House of Commons Hansard #26 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was sector.

Topics

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This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Opposition Motion—Oil and Gas Emissions Cap Members debate a Conservative motion to repeal the oil and gas emissions cap, which they argue is a production cap that harms Canada's economy and job creation. Liberals assert Canada can be an energy superpower by balancing growth with emissions reduction through innovation and clean technology, citing projects like Ksi Lisims LNG. The Bloc and Green parties express concern that Canada is not meeting emissions targets and that the cap (or stricter measures) is essential to address the climate emergency. 47800 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives criticize the Liberal government for increasing gun crime by targeting law-abiding citizens with a "gun grab" program, which even the minister admits is a waste of money. They also condemn the skyrocketing food prices, chaotic immigration system with surging illegal border crossers, and the housing crisis exacerbated by high costs. They call to axe the oil and gas production cap.
The Liberals defend their firearms buyback program and commit to responsible gun control. They highlight affordability measures through tax cuts and affordable housing. The party also focuses on strengthening border security, criminal justice reform, and sustainable immigration. They promote gender equality, investments in clean energy and infrastructure, and advocate for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
The Bloc criticizes the federal government's Supreme Court brief as an attack on Quebec's parliamentary sovereignty, the notwithstanding clause, and state secularism, demanding its withdrawal. They also condemn the government's failure to address organized crime infiltrating Canada via student visas.
The NDP condemns the government's corporate agenda for violating workers', Indigenous, and migrants' rights, and undermining gender equality.

Living Donor Recognition Medal Act First reading of Bill C-234. The bill proposes establishing a national medal to recognize living organ donors for their selfless acts of donating organs to save lives. It aims to raise awareness and encourage more living donations in Canada. 300 words.

Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act First reading of Bill C-235. The bill increases parole ineligibility from 25 to 40 years for offenders convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder. It aims to prevent revictimization and spare victims' families from repeated parole hearings. 300 words.

Addressing the Continuing Victimization of Homicide Families Act First reading of Bill C-236. The bill, "McCann's law," amends criminal acts to extend parole ineligibility and make co-operation in recovering victims' remains a major factor in parole decisions for offenders who refuse to disclose locations. 200 words.

Fisheries Act First reading of Bill C-237. The bill amends the Fisheries Act to allow seven-day-a-week cod fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, aligning it with other Atlantic provinces, and to improve science and data for Atlantic groundfish fisheries. 200 words.

Criminal Code First reading of Bill C-238. The bill amends the Criminal Code to mandate restitution orders for drug and human trafficking crimes, ensuring criminals pay victims, their families, and community agencies providing support services. 100 words.

Canada Health Act First reading of Bill C-239. The bill requires provinces receiving federal health transfers to develop accountability frameworks, set care benchmarks, and publish annual reports to increase transparency on health care spending and access. 100 words.

Offender Rehabilitation Act First reading of Bill C-240. The bill addresses substance addiction by empowering courts to prescribe rehabilitation during custody, strengthening rehabilitation objectives for parole, and making large-scale fentanyl trafficking an aggravating factor. 200 words.

National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act First reading of Bill C-241. The bill establishes a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting to protect communities, build climate resilience, and support a sustainable economy. .

Jail Not Bail Act First reading of Bill C-242. The bill aims to amend the Criminal Code and Department of Justice Act to fix the bail system, address repeat violent offenders, and restore safe streets, according to the Mover. .

Corrections and Conditional Release Act First reading of Bill C-243. The bill amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to stop convicted murderers from applying for parole yearly after an initial denial, instead using statutory time frames to reduce victim trauma. 100 words.

Clean Coasts Act First reading of Bill C-244. The bill amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to make marine dumping a strict liability offence and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act to prevent irresponsible transfer of pleasure crafts. 200 words.

Adjournment Debates

Canada's emissions reduction plan Elizabeth May questions when the government will present a plan to meet emissions reduction targets, highlighting the Canadian Climate Institute's report indicating Canada is falling short. Wade Grant insists Canada has a plan, citing progress in reducing emissions, especially methane, and investments in clean energy and resilience.
Pipeline projects and Canadian steel Warren Steinley questions the Liberals' commitment to building pipelines and supporting Canadian steelworkers at Evraz steel in Regina. Corey Hogan defends the government's approach, citing the Major Projects Office, clean technology, and prioritization of Canadian steel in federal projects, also emphasizing the importance of indigenous consultation.
Small business red tape Brad Vis raises concerns about the red tape burdening small businesses. Wade Grant defends the CARM system, implemented to streamline customs processes. Vis clarifies his concerns relate to tariff notices. Grant highlights CBSA's efforts to minimize delays at ports of entry and support importers.
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

September 22nd, 2025 / 2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, Radio-Canada has made a shocking revelation. Members of organized crime are entering Canada on student visas and getting rich off fraud, car theft, identity theft and so on.

Once again, instead of taking responsibility, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration is burying its head in the sand. In its response to the report, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, blamed the universities, even though screening the identities of those entering Canada, including foreign students, is solely the federal government's responsibility.

