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.
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Chair, it has nothing to do with building a pipeline for four times the original cost. It has everything to do with the projects that were stalled and that did not happen because of the actions of the Liberal government.
Again, can the minister tell us if there is any other G7 country that has this kind of an internal cap on production?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, given the lateness of the hour, and given the importance of TMX, I humoured the members of the House by talking about that. The fact is, I am Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. I—
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Chair, in the interest of transporting more product from the production of oil fields in Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C. and everywhere else, when will the Liberal government scrap the job-killing oil and gas production cap?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I think I have been very clear. I think the mandate of this debate is very clear. We have been here for nearly four hours, and it actually has been great to hear some really good questions and give answers to them. I would be delighted to answer transport questions.
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Chair, let us move on a bit.
How much money has Canada lost because of the Liberal government's tanker ban on the west coast?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, again, we are here to talk about transport and internal trade-related issues. I am delighted to answer questions about those. I do—
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Chair, this is intimate to transport. The ban is on Canadian territorial waters, internal waters on the west coast. This has impacted the economic circumstance of Canada.
How much money has the country lost because we do not allow tankers on the northwest coast?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, we just had an election. We have an opportunity today, all of us, to come together to build Canada and to say, yes, a few weeks ago we were knocking on doors and competing, but right now, our job—
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Mr. Chair, we just had an election, but we had a decade of the government being involved in this sort of thing. I will move on to the next question.
Why is it okay for tankers to bring oil into the east coast?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, as I said, now really can be, and it must be, a time to not be fighting with each other, but to work together to build Canada—
The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater
Resuming debate, the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
I would just inform the committee there are five minutes remaining.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, I will share my five minutes with the hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni. I apologize to the ministers I would like to talk to more, but we have to go fast.
To the hon. Minister of Public Safety, there has been a commitment to hire 1,000 more RCMP officers. Given it has been two years since the Mass Casualty Commission recommended that the minimum training for RCMP officers go to three years, is the government prepared to do that?
Main Estimates, 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Chair, we will be hiring 1,000 RCMP officers, as well as 1,000 CBSA officers. We are trying to recruit the best and the brightest. We will be training them with the adequate resources to be able to serve in this modern environment, and we will be deploying them across Canada.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, unfortunately, it sounds like the answer is no. Please read the mass casualty report.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, will the hon. Minister of Transport commit to bringing back Bill C-33 on rail safety and ports that was at report stage when it died on the Order Paper?
Main Estimates, 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Transport and Internal Trade
Mr. Chair, I will commit to having a great conversation with the member opposite about that issue.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, my Bloc Québécois colleague raised the issue about the long delays on VIA tracks, because the Venture trains are being held up by the risk-averse CN. Will the minister intervene and ensure Via Rail does not go broke?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I have already spoken to that issue at some length tonight. It is an important issue. It is worthy of being raised. It is something I am seized with. It is something we are working on.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, the minister mentioned Roberts Bank. I want to draw to her attention, if she is unaware, to the fact that scientists have urged the government to say no as it will lead to the extinction of species.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I have a huge amount of respect for the member opposite and I take her points very seriously. I also believe that now is the moment when we need to build Canada, we need to build our economy and we need to have access to export markets.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, it is the fifth anniversary of the tragic killing of Chantel Moore who was killed at the hands of police in Edmundston, New Brunswick during a wellness check. Her mother Martha Martin has been advocating that police not do wellness checks. She has met with the minister. My heart goes out to her and her whole family. Has the minister taken any action on any of the recommendations that have been made?