Debates of June 2nd, 2025

Oil and Gas Industry

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is indeed meeting the 13 provincial and territorial leaders today with one clear goal: to support nation-building projects that bring Canadians together by ensuring that they are expedited but also efficiently reviewed. As the Prime Minister said, any project will need to get consensus from the provinces, indigenous communities and private partners and will be subject to assessment, but the Prime Minister has also been clear that it is time to build in Canada, and build is what we are going to do.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister may be meeting, but he sure is not listening. While he dawdles, the opportunities to unleash Canadian energy pass us by because of the Liberals' anti-energy legislation, which blocks infrastructure and blocks investment. The provinces want to build and Canadian workers want to work. Canadians want energy independence, but Bill C-69 blocks pipelines and Bill C-48 blocks shipping. The job-killing carbon tax and the industrial carbon tax are punishing our energy sector.

Will the Prime Minister end his attacks on Canadian oil and gas and repeal his anti-energy legislation today?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we were served another reminder just this weekend of the threats we face in terms of trade around the world. This government will fight, protect and build.

The Prime Minister is in Saskatoon today with 13 provincial and territorial leaders to build one Canadian economy, not 13. We intend to build this country. We intend to build major national projects in this country, and we intend to put Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum and Canadian workers to work building the country that we live in.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is meeting with the provinces in Saskatoon today. The consensus is clear, as the call to build pipelines and energy infrastructure becomes louder and louder: The only one standing in the way is the federal Liberal government. Building energy projects means a stronger Canadian economy, less dependence on the United States and powerful paycheques for Canadian workers.

Will the Liberal government approve a pipeline at the meeting in Saskatchewan today?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been very clear, and I do not know if my friends across the aisle have heard it clearly. Certainly Canadians heard it in the last federal election, as they returned a Liberal government with a very clear mandate to fight for this country, fight against trade threats from other places, protect the citizens of this country, protect our natural resources, protect our workers and build: build this country and build major national projects. That is what is on the agenda today in Saskatoon.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of rhetoric from the Liberal government about making Canada an energy superpower, but its commitment to job-killing anti-Canadian energy legislation holds back our potential as a nation. The actions needed today are to repeal the no new pipeline bill, Bill C-69; repeal the shipping ban bill, Bill C-48; repeal the job-killing oil and gas production cap; and repeal the industrial carbon tax.

Will the Liberal government take action today, the action needed, to repeal its anti-energy agenda?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I do not know how we can be much more clear. The Prime Minister convened the 13 provincial and territorial leaders today with the express purpose of discussing with them the kinds of major national nation-building projects that this country can consider undertaking. That is what is going on in Saskatoon. I do not know if the members across actually follow the news or followed the election campaign, but we said that it is time to build, and build is what we are going to do.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is in Saskatchewan today meeting with all the premiers. We have been hearing what I think is a clear consensus for some time now. More and more calls to build pipelines and energy infrastructure are being heard. Quebeckers want a pipeline. The only problem is the federal government.

Building energy projects strengthens our economy, reduces our dependence on the United States and provides a powerful pay cheque for our workers.

Will the Liberal government approve the building of pipelines in Canada today?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is indeed in Saskatoon today. What is he talking about there? He is talking about energy. He is talking about projects of national significance. He is talking about removing barriers between Canada's 13 provinces and territories to create one economy, which some economists estimate could increase our gross domestic product by 4%.

We are obviously going to work to provide good jobs and investment in Quebec and across Canada. We are here to build Canada.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the election campaign, the Prime Minister said he had a plan to build new energy projects. What better time than today to present his plan to all of Canada's premiers and explain how he will produce that energy?

The citizens of Montmorency—Charlevoix and people across Quebec and Canada are tired of paying more for less. Will the Liberal government think about the regions and repeal the anti-energy legislation, Bill C-69?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member is new here. I do not know if he follows the news, but the Prime Minister is in Saskatoon. He is working with all of the provinces and territories.

What are they talking about at that meeting? They are talking about energy projects and other initiatives to make Canada a global economic superpower. Building Canada is our mandate. That is the mandate we sought in the election campaign. Building Canada is what we are going to do.

