Debates of June 9th, 2025

Housing

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after the lost Liberal decade, the dream of home ownership continues to be a nightmare. A new study ranks Toronto as having one of the least affordable housing markets in the world. Construction costs are up 58%, and zoning delays mean it takes up to 32 months to approve a single project in Toronto. It is no wonder Canada is short two million homes.

Housing costs will average 52% of household income this year, according to a new federal memo, and that is up from 38% in 2015. I have heard from far too many families in the GTHA that now teeter on the brink because their monthly payments are up by thousands of dollars, and young Canadians who have yet to enter the market have simply given up. Even the new housing minister admits it is a crisis but says it is a slow-moving creature.

After five housing ministers in six years, Canadians cannot wait any longer.

Festivities in the Riding of Bourassa

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last weekend in Bourassa, as across the country, we celebrated Fête des voisins, or neighbours day, which is a special opportunity to get to know our neighbours, share a smile and build stronger communities.

Bourassa is also buzzing with excitement for the NBA finals. Two basketball players from Montreal, Canada, Quebec—but most importantly, from the riding of Bourassa—are facing off in the NBA finals. The player whose team wins the finals will bring the cup to Bourassa and bring immense pride to Canadians, Quebeckers, Montrealers, and the people of Bourassa in particular. The finals will be shown in Bourassa. The good news is that the cup will be coming here. We are going to celebrate diversity and celebrate our young people, who grew up and honed their skills in Bourassa. The cup is coming to Montreal.

Finance

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are calling on the Prime Minister to table a budget as soon as possible. The Prime Minister platformed on making groceries more affordable for Canadians, yet they will spend $800 more on food this year. Food prices continue to rise, and I am referring only to essentials, such as beef, chicken, apples, white rice and infant formula.

The Prime Minister's first spending bill, the main estimates, would increase government spending by 8%, and the House has been clear that the Liberal deficit spending is driving this inflation. Inflation hurts us all. Hard-working Canadians are visiting food banks at record levels. Last year, Food Banks Canada reported an unprecedented level of two million visits in March alone.

With no budget coming until this fall, Liberals will go over one year without a fiscal plan. Single moms, families and small businesses cannot maintain proper finances without a budget. What makes the government think it can do differently?

Trans Canada Trail

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday I was proud to mark International Trails Day in Morell, Prince Edward Island, which was one of 13 communities across the country where Trans Canada Trail supported events to celebrate and give back to the trail.

In Morell, we rolled up our sleeves and planted trees alongside neighbours and volunteers, contributing to a greener, more resilient trail for future generations. It is a powerful feeling to know that, at the same time, Canadians across our great nation were also coming together to care for this incredible national resource.

The Trans Canada Trail links thousands of communities across the country, including in P.E.I., where it follows the Confederation Trail and draws countless Islanders and visitors each year to walk, cycle, and ski through our beautiful landscape.

The trail plays such an important role in our economies and our tourism development. We thank Trans Canada Trail, the town of Morell and all the volunteers who made the celebration a success and who remind us of the power of trails to connect people to nature and to each other.

Finance

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today Conservatives have tabled a motion in the House that the Liberal government finally put forward a fiscally responsible budget. The Prime Minister says that he wants to be held to account based on what Canadians are paying for their groceries, but instead of putting forward a budget or bringing down grocery prices, he has introduced a half-trillion dollars in what we can only assume is more inflationary spending, with Canadians expected to pay an additional $800 in groceries this year over what they paid last year.

Our ask is very simple for the Liberal government after 10 years of its inflationary spending: Table a budget.

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

Mr. Speaker, there will be a budget in the fall of this year, but what is a bit rich for Canadians watching at home is to see that the Conservatives have consistently, at every step of the way, voted against affordability measures. They voted against child care. They voted against pharmacare. They voted against the dental program we have in Canada.

How can the member seriously stand up in the House and criticize the government, when at every step of the way he failed to have the back of Canadians in times of need?

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have consistently voted against all of the inflationary spending and the Liberals' half measures that would see those savings vaporized by their continued inflationary spending. We will keep voting against them unless we see a responsible budget from the government for once.

Moms and dads, small businesses, single Canadians and seniors all have to table a budget; they have to live by a budget, so why is it that the Liberals, while food prices are going through the roof and moms are having to water down the milk they give to their babies, will not just table a budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that when we have a choice, we will always side with them. We sided with children in this country to make sure they would have a national food program. We sided with seniors to make sure there would be a dental program in this country. We sided with young families to make sure there will be child care. On this side of the House, we will always be on the side of Canadians, whether they are young, whether they are seniors or whether they are workers. Canadians know we have their back. That is what we have said; that is what we will do.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie South—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, “food prices up” has replaced “elbows up” at grocery stores lately as food inflation has tripled in the past two months. It is so bad now that even sale items are too expensive for Canadian families, and we are lucky if we walk out of a grocery store with two bags for less than $80. Inflationary spending must be reversed so Canadians can afford to put food on the table.

Will the Liberals present a budget to show that they are at least trying to bring food prices down?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the new government is a government of action, and this is what action looks like: We are rapidly advancing legislation to cut tax for 22 million people, cut the tax for first home purchases and permanently cut the consumer carbon tax. I hope the Conservatives will cut the rhetoric and join us in advancing the legislation.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie South—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that he should be judged by the prices at the grocery store, so let us do that. Food inflation has tripled in the past two months, and Canadian families will pay $800 more on food this year than last year, so there goes their tax cut. That is about $17,000 on food alone this year. Families, single moms and seniors are at a breaking point, and this cannot go on. Do the Liberals not see what their inflationary spending is doing to families, or do they just not care?

