Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the promise that was pulled out of thin air was the Conservative platform promise on the same issue. Our promise was real. It was fiscally responsible. We indicated that we would reduce the tolls on the Confederation Bridge to $20, with a corresponding reduction for all Atlantic Canada ferries by a similar percentage amount. That is a promise that was made. It is a promise I have every confidence that the Prime Minister will deliver on.

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

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech, but he will have to explain a few things to me.

In 2020, the Premier of Quebec and governments across Canada asked the federal government to increase health transfers from 22% to 35%. I would like to remind my colleagues and those watching at home that the initial agreement was for 50%.

However, because of the well-known fiscal imbalance, the federal government kept money in its own pockets to fund other things and infringe on the jurisdictions of Quebec and the other provinces. Then, three years later, after the request from the Premier of Quebec and premiers across Canada, the government increased transfers by 2%. That is right: 2%. Health transfers were increased from 22% to 24%.

My colleague will have to explain to me how proper health care services can be provided in Quebec and rural areas, like the one he represents, if the federal government is only increasing transfers from 22% to 24%, when the initial agreement was for 50%.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague overlooks the major fact that, over the years, the federal government moved out of the fiscal capacity area in taxation to allow the provinces to move into that field to fund health care more and more. When we look at the actual numbers, the total revenue available to the provinces has increased significantly.

It was our government in 2023 that signed an agreement with each of the provinces, where they came forward and said that this is the money they need from the Government of Canada, in addition, to fix the health care problems they are facing in their provinces. What I am saying is that it is time they stepped up. We delivered the money. We kept our end of the bargain.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague is a great advocate for rural areas and especially rural health care. We are at a time when it is no longer possible to die or be born in our community because we have to go to urban centres to receive health care. The situation in rural Canada is dire.

I would like to hear my colleague explain what the issues are and what he thinks the solution could be for rural health care.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has fought me a lot, as a seasoned politician, I will admit, about rural Canada and rural parts of this country. The challenges of health care in rural parts are significantly different than in urban parts. First of all, the jurisdiction responsible for the delivery of health care must recognize that. This is where the provinces come in.

Voters were telling me, in the last election and over the last number of years, that it is time that Ottawa put more strings attached to the fiscal transfers given to the provinces in the delivery of health care and put in specific criteria about the outcomes and the benchmarks that must be achieved to improve rural health care delivery. Unless the Government of Canada does that, we are going to continue to slide in the services available to rural communities, and we will have a continuation of what my colleague has just articulated.

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, before I get into the meat of my response, I just want to thank the 19,605 people from Terra Nova—The Peninsulas who voted to have me here today to bring their voices here to Ottawa. I am a proud Newfoundlander, with an entangled heritage with the Rock. While there are many things to be proud of, the thing that makes me the most proud is that I am part of a community that truly cares for one another.

A great example of this is when eight-year-old Adalyn Skinner went missing in the woods and the whole community banded together to make sure she came home safe. I am proud to stand here today to say that she was found safe and sound. This story does not just bring us together; it also shows who we are, because when something like this happens, politics do not matter and status does not matter. What matters is looking out for one another, no matter the cost. That is the spirit of a Newfoundlander, that is the spirit I was raised with and that is the spirit I bring to the House.

We know that success is not measured by what we accumulate for ourselves but by how we show up for the people around us. That is why I have grown to hold this motto: “Success is helping other people succeed.”

“One day the sun will shine and have-not will be no more” were the famous words of our premier, Brian Peckford. The sun did shine. Under the last Conservative government, our province was thriving. For the first time in history, we had an economy we could be proud of, but during the lost Liberal decade, our province has been spiralling into poverty.

Almost every aspect of our life has been in decay. Our hospitals are closing, and the ones that remain have closed departments with no emergency services. Patients with life-threatening issues are having to drive over deplorable roads. Just to give an idea of how deplorable the roads are, after my only 36-day campaign, I had to replace all the suspension in my pickup truck. The MHAs in my province would love nothing more than to be here and announce more hospital funding and repave every inch of our eroded roads. Unfortunately, our province is in a dire financial situation and is running major deficits due to the Liberal government's failed economic policies.

