Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2026

Motions in Amendment

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, with a great deal of respect, I just have to say to the member opposite that it is not true that the government has done nothing. I have given specific, tangible examples. I know they are making a real difference. I have talked to the families in my riding of Whitby. These measures are for all of Canada. They are all Canadian.

We not only provided an income tax cut, but also cut the excise tax on fuel. We have cut taxes on new home purchases. We have cut taxes on new business investment. We have offered additional federal benefits, including the groceries and essentials benefit, as I indicated in my speech, which provides significant support to families across the country. We are targeting those supports to those who are most impacted by those inflationary pressures.

This is what a responsible government does; it steps up to help people when they need it most.

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

Madam Speaker, I spent the summer knocking on doors and speaking to a lot of seniors, some youth and a lot of middle-class folks. What I heard was that there are challenges around income tax filing. It is loud and clear that there are some challenges there, but there are also a lot of opportunities.

I am curious if I can hear from the member about the impact of automatic tax filing for the fine citizens of Whitby.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, in my riding, for a number of years, as I am sure many of us have done, we have hosted free tax clinics that offer support for simple tax filings to residents, and they have been quite successful. Actually, they have been oversubscribed to significantly.

Now, in Bill C-31, the federal government would be doing this at scale, offering solutions for simple tax filing, not only for automatic filing, which is different, but also for another support that would essentially allow simple tax filings to be filled out so taxpayers can check and submit them themselves. We would be significantly streamlining that process. The idea here is to make sure people who would not otherwise get access to their benefits get access to them through virtue of making the process a lot simpler to file their taxes.

It is a great initiative. It would help millions of Canadians, and I am very, very happy to say that we would be able to target the support in my riding to maybe slightly more complex tax filing situations in the future, because many of the people we have served in the past would be taken care of by this initiative.

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

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to address Bill C-31, the budget implementation bill. It is important, at the very beginning, that we recognize Bill C-31 was put in place to, in essence, bring forward the government's agenda, making sure that we have the finances to deliver for Canadians.

Just over a year ago, about 16 or 17 months ago, Canadians went to the polls and elected a new Prime Minister, a Prime Minister who had huge ambitions of delivering for Canadians in every region of the country. Coming out of the last election, all of us have been very much aware of what those issues are. There was a great deal of concern with regard to the issue of Trump tariffs and trade. I have made reference to that in the past.

The Prime Minister has made a very clear commitment to Canadians that we want to deal with Canadian sovereignty in different ways. The budget implementation legislation, much like the budget itself, is how we deal with the issues that the Prime Minister took out of the election.

Let me give some tangible examples. Since the last election, we have had, I believe, over 24 trade and security agreements with nations beyond the U.S., countries such as England, Indonesia and many others. When I think of the trade file, Canada is the only G7 country that has a trade agreement with all G7 countries, and we are looking at expanding that. I am hoping that later this year we will see trade agreements between Canada and the Philippines and between Canada and India. We will also continue to pursue expanding the relationship between Canada and the European Union.

Let us talk about a specific example. I would like to highlight the pork industry, which is very much alive and well in three provinces in Canada: Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. If I was to focus on the province of Manitoba and on creating job opportunities and enhancing export opportunities that go beyond the Canada-U.S. border, I would highlight the company HyLife. HyLife employs hundreds of Manitobans in the community of Neepawa, bringing life back to Neepawa in many different ways. As a company, 90% of its product is sold to Asia, in particular to countries like Japan. That is the type of international trade opportunity that allows Canada to grow.

This is the type of company that we could give examples of in every region of our country. When the Prime Minister, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of International Trade and, to a lesser extent, the Minister of Immigration talk about trade opportunities, it excites all members of the government caucus, because we see the reality and recognize that Canada is very much dependent on trade. That is just one file in a much larger picture.

We can talk about investments and building big projects. Earlier, a Bloc member was trying to give the false impression that Canada neglects the province of Quebec. Nothing could be further from the truth. I gave the example of the port of Montreal in the province of Quebec. That is well over three billion dollars' worth of investments. We are talking about thousands of indirect and direct jobs as a result of major projects and investments.

