House of Commons Hansard #8 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was economy.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Ukrainian Heritage Month Act First reading of Bill C-203. The bill declares September of every year Ukrainian Heritage Month across Canada to celebrate Ukrainian heritage and contributions to Canadian life. 200 words.
Income Tax Act First reading of Bill C-204. The bill proposes to increase the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue responders to help compensate for expenses and recognize their important contributions. 200 words.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply Members debate the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. New MPs deliver maiden speeches. Conservatives highlight concerns over housing affordability, rising crime, and the economy, criticizing the government's approach to the energy sector and lack of a budget. Liberals defend their record and outline plans for a resilient economy, infrastructure, housing, and national programs. Bloc MPs criticize the centralized "one economy" vision and advocate for provincial jurisdiction and supply management. NDP raise concerns for vulnerable Canadians. 24800 words, 3 hours.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased, for the first time, to hear members opposite talk about lowering taxes in front of this House. It is the first time in my hearing. Before the House is a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, up to $840, and they want their support.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, the House is demanding that this Liberal government table a budget, but instead the Liberals are asking Parliament to approve half a trillion dollars in new inflationary spending without tabling a budget. They are breaking their promise to limit spending by increasing expenditures by 8%.
Meanwhile, the number of missed mortgage payments has reached record highs, and food banks are overwhelmed.
Will the Liberals comply with the order of the House and table a budget now, this spring?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the bill that is before the House will cut taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians. The House must support it.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, prices are skyrocketing. It now costs 34% more for beef strip loin, 26% more for oranges and 14% more for rice. Even the price of infant formula has risen by 9%.
After 10 years under the Liberals, families are eating less and less well. They are being forced to turn to food banks more and more. Now the Liberals want to spend another half a trillion dollars without a budget, without a plan.
Will the Liberals finally table a budget this spring that lowers inflation and cuts taxes so that Canadians can finally afford decent food?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the bill that is before the House increases health transfers by 5% and increases spending on seniors' benefits by 6%. The House needs to vote for all of that, and to lower taxes and cut the GST on new homes.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on a promise to Canadians that he would stand up to President Trump. He also said that he was the right man for the job in a trade war situation. Aluminum is a major sector in Saguenay, and it has been hit with an unjustified 50% tariff. We know the Liberals. They say things, but they cannot keep their promises.
Was the Prime Minister's entire election campaign nothing but a political performance?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. tariffs are illegal and unjustified. They do not make sense. That is very clear.
We are in the midst of intensive real-time negotiations with the Americans and, in parallel, preparing reprisals for the aluminum tariffs.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, “a grasshopper gay sang the summer away, and found herself poor by the winter's first roar.”
Since the election, the government has been dreaming of a bill on major projects of national significance, as reported in Le Devoir. Meanwhile, one thing nobody has mentioned since the election is that President Trump is doubling tariffs on aluminum and steel, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.
What is the government going to do?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we need to do several things at once. We need to build our economy. We need to build our economy with legislation that will give us one Canadian economy instead of 13. We need to build our economy with projects of national significance.
Yes, we need to negotiate with the Americans. These negotiations are taking place at a very sensitive time, but we are going to win, and so are the Edmonton Oilers.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, his ministers responded to similar questions by describing what was on their agenda and who they were meeting with.
The government was elected because there was a crisis. Let us not forget that the Prime Minister said, “No crisis, no [name of Prime Minister]”. It is not about trying to negotiate with the Americans, even though that is necessary. It is about providing immediate and meaningful help to businesses in the steel and aluminum sector.
What are you doing?
Steel and Aluminum IndustryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I would remind the member to ask his questions through the Chair.
The right hon. Prime Minister.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we need to do several things at once.
We are negotiating with the Americans, while simultaneously offering financial support to businesses in the steel and aluminum sector. We are supporting the workers. We are also offering several support measures through public procurement, as the Minister of Industry mentioned yesterday.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the people we spoke to from the industries in question have not heard of any kind of support.
However, we have put forward a wage subsidy plan similar to what was done during the pandemic. The aim is to help businesses retain their workforce and preserve expertise. This is a major concern for employers. Tens of thousands of jobs in companies and their subcontractors are at risk.
Is the Prime Minister prepared to quickly implement a wage subsidy program for businesses?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have already strengthened the EI system. We have committed to giving all of the countertariff revenues to the workers and businesses most affected by the unjustified and unlawful U.S. tariffs.