My district of Terra Nova—The Peninsulas touches five bays, and we have more small craft harbours than any other district in Canada. Whether off Point May or St. Bride's in the south, or New-Wes-Valley, Bonavista or Bay de Verde in the north, fishing needs to continue to thrive in these regions.

When I travel from wharf to wharf, it is no trouble to tell that the fishermen are at their wits' end with the Liberal government and its policies that are hurting the fishermen's industry, yet the worst is yet to come. With the government planning to allocate 30% of our ocean as marine protected areas by 2030 and 50% by 2050, these targets will once again be a major blow to Newfoundlanders' livelihoods. Can members imagine the uproar if Ottawa decided to take 30% of farmland from farmers?

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are not putting up with it. We will come here week after week and fight for our constituents and for our province.

Despite having the most small craft harbours in Canada, my district's top employer is construction. Places like Marystown, Green's Harbour and many more towns in our district have a long history of construction and boat building. On the Burin Peninsula, companies have built boats for World War II, ferries and even the top sides of oil rigs, but under the Liberal government, there are not one but two state-of-the-art, multi-million-dollar shipyards sitting idle, and this is not the only thing sitting idle.

The Bull Arm Fabrication Site cost half a billion dollars to construct in the nineties and is probably worth billions of dollars today. It has built multiple oil rigs, including the Hibernia and the Hebron, which was the fifth-largest in the world. To give an idea of the magnitude and size of this facility, I wanted to inform everyone that it has the second-largest doors in the world, second only to NASA's facility.

My father, my mother and I all worked at another oil rig construction site in Argentia. It was more than a job; it was a legacy. Three members of the same family came together to build something that would stand tall in the North Atlantic, something we could be proud of, but just like so many other sites across Newfoundland and Labrador, this site too will be idle within a few months, now that the project is coming to completion. It is another facility, another opportunity, sitting idle. What is even more frustrating is that there is no plan to fill the void, just silence where there should be progress.

We have an oil refinery as well. It produces 135,000 barrels of oil a day. Oh, wait, it used to produce 135,000 barrels a day. That is the kind of capacity that built middle-class families and allowed young people to stay at home to work. Then the Liberal government invested 89 million taxpayer dollars, not to improve it and not to modernize it but to incentivize the company to reduce its throughput to 14,000 barrels of biodiesel. We should think about that; it is a 90% reduction.

This was not a market-driven decision but a politically manufactured one. Now we see the media publishing stories saying that the refinery is struggling and its future is uncertain. In fact, just yesterday it had layoffs. I ask the government what it expected. It suppressed the whole business with regulations and industrial carbon tax, poured millions of dollars into shrinking its output and now acts all surprised that it is on the brink of collapse.

Speaking of collapsing industries, Newfoundland's mining industry is hitting rock bottom. I have been in the pits, seen the blasts and stood shoulder to shoulder with the hardest-working men and women in this country. Mining is not just a job in Newfoundland; it is one of our economic foundations. That foundation is crumbling. Within six months, four mines closed on our island, one of which was in my riding. That is not a coincidence; that is a crisis. These were not exhausted sites or failed ventures; these were viable operations that had to close down rather than keep going down. They closed down due to the government's embarrassing policies, policies that are chasing investors away and eliminating our competitive edge.

Let me be clear: The prices of gold and of minerals are global prices. We do not control them. What we control is how competitive we are as a country. Now, the artificial costs, like the industrial carbon tax and the inefficient bureaucracy, eliminate our competitive edge. The minerals are still in the ground, but the wrong leaders are still in government.

The throne speech talks a lot about giving Canadians a tax break, which is great, but we cannot tax someone if they are not working. Right now, we have the highest unemployment rate in the country, at nearly 10%. That is not because our people do not want to work but because there are no jobs, and that makes me frustrated. What frustrates me the most is that we are sitting on a gold mine of oil facilities, an untapped potential that the Liberal government keeps suppressing. We have the resources, the infrastructure and the workers, but instead of building, it is blocking. Instead of digging, it is diverting.

Where shall my constituents find work? I can tell the House that they will not find work in Ottawa, since most of them have not learned French in our rural schools. It is no fault of their own but a failure of the system, a system that forgets about rural Canada until it is election time. Now young people are being disqualified from federal opportunities because of it.

