House of Commons Hansard #87 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was affordable.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Fisheries Act Second reading of Bill C-237. The bill C-237 seeks to amend the Fisheries Act to harmonize recreational groundfish fishing rules across Atlantic Canada, aiming to extend access for Newfoundland and Labrador fishers. Proponents emphasize fairness and economic benefits. However, critics raise concerns about the lack of consultation, the bill's scientific basis, and potential negative impacts on regional stock management and commercial fisheries. 8800 words, 1 hour.
Build Canada Homes Act Second reading of Bill C-20. The bill establishes Build Canada Homes as a Crown corporation to increase Canada's supply of affordable housing and modernize the homebuilding sector. Proponents argue it provides essential tools to accelerate construction and foster partnerships. Critics, primarily Conservatives, contend it would add another arm to the federal government, duplicating existing efforts, and lacks clear targets. The Bloc Québécois supports federal investment but raises concerns about federal interference in Quebec's jurisdictions and the bill's lack of guarantees for social housing. The NDP notes no specific allocation for rent-geared-to-income housing. 42600 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Similarities Between Bill C-2 and Bill C-12 Members debate a point of order regarding Bills C-2 and C-12, discussing whether they are "substantially similar" under parliamentary rules, which would prevent Bill C-2 from proceeding after Bill C-12 passed. 1100 words, 10 minutes.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, aside from being entertaining, this question has been asked and answered many times. It is about modernizing the system, and there are no cost overruns. More than seven million Canadians are benefiting from it. It is a success story.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, we thought we had seen it all with Phoenix and ArriveCAN, but then Cúram came along and surpassed even Quebec's infamous SAAQclic fiasco. That says a lot.
The Liberals said they would be responsible with taxpayers' money. Instead, we are at $6.6 billion and seniors are still waiting for their pension benefits. The worst part is that half of that money is going into the pockets of consultants.
How can the Liberals justify this mess? Why are the Liberals continuing to make seniors pay the price for glitchy software?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this question has been asked many times and answered many times, but I will answer it once again. Why are they getting so worked up?
The transformation of information technology in government is indeed complicated. However, this is a success story. We were able to replace an outdated system with an updated system that will modernize services and benefits for more than seven million Canadians.
That is cause for celebration.
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government was forewarned in 2023 that its new system, intended to enhance OAS and GIS payments, was already going over budget. This project has ballooned to $6.6 billion. The taxpayer is now responsible for the failure of a system that was supposed to guarantee better access for our seniors.
At a time when seniors are struggling to make ends meet, how does the government justify billions of wasteful spending on a broken system?
Stephanie McLean LiberalSecretary of State (Seniors)
Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to answer this question and remind the member opposite that years ago the Auditor General warned Harper's Conservatives that the old benefit payment system was outdated and at risk. That means that, under those Conservatives, people would not get their money at all. What did the Conservatives do? They did nothing. That is just their way. They get out of the way and do nothing.
We have invested. We are modernizing the system to ensure that it serves seniors for years to come. If a problem arises, we will fix it.
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Mr. Speaker, that is just another excuse from the Liberal government. Seniors are already struggling with the cost of living, and delayed payments are causing seniors to fall behind on rent, skip groceries and worry about how they will pay for their medication.
It is unacceptable that this project went from $1.7 billion to $6.6 billion. Who is accountable for this massive cost overrun? Who will be fired, and when will the government take responsibility for another overpriced, failed system?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, transitioning 7 million Canadians to a system without a hitch would not be my definition of failure. Do members know what would be? It would be not investing in the modernization of systems when there was a chance to and voting against bringing all our systems up to date. Not only are we modernizing OAS, but we are also modernizing EI and CPP for all Canadians.
Canadians ought to have systems they can use digitally. That is what we are doing. We are making sure that Canadians have state-of-the-art benefit payments.
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
Mr. Speaker, the world is changing rapidly. The world order has been disrupted, and fast-paced technological advances are changing the way that Canada has to respond to threats. The new Government of Canada has to respond by reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces, by rearming them and by rebuilding them. We are already seeing results. There has been a 13% increase in CAF enlistment, and Canada is on track to meet its 2% target.
Can the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade explain to the House how Canada's defence industrial strategy will enahance security and drive economic growth?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalPresident of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is focusing on what we can control: building here at home, working with allies and buying what is needed. Canada's new defence industrial strategy consists of a $500-billion investment in Canadian industry, security and prosperity.
This is just as much an employment strategy as it is a defence strategy. It represents 125,000 new careers and strengthened supply chains. In Canada, that is how we stand strong.
Grant Jackson Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, food prices have skyrocketed 7.3%, rising more than twice as fast as the price of other goods. This is not an imported problem; 70% of the food Canadians consume is produced domestically, including 80% of processed foods, yet nearly 90% of agribusinesses now say the future of Canadian ag is at risk. Why are food prices rising? Punishing regulations, inflationary spending and Liberal taxes continue to force Canadians to pay more at the store.
How expensive does food have to get before the Liberals stop strangling farmers and get serious about bringing back affordable food?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we are getting very serious. It is called ensuring food security for Canadians. I am happy to share that with the member. He may want to explain it to his constituents.
