Debates of June 9th, 2025

Opposition Motion—Food Inflation and Budgetary Policy

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague made an excellent speech. According to Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a professor at Dalhousie who is among the national leaders in food pricing, Canada's food inflation is the highest in the G7. This is not a global issue; it is a Liberal-made issue.

I would ask my colleague what impact Canada having the highest food inflation in the G7 is having on her constituents and the families in Oshawa.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I referred to this in my speech as having a massive impact.

We have seen a major increase in food bank usage. Simcoe Hall Settlement House, which has been serving our community for 90 years, has seen a 55% increase. It cannot keep groceries on the shelves. It is running out to the grocery store, spending the money it is getting from gifts from the community to fill up its shelves, but by noon, the shelves are empty. Seniors who are hoping to get help are coming in the afternoon, and they cannot get it. We need change, and we it need now. We need a budget, and we needed it yesterday.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is nice to see someone from our region in the chair.

I agree that there is a lot of work to do, and I do believe that many hands make light work. I think there are steps that we need to take. I would ask the member if programs, such as the tax-free child benefit, the school nutrition program and the help for not-for-profit organizations, especially through challenging times such as the pandemic, also help in the conversation we are having today?

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is a huge question. I feel like those are a pittance. They are little pieces of the puzzle that many Canadians do not have access to other than, of course, the child benefit. In terms of child care, I would invite the member to tell the shift workers in my community about the $10-a-day child care. They do not have access to it because they work midnight shift. The child care is mostly for day shifts.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to once again rise in the people's House. I always count it a privilege, and it is the first time I am addressing the House with a speech since being re-elected by the great people of Tobique—Mactaquac. I want to express my appreciation and heartfelt thanks to them and to my family for all their love, support and care. It is truly the honour of my life to serve here in the people's House, so I want to thank them.

It is a privilege to rise on this opposition motion. Our motion is to hold the government to account and put forward alternatives that would serve the people of Canada. It is only responsible for any government, and let alone government, but any family or business, to bring forth a budget and to plan, to make sure to, at the end of the day, when at all possible, balance the budget and make sure there is enough there to pay the bills, meet the obligations and hopefully, if they are fortunate enough, have a little bit to set aside for the future.

What is true for a household and a business should also be true for any government, especially the Government of Canada, but right now, we are going into one of the longest periods in our history without having a budget tabled. I think Canadians from coast to coast are wondering when that budget will get tabled. It is wonderful to have great ideas, have wonderful plans and talk a great game, but can it back it up with the dollars and cents, the budgetary means, to both make it happen and be responsible? I think Canadians are looking to us to provide reasonable alternatives and to make sure we hold the government to account in regard to this.

I have a few remarks today. I guess, the way to sum it up is from my background. I like the use of alliteration, so I have four Cs, and I am going to try to cover them quickly in the short time that we have. There are four Cs to seeing our way clear.

The first C we need to address here today is the challenges we face. When we start thinking about the challenges we face as a nation, none of us should be ignorant of these, as we have several. One of the first and foremost challenges is the rising cost of living. We have heard a lot about how our food inflation is the highest in the G7, but I do not have to look at an economics report to realize that. I just have to visit a local grocery store and talk to the seniors who are on fixed incomes trying to make ends meet or talk to the young families who are trying to make their mortgage payments and their vehicle payments, keep their kids in sports and maybe plan for a bit of a trip, if they could at the end of the day, while putting food on the table. When I talk to them, I soon realize the challenges we are facing as they relate to food inflation and the soaring cost of groceries.

The challenges we face are not just what is happening at home, here in our country. We are also obviously feeling the effects of the global uncertainty happening right now: wars, rumours of wars, conflicts and riots. We are seeing instability. We are seeing things that once seemed so certain that no longer seem certain. With that, there is rising anxiety, fear and despair. We, as elected representatives, pick that up in our daily conversations and interactions with people. We hear it, and we cannot help but be affected by it. We are surrounded by those challenges, and yes, Canada's not immune to the external threats, but there are a lot of those that we do not have direct control over. We cannot affect what is happening overseas on a grand scale. We have a limited amount that we can say and do in regard to the vast geopolitical challenges facing our world.

