Debates of Jan. 28th, 2026

Carbon Pricing

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have heard this all before, band-aid solutions that most Canadians will not even qualify for. Families need real action that actually lowers the cost of food at the grocery store. Conservatives are ready to fast-track any legislation that will help deliver real results for Canadians.

When will the Liberals get serious about tackling food inflation and introduce legislation to permanently scrap the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standards tax that are driving up the costs for farmers, truckers and every family trying to put food on the table?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are good talkers, but I can tell members they have a short memory, because on Monday, Canadians noticed what will be happening. They are going to have a rebate for groceries and essentials.

In addition to that, let me help the Conservatives with their householders, so they do not forget to tell their constituents. There will be $500 million for the strategic response fund to strengthen food production in the country, the immediate expensing of greenhouses, additional funding for food banks and a national food strategy, and we are working toward a standard price per unit.

Instead of shouting in the House, the Conservatives should get on board, support Canadians, and make this country—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Middlesex—London.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, food inflation is up 6.2%, the highest in the G7, and grocery prices are rising twice as fast since the Prime Minister took office. Families will pay over $1,000 more this year just to eat. Farmers, truckers and food processors have been clear: The Liberals' industrial carbon tax and their new fuel standards tax are driving up costs from field to fridge.

Conservatives are ready to act, so will the Liberal government work with us to scrap these taxes, boost grocery competition and cut red tape for our farmers?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, all fall, the Conservatives across the aisle quoted Food Banks Canada time and time again in their litigation on the cost of food. Now, when the government steps up to help 12 million families with up to $1,900 to pay for those very costs of food, the Conservatives are fighting against it.

Why can Conservative MPs not listen to their constituents, get out of the way and help those very Canadians they claim to care about?

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is the cold, hard truth: If two parents work full time and they make over $14.87 an hour, their families get nothing. That is right. Members heard me. Most families will not even qualify for this rebate.

Once again, the Liberals gaslight Canadians while we see 2.2 million visits to food banks every single month. Liberal taxes and policies are what are driving up the cost of food. Recycling their broken policies does nothing to lower it. When will the government stop pretending that rebates will fix inflation and, instead, deal with the root cause?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives like to talk about making life affordable, but every time Canadians ask for help and the government provides that help, whether it is through affordable child care, which, by the way, saves families up to $16,000 a year; the school food program, which reaches families all across the country; or this new tax benefit that will help 12 million Canadians, they say, “Oh, that is not exactly the right thing.”

They have no answers, not for their constituents, not for any Canadian.

International Trade

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister told us that China had committed to lifting its tariffs on Quebec pork. The pork industry, which did not know about this, was both surprised and very happy, understandably so.

This morning, Antoine Trépanier reported that this is not in fact true. The government should not treat people this way. It should not be creating false hope.

Can the government confirm that there is, in fact, no agreement on pork with China?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we remain committed in our partnerships with all industry stakeholders in the beef and canola industries, in the agriculture industry.

At the same time, we will continue to diversify our supply chains for our domestic economy. That is in the national interest and that is our plan on this side of the House.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I did not hear the words “pig”, “hog” or “pork”. There was no reference to pork in the answer. My question is simple. The Prime Minister, who is the new incarnation of God, told us yesterday that we now have a deal with the Chinese, who are lifting tariffs on pork.

Can the government at least include the word “pork” in its answer? Can it quickly commit to ensuring that lifting tariffs on Quebec pork is a top priority? After all, Quebeckers are the leading buyers of electric cars in Canada, and the government is bringing in 50,000 of them.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have had discussions with China about several sectors of our economy, including pork, beef and canola. Each time, we continue to say that it is in Canada's interest to have a “friendly” agreement for our pork sector and for our economy. That is our strategy on this side of the House.

Forestry Industry

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, she is talking about a "friendly" agreement. The pigs will be thrilled.

That said, the minister responsible for the negotiations was interviewed on Radio-Canada this morning and he said that, while we are focusing on history, he is focusing on Quebec's forests. My goodness, what a day of revelations it has been. It is the Epiphany.

Can someone tell me what this government has done for forestry, apart from rejecting the industry's proposal, or is this government as bad at economics as it is at history?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can assure my colleague that we are as good at economics as we are at history.

If there is one thing I can say, it is that we worked with the forestry sector, and I think everyone is aware of that. I know that some folks like to forget these things, but we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help the forestry industry. I come from a region that understands that.

We have always been there for workers. We have always been there for the industry. We will always be there to defend Canada's interests.

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, there are critical statistics every member of Parliament must take seriously. There are 2.2 million visits to food banks every single month. Canada's food inflation is 6.2%, and that is double that of the U.S. This year it will cost $17,600 to feed a family. That is a national emergency we must take seriously, and Conservatives want to expedite a real solution.

