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the oil and gas industry is critical to Newfoundland and Labrador, making up 25% of our GDP and 41% of our exports. The province has targets to double oil and gas production and create thousands of good-paying jobs, but energy companies have made it clear that they will not invest while the Liberals' no new pipelines law, Bill C-69, as well as the oil and gas production cap, and the punishing industrial carbon tax, remain on the books.

Does the Prime Minister not realize that no one will build a pipeline under his anti-energy laws, or is it the plan to keep Canadian oil and gas in the ground?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we presented the one Canadian economy bill to rapidly advance projects of national interest and build one Canadian economy, not 13. This bill would grow the economy and support our sovereignty to ensure we build the strongest economy in the G7.

Canada's new government will work with provinces, territories and indigenous partners to get projects built so Canada will be an energy superpower.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years of Liberal anti-energy laws have stopped pipelines from getting built. Energy companies will not build unless those Liberal laws are gone. To build pipelines, the Liberals need to repeal the suite of anti-energy laws: Bill C-69, the no new pipelines law; Bill C-48, the shipping ban; the job-killing oil and gas production cap; and laws such as the industrial carbon tax.

Is it the Prime Minister's plan to keep our oil and gas in the ground?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government will get projects built, create high-paying jobs and bring prosperity to Canadians. That is why we presented the one Canadian economy bill, which would rapidly advance projects of national interest.

If my Conservative colleagues want to get projects built, they should support the bill.

Marine Transportation

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, BC Ferries just announced that it will purchase four new full-sized ferries from a Chinese state-owned company rather than from a proven Canadian shipbuilder, such as Seaspan in North Vancouver. The Liberals are set to hand over $30 million to BC Ferries, while BC Ferries hands over critical jobs and investment in industry to China.

Will the Liberals attach a common-sense condition of buying Canadian-built ships to BC Ferries in order to receive its $30-million subsidy?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely share the member opposite's concern when it comes to government procurement at all levels. Now is a time when we need to support Canadian workers and Canadian industries, and we need to work closely with our allies and trade partners. That project was not a federal government project.

National Defence

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, defending Canadians is one of our government's top priorities. Given the increasingly volatile global landscape, it is vital that our Canadian Armed Forces are properly equipped to meet the challenges we ask them to face. It is urgent that we take immediate action to strengthen our armed forces and support those who are serving our country.

Can the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement update us on the government's plans to meet our NATO commitments and ensure we are doing everything possible to protect our country?

[Stephen Fuhr, Liberal, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)]

Mr. Speaker, since this is the first time on my feet in the 45th Parliament, I would like to thank the good people of Kelowna, B.C. for placing their trust and confidence in me and electing me to the House for the second time.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister confirmed that Canada will meet its NATO 2% targets this fiscal year, five years ahead of schedule, with an additional investment of $9.3 billion. We are accelerating procurement, modernizing capabilities and ensuring the troops have the tools and equipment they need to protect Canada and Canadians.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the economy of Acadie—Annapolis in rural Nova Scotia relies heavily on a strong lobster fishery, yet this past season, it went from bad to worse. According to a Global News report on May 2, some harvesters in southwest Nova Scotia had to give up on their season because they could not fish profitably. There were no lobsters and no price, and this is unacceptable.

Will the Minister of Fisheries finally listen to commercial fishers, where her predecessors failed to act, to take unregulated and unreported fishing seriously and implement immediate measures to protect our lobster stocks before it is too late?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that I was in Nova Scotia for the last couple of weeks. I met with harvesters and lobster fishers, and I want to assure the member opposite that I will continue to do this work. We need to ensure that we have balanced fisheries, and we need to ensure that we support authorised fishing.

Public Safety

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the so-called stronger borders act makes Harper's Bill C-51 look like child's play. Bill C-2 is a sweeping attack on Canadian civil liberties. It would allow the RCMP and CSIS to make information demands from internet providers, banks, doctors, landlords and even therapists, without judicial oversight. This is not about border security. It is about government overreach and Big Brother tactics, plain and simple. It is a violation of our privacy, and it will be challenged in court.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing, respect the charter, and withdraw this dangerous bill?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the strong borders act will help keep Canadians safe. The bill will go after transnational child sex offenders via information sharing with our international policing partners, give law enforcement the tools it needs, choke off organized crime's illegal profits with a crackdown on money laundering, grant our border officers provisions to search export containers and stop auto theft rings. We will do this while ensuring the charter rights of Canadians and due process to make sure that our civil liberties and privacy rights are protected.

The House resumed from June 10 consideration of the motion and of the amendment.

Opposition Motion—Canada Carbon Rebate and Payment to Quebec

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It being 3:07 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion of the member for Saint-Jean relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

The question is on the following amendment.

Shall I dispense?