Over the next five years, we are going to see close to half a trillion dollars in major projects, in co-operation with provinces, municipalities, indigenous leaders and many other stakeholders. That is very real. It is tangible. Back in September, the Prime Minister held a summit, the first of its kind, where we invited investors from around the world to come to Toronto. Historic amounts of money were being looked at to invest in Canada, half a trillion dollars, which is unheard of in Canadian history. These are real, tangible investments.

When we talk about budgets and the implementation of the government agenda, we need to look at the larger picture. That is why it is being forecast that Canada will have the second-highest growth in the G7 this year. We are not settling for that. Through the Prime Minister and this government, we are aiming to make Canada the strongest and healthiest economy in the G7. That goal is achievable. All one needs to do is look at the bigger picture and what the government is putting forward. That flowed from listening to what Canadians were asking not only of this Prime Minister, but of all members of the House. Every Liberal member of caucus understands that and continues to build and work toward a stronger and healthier economy because it matters.

Along with that, on the issue of affordability, we put in place programs that are meant and designed to assist real people in our constituencies. Last Friday, I made reference to the national school food program, which feeds 400,000 children in schools across every region of our nation. I have talked about the dental program. Imagine a senior on a fixed income being provided the opportunity to get dental services. Every member has constituents who have benefited immensely by that. When I say “constituents”, I am talking about hundreds of constituents in every riding across the country.

We can look at the turmoil from Trump tariffs and trade. Even on the unemployment and employment issue, there has been a net gain of over 150,000 jobs in Canada since the last federal election. Some may be able to point to some months being lower than other months and some months having higher employment numbers, but the bottom line is that it is a net gain. People need to appreciate the situation we are in around the world, with a war in the Middle East and what is taking place in Russia and Ukraine, the illegal occupation. We are still able to deliver.

I look at the minister responsible for crime. We have brought forward numerous bills to deal with making our communities safer. We are talking about a generational number of pieces of legislation to deal with that. All of this is being done through collaborative federalism, led by a Prime Minister who understands that we need to work with people in order to make things happen.

There are so many things that one can talk about. Earlier, we had a critic talking about the military. Within six or eight months, we met the target of spending 2% of GDP on military expenses. The Conservatives can try to justify it whatever way they want, but at the end of the day, our military personnel got pay increases. We now have a procurement process being put into place that is very solid and will ensure more accountability and transparency.

I have run out of time. There is so much more I could talk about. I look forward to any questions.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Madam Speaker, Bill C-31 is a massive bill of 352 pages that buries major policy changes behind hundreds of pages. Does the member still stand by the Liberal promise in 2015, which he was here for, to end the use of massive bills that prevent Parliament from proper review and debate, or is this just another political flip-flop that he expects Canadians to believe?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that since the last election, we have had a very long, healthy, substantive legislative agenda. We are talking about 40 pieces of legislation.

The type of legislation we are bringing forward affects the lives of Canadians every day. I made reference, for example, to the legislative agenda dealing with crime. We had a series of budgetary implementation bills, along with other pieces of legislation that would put in place things like Crown corporations, ensuring that there will be more transparency and accountability. There is a move toward getting a balance in our operating budget. We will find many other—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

We need to go to other questions.

The hon. member for Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is always riveting to hear my colleague speak in the House and witness his vibrant spirit and passion after all these years. We can tell that he is just as committed and engaged as ever.

My question is fairly straightforward. One thing is conspicuous by its absence from the bill currently under discussion and from the amendments under debate, and that is seniors. The seniors who built the Quebec and Canada of today are completely absent from Bill C‑31, yet they are facing an injustice, because retirees aged 65 to 74 have not received a 10% increase in their old age security.

Frankly, I would like to hear the parliamentary secretary give a different answer than “They got dental care”. What do we tell these seniors, who are not getting as much OAS as seniors 75 and older even though they need it too?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, like the member, I very much care about our seniors.

