Debates of June 2nd, 2025

The House resumed from May 30 consideration of the motion for an address to His Majesty the King in reply to his speech at the opening of the session, and of the amendment as amended.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam.

On behalf of Nipissing—Timiskaming, I would like to offer my support to our fellow citizens of Saskatchewan and Manitoba who have been affected by the forest fires. May rain and calm weather return quickly to the affected communities.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you on your election as Speaker.

I am very proud to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Rota, who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2019 to 2023. He also served the people of Nipissing—Timiskaming for 17 years.

Let me start by sharing a bit of information about my riding, which is only four hours west of Ottawa. Nipissing—Timiskaming is made up of many unique communities. As a former mayor of my community, I know that each community deserves a representative who recognizes its distinctive character. I commit before my colleagues today to serving each community and its citizens with attention and discernment.

There are areas of our riding such as Bear Island and Garden Village, which are home to the Nipissing, Temagami, Antoine and Matawa/North Bay Algonquin first nations. It is with honour and respect that I say meegwetch to the original people and affirm my commitment and responsibility to advance the process of reconciliation. It is important to them that the government recognize the rights and contributions of the Anishinabe first nations in all discussions concerning their lands, resources and economic opportunities.

I also want to talk about the francophone population in my riding. Nearly one-third of the residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming have a working knowledge of French and English. During the election campaign, many people spoke to me about the importance of a federal government that will continue to defend the rights, freedoms and prosperity of francophone communities outside Quebec. They also spoke about the importance of protecting institutions that promote francophone culture, such as Radio-Canada.

That is a snapshot of my riding and its people.

When I met with people, including business owners and organization leaders, in my riding, the issue that came up most often was leadership. That is why, when Mark Carney released the plan entitled “Canada Strong”—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The member cannot use the name of the Prime Minister in the House; they can refer to him only by title. That is a reminder for all new members that we cannot use the names of other members and ministers in the House.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when the plan entitled “Canada Strong” was released, it immediately resonated with the people in my riding, so I congratulate all who developed this plan, which addresses our nation's fundamental need at this critical time: economic prosperity. I would now like to share some of the significant comments I received regarding economic prosperity from three sectors of my riding: mining, agriculture and defence.

The first are comments received from the mining sector. As some may know, northern Ontario accounts for most of Ontario's mining activity, with approximately 200 companies, a third of which are in Nipissing—Timiskaming. Mining is the largest commercial contributor to the GDP of Nipissing—Timiskaming. The riding is a hub for the global mining supply and services sector.

This past weekend, the mining institute of Canada celebrated 100 years of mining in North Bay. From North Bay, companies export and operate around the globe via the city's well-developed transportation network, including highway, rail and air connections. The local industry is known internationally for its innovation, and it collaborates with post-secondary institutions to develop new technologies.

When I met with representatives of these companies, there were three issues that came forward. The first is access to labour. With mining expected to see strong growth in the next few years, what is problematic is that 21% of mining workers in North Bay are over the age of 55 and are nearing retirement. The shortage of housing remains a major barrier to attracting new residents to the region and is why housing projects tied to the North Bay area will continue to need support in this mandate of government.

A second issue is tied to the fact that 65% of local companies will be introducing new products to the market, and they will continue to need strong support for innovation from organizations such as FedNor and the Business Development Bank. The third issue is that 60% of these companies export around the world, and they will continue to need support from Export Development Canada for managing their risks.

Second, I would like to say a few words about agriculture. We sometimes do not think of the north in terms of agriculture, but there are significant opportunities for expansion in the agricultural sector in Nipissing—Timiskaming, in what is known as Little Claybelt: the area of Temiskaming Shores, Earlton and Belle Vallée. In Timiskaming, there are 456 dairy, cattle and crop farms, with an average size of over 500 acres. With the growing days, days that are getting longer, it is predicted that this is an area that will have much opportunity moving forward.

When I met with influencers in that area, they spoke about three things. The first is protecting supply management. They were very thrilled with the words that were included in the Speech from the Throne, as well as with statements made by the new Minister of Agriculture. However, they pointed out the last trade negotiations with the United States, where supply management was supposedly off the table but concessions were nonetheless made at the last minute, so they intend to remain vigilant in the future.