IRCC is responsible. When will it start working to combat organized crime instead of blaming universities?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have given us a mandate to restore our international student program to sustainable levels, and that is what we are doing. Nearly 100,000 fewer students arrived in 2025, and the latest figures show that the number of student visa holders dropped by 144,000. We want to attract the best talent while protecting international students.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, the minister obviously did not watch the report. The problem is not the universities; the problem is international organized crime. Criminals are taking advantage of Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada's negligence to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

Border services know that this money is being used to prop up a criminal organization in the Ivory Coast, and even to fund terrorist activities. While Europe is fighting this network, which it calls the African mafia, Ottawa treats it like the problem is students cutting class. It is easy to understand why Canada is a prime target.

When will Ottawa take responsibility?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, we just campaigned on strengthening our borders. Fraud is getting increasingly sophisticated, so we need effective tools to maintain a migration management approach.

The House is currently considering Bill C-2, which seeks to ensure equity in our immigration system and to improve visa and asylum application processing. We want to protect the integrity of our system, and I invite all parliamentarians to support us.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, since the minister was appointed, many more people have been abused and defrauded by Canadian immigration consultants who contribute to the chaos in Canada's immigration system while the minister just lets them. Instead of taking advice experts have been giving for years, which is to make immigration consultants report to lawyers, the minister said this summer that this is fine, and she doubled down on a system that is clearly not working.

The Prime Minister chose an incompetent minister for one of the most important files in government. Why?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Prime Minister for choosing me to be the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. I am very proud of my record from when I served as Nova Scotia's minister of immigration.

Protecting prospective newcomers from those who try to take advantage of them is critically important. That is why we have established the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants to regulate consultants and protect the public. This is something that we are very serious about, and we will ensure that it gets done.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, the minister mentioned her record as immigration minister in a provincial government. During that time, a Nova Scotia auditor found that there were the following issues: There was “No process to determine provincial labour market needs and assess whether these are being addressed” by Nova Scotia's provincial nominee program, and “None of the eight recommendations from a 2020 fraud risk assessment [had] been implemented.”

I will ask the same question: Why did the Prime Minister put an incompetent minister into this position?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank the Prime Minister. In fact, I want to thank the people in Halifax West for electing me to this Parliament. I am here to do the best job I possibly can do with my experience, with my expertise and with my love for Canada and love for Canadians. We will continue to do that.

With respect to my record as minister of immigration provincially from 2013 to 2021, the record is clear. I would invite parliamentarians to look at it.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of the Liberal government, our immigration system is in chaos. This summer, illegal border crossers claiming asylum surged by a staggering 277%. Most of their claims will be bogus. This has put massive pressure on housing, health care and benefits across Canada, especially in Quebec. What did the immigration minister do? She did absolutely nothing. She enjoyed her summer vacation while our borders were left wide open.

The Prime Minister promised to be different, but instead of fixing it, he let the situation spiral out of control while Canadians paid the price. Why did the Prime Minister appoint such an incompetent minister to one of the most important jobs, when she is making the crisis worse every single day?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to thank the member for that question, but I will answer the question. I have spent my summer, a whole 10 or 11 weeks, working seven days a week without taking one day for vacation.

Having said that, this government is intent on ensuring that our immigration system becomes sustainable, as well as intent on protecting our borders. That is why we have Bill C-2 in front of us in Parliament, which would be an aid for us here. I urge all parliamentarians to get on board and support it.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Sandra Cobena Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of the Liberal government, Canada's immigration system is broken. The Prime Minister promised he would be different, but nothing has changed. The only way to stop illegal border crossers from abusing our asylum system is to end the incentives that turn it into a back door for economic migration, yet the immigration minister has done literally nothing all summer.

Therefore, I ask again, why has the Prime Minister put a minister who is totally out of her depth and making things worse on one of the most important files in cabinet?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am a little puzzled and a little concerned about the tone coming from the opposition. We do not treat MPs and ministers in the House in this way. This minister is doing a fantastic job and has presented legislation before this Parliament, which that party needs to respond to, that will clean up our immigration system.

While they are at it, the Conservatives can perhaps answer for why, in Cloverdale—Langley City, they are forcing temporary students to come and campaign for them in by-election campaigns. Those are the questions the incompetent Leader of the Opposition and his party need to answer.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Sukhman Gill Conservative Abbotsford—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the minister said she worked all summer, and the system is worse. The Prime Minister promised he would be different, but illegal border crossers have been surging into Canada to abuse the asylum system all summer, and the minister has done nothing to stop it.

She has not strengthened the safe third country agreement. She has not reviewed the benefits they receive to put a stop to the ones who come into our country. She has let the asylum seekers become even worse than the predecessor she followed.

The Prime Minister chose to be incompetent and chose an incompetent minister for the cabinet. Why?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, our government is working hard to secure our borders. This morning, I had the chance to meet with the president of the CBSA, who advised that border crossings are down 60%. We will strengthen our borders and invest more resources through security screenings as well as quickly identifying and removing those who are inadmissible. We will hire a thousand more RCMP and CBSA officers.