Public Safety

[Amanpreet S. Gill, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the very first call I received from a Calgarian was from a small business owner being extorted by criminals for $300,000. Extortions in Calgary, Brampton and Edmonton are on the rise and only getting worse. Under the Liberals, extortion cases are up 357%. The Liberals voted down Conservative Bill C-381 to tackle extortion. The bill set mandatory minimum penalties for extortion after the Liberals took away penalties in their soft-on-crime bill, Bill C-5.

Will the Prime Minister work with Conservatives to adopt Bill C-381 to crack down on violent extortions?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, extortion is a serious crime and we are taking it seriously. Extortion carries a penalty of life in prison in Canada. That is extremely serious. If committed with a firearm, there are minimum sentences as well.

We will act decisively to strengthen the Criminal Code and move aggressively to protect victims by making bail laws stricter for violent, organized criminals. We will work closely with the RCMP and local police across the country.

We created a task force. There is more work to do. We are investigating these serious issues, and I hope the criminals—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

Mental Health and Addictions

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, failed liberal drug policies flooding the streets with dangerous drugs and causing crime and chaos in our streets are making the addiction crisis worse. Every day, 22 Canadians die from drug overdose. During the lost Liberal decade, we have seen more people die from addiction than we lost in the Second World War. We have heard heartbreaking stories of young people becoming addicted to drugs labelled as safe, only to later lose their life to addiction. The Conservatives want to see investment in treatment and recovery.

I have a simple question: Will the Prime Minister reverse course and put an end to the deadly, unsafe supply program today?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. This issue greatly affects Canadians. I want her to know that my department and I will be looking into the matter. We will continue working toward finding solutions.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than heroin, and as little as two milligrams can kill a person. Through the lost Liberal decade, Canada has become a fentanyl manufacturing hub, with Breaking Bad-style superlabs popping up across the country. Mass fentanyl production is mass murder, but Liberal laws let the monsters who traffic the deadly drugs walk free.

The Conservatives are proposing mandatory life sentences to those involved with the trafficking, production and distribution of more than 40 milligrams of fentanyl. Will the Prime Minister take real action and give life sentences to the drug kingpins committing mass murder?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, fentanyl has impacted every single community in North America. We see the impacts of fentanyl. Its use has killed so many young people. That is why we listed seven cartels as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code.

I am working closely with Kevin Brosseau, Canada's fentanyl czar at home and abroad, to put a laser-sharp focus on dismantling fentanyl rings. We will put those who profit from this drug behind bars. We will always be there to protect Canadians.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, francophone immigration plays an essential role in strengthening and enhancing the vitality of francophone minority communities across the country and in growing our economy. That is why I am very proud to say that we have set ambitious targets for the next few years: 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027.

Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship update the House on our government's efforts on francophone immigration?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and his work on francophone immigration.

Last year, we exceeded our target for francophone immigration outside Quebec. We are committed to ensuring the long-term strength and growth of francophone communities. That is why our new government will set a target of 12% francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2029.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just handed the keys to his government to Marc-André Blanchard, Trudeau's UN ambassador and now his chief of staff. This is the guy who wants to invest in killing oil and gas and do it—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Would the member like to rewind a bit?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just handed the keys to the government to Mr. Blanchard, Trudeau's UN ambassador and now his chief of staff. This is the guy who wants to invest in killing oil and gas. Where are the claps? He wants to do it through Brookfield. Who else worked at Brookfield? Anyone? It was the Prime Minister himself.

Why is the Prime Minister surrounding his government with Trudeau loyalists who want to shut down Canada's energy sector? Is that why he still refuses to publicly disclose his Brookfield assets?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, we welcome the appointment of a new chief of staff in the Office of the Prime Minister. Mr. Blanchard is a great public servant and a great Canadian who has had a stellar career in the private and public sectors. We welcome him back to the public service.

As for the Prime Minister, he follows, as all members must, the most stringent code of ethics for elected members in the world, and the Prime Minister will obviously continue to comply with all of the rules.