Debates of June 11th, 2025

Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour to rise in the House today for my first speech as the elected member of Parliament for Souris—Moose Mountain.

I want to share a few reflections on where I came from, whom I serve and the responsibilities we all carry as members of this chamber. I am deeply humbled to represent a region that is rooted in hard work, resilience and unshakable community spirit.

First and foremost, I want to thank the people of my riding. I am here because of them. They entrusted me to be their voice in this chamber, and I will work every day to be worthy of that trust.

I also want to acknowledge those who came before me. Ed Komarnicki and Robert Kitchen served this region with integrity, thoughtfulness and strength of conviction. Their example has set a high bar.

I would not be here today without the support of my family. My wife, Candace, is my greatest partner and source of strength. Through every challenge, every sacrifice and every long stretch of road, she remained unwavering in her support and grace. Her belief in me never faltered, and I am endlessly grateful for her love, insight and patience. My daughter, Emma, reminds me daily of what truly matters. She is thoughtful, courageous and wise beyond her years. Her quiet encouragement has been one of the most steadying forces in my journey thus far. I am also grateful to my parents, who taught me not only to work hard but to work with purpose. They instilled in me the importance of character, integrity and perseverance. The examples they set are my guiding light.

I am also thankful to the many volunteers whose dedication and sacrifice helped make this journey possible. Their belief in our cause and their tireless efforts are a humbling reminder that public service is never done alone.

I was humbled to receive the highest percentage of the vote of any candidate in Canada during this election, but let me be clear: This is not about me. It is a testament to the people of Souris—Moose Mountain and their belief in our message, which is rooted in principle: a respect for hard work, for resource development, for freedom and for limited but accountable government.

I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, where I learned early that complaining would not get me very far. If something is broken, we fix it. If something matters, we stand up and speak out. Life on the land teaches us patience, persistence and humility. It also teaches us that when we make a promise, we keep it, because our word is often the only thing we have. Those lessons have never left me.

I remember when I was a teenager and a federal issue was affecting cattle prices. My father said to me, “If it matters enough to talk about, it matters enough to do something about.” I wrote a letter to our MP. That simple act of engagement was the first step in my realizing that democracy works only when people participate. It taught me that government, at its best, should be accessible and responsive, not distant and dismissive.

Years later, I had the opportunity to live and work in post-Soviet Eastern Europe for nearly a decade, immersed in countries still navigating the aftermath of authoritarian rule. I was involved in international trade and economic development, working with businesses and governments as they sought to rebuild their economies and re-establish democratic norms after generations of state control. What I witnessed was both inspiring and sobering.

In many of these countries, privacy had once been non-existent. Information was power, and that power had too often been abused. Surveillance was used to silence dissent. Trust in public institutions had been deeply damaged, and though democracy had arrived, the scars of its absence lingered. In some places, people were still afraid to speak freely, still hesitant to believe that the change was permanent. It was there, in conversations with small business owners, young reformers and cautious civil servants, that I saw the true cost of lost public trust. Once trust is broken, it takes generations to rebuild.

When I returned to Canada, I brought those lessons home with me, into my business, my community and eventually into public service. I later had the honour of serving as a cabinet minister in Saskatchewan's provincial government, in which I was responsible for portfolios on economy, trade and innovation. That experience deepened my belief that when government works well, it creates opportunity, not barriers, for people to grow, contribute and succeed.

I reflect on all of this when I consider part 4 of Bill C-4, which addresses the question of how privacy laws apply to federal political parties. At face value, this provision seems narrowly focused. It would retroactively assert that provincial privacy laws do not apply to federal political parties, reinforcing exclusive federal jurisdiction. However, beneath this technical language lies a more profound question about the relationship between citizens and their democratic institutions.

When Canadians provide their personal information to political parties, whether signing up for a newsletter, attending a town hall or simply expressing support, they are placing trust in us. They expect that information to be treated with care, confidentiality and respect. When that expectation is not met, the harm is not just legal or administrative. It is democratic.

The bill may clarify federal jurisdiction, but it also takes provincial privacy commissioners out of the picture. These offices have built strong, effective systems to address complaints and hold organizations accountable. By removing that layer of oversight, we risk weakening the transparency and trust that Canadians expect and deserve.