The great thing with the Canada groceries and essentials benefit is that we are helping 12 million Canadians. In addition, and I am sure he is going to tell his constituents, we are putting $500 million to help Canada have a more resilient supply chain.
We need to grow more food in Canada. We need to have a better supply chain. We need to focus on food security. This is exactly what we are doing, and I hope the Conservative will vote in favour of the bill, because this is helping farmers.
Dan Muys Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON
Mr. Speaker, under the Prime Minister, food prices have jumped 7.3% and are rising twice as fast as those of other goods, making Canada the food inflation capital of the G7. This is a made-in-Canada problem; 70% of our food production is right here at home, yet nearly 90% of agribusinesses say Liberal red tape is putting them at risk. Punishing regulations and the industrial carbon tax are driving up costs.
Just how much higher must grocery bills climb before the Liberals stop strangling Canadian food production with red tape and punishing taxes?
Kody Blois LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich to listen to the Conservatives talk about Canadian farmers and agri-food businesses, when they had their chance in April 2025 and had absolutely nothing in their platform for Canadian farmers or agri-food businesses.
We know the price of food is a major issue in this country. That is why we have introduced the groceries and essentials rebate; 12.6 million Canadians will benefit, with up to $1,900 a year. We are also introducing the national food security strategy. This is an opportunity to look at the systemic aspects of food: what we can do to help support farmers and agri-food businesses. It will not be cutting the industrial carbon price; that is not a real plan.
John Williamson Conservative Saint John—St. Croix, NB
Mr. Speaker, costs keep going up, but Liberals keep doing the same thing.
This year in New Brunswick, families will spend $1,000 more on grocery bills than last year. With 70% of food produced domestically, this is a made-in-Canada problem caused by the Liberals. Food is expensive because Canadian taxes on farming, trucking and packaging keep going up. It is all paid by Canadian consumers, and rising taxes on energy means more pain is on the way. Experts are clear that punishing regulations, inflationary spending and the Liberal industrial carbon tax are the cause.
How expensive does food have to get before the Liberals do something?
The EconomyOral Questions
February 23rd, 2026 / 3:05 p.m.
Saint John—Kennebecasis New Brunswick
Liberal
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to fighting affordability, the member and his leader are missing in action.
We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians, we have cut the consumer carbon tax, we have cut the GST for first-time homebuyers, and just recently we announced a groceries and essentials benefit that will put up to $1,900 in the pockets of New Brunswick's working families.
It is time for the member and his leader to stand up, stop the obstruction, and fight for Canadian families.
Wade Chang Liberal Burnaby Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, Build Canada Homes is Canada's affordable housing builder, and it is already delivering real results. It continues to support projects that provide Canadians with safe, stable and affordable homes, including homes coming to British Columbia through a recently announced partnership.
Can the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure update the House on how this new partnership will help deliver much-needed housing for residents in British Columbia?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have very exciting news in B.C. The Build Canada Homes partnership is set to deliver 1,100 new affordable homes. Many of these priority projects are set to break ground this year, including 700 supportive and transitional homes for people who need them the most.
I hope that the members opposite will support the Build Canada Homes legislation rather than obstructing and preventing Canadians from getting access to affordable housing.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, a British Columbia school board trustee was fined $750,000 for the egregious crime of saying there are two genders. These are the same kangaroo courts that the Liberals' online harms act would empower. It is the same regulation of emotion that Liberal Bill C-9 would supercharge.
The Liberals claim they will uphold freedom of expression, but they still have not said whether they will acknowledge and accept the Federal Court of Appeal ruling that they violated the constitutional rights of Canadians by invoking the Emergencies Act.
Will the Liberals commit now to giving up on their censorship agenda and letting Canadians live their lives and speak their minds?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of points.
There is no censorship agenda. We will keep our kids safe, including safe from child pornographers.
The convoy was an illegal occupation of the downtown of our capital that people wanted gone. The member supported it with his leader. Shame on them, bringing donuts to people occupying our nation's capital.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, we keep asking the Liberal government when pharmacare will expand, and we cannot get a straight answer from the Minister of Health.
British Columbia's pharmacare agreement starts next week, because New Democrats pushed for it and because the B.C. NDP moved quickly. Families in other provinces are still waiting because the Liberal government is not negotiating. This means access to life-saving medicine depends on someone's postal code.
When will the Minister of Health finally start negotiating so Canadians can access life-saving medicine no matter where they live?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, I am having conversations with each of the health ministers in the provinces and territories about pharmacare. We will let him know as soon as we are ready to move forward.
Bruce Fanjoy Liberal Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We heard some very unparliamentary language today. It was probably spoken by accident.
I would like you to ask the member for Lakeland to withdraw the comment.
PharmacareOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I did not hear the language in question. I do not know if the hon. member wants to address this one way or the other. I did not hear the comment.
The hon. member for Lakeland.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my comment telling the truth, which was that the answer was bovine excrement.
PharmacareOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The first time, nobody heard it. The second time, unfortunately, we had to hear it.
The hon. member for Portneuf—Jacques Cartier.