Their second concern is for financing. They need the support of Farm Credit Canada and FedNor. Third, they ask that Highway 11 north be included in the Canada strong plan, as it is an important highway that falls under the plan's provisions for building an east-west trading corridor and twinning the Trans-Canada Highway. As we know, Highway 11 is the main route used for truckers as they travel the country from east to west.

Finally, I will say a few words about defence. People may not recognize that since 1951, the city of North Bay has been home to the Canadian Forces base known as 22 Wing North Bay. It has 500 military personnel who provide surveillance and warning for the aerospace defence industry and work closely with NORAD in Colorado. There are also U.S. military personnel stationed in North Bay.

From a city perspective, there is a strong interest in our base. It has strong ties to our communities. We have an airport with a military-grade runway. Flight schools, a Canadore College aviation campus and Voyageur Aviation Corporation operate out of this facility. There is an increased interest in the impact of the “Canada Strong” plan, which focuses on rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting. The base's facilities need housing improvements.

I will also say a quick word about an issue tied to the CFB but not its daily operations. It is related to a major water contamination problem. PFAS, known as a “forever chemical”, used in the foam for air defence firefighter training until the late 1990s, seeped into the airport grounds and surrounding groundwater. The city and the Department of National Defence have reached a $20-million agreement to clean up the airport. However, and I will conclude on this point, the contamination has also seeped into waterways connected to Trout Lake, which supplies North Bay with drinking water.

In recent months, Health Canada has established that the maximum allowable concentration of PFAS in drinking water is 30 nanograms per litre, while Ontario's 2024 drinking water report indicates that the City of North Bay's drinking water system is the only known system in Ontario that consistently exceeds this limit due to historic PFAS contamination. As a result, additional funding is needed to upgrade North Bay's water treatment plan and to remove PFAS from the water supply. This is urgent.

There are so many other things that I could say with regard to the comments that I heard from my community following the election and with regard to our “Canada Strong” plan. That being said, I am pleased to see that the plan and the Speech from the Throne identify those issues and that meaningful action will be taken to address each one of them.

In closing, I want to reiterate my full support for the throne speech on behalf of the people of Nipissing—Timiskaming. I am happy to take any questions from my colleagues.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for years, I have been getting up in the chamber and talking about farming in the north, as I actually farm in the north, in your area. It is refreshing to hear somebody else talking about agriculture in the north, because there is a lot of farming happening up there.

As my colleague would know, farmers have to budget, and they have to plan their years. They have to look at their finances. In the House, in the government so far, the Prime Minister has said that we need to have a plan, yet the Prime Minister fails to bring a plan.

Where is the budget? Does my hon. colleague believe that the government should give Canadians what they deserve and have a budget, just like farmers have to budget and plan for their finances?

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I allow the member for Nipissing—Timiskaming to respond, I will remind her to please do so through the Chair. The member said that they farm in my area. I have no farms.

The member for Nipissing—Timiskaming has the floor.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to visiting my colleague's farming establishment in the Timiskaming area. Certainly it was good to see, as part of the “Canada Strong” plan, that there is a role for the regional development agencies. For us in northern Ontario, under the minister overseeing FedNor, our regional development agency, we are very pleased to see that there is going to be a role also for the Crown corporations that support our territory. In Timiskaming, there is a strong presence by the Farm Credit Canada corporation, and we look forward to a continued role for that organization in our territory.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you on your appointment.

This is my first speech in this Parliament and I am very proud to be here for a third term.

The question I want to ask my colleague is quite simple. In Laurentides—Labelle, the processing industry and our farmers are facing extremely serious challenges. We know what we need when it comes to supply management. I would therefore like to know how my colleague intends to use her influence within her government to secure supply management as quickly as possible.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent question.

We were all very pleased to see that the “Canada Strong” plan very clearly states that supply management is non-negotiable. Recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food also made an excellent comment when he declared that supply management is non-negotiable. We are therefore going to give our dairy industry and all other supply-managed industries our strong support.

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. Once again, I would like to congratulate her on her election, her dedication and her community involvement.

My colleague listed several elements of the Speech from the Throne and spoke about several measures that the Prime Minister will be implementing. Can she tell us about this government's priorities, including tax cuts?

