House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was economy.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further Adjourned Members debate the government's motion to limit debate on Bill C-5, which the Liberals state will accelerate major projects and reduce trade barriers, fulfilling an election promise. Opposition parties protest the use of closure, arguing the bill is rushed, lacks consultation, and could weaken environmental laws and fail to address existing project barriers. 4400 words, 30 minutes.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1 Members debate Bill C-5, aimed at establishing one Canadian economy by removing federal interprovincial trade barriers and facilitating major national projects. Liberals argue it boosts economic resilience and Indigenous participation. Conservatives criticize it as a missed opportunity that doesn't fix root issues like Bill C-69, allows the government to pick winners and losers, and grants sweeping powers. Concerns are raised about insufficient consultation and limiting debate via closure. 15000 words, 2 hours.
Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 First reading of Bill C-210. The bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867 to eliminate the requirement for Members of Parliament to swear an oath to the King, replacing it with an oath of office. 200 words.
Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5 Members debate Bill C-5, the one Canadian economy act, which aims to remove federal internal trade barriers and expedite major projects. Liberals argue it reflects an election mandate to build a stronger economy against trade threats. Conservatives support the intent but criticize the bill as a "baby step," lacking transparency, and failing to repeal previous laws like Bill C-69. Bloc members oppose the bill, viewing it as a democratic setback, undermining environmental protection, and centralizing power, particularly objecting to the use of a closure motion. 37100 words, 5 hours.
One Canadian Economy Act Second reading of Bill C-5. The bill aims to boost Canada's economy by eliminating internal trade barriers and streamlining approvals for major infrastructure projects. The Liberal government argues this will deliver free trade in Canada and speed up building. Conservatives support faster projects but question its effectiveness. Bloc Québécois, NDP, and Green Party raise concerns about the bill's impact on provincial autonomy, Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and the democratic process, arguing it grants excessive power and was rushed through without proper consultation, potentially undermining democracy and representing an unprecedented power grab. 16000 words, 3 hours.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, public funds must be carefully managed, and taxpayers' money must serve our country, not friends of the Liberals. In Quebec, there is an expression used to describe the abuse of power and the code of silence that protects cronies: “A friend is a friend”.
Will the Liberal ministers of the past 10 years vote with us to make GC Strategies pay back the $64 million that it was overpaid?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of my colleague's question.
We will never tolerate misconduct from our suppliers. That is why we have taken legal action against GC Strategies. We have referred cases to the RCMP because we will always defend the integrity of our procurement system.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about integrity. Today, our Conservative Party introduced a motion demanding that the $64 million that was overpaid to GC Strategies in exchange for zero services be returned to Canadians.
Will the Liberal ministers of the past 10 years, who approved this payment to their friends, finally show some integrity by supporting our motion to force GC Strategies to return the money and to ban this company not for seven years, but for life?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my colleague that the office of supplier integrity and compliance operates at arm's length from the government. It decided to bar GC Strategies for the next seven years.
We have already taken action against this supplier because we will never tolerate bad actors in our supply process. We have taken legal action against GC Strategies and referred cases to the RCMP. We terminated all contracts with GC Strategies more than a year ago and revoked this supplier's security clearance because we will always defend the integrity of our procurement system.
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, with Bill C-5, the government is not only muzzling the House, it is also muzzling all forms of opposition outside the House in the name of the so-called national interest. It is silencing all those who think that our clean drinking water could be threatened by dirty oil pipelines crossing our lakes and rivers, including the St. Lawrence. It is silencing all those who are concerned about our farmland and forests. It is silencing the people, the Quebec National Assembly and the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement.
Why is it that, for the federal government, building Canada always means weakening Quebec?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I would tell my colleague that we are inviting everyone to join us in building Canada.
Quebec will have an important role to play. Quebec is a leader in renewable energy, hydroelectricity and interprovincial trade. This is a golden opportunity for the Bloc Québécois to vote in favour of Quebec and, at the same time, build a strong, resilient and prosperous Canada.
Unions, workers and employers support the bill. The House should vote in favour of this major initiative to build Canada.
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, one thing is for sure: The Liberals' national interest is not in the interest of the planet or future generations. In less than three weeks, they have gone from transport electrification to “Drill, baby, drill”. The Prime Minister has gone from Canada standing strong against Donald Trump to sidelining Quebec and forcing pipelines on it without debate, serious study or expert witnesses explaining the implications of Bill C‑5.
The Prime Minister obviously has no respect for the work of elected officials. He has clearly proven that with his gag order. When will he finally understand that this is a democracy?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, we are absolutely committed to protecting the environment while building our economy.
I would like the Bloc Québécois to support us so that we can do exactly what Canadians and Quebeckers asked us to do when they elected us. They elected a Liberal government to ensure that Canada becomes an economic superpower while also thinking about the environment.
Scot Davidson Conservative New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal housing minister says he does not want house prices to go down. While everyday Canadians are priced out of a home, he says he is focused on protecting people's assets. Well, now we know why. From his Vancouver penthouse, the minister is sitting atop a personal real estate empire worth over $10 million, including luxury properties in Tofino, Squamish and English Bay.
