Debates of June 13th, 2025

Men Ending Trafficking

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend in Jackson's Point in the town of Georgina, I attended the 10th anniversary of the charity Men Ending Trafficking, which was founded 10 years ago on the simple understanding that the vast majority of demand for sex trafficking in Canada is sadly driven by men, and we need more men working to end that in Canada.

I heard heartbreaking stories of daughters stolen, lost and abused, but also hopeful stories of those who, with help, were able to escape a life of exploitation. Through its safeguard program, Men Ending Trafficking brings together teams of women and men to come alongside victims as they navigate the criminal justice system.

I want to thank founder John Cassells and current executive director Trevor Poplar for their tenacious efforts. I know all men in the House will join me in working to end sex trafficking in Canada.

Canada Post Labour Dispute

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everyone is affected by the Canada Post labour dispute. However, the government is making a mistake by siding with the employer instead of supporting a lasting, negotiated settlement.

First, the government suspended workers' right to strike in December. Then, yesterday, the Minister of Jobs and Families announced that she will force employees to vote on Canada Post's unilateral proposal instead of going to arbitration. This repeated Liberal meddling has poisoned the collective bargaining atmosphere. Today, the Liberals are shutting down the dialogue by forcing a vote. It seems rather clear that the arbitrator has chosen the winner of the game.

The Liberals' role is to act as guarantors of law, fairness and genuine social dialogue. They need to explain their involvement, which is not conducive to a fair and lasting resolution of the dispute. More importantly, they need to back down.

Tribute to a Father

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this weekend is Father's Day. I want to take this moment to celebrate my father, Anwar Abbas Naqvi, who will be turning 90 on July 14.

What a remarkable life he has lived. He has always been a planner and a visionary, and he has immigrated twice in his life, first at the age of 19 from India to Pakistan and then later on to this beautiful country of Canada. He has always given the gift of education to my siblings, my brother and sister, and I, telling us how important it is to get a good education, work hard and give back to the community.

He took part in a pro-democracy movement in his younger days, and spent nine months as a political prisoner, because he always challenged the status quo. I want to take this opportunity for members to join me in wishing him a happy 90th birthday. May he live many, many more years. Happy birthday, Daddy.

Freedom of Expression

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, freedom of expression is the foundation of every other freedom. Without it, we cannot challenge bad ideas, question authority or hold governments to account. We cannot protect truth. Freedom of expression is the oxygen of democracy. When governments decide to censor speech, they begin to control thought itself. This path does not lead to safety. Instead, it leads to silence, fear and eventually oppression.

In the last Parliament, the Liberals pushed Canada down that path. Bill C-18 banned news from social media. Bill C-11 manipulated what Canadians can see and say online, and Bill C-63, a bloated censorship regime, threatened to put in place an Internet czar and sweeping new powers to police speech.

The Liberals claim that they have changed, that this is a “new government”, but Canadians know better. The government does not trust Canadians. They do not trust Canadians to think independently, to speak freely or to make their own choices, but Conservatives on this side of the House will always protect free speech, always protect open debate and always stand for the rights and freedoms of Canadians. We are here to continue—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Orléans.

50th Anniversary of the Festival franco-ontarien

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we marked a historic moment: the 50th anniversary of the Festival franco-ontarien. For half a century, this festival has been proudly celebrating the culture, language and identity of francophones in Ontario through music. It is an opportunity to bring together different generations, showcase local and foreign artists and celebrate the wealth of our francophone heritage.

I thank the organizers of the Festival franco-ontarien for their leadership and the many organizations in Ontario, like the Mouvement d'implication francophone d'Orléans, or MIFO, in my beautiful community of Orléans, that work tirelessly on promoting the francophonie in all its forms.

For this special year, we applaud the festival's exceptional journey and wish it many more years of success. Happy 50th anniversary to the Festival franco-ontarien. See you all at Major's Hill park until June 14.

Canadian Energy Sector

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after ten years of Liberal anti-energy laws, over 176 billion dollars' worth of energy projects have been scrapped. Bills such as Bill C-69, the so-called “no new energy pipelines” law, and Bill C-48, along with the job-killing carbon tax, have created so much red tape and uncertainty that energy companies will not even invest here anymore.

