House of Commons Hansard #151 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.)
The word of the day was procurement.
Topics
This summary is computer-generated.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Criminal Code
First reading of Bill C-293.
The bill creates a stand-alone offence for violent home invasions, with a maximum life sentence, a five-year mandatory minimum, reverse onus for bail, and DNA orders upon conviction.
200 words.
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Members debate a committee report on youth employment, citing rising unemployment and barriers to first jobs, training, housing, and seasonal work. Conservatives call for lower taxes and red tape, labour-market-aligned immigration and training, workforce housing, and EI reform; Liberals highlight job growth and Red Seal training, while the Bloc emphasizes gaps in EI coverage.
5200 words, 40 minutes.
Strengthening Canada's Defence Sector Act
Second reading of Bill C-40.
The bill would establish the Defence Investment Agency as a Crown corporation with expanded authority to coordinate defence procurement, production and investment, aiming to deliver military capabilities faster and strengthen Canadian industry. It would also broaden the Defence Production Act to cover national security. Supporters say the corporation retains ministerial and parliamentary oversight; critics warn its powers could weaken transparency, competition and accountability.
39000 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 12.
The Conservatives criticize the government’s fiscal management, linking rising debt and interest costs to an affordability crisis. They call for lower immigration and Canadian workers first, and condemn awarding a major security contract to an American firm over Canadian veterans. They also highlight job losses and the harm tariffs pose to dairy farmers.
The Liberals defend the CRA’s independent procurement decision and highlight Canada’s strong fiscal position, affordability measures, and plans for growth through investment, jobs and training. They emphasize immigration reforms, while arguing that temporary foreign workers can address labour shortages when Canadians are prioritized. They also promote infrastructure and resource development, support for businesses, and efforts to strengthen Canada’s economy.
The NDP condemn Bill C-39 for trampling Indigenous and workers’ rights and overriding environmental laws, while criticizing the government’s limited consultation.
Alleged Premature Disclosure of Bill C-40
Kevin Lamoureux argues that an investigation found no evidence Bill C-40 was disclosed before its introduction. He says public discussion of making the Defence Investment Agency a Crown corporation and appointing a procurement minister made the proposal foreseeable, and asks the Speaker to reject the opposition’s privilege complaint.
2600 words.
Freedom of Speech in Members' Parliamentary Work
Members hear a Conservative question of privilege arguing that an Ontario medical regulator’s investigation of a Liberal MP over a supplementary opinion in a parliamentary committee report may infringe parliamentary freedom of speech. The member asks the Speaker to find a prima facie breach and refer the matter to committee for study. The Liberal parliamentary secretary reserves a response.
2600 words, 15 minutes.
Canada Revenue Agency Act
Second reading of Bill S-217.
The bill requires the Canada Revenue Agency to report tax-evasion convictions and publish regular tax-gap statistics, while sharing data with the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Supporters across opposition parties say the measures would strengthen transparency and parliamentary oversight; Liberal concerns focus on existing reporting and protecting confidential tax information. The House passes the bill at second reading and refers it to the Standing Committee on Finance.
5700 words, 40 minutes.
Canadian Fuel Affordability Act
Report stage of Bill C-38.
The bill extends the suspension of federal fuel excise taxes on gasoline and diesel through January 31, 2027, then restores half the tax in February and March before reinstating it fully on April 1. Liberals describe the temporary relief as support for affordability amid global fuel-price pressures. Conservatives support the extension but call for broader, longer-lasting tax cuts, while the Bloc questions whether the savings reach consumers and whether the measure is well-targeted. The bill passes.
48300 words, 6 hours.
EI premiums and employment Garnett Genuis argues that higher EI premiums act as payroll taxes, raising hiring costs and worsening youth unemployment, and asks the government to rule out increases. Maggie Chi offers a general defence of the government’s fiscal plan rather than addressing premiums directly. Genuis criticizes the response as irrelevant.
Pesticide regulation Elizabeth May argues that Bill C-30 gives cabinet unprecedented power to override health and pesticide regulators, weakening safeguards without proper debate or expert review. She warns lax rules risk health and Canadian farm exports. Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi says temporary, conditional pesticide use can help protect food and economic security while maintaining health and environmental safety.
Affordability and young Canadians Scot Davidson says high living costs, housing prices and limited good-paying jobs are putting young Canadians’ futures out of reach, and argues government supports are inadequate. Maggie Chi acknowledges the concerns and cites housing, tax, fuel and employment measures to ease costs and strengthen the economy. Davidson counters that affordability is worsening; Chi defends the government’s approach.