There is also the risk of reinforcing cynicism. When people see legislation rushed through Parliament, particularly as part of a broader omnibus bill, they may feel that their concerns are being managed, not addressed. When they discover that their personal data, collected for political purposes, exists outside the scrutiny applied to most other private entities in Canada, it raises a troubling double standard. We should ask ourselves what example we are setting as federal political actors. If we expect businesses, charities and provincial governments to uphold privacy rights, should we not hold ourselves to at least that same standard?

I believe that we can do better. Rather than simply assert jurisdiction, we should be using this moment to create a clear, principled and enforceable privacy framework tailored to the political context, one that respects constitutional boundaries but does not sacrifice accountability. Canadians should not be asked to choose between federal clarity and democratic transparency. They deserve both. There is a real opportunity here to lead by example.

As federal lawmakers, we can take a proactive approach. We can establish minimum privacy standards for political parties, standards that ensure Canadians know exactly how their data is collected, stored and used, so that the publication of a privacy policy becomes more than a symbolic check box. We must restore trust and credibility, and we must strengthen our democracy from within. While the legislation does address the jurisdictional gap, it should not be mistaken for a comprehensive solution.

The real solution lies in demonstrating that political parties are willing to play by the same rules as everyone else, that we are not seeking exemption but embracing transparency. This is our chance to get it right, not just for today but for the next generation of voters, many of whom are already deeply skeptical of political institutions. Let us give them a reason to believe that we are listening and that we are willing to hold ourselves to the same standard we expect of others, one that respects constitutional boundaries but does not sacrifice accountability.

Canadians should not be forced to choose between federal clarity and democratic transparency. They deserve both. This is why, as we debate legislation like this, we must ask not only whether it meets constitutional muster but also whether it strengthens public trust, whether it improves how we serve and whether it brings citizens closer to the institutions that represent them.

I saw, in eastern Europe, what happens when governments stop listening, when citizens lose faith in the institutions that are meant to serve them. I can say, without hesitation, that rebuilding trust is far harder than maintaining it. Canadians deserve transparency and clarity, and they deserve to know that the people they elect are subject to rules and are not above them.

I did not come to Ottawa seeking applause. I came here to do the work, to advocate for those who feel unheard, to push for common sense in public policy and to serve with humility. The people of Souris—Moose Mountain are not looking for platitudes. They are looking for leadership that understands the value of work and the weight of their worries. They deserve to know that their privacy, their voices and their values matter.

As I rise from my first speech in the House, I do so not as a politician but as a proud Canadian, shaped by my prairie roots, informed by global experience and guided by the belief that government exists to serve, not to control. I will return again to that image of myself as a teenager, writing that first letter, guided by my father's words. If something matters enough to complain about, it matters enough to do something about. I intend to do something about it, not just today but every day that I have the honour to serve in the House.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the MP on their first address in the House. I have to tell members that both my parents and grandparents grew up on farms. They were proud farmers. I too have values similar to the ones the member stated. My father repeated to me often that my word is everything.

As it relates to Bill C-4, we are offering a tax break for young families trying to buy their first home. I am wondering if the member supports that move in helping those young families attain their first home.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives always support every tax cut, but, in typical Liberal fashion, it is too little. Liberals say one thing and do another.

The Conservatives want to give a tax break to all people buying homes, not just first-time homebuyers, but if the members opposite want to steal Conservative ideas when it comes to affordability, please, by all means, take our ideas.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I hear the Conservatives talking about eliminating carbon pricing. I hear them talking about pipelines, increasing oil and gas production and scrapping the emissions cap.

I would like to know whether the Conservatives and the member are essentially looking to get rid of every last measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, every last measure to combat climate change.

Would that make them happy?

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy for that question. I have had the privilege of travelling and working on four continents and I have been to other places that produce energy across the world. One thing I know is that if other jurisdictions in the world adopted the same environmental policies as we have in Saskatchewan, for example, there would be a reduction of 25% in greenhouse gases globally.

Canada is a world leader. We should be proud of what we are doing. Our industry should be praised, not vilified.

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, what a pleasure it is to hear the speech from my colleague for Souris—Moose Mountain. Of course, both of our constituencies are named after the proud Souris River that flows from his constituency in the west into mine in the east, and it is a pleasure to have him as a neighbour.

