House of Commons Hansard #19 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was citizens.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Promotion of Safety in the Digital Age Act First reading of Bill C-216. The bill proposes a duty of care for online operators regarding child safety, strengthens reporting of child sexual abuse material, criminalizes deepnudes and online harassment, and protects civil liberties. 100 words.
Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act First reading of Bill C-217. The bill proposes tuition-free post-secondary education for Canadians with disabilities to remove barriers, unlock potential, and promote inclusion in colleges, universities, and trade schools. 100 words.
Alleged Misleading Minister Testimony in Committee of the Whole—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules on questions of privilege from the Members for Mirabel and Lakeland, alleging ministers made misleading statements in Committee of the Whole regarding carbon rebate funding and Bill C-5 project selection. The Speaker explains procedural requirements for such questions and the high bar for finding deliberate intent to mislead. Finding procedural rules not met and no evidence of intent, the Speaker rules no prima facie case of privilege exists. 1500 words.
Citizenship Act Second reading of Bill C-3. The bill amends the Citizenship Act to address "lost Canadians" and allows citizenship by descent beyond the first generation. It requires a Canadian parent to demonstrate a substantial connection (1095 cumulative days in Canada) for future generations. Government members state it corrects past injustices and responds to a court ruling. Opposition members support fixing "lost Canadians" but criticize the bill for potentially diluting citizenship, lacking security checks, and not providing estimates of impact or cost. The Bloc supports the bill's principle but highlights immigration system dysfunction. 57300 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the future of both young and older Canadians is one where we are going to build this great country with one Canadian economy.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when talking about the connection between tariffs and bulldozer Bill C-5, two of the Prime Minister's colleagues responded by spewing nonsense, trying to come across as charming and funny, which they are not.
I do not believe that there is any connection between the tariff crisis and the time needed for Bill C-5 to eventually take effect.
I would like the economist and Prime Minister to explain the connection between the immediate tariff crisis and Bill C-5.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, there is a direct link to the steel and aluminum industry. There are surpluses because of the U.S. tariff war. Bill C-5 will create demand for Canadian steel and aluminum to build major infrastructure in Quebec and across Canada for good jobs.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government considers it a feat to hypothetically reduce the assessment period to two years. No shovels have been put in the ground yet. There are still a great many years before projects are built. Take Trans Mountain, for example. That took 12 years.
The tariff crisis was an emergency. The Prime Minister is talking about a solution that will not require a pound of aluminum for 10, 12 or 15 years. Where is that solution of his?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, that is one of the reasons this process needs to be tightened up. The processes take too long for major projects.
With confidence, we are going to produce steel and aluminum and create jobs here in Canada, starting this summer.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to managing the tariffs file, let us remember that, after making a bunch of compromises on borders, on defence, and on the abandoned countermeasures that may now be back on the table—and I am curious to see the details, as they have already done more harm than good—the Prime Minister's strategy was supposed involve reaching an agreement with Donald Trump before the G7, because it is urgent.
He is serving up projects that are much more focused on oil than on aluminum or steel. He is telling us that we will see things happen this summer and that we will not believe our eyes.
Will the Prime Minister admit that his strategy is a failure?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to Canada‑U.S. trade, over 90% of our exports to the U.S. are duty‑free. That is a success. We are the only country in the world to have achieved such success.
However, we are not satisfied. We need to find markets, and we need to come up with fair arrangements with the Americans for the steel, aluminum and auto industries.
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Mr. Speaker, we know the Prime Minister does not buy his own groceries, but most families do, and what they are seeing at the grocery store is ever-increasing food prices.
According to Canada's fiscal watchdog, the Liberals' newest broken promise is on their tax cut, with the average Canadian saving only $90 this year, well below the $825 promised. This is not even enough for a week's groceries.
Did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians during the election? Is he misleading them now, or both?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich for the opposition members to be talking about leaders who do not buy groceries while they have a leader who is in subsidized housing and not buying groceries.
However, I will say that this government is laser-focused on making sure Canadians have what they need. As we know, poverty rates have been going down since 2015. That is because of our investments in Canadians through programs like dental care, affordable child care and the Canada child benefit. We will build the strongest economy in the G7.
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is a broken record of broken promises. He said that we should judge him by the price at the grocery store and that he is the man with a plan. He is failing. Since the start of this year, beef is up 34%, oranges are up 26%, apples are up 18% and baby formula is up 9%. This is making it harder for families trying to put nutritious food on the table.
Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and table a budget that actually cuts taxes and reverses his inflationary policies?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, this government was selected by Canadians to deliver. We are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are permanently cutting the carbon tax. We are cutting taxes for first-time homebuyers. Our focus is on building the strongest economy in the G7. I ask the party and the members opposite to join us and get on board.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, old habits die hard. The Prime Minister promised to cut consulting fees but is now raising them by 37% to a record-smashing $26 billion this year. That is $1,400 for every Canadian household. He is doing it knowing that Canadians have not received value for money from these Liberal insiders.
Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise and increasing spending on consultants?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, we are reducing the use of external consultants while making sure our public service has the tools and the expertise to deliver on the essential missions it has for Canadians.
I am very proud to have been elected on a mandate to make government more efficient so that we can invest more: invest more in defence, invest more in innovation and invest more in the supports that Canadians need.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is more broken promises with the Prime Minister, broken promises on spending, on tax cuts, on defence, on elbows up with the U.S., and now on consultants. While offering Canadians a meagre $90 tax cut this year, he is not getting the money back from GC Strategies and is paying yet another consultant to update websites for an undisclosed fee. It is billions for consultants and peanuts for Canadians.
Why is the Prime Minister giving consultants so much and Canadians so little?
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
Ottawa South Ontario
Liberal
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, last week the Prime Minister announced a $9.3-billion investment in Canada's defence, which means we will achieve NATO's 2% target this fiscal year. This is not only an investment in our armed forces, but also an investment in good-paying jobs, in Canadian innovation and in economic growth, and the member knows this. Our generational investment is strengthening Canada's role as a strong, reliable international partner in NATO while rebuilding and rearming our terrific Canadian Armed Forces right here at home.
Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, even the government's own fiscal watchdog said that he is in the dark on the government's financial plans. He would not even comment on whether the finances are sustainable and is in the dark on how the Liberals are going to pay for nearly half a trillion dollars. It is not enough to have a plan but not know how they are going to pay for it. Perhaps they do not want their broken promises and ballooning deficits to come to light.
There is no private sector discipline here, only secrecy, broken promises and no budget. What exactly are they afraid Canadians will find in the numbers?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, last time I checked, I think we were elected on a bold agenda of change: to cut taxes, to fight against illegal tariffs, to bring this country together and build one strong economy. The rhetoric I hear across the way is the same old politics that former member Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives peddled for two decades.
In the ballot box, just as in business, if people do not deliver after two decades, they lose their job. He lost his job. We have our jobs. We are elected. We are here to build the strongest, most resilient—
FinanceOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member for Côte-du-Sud-Rivière-du-Loup-Kataskomiq-Témiscouata.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised Canadians $825 a year in tax cuts. As the Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed, this was another broken promise. The average Canadian will save $90 this year. That amounts to about $7 a month. For low-income seniors, the situation is even worse. They get $50 a year, or about $4 to $5 a month. It is crazy. That is not enough to buy a cup of coffee.
Did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians during the election? Is he misleading them today as well? Is it both?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, it fascinates me to hear this question from a Conservative who voted against the Canada child benefit, against the Canadian dental care plan and against thousands of child care spaces for Quebeckers.
Now the Conservatives have come to their senses. They supported us on this tax cut, which is important to 22 million Canadians. I am very proud that we are implementing it.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is full of broken promises: taxes, spending, consultants, U.S. relations. The list goes on.
Meanwhile, Canadians are paying more and more at the grocery store. The price of beef is up 34%, oranges are up 26%, apples are up 18%, and infant formula is up almost 9%. Enough with the rhetoric and the broken promises.
Will the Prime Minister finally table a real budget, lower taxes and reverse his inflationary policies?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, the first bill we passed will lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. That will have a direct impact on millions of Canadians across the country, with a tax cut of $840 per family. We are very proud of that. That is direct support for Canadians. That is exactly what we were elected to do, and that is exactly what we have done.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, guess who is thrilled about Bill C-5, apart from the Conservatives and the oil companies. Brookfield is thrilled. The Prime Minister's former firm is getting quite the assist from the Liberals. Brookfield owns a company that produces nuclear reactors. Bill C-5 deals with that. Brookfield owns natural gas processing plants. Bill C-5 deals with that. Brookfield own pipelines and has interests in the oil sands. Bill C-5 deals with that.
Is the Prime Minister imposing a gag order on Bill C-5 in order to please Brookfield shareholders of which he is one?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I will tell you who is proud of Bill C-5, and that is aluminum workers in Quebec, who are represented by 44 members of this government from Quebec. Steel workers in Ontario are also proud of this bill, since their jobs are currently at risk because of a tariff war with the Americans.
Rather than pointing fingers, the Bloc Québécois should acknowledge that we are in a tariff war and help us come up with solutions.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister says she is speaking on behalf of workers, but perhaps she does not know that the Confédération des syndicats nationaux has spoken out against Bill C‑5.
If the Prime Minister were transparent about his assets, nobody would be asking these questions. Unfortunately, we have no other choice than to challenge the closure motion because the Prime Minister himself stands to benefit from this bill. He should be the first to demand a thorough study of Bill C-5. He should be the first to refuse to exempt developers, such as Brookfield, from laws by order in council. He should be the first to tackle any perceived conflict of interest.
Will he let Parliament do its job?