Debates of June 5th, 2025

World Environment Day

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, we are celebrating World Environment Day, the theme of which is beating plastic pollution. Canadians throw away over three million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This waste burdens our economy and threatens the health of people and the environment, including wildlife, rivers, lakes and oceans.

Over 99% of plastic is produced from fossil fuels. That means that the same people who are poisoning us with their oil and gas are filling every corner of the planet with plastic, from the bottom of our oceans to our dinner plates.

Two months from today, countries around the world will meet to adopt a global treaty to finally end the plastic era. The best way to resolve this problem is simple: produce less plastic. What is more, alternatives already exist.

Acting in the common good does not mean lining the already full pockets of oil and gas companies. It means leaving our children with a healthy environment, with clean air and clean water.

Vancouver Quadra

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose to ask a question, and in the interest of time, I was not able to introduce myself. I am the proud member representing the people from Vancouver Quadra. I am the very first member of the Musqueam First Nation to hold a seat in this House.

I want to thank my family. I want to thank my volunteers. I want to thank those who helped me on my campaign and especially my son Eli, my daughter Isla, my fiancée Marie and my predecessor, the Hon. Joyce Murray, for all the work she did in the House as well.

I want to make sure I move forward. We have always welcomed people in Vancouver Quadra. We welcomed Captain Narvaez in the 1700s, we welcomed my grandfather Hong Tim Hing in the 1920s, and we continue to welcome people from around the world. I will continue to work for each and every one of them.

I say hay čxʷ q̓ə, in my language, which means thank you.

Immigration

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada had a balanced, effective immigration system. It worked for newcomers, Canadians and our country. However, after 10 years of the Liberal government, the system is in chaos. Liberals ignored warnings, cut corners on application vetting, and opened doors for fraud and abuse in the temporary foreign worker, refugee and international student programs.

Now over a million people are here with expired visas or expiring visas, and there is still no plan to address it. Canada now has the highest population growth in the G7, and the OECD confirms that the high immigration is straining our housing, our jobs and our health care. Despite this, the Liberals issued 180,000 temporary foreign worker permits this year alone, a 10% increase from last quarter.

This is not sustainable. Canadians know it. The OECD and the Bank of Canada know it. Why do the Liberals not know it?

Islamophobia

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been four years since we lost the Afzaal family, Madiha, Salman, Talat and Yumnah, in a horrific Islamophobic attack that left a nine-year-old orphaned and a community devastated. This was not just a hate crime; it was terrorism, driven by Islamophobia and targeted hate.

More and more, we are experiencing violent hate in Canada that breaks hearts, steals lives and impedes our collective identity. We need to do better. We remember the Afzaal family not just for how their lives ended but for how they lived, with love and with hope for a strong future.

Tomorrow, as families gather to celebrate Eid al-Adha, we are reminded that they should be here too, celebrating and surrounded by loved ones. We owe it to them, and to everyone who has ever felt unsafe because of their identity, to do better, to protect Canadians against hate. Their lives mattered; their stories matter. We will remember, and we will act.

Cost of Food

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, while knocking on doors this past election, the number one thing I heard about at the doors was the skyrocketing price of groceries. I heard from parents about the cost to feed their kids and to put food on the table if prices kept rising. They asked me where it will stop.

We know that food inflation at the grocery store since the start of this year is out of control: beef up 34%, oranges up 26%, apples up 18% and rice up 14%. Now the Liberals are bringing in a half-trillion dollars in inflationary spending, increasing spending by 8% when they promised to cap it at 2%.

Will the Liberals table a budget that reduces inflation and cuts taxes so Canadians can afford to feed their families?

Donald LeBlanc

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on May 31, the community of Val‑d'Amour in Restigouche celebrated an exceptional volunteer, Donald LeBlanc, whose commitment to community spans more than 50 years.

Through his contribution to local governance, his active participation on numerous boards of directors and community organizations, and his involvement in the forestry workers' co-operative and in sports, recreation and many other areas of community life, Mr. LeBlanc has left a lasting mark on his region.

