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.
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, contrary to Conservative disinformation, housing starts are up across the country right now. We are seeing both a year-over-year increase in housing starts and certainly a large increase over when the leader of the Conservative Party was the housing minister.
We are going to take this forward with the most ambitious housing plan that has ever been seen in Canada. We are going to build affordable housing across this country.
Terry Dowdall Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, a new TD report says that the Liberal housing plan to build 500,000 homes a year is likely to fall well short, but that is really no surprise since this promise comes from the same party that said it would plant two billion trees. TD says that even 400,000 homes a year is not possible, since housing starts in Canada actually declined by 30,000 units this year. Without a budget, there is no real plan for housing.
When will the government table a budget so Canadians can know whether this latest Liberal promise will allow them to afford a roof over their head?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, the new government is taking action on housing affordability with a GST cut for new homebuyers. We appreciate the support around the House for that initiative to make housing more affordable, but we are going to go a lot further than that. We have to revolutionize how we build housing in this country, with modular, off-site construction to make our industry more efficient and to deliver housing faster, greener and cheaper.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, home ownership is the dream of many young Canadians, but according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or CMHC, they are worried. They look over their budgets and 63% of them worry they might end up defaulting on their mortgages. The main reason is the rising cost of living. Instead of flying by the seat of its pants, the Liberal government should follow the lead of our young people and base its decisions on a budget.
Will they table a budget this spring, as a majority of members here in the House have requested?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me point out that one of our government's first actions was to lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. That is an average tax reduction of $840 per family. We are very proud of this very tangible, direct measure to help Canadians and make life more affordable.
We did not stop there. We are removing or reducing the GST on new homes for new homebuyers. This measure is specifically designed to make it easier for new buyers to access home ownership.
It surprises me that my Conservative Party colleague even refuses to support important programs that benefit Canadians in his riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, like the Canadian dental care plan or the Canada child benefit.
It is high time he gave us his support.
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Mr. Speaker, the offshore energy in Newfoundland and Labrador brings tremendous economic benefit to our province. It creates jobs, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. This sector has grown, with some of the strongest environmental protections in the world, ensuring economic growth alongside a healthy environment.
What is the view of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on the development of offshore energy in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, our government supports the development of offshore energy in Newfoundland and Labrador. Offshore energy is one of Canada's great strengths. It supports the people in the province with good wages and opportunities, while developing it in a sustainable way. We will fast-track offshore energy projects to build the strongest economy in the G7.
I will add, “Go, Oilers.”
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Mr. Speaker, words do not build pipelines; actions do, actions like scrapping Trudeau's Bill C-69, his west coast shipping ban, the industrial carbon tax and the Liberal energy cap. However, the radical NDP premier and the radicals in the federal Liberal cabinet are doing all that they can to keep these policies in place and to block pipelines from getting built.
Will the Prime Minister reverse all these Trudeau-era policies and make sure he shows that he is not just another wolf in sheep's clothing looking to kill our oil and gas industry?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have told us that they want us to build and retool our economy. The PM has been clear: We want to build a low-cost, low-risk, low-carbon economy. Canadians will build the infrastructure that makes us the strongest economy in the G7.
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Mr. Speaker, well, the minister can use all the nice words he wants, but they mean nothing without action, and nothing gets built without removing the barriers: Trudeau's Bill C-69, his west coast shipping ban, his oil and gas cap and the industrial carbon tax. The Prime Minister claimed that he is the man with the plan, but his plan for the oil and gas sector seems to be the same anti-energy approach as Justin Trudeau's.
It is time for the Prime Minister to be honest with Canadians. If he cannot even find consensus among his own cabinet, how is he going to approve a pipeline?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, does the member know what gets things built? It is working with the premiers from all the provinces and territories, like we saw on Monday.
We have heard from Canadians. Canadians want to see us build Canada in the face of what we are seeing of tariffs from Donald Trump, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are going to build a strong economy, and we are going to be the strongest economy in the G7. That is because we are sitting with the premiers, and we are not taking advice from the Conservatives.
Jason Groleau Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, the consensus is clear. Calls to build pipelines and energy infrastructure are growing. The people of Quebec and Beauce want pipelines. The only obstacle is the Liberal government. Building energy projects reduces our dependence on the United States, strengthens the Canadian economy and creates wealth for Canadians. Anti-energy Bill C‑69 must be repealed.
