House of Commons Hansard #6 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was build.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply Members debate the Speech from the Throne and proposed amendments. Discussions cover the government's plan to build a stronger economy, address affordability and housing, reduce trade barriers, and invest in resource sectors. Members raise concerns about fiscal discipline without a budget, the government's approach to climate change and oil and gas, and public safety issues like crime and the drug crisis. Other topics include dental care, reconciliation, and skilled trades. 50600 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will always support all tax cuts, as I am sure all of my friends will on this side of the House. Shame on the Liberal government for actually increasing the alcohol tax during the worst crisis of affordability in our nation's history. Conservatives and myself are in favour of all tax cuts, and I would not exclude the excise tax as well.
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be standing here today to give my first-ever speech as a member of Parliament. Let me first start off by thanking the incredible people of my riding of North Island—Powell River. I am here first and foremost because of the trust they have placed in me to be their voice and their elected representative in this esteemed chamber. This is something for which I will always be grateful and which I will never forget.
It has been almost two years now since I first decided to seek the Conservative Party nomination and run in the last election. It was a decision I made because I believed then, as I do now, that this country was headed in the wrong direction, that it was failing to live up to its true potential and that it was sleepwalking toward a fiscal and cultural cliff. I think there is no better example of that than the fiscal mismanagement we have seen of our country.
When I worked at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, I used to tour a debt clock right across the country. It showed how much the federal government had borrowed and how much debt it was leaving to future generations to pay for. It was a great tool to help people visualize just how much we were leaving the next generation to pay for. That particular debt clock no longer exists, because under the Liberals and the NDP, we have managed to borrow more money in the last 10 years than all other governments in the history of this country combined, and we literally ran out of digits on the clock.
Of course, all this spending, borrowing and printing of money has other consequences as well. We have seen the highest inflation in more than 30 years, as everything, especially homes, has become less affordable. There used to be a promise here in Canada: If people worked hard, paid their taxes and followed the law, they could afford a place to live.
When my grandfather, who is now 94 years old, first came to Canada in 1957 as a refugee, he, like most new Canadians, started off with a minimum-wage job working on the railway. On that minimum-wage job, he was able to afford a home and a nice piece of property right on Vancouver Island and have it paid off in less than 10 years. Does anyone think one could afford a home and have it paid off in less than 10 years while earning minimum wage anywhere in Canada today? I do not think so.
This is the result of too much government, too much regulation and too much bureaucracy. It is time to remove the gatekeepers and start building things in this country again. This also means supporting our incredible resource sector and resource sector workers, who have been under constant attack from the Liberals and the NDP.
On the North Island, where I live, forestry is down by a third; aquaculture has been cut in half; fishermen have had their access barred to areas they have fished sustainably for more than a hundred years; and the last mine on Vancouver Island closed as well. On energy, the Liberal record is even worse: axing the northern gateway pipeline, telling our allies in Korea, Germany and Greece that there is no business case for Canadian LNG, and introducing legislation like Bill C-69, which killed dozens of massive energy and resource projects and led to tens of billions of dollars in investment fleeing to the United States, and for what? Was it just so these jobs can leave our country, for China, for India, for the U.S., for countries with lower environmental standards than our own? These are Canadian workers who have had their livelihoods, their ability to put food on the table to feed their families, sacrificed by the Liberals and the NDP on the altar of this green ideology. Here is the truth: No one does safety and environmental stewardship better than Canada or better than Canadians, and as long as the world needs lumber, minerals, or oil and natural gas, as much of it as possible should come from right here in Canada.
We also have to rebuild our military. We have our amazing men and women in uniform flying combat aircraft that are more than 40 years old, to say nothing of the state of our submarines. Our men and women in uniform, as amazing as they are, find a way to make it work; they really do. However, it should not be up to them to become the world's experts in using old, rusted-out equipment. They deserve better than that.
There is maybe no issue where the Liberals and the NDP have done more damage, from a human perspective, than their mismanagement of the addictions crisis. First, they decriminalized hard drugs, including fentanyl, crystal meth and crack cocaine, and then they used taxpayer money to flood the streets with a highly addictive and deadly opioid called hydromorphone, or Dilaudid, while marketing it to our young people as safe supply. This is all part of their plan known as harm reduction.