As neighbours, we both have the same economies in our region. I would like the member for Souris—Moose Mountain to highlight just a little more about how terrible the Liberal government's policies over the last 10 years have been for affordability in our region, how they have suppressed our fertilizer industry, our natural resources industry and the ag sector, with disastrous policies that have resulted in tariffs on canola and the pulse crops from India, and what a disaster that has been for affordability measures in Souris—Moose Mountain and Brandon—Souris.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that question because it highlights the fact that in our region, agriculture makes up a large part of our GDP. As we know, most agriculture commodities are priced globally, on the global market.

Just south of both of our constituencies is the United States. They also share the same region as we do. They produce the same crops and have the same industries, but they are not paying a carbon tax. We have about a 40% higher cost of production than my neighbours do in the States. This is a self-imposed harm that the Liberal government has put on the people in my constituency for the past 10 years. It was a carbon tax that we never asked for and did not want, and it did not work. I am so happy that the Liberals removed it.

The next thing they should do is take off the industrial carbon tax, because that affects all of our inputs, all of our crop supplies and is something that really hurts our industries.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. member for Souris—Moose Mountain. He has raised something that I have been concerned about, which is this: What the heck does part 4 of the bill, changes to the Canada Elections Act, have to do with affordability?

I want to know if the member has any comment on another section. I am sure he noticed it. Section 49, which we can call the “time machine” section, says the bill would come into force, in terms of the sections around the privacy of election information, 25 years ago. Does he have any comment on that?

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have not read the bill in enough detail. I just got it yesterday, so I have not had a chance to really go over the fine detail of it.

One thing I can say is that any time we are dealing with people's private information, it is very important that we take privacy concerns extremely seriously. I have seen what happens when governments do not.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Vancouver Kingsway.

On April 28, Canadians came together to give our new Liberal government a strong, historic mandate. We were elected on a commitment to build a strong economy that works for everyone. Over the past few weeks, our government has taken concrete steps to deliver on our plan to make life more affordable for Canadian families.

Bill C‑4 delivers on three of the government's earliest announcements: cutting taxes for the middle class, eliminating the GST on new homes for first-time homebuyers and repealing the pollution pricing act.

I have mentioned the tax cut several times in the House because it is excellent news. This measure will lower the tax rate of the first income tax bracket from 15% to 14%. This change will benefit more than 22 million people across the country. Individuals will be able to save up to $420 per year, and dual-income families will be able to save up to $840 per year. We are taking meaningful action to put money back in the pockets of Canadians.

During the election campaign, when we were knocking on doors or making phone calls, we heard people say that access to home ownership was a challenge, especially for young people. That is why we want to bring in the GST rebate for first-time homebuyers. The goal is both to help individuals entering the housing market for the first time and to encourage developers to increase the housing supply. The rebate will provide GST relief on new homes at or under $1 million. In other words, this means a maximum relief of $50,000 on the purchase of new home by a first-time homebuyer.

We are a government that listens to the people. Many Canadians asked for a climate policy that transcends political divisions, and we listened. From day one, our new government eliminated consumer carbon pricing. We are already seeing the impact. This has resulted in lower fuel prices. This is another meaningful action that helps Canadian families. Bill C-4 repeals the provisions on consumer carbon pricing.

The three measures proposed in Bill C‑4 are part of a broader effort to help families deal with the rising cost of living. That is a very important thing to understand. The best way to make life more affordable for Canadians is to get to work on building a strong economy. It just so happens that our government has a plan to build the strongest economy in the G7 by investing in productivity and innovation, getting more Canadians into the workforce and eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. A strong economy will ensure the sustainability of programs that help make life more affordable for Canadians and save families thousands of dollars a year.

Over the next few minutes, I am going to give a few examples of the measures and programs I am referring to.

Of course, there is the Canada child benefit, which for nearly nine years has been helping low- and middle-income families meet the costs of raising a child. These are monthly tax-free payments made to parents and, since it was rolled out, this benefit has lifted nearly 650,000 children across the country out of poverty. In my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche, more than $40 million a year is paid to parents in our community to help them provide for their children.

