Debates of Sept. 18th, 2025

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if we have the best deal, then why do we have the worst economy in the G7?

Deadline after deadline has come and gone, and the government's promised trade deal is nowhere to be found. After failing at the negotiating table in Washington, the Prime Minister is now off to Mexico City, desperate to claim any kind of win. Let us compare that to our Mexican counterparts, who successfully negotiated a deal. Their exports to the U.S. were up 1.4% last quarter, while ours fell 18%.

Again, what has Mexico done so right that the Prime Minister has done so wrong?

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and the U.S. share the world's most integrated and mutually beneficial trade partnership. That is not up for debate. Millions of jobs in Canada and the U.S. depend on our trading relationship. Canada already, and it is unequivocal, has the best deal among U.S. trading partners.

While we continue to negotiate with the U.S. and with Mexico, our government is focused on what we control the most, which is diversifying our trade relations and supporting Canadian businesses and all sectors.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Emma Harrison, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, residents of my riding have contacted me and my team to express their frustrations with the delays they have experienced when contacting the CRA. We know that the dedicated employees of the CRA provide invaluable services to Canadians, but the reality is clear that demand has increased significantly in recent years and the system needs to be improved.

Could the Secretary of State for Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions inform the House of the measures taken by the government to improve services delivery at the CRA?

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

Mr. Speaker, delays at CRA call centres are completely unacceptable. We all know that.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

When there are interruptions like this, I cannot really follow the clock, so I have no control over how much time I give for the answer. I would ask the secretary of state to start from the top.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Kennebecasis, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the delays Canadians face at CRA call centres are completely unacceptable.

This is not on the CRA employees. They are world-class public servants. This is a systemic failure that has unfolded over decades. We have implemented a 100-day plan to improve service and access—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member did not finish his answer. He may stand up again.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Kennebecasis, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in all seriousness, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are frustrated with CRA call centre delays. I know that.

This is not on CRA employees. They are world-class public servants. This is a systemic failure over decades. That is why we are implementing a 100-day plan to improve service and accessibility, and we are going to eliminate delays. The Union of Taxation Employees and the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson have also expressed support.

I am going to work with CRA leadership. I am going to hold them accountable. We are going to fix this.

Finance

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government's plan is to pile on debt, but to obscure that picture with accounting changes.

Now the Parliamentary Budget Officer is warning against making these changes, saying that, if the government obscures its own books, it will, in the PBO's words, “bet your boots...paying more for debt”.

Will the finance minister agree that doubling the size of the deficit not only puts Canada's credit rating at risk but also exposes taxpayers and households to higher borrowing costs and higher interest rates?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the member opposite, we respect the work of the PBO and the independence of the institutions that make our democracy so great in this country.

Our government is focused on delivering generational investments in the upcoming federal budget, which the minister announced will be on November 4. This is good news for Canadians. A budget is coming that will ensure Canadians that we have a prosperous future. We are building Canada strong. Opposition members should get on board.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this tired, old Liberal government has doubled the deficit and has abandoned any fiscal anchors it once had, putting Canada's AAA credit rating at risk.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer warns that rating agencies are not going to tolerate Liberal accounting tricks and that, if they even have a sniff of a change in the budget presentation, Canadians will be paying higher interest rates immediately.

Why is the government playing political games with the budget and risking higher costs for all Canadians?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians are getting tired of the Conservatives' Chicken Little routine.

This week we had the great news that inflation is at 1.9%, which is actually within the Bank of Canada's target range. That is good news for Canadians because the Bank of Canada dropped interest rates this week by a quarter of a per cent. That means more money in the pockets of Canadians. That means Canadians save more on their mortgages this week compared to last. That is the bottom line.

Employment

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised more jobs, but the only thing that is booming is unemployment. EI use among women aged 25 to 54 is up 12% in just one month, and overall, EI claims are up nearly 13% year over year. It is yet another Liberal broken promise.

In Newmarket, I met a mother. She cannot find a stable job. She worries about feeding her three kids and paying her rent, and that worry follows her every hour of the day.

When will the Liberal government face the damage it has done and apologize to Canadian women for the hardship its policies have caused?

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

Mr. Speaker, four months ago, Canadians chose to invest in themselves. They chose a government that sees the promise and potential in creating great jobs across this country, in investing in major projects and infrastructure and in ensuring that people have the skills they need as our economies change and technology changes jobs. They knew that, on this side, a Liberal government would protect them and their families now and into the future. They knew they risked all of that with the cuts the Conservatives proposed.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that was truly a striking answer from the minister. My colleague pointed out that EI claims have gone up by 12% among women in that age group in just one month, and the minister's response was, "At least we have jobs. At least the Liberals are still here." They should think less about themselves and their own jobs, and more about women and people of all ages who have been negatively affected by their policies.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer said the labour market sucks and wages are not going up. The Liberals are presiding over an employment disaster. When will they reverse course?

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

Mr. Speaker, take it from a Conservative to try to torque the words that I clearly did not say.

In fact, what I said was that Canadians chose a government that would invest in them and that would adjust EI measures to reflect a changing economy so that people could access EI where previously they could not, so that people could keep more of their earnings if they were separated from their job and so that people would have more weeks in case of a collapse of their industry.

We know there are sectors struggling through increased tariff action, and we have not stopped. We have not stopped protecting Canadian families. That is what they voted for—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is so busy congratulating herself for I do not know what that she has not actually listened to the numbers we heard from Statistics Canada today. The situation is truly dire when it comes to unemployment: a 12% increase for women aged 25 to 54 in one month alone and a 23% increase year over year. Unemployment has been going up steadily for three years. Youth unemployment is at recession levels. We have the worst youth employment numbers in over 25 years.

This is not the time for self-congratulation. This is the time to change the policy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am congratulating Canadians because Canadians chose a government that knew that when things were tough, the government would protect them. What did we do even before the election and enhance after the election? We made sure that if a Canadian's job was threatened through unfair tariff action, they would be protected.

They knew Conservatives would not take care of them in these economically challenging times. They knew they could not count on Conservatives. Why? It is because every time Conservatives had a chance to stand up for Canadians, they voted against them.

The Economy

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, food inflation is up 70% since the Liberals took office. Groceries are up 3.5%, which is 70% above the inflation target. Beef is up 33%, canned soup is up 26%, and grapes are up 24%.

The Prime Minister said Canadians would judge him by the cost at the grocery stores. The new report from Food Banks Canada gives Canada a failing grade on food insecurity. He has failed.

Does the self-proclaimed great economist Prime Minister think that long lines at the food banks are good for our economy?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, Food Banks Canada conducts important research and also makes very important recommendations for governments. It says we should strengthen the social safety net to support Canadians facing affordability challenges. We are doing that with dental care, with the middle-class tax cut, with “build Canada homes” and with $10-a-day child care. Those things are making a difference in Canadians' lives, and the Conservatives voted against every single one of those measures.

Are the Conservatives content to just keep pointing fingers, or are they going to make some recommendations? Maybe they should read the report from the experts, like food bankers across the country serving Canadians.

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Nicole from the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank informed my office that one in four households need to visit a food bank, and one in three individuals walking in are children. It was serving 30 to 40 families per day before the summer and now 55 to 65 per day, which is up 71% since spring. This is “Christmas season demand without Christmas level donations.”

Canadians were promised that food prices would decrease, but they have gone up. Would the Prime Minister please explain to the good people of Stoney Creek why this promise was broken?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, when I take the time to sit down with food bankers and experts in poverty reduction right across the country, they make recommendations. They talk about strengthening our social safety net and making sure there are services, like EI, available to Canadians.

We also have challenges with northern food insecurity, and that is something we are working on directly on the advice of experts in poverty reduction.

Again I ask: Will the Conservatives just continue to point fingers or make some real recommendations? Maybe, perhaps, they can read the food bank's report, garner a little bit of insight from the experts on the front lines and work together to end this crisis.