Why does the Liberal government want to continue impoverishing Canadians?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been very clear. They want us to build a very strong country and a very strong economy. What we saw on Monday was exactly that. The Prime Minister sat down with premiers from across the country. We are united in the face of what we are seeing from the United States.
We will work to build a strong economy together. We will not follow the Conservatives' advice.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to cap foreign study permits, which also allow people to work in Canada, but new data shows that the Liberals blew their cap out of the water by handing out a whopping 500,000 foreign study permits last year, roughly the same population as all of Halifax.
Why did the Liberals bring half a million foreign students to Canada during a massive housing shortage and while youth in Canada cannot find a job?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, those figures are inaccurate. That is misinformation. The new government is hard at work to improve our immigration system, and the introduction of Bill C-2 on Tuesday was an example of that. We are taking significant steps to preserve the integrity of our system while also upholding our humanitarian commitments, because we understand that a well-managed immigration system is essential to a safer, stronger Canada.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I got the numbers from the minister's website; I went onto the website and read them. In the middle of a housing crisis, she brought 500,000 people to Canada. These people compete with Canadians for jobs, and they require housing and health care.
If the minister's department's numbers are not the real numbers, what are the real numbers?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, let me give the member opposite a lesson on immigration numbers, permits and visas. There are many applications and many individuals. We recognize that to balance our immigration and have a good country, we need temporary residents and permanent residents. Some applicants have multiple numbers; therefore I would suggest we look into the numbers a bit more in detail.
Arpan Khanna Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, despite the Liberals' promising Canadians that they are capping immigration, here are the facts. They added over 500,000 more international students. They approved nearly 180,000 more temporary foreign workers. Now we have millions of people in our country with expired or expiring visas and no plan on how they will leave. The Liberals' mismanagement has put pressure on housing, health care and jobs.
After the Liberals missed their own targets to lower immigration and lost control of the system, why should Canadians believe them anymore?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, international students are vital to Canada. Ask any of our provinces and institutions. Our temporary foreign workers are as well. They are essential to our agricultural sector, to our fishing sector and to many facets of our population. Having said that, we understand, in the new government, that we need a balanced system. For that reason we have lowered the number of permanent residents as well as the temporary numbers. We understand how to balance and how to work efficiently within our system.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, successful immigration is essential for our country's development.
Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, immigration has been anything but successful. It has been irresponsible immigration because of the Liberals' policies. The primary victims are the immigrants themselves. As a matter of fact, millions of immigrants are seeing their visas expire.
What is the government going to do to ensure that everything goes well for them and for the country?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, we understand very well on this side of the House that immigration is essential to grow our economy and strengthen our communities. Canadians want a solid and sustainable immigration system that allows Canada and those who come here to succeed.
On this side of the House we are working on improving Canada and making it strong.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the minister on her French, but the congratulations end there.
They are entirely responsible for the situation that we are currently in and for the immigration problem that we are facing. These people have presided over irresponsible immigration for the past 10 years. It is no coincidence that during the throne speech the King said that “balance” needs to be restored. I would just like to remind my colleague that when we said this six months ago, we were called intolerant. The result is that, as we speak, our health care system, our schools and our housing cannot meet the needs of immigrants.
Why has the Liberal government allowed this human tragedy to happen and worsen?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, it is true that we need a balanced immigration system that takes into account the capacity of Quebec and Canada to accept immigrants. That is why we are gradually lowering immigration levels. We have also placed restrictions on issuing visas.
I would just like to point out one thing. While his colleague from Bowmanville—Oshawa North says that we should scrap the temporary foreign worker program, his constituents in the Quebec City area, in Lévis, Bellechasse and Chaudière-Appalaches, tell us that they need these workers to keep our factories running throughout Quebec.
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Mr. Speaker, 700,000 doses of fentanyl, 32 illegal guns and seven people on bail. These are the statistics from a recent raid just yesterday in York. I commend the police for doing such a good job. I also condemn the Liberals for allowing this sort of crime to flourish in Canada.
Indeed, catch-and-release is alive and well in Canada, so why do the Liberals not accept the Conservatives' plan to end catch-and-release so we can crack down on gun and fentanyl traffickers?
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, we are committed to making it tougher for violent criminals to get bail, and we will impose stricter sentences for repeat violent offenders.
However, let me be clear. The provinces and territories have a critical role to play in the administration of bail. They must ensure that they have the capacity needed when it comes to prosecutors, judges, JPs and jails, just to name a few things. This is imperative in order to get our streets safe. The law currently says that people who are at risk of reoffending or a flight risk should not be given bail.