Debates of Oct. 27th, 2026

Steel and Aluminum Industry

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is just a letter. I did not hear a date there, and hopefully this is not more “all talk and no action.”

Meanwhile, I am hearing from steel service centres and downstream manufacturers all across the country that are having difficulty securing supply. Now, idling of Stelco's coated lines is certainly adding pressure, and a complex tariff rate quota regime is making some of these companies scramble. These are businesses that buy Canadian and employ Canadian workers. We need to make sure that their voices are heard.

Will the industry minister and the Prime Minister commit today to ensuring steel service centres and downstream manufacturers are part of their steel task force, so we can make sure they are getting what they need?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, yes.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have completely abandoned the Canadian steel industry. The American tariffs are costing businesses a fortune. Just ask Groupe Camnor, Beauce Atlas or Garaga. The tariffs are costing them each an extra $1.5 million a month. That amounts to an additional $54 million a year for these three incredible businesses in Beauce.

The Prime Minister promised us a deal with the Americans, but he has completely failed. Can he set his pride aside and sign a good agreement with the United States?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure my colleague that this is not about pride. I think he should have thought about his question before asking it. Everyone across the country needs to be united in standing up to the White House, which is basically trying to make us more dependent on the United States and weaken our economy.

I would like my colleague to know that I would be pleased to work with him to protect jobs in the steel sector. We are already doing that, but we can always use more help from the opposition.

Veterans Affairs

[Braedon Clark, Liberal, Sackville—Bedford—Preston, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, we have studied many issues of importance to veterans and their families. These discussions will continue informing our understanding of the modern veteran. They will shape how we respond to the unique realities veterans face following military service, and they remind us that we must support veterans and their families beyond just Remembrance Day on November 11.

Could the Minister of Veterans Affairs share how she and our government are advancing recognition and commemoration of our service members?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, remembrance lives on when one generation inspires the next. As the Royal Canadian Legion's poppy campaign begins, Canadians will pause to honour the Canadian Armed Forces members who have served and sacrificed. This year, our remembrance can also take inspiration from Chaelyn Han, winner of the National Youth Remembrance Poster Contest. Her artwork reminds us that remembrance is not only about looking back, but also carrying forward the stories and sacrifices that shaped our country.

Let us wear our poppies with pride and carry commemoration—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill.

Housing

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question about why the Prime Minister is suggesting he will increase immigration levels, even though government officials are warning that housing supply has been impacted, the housing minister gave a completely inane answer that is unbefitting of the gravity of the situation.

When newcomers are invited to Canada, they should be able to afford a place to live, and Canadians should be afforded that opportunity, too. If the Prime Minister plans to increase immigration levels, where are all these people going to live?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that immigration and immigrants have built this country and have contributed to building Canada. Quite literally, when I say “building Canada”, 23% of all contractors and builders are immigrants, and in some regions it is a lot higher.

Immigration is critical to addressing skill gaps in the construction sector when Canadians are not available to fill those jobs. In the coming months, we will continue to take a responsible approach to immigration to maximize benefits for all Canadians.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government's own officials are saying that housing is outpacing demand.

It has been reported that the Minister of Housing held a $10-million real estate portfolio. That must be nice. I want him to know something. Millions of long-time Canadians and newcomers alike cannot afford housing, and that is because he, the Prime Minister and the immigration minister, a real trio of quality there, are setting levels so high that people cannot afford or find a place to live.

Levels must be decreased. Will they agree?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as the immigration minister said, the levels are under control right now. We are working very closely between immigration levels and housing starts.

We see the success we are having on the housing front. We have seen 141,000 homes created by the MLI select program. We have seen over 80,000 homes in the apartment construction loan program. With Build Canada Homes, there are over 19,000 non-market affordable homes. We are seeing a scale of construction right now across Canada that is unprecedented, and we are making sure it fits with our immigration levels.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is the reality. When housing supply cannot keep pace with demand, the result is higher rents, higher wait lists and young people giving up on their dream of ever owning a home. That is not fair to young Canadian couples who cannot afford a home to start a family, and it is not fair to the newcomer who was promised an opportunity and ended up in an overcrowded basement suite or a shelter.

