Debates of Sept. 15th, 2025

Employment

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, unemployment has surged to its highest level in a decade. Young people are being hit the hardest. One in six cannot find work. Our economy is facing a recession and millions of Canadians are worried about their jobs, yet the Liberals are planning to slash services people rely on and eliminate family sustaining jobs through an austerity budget this fall.

Will the government reverse course and create much-needed jobs through bold initiatives, such as a youth climate corps, as New Democrats have proposed?

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

Mr. Speaker, last week was a very proud moment for me to stand with the Prime Minister and Canada's Building Trades Unions, which is training young people all across the country for great-paying union jobs that are going to build the things that will make us the strongest economy in the G7.

The government has a fantastic plan for youth. We are investing in skills training. We are investing in the provinces and territories, so they can do this work with us. We will make sure no young person gets left behind.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. P.J. Akeeagok, Premier of Nunavut.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I also wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS and an under-secretary-general of the United Nations.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Foreign Affairs

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and in accordance with the Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in electronic format and in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data”, done at Mirabella Eclano on October 4, 2024.

National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), and subsections 21(2) and 21(6) of the National Security and Intelligence and Committee of Parliamentarians Act, I am pleased to enclose two copies in both official languages of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians' special report on the lawful access to communications by security intelligence organizations for tabling in the House of Commons.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), the report is deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. I guess that last line was your line, Mr. Speaker, but nonetheless, I am pleased to table the document.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), and subsections 21(1) and 21(6) of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, I am pleased to enclose two copies in both official languages of the National Security Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians' 2024 annual report for tabling in the House of Commons.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), the report is deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to 11 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Science and Research

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Science and Research. The first report is entitled “Distribution of Federal Funding Among Canada's Post-Secondary Institutions” and the second report entitled “Science and Research in Canada's Arctic in Relation to Climate Change”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to each of these reports.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this chamber as the first vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Science and Research, representing the Conservatives. Witnesses, committee analysts and parliamentarians from all parties contributed their valuable time and effort into producing this report in the previous Parliament, and I am pleased to see this report being tabled today. His Majesty's opposition did submit a dissenting opinion, which is attached and included in the first report. In essence, Conservatives disagree with the recommendations in the report that called for unfunded spending.

With regard to the second report, “Science and Research in Canada's Arctic in Relation to Climate Change”, the Conservatives have produced a dissenting report, and we again, in essence, disagree with the notion of unfunded spending.

Prison Needle Exchange Program

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of petitioners in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who are opposed to the drug policies in federal institutions. Correctional officers in particular are calling for an end to the prison needle exchange program and corresponding programs that give free illegal drugs and paraphernalia to convicted felons in Canadian federal institutions.

Public Safety

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today on behalf of my constituents to present a petition with respect to the rising rate of crime in our community.

I rose 58 times in the last Parliament for the people of Swan River, presenting petitions on the alarming increase in violent crime that has threatened the safety and well-being of families all across the region. Unfortunately, crime in my region has continued to spiral out of control under the same Liberal government.

Petitioners are concerned that, since 2015, violent crime has increased by 55% and firearms crime is up 130%. Over the past year, assaults, break-ins and thefts by armed criminals have become regular occurrences in our area, leaving residents fearful in their own homes. This is why the people of Swan River are demanding jail, not bail, for violent repeat offenders. I support the good people of Swan River.

Atlantic Loop

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to see you again. I hope you had a great summer.

Today I rise on behalf of petitioners across the country, including petitioners from the riding of Kings—Hants, who are asking members of Parliament and ultimately the Government of Canada to consider revisiting federal assistance on the Atlantic Loop as part of a federal grant for the HVDC transmission line corridor between Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The petitioners note that premiers in Manitoba and Quebec and other communities have highlighted the importance of federal grants to upgrade transmission lines and would like to see the former Atlantic Loop loan revisited, perhaps as a grant for transmission upgrades in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Forestry Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to table e-petition 6530. This petition was signed by 781 Canadians who are deeply concerned about the future of our forestry sector. These petitioners point out that forestry has long provided good jobs in both rural and urban communities but now faces devastating challenges ranging from wildfires and insect infestations to the ongoing softwood lumber dispute and the Trump tariffs.