I do not think they would find much work building a pipeline either. While the Prime Minister tells one side of the country he is building pipelines, he tells the other side a different story. Perhaps they could get a visa and work in other parts of the world where he has invested in building pipelines, but unfortunately that is not here at home.

With the production caps and emissions caps, I do not think they would have very much luck getting a job in the oil sands either. I have my doubts they would be working on the nationwide energy corridor, because I do not think the Liberal government has the guts to do what it takes to put it through Quebec into Labrador, where it could build enough hydroelectricity to make it the green energy superpower that we want it to be. The power is there and the people are ready.

Let us not forget that the topic affecting every Canadian is the high cost of living due to inflation. This inflation did not magically appear out of nowhere. No, it is as a direct result of reckless overspending and economic mismanagement. It is because the Prime Minister, the very one who now leads us, was advising the former prime minister to waste tax dollars, saying that budgets would balance themselves. Now he does not even have a budget at all. Not only are single mothers struggling now, but we also have double-income parents who are struggling to provide for their kids. Food bank usage is up, and there is no sign of its slowing down.

I have gone to houses in my district where seniors have the upstairs of their home tarped off and are sleeping on the couch because they cannot afford the heat. There are seniors wandering shopping malls trying to stay warm in the winter. I have even heard of seniors who are eating pet food because they cannot afford the skyrocketing grocery bills. Imagine that, Mr. Speaker. After a lifetime of paying into the system, this is the dignity we afford them. These seniors are the very people who voted for the current government. They supported it. They voted for it to fight Donald Trump with tariffs and have a plan for Canada's economy, not to drop the tariffs and have no budget.

Furthermore, the throne speech completely turns its back on seniors and offers no help to survive the economic storm these Liberals have created. “One day the sun will shine and have-not will be—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

I need to interrupt the hon. member.

We will move on to questions and comments. The hon. member for Kings—Hants.

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

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member on his maiden speech in Parliament. I welcome him to this place, particularly as an Atlantic Canadian.

There are a few things I want to make sure he knows, as he enters this place, in the ways the government has helped to support the good province of Newfoundland and Labrador, whether that was by changing the approval time for offshore oil and gas permitting from 900 days under Stephen Harper to 90 days; investing in rate mitigation in this province, with $5.2 billion from the government to support his province; or making crucial investments across the province. Those were delivered by the Liberal government.

However, as I sit here and listen in the House, the oil and gas question is a bit devoid. According to the International Energy Agency, oil and gas production has actually increased by 29% in this country over the last 10 years. How does the hon. member stand in this place and suggest that oil and gas has not benefited under this government in terms of oil and production?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it took 1,282 days to get Bay du Nord approved before the government finally drove that project away.

We have had two years in Newfoundland's offshore with no bids. I am not sure what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are expected to do, but we need work, and we have the opportunity to create an economic superpower in Newfoundland. We just need to get out of our own way.

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

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his speech. He said that the Liberal government has failed seniors, and I think he is absolutely right.

The Liberals increased the pension amount by 10% only for seniors aged 75 and over, so the Bloc Québécois introduced a bill to also increase the pension amount for seniors aged 65 to 74. Members supported that bill through almost every stage of the process.

What are my colleague's thoughts on that?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is good to see any help going to seniors, but we definitely need to do more. Seniors built this country. They put their blood, sweat and tears into building things and raising us, and we definitely need to support them more.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is an absolute joy to welcome my hon. colleague from Terra Nova to the House, and there is no doubt he is going to be a tremendous addition and complement to the people's House.

We heard a lot of recent and happy talk from the other side of the House, the government, about oil and gas. However, it is kind of coded. It is shrouded in talk such as “maybe they are going to do it” and “possibly they are going to do it, if it meets certain requirements and stipulations, passes certain loopholes, and after 17 subcommittees, parent committees and overarching committees, they will look at it, examine it, come back and re-evaluate it once again.”

My question is simply this: Is it time for a change so we finally get a government in place that could actually get these projects off the ground and done?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I believe a Conservative government would make the sun shine once again through the creation of high-paying jobs that prioritize the livelihood of each Canadian, not just the long list of consultants the Liberal government has on speed dial.

