Debates of Sept. 18th, 2025

Back to School in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun

[Claude Guay, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks into the school year, many families in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun have been able to get off on the right foot thanks to a great outpouring of solidarity. With support from a number of community organizations, including the Centre d'aide à la réussite et au développement, or CARD, Mission Bon Accueil, and Bienvenue à l'immigrant, we have handed out several hundred backpacks full of school supplies to children in the riding.

I want to extend special thanks to Claudia Olga Kadima, Samuel Watts and Henriette Mvondo and their respective organizations for their outstanding commitment.

I also had the pleasure of awarding 74 certificates to young people from my riding who took part in the Canada summer jobs program.

These concrete actions help support youth employment, reduce inequalities and build a stronger community.

I thank all the partners and volunteers for their dedication. I wish them a great school year.

Food Prices in the North

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised lower grocery prices. “Canadians will hold us to account by their experience at the grocery store”, he said.

In my travels to northern communities this summer, this is what I saw: In Tuktoyaktuk, a can of Alpha-getti is $6.79, a jug of milk is $14.79 and a 900-gram jar of Cheez Whiz is $17.29. In Cambridge Bay, a can of baked beans is $9.99, a 1.5-litre bottle of ketchup is $19.88 and a box of soup crackers is $22.99. Lastly, in Iqaluit, a can of mushroom soup is $10.19, a gallon of ice cream is $25 and a can of Tim Hortons, get this folks, is $48.89.

If northerners' experience at the grocery store is the measure of the Prime Minister's success, then he has been an abysmal failure.

Women's Softball Championship

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the many successful events held this summer in South Surrey—White Rock.

It was a true privilege for our community to once again host the Canada Cup. Over the past three decades, the Canada Cup has grown into a celebrated international event that showcases the talent, dedication and sportsmanship of female athletes from around the world. This event is a celebration of the strength, passion and unity that define the sport of softball.

We honour the players, coaches and volunteers who make it all possible and the fans who bring the energy. I would like to recognize the outstanding leadership of Greg Timm and the board of directors. I would also like to extend a special thanks to my colleague and friend, the hon. Minister of Industry, for attending, throwing the first pitch and proudly sharing her own connection to the sport as a former softball player.

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is in Mexico today for a photo op and fake agreement, but it is a great opportunity to compare, because both countries are neighbours of the United States. In the last quarter, Canada's economy shrank by 1.6% while the Mexican economy grew by 2.4%. Canadian exports to the United States crashed by 18%, while Mexican exports to the U.S. are up 1.4%. The Canadian unemployment rate is three times higher than Mexico's rate.

Will the Prime Minister ask his Mexican friends what they are doing right that he is doing so wrong?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister believes in having a strong relationship with Mexico, our second-biggest trading partner. That is exactly why he is in Mexico today meeting with the president to make sure that we can have our trading relationship on par.

The other thing the Leader of the Opposition needs to understand is that we are living in a much more dangerous and complicated world, with trade tensions having impacts on trading partners all around the world. We will stand up for workers, we will stand up for our businesses and we will build Canada strong.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this is the time in the life cycle of any Liberal government when it goes from making promises to making excuses. It is blaming its collapsing economy on global tensions.

Interestingly, Mexico shares the same neighbour as we do. We are both right next door to America, so we can compare performance. However, in the most recent quarter, the Mexican economy has actually grown by 2.4% and the Canadian economy is down by 1.6%. Our unemployment is three times what Mexico's is.

Why?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, what is shocking about the Leader of the Opposition's comments is that he is always talking down Canadian workers, Canadian businesses and the Canadian economy. The good news is the Bank of Canada reduced rates yesterday. We should all be celebrating. This is good news.

Liberals will be there for businesses in the tariffed sectors, including aluminum, steel, autos, copper and all the other sectors, because we know that these workers are important, these businesses are important, and we have a plan to build Canada strong.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we support workers, especially the 86,000 workers who lost their jobs because of Liberal policies that are causing our economy to collapse.

Mexico boosted its economy by 1.4% in the last quarter. Canada saw a decline of 1.4%. Mexican exports to the United States increased while ours saw a drop of 18%. Our unemployment rate is three times higher than Mexico's.

Why?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the opposition leader does not know what he is talking about. Let us look at the Canadian economy right now: Interest rates have gone down, and the Bank of Canada announced a key interest rate of 2.5%. That is good news for anyone who owns a home or is about to buy one.

We know that we must work with Mexico. We must also work with the United States. That said, our strategy is not only to build Canada strong, but also to look for other trade partners in Europe, Asia, certainly in Mexico, to grow our economy.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have had a free trade agreement with Mexico for almost three decades. The Prime Minister is going for nothing more than a photo op, another fake engagement.

The minister talked about interest rates; the Bank of Canada said the reason it is cutting rates while inflation is rising is because our economy is collapsing.

The Liberals promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. They have delivered the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7. They promised more home building. It is falling by 13%. They promised to spend less. Their deficit spending is 100% more.

Talk is cheap, but why is it so expensive when the Prime Minister does it?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Leader of the Opposition believes in isolationism, which means basically that Canada is by itself in the world. The Liberals believe that we need to engage in the world. We need to make sure that Canada is working with trading partners from Mexico, and from Europe to Asia.

That is why the Prime Minister will continue to travel to make sure to engage with leaders in the world. We believe that this is the way to build a strong economy at home, save and protect jobs, create new ones, attract foreign direct investments and, ultimately, make sure that Canada's voice of peace and multilateralism is heard in the world.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have had free trade agreements with all of those countries and regions for over a decade, yet the Prime Minister is busy looking busy, flying around, grip and grin, pretending to do a lot while doing very little. He could make use of all that expensive travel by asking all of those other places why their economies are so much stronger than the one that he now leads. We have, under his leadership, the second-highest unemployment in the G7, the worst economic growth in the G7, the worst household debt in the G7 and the worst housing costs in the G7.

Why is it that when he promises to be the first, he is the worst?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as we look at what is happening with global trade headwinds, we need to step up as a country and be there around the world to make sure countries know that we are here. They want to deal with a reliable, stable trading partner. It is our 15th free trade agreement with 51 different countries, with access to the 1.5 billion consumers countries rely on and Canadian workers rely on. That is why the Prime Minister will be there to make sure we are opening up new markets for Canadian businesses and workers.

International Trade

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, these are not new markets. The member might have been asleep. Actually, he seems like a very young man. Maybe he was not born when Brian Mulroney negotiated NAFTA with the Mexicans. Maybe the Prime Minister was sleeping the day the Conservatives negotiated a free trade agreement with the Europeans. He is going around taking credit for things that he never did while his economy collapses here at home.

Canadians cannot eat or heat and house themselves. Will the Prime Minister stop making excuses and taking fake trips and get down to his job?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I will not go to personal attacks, as the member opposite did. We will focus on the facts. There are people watching in the gallery.

I think it is very important to know that Canada and Mexico have shared over 30 years of strong friendship and economic partnerships rooted in trust, trade and mutual respect. In fact, Canadian direct investment in Mexico was over $45 billion in 2024. The Prime Minister will be meeting with President Sheinbaum to defend our industries and grow our economies.

Canada is committed to CUSMA, and we are actively collaborating with Mexico. That is why the Prime Minister is there to make sure we open the door to—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Saint-Jean.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, it is not only Bill 21 and state secularism that Ottawa is attacking at the Supreme Court, it is worse than that.

By attacking the notwithstanding clause itself, Ottawa is attacking the ability of our National Assembly to vote democratically on any law that is supported by Quebeckers without having to beg Canada for permission first. This is an attack against secularism, but it is also an attack against our historical ability to protect the French language. It is an attack against our values and against the sovereignty of our legislative assembly.

Will the Liberals drop this offensive attack against Quebec?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is responsible for defending one of the pillars of our democracy, that is, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All across Canada, the government must stand up for the rights of all Canadians. It is our job to defend this charter and to ensure that everyone in this country is protected.

We are doing our job. The matter is before the Supreme Court and we will be following it closely.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is no such thing as pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause. It is a myth invented to keep Quebec from deciding for itself. The federal government is openly asking the courts to nullify part of the Constitution with no political debate and no say from politicians, in a bid to take fundamental powers away from Quebec. This is not a legal debate. It is a constitutional power grab against Quebec's right of self-determination that is hypocritically being carried out through the courts.

Will the Liberals have the guts to fight their own political battles instead of weaponizing the justice system?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows full well that the federal government's intervention in the Supreme Court case will not prevent any province or territory from continuing to use the notwithstanding clause. That is very clear, and she knows it. If there are any problems, I would be happy to ask the Department of Justice to offer a briefing, but the purpose of our intervention is to protect Canadians' rights.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the partisan appointment of Robert Leckey as a judge of the Quebec Superior Court also challenges Quebec's unique legal system. By appointing Mr. Leckey even though he does not have the necessary experience at the Quebec bar, the federal government is choosing a judge who does not have sufficient knowledge of Quebec's unique civil law system. By appointing Mr. Leckey, who is a public opponent of state secularism and the Charter of the French Language, the federal government is knowingly choosing a judge who opposes Quebec's distinct character.

Will the minister rescind this appointment?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, judicial appointments to the superior courts are a federal government responsibility. Quebec already participates in the appointment process.

We are discussing this in good faith, with no obligation to reach an agreement. The Minister of Justice is in contact with his counterpart, and a meeting is scheduled for September. Judicial independence remains a cornerstone of our democracy.

Public Safety

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of passing catch-and-release laws that let dangerous offenders free just hours after getting arrested, the Liberals are still obstructing efforts to undo these laws. They voted down our motion, shut down Parliament, called a snap election, went on summer holidays and still have not even started the process of fixing what they have broken, so the Conservatives will do it for them. Our plan will end catch-and-release and give 10-year jail sentences to anyone convicted of three serious offences. We could pass these laws today.

When will the Liberals stop obstructing Parliament and pass the Conservative “three strikes and you're out” law?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, on April 28, Canadians gave this government a mandate to govern this country and to bring forward new legislation that will ensure that our streets are safer.

“Three strikes and you're out” laws do not work. Evidence-based decision-making tells us that “three strikes and you're out” is a complete failure in the United States. It has been a failure in every single jurisdiction where it has been applied.

We will have smart criminal justice reform. We will ensure that bail is strengthened to ensure that repeat violent offenders are off our streets.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, is that the best they can do, that one day they might get around to doing it? The evidence is in. Their plan is what caused the crime and chaos plaguing our communities. They deliberately changed laws to let thousands of dangerous and repeat offenders back on the street. Now they are admitting that they were wrong, but they are obstructing any efforts to fix the problem.

Thousands of Canadians' lives have been shattered, and too many Canadians have paid with their lives for Liberal mistakes. If they will not stop obstructing Conservative plans to fix what they broke, will they at least look the families of those victims in the eye and just say sorry?