Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we often hear from the Conservatives about the issue of a budget. The reality is that when Stephen Harper was elected as prime minister, it was in February, and he did not introduce a budget until May.

There was a federal election on April 28, and we have a new government and a new Prime Minister. Does the member really believe it is that simple to put forward a national budget when billions and billions of dollars are being spent? It took Mr. Harper, many years ago, a number of months to present a budget.

Why does the Conservative Party seem to have a differing opinion regarding Harper's performance or capabilities and the current Prime Minister's?

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think Mr. Harper was new when he first got here, at the very beginning. As I understand it, we have had the same government, the same ministers, the same people for the past 10 years. They are not anywhere close to tabling a budget.

Let me give an example. It is like a restaurant. They say they are going to change the menu and everything else, but the only thing that changes is the sign and the name of the restaurant.

Here, we have the same government and the same ministers. There is no budget. It is extremely disappointing.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Whitby. I join my colleagues in congratulating you on your appointment. We all know that the Assistant Deputy Speaker is an important role that sets the tone in the House.

Like many of my colleagues have done today and in recent days, I rise for the very first time in this 45th Parliament. It is an honour and a privilege that comes with great responsibility. I owe my being here to the people of Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est, whom I would like to acknowledge right off the bat. They are proud, supportive, and creative Montrealers. Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est is where families greet each other at Place Simon‑Valois and meet at the Maisonneuve market. It is where friends get together at Morgan, Lalancette, and Louis-Riel parks to picnic and solve the world's problems. I have done it myself. It is also where hundreds of children play in the back alleys that have been a feature of the neighbourhood for decades, and where young and old alike shop in the many flea markets and bring Ontario Street to life.

I am asking the question here. I do not know if anyone has ever been to a race involving not Formula 1 cars or horses, but scooters. Yes, there is a scooter race in “Hochelag”. To experience it, one has to be there in July. It is both unique and memorable.

The people of Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est chose to put their trust me in the last election. As this parliamentary session begins, I would like to tell them that I aspire to be as persistent, resourceful, sensitive and ambitious as they are. They were very upfront during the election campaign. I can say that their expectations of me are high but, more generally speaking, their expectations of the political class as a whole are immense.

I know that all parliamentarians in the House today did as as I did in recent weeks and laced up their most comfortable shoes to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors in an attempt to win the confidence of voters. Sometimes people made bad choices about footwear and regretted it. In my case, I am quite proud of my results: I knocked on 8,000 doors. From these discussions, I learned about the diverse realities of Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est. The needs are many, but above all, they are varied. It is my duty to receive all of these requests, as varied as they may be. These requests, aspirations and dreams must be heard in this place.

People in the House have all sorts of resumés, all sorts of past experience. I urge everyone to see that as an asset. I am proud to say that I have a degree in dance. In a country like Canada, an artist, a child of the public education system and a renter who does not own a car can make the leap into active politics. There is something about that idea that makes me happy, reassures me and inspires me.

After a 20-plus-year career in arts and culture as an artist, dancer and producer, I had a second career. This is the beginning of my third career. I was a Radio-Canada host for over 10 years. I hosted news programs, and it is very funny seeing my former colleagues in the corridors. We are all in this dance together. Obviously, I will be a proud advocate for the long-term future of CBC/Radio-Canada.

I would like to commend the tremendous amount of work that was done by Pascale St‑Onge, a former Liberal minister. She had an insightful vision for the future of Radio-Canada. Radio-Canada is us, not just because it bears the name “Canada”, but because it tells our stories, shapes us and helps us stand out. The throne speech clearly mentions the future of CBC/Radio-Canada. Our government's position on that is unwavering.

As members know, there is a team behind every major undertaking. I would like to take this opportunity today to express my sincere gratitude to my campaign co-managers. We were very progressive in Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est. Simon Boucher and Béatrice Lavallée encouraged and supported me.

Yianni Papadatos, Malia Chenaoui and Alexandre Devaux already know how much I value them. Still, I want to thank them again, and it is especially meaningful to do so today within these walls. My dedicated volunteers have been a strong and flexible link between the passionate, cheerful, and curious woman I am and the people of Hochelaga-Rosemont‑Est. Thanks to their political convictions and their confidence in the Liberal Party, I am here to proudly to represent more than 110,000 Montrealers, Quebeckers and Canadians from seat 150. Among them are people who voted for me, and I am touched by that.