Which priority would she like to work on with the Prime Minister to ensure there is progress?

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question, and my answer may come as a surprise to my colleague. My first priority is to see to it that the projects initiated during the last Parliament and under the leadership of my predecessor, Anthony Rota, are completed. For example, there is the construction of a new $35‑million arena, which has just begun. There is also the $20 million that has been allocated to address contamination. Finally, we have also received funds from the housing accelerator fund, and I want to ensure that there is progress on these projects in our communities.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, one thing I want to touch on is small business. We are not talking enough about the small businesses that are creating jobs right now in our local economies.

We heard in the campaign that there was a call to action from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business asking that we reduce the small business tax rate from 9% to 8%, provide small businesses with additional liquidity to invest in their operations, and also increase the deduction from $500,000 to $700,000.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that my colleague has pointed out the importance of small business in our country. About 95% of the companies throughout Canada are defined as small businesses, so it is very critical that we bring them all the support that is necessary.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my maiden speech, with profound gratitude to my constituents, my family and my colleagues, and with immense pride as the newly elected member of Parliament for Port Moody—Coquitlam, which includes the villages of Anmore, Belcarra and beautiful B.C.'s coastal communities. Our community spans the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Kwikwetlem, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Squamish, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kyuquot and Stó:lo nations. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to them for caring for these lands since time immemorial.

Like many in the House, I did not get here alone. My path has been paved by the trust and support of my community, the voters who placed their faith in me for the past 14 years, first as their voice in local government and now as their member of Parliament. They believe in progress and the idea that government can and must be a force for good in their lives. It is their collective voices that guide me here today. It is humbling and energizing all at the same time. The responsibility of it is enormous. This role is not about representing a riding on paper, but about effectively giving voice to people's concerns, their ambitions and their faith in what Canada can become.

All along, I have been inspired by my mom. She is 85 now and was a trailblazer as one of Canada's first female OBGYNs. It was lonely for women in the profession in Calgary in the beginning, where she first practised. That is where some of the very hard times in Alberta were back then for women. A woman had to be a victim of rape or claim mental insanity for the right to choose. Today, more than 50% of those in the profession are women. Mom was very active with the status of women and the creation of the “Shocking Pink Paper” of 1988 to ensure that Canada's daughters were safe from harm in the workplace and had equal rights and equal pay. I have big shoes to fill, but I need all members to stand with me in doing this important work.

I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my family: my husband Gaetan, our kids Isabelle, Vincent, Carola, and Charlotte, and my awesome dad, who is an extraordinary mentor. He is retired as a geophysicist, but he still teaches at the Mount Royal University in the sciences.

I offer my sincerest gratitude to my community back home and my phenomenal campaign team and volunteers, for without them I could not be here today.

Port Moody is a jewel of the Lower Mainland, from the mighty Fraser River in the south to the serene Burrard Inlet in the west, through the towering trees of Anmore and Belcarra. Our region is a meeting place, a city of nature, tradition, innovation and cultures from every corner of the world. Our diversity is our strength. Nearly half of Coquitlam's residents are immigrants, people who came from around the world to build a better life. They bring with them talent, drive and compassion. These values show up in our schools, our businesses, our local arts scene and our community, everywhere. It showcases who we are.

We are also a community of care. Non-profit groups like SHARE Family & Community Services work tirelessly to support families in our community. The Port Moody and Coquitlam foundations support our community as well with their needs and ideas. Our first nation partners continue to teach us what stewardship and respect for the land truly mean.

In 2021, when I was on the Port Moody city council, I co-authored a report calling for meaningful engagement with first nations, support for UNDRIP, the implementation of the five truth and reconciliation recommendations that municipalities have within their power, and of course a blanket exercise for council and staff. It is my hope that every Canadian can participate in and experience a blanket exercise so they can truly understand the devastation of colonialism.

I am encouraged by the recent Speech from the Throne, “Building Canada Strong: A bold, ambitious plan for our future”. It outlines a vision that meets this moment. It does not sugarcoat the challenges ahead but reminds us of what Canada can be if we act with purpose and we act together. We are not here to manage decline; we are here to share and build progress.