I would also like to mention our affordable child care program. Since its launch in 2021, this program has become a cornerstone of Canada's social infrastructure. More than 900,000 children are benefiting from quality child care services. Families across the country are saving thousands of dollars a year, paying on average one-third of what they paid in 2021. During the election campaign, we made a commitment to protect and strengthen this important program. We understand that our workforce is stronger because parents, and primarily mothers, no longer have to choose between the cost of child care and their careers. When families are strong, the economy is strong, and we are making Canada stronger.

I am also thinking of the national school food program, a meaningful measure to make life more affordable. This program is a direct investment in the middle class. It makes life easier for hard-working families. It is also a safety net for children who do not always get enough to eat at home. No child should go to school on an empty stomach because it is much harder for kids to focus when they are hungry. We have entered into school food agreements with all the provinces and territories. That means that the national school food program is fully operational. Under the agreement with my province, New Brunswick, the Government of Canada is investing roughly $11.2 million over the next three years to expand and improve access to the national school food program at the schools in the province. That means being able to fund breakfast programs at 160 additional schools across New Brunswick. In all, more than 57,000 children in New Brunswick will benefit from these programs during the current school year.

I would also like to mention the Canadian dental care plan. It is a very important program as we try to help families cope with the cost of living. In May, we expanded eligibility for this program to all age groups. The program is now available to about eight million Canadians and saves them about $800 a year to get the affordable dental care they need. This is an important measure because during the election campaign, when I was knocking on doors and making phone calls, I heard over and over again how important this program is. I am thinking of the example of one constituent who told me that he has had tooth pain for years and that he could not afford dental care. Now, thanks to the expansion of the program we announced in May, that person will be able to access the care he needs. This is extremely important and makes a difference in the lives of the people we represent.

Last month, the people in my riding and elsewhere in the country expressed the desire to see the cost of living go down. We heard them. Thanks to measures set out in Bill C‑4, our government is making changes to cut taxes, decrease costs and put money back in the pockets of Canadians. These changes are in addition to efforts by our government to build a strong economy and ensure the sustainability of programs that already help families save thousands of dollars each year.

I am proud of my government. This government understands the importance of having a strong economy to make life more affordable, and it is guided by the conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. I look forward to voting in favour of Bill C‑4 to make life more affordable for Canadians, including the people in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, child care is very important in communities throughout Canada, including my own community of Penticton. British Columbia announced a $10-a-day child care program almost a decade ago. Unfortunately, there has been difficulty with the program because of a lack of child care workers. Without child care workers, we cannot have child care, even if it is free.

I was wondering if the member would explain how he would fill the new child care centres with child care workers when there is a lack of them throughout the country.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we are moving forward with the affordable child care spaces program in collaboration with the provinces and territories. The challenges and issues may vary from place to place, but what is important is maintaining a good working relationship with all jurisdictions across the country to strengthen this program that is extremely important and changes the lives of Canadian families. It ensures that parents do not have to choose between paying for child care and having a career.

Our government continues to work with the provinces and territories to strengthen this very important program.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his speech.

We agree in principle with a tax cut and eliminating the GST on new homes. That said, it brings the spending up to about $30 billion. The problem is that there is no budget. We do not know where that money is going to come from. Will it come from a reduction in health transfers? Is the government going to abandon the measures to compensate workers in the current context of tariff threats?

Where is the money going to come from?

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, during the election, people told us that they wanted concrete and swift action to help them deal with the cost of living and to strengthen the Canadian economy. That is why we returned to the House of Commons so quickly. Ours was the second-fastest post-election return to the House of Commons in Canadian history. We want to take the time to do things right.

As my colleagues have already mentioned, a budget will be presented in the fall. In the meantime, we still want to take concrete action to help people deal with the cost of living. People have asked us to do that, and we want to deliver. We are starting by cutting income taxes, eliminating the GST on new homes, and doing away with consumer carbon pricing.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my colleague from Madawaska—Restigouche to the House. I know, from discussions with him, that our ridings are very similar in their makeup, or their mosaic.

The message I heard when I was going door to door was that we had to make life more affordable. Our government has put this bill forward. I would like him to expand his thoughts on that and what he heard at the doors.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we both represent rural ridings, and the areas we cover are large. When we go door to door, sometimes the distance between two homes is greater than it is in a city centre.

The cost of living is also a challenge in rural areas. People have asked for meaningful action, and they welcome the news about the tax cut. There have also been repeated calls to expand the Canadian dental care plan to include all age groups. When I was knocking on doors, people told me that they wanted the Canadian dental care plan to be expanded and that they wanted concrete measures on housing. A first step was announced today with the elimination of the GST on the purchase of a first home.