Many people chose to place their trust in candidates from other parties. I respect their choice. However, I would like to say today that the door to my office on Pie‑IX Boulevard in Montreal will always be open to everyone. I invite people to come and see me. I want to hear the concerns of everyone, regardless of their political stripe. To me, the verb “to serve”, as in “to serve the people”, is a noble term. It is an action verb that suggests listening, empathy, and dedication.

I see politics as a team sport, but also a relay. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the former Liberal member for Hochelaga. The riding was not called Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est at the time. She was ambitious and had a vision for the riding during her last two terms. She left many legacies, but I will name one: the creation of the Sommet de l'Est. She did not do it alone, but she did an incredible job on it. The Sommet de l'Est puts wind in the sails of business owners, organizations and people who want to use their mission to contribute to the vitality of Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est. I will follow in her footsteps and be there to support those who want to help the area thrive.

On May 27, His Majesty King Charles III read the Speech from the Throne. It is a speech that I support. It is a speech that conveys a clear vision and a plan that is ambitious and, most of all, unifying. When I was door knocking, Canadians told me that they want greater unity. Together we are stronger. I did not write that, but I very much believe in it. That is what I heard people saying during the election campaign.

We are proposing all sorts of measures, but the ones that are most important to me for the people of Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est are those that strengthen our social safety net. In Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est, that is crucial. We need measures to ensure that no one is left behind. There is a major housing crisis across the country, but it is particularly bad in Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est. My riding is intimately acquainted with the homelessness crisis. For the past several years, I have been speaking out against the comments of the Conservative Party, which is trying to equate homelessness with crime. It is hurtful and insulting, and it is no doubt the result of a lack of understanding of a very complex issue. I hope that we will move beyond partisanship to provide all Canadians with a safe and decent life, no matter where they live. That is especially true in my riding.

In closing, I would like to thank my two grandmothers, who are no longer with us. They are probably looking down on me from above. They were two women who never minced words and who probably gave me that drive without even knowing it. I would like to thank my parents, Michel Ménard and Doris Grenier, who always encouraged me by making me believe, rightly I hope, that yes, we can stand tall, have convictions, and try to make even the smallest changes to create a better future for everyone. I apologize in advance to my family, as I will often be late for dinner. I want to thank my partner, Michel, who believes in me and whom I love. I want to wish everyone a good legislative session.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est. I really enjoyed her speech. There was one part about the Conservative Party's vision and safety on our streets that I disagree with, but I agree with a lot of what she said.

Considering that my colleague comes from a media background, I would like to hear her thoughts on her government's solution to halting the decline of French. The only line about it that I see in the throne speech involves promoting CBC/Radio-Canada internationally as a way to showcase our culture. However, there are many other things to be done. I would like my colleague to comment on that.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is only so much time in a speech. I lived in Winnipeg for three years, and I worked there in French. That gave me the opportunity to learn about francophone realities outside Quebec.

My colleague is absolutely right. The use of French depends on more than just robust and ongoing support for Radio-Canada. The use of French depends on its promotion, especially here in the House. Promoting a language means making it resonate. My government is rather uncompromising on that. There are two official languages in Canada. In any case, I will be a strong defender of French.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and congratulate her on her election. She talked about a major issue in her riding: homelessness.

I will explain to my colleague and to those watching at home today that the word “homelessness” does not appear in the Speech from the Throne. It was there in 2020 and again in 2021, but there is no mention of it in 2025. It magically disappeared, as if the problem had been completely solved. However, the reality on the ground is very different. Between 2018 and 2022, homelessness in Quebec skyrocketed, increasing by 44%.

How is it that the throne speech makes absolutely no mention of such a major problem in Quebec that was recognized by the previous government?

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign and since I took office, I have had the opportunity to speak many times with community organizations, the people with real expertise on the ground. Obviously, everyone would like to see their concerns reflected in a throne speech. The Speech from the Throne is a choice. It is still a road map. What reassures me is not the homelessness crisis, but knowing that there are capable organizations inspired by the idea of working, particularly with the federal government, to manage this crisis, which is rampant across the country but especially dire in the riding of Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is quite a bit of misinformation and disinformation online. We have seen the impact here in the House, with the members opposite, yesterday, repeating some pretty wild conspiracy theories here in the House of Commons, nonsense in this chamber, protected by parliamentary privilege. I am not going to mention the never-ending tide of propaganda from south of the border.