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my hon. colleague's speech, and there is clearly an issue when it comes to energy and some of our regions. Our Prime Minister has been very clear about the goal of making Canada an energy superpower in both conventional and clean energy and of reducing our emissions. From that perspective, yesterday's meeting in Saskatoon was clearly a huge success.

Can we count on the Conservatives to support working as a country made up not of 13 separate entities, but of one single voice?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, removing interprovincial trade barriers seems like a good idea, and it may have come from our side of the floor.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to stand before the House for the first time as the newly elected member of Parliament for London—Fanshawe. Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the people of London—Fanshawe for entrusting me with this great responsibility. Their voices were heard loud and clear, and it is my duty to ensure they echo strongly within these walls.

I extend my sincere thanks to my campaign manager, Al Pickard, for his tireless work and leadership, and Jason King for his dedication and long hours. I would not be here today if it was not for them and our incredible campaign team and volunteers, which includes Carrie Anne Stephenson, Dave and Veronica Heffernan, Patrick Mair, Sam Lichtman, Nick Spina, Peter Vanderley, Matthias Vanderley, Cory Bennett, Jason Morand, Adam Cull, Arun Matthew, Ian Baldock, Chris Hagelsten, Michelle Wilson and her son Chase, Tami Hoggard, Chris Seal, Jay Cosgrove, and Rodney and Louise Sheil. There are also the other countless volunteers and members of the London Fanshawe Conservative association who helped me share the Conservative vision of a better future.

I also wish to thank Grant Vezina, Paul Vezina, Rick Meyer, John Brotzel, Andrew Kaikkonen, Barbaralee Vail, David Weber, Shirley and Pete Heisz, Bonna Bryan, Chris O'Neil, Patrick O'Neil, Shawn Bender, Beatrix Enter and Paul O'Neill for their invaluable encouragement and support throughout my campaign. I thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart. Of course, I want to say a special thanks to the Hon. Pierre Poilievre for aspiring a movement to give people in London—Fanshawe, and all across Canada, hope.

I also want to thank my brother, Keith; my sister-in-law, Kavita; their children, Devan, Dhiren and Diva; my sister Krystle; my brother-in-law, Justin; their children Tyler, Evan and Krystin; and my girlfriend, Dilcia “Dee” Casilla, whose love and support mean the world to me. Most importantly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my father, Ken Holman, and to my late mother, Lucy Holman. They have been both my foundation and my greatest inspiration. Through their example of personal sacrifice for the greater good and the lively debates that we shared over the supper table, I learned to believe in myself and to never to give up, understanding that with hard work and determination, I can help make a difference. It is because of these values and lessons that I stand here today.

My election represents a historic moment for London—Fanshawe. For decades, many in our community felt their voices went unheard and their concerns overlooked. Today, as we are witnessing a new dawn, London—Fanshawe stands proudly as a beacon, a testament, to the power of democracy and the change that it brings when pursuing genuine representation. Our community will no longer be a silent observer but an active participant shaping in our country's future.

As the first Conservative member of Parliament in London—Fanshawe's history, on my first address in this sacred chamber, it is my duty to speak truth to power. The truth is that the last decade has been an unmitigated disaster. The Liberals, together with their NDP accomplices, have destroyed the middle class and cheapened the dollar while inflating the price of everything. They have trampled on Canadians' rights and freedoms, and they have caused so much division. Worst of all, they broke the Canadian promise that, up until now, has passed from generation to generation, which is the promise that hard work leads to a good life and a beautiful home on a safe street. That was not theirs to break. It is much bigger than any party, bigger than any prime minister. It is the heart of what makes Canada the best country on Earth. I will fight relentlessly to restore that promise for London—Fanshawe and for all Canadians. This is what it is all about.

On her deathbed in 2015, my mother said to me, “Kurt, live a wonderful life and be happy.” I think it is safe to say that every parent wants this for their children. We must restore Canada's promise so that all Canadians can live a wonderful life and be happy.

I am a computer analyst, raised in a small town in Forest, Ontario. I am a graduate of North Lambton Secondary School, class of 1999, and a graduate of the computer engineering technology program at Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario, in 2002. With 27 years of information technology experience, I recently earned, from McMaster University, an MBA in digital transformation utilizing artificial intelligence.

In information technology, when a system fails, we can try rebooting, but if the issue is at the core, a system restart will not do much. Turning the Liberal government on and off, over and over again, will not fix Canada's problems.

