Debates of Jan. 26th, 2026

Canadian Identity and Culture

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a little historical reminder: There is a reason why these questions are being asked in a Parliament in Ottawa. It is because English speakers chose to burn down the Parliament in Montreal rather than compensate French Canadians who had their farms burned down during the revolts of 1837 and 1838. That is quite the partnership.

The Liberal Quebec Lieutenant defended the Prime Minister saying that it was just a different take on history. History is about facts, not opinions. Instead of defending the Prime Minister's alternative facts, could he not teach him our history?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I see that our Bloc Québécois colleagues like to talk about history. I know one thing: The Canadians and Quebeckers watching at home would rather talk about the future.

I know Quebeckers. Those in my riding and those in every region of Quebec want a government that builds the future, attracts investments and supports families. Affordability is Quebeckers' top priority.

What are we doing today? We are responding with a Canadian benefit to help families put food on the table. We will always be there to stand up for Quebec and Quebeckers.

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister asked to be judged on inflation on grocery prices. Food inflation has doubled to the highest in the G7 and is double the U.S. rate. This is a homegrown problem of high Liberal taxes on farmers, fertilizer and food processors, and rampant inflationary deficits.

Today's recycled Trudeau-era rebate will barely cover one trip to the store for the average family. They now need to spend over $17,000 a year on groceries. It did not work when Trudeau tried it; prices kept rising. There is nothing in today's announcement that will make anything cost less.

Instead of temporary measures, why not permanently scrap the Liberal hidden taxes that drive up food costs?

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

Mr. Speaker, while the leader opposite focuses on hanging on to his leadership, we are focused on affordability for Canadians. Our new groceries and essentials benefit will help more than 12 million Canadians with food inflation. That is $1,900 for a family of four.

It is time for Canadians to tell Conservatives to stop the obstruction. Let us build Canada together.

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

Mr. Speaker, the plan did not work for Justin Trudeau. I do not know why the Liberals think it will work today.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister tried to blame inflation on global factors, but all other countries in the G7 have lower food inflation than Canada. The Liberal fuel standards tax did not invade us from another country. It already adds 7¢ a litre and is set to rise to 17¢. The Liberal industrial carbon tax did not come from away either. Working families who cannot afford beef know that today's announcement will not even cover one trip to the grocery store.

Why will the Liberals not stop trying to recycle failed Trudeau policies and adopt common-sense Conservative measures to scrap Liberal taxes on food?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of recycling, we have the 2015 playbook here in 2026, and it is just not going to work. Canadians know that the environment, economy, trade and reconciliation are all related. Canadians in Conservative ridings expect better than obstruction and speak-and-spell politics, where we get one of five answers to every problem.

On this side, there are new programs for affordability, economic growth and building big things, and this is a big moment for this country. I invite the members opposite to join us, to see the world as it is, and to build Canada strong.

The Economy

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is first in the G7 for food inflation. Canada's food inflation has doubled the U.S.'s inflation at 6.2%. Essentials like lettuce, beef, baby formula and apples have all been hit with Liberal inflation. Conservatives will fast-track any proposal that would reverse having the highest food inflation in the G7. That includes eliminating the industrial carbon tax and Liberal fuel standards, cutting red tape and boosting competition.

Will the Liberals introduce this immediately?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the government is focused on delivering support where it is needed. I cannot understand why the opposition is so against that. By taking action now, we are helping families manage essential costs, improving affordability and strengthening a more resilient food system.

Twelve million Canadians are going to be affected by this. It is going to help our domestic production. It is going to help our farmers and ranchers, and it is going to help our economy.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, giving Canadians the money back that the Liberals took from them in the first place does not lower grocery costs. The Prime Minister cannot blame global factors either when all other G7 nations have lower food inflation than Canada does. Liberals raised taxes on farmers, fertilizer and food processors, all while doubling the deficit.

Will the Liberals reverse these failed policies, or is having the highest food inflation in the G7 the only Liberal promise they are willing to keep?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, while the party of no keeps standing in the way of bringing down the cost of living for Canadians, we are saying yes. Today the groceries and essentials benefit will give 12 million Canadians support to put food on the table, saving the average family of four almost $1,900 and the average individual almost $900.

We are saying yes to supporting families. We are saying yes to making life more affordable. We are saying yes to real solutions. Why does the party of no not support Canadians and start saying yes as well?

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said, “A country that can't feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself, has few options.” He is right, and Canadians are looking for the Prime Minister's words to match his actions.

Tomorrow, Conservatives are going to introduce a motion to pass the Canadian sovereignty act. It would cut taxes, and it would let investors invest and builders build.

The question is very simple: At this critical time for our country, will the government say yes, and will it support the Canadian sovereignty act?

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

Mr. Speaker, there is a bill before this Parliament that would let investors invest, that would let builders build and that in fact would attract $1 trillion of investment in our country that will protect our workers and build our industries. It is the budget implementation act.

