Debates of Feb. 2nd, 2026

The Economy

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is going to hurt the Liberal member, but under a Conservative government, the average weekly food cost was about $160 a week. Now it has more than doubled under the Liberals to $340 a week.

The fact is that Liberal policies are driving up food prices to Canadians. The fact is that 2.2 million Canadians are using a food bank every single month. The reasons for the food prices are not secret: It is an industrial carbon tax and a fuel standard tax, driving up the costs on food, fuel, fertilizer and farm equipment.

Again, will the Liberals support a real food affordability plan, a Conservative plan, or will they continue to drive up food prices?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, here we go again, talking about imaginary taxes instead of the real things that help Canadian families.

Last week I met with provinces and territories from across the country, who all agree that, for example, the early learning and child care system is saving families in all of our jurisdictions, sometimes up to $14,000 a year. That is the kind of thing that Conservatives vote against. Whether it is a school nutrition program, support for families raising children or, now, a groceries and essentials benefit that would help some of the most vulnerable in our community, they say no, even to their Conservative voters.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada is now leading the G7 in food inflation. Back in 2023, however, the then industry minister declared that the Liberal government had obtained a commitment from Canada's major grocery store chains to stabilize and lower prices. Then, in September 2023, the same minister threatened to use every means at the government's disposal to force these chains to drop grocery prices. In October of the same year, the minister claimed victory when he said that Canadians could expect to see discounts, price-freezing and price-matching programs.

Today, with food inflation in Canada twice as high as it is in the U.S, what happened to his promise?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that my esteemed colleague can list all of the measures we are taking to help Canadians. Indeed, 12 million Canadians are going to benefit from the new measure.

I see it in his smile today. He is happy because we have reached second reading. He is going to be able to return to his riding and tell people, “Thanks to the Liberal government, we are there for Canadians.” I see all his colleagues getting ready.

There is still more good news. I encourage him to ask me another question because the good news keeps on coming. It is Monday.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have already said that we will not oppose giving Canadians $10 a week in discount coupons.

However, the same minister who was responsible for industry two and a half years ago said that the office of consumer affairs would monitor grocery prices. What we are seeing right now is that grocery prices have doubled. What does the minister have to say about that?

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

Mr. Speaker, I get the feeling that our Conservative friends want more good news.

Here goes: We will be setting aside $500 million from the strategic response fund for structural measures in Quebec and Canada, introducing immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings, providing additional funds for food banks, developing a national food security strategy and working to standardize unit price labelling.

We are not only offering a one-time measure to help Canadian families, we are also making food security the focus of the government's work. I would invite all members of the House to vote in favour of the bill. Let us move forward for Canadians and build Canada strong.

Pensions

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

Mr. Speaker, there are pensioners who applied for their old age security benefits nine months ago and have yet to receive a penny.

That is because the government refuses to deal with the glitches in its new Cúram software. It has been aware of the problems since June, and yet as recently as Thursday, the government House leader told us that mistakes would be fixed “if there are any”. There are indeed mistakes. Officials are telling us there are; pensioners are telling us there are.

How many alarm bells will it take before the government does something?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, one delay is one too many, but over 98% of applicants have received their benefits promptly. The department is working hard to quickly resolve any issues that users might encounter. We will continue to improve the benefit payment process.

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

Mr. Speaker, the infamous Cúram software, which is depriving retirees of their OAS benefits, is costing a lot more than its market value. The cost overrun has reached almost $5 billion. To give members some idea, that is roughly 10 times the cost of the SAAQclic scandal, for poorly performing software.

At that price, when problems prevent seniors from receiving their pension benefits and enjoying their retirement, I would expect the government to step in and do something.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is working diligently to resolve the cases of people who are having trouble getting their benefits. Over 98% of OAS applicants are receiving their benefits promptly. The department is working to overhaul an old system in place for decades and replace it with a system built to last for generations. I invite the member opposite to give me the names of these people and we will help them.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, imagine retiring and then not receiving your pension for nine months. Imagine how much that would affect your financial planning. Some people need their pension to pay their rent. Some people need it to pay for groceries. Imagine being in their shoes and watching this government behave as though everything were going smoothly.

The Bloc Québécois is calling for an investigation into the problems the Cúram software caused for retirees, as well as the cost overruns. Will the government co-operate?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, our government protects seniors. We increased the old age security pension. We are providing dental care and building housing for seniors. Now, we are modernizing the digital benefits system so that seniors can enjoy better services.

I invite the member opposite to share their names with me, and we will assist them.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada has some of the highest food inflation in the G7, and Canadians are paying for it at the grocery store. Food bank use has more than doubled, with over two million visits every month by people who simply cannot afford groceries.