The government has brought forward a number of initiatives to support seniors. For example, there are a number of affordability measures, such as the groceries and essentials benefit and the way in which we have enhanced it over the last 18 months. One of the biggest beneficiaries is our senior population. It is a significant amount of money we are talking about, going into hundreds of millions of dollars. Also, we are reinforcing the importance of the New Horizons program, making sure that senior activities are being programmed. One could talk about the excise tax as well, which has dropped the price of gasoline. That increases opportunities for travel for seniors, whether they travel on a bus or have their own vehicle.

There are always ways that we can look at additional things. I, for one, am always open to good ideas on how we can be more supportive of our seniors.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to wish you a great day on this special day.

I would ask my colleague from Winnipeg North to bring Bill C-31 back home. I am less familiar with Manitoba. I am curious how Bill C-31 could impact the fine citizens of Manitoba, and specifically those of Winnipeg North.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I do not want more time, but I wish you a very happy birthday. If you gave me the time, I would attempt singing part of it. The French-language version of happy birthday is so much nicer to hear than the English. Having said that, enjoy your day.

There are lots of wonderful things in the budget implementation bill. It would take me a great deal of time to go into the details. I like many of the affordability measures. I think the residents of Winnipeg North would benefit from them.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to take part in this debate today and to celebrate your birthday. I wish you a happy birthday today, November 3. I would also like to congratulate my niece, Anne‑Audrey, who is also celebrating her birthday today. She was born on November 3, 1988, and was my parents' first granddaughter and first grandchild. Obviously, it was a momentous occasion. I remember it like it was yesterday. I wish a happy birthday to Anne‑Audrey and to everyone else born on November 3.

What we are witnessing today is rather peculiar. The bill we are debating right now, which is at the report stage following a committee study, deals with the implementation of tax measures. We are just hours away from the next budget being tabled, yet we are still debating the previous budget. I think that my colleagues on the government side, who are now in charge of leading Canada with a majority secured due to floor crossers, should perhaps do a better job of adjusting their parliamentary agenda.

Nevertheless, this give us an opportunity to debate Canada's current fiscal situation and its future prospects. I would like begin by reminding the House of the commitments that we made and that we want the government to make when it tables its budget in a few hours, which basically boil down to leaving more money in the pockets of Canadian taxpayers. Canadian taxpayers know how to manage their own money better than the government, which takes their money and doles it out to those it deems to be the most deserving. That is not the right approach. Our Conservative approach involves lower taxes and more money in Canadians' pockets. That way Canadians can make their own choices, rather than the government doing it for them. That is our vision.

The same goes for the management of public funds. If the government does not have the money to cover all of its spending, then what happens? We end up with deficits and debt. What is debt? Debt is a bill that we are passing on to our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren, who have not been born yet, but who will have to pay because the public finances are being mismanaged today. I will come back to this a little later.

Let us review the principles that guide Conservatives when making budget choices. Leaving more money in people's pockets means lowering taxes. According to a recent report from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, inflation is being driven in part by rising transportation costs. Obviously, the best way to help bring those costs down is to eliminate taxes. That is what we proposed a few months ago. The government borrowed elements of the Conservative proposal. We hope that it will once again draw on our ideas but that this time, it will implement them properly and in full for Canadian families by eliminating all federal taxes on gas and diesel, suspending the GST on fuel all the way until next summer, and putting more money into the pockets of Canadians, who will put it to good use. The principle is sound, as evidenced by the fact that the Liberal government has already drawn inspiration from it. We believe that the government should go even further and implement our proposal to eliminate federal fuel taxes in its entirety.

Now, the government also needs to be vigilant when it comes to spending taxpayers' money left, right and centre. We must always bear in mind that there is a big difference between a subsidy and a tax credit. With a subsidy, the government takes money from all Canadian workers and businesses, through taxes and the GST, and redistributes it to the people it chooses. It is the government that picks the winners. That is what a subsidy is. Sometimes it can work. Too often, it does not. That is why we believe that the best way to help the economy is to cut taxes and also to reduce subsidies, because as our leader often says, corporate welfare has no place in Canada.

When it comes to cutting unnecessary spending, consultants are still one of the areas that come to mind. It is shocking that the number of public service employees has increased while contracts awarded to consultants have more than doubled. It should be one or the other, not both. The government has also committed to a massive project, the Alto high-speed train, that could cost as much as $100 billion. We are not the ones saying this; it is the Parliamentary Budget Officer. She says the cost could climb to $100 billion, if not more.