Until recently, I would have never even thought about running for office, but I could not sit this one out. I saw too much struggle, pain and despair, and I felt compelled to do something about it, so I put disappointment and frustration into action.

The Prime Minister ran on change. He distanced himself from the failed experiments of the former Liberal prime minister and even borrowed a number of Conservative policies. If he is sincere, if that was more than just rhetoric, I, along with my Conservative colleagues, will gladly work together to bring real change. I echo the Hon. Pierre Poilievre in welcoming the Prime Minister to borrow many more Conservative ideas, which our country so desperately needs.

Unfortunately, with every passing day, it is becoming clearer and clearer that, when it comes to actions, not words, the new Liberal government is no different. It is not exactly a big surprise, with the same team of radicals in the cabinet, but it is very disappointing nonetheless. Canadians deserve to be treated like adults, with honesty, respect and transparency. The status quo, whether it is in silly socks or fancy banker suits, is still the status quo.

The Prime Minister promised change. He presented himself as the man with a plan, but as soon as he was elected, he tabled a massive, half-trillion dollar spending bill, increasing government spending by 8%, and announced that he will not give a budget any time soon. Does that look like change?

Let us talk about “elbows up”. If only Canadians could save a nickel off their taxes every time the Prime Minister said those two words. However, we discovered that his cabinet, behind closed doors, quietly exempted American industries from nearly every tariff they publicly championed. Does that seem like change? No wonder President Trump endorsed the Liberals.

Let us talk about the cornerstone policy of the NDP-Liberal government over the last decade: the carbon tax. After ignoring the painful economic consequences of this inflationary punishment, the government now attempts a sleight of hand, shifting the tax from consumers directly onto the producers. Are Canadians really expected to believe businesses will simply absorb these costs? Of course they will not. The costs will fall onto everyday Canadians.

Across London—Fanshawe, small and medium-sized businesses form the heartbeat of our local economy. Under these new burdens, our businesses are expected to “elbow up”, but in reality, the government is tying their elbows behind their backs. I am a firm believer that success builds success. Our businesses need the government to get out of the way so they can succeed. It is common sense that their success will build a successful economy. This carbon tax, much like the original, is not environmental stewardship. It is economic sabotage. London—Fanshawe's entrepreneurs deserve better. They deserve policies that unleash innovation, foster competition and allow our businesses to thrive, not barely survive.

Moreover, young families and students in London—Fanshawe face unprecedented challenges as housing prices skyrocket beyond reach, yet the government's new housing minister says that lowering housing prices is not even on the agenda. What kind of future are we building when home ownership becomes an unattainable dream?

Inflation under this government has pushed hard-working families to the brink. London—Fanshawe residents are seeing their paycheques shrink and their expenses surge every day. We cannot afford this directionless drift any longer.

Our economy needs clarity, not confusion. We must empower, not impede, our businesses, entrepreneurs and workers. It is time to remove the barriers holding them back and give them the freedom to drive our economy forward. The business people, entrepreneurs, and white-collar and blue-collar workers are the pillars of London—Fanshawe. They are the people who will work long hours to put food on the table. They just want to know that hard work leads to a good and happy life, both for them and one day for their children.

As a government-in-waiting, we stand ready with practical solutions. To the parents who lie awake wondering what tomorrow will bring, they can rest assured that we will fight to secure a brighter future for their children.

London—Fanshawe chose hope over division, prosperity over empty promises and leadership over empty gestures. I am committed to representing their interests vigorously in Ottawa. Together we will ensure our community's voice is strong, respected and impactful.

[Will Greaves, Liberal, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member opposite on his election. I look forward to working with him in this chamber.

However, like we did from many of his colleagues, we heard in his maiden speech more hyperbole and exaggeration than actual fact or analysis of the reality of this country after a number of very difficult years due to major, historically world altering circumstances.

The member suggested that Canadians deserve honesty and respect, and I could not agree more. I wonder whether the member would agree that one way to show honesty and respect to Canadians would be to acknowledge that, in the election that we just had, his party was found wanting, his party's leader lost his seat and Canadians chose the Liberal Party to form the Government of Canada.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I heard various scenarios directly from the residents of London—Fanshawe at the door. For example, a constituent, a 65-year-old nurse, broke into tears when I knocked on the door. She broke down when she told me how exhausted she had been under the previous Liberal government, telling me about her inability to afford life. Because of the government, she and her husband are living paycheque to paycheque, unable to even think about retirement. The government failed her and millions of Canadians like her.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague on his election.