However, let us not forget that our platform includes one of the most ambitious housing plans that Canada has ever seen. We will get to work quickly to meet Canadians' expectations. I am not worried. After just a few weeks, I think we can see that the results are there. We are taking action to make life more affordable and address the concerns of Canadians.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a true honour to rise today to deliver my first speech of the 45th Parliament. I do so with great humility and immense gratitude to the people of Vancouver Kingsway for once again placing their trust in me to represent them. I want to recognize all those who stepped forward as candidates in the last election. Their commitment to public service and to our democratic process is vital to the strength and resilience of our country.

Being re-elected to serve in Parliament is an incredible privilege, one that would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my campaign team. Their hard work, passion and steadfast belief in our shared vision helped us overcome every challenge. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them. I thank the people of Vancouver Kingsway for allowing me to carry their voices, ideas, dreams and aspirations to Ottawa once again. I will work tirelessly each and every day to honour that trust and help build a brighter future for our community and for all Canadians.

I also want to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues in the New Democratic Party for the great honour of serving as our party's leader for an interim period. It is a responsibility I take on with a deep sense of duty to our country, our values and the people we serve. Finally, there is my family. As we all know in this place, none of us could discharge our duties without the love, support and understanding of those closest to us.

The New Democratic Party was built by and for working people to fight for fairness, dignity and opportunity for everyone. As leader, I will work hard to ensure the NDP remains the party that puts workers and their families at the heart of everything we do, because now, more than ever, workers need a strong voice in Parliament, one that will forcefully and effectively advocate for their rights, their livelihoods and their futures.

It is clear that Canada is at a crossroads. Many Canadians are struggling and uncertain about their and their families' futures. We are facing multiple overlapping crises that require immediate and decisive action. Fully half of all Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque, and one in four parents has cut back on their own food consumption to ensure their children have enough to eat.

Eighty per cent of Canadians now believe that owning a home is only for the rich. Among those who do not own a home, 70% have given up ever owning one. Rent prices have more than doubled since 2015. In major cities across Canada, tenants are regularly paying over 50% of their income on shelter, which is a crushing and unsustainable burden.

Canada's health care system is under serious strain, with long wait times, inadequate access to essential services and high levels of burnout among health care workers. Millions of Canadians do not have a family doctor, which is critical to accessing our health care system. Across Canada, working families are under pressure. Right-wing governments are attacking public services, undermining collective bargaining and promoting privatization.

Now we are facing unprecedented external threats. The Trump administration has launched a reckless trade war against Canada, imposing sweeping tariffs on our exports and targeting key sectors of the Canadian economy. Even more disturbing are the inflammatory and deeply disrespectful remarks suggesting Canada should be annexed as the 51st state, an affront to our sovereignty and our identity as a proud, independent nation.

At a time when Canadians are already grappling with economic uncertainty, these threats only deepen our resolve. We will not be intimidated. We will stand united as Canadians in defence of our democracy, our values and our future.

That brings me to Bill C-4, the making life more affordable for Canadians act. While it is not perfect, New Democrats will support this bill at second reading, because it contains measures that provide immediate relief to Canadians who are struggling.

The reduction of the marginal personal income tax rate on the lowest tax bracket, from 15% to 14.5% this year and to 14% in 2026, would be a step toward easing the financial burden on millions of Canadians.

The new GST rebate for first-time homebuyers, which offers a full rebate on homes up to $1 million and a partial rebate on homes up to $1.5 million, is a welcome measure for many families trying to enter an increasingly inaccessible housing market. The elimination of the consumer carbon tax provides an opportunity to create a more effective mechanism to reduce carbon and to fight climate change, in my view the defining issue of our planet and our times.

However, let us be clear: This bill, while helpful, can and should be improved. The biggest benefits of the tax cut would go to higher-income earners. According to David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 98% of those making over $129,000 would benefit, while only 14% of those living in poverty would see any gain at all. In fact, the average benefit for someone living in poverty would be just $11 a year. For the middle 30% of Canadians, the average benefit would be $151 a year, but for the richest among us, the average benefit would be $310 a year. Ultimately, only 1% of tax filers would reap the full hypothetical benefit of $412 per person that the Liberals touted in the last election when they proposed this tax cut.