The industrial carbon tax raises the costs of farm equipment, fertilizer and food processors. The Liberals' fuel standard tax raises fuel prices for truckers, driving up the cost of getting food to store shelves. Even government reports admit these increases flow through the supply chain to grocery bills.

Will the government support our motion to introduce a food affordability plan to eliminate the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard tax?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, it is another week of the same tired notes and the same rhetoric that is intended to be nothing but obstruction.

I can tell the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador that I hear from her constituents regularly. They want us to continue to work on the supports that are important not just to my province of Newfoundland and Labrador but to the entire country, the true affordability measures and growth that will build this country and support workers. The Conservatives should stop the nonsense and let us get to work.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' policies will never lower grocery prices with rebates or temporary fixes. As an example, we will not block Bill C-19, but its small rebates would not make food cheaper at the checkout.

I have heard from retirees in Newfoundland and Labrador who sit just above the GST credit threshold. They would get no benefit at all, yet they face the same high grocery prices as everyone else. This temporary measure would not reduce the price of a single item in a grocery store, but it is an admission that the Liberals' policies have driven up the cost of living. The are now sending out cheques instead of fixing the problem.

Will the Liberals support our food affordability plan?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, that is an absolute example of political rhetoric.

What will help families is when we support workers, when we build this country, and when we support rural communities and infrastructure. These are real supports. The $10-a-day child care allows women to get into the workforce. The child family benefit puts dollars in the pockets of parents.

Let us stop the nonsense. People, Canadians including Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, want us to work for them. I ask the Conservatives to please stop this and to let us work together.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is now leading the G7, but for all the wrong reasons. We have the highest food inflation. Prices have been rising twice as fast since this Prime Minister took office. The Liberals are taxing farmers and truckers. The Liberal fuel tax will cost up to $1,000 per household. As we all know, taxing farmers and truckers means taxing families.

The Conservatives are proposing to eliminate the fuel standards tax and increase competition in the grocery sector.

Can we count on the Liberals' support?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, given the current situation, it is essential for Canadians to regain their purchasing power, and that is what we are working on. We are working toward that goal by creating jobs, rebuilding our businesses and providing Canadians with a host of measures. In my Conservative colleague's riding alone, the Canada child benefit will have an impact of about $8,000 per year per child. That is significant. That is giving back.

It is no different with the special grocery benefit—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if that were working, we would know it. The only thing we know is that we currently have the highest food inflation in the G7.

My question is simple. Will this government stop taxing the middle class and instead support our plan to get rid of the fuel standards tax and increase competition between the grocery chains? It is as simple as that.

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, yes, nature is important and that means we have to fight climate change. That is why we cannot eliminate every tax on carbon. It has been demonstrated that the climate has the greatest impact on consumer price increases.

In the meantime, we are giving Canadians the means to have greater purchasing power. There needs to be less filibustering. We need to use common sense to be able to help Canadians. That is what we are doing.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after a decade of Liberal government, Canada has gone from having the strongest middle class in the G7 to having the highest food inflation in the G7. A full-time job used to put food on the table; now it does not even guarantee a full cart of groceries.

The government keeps claiming it is helping, yet food inflation has doubled since the Prime Minister took office. Canadians are still paying for more groceries than what they would get in the rebate. It is a $10 coupon on a $300 grocery bill for little food. As the saying goes, give a man a fish, and he eats for a day, but give Canadians the means to provide, and they can eat every day.

If the Liberal government truly believes that no one in Canada should go hungry, will it support our motion to introduce a food affordability plan?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, we are delivering relief for Canadians when they need it the most. According to the Canadian Labour Congress, “Strengthening the GST credit, now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit...will help many Canadians trying to make ends meet.” For 12 million people, this support will mean more breathing room when deciding between groceries, rent, medicine and other everyday essentials. This builds on our affordability plan, which includes cutting taxes and providing dental care, child care and pharmacare for millions of Canadians.

This is about fairness and making sure we will be there to support Canadians.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, rebates do not fix problems; they confirm them. The Liberal government is offering rebates as it has run out of answers. Canadians are being forced to pay $12 billion more in inflationary deficits because grocery inflation spiralled out of control with the Liberal government. Families in my community are demanding lower prices for food. Experts are clear: Food costs more because of endless taxes, regulations and red tape that drive up the cost of growing, shipping and buying food in Canada. When families are well fed, communities thrive.

I ask again, instead of following Trudeau's path of ineffective rebates, will the Liberal government support our motion to introduce a food affordability plan to bring relief to Canadians?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, the member speaks about relief, and we would deliver that through the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. A family of four would receive $1,900 a year, but to address the root causes of food insecurity, we are strengthening Canada's food supply by supporting Canadian producers and local greenhouses that are small businesses. We are building the national food security strategy so food stays affordable and available. According to Food Secure Canada, this is a “serious win” for Canadians.