The petitioners stress that forest biomass energy production presents a sustainable opportunity to power Canadian electrical grids with clean energy while creating new jobs, yet the government's failure to implement biomass tax incentives has left the sector at a clear competitive disadvantage compared to the United States. The petitioners therefore call on the government to finally, in this 2025 fall budget, commit to passing the proposed biomass component of the clean technology investment tax credit that was highlighted in the fall economic statement of 2023. This is to protect Canadian forestry jobs and strengthen our economy.

Opioids

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, thank you, and to my hon. colleague from Courtenay—Alberni who just preceded me.

I am rising, and having travelled through my communities in Saanich—Gulf Islands, I have the great honour to represent the wonderful community of Pender Island and to present this petition while thinking of my friend and constituent Leslie McBain, one of the founders of Moms Stop the Harm.

Petitioners from my community are asking that we recognize the overdose crisis as a public health emergency. The number of individuals who have died in opioid-related deaths is now up to over 15,000. We are dealing with a poisoning crisis because of fentanyl contamination in the drug supply.

Petitioners ask that the current Parliament declare that the opioid crisis is a public health emergency; that we reframe this crisis as a health issue rather than a criminal issue; that we take a comprehensive wraparound approach to this crisis, addressing issues of addiction, poverty, housing, health care, racism and the economic disparities and instabilities and precarious situations that drive people into a situation where their lives are at risk; and that we do something about it.

Petitioners ask that the House work on the recommendations made by frontline workers, health care community experts and those directly involved in the drug-using community to decriminalize drugs in Canada.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 3, 5, 10, 15, 16, 26, 29, 34, 39, 41 to 44, 50, 51, 57 to 59, 66, 67, 75 to 77, 81, 97, 100, 102, 103, 110, 111, 118, 120, 122, 126, 129, 130, 132, 133, 138, 148, 149, 151, 153, 158, 161, 163, 166, 167, 170, 173, 177, 179, 181, 182, 184, 190, 193, 197, 201, 207, 208, 210, 213, 215, 216, 219, 224, 225, 228, 229, 234, 236, 238, 240 to 244, 246, 249, 252, 253, 263, 268, 269, 273, 275 and 276.

Question No.3—

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

With regard to complaints reported by air carriers to Transport Canada: (a) how many complaints were reported by Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Sunwing Airlines, and Air Transat, respectively, for (i) tarmac delays, (ii) denied boarding (bumping), (iii) issues with seating of children, (iv) lost baggage, (v) delayed baggage, (vi) damaged baggage, broken down by year from 2016 to 2025; (b) what was the monthly total number of complaints for each category listed in parts (a)(i) to (a)(vi), broken down by year, from 2016 to 2025; and (c) of the complaints listed in parts (a)(i) to (a)(vi), how many were resolved by the air carriers, broken down by carrier, and further broken down by year, from 2016 to 2025?

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Transportation Act requires that before passengers can submit a complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency, or CTA, they must first submit their complaint to the airline directly.

If the airline does not resolve the passenger’s complaint, the passenger can then choose to submit it to the CTA, which processes complaints and settles disputes between travellers and airlines.

The CTA collects and shares data of complaints it receives, including the number of complaints, the airline involved, and the type of issue. This information can be found in the following publications: the2023-24 Annual Report, available at https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/publication/annual-report-2023-2024; and themost recent dashboard outlining complaints per 100 flights to/from/within Canada submitted to the CTA, per quarter, available athttps://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-travel-complaints-100-flights-airline-january-2024-march-2025.

