Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne had 2,500 words but not a single mention of the fentanyl crisis, the opioid crisis, that has gripped our nation, nor a single mention of the 51,000 Canadians who have lost their lives since 2016.

I know my hon. colleague is new, but I would like to know how she feels about the fact that her government has failed. The new Prime Minister, the man with the plan, has failed to address the single most challenging crisis that our country has had to this point.

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we presented a strong plan to build a strong Canada and a strong economy. We are committed to bringing in stricter measures for serious crime. That is what we are going to do. A throne speech does not need to be 30,000 words long to be effective. We know what we are doing. Our plan is clear and robust. That is why we are going to implement it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on her speech.

She said that the issue of the French language is important to her. I would like to know what she thinks of the fact that her government's official languages policy only supports English in Quebec. For example, roughly $100 million is invested every year in official languages support programs and it does nothing but finance the development of English-speaking communities, the anglophone education system, health services in English and so on.

Over the years, more than $3.5 billion has been spent in Quebec to promote English and that is still going on to this day, while it is French that is in jeopardy in Quebec. What does my colleague think of that?

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be a member of this Liberal caucus, which has not only 44 Quebec MPs to vigorously promote the French language but also francophone MPs from communities outside Quebec.

Protecting the French language requires support for francophone communities outside Quebec. Quebec is not the only one that needs to promote the French language; all communities do. I am thinking of my colleagues from Guelph and southern Ontario. There are many francophone communities and we need to support them.

That is why we have allocated funding for Radio-Canada for regions outside Quebec, to ensure that we support French across the country.

That is how we will stay strong. That is how French will maintain its vitality.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in her speech, the member was very clear that the Liberals have a plan and they know what they are doing.

I do not know anybody who buys a car without knowing how much the payments are going to cost. I do not know anybody who buys a house without knowing if they can afford the additional payments. I do not know anybody who prepares a meal without knowing what is in the cupboards. The previous Liberal government spent the cupboards bare. There is no budget. We have no idea where things are at.

Could the member articulate when the budget will be coming and what it will entail?

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have committed to building the strongest economy of the G7. One of the first things that the Prime Minister did, earlier in March, was to cut the carbon tax for consumers. When the numbers came out last week, we saw that already inflation has been reduced to 1.7%.

We have also tabled the main estimates. It is prudent fiscal management to make sure that we know exactly what we are tackling and how much it is going to cost. There was a meeting with the first ministers yesterday, which was really positive, with all of the provinces and territories.

We are building the economy of tomorrow.

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great humility and determination that I rise today to deliver my maiden speech in the House of Commons.

I do so with a great sense of responsibility to the people of Compton—Stanstead, who put their trust in me and sent me here with a clear mandate. I thank them very much for that. I want to be a strong, engaged and authentic voice for them, a voice for the regions that truly deserve our consideration. I want to take a moment to thank the volunteers, my loved ones and my family who campaigned with me. It is because of their confidence, energy and commitment that I am here today.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, who passionately represented Compton—Stanstead for 10 years. Everywhere I go, I hear about her presence, her thoroughness, her leadership and her ability to get things done. She has been an incredible mentor to me, and her example has also opened the doors to this place. I want to sincerely thank her on behalf of the people of Compton—Stanstead, but also, I dare say, on behalf of women, young people and the regions, who deserve to be heard.

I would also like to thank the honourable David Price, the very first member of Parliament for our riding, back in 1997. Still today, he continues to serve our community with heart, notably through his ongoing commitment to the Grace Village Care Foundation. Marie-Claude and David served Compton—Stanstead with dedication and effectiveness. I can only hope to live up to the trust they inspired in this beautiful corner of the country that I am so deeply attached to.

Compton—Stanstead is a border riding, rich in contrast and full of character, with 36 municipalities spread across nearly 5,000 square kilometres. It is francophone and anglophone, rural and urban, from cultivated farmland to high-tech labs. At the heart of all this diversity, there is a rare kind of harmony, a deep ability to coexist, to collaborate and to reinvent ourselves, especially in times of adversity. In a world that feels increasingly polarized, Compton—Stanstead is a reminder that it is possible to build together, with respect and solidarity.

