Debates of Oct. 5th, 2026

Day of Appreciation for the Non-Profit Sector

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition brought forth by Raksha Bhayana and the Bhayana Family Foundation, supported by the philanthropic and charitable sector, and signed by 1,377 Canadians from across all provinces.

The petitioners ask our government and the House to officially recognize the third Thursday of February as the day of appreciation for the non-profit sector. The petitioners would like to bring to the attention of the House the fact that 170,000 organizations work in the non-profit space, that the non-profit sector contributes over 8% to our GDP, employs 2.7 million Canadians and engages millions of volunteers. This includes non-profits in the arts, food security, mental health, faith organizations, sports, environment, seniors, youth and all other community charities.

The petitioners believe that the non-profit sector should get more credit for being a bedrock for our society and for ensuring the well-being and vitality of communities across Canada.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise today and present a petition in the people's House in regard to the upcoming private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying.

The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible. Experts agree it is currently impossible to predict when mental illness is truly irremediable. Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving, while many Canadians still struggle to access timely and effective mental health care.

Public concern is high, with many Canadians believing that treatment options should come before MAID and fearing that vulnerable individuals may seek MAID due to a lack of care. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

That is why Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purposes of MAID.

Therefore, petitioners have signed this petition, and it is an honour for me to present it.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in just two days, members of the House of Commons will vote on Bill C-218, whether or not to end the incoming expansion of MAID for people with only a mental illness.

It is in that spirit that I have the great honour to present a petition from Canadians who are alarmed by the fact that in just a few months, people with no physical conditions whatsoever, with only a mental illness, would be eligible for MAID.

Canadians are calling on members of this House to adopt the direct and clear path forward to fulfilling the committee recommendation from the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. The petitioners call on all members of this chamber, and particularly the Liberal government, to vote for Bill C-218, the right to recover act.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to you that according to our rules, commentaries are not necessary when members present a petition. Given the fact that there are so many people wanting to present today, they might want to keep their comments short, concise and to the point.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Indeed.

Red Bridge

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people from Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola.

I have a petition on a matter that I am rising on for the second time. It is for federal funding to rebuild and fast-track the rebuilding of the Red Bridge. This is a cultural monument. It has been in Kamloops for over 100 years. It is time for federal money to go to that, according to the petitioners.

BC Ferries

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a huge honour to table e-petition 7474 that is signed by over 7,700 Vancouver Islanders and coastal residents.

They cite that ferries are essential marine highways connecting coastal communities, workers, families, businesses and supply chains to the rest of Canada. Vancouver Island is approaching one million residents and BC Ferries carries more than 22 million passengers annually. According to an analysis prepared by the Library of Parliament, BC Ferries received approximately $1.63 in federal operational support per passenger in 2024-25, compared to approximately $291 for federally funded east coast ferry operations.

Petitioners say that Canadians in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia both deserve strong federal ferry support because these services are essential national transportation infrastructure. Current federal ferry funding agreements rely on outdated constitutional arrangements and formulas created decades ago when Vancouver Island had roughly half its current population. Vancouver Island and coastal communities should not have to become separate provinces in order to receive fair federal ferry support. Lastly, the petitioners highlight it is no longer suitable to operate one of the world's largest ferry systems without stable, long-term federal support.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to modernize federal ferry funding policies and provide fair, stable, long-term federal operational support to BC Ferries as essential national transportation infrastructure.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand here today to present this petition in support of Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying. Mental illness is treatable and experts agree. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

The people are calling upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I too want to rise with a petition from Canadians asking the government to consider supporting Bill C-218.

The petitioners recognize that the expansion of MAID is being discussed in this House and will be voted on later this week. The expansion would include individuals who would be eligible for MAID on the basis of mental illness as their sole medical condition. Experts agree that people can recover from mental illness; it is treatable and they cannot predict when it is irremediable.

Petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to support Bill C-218 and make sure that MAID is not extended to people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today in support of Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying.

In particular, petitioners note that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying, or euthanasia as it is otherwise known, to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Petitioners note that mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is impossible to predict if someone with mental illness will get better or not, and therefore whether it is truly irremediable or not. Expanding MAID to people with mental illness as their only underlying condition suggests that some lives are beyond saving.

Therefore, petitioners are asking the government to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I too am rising today to present a petition. The petitioners from across Canada are supportive of Bill C-218. This bill would make it so that MAID for mental illness as the sole underlying condition would not come into force in 2027. The people who signed this petition noted that mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible. They worry about the fact that if MAID is offered to these people, we would be muddying the waters around suicide prevention.

Therefore, the people who have signed this petition are calling for the government to pass Bill C-218 to stop euthanasia from being offered to those with mental illness.

Trans-Canada Highway

[Gaétan Malette, Conservative, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to present more signatures on a petition calling for the federal government to recognize Trans-Canada Highway 11 as a project of national interest.

These signatures were collected at the White Birch General Store, one of many local businesses helping people across northern Ontario add their voices to this important cause. Every signature matters. It shows the continued support from our communities for a safer and more reliable Highway 11. I will continue bringing their voices to this House.