Canadians in Conservative ridings are telling us that they want this Parliament to work and that they want to endorse the Prime Minister's plan to create growth in this country.

Can the member give us a date, just a date, when we will have third reading and pass the Prime Minister's plan for prosperity in Canada?

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister seems open to our idea of moving more quickly for Canadians. That is fantastic. He also promised to make groceries more affordable for Canadians.

On this side of the House, we look forward to quickly passing measures to reverse food inflation, such as those that stimulate competition among grocery chains. Tomorrow, we will move a motion that calls for the passage of a bill on Canadian sovereignty.

Will the government introduce a bill to reduce the cost of groceries?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House. I wish everyone a happy new year. This is already a good year for Canadians. Today, more than 12 million Canadians will see an increase in their purchasing power. More purchasing power is what they need to deal with what we are seeing in grocery stores, and that is the goal. I hope our colleagues will support us in this endeavour.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has already said that we are letting that pass. Now, we need to continue and go further. It is time to reward businesses and workers who build and invest in Canada, and we need to protect Canadian innovation.

On this side of the House, we are proposing the creation of a tax credit for reinvestment in Canada in order to stimulate domestic industrial activity and protect Canadian innovation by requiring the Minister of Industry to table a plan to prevent Canadian patents, discoveries and innovations from being sold off to other countries.

Will the Liberals support our motion and introduce a bill on Canadian sovereignty?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I want to wish everyone a happy new year.

We are working together on new measures to help families put food on the table. For example, in my riding, not only will a single mother get more purchasing power, but she will also benefit from new measures to help her buy shoes and clothes and pay for after-school care.

These are realities not only in my riding, but in opposition members' ridings as well, I am sure. I ask them to work with us and give—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Drummond.

Canadian Identity and Culture

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it was on a sunny day in September 1759 that the beautiful partnership between the French and the English began. This beautiful friendship, born on the Plains of Abraham, would give rise to moments filled with affection, including the banning of French in schools, the hanging of patriots, the Durham report, the execution of Riel, the Quebec City riot over conscription, the War Measures Act, the night of the long knives, Meech Lake and more.

There are limits to offering a different perspective on history. Does this simply prove that the Prime Minister knows nothing about the history of Quebeckers and francophones in Canada?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by wishing a happy new year to the members of the Bloc Québécois, that is, the federal militant wing of the Parti Québécois. I think what bothers them the most is that the Prime Minister's message was one of national unity.

Still, I would like to ask them a question. Did they ask Paul St-Pierre Plamondon for permission to ask that question? He has moved on to other things. Now he is picking a fight with Bonhomme Carnaval. We cannot make this stuff up.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is wonderful. Rewriting the facts is contagious and rampant across the Liberal caucus. To hear the Prime Minister, it seems that Montcalm's dying words would have been: I die disappointed, saddened not to see the English reach Quebec City. The truth is that we were conquered, and since then the federal government has gone to great lengths trying to force us into submission.

The Prime Minister chose to rewrite history on the assumption that Quebeckers are unfamiliar with it. Instead of spouting nonsense about the plains and insulting our intelligence, what is the Prime Minister waiting for to pick up a book and learn a little more about Quebec? He could use it.

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

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers are telling us loud and clear to focus on affordability, end-of-month needs, rent, housing and protecting our industries, such as softwood lumber and aluminum. They are asking us for broader protection against tariffs and other threats in a highly complex world, and to protect our culture and language. That is what the federal government and the Liberal Party are going to do this year.

Taxation

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Stats Canada confirms what Canadian families already know at the checkout. Food inflation has jumped by 6.2% in the last year. Grocery prices are up 5%, and Canada now has the highest food inflation in the G7. Newfoundland and Labrador has the second-highest food inflation rate in the entire country. Higher transportation costs mean that local families are hit even harder.

Conservatives are ready to fast-track measures to bring food prices down. Will the government eliminate the industrial carbon tax and the 17¢-a-litre fuel standards tax so that Canadians can afford the basics?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I wish the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador a happy new year. I want to just give a couple of stats regarding the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, specific for our province. This year, a family of four will get over $1,890, and over the next four years, they will get $1,400 a year. A single person will get $950 with the top-off and $700 going forward.

Her constituents are telling me they want action. She should stop the obstruction and work for the people.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, we are ready to work with the government on real, long-term solutions instead of recycled, temporary, Trudeau-era rebates. Canada has been called the food inflation capital of the G7. That is real hardship. People back home ask me how far this has to go before it stops.

The Prime Minister cannot blame global factors when all other countries have lower food price inflation than Canada. It is a homegrown problem of high Liberal taxes.

Will the government focus on actually bringing down food prices, or will it defend policies that make food more expensive?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell members what is recycled. It is the tired notes that the Conservative members, including this member from Newfoundland and Labrador as well, continue to repeat. The point is that they consistently vote against supports that help families and the people in their ridings that they talk about, who I hear from and who want them to support them. They should stop the nonsense, work together and let us grow Canada.