As a result, since 2015, more than 50,000 Canadians have died from drug overdoses. That is more Canadians dead than those who died in the entire Second World War. That does not sound much like harm reduction to me. They say the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing while expecting a different result, so how about instead of handing out free drugs, we get our fellow Canadians into treatment, get them into recovery and return them to being healthy, productive members of our society again?
At the same time, we need to repeal the soft-on-crime Liberal legislation, like Bill C-75 and Bill C-5, that has reduced jail time for serious offenders and granted near automatic bail for career criminals. In fact, it seems the only people who are ever punished for anything anymore under the Liberals and the NDP are those who actually work for a living and follow the law, whether it is our law-abiding firearms owners, who have been targeted and demonized by their own government; small business owners, who have been taxed and regulated to the point of insolvency; or resource workers, who have had their jobs threatened, their careers denigrated and, in some cases, their livelihoods destroyed.
Right now, in Canada in so many ways, it feels as if right side up is upside down and common sense no longer exists. That brings me to the cultural erosion that we have seen, the tearing down of statues, the erasing of our history.
I was in Victoria the day this corrosive ideology all began, when they toppled the monument to the man who built this country, without whom Canada would not even exist. The truth is that this country has so much to celebrate and so much to be proud of. We owe an infinite debt of gratitude to all those who came before us, like the prime ministers, both Liberal and Conservative, whose portraits are hanging just outside these chamber walls. They laid the foundation for what would become and for what still is the greatest country in the world. They laid the foundation by being bold, by being daring and by getting things done.
In the late 1800s, Canada was a small country divided by language and religion and surrounded by a larger and much more powerful neighbour to the south, yet in that historical context, we completed what many consider to be this country's greatest engineering and political feat: the Canadian Pacific Railway. Championed by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, most do not know that the bulk of the work took just four years to complete through some of the most difficult and expansive terrain in the world, across the Canadian Shield and through the Canadian Rockies. It was the key to bringing my province, British Columbia, into Confederation.
Can members imagine, in the current political, regulatory and cultural climate of today, if we tried as a nation to undertake a similar feat? Instead of championing these kinds of nation-building projects, the government today seems to be actively plotting against them, but it does not have to be this way. Macdonald dreamed big, Sir Wilfrid Laurier dreamed big as well and we can dream big once again.
The truth is that the silver lining to this problem lies in its solution. We do not need the government to step up in any particular way. We just need the government to get out of the way and give this country back to those who built it, the people. That begins where this country draws its greatest sources of strength: the wealth of its resources and the ingenuity of its citizens. I intend to do my part to always be a voice for the hard-working citizens of my riding in this incredible country, to always be unapologetically proud to be Canadian and to always be guided, no matter what, by what is true and what is right, not by what is politically correct.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues and I have been able to witness that the far right is alive and well in the Conservative Party and Pierre Poilievre today.
Could the member share with the House his honest reflections about what residential schools were about?
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, the member across the way is continuing the proud Liberal tradition of spreading misinformation. I have never denied anything about the horrors that occurred in residential schools. The Liberals are just trying to distract from their horrible record on the economy, of doubling the national debt and of increasing violent crime by more than 50% over the past 10 years, leaving this country weaker and more vulnerable to intimidation and tariffs from the United States.
John-Paul Danko Liberal Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON
Mr. Speaker, today I rise with deep sorrow to honour Harsimrat Randhawa, a bright, kind and ambitious 21-year-old Mohawk College student from India. On April 17, 2025, Harsimrat's life was tragically cut short by a senseless act of violence. She was an innocent bystander taken from us while waiting for a bus on her way to work.
In our grief, our community came together to mourn, to support one another and to remember Harsimrat. That strength in community reflects the very core of what Canada stands for.
As a father, I can only begin to imagine the grief that her family is enduring, and the heartbreak of sending their child across the world to pursue her dreams, only to receive the devastating news that she had been killed. Harsimrat's story is a stark reminder that public safety must be a priority.
Harsimrat Randhawa was loved and will be remembered.