I think of one powerful symbol, the Haskell Library in Stanstead, which was built quite literally on the Canada-U.S. border as a shared cultural space between two peoples. For years, Canadians could simply walk along the sidewalk to enter through the U.S. side, a tradition that ended this spring by order of the American administration. In just 30 hours, a grassroots campaign led by Canadians and Americans, French and English, raised the funds to create a new entrance on the Canadian side. That is the spirit of the Eastern Townships: solidarity, resourcefulness, openness and a deep commitment to co-operation and living together.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate my colleagues from Sherbrooke and Brome—Missisquoi. Together we form a united team, determined to give the people of the Eastern Townships a voice at the table where decisions are made, and yes, those folks have a lot to say.

On the campaign trail, I met with and listened to people in my community, and I took the time to understand their concerns. The number one concern has to do with what is happening south of the border, with our neighbours. I really get a feeling that, beyond the concern, folks want action. They want us to roll up our sleeves and seize the opportunity to create a stronger, more resilient and more united Canada. That is exactly the energy I want to bring here.

Let us start by talking about our SMEs. Our SMEs are more than just numbers and balance sheets. They are villages, families and projects rooted in our communities. Our SMEs breathe life into our regions by creating sustainable jobs and maintaining a strong economic system. They represent an opportunity for our young people to build a future where they grew up, without having to leave. Unfortunately, they are not immune to shocks, especially when U.S. protectionism directly undermines their stability. One example that comes to mind is Waterville TG in the automotive sector. No, the auto industry is not only in Ontario.

I am also thinking about Champeau, in the forestry sector, and Confections Troy, which is part of the textile industry. Their future depends on the predictability of trade as well as the support we can offer them.

Our government is already supporting them. We have pumped the revenue from countertariffs into businesses affected by our economic war with the United States. We have reinvested in economic development agencies. We have implemented work-sharing programs to keep workers and employers connected. We have also eliminated the waiting period for EI.

We are also growing markets. First, on the domestic front, we are working to build one Canadian economy out of 13. We are working to eliminate barriers to interprovincial trade in areas that fall under federal jurisdiction. I am pleased to see Quebec taking concrete steps in this direction with the introduction of a bill last Friday.

I would be remiss if I did not mention one pillar of our regional economic development and vitality: agriculture. It is at the heart of our food self-sufficiency and our way of living on the land. For everyone, it is our food security. I am going to start by saying that supply management is simply non-negotiable, full stop. We also have to broaden the agricultural discourse and include other sectors. We need to help big businesses export and small businesses process products locally to create value in our regions. That is what the throne speech says.

Let us not forget about families and cost-of-living issues. I will start by saying: promise made, promise kept. Our government's first act was to cut taxes for millions of middle-class Canadians. We are committed to maintaining social programs, such as the Canadian dental care plan, which has been fully rolled out. Two million Canadians have already received care. We will maintain pharmacare and the Canada-wide affordable child care system.

We are also talking about access to housing and home ownership. We need to build. The “build Canada homes” initiative is an ambitious plan to accelerate construction. We will cut red tape and leverage our resources, our businesses and our expertise. We are committed to sound fiscal management, because making life more affordable must never come at the expense of intergenerational fairness.

Another important issue in rural areas is connectivity. We have accomplished a lot in terms of high-speed Internet, and we are proud of that. It is time to take another step forward in improving cell coverage by partnering with the provinces, municipalities and the private sector. It is a matter of safety, economic development and fairness. No community should be cut off from the world because of a lack of network coverage.

I know that not everything can be said in one speech. There are other issues that I feel strongly about and will continue to advocate for. These include protecting our lakes and natural environments. They are a vital part of our identity and quality of life. Another issue is border security. This is a real issue for communities like mine, because living near the border is our daily reality. There are significant exchanges between our communities on both sides of the border. I also include our minority language communities. They must be able to thrive everywhere in the country.

I would also like to say a word about the essential role of CBC/Radio‑Canada and its importance to Quebec's anglophone communities. Yes, CBC is important. In a world where disinformation is increasingly prevalent, we need the diligent and independent journalism that our public broadcaster can deliver locally. I am committed to bringing these priorities to the table with rigour, consistency and openness in all future debates.

