House of Commons Hansard #9 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Business of the House Steven MacKinnon moves motion agreed to by Members to change House Standing Orders for the 45th Parliament regarding committee composition, appointment, and procedures for suspending sittings during late-night votes. 400 words.
Strong Borders Act Second reading of Bill C-2. The bill aims to strengthen border security, combat organized crime, fentanyl trafficking, money laundering, and enhance immigration system integrity. Proponents say it provides crucial new tools for law enforcement. Critics raise concerns about its omnibus nature, lack of provisions on bail and sentencing, insufficient resources, and privacy implications of new powers, including lawful access and mail inspection, arguing it requires thorough, detailed work in committee. 44700 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Main Estimates, 2025-26 Members debate Public Safety and Transport estimates. Discussions include concerns about correctional service decisions, bail reform, gun control (including the buyback program), and border security (Bill C-2, CBSA/RCMP hiring). They also discuss efforts to strengthen the economy and create a single Canadian market by reducing internal trade barriers, investments in national transport infrastructure like ports and rail, and issues with air passenger rights. 31800 words, 4 hours.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chair, with all due respect, the question is simple.
Does she think that a budget of $237 million is sufficient? Yes or no?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I have already made myself very clear. This is a priority for me. I have already spoken with the mayor. We will do everything that—
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chair, does the minister agree with me that every day of delay puts the people of Lac‑Mégantic at risk?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I am new to the job of Minister of Transport. We are going to resolve the situation. We will do it quickly, but we will do it—
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chair, what is the minister's projected timeline?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, it is a big project. It is an important project. We will complete this project while respecting the community's opinion.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chair, what I am hearing this evening is that there is no projected timeline and no plan.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I said that we are working on this project. We are going to get it done safely.
Éric Lefebvre Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chair, the Liberal government is talking about a high-speed rail project between Quebec City and Toronto. There is also the rail bypass.
Which project is the minister's priority?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I am a mother of three, and each of them is my priority. Just as all three of my children are my priority, both of these projects are my priority.
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Chair, I am honoured to rise in the House to discuss a very important issue today. In the recent election I heard loud and clear from my community, as many MPs did across the country, that interprovincial trade barriers must come down for the sake of our economy and the strength of Canada.
I want to congratulate the new minister on her role as the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. Certainly, she has a lot of work on her hands. For example, many Canadians may not know, but it it is easier to ship to the United States than from province to province. In fact, all these interprovincial trade barriers add 8.3% to the cost of shipping by truck, which really amounts to $1.6 billion annually. Again, we are in a cost of living crisis in this country with the cost of food, goods and building supplies. A lot of this is as a result of our freight costs.
I would ask the minister if she can commit to harmonizing these trucking costs by Canada Day.
Main Estimates, 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Transport and Internal Trade
Mr. Chair, I would like to congratulate the member for Kildonan—St. Paul on her re-election. She is lucky to be an MP for Manitoba, because Wab Kinew, the Premier of Manitoba, is one of the leaders of the drive to bring down interprovincial trade barriers.
Trucking is, absolutely, a central issue. I have read the same report, which estimates we can add $1.6 billion to our economy. It is a priority of mine. I will always respect the provinces and territories. The federal government is going to do everything in our power, with alacrity, to remove our barriers. The Conservatives can help us do that, and so can the Bloc, by voting for our measures. As I said, the deputy minister of transport is organizing a trucking hackathon—
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Chair, of course, though, the minister has a real leadership role here. The trucking industry itself and trucking businesses in my community are asking and expecting, based on the promises made by the Liberals in the last election, the Prime Minister himself and the minister, that there will be serious leadership and results by Canada Day. Those are the promises that were made by the Liberal Prime Minister.
One example is daylight shipping restrictions. For safety reasons with certain shipments, they can only be shipped across Canada during the day. The problem is that the definition is not streamlined across the country; each province has a different definition of what constitutes daylight driving hours.
What has the minister done to show leadership to streamline and harmonize the definition of daylight shipping hours?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I love this question because trucking is an obsession of mine, so here is what I have done and am doing. One, I have spoken to the Committee on Internal Trade and said, “Let's make trucking a priority.” Two, I have worked with our fine deputy minister of transport to organize a hackathon, a meeting of everyone in charge of trucking in Canada at the beginning of July, to bring down all the barriers.
Just today, I met with the Northwest Territories minister responsible for internal trade, who is leading the CIT, and we talked about how we need to get trucking done.
What I will say is that in my time in government, I—
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Chair, I appreciate the response, but the problem is that I do have a difficult time having confidence in it.
About 10 years ago, in September 2016, the Department of Transport, the department the minister is responsible for, had a partnership with provinces to put together a task force that made quite an extensive report on this very issue, “Supporting the Efficient Movement of Trucks Across Canada”, which made recommendations on the very topics we are discussing today. That was nearly 10 years ago. Of course, the Liberal government has been in power that entire time and has had the report in the department. I am sure the minister's officials are very familiar with it.
This causes an issue of confidence. What the Liberals have said sounds really great, and they have made very strong promises, but they have had all the information and the opportunity to show leadership on this for a decade.
I would like to hear a guarantee that the minister will live up to the Prime Minister's promise that we will have the harmonized trucking regulations by July 1.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, of course it was the great Marc Garneau who was transport minister in 2016, and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to him again.
I am totally committed to getting the job done, and trucking is very high on my priority list. We are working with the provinces and territories, and they are working so quickly. I am grateful for their partnership. I hope tonight's debate will encourage them to work even faster.
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to see the minister again and to speak with her. Tonight, we will be discussing the third link between Quebec City and Lévis.
Could the minister tell me why 70% of residents of the greater Quebec City area and 83% of residents on Quebec City's south shore are calling for a third link?
Main Estimates, 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Transport and Internal Trade
Mr. Chair, I would first like to greet the member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis and congratulate her on her election. It is a pleasure for me to be back in the House with her.
The issue of the third link is obviously important, especially for Quebec City. It is an issue that I have often discussed with—
