Debates of Jan. 27th, 2026

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, instead of trying to find quotes, my colleague should watch television. Yesterday, he would have seen the Prime Minister join us in announcing the Canada groceries and essentials benefit precisely to address that. I realize that it may seem insignificant to my colleague, but $1,890 helps many families across the country. It is a serious measure for a serious moment in our country's history.

I know my colleagues are talking over the question, but I believe that people watching us at home know that people on our side of the House will always be there to help them when times are tough.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the latest data show that one in five Quebec renters has a hard time paying rent. This is a particularly harsh reality for couples in their working and child-rearing years. In the regions, municipalities are trying to do their part. Baie-Saint-Paul cut certain municipal taxes to help keep rent increases low. La Malbaie cut municipal spending to protect people's ability to pay.

Will the Liberal government finally acknowledge that its policies over the past 10 years have hurt purchasing power and fuelled inflation?

Will the government choose wisely and work with the Conservatives to implement a real plan to make life more affordable?

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

Mr. Speaker, we cannot control every price and every detail, and we realize Canadians are facing major challenges. As the mayor of Quebec City said, when times are tough, it is important to give choices back to people.

What we are doing right now is giving purchasing power back to Canadians so they can make choices. This will affect 12 million Canadians. Couples will get $1,890 back this year and $1,400 for the next four years. Individuals will get $950 back this year and $700 for the next few years. That is what it means to give that choice back to people. We are giving power back to Canadians—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Montmorency—Charlevoix.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2026, a family of four will have to pay up to $17,500 for food for the year, which is $1,000 more than last year. That affects everyone.

After causing this inflation through their own policies, now the Liberals are feeling bad, so yesterday they announced apology cheques for some families to put a little money back in their pockets to help pay for their overpriced groceries.

When will the Liberal government acknowledge that its inflationary policies have failed and finally work with the Conservatives to lower the cost of living? It is high time we gave Quebeckers and Canadians some breathing room.

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

Mr. Speaker, our government has proposed new measures to make life more affordable. Families in my riding will see the impacts first-hand.

I am thinking of the dad who will be able to pay for his son's lunch when he participates in a tournament, or the skates that a family will need to buy. These are things that affect the lives and the daily reality of Quebeckers. In my own family, I am thinking of my uncle and cousin who go hunting to obtain traditional food. This support will put more money in their pockets, which will give them a better quality of life.

Seniors

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our seniors built this country and they paid taxes their entire lives, and yet some of them are having to wait up to eight months to get their OAS cheque. That is unacceptable.

There is missing or inconsistent data on the 7.4 million seniors whose files were migrated to new software. Since 2015, the government has hired 100,000 new public servants, but it is not working. Public servants are saying that they have not had proper training since the software was implemented.

Politics requires courage. Who in the Liberal government will have the courage to stand up and solve the problem facing our seniors?

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

Mr. Speaker, we obviously find it unfortunate if a senior citizen has experienced an issue with their cheque. The member should speak to the government, and we will try to resolve the issue.

That said, enough is enough. We changed computer systems, which is a huge undertaking. We have replaced outdated software from the 1970s with new software that allows citizens to manage their own accounts and register for OAS. That is enough of the opposition's fearmongering.

Public Safety

[Michael Ma, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while I now sit on a different side of the House, my priorities remain the same: standing up for my constituents and making sure their concerns are acted on. Last fall, I held a crime prevention town hall in Markham—Unionville. What I heard clearly and repeatedly were concerns about auto thefts and home invasions and the impact these crimes have on families' sense of safety.

Can the minister outline how Canada's new government is strengthening public safety and ensuring—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Secretary of State for Combatting Crime.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague to the government benches, where he is already making a real impact.

In 2024, we had an auto theft summit and created a plan, and thanks to the dedication of law enforcement across this country, and focused federal action, we are seeing a downward trend in auto thefts across the country. On top of that, we presented bail and sentencing reform, which is going to make people who commit auto theft or home invasions face serious jail time. This is serious leadership for a serious matter.

Taxation

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just last week, the Prime Minister stood at a podium in Davos in a room full of billionaires and global elites and lectured the world about—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

From the top, please, the hon. member for New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury.

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Picking up from where I left off, Mr. Speaker, he lectured the world about honesty and naming reality. Well, here is a reality check for him. Canada now leads the G7 in food inflation. Families here at home are paying more for groceries because of Liberal policies that tax fuel, fertilizer and food production.

If the Prime Minister thinks honesty matters, will he admit today his policies are driving up food prices?

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

The first thing, Mr. Speaker, is I know we want to acknowledge the member's acknowledgement of our Prime Minister's fantastic speech at the World Economic Forum.

I know Canadians were very relieved when the Leader of the Opposition said that never, ever, shall he or any of his ministers ever go to Davos to that World Economic Forum. They would not want to run across the President of the United States or the President of Ukraine or any of the investors in Canada, so the—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury.

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians would not need any rebates if the Liberals had not driven up grocery prices in the first place. So long as they keep imposing the industrial carbon tax and the 17¢-a-litre fuel tax on Canadian food production, prices will keep increasing.

Conservatives are ready to fast-track bills that would reverse the highest food inflation in the G7. Will the government stand with us and introduce measures to make food affordable again, or will it just keep driving up food prices?

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

Mr. Speaker, despite that bluster, we are focused on affordability for Canadians. We cut taxes for 22 million of them. We cut the consumer carbon tax. We cut the GST for first-time homebuyers. Just yesterday, our Prime Minister announced the groceries and essentials benefit, putting up to $1,900 in the pockets of working families.

It is time to stop the obstruction. Let us build Canada.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, food security is national security. Statistics Canada confirms food inflation has hit 6.2%, the highest in the G7. It now costs $17,600 to feed a family of four, $1,000 more than last year, with food prices rising twice as fast as in the U.S. Canadians know why. The industrial carbon fuel and packaging taxes drive up the cost of farm equipment, fertilizer and trucking.

Will the government move now to eliminate these taxes, boost grocery competition and cut the red tape on farmers, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, that member's riding wants to know why he voted against every affordability measure we have put forward. Just yesterday, ourPrime Minister announced a groceries and essentials benefit that will put up to $1,900 in the pockets of working families. It is time for that member and his party to stop the obstruction, get behind us and build Canada.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, people in my riding and across this country are tired of the Liberals taking far more money out of their back pockets than they are putting in their front pockets.

Food banks now see 2.2 million visits every month. Food prices are rising twice as fast as when the Prime Minister first took office. The Liberals' own reports admit that fuel standard taxes add 7¢ a litre today and are rising to 17¢, hitting rural Canadians the hardest.

Again, will the government finally act to remove these taxes, increase grocery competition and support farmers, or will it keep forcing Canadians to pay the highest food inflation in the G7?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of food banks, Food Banks Canada welcomes the introduction of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, calling it “an important step to help people facing rising affordability pressures."

While the members opposite obstruct real progress, we understand the affordability that is top of mind for Canadians. This is going to help 12 million Canadians. That is incredible. It is nearly $1,900 that will help as additional support for families of four. It will help mothers with groceries, helping them with essentials at home and with their kids at school. This is real progress and real change.

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

Mr. Speaker, Stats Canada confirmed what Canadians feel every single day: Life is more expensive. Fact: Canada is now leading the G7 in food inflation. Fact: Food prices in Canada are rising twice as fast as they are in the U.S. Fact: Nearly 2.2 million people visit food banks in Canada in a single month.

Rising food prices are hitting Canadians hard. Conservatives will support legislation that cuts red tape on farmers so they and Canada can grow. The question is, will the government table it?