That said, I am not opposed to this type of project in principle, but we still need to know where we are headed, and right now we are headed in entirely the wrong direction. Worse still, the government has gotten it wrong from the very beginning of this project. It began by expropriating land in Mirabel, which is arguably the region of Canada that is the most sensitive on the subject of expropriation.

Do not forget that, for three years, the current leaders led Canadians to believe that this would be a high-frequency rail project. Then, only days before leaving office, the outgoing prime minister announced that it would instead be a high-speed rail project. They completely turned this project on its head. Anyone with even a basic understanding of rail infrastructure knows that the difference between high-frequency rail and high-speed rail goes far beyond a few different letters in the names. There is a world of difference, and the cost is different, too.

We hope that the government and the Prime Minister, who has committed to maintaining both the debt-to-GDP ratio and the deficit-to-GDP ratio at acceptable levels, will act on our request, particularly as the Prime Minister himself once raised this issue.

This leads me to compare the situation as it stood 11 years ago and the situation as it stands today. Why am I talking about the situation 11 years ago? It is because, yes, 11 years and a few days ago, an election was held that brought the Liberals to power. What kind of financial situation is Canada in after 11 years of Liberal governance? I would remind members that there was no deficit and a $1.4-billion surplus in 2015. The deficit is now somewhere between $78 billion and $80 billion. I unfortunately have to add that, just two years ago, the deficit was expected to be around $40 billion, which was unbelievable at the time. Now, 18 months later, the deficit has doubled. I say this with all due respect, because anyone who sits in the House deserves respect, but who would have thought that the Prime Minister, who is recognized around the globe as a world-class banker, would perform worse than the drama teacher? That is the reality.

Everyone thought Justin Trudeau was an irresponsible steward of public funds. Now this internationally renowned banker is doing even worse than Mr. Trudeau, with a deficit that is twice as large. Then there is the debt. Eleven years ago, the debt stood at roughly $616 billion. That was already high, obviously, but today it has climbed to $1,500 billion, pushing it into trillion territory. The debt now stands at $1.5 trillion. Those are the kinds of numbers that would have Captain Haddock shouting “billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles”, but in our case, it would be trillions. That is how big the debt is now. The problem is that debt is a bill that we pass on to our great-grandchildren. The government takes pride in having a Prime Minister with an outstanding international reputation when it comes to finance, yet Canadians are seeing little benefit from that experience.

In closing, I have a question for the Canadians who are tuning in: Has their financial situation improved? Over the past 18 months, when Canadians shop at the grocery store, do they feel they are getting enough for their money? What about those who have children and who want to buy a home? They are facing higher interest rates than before, especially since the Bank of Canada recently announced that inflation and the key interest rate will go up. We are talking about 3% inflation. That is my question for the Canadians tuning in: Do they feel their financial situation has improved? When they go to the market, when they are looking to buy a home or when they are shopping, do they feel they are getting more for their money?

I know very well that most of those Canadians, if not the majority or all Canadians, will reply that, no, their situation has not improved. That is why we want the government to change course with the upcoming budget.

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

Madam Speaker, I really enjoyed the opposition member's speech. He talked about affordability, a subject that we hear about a lot. When I knock on doors in Honoré-Mercier, that is what people are talking to me about.

However, I am rather surprised, because the member is talking about affordability but voting against affordability programs. I am thinking of Canada's national school food program, which benefits at least 2,000 schools in Quebec, including schools in my colleague's riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. I am wondering how many schools in Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk are benefiting from the national school food program.

Why are the Conservatives voting against a good school food program?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is because these programs are not working. That is the problem. If they were working, we would know.

The result of these programs is that there are now twice as many Canadians turning to food banks as there were five years ago. Just last week, I spoke in the House about the situation in Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk and about Amélie et Frédérick, a food bank on Bastien Boulevard in the Neufchâtel area.