Based on the member's background, can she tell us how important it is to have a strong media and a common frame of reference for all Canadians?

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us go beyond the very existence of CBC/Radio-Canada. In Canada, we are privileged to live in a democracy. We just went through an election. Canadians had a chance to have their say. Democracies are protected by strong journalism, verified information and non-partisan news, among other things. CBC/Radio-Canada is part of that landscape. However, it is not the only institution, and I hope that, as a society, we will continue to implement safeguards that help us continue to move forward as a democracy.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back in this honourable House to serve the people of Whitby. I have been elected for the third time, and it is a great honour to be back in this chamber representing my community once again.

We have begun the 45th Parliament at a time of real challenge and great promise for our nation. Around the world, alliances are shifting, economies are evolving, and uncertainty is rising. Here at home, our economic security and sovereignty have been tested recently, but I believe Canadians remain hopeful and focused. They sent us here, I believe strongly, to find solutions and build a stronger country together.

In Whitby, families are working hard, caring for one another and trying to make ends meet. They are the reason we are all here. That is why the Speech from the Throne that was delivered by His Majesty King Charles III matters. It calls on us to meet this moment the Canadian way, by coming together to build, protect, secure and unite. This is our government's commitment to Canadians: to protect our progress, build on what we have, secure our future and move forward together.

Today, I want to speak on the priorities that must guide our work: number one, building the strongest economy in the G7; and number two, making life more affordable, keeping our communities safe, as well as uniting Canadians in a common purpose.

We begin where it all starts, with the economy. When I think about the economy, I do not think of charts and stock indexes. It is not just about numbers. Economies are, first and foremost, about people. I think of the entrepreneur in Whitby starting a small business and hiring local grads from Ontario Tech University. I think of the skilled trade student at Durham College earning his ticket, saving for a home and ready to build a life. I think of the auto worker at the General Motors plant with two kids who lives with uncertainty because of the tariffs placed on us by the U.S., the newcomer with global experience who cannot seem to find the right job or families who are wondering if and when their hard work will truly pay off. That is the real economy: people striving to reach their potential. It is up to us to shape it.

That is why the government is focused on building an economy that delivers for everyone. We are breaking down old barriers to trade between provinces. Removing these barriers could add $200 billion to our economy. That is how we grow: by working as one, one economy for all Canadians.

We are also looking outward. Canada has free trade agreements with 51 countries, covering over 60% of global GDP. By diversifying our trade, we reduce our reliance on any one partner, and we can deepen ties with trusted allies who share our values. We are fast-tracking major nation-building projects in energy, transit, trade, housing and digital infrastructure. As the Prime Minister has said, it is time to build; we have done it before, and we can do it again. That includes cutting red tape, streamlining approvals and driving nation-building projects forward, projects that create jobs, lower emissions, connect our regions and expand the flow of goods to markets.

We are also doubling the indigenous loan guarantee program to $10 billion, empowering more indigenous communities to be equity partners in major projects. Economic reconciliation is not a slogan; it is a path to shared prosperity.

We are also scaling up businesses and boosting productivity, starting with critical minerals and AI adoption. We are modernizing the SR&ED program, launching a patent box to help protect Canadian ideas, introducing flow-through shares for start-ups and recapitalizing the venture capital catalyst initiative with $1 billion. These are all tools to attract investment, leverage our strengths, scale innovation and lead the G7 in economic growth. When Canadians have the tools to succeed, when we invest in their potential, our economy grows for everyone.

Affordability is a key topic in my riding. In Whitby and across Canada, I hear the same message time and again. Life is getting too expensive: groceries, rent and energy. People are doing their best, but they just cannot get ahead. Now, affordability is not just about statistics; it is about dignity. It is about making sure hard work actually pays off. We are protecting the progress we made with universal child care, dental care, pharmacare and the national school food program. These are not luxuries but lifelines for some of the most vulnerable in our community, and we are going further.

We have introduced a middle-class tax cut. The average dual-income family will keep $840 more of their hard-earned dollars this year and every year after. That is a real difference. It means sports for the kids, school supplies or a few more bags of groceries at the grocery store. We are also keeping $10-a-day child care going strong. It is not just good for kids; it is great for the economy. It allows parents, especially women, to get back to work, and it saves families thousands of dollars each year.

