Debates of Oct. 28th, 2026

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that we need to hear the truth. The truth is that deficits have doubled and the debt has doubled. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer is struggling to understand the creative way in which this government and this new Prime Minister are managing the country's finances.

We are seeing staggering expenditures hidden across different credit cards. We just want him to come and explain himself before the finance committee.

Will he accept our motion today and appear before the Standing Committee on Finance, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, occasionally, we like to rise in the House to remind the Conservatives that they have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending.

Is it the Canada child benefit?

Is it equalization?

Is it our military spending that has increased and will continue to increase to reach 5% of GDP?

What does my Conservative friend consider to be inflationary spending?

[Danielle Martin, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we live in an era when global events have local impacts. The people of University—Rosedale understand that there are forces affecting our economy that are beyond our control. They do not want to hear parliamentarians talk down our economy, our businesses and our workers. They want us to address affordability by building on our strengths and our shared values.

Can the Secretary of State for the CRA and Financial Institutions tell us about the work under way to make life more affordable for people in Toronto and across this great country?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for University—Rosedale for her strong advocacy on the disability tax credit and automatic federal benefits. We are going to build a strong, resilient economy for all Canadians. We are attracting outside investment. We are going to build Canada strong. We are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. The groceries and essentials benefit is offering $1,900 for families. We will continue to focus on and deliver on affordability measures for Canadians. On this side of the House, Canadians know who stands with them. It is our side.

Natural Resources

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the oil the world needs, the workers to produce it and the rail lines to get it to the Pacific. Strathcona Resources is ready to ship up to 250,000 barrels per day through Prince Rupert to global markets. This would mean more jobs, a stronger Canadian economy and more customers for our oil, and the best part is that no government subsidies are necessary. In fact, this is a company that is ready to bring in its own private dollars and make it happen. The only thing standing in the way is the Liberals' tanker ban.

Will they do the right thing, advocate for the well-being of Canadians and remove it?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me share what the new Conservative Premier of British Columbia just said: “Our government’s focus is on the project in front of us.... Pacific Link has been declared in the national interest, it takes a southern route, and it will create...jobs [for] British Columbia.” Other Conservatives seem to be able to get on board and support Pacific link. These guys just look for opportunities to fight. We are interested in building, not fighting. Why do they not join us?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is not an either-or decision, and at the end of the day it is a federal matter, so it is up to this government to make the choice. Will it take the tanker ban and remove it or, at the bare minimum, at least grant an exemption so that this private investment can go through, so that Canadian jobs can be created, so that oil can get to world markets and so that we as a country can be proud of what we produce here at home? The government is more than happy to give handouts to corporations that come begging. This one is not. It just needs this obstacle out of the way.

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, here is what this government is doing: expanding the Taylor to Gordondale pipeline; expanding the Sunrise pipeline; building Pacific link, a million-barrel-a-day pipeline to the west coast; building LNG Canada phase one; supporting Woodfibre; supporting Tilbury; and supporting Ksi Lisims.

All the Conservatives do is complain and look for things to fight about. Why do they not help build Canada with us?

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal tanker moratorium, up to 34 tankers can be approved every month on the southern route, yet the northern route is equally safe, has less marine traffic and can have the same protections as the south. Having navigated the navy's tanker on the B.C. coast for years, I know what it takes to operate tankers safely, and the northern route can also meet the same standards as the south. This is a Liberal embargo on Canada and companies like Strathcona Resources that are standing by to ship Canadian oil overseas.

Will the Prime Minister immediately grant an exemption for the northern route, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, there is so much going on on the west coast that is driving up economic growth and opportunity for that member's constituents that it is hard to name them.

In addition to what my colleague, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, just laid out, let me just congratulate the port of Vancouver for an all-time record of shipments going out of that port that is building our country strong and diversifying our trade markets. It has us on the path to double non-U.S. exports over the next 10 years. We are building British Columbia and we are building Canada—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Burnaby Central.

Labour

[Wade Chang, Liberal, Burnaby Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, workers and unions in my riding have emphasized the importance of protecting workers' rights and ensuring their voices are heard at the bargaining table. Our government shares this commitment and believes meaningful collective bargaining leads to better agreements. This is why we are giving workers and employers more time to negotiate and greater support to resolve disputes.

Could the minister explain how Bill C-39 will protect workers' rights, strengthen collective bargaining and ensure government intervention is reserved for exceptional circumstances?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that the best agreements are reached at the bargaining table. Bill C-39 strengthens the bargaining process by providing employers and unions with more time to negotiate, earlier access to dispute resolution tools and additional support to help the parties reach agreements before disputes escalate.

At the same time, the bill preserves the fundamental right to strike while introducing important guardrails around the use of section 107, ensuring that government intervention remains exactly what it should be: rare, exceptional, transparent and a measure of last resort.

Parks Canada

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Parks Canada announced it is cutting the 55-year search and rescue K9 program in Banff National Park. This program is essential to park visitor safety, responding to thousands of calls. Leroy, the last rescue dog, tracked 156 individuals and found 57 people over seven years. This is a small team that has a huge impact on visitor safety. These dogs cover areas 30 to 50 times faster than human rescuers. They are essential to the safety in our parks.

Why is the minister cutting vital safety programs while her executives received millions of dollars last year?

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, we thank the federal public service employees for their dedication and deeply value their critical role in protecting Canadians. We need to continue to protect Canadians' nature, environment and emergency preparedness. We continue to ensure Canada's national parks and heritage are preserved, safe and managed right to serve both Canadians and our environment, and we will continue to do that.

Labour

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have good news. Today, the Liberals have a chance to vote for our NDP bill to repeal section 107 and protect the right to strike. Unions and workers everywhere have supported it.

The government has a clear choice, continue its unconstitutional attacks on workers in Bill C-39 or vote in favour of our NDP bill. Which is it? Will the Liberals finally respect the demands of workers or continue caving to CEOs by violating the right to strike?

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously, we honour the role of workers, honour the role of organized labour and recognize that, in fact, there are rights to collectively bargain, but sometimes those rights, in order to be exercised, need federal support, especially in Canada Labour Code situations. We will, under Bill C-39, put in place new, expanded measures in order to support parties that find it difficult to achieve a collective agreement. We want to make those strikes all too rare.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order regarding what happened earlier when a colleague in the House—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I cannot hear the hon. member.

The hon. member.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order regarding what happened earlier when a colleague, who represents his community here in the House, was trying to ask a question to a minister. There was a lot of noise, purposely to stop him from—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I am going to finish hearing what the hon. member has to say, one way or the other.

The hon. member.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, maybe this time they will listen.

Members purposely made noise to try to stop the member from speaking. I think we are getting into the territory of privilege. If a member cannot speak and ask a question in the House on behalf of the people he represents, there is a potential question of privilege.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It was difficult, but we did get through it. This is why I ask members sometimes to try not to be provocative, because it creates an unparliamentary ruckus. I would ask members to make it easier next time.

I thank the hon. member for her point of order.