Why is it that the only thing getting built under the housing minister is his personal fortune?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, I will caution the member on using inaccurate facts. I will be following all the rules even before they are required, and these are some of the rules that the Conservatives themselves brought in under former prime minister Harper. Liberals will work with the office of the Ethics Commissioner to ensure transparency, and I will continue to demonstrate integrity in my role as minister. My focus is on getting more affordable housing built across Canada.
Scot Davidson Conservative New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, Liberals are just like atoms: They make up everything. More Canadians than ever are watching the dream of home ownership slip further out of reach, but the housing minister is not focused on solving the housing crisis because he is profiting from it. The average home in Canada now costs $680,000; it is $1.2 million in Vancouver.
Rents and mortgages have doubled, and housing starts are down, so why is the minister more interested in protecting his real estate empire than ensuring Canadians can afford a home?
HousingOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I thought we wanted to finish question period on time.
The hon. government House leader.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Housing, indeed all ministers and members of this House, live under some of the most stringent ethical requirements, which require disclosure and transparency, as the member knows very well. The Minister of Housing is, obviously, complying with all of those rules and will continue to do so. At the same time, he will continue working on providing housing opportunities for Canadians. That is why he is there; that is what he is going to do.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the member will have to excuse us if we do not take the party that has been known for serial ethical law-breaking at its word when the Minister of Housing, who said house prices do not need to come down, is sitting in a $2-million penthouse on a multi-million dollar real estate fortune while he is telling Canadians that they are okay to just stay in their parents' basements. Canadians want to know why the minister was not transparent, did not answer the question in committee of the whole and did not answer the question when the member previously asked. We do not think that he answered it honestly when he gave an answer to the Ethics Commissioner.
Why will the minister not come clean and tell Canadians the truth?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the minister quite literally just gave the answer on the floor of this House. That member knows, as do his colleagues, that we live under ethical guidelines that are among the most stringent in the world. They govern all the members of this House. The minister is in full compliance with all of the rules. That member knows better.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister is in compliance with his multi-million dollar real estate empire. That is the only thing he is in compliance with, while people are living in tent cities. The minister has said the housing market is working just fine. This is from a real estate tycoon, while he has a $2.4-million penthouse in Vancouver, a $5.6-million lakefront property and a $3-million estate in Tofino. Do we think housing prices are going to go down? There is no way. It is not in in his financial interest for them to go down.
How can anyone believe the minister will do anything for housing when it is in his vested interest to keep his real estate portfolio high and Canadians in tents?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the minister is literally spending day and night, seven days a week, creating opportunities in housing for Canadians, while at the same time being in full compliance with the strictest ethical obligations faced by public office holders in the world. The Speaker knows that and those members know that. We are in full compliance. That will continue to be the case.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure is saying that housing prices do not need to come down. That comes as no surprise from a person sitting on a $10-million real estate fortune. He owns a $3‑million estate in Tofino, a $5.6‑million home in Squamish and a luxury penthouse in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, young people are stuck living in their parents' basements, unable to buy or sell. Why is the minister looking down at young Quebeckers from his Vancouver penthouse and telling them that housing prices do not need to come down?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that this Minister of Housing has been working tirelessly to create housing opportunities for all Canadians, while fully complying with our ethics regime, which is one of the most stringent in the world. He is in full compliance with the Ethics Commissioner's rules. Our code of ethics requires transparency and disclosure. That is what the minister is delivering.
Philip Earle Liberal Labrador, NL
Mr. Speaker, our new government recently introduced the one Canadian economy act, which is intended to tear down internal barriers to trade, cut red tape and get nation-building projects off the ground. While it is true that the bill is critical to help grow our economy, indigenous communities' individual rights must be respected throughout the process.
Can the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs outline how indigenous partners will be consulted and how these communities would benefit from this bill?
Rebecca Chartrand LiberalMinister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Mr. Speaker, as a First Nations rights holder as well, I want to acknowledge the concerns raised by indigenous leaders across this country. Their voices matter. That is why we are investing in real consultation, with $40 million to support indigenous engagement, in addition to establishing an indigenous advisory council.
This legislation would be an economic game-changer for indigenous people like never before.
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' own housing agency's latest numbers on housing starts are out, and they are bad, particularly in cities that receive money from their housing accelerator fund. For example, Vancouver got $115 million and starts are down 10%; Kelowna got $31.5 million and starts are down 33%. On May 13, the latest housing minister claimed he wanted to build on the housing successes of the last few years. What success?
When will the Liberals learn that bureaucrats do not actually build houses?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite will know, there are monthly fluctuations to the housing starts across Canada, and there is really good news in the CMHC report. We are on an annual pace of almost 280,000 housing starts this year, which is almost a record, and we will not stop there. We are focused on doubling housing starts in this country over the next decade, and we will stick to that goal.