We have Bill C-2 in the House right now. If the members opposite are serious about border crossings and immigration, then they should pass it swiftly.

EmploymentOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

John-Paul Danko Liberal Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON

Mr. Speaker, Hamilton is proud to be Canada's steel city, with a long history of organized labour and skilled trades. Our country's industry, housing and infrastructure, the foundations of our economy, have always been built by workers in the building trades.

Could the Secretary of State for Labour update the House on how our government is supporting apprentices and helping workers get the training they need to literally build Canada's future?

EmploymentOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Etobicoke North Ontario

Liberal

John Zerucelli LiberalSecretary of State (Labour)

Mr. Speaker, finally, there is a good question. I have been meeting with workers from Surrey to St. John's, including Canada's building trades unions that are in town this week, and they all say the same thing: It is time to build. That is exactly what we are doing.

From major nation-building projects to building Canadian homes, we are building big with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber, Canadian unionized workers. We are creating thousands of jobs and apprenticeship opportunities through the union training and innovation program. We are investing in training the next generation. While the Conservatives talk down Canada, we are building Canada up with Canadian workers.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC

Mr. Speaker, the public safety minister told the truth. It is true. He spoke about how this confiscation buyback is an incredible boondoggle. Let us actually hear what he had to say: “This is the mandate I was given by [the Prime Minister] to complete this...and not revisit this.” It sounds like he does not even believe in this.

If the public safety minister does not believe in this program, why are we spending 742 million taxpayer dollars to keep it going?

FirearmsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, I have addressed this issue a number of times, but let me just make it very personal. In the last four months in this role as Minister of Public Safety, I have received a great deal of vitriol from the gun lobby. If we go into my social media accounts, we will see hundreds if not thousands of comments of hatred that are coming through the gun lobby. What the party opposite is doing is reinforcing that.

We have a serious plan to ensure that guns are off our streets. This is why we will be going forward and implementing this program. I invite the party opposite to come on board and ensure our streets are safe.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is always somebody else's fault. What this minister fails to mention is that in Bill C-5, he voted so that people who do drive-by shootings can serve their sentence on house arrest, people who do robberies with guns, house arrest.

Nobody wants a part of this program. Canada Post does not want a part of it. Local law enforcement does not want a part of it. The OPP does not want a part of this $742-million boondoggle. The minister told us he just has to put it to an end.

Why are the Liberals still intent on having this program go forward when all he wants to do is end it?

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Brampton North—Caledon Ontario

Liberal

Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives constantly want U.S.-style politics here, whether it is the “three strikes and you're out” rule or assault rifles on our streets, which the Conservatives would make legal again. We have seen these policies fail in the U.S., and they would not work here either. They should come up with some comprehensive, meaningful change like the change that we are going to bring with bail reform and sentencing reform.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Arpan Khanna Conservative Oxford, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal gun grab scam unfairly targets law-abiding Canadians while giving criminals a free pass. This failed scam has been rejected by the police, the provinces, Canada Post and now even their own public safety minister. In a leaked audio, he says the Prime Minister pressured him. He admits that this plan will not work, and he even promised to pay his tenant's bail if he is arrested. I cannot make this up. What the Liberals say in public versus what they say behind closed doors are totally opposite.

If the minister will not stand behind his own plan, why should Canadians foot the $700-million bill for the scam?

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Brampton North—Caledon Ontario

Liberal

Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)

Mr. Speaker, we are moving forward in a responsible way to make sure that gun ownership in Canada is safe. There is no reason to have assault-style firearms on our streets or in our homes. We are going to be responsible. We are going to make sure we do not have the gun crisis that we see in the United States, just south of us. If Conservatives had their way, they would make guns free and legal for everyone.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have been saying from day one that the gun buyback program is an awful idea. Law-abiding gun owners do not commit gun crime with lawfully purchased guns. Criminals commit gun crime, gun criminals who terrorize our streets because of the Liberals' failure on law and order. We know that the OPP will not participate in the program. Canada Post will not participate in the program. Local police will not participate in the program. Now we learn that the Minister of Public Safety does not want to participate in it either.

Why is this minister going ahead with a program that he does not want to participate in?

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Brampton North—Caledon Ontario

Liberal

Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives need to get serious about resolving and coming up with solutions when it comes to crime and when it comes to firearms in our country. When they were in government, the Conservatives cut funding to the RCMP and to our borders, and they would go back and make assault-style firearms legal in our country.

If they care so much about the safety of our nation, maybe their leader should get a security clearance.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Guglielmin Conservative Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, leaked audio from the Minister of Public Safety revealed the truth: Not even he believes the Liberal gun confiscation program will work. He begged a law-abiding citizen, “Don't ask me to explain the logic to you”. He knows it is wrong, and he admits the Prime Minister is forcing him to ram this failed policy through, even though he knows it will not fix their soft-on-crime record.

Why is the minister still proceeding with this $742-million boondoggle when even he admits it is a failure?