Question No.5—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

With regard to the implementation of Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts: (a) what funds have been allocated under the new system, including (i) to which organizations, (ii) for work in which countries; (b) how many authorization applications has the government (i) made for its own activities, (ii) received from outside government, (iii) approved, and for which countries, (iv) sought for its own work in Afghanistan; (c) what is the wait time for applicants to receive a response from the government and, during those wait times, what projects have been halted or delayed; (d) what is the current list of countries and sub-regions for which an authorization is deemed necessary, and which deputy ministers, including their departments and agencies, are involved in developing this list; and (e) what is the wait time for security review for individuals listed in applications, and who is the current minister responsible for the security review?

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (a)(i)-(ii) of the question, the Authorization Regime is an instrument to facilitate the delivery of certain, needed activities in areas controlled by a terrorist group, rather than an instrument to facilitate the allocation of funds. By statute, decisions to issue authorizations are based on weighing the benefits and risks of an activity. The Government of Canada cannot publicly disclose information regarding authorization holders, as it would reveal sensitive or potentially identifiable information.

With respect to part (b)(i), the Government of Canada has received eleven applications from Government of Canada departments.

With respect to part (b)(ii), the Government of Canada has received four applications from outside of the government.

In terms of part (b)(iii), to date, two authorizations as well as one request for renewal have been granted. Due to privacy considerations and safeguards in place to protect sensitive or potentially identifiable information, the Government of Canada does not disclose specific details pertaining to applications and or granted authorizations. However, overall, the applications received have involved activities to be conducted in the geographic areas of Afghanistan, Gaza, and Syria.

With respect to part (b)(iv), due to privacy considerations and safeguards in place to protect sensitive or potentially identifiable information, the Government of Canada cannot publicly disclose this information.

In terms of part (c), applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The length of time required to process an application will vary depending on the complexity of the application and the comprehensiveness of the information provided. By statute, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and/or the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Minister of Public Safety each have responsibilities with respect to reviewing and assessing applications.

The Government of Canada acknowledges that some applicants have chosen to pause or delay their projects while awaiting decisions regarding their application. Due to privacy considerations and safeguards in place to protect sensitive or potentially identifiable information, the Government of Canada does not disclose specific details pertaining to applications.

Further, the Government of Canada does not provide legal advice to the public with respect to this program, and it is up to the applicant to determine whether to halt or delay their project while an application is undergoing assessment.

With respect to part (d), the Authorization Regime does not maintain a list of countries or sub-regions for which an authorization is deemed necessary. It is up to the applicant to determine whether an authorization is required in their particular circumstances, based on the activities planned, mitigation measures they may employ, and their particular legal considerations.

To provide additional clarity for prospective applicants in determining whether an authorization is required, the Authorization Requirement Inquiry mechanism is available. This optional step allows prospective applicants to request additional information from the Minister of Public Safety regarding the need for an authorization in a specified geographic area. Directions for making a request for this information are available on the Authorization Regime webpage.

This process considers the dynamic nature of terrorism and allows for the most up-to-date assessment of terrorist entities and their control of specific geographic areas.

While PS’s Authorization Regime webpage and the Authorization Requirement Inquiry process provide information for prospective applicants, the Government of Canada does not provide legal advice to the public. It remains incumbent upon potential applicants to determine whether an authorization is required in their particular circumstances in consultation with their legal advisors.

With respect to part (e), pursuant to subsection 83.032(10) of the Criminal Code, the Minister of Public Safety is responsible for conducting a security review of each application.

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. As such, the length of time required to process an application, including the completion of a security review, will vary depending on a number of factors, including the nature of the activities and the degree to which information in the application is sufficient when submitted. It is important to ensure that the security review of each application is comprehensive and thoroughly considers the risks and benefits of the proposed activities.