More troubling are the unintended consequences of this tax measure: It would reduce the value of critical tax credits. This is because many non-refundable tax credits, like the Canada caregiver credit, the age amount and the disability tax credit, are calculated as a percentage of the lowest federal income tax rate. When that rate is reduced, the dollar value of these credits also decreases. This is not just a technical oversight; it would hurt the financial security of some of the most vulnerable people in our country.

The National Disability Network has raised the alarm, warning that more than 900,000 Canadians who rely on the disability tax credit and the medical expense tax credit could be negatively affected. For many low- and modest-income individuals with disabilities, this tax cut could actually function as a tax increase. These are people who already face higher daily costs due to disability, costs that are not optional. Reducing their tax credits or increasing their overall tax burden is not tax relief; it is a step backwards. That is unacceptable, and I call on my colleagues to work with New Democrats to fix it.

New Democrats will work to fix these flaws. We will propose amendments at committee to ensure that no one, especially those living with disabilities, is left behind. We will work to protect the value of these essential credits so that affordability measures reach those who need them most.

I am also hearing from constituents who will not qualify for the GST rebate on their new home purchase simply because of the closing date of their transaction. New Democrats will also propose amendments to address this gap.

I hope that my colleagues on all sides of the House will examine these flaws of the bill and, if satisfied that they exist, join me and my New Democrat colleagues to pass these constructive amendments to improve this bill and, I think, address the real objective of it, which is to give all Canadians a break at this time, a time that is so difficult for so many of them.

Canadians are looking to this Parliament for leadership. They are looking for unity. They are looking for action that matches the scale of the challenges they face. Bill C-4 is a start, but it is not enough. New Democrats will support this bill at second reading, because Canadians need help now, but we will not, should not and cannot stop there. We will push for improvements not only to this bill but to every other aspect of life that will help address and improve affordability for Canadians. Whether that is help with grocery prices, help with utility prices or help with home affordability prices, all of these areas are in crying need of assistance for Canadians who live in every community, every province and territory, and every corner of our great country.

Let us work together to fight for fairness and to help raise the living standard of every Canadian in our country. We will continue, as New Democrats, to work together with our colleagues and stand up for working people in every corner of this country to realize their dreams.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his support of this bill.

We have heard the opposition call for the removal of the industrial carbon price. I would like to hear the member's views on that. The party on this side of the House thinks that we have to charge heavy polluters, which is why we are maintaining that part of the bill. Could he give his views on that?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that was a thoughtful question.

As I said in my speech, I think the climate crisis is the defining issue of our times. There are thousands of issues in politics, but some are existential, and the climate crisis is one of those. I think it is incumbent upon us as a Parliament to take effective measures that reduce Canada's carbon emissions in an effective way and meet the international obligations that we have committed to in treaty. That means looking for every single mechanism that we can to reduce carbon in a way that protects our planet and our environment and operates in a fair manner.

New Democrats believe that the price on pollution is one measure in that regard. I think it is also time for us to explore other mechanisms, like the cap-and-trade system, which has worked well to reduce the sulphur dioxide problem in the Great Lakes. As well, we need to work with industries to make sure that we can adopt technologies so that industries can start making the reductions in carbon that are so necessary to protect our planet.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree, at least on this side of the aisle, that this bill does not go far enough in a lot of its policies.

I want to ask the member this. How does Bill C-4 address the multiple tent cities that have been created over the last 10 years in communities across Canada because of Liberal policies?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I think the short answer is that this bill does very little, if anything, to address the homelessness issue in this country. It does give some targeted relief to someone who can afford to buy a home up to $1.5 million, but that is not going to address the tens, maybe hundreds, of thousands of Canadians who are living homeless or couch surfing across this country, especially young people. I think one of the primary goals of this Parliament, from all sides of the House, should be to tackle the housing crisis.

It is unacceptable, in a G7 country, that Canadians would not have a dignified, secure, affordable place to call home. To me, that is a promise of this country. Every Canadian should have access to that. We should address that issue with everything we have in this House.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on his election and on his first speech in the House in this new Parliament.

The Bloc Québécois also considers it important to fight inflation and protect consumer purchasing power. This bill eliminates consumer carbon pricing.