I truly believe that, beyond party lines, the challenges facing regions like mine require not only courage, but also a genuine willingness to work together. On the ground, we do not debate in a vacuum. On the ground, we listen to each other, we help each other, we build, sometimes with little, but always with passion. It is this spirit that I want to bring to the House, the spirit of our farmers, our business owners, our families, and our young people who choose to stay in their community and make their corner of the country thrive.

I am ready to get to work.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague mentioned something that is near and dear to me, being in a rural remote area in Cariboo—Prince George, in northern British Columbia, which is the connectivity issues. There is a serious lack of connectivity in some of the areas in my region.

However, I would like to go on a topic that I have not talked about yet and asked the members opposite about, and that is crime. In one of my communities, with a population of 10,000, six prolific offenders commit 98% of the crime. In the largest community in my riding, Prince George, with a population of 77,000, eight prolific offenders commit 98% of the crime. The government, in its previous form in the last session, launched Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.

I wonder if this member of Parliament is experiencing the same rates of crime that we are seeing in rural remote areas in British Columbia, and I know in other communities across the way. Will she advocate for her government to repeal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75?

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, just this past weekend, there was a femicide in my riding. Rates of domestic violence are alarming, and we need to tackle this issue head on. That is why we have gun control. Gun violence and domestic abuse often go hand in hand. We really need to protect our citizens.

Our government is taking action. Our government believes in a safe society. We will continue to work to ensure that tragedies like these do not happen again.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to say hello to the people of Rimouski—La Matapédia, whom I proudly represent.

I congratulate my colleague from Compton—Stanstead on her speech and her election.

My question is very simple and concerns supply management. We know that this issue affects her riding in particular. The Bloc Québécois did what it said it would do during the election campaign. It reintroduced a bill to ensure that supply management will be fully protected in future negotiations, particularly with the United States. We want to ensure that it will not be sacrificed in the same way it was under her government in the last three trade agreements.

If the member believes that protecting supply management is not a luxury but a matter of survival for many of the farmers she represents, will she commit to sitting down with her party's representatives, supporting the bill introduced by the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the member for Beloeil—Chambly, and prioritizing this bill so it is brought forward as soon as possible?

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, supply management is indeed a priority.

Legislation aside, negotiations with the U.S. government have already started. What we need now is a strong commitment from the government not to cave, but to uphold supply management. The Liberal Party has made that commitment. It is the party that created supply management. That is the first commitment our Prime Minister made when he ran for the leadership of our party. We will continue to promote supply management and we will continue to stand up for it. It is essential for the vitality of our rural communities.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians from coast to coast to coast recognized a very important meeting that took place in Saskatchewan, where the premiers and the Prime Minister, along with the leaders of the territories, came together to recognize in particular President Trump, the tariffs and the trade issue and to talk about potential special projects. That meeting was important for all of us. It was a team Canada approach, I would suggest.

I wonder if the member could provide her thoughts in regard to why it is so important that we have a team Canada approach when dealing with and overcoming these issues.

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that was an historic meeting. Earlier today, some members of the House called it a love-in.

When it feels like everyone is working toward the same goal of creating one economy out of 13, we know that we are going to create a lot of wealth in this country. We must build on collaboration between the regions, between the provinces, to ensure that we become more autonomous, more independent, more resilient. That is what ordinary folks want.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, although this is not my first intervention in this Parliament, this is the first opportunity I have had to take a moment to thank the voters of Calgary Crowfoot. I am getting used to the riding name change. Many riding names have changed, but I thank the voters of Calgary Crowfoot for sending me to this place for the fourth time in nine and a half years.

I want to thank my opponents in the election for putting their names forward. Without choice and without options for people to vote for, there is no democracy, so I thank all participants in this election.

I would like to thank the volunteers in Calgary Crowfoot, the amazing group of volunteers who helped us get out to 25,000-odd doors, put up thousands of signs and make an argument to voters for a change of government.

I would also like to thank, of course, my loving family: my wife Kim, my daughters Katie, Jessica and Meaghan, and my mum Marnie Kelly. My father Duane Kelly passed away, sadly, only a few months before the election.