The throne speech delivered by His Majesty King Charles III speaks of a country that must not settle for getting by, but one that must invest boldly in building up. It calls for Canada to make sure that no one is left behind, where prosperity is shared and where ambition is matched with action. All this is backed up by a plan in the “Canada Strong” vision that was laid out by our Prime Minister, and as a new MP, I believe in it. It diagnoses what is not working and points to what is possible when the government works together.

The “Canada Strong” plan recognizes what Canadians already know, that affordability is the central issue, and it calls for a transformative approach to housing. This would remove the barriers in building and make sure that people have access to clean and secure housing in a way never seen before.

Innovation is not a trade-off, but a growth strategy. Companies like Moment Energy, based right here in Coquitlam, are already leading the way. By repurposing EV batteries, they are proving that sustainability and entrepreneurship go hand in hand.

The King also speaks to small businesses, like the ones in my community, lining St. Johns and Clarke streets in Port Moody, or Austin Avenue and North Road in Coquitlam. They are not just job creators. These people are dreamers, risk-takers and community builders. The “Canada Strong” plan supports them with targeted tax relief and by reducing red tape so that they can do what they want to: grow, hire and innovate. However, none of this is possible without us working together.

Just as importantly, the plan doubles down on Canada's most enduring advantage: its people. This means continuing to invest in universal, affordable child care. It means tackling systemic inequities in health, education and income, and, yes, it means reconciliation, but not with words alone.

The King's lifelong advocacy on sustainability and climate action has emphasized partnerships among governments, businesses and communities for the very reason that nature is our life support system. It sees young activists as the architects of tomorrow.

During COVID, while I was on city council, I met with a group of grade 4 and 5 students in our school district. They called themselves the “super team”, which stands for “single-use plastic elimination reinforcers”. They shared their concerns about animals, fish and birds that were strangled by plastic or malnourished because their stomachs were full of it. They wanted a ban. They came to Port Moody city council and got unanimous support, then they went to the province, and now we have this ban happening federally. Kids from my community led the way and influenced the legislation. This gave us hope. They give me hope.

Like the King's speech, with themes of unity and service in the spirit of “Canada Strong”, the super team story shows how extraordinary people, especially youth, can drive extraordinary change through collaboration and perseverance. Let us continue this good work together.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague, who was just elected, for being here and for her hard work to get here.

My question is this. How is it that the Liberals talk about the plan to fix these issues? Is it not true that over the last 10 years, it has been the Liberals who have actually created all these problems?

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly beg to differ. I think that the long challenges with housing and safety have been created over many years, and we see this. Rome was not built in a day. We know that the changes to housing and the reduction in a number of housing supports happened years ago, before the Liberals were in government.

We need to look forward. We need to think about the future. We can change this situation, but we need to work together.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my constituents in La Pointe-de-l'Île for electing me to a fourth term. This is my first speech in this Parliament.

There is nothing in the throne speech about unemployment or workers.

Will there be measures to improve employment insurance? Will there be measures to support workers grappling with the problems caused by Mr. Trump's tariff threats?

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are many, many supports in the plan. Of course, we know there is significant investment into skills training for young people, for the training but also for employers who bring them on. There is an $8,000 investment into skills training, and there is also $10,000 for the employer to support that good work. There are many supports. Of course, we are always looking to work with members of other parties, to bring our voices and to get this good work done.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, what is really quite important to recognize is that the very first announcement of substance that the Prime Minister made was an indication that Canadians are going to get a tax break. It does not matter where one lives in Canada; it is a significant tax break to provide support, literally hundreds of millions of dollars going into the pockets of Canadians because of the Prime Minister's priority of dealing with the issue of affordability.

When I was knocking on doors, Canadians were very concerned about the issue of tax breaks, and we have a Prime Minister who responded quickly to that particular need. I wonder if the member can provide her thoughts in regard to why, from her perspective, it was important and so significant to see the Prime Minister's first initiative to reduce taxes.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is one of the things that has left me the most excited about our plan, because it is a significant package of cuts and supports for the middle class. It includes reducing the taxes by 1%, which would bring the average family about $850 extra into their pockets per year.