Today, people are going to food banks for help, whereas five years ago, those same people were going there to donate. All of the wonderful programs that the Liberals have announced, and that they keep reminding us about with numbers like 1,883 people in this or that riding, are not working.

If they were working, we would know.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, I always enjoy listening to my colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. I think that he is eloquent and experienced. At the end of his speech, he asked a good question: Does anyone feel they are better off?

In my riding, 22% of the population is seniors 65 and over. Every time I go out in my riding, they talk to me about how unfair it is that seniors 65 to 74 are treated differently from those 75 and over. My bill, Bill C-261, will fix that injustice and stop the discrimination between the two groups of seniors.

Can the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk tell me whether he will support Bill C‑261 and, more importantly, whether he thinks that seniors deserve to regain their purchasing power?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Madam Speaker, one of the most disrespectful things that Mr. Trudeau's government did was to divide seniors, and this has not been challenged by the current Prime Minister's government.

I have always believed that the first duty of any government, and particularly of its leader, is to unite Canadians. In this case, not only did the government fail to unite them, but it actually divided them. It drew a distinction between younger seniors and older seniors.

I could never have imagined a government acting in such a clumsy, insulting and divisive way. The government members should visit private retirement residences and nursing homes and talk to the seniors who built the wealth that Canada enjoys today. They should tell them to their faces that some of them are first-class seniors and others are second-class seniors.

No one is happy about that.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his excellent speech. I always love to listen to him in this House.

One of the things he talked about in his speech was our Conservative plan to cut all taxes on gas and diesel. I wonder if he would like to take the opportunity, particularly with respect to diesel, to expand on why that means more to Canadians, not just with respect to what they pay at the pump, but the overall cost of goods, and why that is so important to Canadians and the cost of living crisis we have right now.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Madam Speaker, I want to pay all of my respects to my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador. She is one of the key players we have on this side of the House, I would say even in the House itself, since the last election.

The point is, yes, it is important to cut all taxes on gas and diesel. The Governor of the Bank of Canada published a report a few days ago highlighting the fact that, unfortunately, there will be a rise in inflation by 3.5% for a full year. What is that based on? Principally, it is because of the cost of transportation. By the way, when we talk about transportation right now, we are talking about gas and diesel. That is why we urge the government to follow our recommendation and cancel those kinds of taxes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I know my friend was not around when Stephen Harper increased the age of retirement from 65 to 67. However, we did reverse that change, which is important. I am sure he would agree that there is a difference between a senior who is 75 versus 65 with respect to medical and so many—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk has time for a very brief response.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I remember pretty well the increase from age 65 to age 67. By the way, Prime Minister Harper at the time just followed the observations of Bill Morneau, who became, after that, the finance minister under Justin Trudeau—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Humber River—Black Creek.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do enjoy listening to my colleagues speaking in the House.

It is my pleasure to take part in today's debate on Bill C-31, the budget 2025 implementation act, no. 2.

As we all know, budget 2026 is only a few days away. While we will all find out the details of the next federal budget in due course, I feel confident saying it would build upon our plan to create a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy, a plan that, in many ways, was first shaped via budget 2025.

In budget 2025, our government laid out a clear plan to build a stronger Canada, and since then, we have been moving quickly to turn that plan into action. We are building the infrastructure, the homes and the industries that will grow our economy and create lasting prosperity. We are empowering Canadians with better careers and a more affordable life. We are protecting our communities, our borders and the way of life we value so deeply.

Bill C-31 would build on this momentum by introducing measures to make life more affordable and to build a fairer, more integrated and more self-reliant economy, one that creates lasting value for Canadians and stays resilient to the global shocks we are experiencing now. Most importantly, it would ensure that government support reaches the people who need it most.

I would like to take a moment to speak to several key measures in this important legislation that demonstrate our government's commitment to fairness, economic resilience and opportunity for Canadians at every stage of their life. Our government knows that Canada is strongest when we look after one another and ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed, especially the people in Humber River—Black Creek. That is why we are taking action to make everyday life more affordable.