I would like to congratulate all members of Parliament on their election, in particular the new MPs. There are many new MPs in this Parliament, and I look forward to meeting them and getting to know who everybody is.

I also congratulate the new cabinet and the new Prime Minister. They have tremendous work to do. It is important to me as a Canadian and to the people who sent me here that Canada prospers and does well and that we have competent, prudent and proper public administration and stewardship of public resources. I wish the government the best in doing so.

I will also say that I am part of a government in waiting, and we are ready to step up and form a government should this government fall. We will demand accountability. We will demand competence and execution. We will be here to scrutinize the laws the Liberals propose and the administration of the government in general. That is what we are here to do. That is what all members of Parliament do. Members do not even need to be in the opposition benches to do that. I challenge the backbenches on the government side to do their jobs as legislators and demand accountability from the government and their own party. That is their job. It is not just their job to cheerlead for the front bench. I hope they will take seriously their role in holding the government to account, as all parliamentarians should.

Here we are in June 2025, and the same government has been in power for nine and a half years. It has added half a trillion dollars to the national debt and brought in a structural deficit. It has no plan for a balanced budget in sight. We are enduring a housing crisis wherein mortgage payments and rent have more than doubled on its watch. We have seen a sense of hopelessness creep in among younger people, who believe that they will never have a path to home ownership other than through inheritance or the sharing of real estate equity from their family. Crime in every category has gone up. We have a drug overdose crisis.

As for the military, the most basic core function of government is national security and protecting Canadians, and tanks are in extremely short supply and falling apart. We have ships rusting out and jets wearing out, with recruitment, retention and housing in crisis. We have gaps in domain awareness in the Arctic and a RADARSAT system that is going to reach its end of life without a replacement. Procurement is in a state of disaster. We cannot even procure, build and supply basics like artillery shells. The recently retired chief of the defence staff has said that there has not been an acute need for military preparedness since the end of the Second World War and we are not there.

We have the threat of Trump to deal with, and the tariffs and all that his administration has said it may do. However, perhaps the most important statistic that I can point to is the per-capita GDP in Canada. Over the last 10 years, its growth was the lowest in the OECD. In fact, it was not growth at all. Canadians are no better off now than they were 10 years ago. This is a lost Liberal decade.

Where were we 10 years ago? When the Liberal government came to power, it inherited a balanced budget, affordable homes that working people could buy, a northern gateway pipeline that was conditionally approved and a Trans Mountain pipeline that was going to be built with private money, not with taxpayers' money. The energy east project was ready to be proposed. The F-35 were ready for contract and ready to be procured. Crime was at the lowest on record. This was the Canada that the government came into power with, and this is where we have been taken over the last 10 years.

It is not something that just randomly happened. There were concrete actions by the government all the way along that brought us here. They brought in the culture of “no”. They brought in new regulations and laws, like Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, that make it impossible to get energy infrastructure projects built. That was by design. This was not even just a mistake on the part of the government.

Furthermore, there is no end in sight. The Liberals have brought in, and we have seen it creeping in, a culture of corporate welfare where connected insiders benefit and where Liberal insiders benefit. We saw over that time period the Liberals cancel the F-35s. They came in and said that they were not going to procure them at all and that they were going to have a separate procurement process. They dithered and wasted time while our need for this aircraft carried on. We would already have the F-35s if they had simply procured them when they took office. These are the things that have happened over the last 10 years.

The Speech from the Throne contains no concrete plan. There is no budget that would signal a plan or even tell Canadians and be honest about where we are financially, what our fiscal plan is and what the deficit will be. The Liberals have said some things that are encouraging to many. They have taken many ideas from the Conservative benches and the Conservative campaign. If someone puts a tax cut in front of me, I will vote for it. If someone proposes to eliminate a regulation that is destroying the job opportunities in my riding, I will support it. However, what I will not support is a Speech from the Throne that gives vague promises without any type of a clear road map, while the Liberals simultaneously table a set of estimates that show ballooning public expenditures for consultants, of all things. This is all while the Liberals have allowed the public service to grow enormously during their time while service to Canadians declines.