Both the government and the Parliamentary Budget Officer were very clear: More than 90% of Canadians were receiving more money from the rebate than what they were paying, and less fortunate and middle-class Canadians were receiving even more than what they were paying.

I would like my colleague to explain how he thinks supporting the elimination of carbon pricing will improve the cost of living.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague asked an excellent question. I think I saw the carbon tax in this House reduced to what I would call nursery rhyme politics. It was used as an affordability issue, and most Canadians, frankly, were left underinformed about how the carbon tax worked and what its benefits and costs were. The truth is that this is where we are at right now. The carbon tax has been eliminated because people think that this will help save them money.

It is our job as parliamentarians now to put our nose to the grindstone, find other effective ways to reduce carbon, and also address the very serious affordability issues that are affecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time.

It is with the deepest humility and honour that I rise in this chamber as the member of Parliament for Yellowhead for my maiden speech. It was a privilege to witness His Majesty King Charles III deliver the throne speech in the Senate chamber.

However, a throne speech is more than who delivers the words. It is a promise made by the Liberal government to Canadians. The promise to make life more affordable for Canadians needs to be our immediate focus. This was the number one concern I heard from voters during the last election.

The removal of the consumer carbon tax was the first step in addressing the economic disaster the Liberal government created over the last lost decade. The industrial carbon tax must also go. Millennials and gen Z cannot afford the costs of home ownership.

There is a meagre attempt made in Bill C-4 to gaslight Canadians by saying the Liberals are eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes, but it would impact such a small segment of the market, that proposed changes would not create any real change at all. The proposal included in the bill would help fewer Canadians than what our party campaigned on during the last election, and the Liberals actually want to cap this in six years' time, whereas we would have made it permanent.

The Liberal government copied our Conservative policies, but only in half measures: the reduction in personal income taxes was less; the proposed GST rebate on new homes is less; and the impacts of this bill do not go far enough when addressing the affordability needs of Canadians today.

It is an honour to represent the thousands of people who call Yellowhead home, and I am committed to doing everything I can to help make life affordable for my constituents. As a father, I want to ensure the future generations can continue to call Yellowhead the best place to live, work and raise a family.

I can confidently say that we live in the most beautiful riding in the entire country. At more than 83,600 square kilometres, Yellowhead is bigger than the province of New Brunswick and the entire country of Ireland. It stretches from the Rocky Mountains following the Cowboy Trail, from the Willmore Wilderness area and Grande Cache in the north to Kananaskis country in the south, and everything in between, including Canada's crown jewels, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park.

My riding consists of many communities made up of hard-working Albertans, including Springbank, Rocky View County, Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Dead Man's Flats and the Bow Valley. Going north on the Cowboy Trail, there is Waiparous, Cremona and Sundre. We have the hidden gem of David Thompson country, which includes Clearwater County, the Municipal District of Bighorn, Caroline, Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg. Even further north, there is the Yellowhead County, the namesake for my riding. There is also Edson, Hinton, Jasper, Grand Cache and the parts of the Municipal District of Greenview. Last but not least, we have Mountain View County, Rocky View County, Carstairs and Crossfield, where I, along with my loving wife Bev, have raised my two incredible daughters on our farm near the hamlet of Madden.

Madden is home to my local Lions Club, where I have been a member for more than 20 years, and I want to congratulate its members on the great work they do. I have a long history in this area, since my family homesteaded near Crossfield in the 1880s.

Yellowhead is also located on Treaty 6, 7 and 8 lands and includes the indigenous peoples of the first nations of Bearspaw, Chiniki, Goodstoney, O'Chiese, Sunchild First Nation, as well as the people of the Métis nation of Alberta.

These communities in Yellowhead make Alberta and Canada such an incredible place to live, work and play. Every year, millions of people travel from around the world to come see the breathtaking nature Yellowhead has to offer. Our riding is an economic powerhouse, with businesses both big and small employing thousands in the agriculture, forestry, mining, energy and tourism sectors.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each person who helped me get elected, from those working behind the scenes on the campaign, to the volunteers who were at the doors putting up signs.