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise as the representative for Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, a new riding for the 45th Parliament. I first wish to thank the voters, the volunteers and their families who placed their trust in me.
Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies is a diverse riding, stretching from the great continental divide at the B.C.-Alberta border, through the Shuswap Highland to the ranching grasslands of Kamloops. It includes Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven to unite Canada. It is home to three national parks and spans the headwater tributaries of the massive Columbia and Fraser rivers.
However, it is the people of this majestic riding that make it truly spectacular: the agriculturalists and artisans, the mountaineers and miners, the railroaders and retirees, all of the people of the Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies who hold this seat in the House. I pledge to do my best to ensure they are well represented.
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
Mr. Speaker, in my first speech in the House, I would like to talk about the wonderful history of Les Pays-d'en-Haut.
I stand before the House as the first member of Parliament in the history of that riding, which makes me very proud. I have this incredible privilege thanks to the hard work of my wife Julie, my children Emma and William, my entire team of volunteers and the people of this beautiful riding.
Les Pays-d'en-Haut is a riding made up of mountains, lakes and trails that I pledge to defend and promote.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the people of Morin-Heights, who put their trust in me as mayor for the past 16 years. I am certain that my involvement in politics will result in the defence of all of the constituents of the riding of Les Pays-d'en-Haut.
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West, ON
Mr. Speaker, this is my first time rising in the House of Commons after a hard-fought election. I wholeheartedly thank the constituents of Niagara West for putting their trust in me for the eighth consecutive time. However, I could not have done any of this without the hard work and dedication of our excellent campaign team, who got the job done.
We had dozens of extraordinary volunteers. I thank them for all the work they did on our campaign. Rain or shine, cold or hot, they never gave up, even on those chilly, windy days courtesy of our Great Lake, Lake Ontario. I thank the sign crews, door knockers and many others. It is the best team in Canada. I will always remember and appreciate it.
I would also like to thank my friends and family, my kids and my staff. However, my biggest thanks goes to my wife Rebecca. She is an amazing woman, and I can assure members that she has lots of patience. I thank Rebecca for standing as a team as we once again take this journey together.
It is now time to get back to our hard work. Canadians need us in these challenging times. Conservatives are here to work tirelessly on their behalf, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
Abdelhaq Sari Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of Bourassa for entrusting me with the honour of representing them here in the House of Commons. It is an immense honour.
I also have a message for my colleagues. Despite our differences, we all share the same commitment to serve the public with the integrity, attention and humility that the voice of our constituents calls for. Together, let us make this Parliament a time for progress, respect and hope for all Canadians. We are here to be agents of change, no matter the challenges. Every word that has been spoken or will be spoken here can change lives.
I will conclude by sharing with my colleagues a quote by Nelson Mandela, who said, “It always seems impossible until it's done”. Let us make this Parliament a time to work together—
45th ParliamentStatements by Members
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to thank the residents of the riding of Prince Albert for re-electing me as their member of Parliament.
As members of the House are aware, my home province of Saskatchewan is experiencing one of the worst starts to the wildfire season on record. More than half a million hectares have been burned, and as of Sunday afternoon, 20 communities remained under evacuation orders. Fifteen active wildfires are forcing residents from communities such as Timber Bay, Hall Lake and Pelican Narrows to flee their homes.
Premier Scott Moe recently spoke about the value of developing a national investment strategy, one where critical resources, such as air tankers, can be owned by the country and shared across jurisdictions to meet the surge capacity when and where needed. It is about protecting our communities, our forests and our future.
I thank the firefighters and emergency personnel, who are putting themselves at great risk to protect our communities.
Please, let us all pray for rain.
Kent MacDonald Liberal Cardigan, PE
Mr. Speaker, having spent most of my life as a dairy farmer in eastern Prince Edward Island, I would like to take this opportunity to raise a glass to all the dairy farmers across this nation.
As members may know, World Milk Day was June 1. It is a day celebrated around the world. It highlights the nutritional value of milk and recognizes the hard work of our dairy farmers, the women and men who work so hard every day to provide safe and nutritious milk to Canadians.
With over 9,000 Canadian dairy farms, the dairy sector supports over 270,000 full-time jobs in communities in every province across this country. A healthy, vibrant dairy sector brings stability to both rural and urban communities while supporting the vitality of its related industries.