Copying our ideas is the most sincere form of flattery, and we would be prepared to accept it as Conservatives, but the government is not a new government. It has a different Prime Minister, but it has the same people in the front benches, who, for the last 10 years, have criticized Conservatives. When I look at Hansard, I can see some of the things that members of the front benches said to me and other members when we proposed important ideas, like axing the tax, which is something they were all too quick to adopt in the election. As such, I have doubts about the ability of the government, with the same group of people in the front benches, to execute on improving life for Canadians.

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

Certainly, Mr. Speaker, I would share the desire to want to focus on regulatory reform. I would like to hear more from all members on this side of the House on some of those pieces. We have heard a lot about the oil and gas sector. The government is signalling its desire to drive and build big natural energy projects across the country, whether conventional oil and gas or renewable in different types of forms.

I want to bring the House back to some air of reality. Perhaps the hon. member did not like some of the ways in which the government did speak about the oil and gas sector, but it is important to recognize that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Reuters both talk about the fact that oil and gas production actually increased over the last 10 years.

I will remind the hon. member that it was this government that built a pipeline to tidewater. Under Harper, there was no pipeline built.

Can we bring this back? Would the member at least recognize that there has been an increase in oil and gas production in this country in the last 10 years? It is important to at least recognize facts and not just conjecture here in the House.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is true, thankfully, that over nine and a half years was not long enough for the government to actually completely kill the industry. We are thankful for that.

There are a number of points that the member brought up. He brought up TMX, and it still astounds me, the credit that the Liberals want to seek for driviPng private capital out of the oil and gas business. They had to take over and nationalize a project. This project would have been built sooner and at no risk to the taxpayer. When they chased out all of the private proponents for pipelines, yes, they built one. Even before they did that, though, they killed the northern gateway. The northern gateway was approved. It was almost literally the first act of the Liberal government when it came to power. Now they say, after 10 years, that they want to get big projects built. There is a credibility gap here.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his re-election.

We need legislation to protect supply management because the Canadian government does not decide what is on the table during a negotiation. Each party decides what it is putting on the table. The Americans have announced that supply management will be on the table.

I listened to my colleague from Compton—Stanstead, and the rhetoric has changed. At first, the Liberals were saying what would not be on the table. Now, my colleague is saying that they are going to hold the line when it is on the table. The last time they told us they would hold the line, they folded. Ultimately, they sold off a share of the market.

I know that this is important to her. I know that it is important to her predecessor. However, the Liberals are telling us here today, through the member for Compton—Stanstead, that they will not be supporting our bill. That is what we are hearing.

Will my Conservative colleague commit to supporting a bill to fully protect supply management in order to tie our negotiators' hands when they are told to fold?

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I did not comment on this in my remarks. I was hoping for questions and comments that were related to the speech I made. We will see what is proposed, and we will examine legislation as it is proposed.

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague just alluded to the carbon tax. I have spoken many times about the rural top-up that residents in my riding were denied. The fact of the matter is that there is now a very concerning issue that has come up. I now have the CRA coming after constituents who have mistakenly received the rural top-up that they actually thought they were entitled to. We had government-approved software, UFile, that selected people for the rural top-up based on the postal code, because the zero in the postal code meant they were rural. These people did not even select it. We now have 613 numbers coming in at these people.

I just wonder if the member can talk about the effects of the carbon tax still lingering for us.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it certainly would have been better to have not had a carbon tax at all, industrial or consumer. We would not have had this series of bureaucratic difficulties that the member mentions.

From roughly 2017 to 2019, I was the shadow minister for the CRA. I would hear, every day, staggering examples of the challenges Canadians face in dealing with that agency, often made more complicated and more difficult by the government and the general complication of our tax system.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege and an immense honour for me to represent the people of Beauce today in the House as the member for Beauce. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their extraordinary support. Beauce, the capital of entrepreneurship, has overwhelmingly chosen an entrepreneur to represent it. I am deeply humbled by their overwhelming support, and I want them to know that I will carry this responsibility with the respect, determination and pride it deserves.

This work was not done alone. I would like to thank my incredible team of volunteers for their passion, hard work and considerable involvement over the past few months. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my father, my sisters Vicky and Wendy, and the entire Roy and Groleau family for their unconditional support. I especially want to thank the love of my life, my wife Pascale, and our two daughters, Lily-Rose and Emma, for their love and support. It is for them that I embark on this great adventure, for the future of my daughters, for the future of our children.

