The House is on summer break, scheduled to return Sept. 15

House of Commons Hansard #11 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.

Topics

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This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Opposition Motion—Food Inflation and Budgetary Policy Members debate a Conservative motion calling for a fiscally responsible budget before summer, arguing Liberal policies cause high food inflation and affordability issues like increased food bank usage. Liberals defend their record on affordability, citing tax cuts, social programs, and argue a fall budget is needed for accuracy, considering factors like US tariffs and defence spending. Other parties discuss corporate profits, industry conduct, and the impact of climate change. 50500 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives criticize the Liberal government for refusing to table a spring budget, which they argue is necessary to address the rising cost of groceries and inflationary spending. They highlight the severe housing crisis, the critical state of the military, and harmful anti-energy policies contributing to economic struggles and potential recession.
The Liberals defend their investments in affordability measures, including programs like dental care and a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, stating these help families and reduce poverty. They highlight a historic $9.3 billion defence investment to meet NATO targets and bolster sovereignty. They discuss their ambitious housing plan and introduce the one Canadian economy bill to remove internal trade barriers and build national projects, aiming for the strongest economy in the G7 and hosting the G7 summit.
The Bloc criticizes the Liberals for including energy projects in Bill C-5, which they argue harms the environment and bypasses assessments. They also question large spending, including defence investments, without tabling a budget or revealing the state of public finances.
The Green Party argues Bill C-5 is not ready for passage due to environmental and health concerns and should be redrafted.

Petitions

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel Ban MP Jenny Kwan seeks an emergency debate on the U.S. travel ban announced by President Trump, which she calls discriminatory and harmful to Canadians with ties to affected countries, urging Canada to respond. 300 words.

Main Estimates, 2025-26 Members debate Environment and Climate Change and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship estimates. On environment, discussions focus on pipeline construction, carbon pricing's impact on affordability and competitiveness, and climate targets. The Minister defends policies, citing the need for clean growth and international trade competitiveness. On immigration, debate centres on immigration levels and their effects on housing and health care. The Minister defends plans to stabilize numbers, attract skilled workers, and improve system integrity amidst opposition concerns about system management and impacts. 29900 words, 4 hours.

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Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, how many of them have voluntarily left?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, those numbers would be for the Department of Public Safety. People whose visas are expired, if they have not renewed them, and there are many people who renewed their—

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

The hon. member.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, how can you set immigration targets, Minister, if you do not know how many people have left the country?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

Members are to address questions through the Chair.

The hon. minister.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, CBSA and the Department of Public Safety are in charge of those exit numbers.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, last year's annual immigration plan forecast that nearly 1.3 million non-permanent residents would leave Canada. How many have left so far this year?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, I say again that for people leaving the country, the exits are managed by CBSA—

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

The hon. member.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, let us go a different way.

The same report predicted a net decrease of non-permanent residents of about 450,000 people. Is the minister on track to achieve this number for 2025?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, we know that for the first quarter, we have reduced our numbers at well below the targeted rate.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, in fact, Statistics Canada currently shows just over three million non-permanent residents in Canada as of March 31. That is a 10% increase over 2024.

What is the government's target for 2025?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, all the numbers have been tabled in terms of our targets. We are exceeding those targets for the first quarter of 2025.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, I beg to differ with the minister. I do not think she understands the question. There are three million non-permanent residents of Canada right now. What was the target for 2025?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, we have begun to decline for the first quarter of 2025, to 7.2%. The—

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

The hon. member.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, the number is 7.2%. What was the target percentage for this year?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, again, we have met and exceeded the target for the first quarter of 2025.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, you have exceeded the number because, according to StatsCan, we have over three million people. Your target was 2.5 million people. How are you going to achieve a 500,000 reduction in the balance of this year?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

Members are to address questions through the Chair.

The hon. minister.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, our 2027 target is 5% of Canada's population. We are working—

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Assistant Deputy Chair Conservative John Nater

The hon. member.

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Mr. Chair, the October annual report estimated the total Canadian population for 2025. Can the minister tell me whether that number was higher or lower than for 2024?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Chair, is the member asking me what Canada's population is, of people who live in Canada?

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

8:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

Yes, Mr. Chair, I am.