The greatest threat to us, far more than anything that may be happening externally or some strong southern wind that may blow in from time to time, is the threats that are within. We have gone through an era of Canadian self-sabotage. That is the biggest threat that the House has the responsibility to address.

It was no external force that brought a carbon tax on our people. It was no external government that shut down pipeline construction and passed Bill C-69 and Bill C-48. It was no external government that brought the highest levels of taxation in comparison to other advanced economies. It was our own government in our own country. That is the biggest challenge we have to face, which is to get our own house in order and have a massive course correction so that we can change the way we are going. If we deal with our problems within, we can face the challenges without with confidence.

Though our challenges are many and that is the first C, I have to deal with the second C, which refers to contradictions. We are filled with contradictions when I consider the record of our dear friends on the other side. These were the ones who said that, if we do not put in a carbon tax, we will burn our planet. These are the ones who said that, if we do not put the cost on carbon, we are going to absolutely destroy our environment in this country. I am glad they contradicted themselves most recently and adopted our policy of eliminating, or reducing, as I think that, for now, it has been eliminated for the consumer, the carbon tax.

They realized that it is a punitive tax that accomplished nothing as it relates to the environment and only had a diminishing impact on the pocketbooks of Canadians. I thank them for recognizing that the carbon tax served no purpose but to punish our own citizens.

The contradictions continue. While they reduced the rate of the carbon tax to zero, as a result of the election, they kept the carbon tax on, and are going to put it on, industry, thinking, somehow, that the industries are not going to transmit those costs back to the consumers, who are ultimately Canadians. Talk about contradictions. It is really quite something. These are the same ones who were against pipeline construction, who talked down our oil and gas sector for 10 years and who said that it was dirty oil and dirty gas. All of a sudden, they are becoming champions for it. I am thankful for the road-to-Damascus experience my friends on the other side have had, and I hope it continues, but I cannot help but be struck by the contradiction. Canadians must be scratching their heads and asking if this is the same crew. They look the same. They sound somewhat the same but they are talking a new talk. I think that, if we are going to overcome and see our way clear, we have to overcome the contradictions between what they have done in policy and what they are saying in rhetoric.

Let us get the policy fixed so that we can get the country on the right course. That is the third C. I have to get to my third and fourth Cs. The second was the contradictions we have to overcome. Do members know what that means, if we overcome the contradictions? We have to have a course correction. It is time to change course.

It is time to stop pitting one region against another region. It is time to stop pitting rural Canadians against urban Canadians. It is time to stop pitting family against family and start bringing Canadians together to do something big for the country, which is, yes, to build the infrastructure necessary to get our energy and our resources to world markets so that we can lift our standard of living and tackle the food inflation crisis face on.

It is time to get off the backs of our farmers, producers and workers and leave more of the money in their pockets, the money that they have worked hard to earn. It is time that we change course as a country and get on the right way. By doing that, we will start seeing our way clear. I challenge the House to consider a severe course correction from the error and the era of Canadian self-sabotage to the time and the season of great change that will bring prosperity, not just to a certain element of our society, the elite and the sophisticated, but to all Canadians, especially the working class, those who put boots on every day, carry their buckets to work and wait on our tables. They are those who have often been overlooked and forgotten. Let us change course and make sure that their needs are addressed in the House.

The last C I am going to end on is this: There is a question that comes in the midst of a crisis. Oftentimes, we look at who can save us, what can save us, what can change it and what can help us. I think we have to ask ourselves what it is in our own house that needs to be addressed. If we look at what is in our own house, we can find the answers to our problem. Stop blaming that which is without. Stop looking everywhere else to escape our own responsibility. Let us change course within and unleash the potential of Canada's resource, energy and farming sectors, and watch us overcome any challenge we could ever face. It is time to get our own house in order.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member did very well for the first five minutes in showing a level of nuance. I enjoyed the Cs he laid out. I will lay out a C, which is the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers in this country. Its statistics show that oil and gas sector production increased by 41% in the last 10 years. We never hear that from the opposition benches whatsoever.

Here is another C: the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. I was with the member for Foothills during the election. He is a really good parliamentarian and a smart guy. He had nothing to work with because that C, the Conservative Party, had next to nothing for farmers in its platform.