I would also like to take a moment to pay tribute to an exceptional man, a man of principle, a man of conviction with unwavering dedication. Richard Lehoux has devoted 25 years to public service, including six years here in Ottawa. He has worked with heart, discipline and humility in the service of his constituents, whether as mayor, reeve or member of Parliament. He has always been a good listener guided by great wisdom. His involvement has never been limited to politics. He has always been in close touch with the people, attentive to the concerns of farmers, families, entrepreneurs, seniors and youth. He has been a tireless worker, a man of honour, always available, listening, and deeply committed to his community. I thank Richard. His commitment has left its mark on the Beauce region.

The people of Beauce are known throughout Quebec and Canada for their entrepreneurial spirit. They are proud, resilient, resourceful and, above all, supportive. Beauce is a region built by entrepreneurs, farmers, hard-working people and loving families who believe in creating their own opportunities. The proof is that Beauce has nearly 2,000 farms. Those farms produce a variety of foods, such as maple syrup, dairy, pork and poultry, as well as fruits, vegetables and grains. All my colleagues here will agree that the 300 dairy farmers in Beauce produce exceptional milk. Of course, everyone will agree that we are also known for the best maple syrup in the world. I invite Canadians to find out for themselves just how exceptional our products are and what beautiful scenery we have.

We also have a reputation for hospitality in Beauce, especially at our agri-tourism sites throughout the region. Beauce is a region rich in heritage with an entrepreneurial culture. People can come see us at tourist destinations like the Miller Zoo in Frampton, founded by Clifford Miller and Émilie Ferland. It is both a wildlife sanctuary and an animal rehabilitation centre that gives many wild animals a second chance.

I also invite people to visit some of our local attractions, such as Domaine Taschereau, Maison J.‑A. Vachon and the aviation museum in Sainte‑Marie; the Beauce historical village and the Marius Barbeau museum in Saint‑Joseph‑de‑Beauce; the Rapides‑du‑Diable park in Beauceville; the Sept-Chutes Regional Park and the Saint Georges church, which is a beautiful part of our religious heritage; and the Notre‑Dame‑des‑Pins covered bridge, to name a few.

This summer, people can come visit our local farms: the Goulet blueberry farm in Saint‑Frédéric; Le Verger à Ti‑Paul in Saint‑Elzéar; the Marland blueberry farm in Sainte‑Marie; the Bourque strawberry farm and Les Roy de la pomme apple orchard in Saint‑Georges‑de‑Beauce; Verger L'Argousière in Saint‑Côme Linière; the Frampton Brasse microbrewery in Frampton, with a stunning view of the mountains; the Martin Bilodeau farm in Saint‑Éphrem‑de‑Beauce; La Pralinière chocolate factory; La Miellerie de Sophie in Notre‑Dame‑des‑Pins; La Pépite d'Or cheese factory, with locations in Saint‑Georges‑de‑Beauce and in Sainte‑Marie; Fromagerie Gilbert cheese factory in Saint‑Joseph‑de‑Beauce; and Ferme JN Morin farm in Saint‑Zacharie, which makes the best barbecue sauces, spices and vinaigrettes in the world, all delicious and all maple-based. There are many other magnificent places to visit, of course.

Whether at the plant, in the fields, on construction sites or behind the counter, the people of Beauce get up every morning and go to work with determination and dedication. I will staunchly defend that attitude every day.

However, despite our entrepreneurial spirit, we are facing new challenges. Given our shared border with Maine, Beauce's economy is closely tied to the United States, one of our main partners. For decades, our trade in goods and services with our neighbours to the south has obviously been extensive. For many of our businesses, the United States accounts for 80% of their sales. The 25% tariff that has been imposed and the Trump administration's real threat of a 50% tariff on steel, for example, are having a major, severe impact on our businesses. We need to take action to ensure that our businesses are not left behind. We must protect the industries that are essential to the future of the economies of Beauce and Canada by supporting the ones that are affected. The Liberal Party needs to act now.