Question No.10—

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

With regard to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's Pest Control Products Fees and Charges Regulations: (a) what was the amount collected in fees in the last fiscal year, in total and broken down by each specific type of fee or component; (b) what is the itemized breakdown of how the Pest Management Regulatory Agency spent the money collected from each of the fees in (a); and (c) for which of the fees in (a), did the government collect more money than it spent in costs related to processing the related application, and, for each such fee, how much was (i) collected from the applicants, (ii) spent on processing?

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, Health Canada’s 2024–2025 Report on Fees, covering last fiscal year, will be released in the Fall 2025. In fiscal year 2023-2024, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, or PMRA, collected a total of $17,087,969 in revenues, including $6,271,360 from the pre-market submissions business line and $10,816,609 from the post-market annual charge business line. For details on the revenue collected by application type, please refer to 2023-2024 Report on Fees available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/reports-publications/report-fees-2023-2024.html#a20.

With respect to part (b), the PMRA spent the money collected from (a) as follows: In fiscal year 2023-2024, concerning the Pre-market submissions business line revenue: PMRA incurred $60,864,504 in costs against this revenue line, namely, $37,526,680 in salaries, $6,826,085 in Operations & Maintenance, $10,132,204 in Employee Benefit Plan, $4,878,468 in accommodation, and $1,501,067 in Shared Services Canada costs. Concerning the post-market annual charge business line revenue: PMRA incurred $35,584,837 in costs against this revenue line, namely, $21,794,993 in salaries, $4,200,046 in O & M, $5,884,648 in Employee Benefit Plan, $2,833,349 in accommodations, and $871,800 in Shared Services Canada costs. Additionally, PMRA remitted $48,094 in fees to registrants for missed service standards from the pre-market submissions revenue collected last fiscal.

With respect to part (c), given that the total costs of PMRA were $96,449,341 and the revenue collected was $17,087,969, the Government did not collect more money than it spent in any of the application fees or fee lines.

Question No.15—

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

With regard to the government’s decision to implement changes regarding the regulation of Natural Health Products through regulation enabled by Bill C-47 (Budget Implementation Act, 2023, 44th Parliament) through sections 500-504: (a) how many individual pieces of correspondence has the Minister of Health received in support of these regulations to date, broken down by (i) date, (ii) medium (i.e. online, phone, email, mail), (iii) federal riding; (b) how many individual pieces of correspondence has the Minister of Health received to date in opposition to these regulations, broken down by (i) date, (ii) medium (i.e. online, phone, email, mail), (iii) federal riding; and (c) how many individual pieces of correspondence has the Minister of Health received to date in totality, regardless of whether support or opposition to the regulations was conclusive or not, broken down by (i) date, (ii) medium (i.e. online, phone, email, mail), (iii) federal riding?

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), twoemails were received in support of the regulation of natural health products.

The response to (a)(i) is from March 28, 2023, to May 27, 2025. In response to (a)(ii), the minister received two emails. In response to (a)(iii); as these were received via email, we do not know from which ridings they were sent.

With regard to (b), 2,952 pieces of correspondence were received by the Minister of Health opposing the regulation of natural health products.

The response to (b)(i) is from March 28, 2023, to May 27, 2025. In response to (b)(ii), the minister received 533 emails and 2,419 letters. In response to (b)(iii); 435 were referred by the MP for Prince Albert on behalf of his constituents, and there was one each from Kings-Hants, Lambton–Kent– Middlesex, Calgary Shepard, Vancouver Quadra, York-Simcoe, Burnaby-North Seymour, Yorkton-Melville, and Barrie-Innisfil. The riding of origin of the rest of the correspondence could not be determined, either because it was part of a write-in campaign and was only counted, not tracked, or was received by email.

With regard to (c) in total, 2,954 pieces of correspondence were received by the Minister of Health regarding the regulation of natural health products. The response to (c)(i) is from March 28, 2023, to May 27, 2025. In response to (c)(ii), the minister received 533 emails and 2,419 letters.The response to (c)(iii) is the same response as for (a)(iii) and (b)(iii).