Public Safety

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Ponoka—Didsbury, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e-7205 on behalf of the well over 1,000 Canadians who signed it. They are calling upon the House of Commons to act without delay to strengthen Canada's criminal justice system and better protect children by amending the Criminal Code to require the imposition of the maximum available sentence for individuals convicted of sexual offences against children, by removing the sentencing discretion that permits reduced penalties for first-time offenders who sexually predate on children, by mandating automatic and immediate custodial consequences for any breach of the court-ordered conditions for these sexual predators and by reforming federal legislation to provide meaningful public access to the national sex offender registry, with community safety being the paramount consideration.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present this petition on behalf of constituents concerned about the expansion of MAID, medical assistance in dying, to Canadians whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. They urge every member of this House to support Bill C-218, because people with mental illness deserve our love and support and the right to recover, not an option for dying.

Health Care

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I recently held a round of town hall meetings in all the communities in my riding, and this issue came up at every one. The issue is simple. The petitioners are concerned that not only is there a crisis in access to family doctors across Canada, as approximately 4.8 million Canadians do not have a family doctor, but it is specifically acute in areas like the region I represent, rural areas. It is the case that in places like Victoria, B.C., which is not rural, obviously, and Sidney, where I live, average wait times for walk-in clinics are 92 minutes and 180 minutes, respectively.

There is an acute need for action to ensure that there is access to medical care for every Canadian, including in our rural areas. The petitioners ask the government to work with all provinces and territories to come to a holistic and fair solution to Canada's family doctor shortage.

Alleged Premature Disclosure of Information Concerning Bill C-39

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, representatives of the Government of Canada held a technical briefing for the media, under embargo, to provide an update on the west coast oil pipeline, now known as “Pacific Link”.

Despite our request, no technical briefings were offered to members. According to multiple Speakers' rulings, when embargoed technical briefings on bills introduced in the House are arranged for journalists, the government is required to do the same for parliamentarians. At some point in their tenure, all Speakers have ruled on closed-door briefings, embargoed matters, media leaks or disclosures concerning bills not yet tabled in the House.

The Speaker has ruled on several occasions that providing legislative information to the media before it has been tabled in the House constitutes a contempt of Parliament. For example, the fourth edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, published in 2025, states in footnote 125 that, during the debates of March 19, 2021:

...a question of privilege was raised regarding a briefing the Department of Justice held for members of the media on a bill not yet introduced in the House, while denying Members access to the same information. Speaker Milliken ruled that the provision of information concerning legislation to the media without any effective measures to secure the rights of the House constituted a prima facie case of contempt.

However, what about a case such as this, where there were closed-door technical briefings that provided privileged information to members of the media? Information was shared regarding proposals and policies about which the opposition will be asked to give its views.

We understand that the government can make announcements outside Parliament Hill, but the fact remains that this approach prevents opposition members from obtaining the same information as the media and, as a result, from informing members of changes in government policies that have an impact on the government's budget.

The October 1 announcement will have a major impact on taxpayers' wallets. We need to ensure that the opposition's role in the House, which is to demand transparency and accountability, is upheld. We understand that in the context of the changes made under Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, and Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, several projects will be fast-tracked by invoking the concept of a project of national interest, which will require more detailed explanations from the government and its officials, both on Parliament Hill and beyond.

Under the circumstances, it is critical that opposition members have access to briefings, as journalists do, before any projects are announced, out of respect for the primacy of the House of Commons. Chances are good that this way of doing this will become the norm and that Bill C-39 will centralize power in the government's hands by bypassing the House of Commons.

It is time for the Speaker to look into this issue and find a way for the opposition to obtain essential information in a timely manner.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I thank the hon. member. The Chair will take the matter under advisement.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we reserve the right to speak to the issue raised by my Bloc Québécois colleague.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reserve the opportunity to come back with respect to the privilege issue.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the New Democrats would also like to reserve the right to intervene on the question of privilege at a later date, please.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Residential School Denialism

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There is a request for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 52(2), I am requesting an emergency debate regarding Canada's failure to prevent and respond to residential school denialism, in response to the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal ruling from September 30, 2026, and the white nationalist demonstration that occurred on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc reserve on September 27, 2026.

Days before the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an all-white nationalist hate group gathered on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc reserve. The Kamloops RCMP stated this in a news release:

The posting of a banner bearing the words “got bones,” combined with the use of masks to conceal their identities while making such public statements is a cowardly attempt to avoid accountability for actions and messages that are clearly intended to intimidate, provoke fear and division.

The statement on the banner is in reference to the mass grave hoax conspiracy, an overt form of residential school denialism seeking to dismiss a genocide that was recognized unanimously in the House of Commons in 2022.

Just last week, the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international court, ruled that Canada committed the international crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity against indigenous peoples and that these crimes continue to be present. The ruling also stated that Canada continues to fail to comply with its international legal obligations to respond to these crimes and has been reluctant to counter denialist misinformation.

Under resolutions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, states have a duty to restore and guarantee the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples after systemic human rights violations. This includes residential school denialism through the mass spreading of disinformation, which the tribunal called on Canada to criminalize.

The tribunal also ruled that Canada is failing to provide remedies to restore the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples and guarantee the non-reoccurrence of these abuses. It says, “Canada is compromising the future.”

The failure to address these matters reflects poorly on Canada in the international community. However, the escalation of hate by white nationalist groups in Canada that led to the violent demonstration last week underscores the direct risk that residential school denialism poses to the safety of indigenous peoples. It is classified as an emergency and a matter of urgent consideration for Parliament.