There are many other inclusions, such as dental care. I worked in dentistry for 22 years. Having access to dental care actually supports the health of the whole body. It is a big expense for families, but they can have this care free of charge. It is not just for young people; everyone aged 18 to 64 can have this great support. There is also child care, and there is the reduction of GST on the purchase of a first home, so there are many different supports.

I am very excited, and the people at the doorstep were as well.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from British Columbia.

The member talked about training and employment readiness, and it is so important. I will give the Liberals credit; the federal government did increase transfers to B.C. from 2016 to 2024, but then it cut them. We are short $74 million now for programs that support organizations like INEO in my riding—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I have to interrupt the member. I have to give the member some time to comment before we resume debate.

The hon. member for Port Moody—Coquitlam.

[Zoe Royer, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the member's concerns. We have a new government in place. We know it is going to take time to implement this plan, but I have every faith that it will be an extraordinary plan that Canadians can get behind and that will help unify our country and create supports that did not exist before.

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is the honour of a lifetime to rise for my first speech in this chamber.

As I stand here today within these four walls, surrounded by well over a century of Canadian history, I am all too aware of the awesome responsibility I have been given, and I am humbled to be the first member of Parliament for the newly established riding of Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee.

Many years ago, when I worked here as a young legislative assistant, I promised myself that when I came back to the Hill, I would do so as a member of Parliament, and I promised myself I would model my career after Darrel Stinson, a former member of Parliament and a legend in his own right. Darrel was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2006 and advised to get his affairs in order. He survived that and then some time later went on to beat stage 4 cancer yet again. Darrel will be turning 80 this Thursday, almost two decades later. I wish a happy birthday to Darrel. I can only hope to fill his shoes in this place.

Our riding is a jewel of British Columbia, with towering forests, rolling vineyards, pristine lakes and snow-capped peaks, but it is not just the landscape that makes it exceptional; it is the resources and our people. There is gold in the Monashees, silver in the Slocan Valley, forestry in Lumby and Cherryville, agriculture in the Okanagan and tourism throughout. They are people who work hard, build communities and believe that if government just gets out of the way, they will get the job done.

Our riding is a microcosm of Canada. Canada should be one of the most prosperous nations on earth. We are rich in resources, talent and innovation. However, we are not rich. Our people are struggling. Our natural resources are vast, and our people are willing, but Liberal policies have stifled opportunity, burdened industry and made prosperity feel out of reach for far too many.

Let us call this what it is. It is a government that has lost faith in what built this country: work, resourcefulness and the industries that sustain our towns. Small businesses are struggling not because we lack potential but because we are being held back. I know this first-hand. My own small trucking business cannot move material on bicycles or in electric cars, so the carbon tax simply means I have to charge more and my customers have to pay more. That is the very definition of inflation. The endless seas of paper we have to swim through, the red tape and the crippling taxation make it almost impossible for small business to get ahead.

This Liberal government has made life harder for everyday Canadians. While Mr. Trudeau is gone, the architect of his economic disaster remains on the front bench across the aisle, and the brains behind it have taken his place. In fact, very little has changed, despite the Prime Minister's rhetoric to the contrary. Our last Liberal prime minister told Canadians the budget would balance itself. Now we do not even have a budget.

For the past 10 years, Ottawa has not just been in the way; it has been the problem. In Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, we see the consequences every single day. Forestry, once the backbone of communities like Lumby and Cherryville, has been crippled by indecision and red tape. Sawmills are shuttered. Skilled workers are unemployed, not because the trees are gone but because the political will is gone. In the Monashees, responsible mining projects with strong local support are stalled in endless federal reviews. While the world clamours for critical minerals, we are stuck in neutral.

Many of our residents once worked up north in the oil fields and on our pipelines and then came home for the weekends, because they could live in the beautiful Okanagan, but this Liberal government killed the northern gateway and energy east pipelines and left us at the mercy of the American energy industry and government tariffs.

Tourism operators, whether guiding hikes through forests or running lodges along our lakes, face rising costs, labour shortages and a government more interested in lecturing than listening. Then there is agriculture. Our orchards, wineries, breweries and distilleries are second to none, but if I ask any grower or small producer, they will tell me the same thing: They are being taxed, regulated and carbon-priced out of business. These are family operations, and they have so much potential. They do not ask for subsidies; they ask for fairness.