Mr. Speaker, on August 22, the Liberal Prime Minister, in yet another of his speeches, boasted that our growth is accelerating. Is that so? The Parliamentary Budget Officer has just set the record straight. Growth is only at 0.9% in 2026. Unemployment stands at 6.7% and inflation at 3.1%.
While the Liberal Prime Minister spouts pretty words and makes the wrong predictions, Canadians are working hard, tightening their belts and struggling to pay their bills. Will he finally acknowledge the serious cost-of-living crisis, after 11 years of Liberal rule, or will he once again show us just how out of touch he is?
Mr. Speaker, affordability is the number one priority. That is why we have made historic investments in affordable housing and taken other measures, such as suspending the federal gas tax and providing relief on groceries and essential items.
The problem is that, every time we have proposed affordability measures, the Conservatives have voted against them. I hope that, one day, we will be able to count on their support to build a strong Canada, together.
Mr. Speaker, the problem is that every time the Liberals announce a new measure, more and more Canadians turn to food banks, and more and more Canadians are unable to pay their grocery bills. That is the reality.
The Liberals may claim they are doing a lot, but the reality on the ground suggests that they are out of touch with what is happening. People can no longer make ends meet. For Canadian families, the discipline the finance minister was talking about means going without, cutting back on groceries, and putting off purchases to pay the bills.
Will they at least acknowledge after question period that Canada is facing a serious cost of living crisis?
Mr. Speaker, the problem is that when we introduced the Canada child benefit, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada national school food program, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada disability benefit, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Conservatives voted against it.
On this side of the House, we know that we must stand up every day to defend Canadians. That is exactly what we are doing, and we will continue to do so.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Liberal ministers showed up in committee to defend the abuses of power in Bill C‑39, a bill that even Stephen Harper would not have dared dream of introducing, as La Presse editorial writer Paul Journet noted yesterday.
In theory, according to one minister's testimony, all of Quebec could become a region of national interest, even though the Liberals obviously do not see why they would go that far. That is how much power the bill gives them at the expense of the environment.
Does the Prime Minister realize that his bill is clearly contrary to Quebec's national interest when Quebec was never consulted?
Steven MacKinnonLiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the leader of the Bloc Québécois, today is a very good day for Canadian unity. We thank the people of Alberta who, like Quebeckers have always done, voted to be part of a country that stands tall, a country that is building itself.
Yes, Bill C‑39 will enable us to continue building this great and beautiful country, provide young Quebeckers with job opportunities and help Quebec and Canada grow.
Mr. Speaker, democracy and the art of answering questions are having a very bad day.
Indigenous communities are concerned about being dispossessed of their land. Environmentalists are alarmed by the Prime Minister's shift toward oil. Workers are outraged that their right to strike has been taken away. The government could take control of parts of Quebec's territory outside the rule of law.
Does the Prime Minister think that harming indigenous people, labour rights, the fight against climate change and the territorial sovereignty of Quebec and the provinces constitute the national interest, national unity or consensus?
Steven MacKinnonLiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Québécois was obviously not present at yesterday's sitting, when all questions from his party and all members were answered. On the contrary, we have explained and outlined the measures we will take to give Quebeckers what they are asking for. What they are asking for is growth, job opportunities, projects like Churchill Falls or Nouveau Monde Graphite, like the Contrecoeur port, and to build a strong country. Bill C‑39 is the right solution, and the Bloc Québécois should vote in favour of it.
Mr. Speaker, we sat on the same committee, but we did not share the same vision.
In Bill C-39, Ottawa is replacing the environmental impact assessment for pipelines with a study by the Canada Energy Regulator. Here are the commissioners' former bosses: TC Energy, Shell, Pembina, Imperial Oil, Canadian Oil Sands and Cenovus. In short, Ottawa is replacing a scientific assessment with the views of former oil industry executives.
Yesterday in committee, the Minister of Internal Trade told me that this is not a problem because nothing prevents the regulator from seeking scientific advice if it feels like it.
Does the minister realize that he is making science optional?
Dominic LeBlancLiberalPresident of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my friend from the Bloc Québécois, he knows full well that science is not optional in environmental impact assessments, whether the projects involved are major or relatively modest.