Earlier, the Liberal member for Egmont gave a speech that I thought was absolutely outrageous. He said that health is not just a provincial jurisdiction, even though section 92 of the Constitution says that it is. Ottawa got involved because changes in government revenues allowed it to meddle in provincial affairs. All of the provincial and territorial premiers have called for the government to increase its contribution for health to cover 35% of the cost of the system, but the Liberal government has never respected that part of the contract. Now, today, the Liberals are telling us that Ottawa has done nothing wrong and that it is the provinces' fault if they are struggling to provide people with health care.

Does my colleague think that the federal government should increase health transfers to cover 35% of the cost of the system? Does he agree that the federal government should be sending those transfers with no strings attached?

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, all I can say with regard to what is happening in London—Fanshawe is that there is a contrast between what the Conservatives say and the Liberal and NDP approach to dealing with what is affecting Canadians today. There are all sorts of issues affecting London—Fanshawe locally, as I said, which I heard at the door: the increased cost of living, the burden that the next generation is unable to afford housing, and the increase in crime. The issues keep occurring and occurring, and the sitting government does not solve the problems.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, one of my good friends had his truck stolen in Edmonton. I know that crime is a problem across the country, and I thank the hon. member for bringing up crime.

I am wondering if the member has any examples of crime that has happened in his constituency and can perhaps note the trend lines that have taken place over the last 10 years.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there has been an increase in crime in London—Fanshawe, primarily the break and enter of small businesses, and that does impact the local economy. I applaud entrepreneurs who build these businesses, but unfortunately, break and enters and thefts have occurred at the local small and medium-sized businesses that try to thrive in London—Fanshawe.

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

Mr. Speaker, since he is a new Conservative member, I am curious.

Does the member believe that global warming is a real, scientifically proven phenomenon?

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, climate change is a concern that needs to be addressed across Canada and therefore with the environment itself. However, at a critical time like this for London—Fanshawe and the country, I feel there are other critical issues, as I said earlier: the cost of living, housing prices and crime.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Compton—Stanstead.

First, I want to congratulate all members of the House of Commons on their election, and congratulate you on your appointment as Assistant Deputy Speaker.

As the member for Trois‑Rivières, I rise today with a deep sense of humility. I want to thank the people of Trois‑Rivières for putting their trust in me. I will live up to this responsibility and mandate. I commit to defending their priorities and aspirations.

Success is never a solo endeavour, so I would like to take a moment to thank all the volunteers who helped during the campaign. It is a long list, but I would like to give a nod to Mathis, Marianne, Pierre, Mikailou, Steven, Catherine, Claude, Eric, Jean‑Christophe, Reem, Audrey, Johanne, Dominic, Luc, Sylvie, Mo, Ginette and all the others who provided advice, funding and knowledge.

I also want to thank my colleagues in the Quebec caucus who came to lend a hand. It is no accident that the Quebec Liberal caucus now has 44 MPs in the House of Commons representing the interests of Quebeckers.

It is a team effort, and we will be a strong voice for Quebec in the House of Commons. Lastly, I owe my deepest gratitude to my family: my husband Danny, who has been managing two teenagers on his own for several months, and my children, Brave and Maya Lin. I could not have had the privilege of serving the people of Trois‑Rivières without the unconditional support that they have given me not just over the past few months, but also throughout my career.

Trois‑Rivières is in the Mauricie region, at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Saint Maurice rivers. No, there are not three rivers in Trois‑Rivières. It is a vibrant, bustling city that is deeply rooted in its traditions while looking toward the future. It is a capital of poetry and a cultural and historical hub that contributes to Quebec's heritage.

As a proud member of the Quebec nation, I am deeply attached to the French language, and I know that together, we are stronger. That is why I am delighted with our government's commitment to support Radio‑Canada, both in Quebec and in minority communities outside Quebec. It is an essential institution for ensuring the vitality of our identity and our language. Trois‑Rivières is a city that has risen from tragedy after tragedy and, thanks to the solidarity and determination of its residents, has reinvented itself as a cradle of innovation. I am proud to represent the city, and I am determined to contribute to its development in the House.