Will the Liberal government immediately table legislation to cut taxes that punish those who bring food to our tables and boost competition in grocery chains?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, to the member's question, not only do we take the statistics very seriously, but we also take the recommendations of the organizations that are working to feed hungry Canadians extremely seriously. The top recommendation of Food Banks Canada was to create a groceries and essentials benefit. The Conservatives have a chance to support that motion and to vote in favour of it to help Canadians at the grocery store.

We know, based on the research that has been done by independent agencies, that industrial carbon prices not only have a negligible impact or zero impact, but many of them actually help. As such, if the Conservatives want to help Canadians at the grocery store, they should vote in favour of the groceries and essentials benefit.

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

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Liberals have tried this before, and it has only made matters worse. Canada is a country full of farms and fields, yet we are known as the food inflation capital of the G7. Food inflation has doubled since 2019. This is a homegrown crisis caused by high taxes on farmers, truckers and food processors, lack of competition in grocery chains and reckless inflationary spending.

I ask this again: Will the Liberal government immediately cut taxes that punish those who put food on our tables and boost competition in grocery chains?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, farmers know that the number one cause of food inflation in Canada and globally is climate change. When they are listing off the products that are most affected by climate change, they often list lettuce, which is impacted by climate change in California; coffee, which is imported to Canada as we do not grow coffee here; and beef, which is impacted by climate change. The Conservatives can continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that climate change does not exist, but we are working with farmers to increase the number of domestic producers. We are working to build more greenhouses so that Canadians can buy more Canadian food.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while the Prime Minister spends his time with the world elites, life at home is getting harder for Canadians, including families in Haldimand—Norfolk. The 2026 food price report is alarming. This year, it will cost $17,600 to feed a family of four, which is $1,000 more than it cost last year. The Prime Minister's industrial carbon tax and fuel standard tax are driving up food prices.

Will he scrap the taxes and bring down the cost of food for Canadians?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, the National Institute on Ageing's fourth annual report was just released, and it commends the actions the government is taking. It agrees with us, and its data shows that reducing expenditures in one area can result in an overall reduction in hardship as money is freed up for other household needs. That is why organizations like Food Banks Canada agree that the groceries and essentials benefit will make a real difference in the lives of Canadians, helping them to afford baby formula, helping them to afford lettuce and helping them to afford coffee and toilet paper.

I do not understand why the Conservatives want to be obstructionist about feeding 12 million Canadians.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear. Statistics Canada shows that food inflation is up 6.2%, which is the highest in the G7. I remember, as a university student, putting food back on the shelf because I could not afford it. I am so blessed today, but even recently I did not buy a package of meat because it cost four times more than I paid for it last year. Imagine what average Canadians who are working two jobs are going through, sacrificing every single day just to get by.

Will the Liberals give Canadians a break and cut the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard tax?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, like many of my constituents in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, I grew up in a single-parent household. I had a single mother and a handicapped sister, and making ends meet was really challenging. It is families like this that we have in mind, like the one I grew up in, like the ones that exist in my riding and in that member's riding. They are the ones we want to feed, and Food Banks Canada is supporting what we are doing.

Again, I do not understand why the Conservatives are opposed to feeding families.

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

Mr. Speaker, food inflation is up 6.2%, the highest in the G7. A family now pays more than $17,000 a year for food, and 2.2 million people are lined up at food banks every month, thanks to the Liberals' industrial carbon tax and fuel standard tax, adding up to about 17¢ a litre, which is hitting farmers, truckers and food prices.

Conservatives are ready to fast-track legislation to reverse these devastating impacts. Will the Liberals immediately introduce a bill to eliminate the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard tax to boost grocery competition and cut red tape for our farmers?

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

Mr. Speaker, while members opposite minimize our affordability plan, let us take an example of a young family of four this year. With supports like the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canada child benefit, affordable child care, dental care, the national school food program and the fact that we cut taxes for millions of Canadians, this family will save over $50,000 a year. This is real affordability.

While members opposite continue to obstruct Parliament, we are going to stand up for Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals take thousands of dollars from Canadians; they return a pittance. Canadians are not fooled.

Food prices in Canada are rising twice as fast as in the U.S. and twice as fast since the Prime Minister took office. Grocery prices are up 5%, and his response to the cost of living crisis is to tell Canadians to sacrifice more. Canadians have sacrificed enough. With the ever-increasing cost to eat and heat, there is little left for Canadians to give up.

When will the government finally stop asking families to sacrifice and commit to legislation today to make life affordable for hard-working Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not understand how the Conservatives can look their constituents in the eye when all they do in the House is obstruct what we are doing and the progress we are making.

We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are making the national school food program permanent. This is going to help 400,000 kids eat healthy meals at school. We are saving families $16,000 per year through affordable child care. We are providing relief for 12 million Canadians through our Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This is going to make a real difference, especially for families in my riding of Mississauga—Streetsville.