The last piece is a small C, because the member talked about the environment. I find it very ironic when we see the member stand up to talk about some of the policies that the government has tried to work with to actually reduce emissions and grow the economy at the same time.

Why was his party committing to spending more taxpayers' dollars to reduce emissions during the campaign instead of using the small-c Conservative policy of carbon pricing?

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have another C for the hon. member across the way, and that is called common sense. Common sense would tell someone that they do not talk down the life-giving sectors of this country, namely energy, oil, gas and natural resources, for 10 years, telling them how bad and how horrible it is, how we have to get off it and it is no good. They have provided transfer payments to the rest of us in this country to help keep our hospitals open, keep our schools open and keep us functioning. All of a sudden, the Liberals are doing a gymnastic backflip in the midst of a campaign and pretending to be champions of the energy sector. Canadians are not buying it.

It is time to use common sense. More Canadian energy on the global markets is better for the global environment, because we have the best practices for extraction and the best environmental regulations on the planet. It is time to use Canadian energy and stand up for it.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is fairly simple.

Speaking of common sense, on Friday, Ottawa was the most polluted city in the world because of the forest fires that are unfortunately out of control. Now Europe is being affected.

Does my colleague agree that climate change is caused by the fossil fuel industry?

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, my answer is simple. We need to acknowledge the fact that many of the fires in Canada are considered acts of arson committed by people who acted irresponsibly.

It is because people are not taking responsibility. We can blame people and do all this other stuff, but primarily let us get our house in order and do the practical things, like good forest management practice. That is common sense that would help reduce the risk of forest fires.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it feels like I am at Sunday morning church right now. The amazing member here has inspired us with his words, and I am grateful for those words.

When I think about Sunday morning, I think about the word “trust”. Canadians are feeling like they cannot trust the government opposite, because it has been saying one thing for 10 years and now it is doing something else, claiming that it never said that. That is the gaslighting that I spoke about in my speech.

Would the member comment on that?

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, what has become abundantly clear is that people are tired of the contradictions and they are tired of the verbal gymnastics. One thing is said in conversation and grandiose ideas are put forth, but in the reality of walking it out and taking the steps necessary to release the potential of our country, the Liberals do nothing. They talk a great talk, but let us see what they do when it comes to actually putting in place the policies necessary to unleash our potential and unlock our resources so that we can prosper and tackle the challenges within our own country.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we may not agree on the causation of inflation, but in the spirit of solidarity, we know that Canadian retaliatory tariffs are having a significant impact on small business. In fact, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has cited that 49% of small businesses are feeling the impact either on their bottom line or throughout their supply chain. My colleague talked about transparency and accountability. We are still left in the dark. Canadians do not know how much money the federal government has collected or how it is going to get that money to small businesses.

Does my colleague agree that it cannot wait until the fall?

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, absolutely, we need to get to the bottom of how much has been collected so far through the countertariff measures and make sure that what has been collected is getting to the businesses and families that have been most impacted by these tariffs.

It is time we had accountability, and the best way to get that is to have a budget tabled in this House.

Runnymede United Church

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, exactly 100 years ago less a day, 468 Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists in west Toronto put aside their differences to worship together for the first time. They gathered at a church at 432 Runnymede Road, a church they had just disassembled together and reassembled six blocks away. They were part of a national movement sweeping farming communities, small towns and cities across Canada. Scarred by war and motivated by their faith and their belief in justice, these believers put aside their differences to create The United Church of Canada.

This weekend, I had the honour of joining members of Runnymede United Church, still at 432 Runnymede Road, for their 100th anniversary celebration. Thanks go to centennial committee chair David Ambrose and all of those who put on and attended this celebration.

The community at Runnymede United is active, reconciling with its past and reaching beyond its community to its neighbours and the world beyond. It is a spirit we see throughout the riding of Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, and at a time when so many are doom-scrolling, retreating or dividing, it is one that I commend to this House.

Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the residents of Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge and Mission for re-electing me to a third term in the House of Commons, and previously twice to the B.C. legislature. It is an honour that I take seriously.

This has always been a competitive riding, and while this election was no different, support for our message grew significantly. There were 12,000 more votes locally than in previous elections. I saw a shift, particularly among blue-collar workers and young Canadians struggling with affordability. I spoke with thousands of constituents and asked a simple question: Are things better after 10 years of Liberal rule? Not one person said yes, and that says a lot.