The Speech from the Throne, delivered by His Majesty King Charles III, lays out a vision of a united, resilient, and safer Canada with the strongest economy in the G7. It is a Canada that invests in its future, has bold ambitions and is ready to take its rightful place. That vision resonates strongly with the priorities in my region. People told me so again and again during the election campaign, and they spoke loud and clear on April 28.

During the election campaign and in the Speech from the Throne, our government promised to invest in nation-building projects to grow the Canadian economy. For Trois-Rivières, that means a high-speed train that will generate significant economic benefits and increase labour mobility. It is a once-in-a-generation project that will bring Canada into the 21st century. I hope we can work hand in hand with all members who feel committed to this project.

There is also talk of investments in the Port of Trois-Rivières, a mainstay for the region and a national and international logistics hub. Its expansion will continue to support small business growth and job creation for our workers. The Port of Trois-Rivières can play a role in diversifying our export markets and helping us to reduce our dependence on U.S. markets.

We are talking about major infrastructure but also about protecting our industries and our workers from the Trump administration's unfair tariffs. Trois‑Rivières is one of the most vulnerable Canadian cities in terms of the tariff war. Companies like Solucan and Germain & frère are directly affected by the tariffs and the uncertainty they are causing. Our government is committed to protecting jobs in sectors affected by the tariffs, such as the steel, aluminum and automotive sectors. Innovation et Développement économique Trois‑Rivières, or IDETR, a driver of local economic development, has set up an oversight committee to accurately measure the impact and ensure that businesses in the region know where to get the support they need. I am committed to supporting this initiative.

This collaborative, solutions-driven attitude is what keeps our city moving forward, supported by a vibrant and innovative ecosystem. In Trois‑Rivières, we are proud to have world-class research and technology transfer centres that are recognized in Canada and around the world as leaders in their field. Take, for example, the Quebec Metallurgy Center, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and is a partner of choice to major companies such as Pratt & Whitney and Bombardier. I am also thinking of the Innergex Chair for the production of green hydrogen at the Université du Québec à Trois‑Rivières and the Centre Innofibre at the CEGEP in Trois‑Rivières, leading partners in the Vallée de la transition énergétique, an innovation zone set up by the Government of Quebec with which we work closely.

These institutions embody the spirit of collaboration between academia and industry. They are pillars of our ability to advance applied science, attract investment in leading-edge sectors and decarbonize our heavy industries. Canadians know that the commitment of our government and the Prime Minister to green and renewable energy is a priority, and we will not slow down our actions in this area. Canadians know that the Liberal Party is the party that has put in place meaningful measures to protect the environment and fight climate change, and that the energy transition will require innovation and ingenuity.

At a time when our sovereignty is under threat, it is more important than ever that we invest in the defence sector to rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces, protect our vast land and bolster our military industry. The Mauricie region is ready to answer the call, with companies like Marmen, an industrial flagship that produces not only wind turbines, but also submarine parts and nuclear reactors. This company and many others in the region can play a leading role in defence and critical infrastructure projects. That is what it means to build a strong and sovereign Canada.

Our Liberal government knows very well that to build a prosperous future, we must ensure that no one is left behind. Providing access to affordable housing, day care and dental care and tackling homelessness are essential for reducing inequality. Some opposition members are using old-fashioned scare tactics to call that communism. We have a plan to make life more affordable for Canadians. It is a plan for right now, not promises to be fulfilled in four years. During the election campaign, I heard Canadians' concerns loud and clear, and I can say that they are pleased with our measure to lower taxes for the middle class. Around 22 million Canadians will benefit, including thousands of my constituents. Our commitment to continue investing and to redouble our efforts to address the housing crisis by building more social and affordable housing was greeted with relief by my constituents. This work must involve all levels of government.

In closing, we are at a crossroads. The rules have changed, and we need to adapt our game plan. We are committed to building the strongest economy in the G7, and we have everything we need to succeed. We will do it by promoting local businesses, local materials and homegrown labour. That is how we will build a strong Canada. We will build it by being focused, by holding firm to our convictions and by rolling up our sleeves and working together.