I am proud to be a Canadian dairy farmer, to be the son of a dairy farmer and the father of another. To use a phrase coined by the members opposite, I come from boots, not suits.
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' throne speech was 2,500 words, yet there was not one mention of the opioid crisis or the unprecedented crime wave caused by their policies.
Last week in my hometown of Williams Lake, the city council passed a motion to declare a state of emergency in response to the rising rates of vandalism, open drug use, arson, theft, overdose and public indecency. Businesses cannot even secure the mandatory insurance, because of the high rates of vandalism. Meanwhile, the city is experiencing between 20 and 30 overdoses per day.
City councillor Scott Nelson said the rates of crime, vandalism, drugs and overdoses have “skyrocketed” and are “out of control.” He said, “In Williams Lake, a population of 10,000, six prolific offenders commit over 98% of the crime. When they are in jail, the crime rate goes down; when they are out, it skyrockets. The new government must finally take the fentanyl crisis seriously, get tough on crime, lock up repeat offenders and keep our communities safe.”
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, in 1724, François, Jacques, Jean and Pierre Archambault, four brothers under the age of 20, settled in New France on the banks of the Richelieu River, on land that was then part of the seigneury of Contrecœur. Other families joined them, and in 1750, the community was large enough to get its own church. After the deportation in 1755, the community became home to many refugees, who settled in what is now known as the Rang de l'Acadie.
On November 23, 1837, reinforcements from Saint-Antoine helped secure a Patriotes victory in Saint-Denis. One of those reinforcements was Georges-Étienne Cartier, who later switched allegiances. To this day, Saint-Antoine retains both its character and its history. When my ancestor, François Guertin, cleared his land 300 years ago, he could hardly have imagined one of his descendants rising in Parliament to mark the 275th anniversary of his village, one of the most beautiful villages on earth.
I wish all the people of Saint-Antoine a happy 275th anniversary.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured, as are my colleagues, to rise in the House for the 45th Parliament and to thank the constituents of Humber River—Black Creek for giving me the great opportunity and privilege of representing them for the 10th time here in Ottawa.
I want to thank my tireless husband, Sam, and my children, Cathy, Deanna and Sam, for their continued support. I give a special thanks to my son-in-law, Graziano, for his immense support during the election; daughter-in-law, Claudia; and the grandchildren.
I also thank my staff, Amy, Albert, Abby, Stephanie and Xania, for their dedication to helping the residents of Humber River—Black Creek every day.
I would not have been elected and re-elected without the tireless efforts of many volunteers during the campaign, to name a few: Terryl, Chris, Juan, Marina, Chris, Dave, Miss Emma and Marianne. There are many more I would like to acknowledge; however, unfortunately, my time is limited.
I will continue to honour my oath to serve our community of Humber River—Black Creek with dedication and integrity as we work together to build a better Canada.
Jim Belanger Conservative Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week the Liberal government tabled a $486-billion spending bill. The Prime Minister promised during the election that he would govern Canada with a new fiscal discipline. It seems as though we have a case of meet the new boss, just the same as the old boss.
While many people in northern Ontario struggle to make ends meet with the ever-increasing costs of everyday life, the Liberals do not get it. They seem to talk a good game of fiscal restraint, but talk is cheap, unlike the cost of living. The Prime Minister's first bill would do nothing to ease the burden of skyrocketing mortgage payments, groceries and energy. Instead, it would increase government spending by 8%, including a 36% increase for consultants.
When will the Liberals put the interests of everyday Canadians ahead of their well-connected insiders in Ottawa?
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Speaker, I thank the people of Scarborough—Agincourt for placing their trust in me a fourth time. Much appreciation and gratitude go to the many volunteers and supporters, the campaign team and my family, who all worked so hard to allow me to continue to be a voice in Ottawa and also in the riding. I am here for them and because of them.
I want to welcome all the new constituents who have joined Scarborough—Agincourt because of the federal electoral boundary changes. I will focus on affordability, tariff concerns and community safety, which is what I heard about at the doors. We are truly a vibrant community, which is reflected in our many places of worship, small businesses and excellent restaurants.
