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.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Gatineau Québec
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, in relation to the consideration of Government Business No. 1, I move:
That the debate not be further adjourned.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Ponoka—Didsbury, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government is now moving closure on its piece of legislation in order to, as it claims, fast-track projects for our nation. However, without getting rid of Bill C-69, without getting rid of Bill C-48, without getting rid of the industrial carbon tax and without getting rid of the production cap, what is the point in fast-tracking legislation to have a one-stop shop where people can just hear the word “no”?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would point the member to page 1 of the Liberal platform. We just had an election, as the member probably recalls, where we solicited a mandate to move very quickly on two important fronts: first, to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, which cost us billions of dollars and points on our gross domestic product, therefore making Canada poorer; and second, to accelerate the construction of major projects in the country.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, over the past several days of debate, the Bloc Québécois members have expressed what we feel are extremely serious concerns, particularly with regard to passing the bill so quickly.
Did the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons listen to what the Bloc members had to say? Does he think what we said made sense?
Does he not think that we are right in wanting to further study a bill that could have dire consequences for the future of Quebec and Canada, rather than ramming it through as quickly as possible?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will give in French the same answer I just gave in English to my esteemed Conservative colleague.
We just had an election. The first page of the election platform of the party currently in power states that we need to act quickly in the interest of the Canadian economy, first, to create one economy out of 13 and enrich every individual Canadian, and second, to quickly implement major projects from coast to coast.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is nice to hear the government wants to build special projects, specifically the pipelines that Alberta has been asking for for a long time, but the same government has put up barriers so that these projects cannot go through, such as Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, which are still in place.
I am not sure how the Liberals can explain to Canadians how they are going to build projects while the barriers they have put in place are going to prevent those projects from happening.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I know the member to be a very studious and constructive member of Parliament, and as he well knows, this is a major step toward accelerating the kinds of projects the member himself purports to support.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
I will just remind colleagues, as this is the first time this type of debate has happened during this Parliament, that when we have questions and comments, while it is not the exclusion of government members, preference is given to opposition members.
On a point of order, we have the hon. parliamentary secretary.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, from my understanding of going through this process, the Speaker is correct that government members will get questions, but they take priority over independents.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
Preference is given to the opposition, obviously, and although not to the exclusion of independent members, government will also be given preference.
Questions and comments, the hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Mr. Speaker, Bill C-5 was just introduced in the House for debate on Friday. We have only had a few hours of debate on it already. The Liberals are up to their old tricks again, trying to ram through legislation without giving Parliament the opportunity to debate this bill. We know that it would not repeal the “no more pipelines” act or the “no more tankers” act. We know that it would not help with anything in resource development.
Why are the Liberals back to their old ways of shutting down debate and undermining democracy?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would point the member to the support of Canada's Building Trades Unions just this morning and the 13 premiers of the provinces and territories. That says nothing of an election campaign where we extensively debated the very issues the member is purporting to support. This is the government's response to those. We have outlined a process for accelerating major projects into the future. This bill is an important first step.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, this government is hiding behind an election platform, saying that it promised these measures. Yet nowhere in the platform does it mention that the government would be moving a motion to amend 13 laws and 7 regulations, including environmental legislation, in an effort to weaken environmental protection and accelerate the approval of projects such as oil pipelines.
Ecojustice speaks of superpowers awarded the government, and says that this is a first in the modern history of environmental law. Even Stephen Harper would not have dared propose these kinds of measures.
Can the government explain why it is in such a hurry to muzzle Parliament and push through a project that is not in the public interest?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the member has obviously not read the Liberal Party of Canada's election platform. We debated the document at length during the campaign. It says, “It's time to unite this country and invest in nation-building infrastructure on a scale not seen in generations. Major nation-building projects will connect Canada and grow the economy in ways that last for generations”.