The Liberals won, not by their own sorry record but by copying Conservative policies like scrapping the carbon tax and by capitalizing on Trump. Still, they won, but make no mistake, Conservative MPs like me will keep fighting every day for a safer, stronger, more affordable and more prosperous Canada.

National Holocaust Monument

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last night, the National Holocaust Monument was vandalized. Are there no limits? The monument commemorates not only the six million murdered Jewish women, men and children but the millions of other victims of Nazism and its collaborators during the Second World War. More than that, the National Holocaust Monument is a statement for today. It is an ever-living declaration by right-minded people for tolerance, for understanding, for respect for all peoples.

The depraved soul who defaced the monument should give their head a shake, reconnect with their humanity, appreciate our common history and rejoin the better angels of our natures to build a better world so that we never again need to erect another Holocaust monument.

Silver Alert System

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 18 months since the tragic disappearance of Earl Moberg, a beloved husband, father and grandfather from my community. Mr. Moberg suffered from dementia and despite exhaustive search efforts, he has not been found and is presumed deceased.

Unfortunately, by 2030, nearly one million people will be living with Alzheimer's in Canada, and nearly 60% will go missing at some point. Tragically, if they are not found within 12 hours, there is a 50% chance they will be injured or deceased from hypothermia, dehydration or drowning. This really underlines the urgency of finding our loved ones as quickly as possible. That is why there is an urgent need for a national silver alert system. Like the Amber alert system for children, it would rapidly notify the public when a senior with cognitive impairments goes missing in the area.

To that effect, I have sponsored petition e-5196, launched by the Moberg family, urging the federal government to work with provinces and police to implement a national silver alert system to save lives by helping locate missing seniors faster. We must act now to protect our most vulnerable and prevent future tragedies.

Trois-Rivières Lions

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Trois-Rivières Lions for their historic victory on Saturday, when they defeated the Toledo Walleye to win the Kelly Cup in the East Coast Hockey League finals.

The Trois-Rivières Lions are the only Canadian team in that professional hockey league, and this was the first time that the team participated in the Kelly Cup finals. It is safe to say that Trois-Rivières is at the top of their game these days.

I want to congratulate all the Lions players and their head coach, Ron Choules. I also want to give a big shout-out to goalie Luke Cavallin, who was named series MVP, and to Alex Beaucage, a Trois-Rivières native and the pride of his hometown today.

I wish the same success to the Edmonton Oilers in their match this evening. Canada is behind them.

New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is something special about life in a Canadian small town, especially in New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury. These are places shaped by open fields, quiet roads and a strong sense of community. People look out for one another, show up for local events and take pride in the place they call home. That spirit is what Canada is all about.

On July 1, we will kick things off with my annual Canada Day barbecue from 11:30 to 1:30. Join us at Riverdale Park in Alliston. We will have free burgers, ice cream and live music as we celebrate Confederation together. The fun will not stop there. August brings Carrot Fest in Bradford, part of the 100th anniversary of Holland Marsh, and Potato Festival in Alliston. It is not just about the vegetables; these festivals dedicated to hometown staples celebrate who we are.

We will see everyone in the soup and salad bowl of Canada. It is going to be unbelievable.

Coronation Medal Recipients

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a tremendous honour to rise again in the House as the member of Parliament for Markham—Stouffville. I am thankful to my wonderful campaign team and to the people of Markham—Stouffville for the privilege of serving them.

Markham—Stouffville is an extraordinary place due to the contributions of countless exceptional individuals, whom I recognized earlier this year with the King's coronation medals. Congratulations to Mark Atikian, Allan Bell, Lina Bigioni, Shaowen Chen, Mike Clare, Glenn Crosby, Wayne Emmerson, Margaret Grandison, Ray McNeice, Jack Heath, Sivan Ilangko, Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Dr. Emilie Lam, Madge Logan, Mayor Iain Lovatt, Jo-anne Marr, Rev. Joan Masterton, Haresh Mehta, Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado, Marlene Mogado, Dr. Najmul Siddiqui, Chief Bill Snowball, Susan Tucker, Dr. Rui Wang, John Webster, Tupper Wheatley. Congratulations to them all.