I am so very proud to represent one of the most culturally diverse ridings in Canada.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to be transparent about his financial holdings. Instead of coming clean about his financial interests, he dumped his assets into a blind trust, exposing a loophole in Canada's financial disclosure laws. Through this scheme, he is keeping his financial interests a secret from Canadians in order to escape accountability. This follows a pattern of shady actions.
Prior to becoming Prime Minister, he helped two multi-billion dollar funds in offshore tax havens so his company, Brookfield, could avoid paying Canadian taxes. After a spending bill asking for half a trillion dollars has been tabled, Canadians deserve to know whether the Prime Minister is using that spending to boost his own investment portfolio.
The Prime Minister must tell Canadians what assets he held when he entered public office and whether those assets were held in offshore tax havens to avoid paying Canadian taxes.
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, I very humbly accept this second term that my constituents have given me in the last election. I truly appreciate it and thank them from the bottom of my heart.
After that break from the House from 2019 to 2025, I would like all my colleagues to believe me: Any seat in the House is a great seat. I have said it before and will say it again to new members. I could not have done it without the support of my partner, my children, my family, and my friends. Without the support of my fantastic volunteers, Roger Hamel and Bérénice St-Martin—
Rivière-des-Mille-ÎlesStatements by Members
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I am sorry to have to interrupt the hon. member.
The hon. member for Niagara South.
Fred Davies Conservative Niagara South, ON
Mr. Speaker, after the lost Liberal decade, Canadians can no longer afford the housing hell created by the Liberals. According to one homelessness report, in the Niagara region, chronic homelessness is up 41%. The problem is only getting worse, and I can see the evidence in every community in my riding. According to one homebuilding association, housing starts are decelerating rapidly, and a massive supply deficit is beginning to come about.
Meanwhile, existing homeowners are also struggling. According to Equifax, homeowners are experiencing a 6% increase in people being unable to make a mortgage payment, and the 90-plus day mortgage delinquency has increased by 71% across Ontario. The Liberal plan will create a second housing bureaucracy and do nothing to build more homes.
Canadians want action. Conservatives will continue to support a real plan that will lower taxes, make life more affordable and bring home the dream of home ownership in Canada.
Jaime Battiste Liberal Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS
Mr. Speaker, as I rise for the first time as the member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the constituents of our riding for putting their trust in me as their representative. To my campaign team, I say that this journey would not have been possible without them.
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. It is a month to celebrate indigenous culture. It is a time to reflect on our shared history, and it is a time to acknowledge the vast contributions of first nations, Inuit and Métis. National Indigenous History Month is also an opportunity to embrace indigenous events in our communities, hear the beautiful languages and support the work of indigenous arts and crafts. I encourage all Canadians to get involved in National Indigenous History Month this June.
Wela'lioq. Meegwetch. Marsi. Nakurmiik.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister ran on “elbows up”, promising dollar-for-dollar tariffs on the U.S. and that this would generate $20 billion in revenue. It turns out it was actually elbows down when the Prime Minister broke his promise and secretly cancelled those tariffs. Now Trump is threatening 50% tariffs on Canadian steel, which will devastate Canada's steel industry and put thousands of steelworkers out of their jobs.
Can the Prime Minister look steelworkers in the eye, tell them it was actually elbows down and how much money his tariffs will actually generate?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we have been clear in the House, as has the Prime Minister, that we will fight against these unjustified and illegal tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. We are going to protect our workers and our industry. The Minister of Industry already spoke about that over the weekend, and we are going to build a strong Canada. We are going to build the Canada of tomorrow, which is a confident Canada, a prosperous Canada, a Canada that we can all be proud of.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, it does not matter what Liberal stands up to answer a question. Whether it is in this Parliament or the last Parliament, they never actually answer a question. It is not complicated, as “elbows up” was dollar-for-dollar tariffs.
Has the Prime Minister already broken his promise to steelworkers or was “elbows up” simply fake news? Now we are facing the Trump tariffs, and steelworkers from coast to coast to coast are in serious jeopardy of losing their jobs. It is a simple question: How much money from these “elbows up” tariffs have they generated?