Why will the Prime Minister not table a budget and show the true cost of his inflationary deficits and debts?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at some economic facts: Inflation is down from 8.1% to 1.7% over the last two years, workforce participation is 65.3% compared to that of the U.S. at 62.5%, and we have a AAA credit rating from Moody's. The fundamentals of our economy are strong, and we are going to continue to build the strongest economy in the G7.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, the Liberals will have to choose between continuing to starve Canadians and voting in favour of our motion to present a budget this spring. Groceries cost a fortune, and food banks are swamped and declaring a social emergency. This is all because of the inflationary policies of the Prime Minister's Liberal government. I am not the one saying this; it is Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University. He said that much of the grocery store inflation is policy-induced.

Will the Prime Minister table a budget this spring and put an end to Liberal food inflation once and for all?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have already chosen, and that is why we are in government. They know that a Liberal government is a government that will be there for families, for children and for our seniors.

What is really odd today for people watching at home is that, every single time the Conservatives had a chance to vote, they voted against measures to help Canadians.

We will take no lessons from the Conservatives. We will continue to fight for Canadians.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister himself said that the Prime Minister should be held responsible for what Canadians pay at the grocery store. I take him at his word. He and his government are responsible for the second-worst food inflation in the G7.

Since he became the Liberal Prime Minister, the cost of groceries has skyrocketed, increasing by nearly $800 per family. It is worse than under Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister is increasing his government's spending by 8%, even though he promised to cap it at 2%.

Will he present a budget this spring, yes or no, or will he continue to be as irresponsible as his predecessor?

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

Mr. Speaker, the responsible thing to do is exactly what we did, which was to lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. That was the responsible thing to do. The responsible thing to do is to ensure that Canadians have more money in their pockets. That is one of the best measures of affordability. On this side of the House, we will continue to fight for families, for children and for seniors. Together, we are going to build Canada strong.

Intergovernmental Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-5's measures to do away with trade barriers could move forward without any issue had the Liberals not decided the bill should also include provisions imposing dirty oil and gas pipelines on Quebec.

The Bloc Québécois is willing to work with the government on interprovincial trade, but it is a two-way street. If the Liberals want to work on trade, then we will be a partner, but if they want to use trade as a smokescreen for imposing energy projects, then we will stand in their way.

Will they accept our help and divide Bill C-5?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade]

Mr. Speaker, everyone in the House agrees on one important fact: This is a critical time for Canada, as we face tariff threats from the United States. At this critical time, all members of the House must work together to build one Canadian economy, to create the strongest economy in the G7. We need free trade in Canada. We must build major projects.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, the second part of Bill C‑5 is called the building Canada act, but it might as well be called the destroying the planet act. Ottawa is giving itself the right to green-light fossil fuel projects by making orders, with no environmental assessment or consultation. It will decide unilaterally. Only once the decision has been made will it conduct bogus assessments and consult Quebec, the provinces and indigenous peoples on what is essentially a fait accompli.

Do the Liberals realize that this is a setback of historic proportions for both the environment and democracy?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑5 is a response to an economic and trade crisis caused by our neighbours to the south. We sought a mandate during the election campaign, and this is how our government is responding to the tariff war, creating opportunities here at home and doing what we can to help our economy and protect jobs in Quebec, including jobs in the forestry, aluminum and steel sectors. This is our response to the economic crisis.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the election six weeks behind us, let us look back at the Liberals' record on the environment.

The Liberals cancelled carbon pricing for consumers. They approved exploratory oil and gas drilling off the coast of Newfoundland. The Toronto Star revealed that they are thinking of cancelling the oil and gas emissions cap. Under Bill C-5, they want to allow fossil fuel projects to bypass environmental assessments. According to Ecojustice, never before in the history of modern environmental law has any legislation given this much power to the government.

How are the Liberals any different from Pierre Poilievre?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I would say there is a big difference between a Liberal government and a government led by Pierre Poilievre.

We believe in protecting the environment, and we are constantly working to do just that. We are working to ensure that we have clean energy. We are going to keep working to build Canada strong and protect the environment at the same time.

Finance

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, the cost of groceries and food prices continue to skyrocket. This year alone, the cost of apples is up 19%, beef strip loin is up 34%, white rice is up 14% and infant formula is up 9%. We know the Liberal government's deficit spending drives inflation and leads to higher prices at the grocery store.

Will the minority Liberal government table a budget that reverses this inflationary spending so Canadians can afford to put food on their table?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, child poverty is down 38% since 2015, and overall, 26% in the general population for ages 18 to 65.

The party opposite could help by not voting against things that make it better for Canadians, things like the Canada child benefit, dental care, the school food program or supports for apprentices. Every step of the way, the Conservative Party stands in the way of families.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he wants to be held accountable for what Canadians pay at the grocery store. This year, Canadians are spending $800 more on groceries, and the Barrie Food Bank is now supporting upwards of 7,000 people per month, 37% of whom are children. Instead of offering relief and a real fiscal plan, the Prime Minister is spending a half-trillion dollars without telling Canadians where the revenue is coming from.

When will the Prime Minister table a budget that fights inflation so that Canadians can afford to feed their families?