In the B.C. interior, countless families depend on the oil and gas sector to put food on the table. Even our regional airports rely on flight revenues tied to energy-related travel and investment, but because of stalled pipelines, investment and job creation have dried up, not just in my riding, but across Canada.

If the Liberals are serious about making Canada an energy superpower, they need to repeal their own anti-energy agenda, lift Bill C-69, remove Bill C-48, kill the industrial carbon tax and get Canadians back to work by finally tapping into our natural resources.

Steel Industry

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week, a Hamilton steel mill permanently shut down, putting 153 people out of work. Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum are unjustified and illegal, and are now impacting the livelihoods of Canadian families.

Everyone in Hamilton knows somebody who works in the steel industry. There are 10,000 Hamilton workers who are directly employed in steelmaking and another 40,000 who are employed in associated industries. These are good-paying, Canadian jobs that are supporting hard-working Canadian families, and they are now at risk because of Donald Trump's misguided, illegal trade war with Canada.

While discussions with the U.S. are ongoing, all retaliatory measures are on the table. We are taking steps to stop the dumping of cheap foreign steel, and we are investing in new Canadian markets. I want to assure the workers in Hamilton and across Canada that our government is doing everything possible to fight back, protect jobs and support Canadian steel.

Public Services and Procurement

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians are struggling with the ever-increasing cost of groceries, record food bank use and rising unemployment. However, one group of Canadians is not struggling at all, namely the Liberal-friendly insiders at GC Strategies.

This two-person company billed taxpayers for $64 million over 106 contracts, often for work that was never done. However, GC Strategies did not act alone. According to the recent Auditor General report, under the Liberal government, security requirements were not enforced, contracts were not monitored and federal organizations did not follow procurement policies. While Kristian Firth and Darren Anthony were getting rich, their Liberal accomplices were getting promoted to the front benches of the House of Commons.

On Monday, will the Prime Minister support our Conservative motion to put taxpayers first and get Canadians their money back?

Public Safety

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, building safe communities and neighbourhoods takes a collective effort, and our Liberal government is making positive progress by working together with all levels of governments and partners.

Through our investment and collaborative approach, in the Peel region, there was a 60% drop in auto thefts in 2024 and an additional 45% decrease in the first quarter of 2025. Just this week, Peel Regional Police and CBSA seized over 50 million dollars' worth of cocaine in one of the largest drug busts in their history, a clear message that crime will not be tolerated in our communities.

However, more work needs to be done. Our government is taking community safety very seriously. That is why our government is strengthening laws, cracking down on repeat violent offenders and taking action on auto theft, home invasions, human smuggling and drug trafficking. We will continue to show leadership by working with our communities to build safer neighbourhoods for all Canadians.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Israel has the right to defend itself, including by disarming Tehran's nuclear program. We should hope that this is the end of the regime's nuclear program and that the great Persian people can now rise up to reclaim their country from the totalitarian regime. Sadly, anti-Semitism has been on the rise here in Canada.

Can the government please tell us the extra steps it will take to protect Canada's Jewish community from anti-Semites, who might use the recent events as an excuse for violence?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is important on two fronts. It is important to remember, always, that Israel has the right to defend itself. Israel has the right to continue to make sure that it is safe and secure.

At the same time, the government is committed to taking action against the scourge that is anti-Semitism every day in our world. We will continue to stand up and defend Jews in this community to make sure they are safe.

Public Services and Procurement

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the Auditor General's scathing report on Tuesday, we learned that the Liberals failed to put in place the necessary safety procedures and controls to safeguard Canadian taxpayers' dollars.

The result was $64 million to the arrive scam's primary contractor, GC Strategies. Canadians work so hard for their money. When will that money be returned?