As the member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, I am honoured to recognize Mr. LeBlanc's remarkable journey, which embodies the values of dedication, solidarity and public service that are the backbone of our communities. I was very pleased to attend the event held in his honour.

I offer my sincere congratulations to Mr. LeBlanc. I thank him for his passion and for all the time he has devoted to making a real difference in his community.

Finance

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Parliament is demanding a budget from this Liberal government. Our Conservative motion passed, requiring the Prime Minister to table a budget this spring, yet the Liberals think they can spend half a trillion dollars without a budget. Single moms, seniors and small business owners do not get the luxury of budget-free spending, and neither should this government.

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Budget Officer warned, clearly, that the Liberals' reckless spending means higher deficits, and exploding interest payments on the federal debt are projected to hit $70 billion per year. This means less money for hospitals and health care, schools and teachers.

Liberals shattered their promise to cap spending at 2%, instead increasing it by 8%. They broke their promise to reduce spending on consultants, ballooning it by 35% to a record-smashing $26 billion, while growing the bureaucracy by 44%. Canadians face nearly 7% unemployment, record-high missed mortgage payments and food prices that are driving even full-time workers to food banks.

It is time for a responsible budget to reverse this lost decade of—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Halifax has the floor.

World Environment Day

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge World Environment Day and join the global community in recognizing the urgent need to end plastic pollution, which is this year's theme. In Halifax, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, we feel the impact of plastic pollution first-hand. Our marine heritage, vibrant coastal communities, fisheries and rich ecosystems depend on a healthy environment.

We do not see this work as just a necessity; we see it as an opportunity, an opportunity to innovate, lead, build a stronger economy and create a more resilient future for generations to come.

From tackling ocean pollution to innovating in clean technologies and restoring natural habitats, the people of Halifax are committed and determined.

I want to thank Haligonians who are working hard to protect our environment today and every day.

Finance

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government's budgetary watchdog is sounding the alarm bells that interest on the federal debt will soar past $70 billion in four years. Debt interest payments already exceed provincial health care transfers, military spending or total GST revenue. However, the Prime Minister wants to spend even more money than Justin Trudeau did without tabling a budget.

Canadians want to know, on what date will the Liberals table a budget?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the question and thank him for taking a great first step this morning. In fact, the Conservatives voted for the ways and means motion to give a break to 22 million Canadians. We told them that Canadians are watching. They watched this morning, but they will also watch when we are voting on the main bill.

We hope the Conservatives will do the right thing and support Canadians in their time of need.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that guy should apologize for collecting carbon tax for the last 10 years.

Now the OECD says Canada will be hit the hardest in a looming global slowdown as investment fees, unemployment and core inflation climb. The Prime Minister already broke his promise of capping spending at 2%. Instead, he will spend 8% and half a trillion dollars in inflationary spending.

Why do the Liberals not table a budget today and show Canadians exactly how much more economic vandalism they will do than Justin Trudeau did?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I have more good news for the member. If he were to take the time to read, he would see that not only are we giving a break to 22 million Canadians, but we are eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on homes up to $1 million. This is a great measure. Not only this, but we are going to be removing the consumer carbon price from law.

All Conservatives should be celebrating because I know Canadians are celebrating at home today.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

The minister voted against all of that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you, would you sign a cheque for $486 billion without knowing where the money was going? That is exactly what the government is asking taxpayers to do: sign a blank cheque for half a trillion dollars that will inevitably lead to inflation. Conservatives and Parliament have voted for the Liberals to produce a budget this spring.

When will the Prime Minister respect the will of Parliament and produce a budget?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great day to answer that question, because the member is asking what is in the main estimates. I know Canadians would be happy to learn that in the main estimates, there are credits for dental care that is helping a lot of seniors across our country. We are talking about credits for child care, and I know there are people in the member's riding who are benefiting from that. We are also talking about pharmacare. Those are programs that are part of the fabric in Canada. They make Canada strong.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the people in my riding will benefit when taxes go down. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed that the government's wasteful spending is costing Canadians $70 billion in interest payments just on the debt. That is more than it is spending on health care.