Lianne Rood Conservative Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, Trump's 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum are wrong and an unjustified attack on our Canadian economy. This means that manufacturers in Middlesex—London are cutting shifts, delaying investment and relocating to the U.S. These tariffs are a direct threat to Canadian jobs and our economic sovereignty.
The Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would defend us. He said he had a plan, but in responding to the U.S., the Prime Minister's elbows have gone limp.
I will ask the Prime Minister this: Was the entire Liberal campaign just theatre?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I would agree with my colleague that it is very wrong. That is why we had one of our colleagues in Washington yesterday to fight for Canadians, to fight for our workers, to fight for our industry. This is not theatre; this is action.
On this side of the House, we know that what makes a difference is to fight to protect our workers, to protect our industry and to build Canada with Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum and Canadian workers. We are going to build Canada strong together.
Lianne Rood Conservative Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not need more photo ops. They need somebody to fight for them and actually get results.
During the campaign, Trump endorsed the Liberal Prime Minister, and it is no wonder why. The Prime Minister said his government would collect $20 billion from U.S. tariffs. That was his big talking point, but when the pressure came, he went to his friend Trump and quietly dropped all those tariffs, leaving our steel and aluminum workers blindsided and betrayed.
Will the Liberals listen to Parliament, be transparent and table a budget so that Canadians can see how much, if anything, was ever collected from the so-called elbows-up tariffs?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, instead of talking down Canada, the member should be elbows up with us. This is about making sure that as a chamber, the House stands united.
This is about our nation. We are fighting a trade war. Everyone in this House has a responsibility to fight for Canadian workers, fight for Canadian industry and build Canada strong.
We get it on this side of the House. I hope on the other side they get it, because Canadians at home get it.
Fred Davies Conservative Niagara South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that it would be nothing but elbows up during the election campaign. Then he paused our countertariffs and said he did not think the U.S. would impose any more. Now the tariffs have only gotten worse. Canadian steel now faces a 50% tariff threat from President Trump. Algoma Steel is warning that its U.S. business may become unviable. Thousands of jobs, including many in my riding in the Hamilton and Niagara area, are at risk.
If the Prime Minister has gone soft, what was the entire Liberal campaign based on, just theatre?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, the jobs in the member's riding are extremely important, and I look forward to working with him to make sure they are safe and protected. We should all be working together, as people across the country are looking at this government and these politicians because the trade war that was launched against Canada is existential. It is putting the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians at risk.
That is why we have a plan. We will fight, we will protect and we will build.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's tariffs are an unjustified attack on our Canadian workers. The Prime Minister said during the campaign that he would collect $20 billion from U.S. countertariffs, but he secretly abandoned those countermeasures. This morning was a rude awakening. Aluminum and steel workers and their families are extremely worried.
Can the Prime Minister look workers and their families in the eye and tell them how much money he has collected and how they can receive that money?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I would gladly look the people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean in the eye because I have been there often. The people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean know that we will always be there for aluminum workers.
As the Prime Minister said, all the money collected from the countertariffs will be reinvested to support our workers and the industry. These countermeasures have brought in a total of $1.7 billion, which will be reinvested to help our workers.
The people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean know that we will be there for them. We have been in the past, we are today, and we will be tomorrow.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, “Canadians will hold account by their experience at the grocery store” are the words of the Prime Minister, so let us see what the new stats say about his performance. Since the start of 2025, the price of rice has gone up 14%, the price of potatoes is up 13%, the price of infant formula is up 9% and beef is up a whopping 33%. By that measure, he is failing miserably.
The Prime Minister claimed that he had a plan for inflation, but all Canadians got was another half a trillion dollars of spending with no budget. Where is it?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I know the member on the other side, and I know she wants to do good for the people of her riding and across Canada. She will have a chance to do so very soon. We will have a very important vote during which she can vote to reduce taxes for 22 million Canadians. People who live in her riding will be watching where she will put her vote that evening, because the best way to make sure we support Canadians is to leave them with more money in their pockets.
The Prime Minister has been clear: We will support Canadians, we will build Canada strong and we will do this together as a nation, a proud nation.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, every Canadian family now pays $1,400 more for government consultants, but let us go back to groceries. The Prime Minister might not know this, but when Canadians go to the grocery store and leave with two bags, they are oftentimes more than $100, and it is getting worse.
Again, on behalf of the millions of Canadians who are waiting for a plan to tackle food inflation, will the government introduce a budget or ignore the will of Parliament and take a summer vacation?