We have expanded dental care, so no Canadian has to choose between healthy teeth and putting food on the table, and we are making bold moves on housing. For too many Canadians, we know the dream of home ownership feels out of reach. Young people, newcomers and seniors, everyone deserves a place to call home. We are removing GST from new home purchases and saving first-time homebuyers up to $50,000. This builds on existing measures for helping first-time homebuyers, like 30-year mortgages, a 25% reduction on mortgage insurance and tax-free savings accounts to save up for their first home.

We are also cutting development charges in half, with federal support to offset the cost of housing infrastructure. We are launching “build Canada homes”, a public developer that will build deeply affordable housing; investing $25 billion in innovative prefab builders and $10 billion in low-cost loans for affordable housing developers; and using public lands, standardizing design and scaling up Canadian-made modular and mass timber construction. We will build faster and better; buy Canadian steel, lumber and more; and create good jobs right here at home.

In Whitby, we have seen results, with $25 million from the housing accelerator fund, a motel transformed through the rapid housing initiative, the expansion of a local housing co-operative and over 11,000 units on our waterfront that will be unlocked through the housing infrastructure fund. These are real, tangible results in my community, and I am very proud of the Liberal record. I am certain that is why Canadians returned us to this side of the House to continue leading the country forward. Now we are committing to building 500,000 homes per year across Canada, because housing is a foundation for a good life for Canadians.

Now let us talk about security for a moment. Our country can only thrive when people feel safe, and right now, Canadians are deeply concerned. Auto theft, gun violence, drug and human trafficking and organized crime are real threats that keep my community members up at night. I want my constituents to know we are responding. The example today is the tabling of Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, and we are going to do much more.

We are investing boldly to protect Canadians and defend our sovereignty, starting with our armed forces. We are giving a raise to Canadian Armed Forces members, building more housing on bases, improving access to health care and child care for military families and much, much more.

As climate change continues to impact our north, we are protecting our Arctic sovereignty, which has become more and more urgent. We will forge a new Canada-Europe Arctic security agreement to meet the moment. We are also stepping up at our southern border. We are training 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 new CBSA officers, and deploying new scanners, drones, canine units and much more.

We are also cracking down on repeat and violent offenders, making bail harder for car thieves, human traffickers and home invaders. Sentences will be tougher for organized crime and sexual violence, including online abuse and deep fakes. As hate crime rises in our communities, we are acting decisively. We will make it a criminal offence to intentionally obstruct access to or intimidate those attending schools, places of worship or community centres. This is great progress. When we protect what matters, our families, our communities and our country, we give every Canadian the confidence to build a better future, together.

Lastly, let me wrap up by saying the throne speech lays the foundation for progress. It gives us the tools to build a strong economy, make life more affordable, keep our communities safe and strengthen our democracy and country. More than that, it gives us a vision we can rally around.

I believe in Whitby, in Canada and in the strength and determination of our people. Let us get to work with compassion, courage and conviction. Let us build a country our children can be proud of, a Canada that is stronger, more affordable, more secure and more united than ever before.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am most interested in hearing more about the access to medical care for the families of soldiers. Do they have to live on a military base to get access? What does that look like? Who do they call to get access? This is very serious, and every summer it gets worse because there are postings from one to the next. Tell us how it works.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back in the House with the member opposite asking good faith questions about an issue that is very important, which is how we support both our veterans and our armed forces members, who deserve our greatest respect and greatest support.

In the platform, we have committed to building more housing, offering more supports to our veterans and armed forces members. More details will come on how we will implement that in the future.

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

Mr. Speaker, my friend, the member for Whitby, whom I congratulate and salute, was one of the main standard-bearers of the Trudeau government's environmental policy.

I have here a mailer he sent his constituents in June 2022. In it, he defended the carbon tax and rebates for zero-emission vehicles, for which there are no tax credits anymore. He also sponsored a motion to speed up the passage of Senator Galvez's climate-aligned finance bill. The member was one of the main standard-bearers of those policies. Today, he belongs to a government that thinks, as the member for Guelph said, that the energy transition goes hand in hand with increasing our oil production.

That is an open question. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on that.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to say that the hon. member for Mirabel collaborated quite well with me on numerous standing committees that we served on in the last Parliament.

This is truly an area that I feel passionate about and have done a lot of work in. I believe strongly that our environmental policies from the past have a lot of credibility. We are pivoting and ensuring that we can build a strong economy at the same time as reducing our emissions in this country. Obviously, that is a delicate balancing act when the context at the moment is that our sovereignty and our economic security are under threat.