Quebeckers and Canadians expect every member of the House to act quickly.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
Mr. Speaker, maybe the minister can expand on what this bill would do to remove the barriers that are preventing a lot of workers from being able to work amidst the unjustified and illegal tariffs, and the importance of fulfilling the mandate to remove internal trade barriers across Canada.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. We know that internal trade barriers have a cost. They come at a great cost to our economy and to the personal, individual wealth of all Canadians.
The member makes an extraordinarily good point. They also come at a cost to working men and women in the skilled trades and in private sector unions right across this country. Men and women want a chance to move across the country with their credentials to work on these major projects. That is why we see, as with Canada's Building Trades Unions and IBEW, endorsements across the board from Canada's union movement. Go check it out.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, we just heard from the grand chief of the Anishinabek Nation and the Ontario regional chief, Abram Benedict. They cited the potential infringement of their Constitutional rights and the obligations around free, prior and informed consent. This violates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They are asking that time be given for the bill to be studied properly so their voices are heard.
Why is the government ramming through this legislation without giving indigenous peoples an opportunity to provide insight and input?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, section 35 rights are constitutionally protected in Canada, and UNDRIP, as we know, has the principle of free, prior and informed consent. It is about working together in an atmosphere of partnership and respect.
We are, of course, seeking meaningful participation and partnership from indigenous peoples, and I would remind the member that this includes indigenous peoples who are advocating for major projects to be accelerated in their regions to foster high-paying jobs and prosperity for their people.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Mr. Speaker, it appears the Liberals not only do not want to answer questions, but do not even want to take questions that we have asked and they have failed to answer, like questions on consensus. What does consensus mean moving forward with these major projects? We have seen that Premier Eby in B.C. has said there will be no pipelines through B.C.
Who has veto power and what is consensus? That is what I would like to ask the minister.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member well knows that the way we get things done in this country is by working together with indigenous peoples, with provinces, with cities, with unions and with private sector investment. That is the way we are going to move forward. We are going to move forward with consensus, getting investment decisions made while having good, strong, well-paying jobs involved in the construction and operation of these major projects. Consensus is at the heart of this very bill.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. President, my colleague said that the government presented its platform during the election. However, nowhere in the platform does it say that it would claim unprecedented power, the power to govern by decree. For example, section 21 allows any proponent to circumvent any and all laws.
We heard our Conservative colleagues talk about GC Strategies and ArriveCAN. Moreover, the government is trying to have the bill adopted by imposing a gag order. The government would have the power to exempt proponents from the application of any law. Even the Canadian Cancer Society has expressed concerns that this could place people's health at risk.
I do not understand at all. The Liberals never announced such a power grab during the election.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I think the member was not listening to our leader when he mentioned the need to proceed with the adoption of this bill so it could obtain royal assent before Canada Day.
My esteemed colleague will have a second reason to celebrate this Canada Day. We will open up investment opportunities in our country, while lowering barriers between Quebec and the other provinces. This will create wealth and opportunities for Quebeckers.
The Bloc Québécois were against this measure during the election. Now we are 44 Liberals on this side of the House.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, this is just like the Liberals. Typically, they will say one thing during an election and do something completely different once they have been elected. They refuse to repeal Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, the shipping ban. Also, the minister is talking about all the jobs this bill would create, but at the same time, they refuse to repeal Bill C-50 on the just transition, which will cost 200,000 jobs in energy, 290,000 jobs in agriculture and 1.4 million jobs in construction.
Why will the government not send a clear signal to investors and working Canadians by repealing Bill C-50, Bill C-69 and Bill C-48 and truly show Canadians that Canada is open for business?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, that question betrays the member's absolute lack of consultation with working people in Alberta and across this country. Of course workers in this country want to be in on renewable technologies and the new economy. This is what sustainable jobs are about, but we also want to create new openings, new possibilities, new infrastructure and, yes, new resource development in this country, in Alberta and elsewhere. The member knows that, and that question betrays a profound lack of knowledge of the—
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders