Debates of Sept. 18th, 2025

Opposition Motion—Violent Crime and Repeat Offenders

[Will Greaves, Liberal, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as a fellow member from Vancouver Island, I share the concerns about the crime that is affecting many of our communities, but under the previous Conservative government, many of the criminal justice reforms that were passed have since been struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, so I wonder if the member could share with the House what measures or due diligence she and her colleagues have taken to ensure that these Conservative reforms are constitutional.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as Pierre Elliott Trudeau said, “The past is to be respected and acknowledged, but not worshipped; it is our future in which we will find greatness.” Our constitution is a living tree, and I have confidence that this motion, which has been carefully considered, would pass muster at the Supreme Court of Canada.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour that I rise today in this House to speak in support of the “three strikes and you're out” bill, our plan to hold repeat violent offenders accountable and to combat rising crime in our streets. I am a proud Winnipegger and even prouder to represent my neighbours in the riding of Elmwood—Transcona.

Although I am proud of my home, the crime wave crippling our city has truly gone out of control. My office has been inundated with calls from folks from all different walks of life, all concerned that they no longer feel safe on the streets and even in their homes. At this point, it is hard to see anything any other way.

Over the last 10 years, we have become accustomed to a criminal justice system that puts criminals first and does not deliver justice. Our current system takes power away from law enforcement, puts perpetrators of crime back on the street and victimizes hard-working, law-abiding Canadians in our society. Jody, one of my constituents, has had her home broken into 14 times by the same group of thugs. While Jody lives in fear, her tormentors are getting released on no-cash bail within 24 hours of their crime, ready to reoffend and put Jody and her neighbours back into a state of shock, panic and fear.

It is not just Jody either. In my first month of office, I sent out a community survey asking folks in Elmwood—Transcona what they thought were the most pressing issues facing our community. While I got many good, thoughtful responses, one issue that is top of mind for a majority of people in my community is that crime is totally out of control. Parents no longer feel safe having their kids walk to school or take the bus. Our three-strikes plan would put repeat violent offenders behind bars and keep communities safe. We need to put our foot down and take crime seriously. We all believe in second chances, but we do not believe in 20 chances.

This would be hard enough on families that are struggling to make ends meet without also facing the rising rates of car theft. It has gotten so bad that some police are even suggesting that people leave their keys on the porch to avoid break-ins. This is crazy. This harmful mentality will only lead to more theft, more crime and more innocent victims.

Things were not always this way. Folks in our communities used to leave their doors unlocked and did not worry about their cars getting broken into. Today, my neighbours live in fear, and it breaks my heart that for the last 10 years, the Liberals could have done something to fix the out-of-control crime but decided to sit on their hands and pretend that nothing was wrong while their failed experiment continued to put Canadians at risk.

The law we are proposing would stop criminals convicted of three serious offences from getting bail, probation, parole or house arrest. It would keep violent criminals behind bars, away from their victims and off our streets. The law would also keep dangerous offenders away from society until they have proven that they no longer are a threat to those around them.

Police also feel the effects of poor criminal justice policies first-hand. Imagine how demoralizing it is to arrest the same person they arrested last week for robbing the same 7-Eleven they robbed the week before. We are not giving those in law enforcement the tools they need to get the job done.

Just last week, we met with Mayor Scott Gillingham, who shared his thoughts on the out-of-control crime that is plaguing Winnipeg streets. He mentioned that the same individual had been arrested twice by the Winnipeg Police Service's violent crimes unit. A person has to be pretty violent to be arrested by that unit. He was subsequently convicted of failing to comply with bail restrictions 12 times and was released enough times to be convicted of 24 more violent offences. These offences were not stealing a pack of gum from a convenience store. The offender in question was convicted of shooting and carjacking while already out on bail.

Last month alone, 178 offenders were wanted on warrants for violating bail and were arrested on new charges. Seven of them assaulted the very same people they victimized despite a court prohibiting them to do so. This is not just a threat to the victims, who often have multiple run-ins with repeat offenders; it is also a threat to first responders, social workers, health care workers and public transit operators.

The unfortunate truth is that this is not just a Winnipeg problem; this is a Canada-wide problem. Police associations across Canada have been speaking out on the lack of support that the federal government has given them in putting repeat violent offenders behind bars. We need to do our job here so that they can do their job out there—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

It being 6:15 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the business of supply.

The question is on the motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a recorded division.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the division stands deferred until Monday, September 22, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I suspect if you were to canvass the House, you might find unanimous consent to see the clock at 6:30 p.m. so we can begin the late show.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.

Finance

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to elaborate on a question I posed to the government before the summer recess. In my question, I referenced half a trillion dollars in new inflationary spending that the government had ushered in. I spoke of Canadians' stress and frustration with the rampant inflation, causing the price of essentials to continue to climb month after month at the grocery store. I directly asked when Canadians could expect a federal budget to be introduced, one that reduced inflation and cut taxes.

It has now been over 12 weeks since my intervention. Has anything changed for the better? Well, we now have a date for the budget, November 4, nearly two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year. Trust is so low in the Prime Minister's predictions as Canadians are expecting yet another bait and switch.

This country has had no proof from the Liberal Party that it is governing differently than the last administration. The Liberals claim they are different, and in one respect they actually are: Their record is worse than Justin Trudeau's.

The Prime Minister has already warned Canadians to brace for a painful deficit, double that of Trudeau and what he left behind. This is a dangerously directionless experiment that the Liberals are undertaking. The Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7; he delivered the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7, with the second-highest unemployment, the worst household debt, and the worst housing prices. That is not what Canadians voted for.

The Prime Minister promised to build Canada up; instead he has wasted billions on bureaucracy and high-priced consultants, and he has driven inflation through the roof. The Parliamentary Budget Officer told committee that the government seems to have no fiscal anchors and that, “bet your boots”, Canadians will soon be paying much more to service the debt.

Canadians deserve better. We know they deserve better because of the real-life ripple effects we have seen becoming all too familiar. Between record-high taxes and reckless spending, the purchasing power of Canadians is being eroded at an alarming rate.

The Prime Minister said that he wants to be judged by prices at the grocery store. What a great sound bite that is to mislead Canadians in an election when they are desperate for hope. Canadians have now delivered their verdict; it is a failing grade. Statistics Canada confirms that food inflation is running 70% higher than the Bank of Canada's target. Meat is up 7%, beef is up 13%, coffee rose by 28% and even infant formula is climbing. Watching the Prime Minister in the House, I see a total indifference to these statistics. They do not matter; he got what he wanted.

A shocking 25% of families are struggling to afford food while the Liberal government spends billions on more bureaucrats, high-priced consultants and government-controlled projects that only fuel higher taxes, higher debt and higher inflation. Canadians know that the government is not investing their hard-earned tax dollars; it is bleeding them dry. Today, Canadians spend more of their income on taxes than they do on food, housing and clothing combined.

After 10 years of Liberal waste, Canadians are choosing between paying their bills and putting food on the table. The Prime Minister is generating a greater and greater chasm between, as the leader of the official opposition rightly says, the have-nots and the “have yachts”.

Conservatives demand that the Liberals stop the destructive mismanagement, rein in spending, and finally deliver a plan to bring down both the deficit and the cost of living for Canadians.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the comments the hon. member made earlier. We recognize that affordable groceries continues to be an important issue and that many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. Food inflation at the grocery store fell from a peak of 11.4% in January 2023 to 3.4% in August 2025. It is not hard. Anyone can go to the Statistics Canada website and see the report on the consumer price index, or CPI. It clearly states that the price of food increased by 3.5% in August 2025. It is not a 70% increase.

The government will continue to take concrete action to ensure that Canadians pay fair prices for groceries. In the Speech from the Throne delivered by His Majesty King Charles III, we laid out our bold and ambitious plan for the future. Our tax cut for the middle class will ease the tax burden for roughly 22 million Canadians, saving families up to $840 a year. This measure is expected to generate tax savings of more than $27 billion over five years.

Greater consumer choice and competition in the grocery sector are also essential to improving food affordability. That is why, over the past few years, the Government of Canada has made amendments to the Competition Act to bring it up to date. These amendments have impacted how the Competition Bureau can investigate anti-competitive behaviour and deceptive marketing practices. For example, these amendments now require suppliers to be more honest in their advertising. Posting prices without including all mandatory fees is now considered a form of dishonesty.

Several measure are required to stabilize food prices. We also need to work on improving all components of the supply chain. In July 2024, major grocery retailers committed to a grocery code of conduct. Canadians depend on a resilient food supply chain to access good-quality, affordable food. However, everyone has to contribute and everyone has to follow the rules.

The government also continues to support consumer advocacy through the Canadian consumer protection initiative. This initiative makes it possible to produce independent research to support consumer organizations. The most recent call for proposals under this initiative focused on priority issues such as affordability, barriers to competition in the grocery industry and protecting consumers against hidden fees and price gouging.

As part of a previous proposal, a financial project that took these priorities into account supported a national consumer movement that helped Canadians across the country by providing practical tools for decoding pricing strategies and empowering them to make informed decisions.

We are working with the industry and our partners to continue to support stable food prices. Our commitment is unwavering, and no option is—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I have to interrupt the hon. parliamentary secretary to give the floor to the hon. member for Yorkton—Melville.

However, I would first like to say the following. In the House, the rules apply even during adjournment proceedings. Members cannot refer directly to a document or object in their hand, nor to something on their desk or person. That would be a prop, and the rules say that props are not allowed.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this colleague of the Prime Minister is forgetting that the same Prime Minister told Canadians to judge his government by the price at the checkout counter; they do not like the verdict. Families are falling behind, with millions resorting to food banks, while Liberals are lining the pockets of consultants, bureaucrats and certain investment portfolios with their tax dollars.

Many of these families voted based on the hopeful rhetoric of the Prime Minister that he would do things differently. Now, after 10 years of waste, what do Canadians get? There is not a plan or a budget, just more delays, more excuses and more empty promises. The shelves are bare, the cupboards are empty and the government is missing in action when we need decisive servant leadership.

The truth is simple: Every day the government spends recklessly and selfishly, life gets harder for the people who work hard and are playing by the rules. Canadians deserve a government that will end the abuse and the waste, balance the books and end the attack on Canadian prosperity. Canadians deserve leadership that puts them and their country—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada strengthened the Competition Bureau's ability to prevent anti-competitive mergers and to address the anti-competitive practices of dominant firms in all sectors, including the grocery sector. We will take action to improve competition, and we will hold companies accountable throughout this process.

We will also continue to ensure that Canadians have enough information to make informed choices. At the same time, we recognize that global and external pressures, such as the U.S. tariffs, also impact Canadian consumers, workers and businesses. These pressures underscore the importance of having a coordinated, long-term approach to affordability and stable prices.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' inflation is the slow undoing of a family's dignity, yet the government keeps driving the deficit higher with reckless inflationary spending that is even worse than Trudeau's. We already know, based on last year's economic statement, that the deficit was $62 billion. Now, unfortunately, Canadians are bracing for something even larger. What do the Liberals tell us? They tell us not to worry; they are investments.

As a banking professional, I find that insulting. They can dress it up as operating versus capital, but that does not change the reality of the bank statement of a single mother. Groceries have doubled and rent has doubled, and she has to decide whether she feeds her children or pays her rent.

We know the statistics. Food inflation is now running 70% above target. Coffee is up 28%. Fresh and frozen beef is up 12%. Even infant formula is up 7%.

However, the statistics do not tell the full story. This summer, I sent a survey to my constituents in Newmarket—Aurora. I received hundreds of answers, and the answers broke my heart. Here are some of them. A young family told me they were a household with a combined income of six figures working long hours and were still struggling with affordability. Another family said the cost of living had gone too high and that their mortgage was three times higher. A senior wrote that they have to keep working because their pension and old age security are not enough to cover bills.

There was another senior who shared an anecdote with me. He said when he was little, his father taught him to work very hard and to give it his all so he could achieve what he wanted. The fact is, he gave it his all and is still unable to afford his house and his food.

These are not isolated cases. They are the everyday reality of Canadians across this country, yet after years of warning, the Liberal government shrugs. It puts forward a 1% tax cut and calls it relief, while families sink deeper and deeper into debt and despair.

Canadians are not asking for much. They are not asking for handouts. They are asking for a government that will hear their plea, restore affordability and give them back the hope of a future where work pays, where savings count and where they can stand on their own two feet. The Liberals spend, they smile and they strip families of their basic necessities with no fiscal anchor in sight.

In the spring, I asked the Minister of Jobs and Families whether the Liberals will finally table a budget and reduce spending. The answer was clear: no budget, no discipline and more broken promises. Canadians deserve the truth about the cost of the government's recklessness, because it is not the Prime Minister paying for broken promises; it is Canadian families.

What is the deficit going to be this year? Will it be $70 billion, $80 billion or $100 billion? I will ask this again: Will the Liberals keep asking parents to pay for their broken promises?

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the rate of inflation in the month of August was 1.9%. However, I agree with the member opposite. Statistics do not tell the whole story.

Our government is focused on building a stronger economy and delivering for Canadians. We are continuing to move forward with a plan to bring down costs so Canadians can keep more of their paycheques to spend where it matters most. We know that the cost of living is top of mind for Canadians.

That is why, earlier this year, we delivered landmark legislation designed to help make life more affordable for Canadians. We introduced a middle-class tax cut that will provide relief for nearly 22 million Canadians and will cost the public treasury $27 billion over five years. It is not insignificant. We also removed the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes valued at up to $1 million, saving them up to $50,000, and lowered the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes, valued between $1 million and $1.5 million.

These measures build upon other legislative achievements that we have passed, despite Conservative opposition, such as child care agreements, which will, by 2026, bring down the cost of child care in this country to $10 a day, on average. This is one of the most important issues for young families, and it is helping more women enter and remain in the labour force. Pharmacare agreements will lower the costs of prescription drugs for Canadians, and the Canadian dental care plan, which has also helped over 1.7 million Canadians.

With these measures, we are delivering lower taxes, bringing down costs and putting more money back in the pockets of Canadians. Conservatives had a chance to support these measures to make life more affordable for Canadians. As always, they decided not to do that.

That is one of the reasons Canadians trusted us to release the next federal budget, which, as my colleague has announced, will be released on November 4. Budget 2025 will seize upon the generational opportunity to transform our economy through ambitious investments and rigorous discipline, ensuring every dollar goes further to build the strongest economy in the G7. It will invest in housing and infrastructure, catalyze private investment and strengthen partnerships with trusted allies. This will be a budget to truly meet the moment and build the strongest economy in the G7.

Truly, Canada is the north, strong and free. This is how we will create high-paying careers, grow our industries, protect our jobs, tap into new markets and build more resilient supply chains. The government will provide additional details on November 4, budget day.

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

Mr. Speaker, I received no answer to my question. How much will the deficit be?

Let me remind the member that the Liberal government has been in power for the last 10 years. It is the reason why we have the statistics that we do.

I also want to point out that the government, the Liberal government, likes to wrap itself in its social programs as if these slogans were solutions, as if these programs were actually solutions. The fact is that its reckless economic policies have left Canadians poorer. Families cannot afford a home. They cannot afford groceries. They cannot see a future for their children.

Our economy is dead last in the G7, and what is the Liberals' answer? Their answer is to celebrate more dependence, more reliance on the state, as if the highest aspiration of a Canadian is to beg for government help. Conservatives reject that. We want a Canada where people stand tall, earn their success and can feel the pride in putting food on their—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our economy is under attack from what we thought was a trusted neighbour. It is that fact that has led to the economic difficulties we have had this year. It is not government spending that is leading to inflation. It is the reckless politics and the reckless actions of our neighbours to the south.

The deficit will be known on November 4.

I will end with this, and I think many Canadians will agree. Social programs are not slogans. Social programs are important and are a main feature of what makes Canada Canada.

Housing

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, all the municipalities in my riding have affordable housing as their top priority, and the housing minister is tasked with addressing the housing crisis that has been caused by 10 years of failed Liberal policies.

The former minister of housing indicated that 550,000 units would need to be built every year for four years to catch up with the massive increase in immigration he caused. That is what is needed, but the current minister has just announced $13 billion to build only 4,000 units. That is $3.25 million per unit. That is not affordable housing, and it certainly does not bridge the gap.

I am not surprised; when the minister was the mayor of Vancouver, he helped create the most expensive housing bubble on the planet. To run the new government bureaucracy, he has now hired Ana Bailão, a former Toronto city councillor who was supposed to create affordable housing and instead created the second-highest-priced housing bubble on the planet.