We are evaluating how best to achieve both of these nation-building projects while reducing our emissions. I look forward to working with the member opposite.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Whitby for his speech today, which had lots of passion.

What needs to be noted in the Hansard of the debate here is that he is an absolute champion for sustainable finance. He has hosted a number of forums outside Parliament, bringing stakeholders together from across the country. I am interested in his thoughts on that. He mentioned regulatory reform and cutting red tape. I offer an opportunity for him to either address sustainable finance and how the government can continue in this avenue or red tape. Is there a way to blend the two? I hand it over to the member.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from Kings—Hants. I very much appreciate the question.

He is right: I have done a lot of work in the sustainable finance space. I was happy to see, in our platform, a commitment to expedite taxonomy for sustainable finance in this country, which underpins financial products, eliminates greenwashing and increases credibility and competitiveness in the Canadian economy and across our businesses and industries. That is a good step forward.

There is also a commitment in our platform to move forward on mandatory climate-related disclosures. The idea here is to mobilize a lot more capital and investment in the areas that can help us with the net-zero transition. We have lots more work to do.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on December 12, the member tweeted that the carbon tax had a minimal effect on the cost of living and inflation.

However, on April 1, when he got his fresh talking points from the Prime Minister, he said that axing the carbon tax made life more affordable. The Prime Minister is not here to tell him what to say. What does the member really think about the carbon tax?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government did a poor job of selling Canadians on the truth, which was that the carbon tax was the most cost-effective measure for reducing emissions.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, of course the member opposite is heckling me, which is fine.

Our government acknowledged that this had become a divisive issue for Canadians. We eliminated the consumer carbon tax because we really think that we can find a way to reduce our emissions that will put less burden on the average consumer.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, standing here today and representing my community in the 45th Parliament is the honour of a lifetime. I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the people of Kitchener Centre for placing their trust in me. Their voices, their concerns and their aspirations are at the heart of everything I will do in Ottawa. I also want to take a moment to recognize the dedicated volunteers who made this journey possible. Their passion, hard work and unwavering commitment carried me to this moment. I am not standing here alone; each and every one of them is here with me.

My husband, Chris, my mom, my closest friends, my dad and my daughter, Abigail, are my strength, my motivation and my greatest supporters. Their love and belief in me have guided me every step of this path, and I am forever grateful. To my predecessor Mike, I say thanks for his service to Kitchener Centre. I will continue to be a strong advocate.

Kitchener Centre is more than a place on a map. It is where I was raised; it is where my heart belongs. I attended J F Carmichael, then Queensmount, and went off to Forest Heights, before completing my education at Conestoga, where I earned a diploma in mechanical engineering, specializing in robotics and automation. My career in management has spanned over 18 years, focusing on effective communication, fiscal responsibility and policy creation to improve efficiencies. These are principles I will carry with me into public service.

I grew up in a home where money was not plentiful, but resilience and determination were abundant. I was taught the value of hard work, ambition and the belief that, with effort, anything was possible. That was the Canada and the home that I grew up in, a place where dedication and perseverance could lead to home ownership, financial security and a good life in a safe neighbourhood. Today, those dreams feel farther out of reach for many. This reality is one that I will fight to change.

I am committed to building a future in which affordability is not an obstacle, jobs provide stability and communities are free from the devastating impacts of addiction and crime. I am here to listen. I am here to act. I am here to make sure that every person in Kitchener Centre has the opportunity to thrive.

The rising cost of living has tightened its grip on families, young professionals and seniors alike. I heard the stories at the doors: parents stretching every dollar, young people questioning whether they can afford a home or local businesses trying to stay afloat amid increasing expenses.

Affordability is not just a word; it is the difference between stability and struggle, between hope and hardship. During the campaign, I had the opportunity to tour the Waterloo regional food bank. While I was deeply impressed by its efficiency and dedication, I found myself grappling with the unsettling reality, the sheer scale at which such an operation is needed in our community.

Between 2023 and 2024, the number of new households accessing food hamper programs for the first time skyrocketed by 210%. In that same period, 29,786 hampers were distributed to families in need, for an increase of 109%. These staggering numbers are a direct consequence of the rising cost of living, which is forcing more and more people to turn to essential support services just to put food on the table. This is not just an economic issue; it is a human one. It is a call to action that demands urgent and meaningful solutions to ensure that no family in Kitchener Centre or beyond has to struggle for their basic needs. We must forge policies that ease this pressure, ensuring less taxation, affordable housing and stability for our communities across Canada.