I want to thank Kalee, Linda, Sadiq, Leigh, Paul, Colleen, Roland, Ralph, Bruce, Jeff, Gordon, Glen, Dino, Judy, Barry, Angela, Patti, Barb, Peggy, Carole, Bob, Jim, Nancy, Rob, Curtis, Tony, Dale, Doug, Wally, Sue and so many more. Their hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, and I deeply appreciate everything they did and continue to do.

Of course, I especially want to thank my family, my daughters Ashley and Emily, my parents Mary, Mike, Ross and Margaret, and my nephews. I thank them for their unwavering support. They are what truly fuels my dedication to this role. I could not have done it without them, and I am incredibly grateful for their patience and support.

I especially want to thank my wife Bev. We first met at a political event for my MLA Carol Haley in Crossfield, where Stockwell Day, then the provincial treasurer of Alberta, was our guest speaker. Since then, Bev has been by my side through everything for the past 26 years. I would not have made it here without her love and support. I thank her.

I also want to acknowledge my predecessors who represented the people of Yellowhead and the communities within Yellowhead's new boundaries. The Right Hon. Joe Clark was the first member of Parliament to serve for Yellowhead in 1979. He also served as prime minister. There have been many members since him who have served my riding with dedication and integrity, including Jim Eglinski, the Hon. Rob Merrifield, Gerald Soroka and Cliff Breitkreuz. I am also proud to be serving many of the communities that were previously represented by Louise Feltham, Earl Dreeschen and the late Myron Thompson.

I would be remiss not to mention my current colleagues who represented parts of the new Yellowhead riding in previous parliaments, including the member for Foothills and the member for Airdrie—Cochrane. I look forward to working closely with them.

As a chartered professional accountant, I look forward to using my 26 years of public practice experience with personal and small business tax to help shape reforms to the tax system. We need to ensure that our nation's tax system works for everyday Canadians and not against them. As a proud Conservative, I stand for the principles that have long guided our party: free enterprise, individual liberty and the rule of law. I believe in a small government that serves the people, not one that grows at their expense. Canadians deserve low taxes, fiscal responsibility and the unwavering protection of their rights and freedoms, including property rights.

In Yellowhead, we understand the value of hard work. Our communities are built by farmers, ranchers, energy workers, outdoorsmen, forestry workers, small business owners and tourism operators. We understand what true stewardship of our natural resources means for responsible resources and conserving our beautiful lands and wildlife, yet too often rural voices are overlooked and policies are crafted without consideration for the impact on their way of life. This must change.

It is my priority to advocate for the rights of Alberta and provinces, develop the resources, oppose any regulations and taxes that would harm rural Canadians and support the agriculture sector, which is facing rising costs and federal overreach. I will advocate for our veterans to give them the respect and support they deserve after they have dedicated their lives to our country, and I will protect the rights of responsible firearms owners, hunters and sports shooters, by opposing the unrealistic overreach restrictions that have been imposed on them over the last decade.

As a responsible firearms owner, a sports shooter and a hunter, I would like to highlight the six shooting ranges in Yellowhead and how proud I am of their ongoing efforts to ensure that responsible firearms owners have a place to call their own. Firearms are part of our heritage. They help people like myself put food on the table, and they are the backbone of numerous international renowned sporting events.

I want to reassure the constituents of Yellowhead, as well as all Albertans and Canadians, that I will continue to defend the rights of firearms owners. I will work with groups such as the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights and the Canadian Shooting Sports Association to ensure these rights continue to be respected. Responsible firearms owners have faced unbelievable pressure and uncertainty under the Liberal government, which has continued, over the last lost decade, to impose outrageous restrictions that do nothing to improve public safety.

As I take my seat in the chamber, I do so with a clear purpose to put Canadians first, defend their values, build this country and ensure Yellowhead has a robust voice in shaping Canada's future to make our country the best place to live, work and raise a family.

God bless Yellowhead. God bless Alberta. God bless Canada.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member opposite. As I have said before, I encourage the member to enjoy every minute in the House. It is a privilege for all of us to be here.

I also have a little bit of advice for the member, though. When we start naming names, as I have learned, we always leave one out, and we always hear about it when we are done our speech. All in all, that was a great speech.

We are a government of action. We are a government that is cutting taxes. We cut the tax for 22 million Canadians, have permanently cut the carbon tax and also cut tax for first-home homebuyers.

I would like to know what the member thinks about those bold moves we have made as a government, and I thank him in advance for his support.