Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2026

International Trade

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that our Conservative friends are worried about the by-elections, and with good reason. I think it is important to note that nothing has changed since last week. We obviously called by-elections because these ridings need people to represent them in the House. The reason we are holding these by-elections is because members of the Conservative caucus have stepped down.

At the same time, yes, we are having conversations with our American counterparts, and we will continue to work until we have an agreement that is in Canada's best interests.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are starting to figure out their tricks.

Last summer, the government was about to reach an agreement, but just before the election and the advance voting for the by-elections, it suddenly withdrew from the negotiations. What did that do? It influenced the public, who was afraid of Donald Trump.

Now, six by-elections are coming up, and what is the government doing? It is calling its friend Donald and saying that it wants to negotiate.

What is that if not a way to influence voters through twisted political games?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that our Conservative friends are afraid of the by-elections. I have said this before. By the way, it was their members who triggered some of these by-elections by leaving their caucus. We hope that voters in those ridings have an opportunity to elect strong members to this Parliament.

At the same time, yes, we are working with our American counterparts. We are trying to get the unjustified and illegal tariffs removed. We are also supporting Canadian industries with our friends in the provincial governments.

That is what a responsible government does.

Health

[Tim Watchorn, Liberal, Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for too long, we have waited until men and boys reached a crisis point before offering them help. In February, the Minister of Health took an important step toward addressing this issue by launching a national conversation on men and boys' health.

With International Men's Day approaching on November 19, can the minister tell us what the next steps will be in developing Canada's brand new men and boys' health strategy?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. Today, we released the “What We Heard” report on our national conversation on men and boys' health. Nearly 6,000 Canadians and numerous organizations from across the country shared their perspectives. These contributions will help shape Canada's first-ever men and boys' health strategy. This strategy is intended to improve well-being not only for men and boys, but for all communities and all Canadians.

Public Services and Procurement

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister vowed to make Canada its own best customer. He promised that when his government spends, it will select Canadian suppliers and Canadian jobs first. When it comes to election time, the Prime Minister is elbows up, but when it comes to contract time, he chooses America first.

He awarded a U.S. security firm with ties to Trump's ICE a $12-million contract over the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, the largest employer of veterans in Canada. Why did the Prime Minister sacrifice Canadian veterans' jobs to put America first?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, our priority is to put Canadian content, Canadian companies and Canadian workers first, and to use our purchasing power to grow production here at home. That is companies contributing substantively to our economy, employing people, creating good jobs here in our communities and paying taxes here in our communities. That is what we are doing to build Canada strong and build Canadian innovation.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words, and the government did exactly the opposite of what the member just said.

The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires is a not-for-profit that prioritizes the hiring of Canada's veterans. For generations, the Canadian government has provided it the right of first refusal for security contracts. The Commissionaires put in a competitive bid, but the America-first Prime Minister chose Trump's favourite security contractor, Allied Universal, for the job.

Was this yet another concession by the Liberal government? Why is the Prime Minister putting the interests of American corporate profits over job opportunities for our courageous veterans?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are working hard to attract more investment into our country, investment that delivers tangible results and lasting benefits to Canadian communities and supply chains.

They want to talk about results. I point them to the contracts that have been awarded. I look at General Dynamics as an example—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I let it go as long as I could.

The hon. member may continue.

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, we can point to the results and the impact that this policy has been having already in just a few months. We have seen, most recently, a contract awarded to General Dynamics.

Those are tangible results. Those are jobs in communities that matter to Canadians.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Commissionaires is a not-for-profit organization, Canada's largest private sector employer of veterans. What commissionaires earn goes back to veterans, not shareholders.

Justin Trudeau once told veterans that they were asking for more than he was able to give. That was a slap in the face. Now the Liberal government has handed a CRA security contract to Allied Universal, an American company tied to Trump's ICE deportation machine, just to save $80,000. That is a backhand to the face.

When will the Prime Minister stop beating down on veterans?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his military service and for raising his concerns.

Let me be clear again. Veterans Affairs Canada does not award guard services contracts on behalf of other departments or agencies. I, of course, share the view that we must ensure that veterans have the right opportunities to find rewarding employment of their choosing when they are ready. It is fundamental to the national veterans employment strategy.

Our government has worked with and will continue to work with veteran employers as we build the strongest economy in the G7.

Veterans Affairs

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has not recognized any conflict since Korea as wartime service, despite the fact that veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and other conflicts participated in operations that can only be described as war. This reality must be recognized. Too many veterans and their families do not see their hardship and sacrifice reflected by the term “special duty service”.

Can the minister tell the House what the government is doing to recognize wartime service?

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

Mr. Speaker, I support my colleague's dedication to advancing this important matter. I also want to recognize the parliamentarians who served our country in uniform.

Canada must ensure that the recognition of service and sacrifice reflects the evolving nature of military service. Meaningful recognition must honour those who have served, reflect our diverse military history and inspire future generations.

In the coming months, consultations with veterans, serving members, historians and experts will ensure we get this right. The work has started, and we look forward to sharing more in due course.

Health

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, a recent government decision under the non-insured health benefits program is limiting access to mental health services in Lloydminster, Canada's only border city. Councillors have been told they can no longer serve indigenous patients because of where their clinic is located in the city and their provincial registration. For patients, many of whom are residential and day school survivors, losing an established therapeutic relationship is deeply disruptive.

Will the minister cut this red tape to ensure that indigenous patients can continue to access the care they need in the city where they live?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, this critical service is available, but we want to be sure that service providers are able to respond to clients' needs, whether they are living in a city or providing a service from another province. We want to be sure that they are able to provide the best and most adequate service to the clients who are going to them and that they are able to be served in the spaces they live in.

If my colleague wants to work together, I am more than willing to give her the answers she needs for her riding.

Labour

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, workers and their families need good, safe, rewarding jobs across Canada. In the construction sector, these jobs come from unionized companies powered by skilled labour. The government can support them by requiring labour agreements on all taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects. This is smart economics. Productivity from unionized labour is 17% higher than for open-shop contractors.

Will the Liberals mandate project labour agreements for all infrastructure deals to generate the high-quality results that unionized building trades deliver?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that the BC Building Trades is in Ottawa this week, and I welcome it here.

We are building right across this country. We are building with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian unionized workers. Nowhere do we see this building more than in British Columbia with LNG one and LNG two.

We are going to stand up for our unionized workers. I was proud to announce $420 million under the union training and innovation program, which will support union training centres.

We are building this country. I hope the member joins us.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Statutory Review of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act”.

Justice and Human Rights

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker. I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill S-233, an act to amend the Criminal Code, assault against persons who provide health services and first responders.

The committee requests an extension.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3)(a), a motion to concur in the report is deemed moved, the question deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Wednesday, November 4, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Special Economic Measures Act

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

moved that Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets), be read the first time.

Mr. Speaker, today I am honoured to introduce Bill S-214, an act that would amend the Special Economic Measures Act, SEMA, regarding the disposal of foreign state assets. This enactment would amend the Special Economic Measures Act to allow the Governor in Council to dispose of a foreign state's assets seized under the act if the seizure occurred without a judicial order.

I would like to acknowledge former senators Dasko and Omidvar for their work in passing this bill in the Senate. I would also like to thank the very many people who have played a part in getting the bill to where it is today.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Energy

[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 two petitions to present today.

The first is on behalf of 70 signatories from Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola. The signatories exhort the Canadian government to invest in renewable and clean energy. The petitioners also ask for a broad electrical grid and nation building. They again exhort the Canadian government to provide leadership in this area in commitment to the 2030 and 2035 targets.