Equally vital is my commitment to job creation. Kitchener Centre has long been a hub of innovation, with a thriving tech industry and entrepreneurial spirit. However, opportunity must be more than a promise. It must be a reality for every worker, every student choosing to stay in the region while entering the workforce and every small business daring to dream. We must invest in key technologies and industries: green technology, the arts and creative sectors, advanced manufacturing, med tech, deep tech, AI and more. We need to implement policies that empower our people and drive investment, ensuring our economy is sustainable and future-proof.

Today, our community has an opportunity to forge a new path ahead, and we are well positioned to do so. We must support the initiatives of the leaders of our industries on a federal level to ensure a prosperous future for Kitchener Centre. However, amid these ambitions, I must address the harsh reality that so many of our neighbours face: this drug crisis. It is a crisis that is not just statistical and not economic; it is profoundly human. I have listened to the voices of families who have lost loved ones; frontline business owners and workers grappling with its impact; and communities, especially in our downtown core, caught in the crossfire of addiction and crime.

One conversation that deeply resonated with me was with Cynthia, a constituent from Kitchener Centre. Not only has her business suffered because of this crisis, but she also brought to my attention a critical issue: the Alexandrian. It is a residential building in the heart of our downtown, which is not alone. This building is home to many newcomers to Canada and low-income families, including children of all ages. These children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, yet they are exposed to the harsh daily realities of downtown life.

Criminal activity unfolds right in front of them as they wait for the school bus or play in the nearby park. This is unacceptable. The safety of all of our children must never be an afterthought. It is our responsibility to ensure that they can live, learn and play in communities free from fear. The solution is not stigma; the solution is compassion and treatment. We must expand access to mental health support, strengthen rehabilitation programs and ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with members of our outstanding Waterloo Regional Police Service, who shared with me that in 2024 alone, they responded to over 11,000 incidents in our downtown core. Since January, the WRPS has been actively collaborating with our local BIA on initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges and enhancing community well-being. To further support these efforts, we must take a firm stance on crime and repeal the soft-on-crime provisions in Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. These policies have made it more difficult to hold repeat offenders accountable and have contributed to a revolving door in our justice system. We need to ensure that individuals who repeatedly victimize our communities are kept off our streets and that those responsible for trafficking deadly substances such as fentanyl face the most severe penalties, including life sentences for kingpins.

I did not enter public service to offer empty words. I am here to work for the single parent balancing two jobs, for those living under the poverty line, for the young graduate searching for stability, for the entrepreneur building something new and for the countless individuals wanting a second chance. Kitchener Centre is not just my riding; it is my heart, and I vow to work for it with every ounce of my dedication. To my fellow representatives in the House, I say let us move forward with courage and conviction. Let us not simply acknowledge these challenges but solve them. Let us prove through action that public service is more than governance: It is the unwavering pursuit of a better future. Together we can build it.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the member referred to solving challenges. From the throne speech, I want to highlight two things. One is the whole team Canada approach in dealing with the Trump tariffs and trade. We saw a great demonstration of that yesterday in Saskatchewan, where the premiers gathered with the Prime Minister. I believe that is on a perfect track to move us forward. That is one thing in the throne speech.

On the other thing, I would ask the member to demonstrate very clearly. The first initiative the Prime Minister took right after the last federal election was to give a tax break to Canadians.

Will the member support those two initiatives?

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Kitchener ranks as the fourth-most affected city because of tariffs. However, our technology sector has the potential for unprecedented growth. When will the Liberal government unlock investment opportunities by streamlining and reducing taxes?

The Conservative platform on investment focuses on cutting taxes, reducing regulations and boosting economic growth. That is another one for the Liberals to copy. Please, I welcome it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I heard my colleague talk about safety and crime. I would like his opinion on the possibility of creating a registry of criminal organizations, restoring minimum sentences for gun crimes and prohibiting community-based sentences for violent sexual offences.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while I was at the doors knocking, when the topic came up of this drug crisis we are facing, not one person I talked to was not either directly or indirectly impacted by it, whether they had lost a loved one or knew someone who had, or they had seen someone in their community under the influence of these toxic drugs. What has been happening is completely inhumane.

I ask the Liberals this: When will they stop supporting these social experiments and failed policies and start supporting mental health and rehabilitation services so that we can bring our loved ones home happy, healthy and drug-free?