Will everyone in the House vote with Conservatives to get Canadians' money back?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her work. Obviously, we can all agree in the House that misconduct of any kind in our procurement processes is completely unacceptable. It is notable that we have terminated all contracts and suspended security clearance for GC Strategies. An investigation and assessment were undertaken, and GC Strategies was deemed ineligible for receiving government contracts for seven years. This matter has been referred to the RCMP, and the legal matter is ongoing.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we hear those same talking points over and over again. However, the only guarantee we can have that taxpayer dollars will actually be protected is a change in leadership. Liberals keep getting rich. Canadians keep getting the tax bill.

Why, in all heavens, were the ministers promoted instead of fired?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I know that all of us can agree in the House that misconduct of any kind in our procurement process is completely unacceptable. That is why our government has acted on this matter. An investigation was undertaken by OSIC. The company in question has been deemed ineligible for receiving any federal government contracts for seven years, and the matter has been referred to the RCMP. Legal action is ongoing.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Auditor General released a scathing report on ArriveCAN's main contractor, GC Strategies. This two-person company, which is now under investigation by the RCMP, received a staggering $64 million. The worst part is that we do not even know if it did any work.

The Conservatives have introduced a motion to ban this company for life. Will all members of the House vote to ensure that Canadian taxpayers get their money back?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I am more than happy to repeat this as many times as the members opposite would like me to. Our government has taken a firm stance on this matter and has said that any misconduct of any kind within our procurement processes is completely unacceptable. We have made improvements to the integrity of the system, based on the Auditor General's report and recommendations. We have made sure that GC Strategies can no longer receive any government contracts for seven years, and the matter has been referred to the RCMP for legal action.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are not asking for a seven-year suspension, but a lifetime suspension. The budget was $80,000. The actual cost was $64 million, paid to only two people. That is 800 times the planned budget. It makes no sense. The taxpayers of Beauce and Canada are the ones stuck with the bill.

Why do the Liberals reward politicians instead of punishing them?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I know that all of us in the House can agree on one thing, which is that the integrity of our procurement processes is of utmost importance. It is taxpayers' money that is in question, and we take that matter very seriously. We have conducted an investigation through the office of supplier integrity and compliance. They deemed GC Strategies to be ineligible to receive any federal government contracts for seven years, and we have referred this matter to the RCMP for legal action.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is yet another question with no real answer.

What would happen to a Canadian family if it spent 800 times its budget on housing and living expenses? It would go bankrupt. What would happen if a private company exceeded its budget by 800 times? An executive would be fired. Why is it acceptable for Ottawa to spend Canadians' money without any concrete results? Families in Beauce deserve much better.

Will the Liberals vote in favour of our motion to strike GC Strategies from the list, yes or no?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, misconduct of any kind in our procurement process is completely unacceptable. This is why we are making changes to ensure the integrity of our system. We have made sure GC Strategies has been terminated from all contracts and that its security clearance has been suspended. The investigation of OSIC has deemed it ineligible for any federal government contracts for seven years. The matter has been referred to the RCMP, and legal action is under way.

Government Priorities

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Act, the Indian Act, the International River Improvements Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, biodiversity acts and regulations, the Official Languages Act, the Income Tax Act and the Canada Labour Code are all acts and regulations that the minister would be allowed to suspend arbitrarily thanks to Bill C‑5.

At the very least, does not the entire framework for regulating economic activity in Quebec and Canada deserve thorough study in committee?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Québécois knows full well that we just finished an election campaign during which the Prime Minister, our party leader, asked Canadians for a clear mandate to accelerate projects of national interest. That is precisely what the bill before the House of Commons will do.

However, to suggest that the government would scale back environmental impact assessments and consultations with indigenous peoples is false. We will do the opposite of that through a mechanism that allows for agreements with the provinces.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is what the law says.

With all due respect, Quebeckers seem to have voted out of fear of the Conservative agenda. They decided to go that way, and it even cost us some seats. Now the Liberal government is taking the Conservative agenda and implementing it. That is not what Quebeckers voted for.

I assume that all opposition parties want to work. Why not allow elected officials, who all want to work hard, to do some serious and thorough work in committee on a bill that will fundamentally transform the regulatory and economic fabric of Quebec and Canada?