In January, the government announced the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit to put more money back into Canadians' pockets. The benefit is helping more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians afford everyday essentials. It replaces the existing GST credit while providing more generous support. First, we increased it by 25% for five years, starting in July 2026. Second, we added a one-time payment for this year, equivalent to a 50% increase in the current benefit. Together these enhancements will provide substantial support to the people most affected by rising food prices, especially in my riding.

For example, a person living alone who is eligible for the GST credit could previously receive a maximum of $543 for 2026-27. With the June 2026 one-time payment and the 25% increase for 2026-27 combined, that person will receive approximately $950 in total. For a couple with two children, total support will increase from $1,086 to $1,890. These increases will make a meaningful difference for households facing higher food costs. The benefit is also indexed to inflation, ensuring that payments will rise each year with the cost of living.

We are taking these steps because helping Canadians afford everyday essentials is the right thing to do. The Canadian groceries and essentials benefit is part of a broader package of measures to ease grocery cost pressures all across Canada.

Canada's first-ever national food security strategy will address food insecurity, support producers and strengthen supply chains to help lower prices for Canadians. The strategy also includes a $1-billion investment fund through Farm Credit Canada and a $150-million food security fund to help Canadian businesses grow, produce and process more food in Canada. A further $750 million will go to expand year-round Canadian fruit and vegetable production. These measures will address the root causes of food insecurity by strengthening domestic food production and improving access to affordable, nutritious food.

However, the government is aware that millions of lower-income Canadians do not file their income taxes, either because they do not have the resources to do so or because their income is too low to owe taxes. My office hosts income tax clinics every year, and we have three weeks of people steadily coming in. If people are not filing their taxes, they miss out on the benefits often. It causes some Canadians to miss out on the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canada child benefit and the Canada workers benefit. These are all benefits they are entitled to, but they must file their income tax return in the spring of the year in order to receive them.

That is why Bill C-31 proposes to allow the CRA to file a tax return on behalf of certain eligible individuals with lower incomes and with simple tax situations who do not owe tax and do not file their own taxes. This measure would ensure that support reaches the people who need it most. When Canadians keep more of the money they earn, they can better support their family, invest in their community and build the future they want.

Similarly, the government recognizes the importance of creating opportunities through education. Bill C-31 proposes to implement consequential changes to the tax rules that apply to registered education savings plans to support the implementation of automatic enrolment in the Canada learning bond.

The Canada learning bond provides direct federal contributions to help children from low- and modest-income families build savings for post-secondary education. Too many eligible families miss out, not because they choose to but because of administrative and awareness barriers. Automatic enrolment was introduced because it removes those barriers. By automatically enrolling eligible children, we ensure that support reaches the people it is intended to help, early in life when it can make the greatest difference, when they are ready to go to post-secondary education.

Finally, today's legislation would improve access to justice by making it easier and less costly for taxpayers to resolve disputes through the Tax Court of Canada's informal procedure, while providing tools to address unlicensed and misleading insolvency practices.

In closing, Bill C-31 reflects our government's focus on fairness, modernization and resilience. Together, these measures would advance a single vision for the Canadian economy, one rooted in confidence in Canadians and the belief that generational investments today will build lasting prosperity for tomorrow.

Our plan is clear: build one strong Canadian economy, invest boldly in nation-building infrastructure, put more money back in Canadians' pockets and protect our country's sovereignty and future. The budget 2025 implementation act, no. 2, is more than legislation. It would deliver on our commitment to remove paperwork that prevents vulnerable Canadians from receiving the money they are owed. This is our moment to build Canada strong, and every measure in the bill would move us toward that goal. Canadians expect and deserve absolutely nothing less.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after years of budget deficits that keep growing under the Liberal government, Bill C-31 is another 300-page bill full of Liberal promises that Canadians cannot trust.

Does the member agree that another massive bill cannot wipe away a decade of Liberal failures on affordability?

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have been part of the Liberal Government of Canada for 26 years now. I am very proud of the different programs we have done and the help we have given to many Canadians, especially my constituents in Humber River—Black Creek, who have reaped the benefit of many of these things. Many of the young people I see now at York University and U of T are able to go there because of support from the government in helping their parents be able to save money, and also with student loans and so on, so they can go on to be very successful adults in their future life.