Instead of unleashing that potential, this Liberal government has spent a decade tying it up with bureaucracy, ideology and economic self-sabotage. This government has consistently treated prosperity like something to apologize for. I, for one, wholeheartedly reject that.

However, I did not come here to dwell in frustration. I came here because I believe in a better way forward. Our Conservative vision is simple: less interference, more opportunity; less punishment, more prosperity; and a government that respects hard work instead of penalizing it.

We believe in unlocking Canada's potential, which means, number one, reviving our forestry sector with clear, science-based regulations and the predictability that companies need to invest long-term; number two, fast-tracking responsible resource projects, particularly those critical to global supply chains and local paycheques; number three, cutting the red tape and tax burdens that are choking small farms, wineries and craft producers; and finally, concentrating revenue on tangible infrastructure, like safe highways, broadband for rural businesses and upgraded safety, not on more giveaways, handouts and social interference.

Most of all, we believe that families, not Ottawa, know what is best for themselves. That means allowing parents to guide their own children and keep more of what they earn, letting small business grow without fear of the next federal penalty and helping communities shape their own future.

The people of Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee did not send me here to manage decline. They sent me here to fight for growth and to restore faith in the promise of this country. This promise is not abstract. It is a father back to work at a reopened sawmill. It is a young entrepreneur opening a craft cidery without drowning in federal paperwork. It is tourists returning to Silver Star and the Shuswap with ease, because the infrastructure keeps up with demand. It is families paddling on a lake or sitting around a campfire, because their town did not become a victim of urban centralization. That is what I stand for, not more Ottawa, not more empty rhetoric. I stand for a Canada that believes in itself again.

Canadians are tired of government that spends more, delivers less and tells them they should feel guilty for wanting to succeed. They are tired of watching opportunity pass them by while their leaders play it safe, hedge their bets and avoid hard truths. As C.S. Lewis wrote, we all want progress, but progress means getting nearer to where one wants to be. If one is on the wrong road, progress means turning around and walking back to the right road. We are on the wrong road. It is time for a new approach. My riding and this country are ready to thrive again.

I stand here today not as a cynic but as a realist with hope: hope that Canada can rise to meet this moment, that we can be a nation where prosperity is earned, not punished; where natural beauty is matched by economic strength; where we are proud of who we are, not apologizing for it. I want to make one thing clear to everyone listening in this chamber and across Canada. I am not here to stoke division for its own sake. I am here to help Canadians pull toward the best possible future, where every resource, every community and every family has the freedom to flourish.

To my Liberal friends in particular, I invite them to set aside economic gaslighting and ideological double-talk and join us in practical steps to restore Canada to its rightful place as a global leader in resource-rich prosperity. When they talk about making us an energy superpower, let us follow it with actions to make it happen and not excuses about why it cannot be done. Empty slogans are not enough. Pipelines are crucial. Work with us to rebuild the forestry sector so the forest workers no longer worry about their next paycheque. Collaborate on intelligent mining reforms that honour both the environment and the people who earn their living from the land. Above all, let us recognize that our differences are far smaller than our shared dreams.

Whether one belongs to a small family restaurant in Lake Country or works for a forestry co-op in Cherryville, and regardless of which party we belong to, every Canadian wants good schools, safe neighbourhoods and a stable community. Every Canadian wants to look their children in the eye and say that tomorrow will be better than today. Let us stop pretending, and let us get to work to make that happen.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the hon. member to this House.

Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee is a beautiful area. I have had the chance to be there myself. There are lots of good junior A hockey towns as well. I believe Salmon Arm may be close to the member's constituency, if not within it.

The member talked a lot about agriculture, and I think that is important. Representing an agricultural riding, my own home constituency in Atlantic Canada, I certainly know the value of that. I had the opportunity to quickly look at the Conservative platform that the member just ran on, and there is very little mention of agriculture whatsoever. There is nothing on business risk management, nothing on the agri-food sector and nothing on regulatory reform at CFIA or PMRA. Objectively, the Liberal platform was very comprehensive. It was endorsed by a number of major commodity groups.

Will the member opposite commit to being a strong voice to tell his leader, Pierre Poilievre, to actually do more and commit to more in agriculture? It certainly was lacking in the last platform.