I am always willing to help out the government, especially when it helps my riding, and so I made the minister aware of the list of affordable housing projects we have on the books in my riding that are shovel-ready.

The five projects in five years initiative will add 314 spaces for the low price of $27 million. That is just $86,000 per space, not $3.25 million per space.

The County of Lambton has promised $38 million for affordable housing and multiple municipality initiatives that could use the federal money to accelerate its projects of 450 units at $84,000 per space.

Plympton-Wyoming is building 400 units for $15 million, which are middle houses. That is $37,500 a unit, not $3.25 million.

There is also a plan to create 200 all-year-round trailers that will cost people between $100,000 and $150,000 to purchase. This is affordable.

For the low, low price of $80 million, we could build 1,400 spaces at an average cost of $57,000 per space, versus the Liberal plan to spend $13 billion to get only 4,000 spaces. This $13-billion boondoggle follows the $4-billion housing accelerator fund that built exactly zero houses. The municipalities that received money from that fund actually increased the permitting fees for builders instead of creating affordable housing.

My question is for the minister: Will he give us $80,000 in Sarnia—Lambton to build all the affordable houses that are shovel-ready, and when is he going to introduce a plan to build 550,000 units a year to address the continued mass migration? What specifically will he build that people can afford?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, our new government understands that housing affordability is important and that it is important for us to make life more affordable for Canadians. That is why we implemented tax cuts for middle-class, dual-income families, effective as of this past Canada Day. This will allow 22 million hard-working Canadians to save up to $840 per couple per year, totalling $27 billion for Canadians over five years. That is why we are eliminating the goods and services tax on first-time home purchases at or under $1 million, saving buyers up to $50,000 on their first home, and reducing the GST for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million.

These measures are on top of changes to mortgage rules, like allowing 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers. Together, these measures will lower housing costs for Canadians and help young families buy their first home, a dream that was attainable for their parents' generation that we are working hard to help them realize.

We are committed to building a housing system that works for everyone. The Government of Canada has already signed over 240 agreements under the $4.4-billion housing accelerator fund to incentivize municipalities to cut red tape, increase housing densification and speed up building. These actions are expected to support the permitting of more than 800,000 new homes over the next decade.

While there is more work to do, the Government of Canada is putting affordability front and centre because every Canadian should have access to a home they can afford.

The Government of Canada understands the urgency of the housing crisis and that it will take a collaborative effort to boost supply and restore affordability. That is why we launched “build Canada homes”, a new federal agency that will finance and build affordable housing at scale across our country. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need.

“Build Canada homes” will build affordable housing by partnering with builders and housing providers focused on long-term affordability. It will focus on using Canadian-made materials and modern construction methods, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze an entire industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably.

This is a real plan, one that Canadians elected us to act on. On day one, we announced the acceleration of 4,000 units on six sites, with a potential for 45,000 more on those sites. It is just the beginning. Our plan builds on the successes of existing initiatives such as the national housing strategy, which has reduced or eliminated housing issues for so many Canadians. The federal government is making historic investments in new housing with a new team Canada approach.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I did not really hear the answers I was looking for. The Liberals are saying the $13-billion bureaucracy is going to start with 4,000 homes, but the fact remains that nothing has been built and housing starts are down 13% in the country. Young people are losing hope of ever being able to afford a home.

We need to see the detailed plan. The minister has had six months. What is going to be built? How many apartments? How many modular homes, which Brookfield, and the Prime Minister as a direct result, will profit from, are going to be built? Where are they going to be built? What are the lists of the Crown lands that were promised were going to be turned over and turned into affordable housing?

With no plan and no details, it is clear there will not be any shovels in the ground any time soon.

Why does the government not get out of the way and give the money to communities like Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong that could build 1,400 units for the low, low price of $80 million?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect action, and that is exactly what the Government of Canada is delivering. I am so happy that our program will have a strong focus on affordable and supportive housing, something that is so very needed in our country.

The new federal agency “build Canada homes” will finance and build affordable homes at scale and will supercharge homebuilding across the country by leveraging modern methods of construction such as factory-built housing. It will support more affordable housing for low- and middle-income households so that Canadians can have access to a home within their means.

We have a real plan to build up our country. We want everybody to participate. We look forward to more information being shared about “build Canada homes“ in the weeks ahead. It is time to build.