This is something the government does not get. Why does the government not understand this basic principle?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, that is rich coming from the other side who vote against affordable housing measures at every turn. That is hypocrisy.

We are focused on scaling up construction of housing across our country. I have just recited the latest numbers we have. We have positive news on rent. Rents have come down for 23 months in a row, making life more affordable for Canadians and for newcomers.

We have to make sure we continue that trend and that we build strong. We could use more support from Conservatives on that front.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what is rich is the housing minister blaming immigration for the housing shortage that his government created. The Prime Minister's own officials warned him that his out-of-control immigration levels were causing a housing shortage, yet he told The New York Times that he wants to increase immigration levels.

His decisions are destroying support for immigration in this country. Conservatives would restore Canada's consensus for immigration. Why will the government and the Prime Minister not do the same?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of the member in the opposition, who cannot seem to listen, here are the facts. The temporary resident population has dropped by 80% for international students and 59% for temporary workers, with a 69% decline in asylum claims. The StatsCan figures show the population has declined for the first time in our history. Rentals.ca reports that rents are down by an average of 9.2%. TD Economics reports an immigration slowdown, reduced housing prices—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada faces a 29-year low in workforce participation. The job-finding rate has dropped again, now down to 30.6% under the Liberal government. Canadians are losing jobs and they are losing hope.

While Canada has a job crisis, the government has chosen to give public subsidies to a company that fired Canadian workers to hire foreign workers. Why did the fisheries minister approve a public subsidy to Ichiboshi L.P.C. after the company had already been caught firing Canadians to hire illegal workers?

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Conservatives, while they talk down Canada and talk down our workers, that this country is building. Let me give some examples. Maybe the member has forgotten about LNG Canada phase two, with $33 billion in private investment and 4,000 new construction jobs. The Nouveau Monde Graphite project means 1,000 new jobs. At the Darlington nuclear station, there are thousands of jobs.

Canada is building. I hope the Conservatives join us.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that response had absolutely nothing to do with the question that was asked.

Canada faces a 29-year low in workforce participation. This question is about fisheries. There was an Order Paper question the government tabled on February 19, question 885, that admitted that the government provided public subsidies through that department to a company that had fired Canadian workers to hire illegal workers.

Why can the fisheries minister not stand up and answer that question? Why are you subsidizing a company that fired Canadians to hire illegal workers?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Again, it is through the Chair, please.

The hon. Secretary of State for Labour.

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, the member talks about workforce participation. What this government is doing is building. We are building projects right across the country, with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian unionized workers.

Let us remind the Conservatives of some of the projects that are going on in this country. There is BHP's Jansen potash project, six new icebreakers in Quebec City and LNG Canada phase two, with 4,000 construction jobs. There is the Pacific link pipeline.

We are building this country. Workers are excited. Unions are excited. Let us go build this country.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the question is about fisheries. The fisheries department gave a subsidy to a company that fired Canadians to hire illegal workers. The government tabled the Order Paper question response in the House, question 885, on February 19. Again, why did the government, through the fisheries department, provide public subsidy to the Ichiboshi L.P.C. company after it fired Canadians to hire illegal workers?

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, the minister recently announced the renewed Atlantic fisheries fund with her provincial counterparts. This new fund will provide $300 million over five years to our fishing sector to spur innovation, enhance infrastructure, build on science and develop new markets. We are providing harvesters with the tools they need to grow the sector and create market diversity during these uncertain times.

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

Mr. Speaker, how are things going for young people today? According to most of the indicators that matter to our young people, things are not going well at all. Buying a home is virtually impossible. Physical and mental health are declining. Now our young people are looking for jobs.

A committee has learned that companies are hiring illegal workers but are receiving government subsidies, even though the government is aware of the situation.

Is there anyone on the other side who will stand up and explain to taxpayers why their money is being given to companies that are taking opportunities away from our young people in order to pay illegal workers?

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, the minister recently announced the renewed Atlantic fisheries fund with her provincial counterparts. This new fund will provide $300 million over five years to our fishing sector to spur innovation, enhance infrastructure, build on science and develop new markets. Our government is here to build, and that includes strong fisheries and coastal communities.