Debates of Oct. 28th, 2026

Steel and Aluminum Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the industry minister said she would provide the demand letter she sent to Cleveland-Cliffs, because it outlines the way in which the company has breached its contractual commitments. Yesterday, I stood up in the House and asked her for a date on which she would provide us with that letter. She did not answer the question. Meanwhile, we hear from Cleveland-Cliffs repeatedly that it is not in violation of any of its contractual commitments, and workers are still awaiting some transparency.

I will ask the minister this again: Will she provide us today with the demand letter that she sent to Cleveland-Cliffs so workers can get some transparency?

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

Mr. Speaker, the question is not that. The question is whether the Conservatives are in favour of protecting the jobs at Stelco. I have not heard that from them. My question to my colleague is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I will have to ask the minister to go back a little further and start a little closer to the beginning, because I could not hear what she was saying.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the question is not that. The question is, are the Conservatives in favour of protecting the jobs at Stelco and Hamilton, yes or no?

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Cleveland-Cliffs's CEO admitted that he bought Stelco because Canadian steel was hurting his American business. He admitted to blocking Stelco from selling steel to the United States, and now 350 Hamilton steelworkers are losing their jobs.

Conservatives demand that the Liberals take Stelco to court, stop illegal steel dumping and secure a tariff-free steel deal. Instead, the Liberals keep sending love letters and extending deadlines.

Stelco's CEO is protecting American profits and his American workers. What are the Liberals doing to protect ours?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us be serious. There are people hurting because of these layoffs. There are people who are wondering whether they will be able to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I am sure that people in Hamilton would like to hear this debate.

The hon. Minister of Industry.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us be serious here. There are people right now who are asking whether they can pay their mortgage. There are people who are asking themselves whether they will be able to pay their bills. That is why we did not stop. We did not wait. The Conservatives are late. We have been at it and starting the legal process for more than 10 days now. They should, basically, read the news.

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing late is the minister filing a lawsuit to protect Hamilton workers.

This is the third pay cycle that Hamilton steelworkers are missing. I spoke with Stelco workers this morning and they want action. The CEO admitted yesterday that he bought the company as a defensive measure to protect his American profits. We also know he supports Trump and his unjustified steel tariffs. The Liberals approved this takeover. Now they are watching Canadian steel jobs disappear.

Will the Prime Minister stop being bullied by Trump's buddies and file the lawsuit today?

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

Mr. Speaker, I met with and I have been in contact in the past two weeks with the head of United Steelworkers, Marty Warren. The union is fully supporting the position of the government. Of course, I was in the studio at CBC when Cleveland-Cliff's CEO made the admission regarding the fact that he bought Stelco to get rid of a competitor. We take that admission very seriously and will act.

The Economy

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today's hike demonstrates the government's economic plan is not working. Inflation is taking hold.

According to the Globe, today's hike means that the cost of a typical variable mortgage will rise $82 a month and a typical home equity line of credit $12 a month, or over $1,100 a year.

When is the government going to introduce supply-side reforms to the economy to increase productivity and wages and to make life more affordable?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have had a display in question period today where the Conservatives are trying to catch up with my colleague with respect to steel. I note the member's question over there.

Why can the Conservatives not just once stand up and say that there is a war in the Strait of Hormuz or that there is a trade attack that is illegal and unjustified on Canada. Yes, we are facing economic headwinds, and the G7 is going to be led by Canada despite all of that. The Conservatives should stand up and celebrate Canada's success and its—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government's plan simply is not working. It is focused on the demand side of the economy. It is spending more and more and driving up the cost of interest, which is the fastest-growing line item in the budget that is projected to chew up almost 14¢ of every dollar by decade's end. Now the Bank of Canada is hiking the interest rate, driving up interest costs on mortgages, lines of credit and car loans. For a typical family, this amounts to more than $1,100 a year.

Again, I ask the question, when will the government start focusing on supply-side reforms to increase productivity and increase wages to make life more affordable for Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, every time we propose a measure to make life easier and more affordable and to make conditions for Canadians just a little better, whether it is reducing fuel taxes, whether it is a Canada food and essentials benefit or whether it is the Canada child benefit, these Conservatives, led by that finance critic, get up and oppose it. When we grow the economy, they decry that. When we protect jobs in Hamilton, they—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Calgary East.

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

Mr. Speaker, like a typical Liberal elitist, the Prime Minister is sending more money to his banker, bondholder and Brookfield buddies in debt interest than what goes to provinces in health care transfers. Just this year, a family of four will pay $6,000 in debt interest. Justin Trudeau doubled the debt. The Prime Minister took that as a challenge. He doubled down and doubled his deficit.

Will the Prime Minister show up at the finance committee and tell Canadians exactly why he is so out of touch and why Canadians are so out of money?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us just think about this for Canadians. That member and that party voted against targeting the Canada child benefit to families that need it the most. They think a family that makes $500,000 should get the same as a single mother who makes $20,000 a year. They voted against a school food program; voted against feeding hungry children. They voted against a dental program that gives dental care to seniors who need it the most. That side has no credibility when it comes to affordability. On this side of the House—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Calgary East.

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

Mr. Speaker, the measure of a success in this country should be how many government programs Canadians get off, not get put on to. Debt interest is the fastest-growing expense, more than health care and more than the military. It is the money that gets sent to the Prime Minister's banker, bondholder and Brookfield buddies every single year. This guy said he would spend less, but he is all talk and no results. That is why 2.35 million Canadians visit a food bank every single month.

The Prime Minister doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit. Is he looking to double food bank lines too?

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

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are going to continue to focus on affordability measures for Canadians. The groceries and essentials benefit will put up to $1,900 in the pockets of families. We cut the taxes, and they voted against it, of course, for 22 million Canadians. We paused the federal excise tax on gas. We will continue to focus on and deliver for Canadians. That side can continue with the empty rhetoric.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can see that the Prime Minister is using creative accounting to manage the country's finances. He is dividing a monumental deficit across three different credit cards: one for current expenditures, another misleadingly labelled “investments”, and a third hidden within Crown corporations. Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau never hesitated to appear before parliamentary committees.

Will the Prime Minister support the Conservative motion and come explain his creative accounting practices before the Standing Committee on Finance?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are always prepared to answer questions before the Standing Committee on Finance.

What is strange is to see the Conservatives talk down the Canadian economy in every one of their questions, even though international institutions and the Bank of Canada recognize that there are external factors at play. The good news is that Canada has the second-fastest growth rate in the G7. One would think the Conservatives would celebrate our workers, our industries and Canada.

If they do not want to do that, we will always be here on this side of the House to stand up for our workers and our industries.