What have we done in legislation that applies to federal entities? I understand that in the previous question, his leader somewhat overstated the impact of this bill on matters that fall within Quebec's jurisdiction. This is federal legislation that applies to federal entities and is intended to bring greater consistency and predictability to these reviews.
Links & Sharing
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are lining up for blocks for scarce entry-level jobs, are waiting 20-plus hours in emergency rooms and are unable to find a home, in part because the Liberals brought in too many immigrants too fast. Last week, a senior Indian government official suggested that Canada bring in 15 million more immigrants, a population the size of Ontario, an idea also pushed by Liberal insiders at the Century Initiative.
Conservatives oppose Liberal mass immigration because it has depressed wages and outpaced integration. Why is the Prime Minister saying he is going to increase immigration even more?
Links & Sharing
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, here is what Canadians need to know. We have made reforms to our immigration system to restore integrity and balance, and those reforms are working. The temporary resident population is down, the asylum level is down, our system has been stabilized and Canada has met our levels targets for the first time in a decade. Canadians know that immigration helped build this country, and it will continue to contribute to our success. I very much look forward to tabling our levels plan in the next few weeks.
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, foreign governments are not the only ones pushing Liberal mass migration. So are foreign companies like Tim Hortons, which profit from cheap foreign labourers and depressed wages.
Liberal mass immigration has cost Canadian jobs and wages. It has contributed to young Canadians not being able to afford to have kids. Conservatives will remove non-citizens who have no legal right to be here. Conservatives will sharply cut immigration so we can hire, train and house Canadians first.
Does the minister agree with Conservatives or with pro-mass migration foreign governments and corporations like Tim Hortons?
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Patty HajduLiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that for a company to apply for temporary foreign workers, they have to have had offers to Canadian workers first. They have to ensure that Canadians come first for any work across this country. To allege that—
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, maybe I will start over. The member knows that Canadians come first for any work in this country and that, in fact, temporary foreign workers are only permissible when a company has done due diligence in areas with low unemployment rates that have a dire need for labour. We monitor those companies—
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canadians who want to become electricians, bricklayers and heavy-duty mechanics used to get up to $4,000 from the apprenticeship incentive and completion grants. The Liberals cancelled these programs.
Instead of hiring Canadians for skilled jobs, unbelievably, the Prime Minister's government announced that it is going to let employers recruit foreign labour for highly trained jobs without even trying to hire a Canadian. Talk about a lack of due diligence.
Conservatives believe there should always be way less immigration, and the government should be focused on training and hiring Canadians first. Will the Liberals cancel their plans to make it easier for foreign labour to take these jobs away from Canadians?
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's government let corruption take over Canada's immigration system. Let us talk about that. Some employers shook down foreign workers for up to $50,000. Immigration consultants under the Liberals pocketed fees for shady job placements. The Liberals allowed corrupt colleges to charge tens of thousands of dollars for classes that did not exist. Now the minister is scrapping one of the few safeguards left in the immigration system: proving that no Canadian is available to take a skilled job. That lets shady employers and corrupt consultants profit off foreign workers.
Why is the minister opening the door to even more immigration corruption?
Links & Sharing
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Patty HajduLiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, if the member wants to talk about advocating for corrupt private colleges, he should talk to the member who regularly comes to the committee that I represent. Members of Parliament from the opposite side are always advocating for these private career colleges that rip off Canadian students every single year.
We changed that. We have made those colleges ineligible for public support. We hope opposition members will get on board and start fighting for Canadian students.
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Costas MenegakisConservative
Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's mass immigration policies hurt immigrants too. Too much immigration has strained housing, health care and jobs, and has hindered successful integration. Refusing to deport non-citizens who have committed serious crimes leads to wrongly blaming law-abiding newcomers. Liberal policies fuel rising anti-immigrant sentiment and a broken immigration consensus.
Conservatives would lower immigration and restore order and fairness. Why will the Prime Minister not do the same?
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that last year, there were over 23,000 removals of people who were ineligible to be in Canada. Over a thousand individuals with criminality were removed from Canada. We continue to ensure the safety and security of our border, and we are managing and ensuring that we have control over immigration.
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Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are allowing hundreds of thousands of non-Canadian citizens with expired visas to remain in the country and benefit from our public services. The Prime Minister would rather deport our skilled immigrant workers, such as machinists, who obey the law, are integrated into our regions, contribute to society and work in our factories.
Why are the Liberals penalizing skilled immigrants in our regions with low unemployment rates, instead of deporting those without legal status from Canada?