The Liberals are back to their old ways of breaking promises. They broke their promise to cap spending at 2% and increased it to 8%. They broke their promise to cut spending on Liberal consultants and increased that by $7 billion.

When will the Prime Minister produce a budget and stop wasting taxpayer dollars?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the difference between the Conservatives and us on this side of the House is that on this side, we are proud to support families. We are proud of the dental care program that is helping our seniors. We are proud of the child care program. I was at the G7 recently, and colleagues were applauding Canada. Not only is it a great policy, but it is also an economic policy to generate growth in this country.

On this side of the House, we are proud to support Canadians. I just hope the Conservatives will come on board.

Steel and Aluminum Industry

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum are wrong and unjustified.

Facing enormous business and job losses, the very Prime Minister who promised to be elbows up is now allowing trade at the new Gordie Howe bridge to collapse. The Prime Minister promised retaliatory tariffs to secure $20 billion to support steel and aluminum workers.

Will the Prime Minister commit today to table a spring budget, or will he just let his empty promises rust?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, our government received a mandate from Canadians to negotiate a new security and economic partnership with the United States. We entirely share our colleague's view that the tariffs imposed, and they are not only on steel and aluminum, at a ridiculously punitive rate of 50%, are unjustified and illegal, as are all the other tariffs imposed on the Canadian economy.

That is why Canada responded firmly and clearly. We also said that we will support our industries and our workers as we get through this together.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the aluminum tariffs imposed by President Trump are unjustified. It is an attack on our economy and on workers in that industry. The Saguenay—Lac‑Saint‑Jean region has four aluminum smelters that account for 32% of Canadian aluminum production.

The Prime Minister told us that he was the man for this situation and that he had a plan, but the reality is that the tariffs have gotten worse.

What is he going to do to protect the workers in Saguenay?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we fully share the concerns of our colleague from Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

Aluminum workers in Saguenay are among the best workers in Canada. The United States relies on the aluminum that Canada produces. It decided to impose 50% tariffs. That is going to hurt its economy.

We understand that this is a worrisome situation for workers and the industry in Canada. That is precisely why we are going to support the workers and the industry. We are working with the Government of Quebec, and we will continue to do so.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as of yesterday, U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel have doubled to 50%. After three months of this dispute, time is running out for our industries. However, after three months, they have yet to receive any support.

The Prime Minister says he is in intensive discussions with the Americans, which is good. However, after three months, the government should no longer be at the intensive discussion stage. It should be at the intensive action stage. Our industries need liquidity and wage subsidies.

After three months of inaction, will the Prime Minister finally protect our workers and industries?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I can assure my colleague that we fully share the concerns of all Canadians about the negative consequences the American tariffs are having.

As I said in a response a few moments ago, with regard to the aluminum industry in Quebec and the steel industry in the rest of Canada, the Americans rely on our product. We have responded very firmly. We are one of the countries that has had the courage to respond to these unjustified tariffs.

We will also protect industries and workers.

Regional Economic Development

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the promised Liberal magic is not working on Donald Trump, and Quebec is suffering the consequences.

Tariffs of 50% are being imposed on our aluminum and our steel. Some 2,000 layoffs were announced in our forestry industry, and that is not all. Yesterday, we learned that our aerospace industry is in the line of fire, and that Washington is thinking of imposing tariffs by the end of the month. Yet, in Ottawa, there is still no support for our key sectors, still no budget. The Liberals are still improvising.

It has been three months. Sharing our concerns is not enough. What is the government waiting for? When will it protect industries in Quebec?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, naturally, we are working every day to fight the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

I met with the CEOs in the steel industry again this morning, and I am in contact with those in the aluminum industry. We will continue to fight those tariffs. We will also protect our industries in Quebec and across Canada, and we will invest and build.

That is why we are going to build an extremely strong defence industry to support our jobs here. We will have major projects of national significance that, I hope, the Bloc Québécois will support.