Kemptville Brewery

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

Mr. Speaker, if anyone is travelling this summer and finds themselves on Highway 416 near the town of Kemptville, be sure to visit the Kemptville Brewing Company. I had the privilege of joining their grand opening on June 3, alongside outstanding entrepreneurs Nathan Devries, Kurtis Devries, Braden Dukelow and Jocelyn Major. Their passion and dedication have brought something truly special to our community.

Set in the beautiful North Grenville countryside, Kemptville Brewing Company is already becoming a local favourite. For anyone keen to sample small-batch craft brews or enjoy delicious comfort food, my go-tos are a can of Caddy's Choice and a wood-fired pizza, or they can experience live music and trivia nights. It is the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the vibes of our region.

This summer, make a point to visit. Bring friends, meet new faces and support this fantastic addition to Kemptville. It is more than a place to grab a drink. It is a destination that is worth the stop.

2025 Municipal Conference of the Union des municipalités du Québec

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say how proud I am of the awards received by the City of Mirabel and the mayor of Sainte‑Marthe‑sur‑le‑Lac at the 2025 Municipal Conference of the Union des municipalités du Québec, or UMQ.

First, there is the Ovation municipale award in the climate future category in recognition of the ingenuity and creativity behind the work to reduce the ecological footprint of the Bois de Belle‑Rivière regional educational park.

I wish to congratulate the entire municipal council, mayor Patrick Charbonneau, Stéphane Michaud, CEO of the Corporation de la protection de l'environnement de Mirabel, and Jacques Bellerose, park president.

I would also like to congratulate my friend Francine Charles, city councillor for ward 6, for receiving the Francine Ruest‑Jutras award, which recognizes women's excellence in municipal politics. This award highlights what we already knew about Francine, which is her great vision and outstanding commitment to the community.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate my friend François Robillard, mayor of Sainte‑Marthe‑sur‑le‑Lac, who was honoured for his 20 years in municipal politics.

These dear friends can be proud. I commend them for their dedication.

Long live municipal engagement!

Avalon

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver my first member statement as the member of Parliament for Avalon. I am deeply humbled by the responsibility entrusted to me.

I want to take a moment to thank those who made this happen. To my family, their strength, love and support through this journey mean more than words can express. To my friends, many of whom never imagined themselves knocking on doors or making calls during a federal campaign, I thank them for stepping up and believing in me. I thank them very much.

To my incredible team of volunteers, through rain, wind and even snow, their dedication never wavered. They inspired me every day. Most importantly, to the voters of Avalon, I thank them for their trust. I thank them for choosing me to be their voice. I do not take this responsibility lightly, and I will work every day to be worthy of the honour they have given me.

Finance

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister campaigned as the “man with the plan”, but so far he is still following Justin Trudeau's plan, so let us take a look at the results.

Canada is staring down the barrel of a recession and the potential loss of 100,000 jobs. Unemployment is now at 7%, the highest in nearly a decade outside COVID. There has been effectively no job growth since January. Over 1.6 million Canadians are now unemployed and, on average, are spending 22 weeks, nearly half a year, without a job. One in five young people cannot find work. Food banks are seeing record numbers. Missed mortgage payments are up, grocery prices are skyrocketing, and according to the 2025 Canada food price report, the average family of four will spend an extra $800 on groceries this year.

Canadians are working harder than ever yet falling further and further behind. That is why the House voted for the government to present a budget this spring. It is time the Prime Minister reeled in his reckless spending so Canadians can finally catch a break.

Ottawa Innovation Week

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week marks Ottawa Innovation Week, a celebration of brilliant minds, bold ideas and cutting-edge technology shaping Canada's capital city.

Ottawa is home to the highest concentration of tech talent in North America, with over 13% of our workforce in the tech sector. Our innovation ecosystem includes more than 65 federal research labs and world-class institutions like Area X.O. My riding of Kanata is home to Canada's largest technology park, with over 500 companies and more than 30,000 people working there each and every day. Leaders like Kinaxis, Solace, Ranovus and Solink are not only growing our economy; they are also transforming global industries.

I invite all members of the House to join me in celebrating Ottawa's innovators and entrepreneurs this week. Their work is not just powering local economy but also shaping the future.