Our proud agricultural heritage has always been our region's strength. Agriculture remains a vital sector of our economy. Farmers across the country are working tirelessly to supply food to Canadians and contribute to our economy, but they are often left without the supports they need to succeed in a competitive global market. It is essential that we fully protect policies such as supply management, which I will defend vigorously. Supply management ensures affordable prices, stability and quality for consumers. A self-sufficient agricultural sector is crucial to Canada's long-term prosperity and security.

The housing crisis is being felt across Canada. Beauce is particularly hard hit. Some municipalities in our region have a vacancy rate of less than 2%. As a result, rents have increased significantly, which is hurting families and slowing economic development. Since 2021, some parts of the region have seen rents rise by more than 50%. We urgently need to curb rent increases, accelerate housing starts, reduce red tape and roll out quicker, more affordable and more flexible federal programs.

Economic immigration plays a crucial role in Beauce's continued growth and success. The unemployment rate in our region is extremely low, less than 3%. That is an indication of the strength of our local economy. It also means that we have to rely heavily on temporary foreign workers to fill jobs. These workers are essential to maintaining the productivity and competitiveness of our industries. The need for temporary foreign workers is very different in big cities from what it is in the regions. We need to set up a system tailored to each region in order to improve the situation and meet the growing demand for workers. Beauce and its businesses deserve better. It is time for the government to provide solutions that reflect the reality of our regions.

I want to talk about the housing cost crisis in Canada. It is time for the government to genuinely tackle a problem that is making life harder for Canadians every day. This is critical for our seniors. Many are living on fixed incomes and are feeling the pressure of increased expenses. The tax reduction measures that were announced to make life more affordable for Canadians are woefully inadequate. Canadians need much more.

We must make our streets safer by fighting violence and keeping criminals behind bars. Affordable, prosperous and safe communities are essential to the well-being of all Canadians. We must put more energy and effort into making this a reality.

Today, I am thinking of my two daughters. Every decision I make, every challenge I take on, I do it for them. I want them to grow up in a safe, economically stable, fair country where they can achieve their dreams and prosper. That is the kind of future I am fighting for, not just for my children, but for all our children. I am proud to say I am Canadian, and I am proud to say I am from Beauce. That is why, throughout my term in office, I will stand up for the people of Beauce to protect our way of life, support our businesses and ensure a prosperous future for us all.

Together, let us build a stronger, fairer and more vibrant Beauce and Canada.

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

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague to the House. His predecessor, Mr. Lehoux, was a very good member of Parliament. I will work with him to advance agricultural issues in the House.

Listening to my colleague's speech, I understood how important the agricultural sector is to Beauce. However, during the election campaign, I was a bit surprised because there was no mention of the importance of supply management in the Conservative platform. There was nothing about the importance of the sector or about concrete initiatives.

Will my hon. colleague raise these important issues with Mr. Poilievre and talk to him how important it is for the Conservative Party to make concrete promises for the agricultural sector?

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my colleague that Pierre Poilievre's message on the Quebec platform was very clear: Supply management is non-negotiable.

As I said, there are more than 2,000 farms in Beauce. I will defend them tooth and nail. If negotiations are reopened with the Americans, we need to understand that the state of Wisconsin alone produces more milk than all of Canada does.

This means that supply management must be protected at all costs. In my region, it is a priority.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Beauce and pass on best wishes directly from the people of Mirabel, which was recently named the maple capital of the world. However, good maple syrup can be found everywhere.

Ottawa often automatically thinks that the federal government can fix everything. However, my colleague spoke about helping businesses, cutting taxes and making our economy more competitive. To do that, the provinces and Quebec must be able to be more fiscally competitive. The fact that health care costs account for almost half of the Quebec government's program spending prevents us from being competitive for our businesses.

In light of that, will my colleague, as a representative of Quebec, support the Quebec government in its calls for health transfers to be increased unconditionally from 24% to 35% of system costs immediately and, I repeat, unconditionally?

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Mirabel. I believe his region produces good maple syrup too.

First, the government needs to be run like a business. What I have seen in the past two weeks here is that there is not even a budget. Every expenditure and purchase needs to be put in a budget. Right now, there is no budget. The government is flying blind. I am a bit disappointed about that.

In answer to my colleague, I think that the Liberal government needs to table a budget in order to able to study the files.