Debates of Feb. 26th, 2026

Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, National Acadian Day is a time when all Acadians come together to proudly celebrate our beautiful French language, our nation and our cultural commonalities.

For years now, the funding has not been permanent. It always had to be renegotiated when agreements expired. This is a long-standing Société nationale de l'Acadie ask, and they were heard. Several MPs who care about Acadia raised these issues during the budget consultations. We were heard.

On budget day, the Prime Minister himself came and told me that funding for National Acadian Day would not only be made permanent, but would also be doubled.

I see this as good news not only for New Brunswick's Acadian economy, but also for Acadians in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and everywhere people celebrate Acadia.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour and a privilege to rise on behalf of the great people of southwest and west-central Saskatchewan.

I will start my speech off today by acknowledging that the Saskatchewan Winter Games took place at the same time as the Olympics. I want to give a quick shout-out to all the kids who went up to Meadow Lake and to the Flying Dust First Nation to compete in those games. I say congratulations to those who won medals, but I also want to thank the kids who put in the hard work and tremendous effort to be able to compete in those games, and the parents who took time out of their busy schedules and lives to take their kids up there and spend some time up in the northern part of our province, which is a beautiful part of Saskatchewan. I congratulate all the athletes who competed.

I would also like to mention that I had the opportunity this week to meet with members of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, or APAS. Its young leaders were out in Ottawa this week. I had the distinct privilege of meeting with them, and I really appreciated the opportunity to hear what they had to say. I can say that the future of agriculture in Saskatchewan and across Canada is in very good hands. They have brilliant minds and are putting in tremendous work. They have a skill set and a talent level that is befitting of what the next generation of agriculture is truly all about, which kind of gets at the basis of the speech I want to give today in regard to the direction the government is going and the way it is treating agriculture.

Over this last break week, I had a couple of meetings in regard to the government's plan to slash funding and lay off workers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research stations all across Canada. Some of that is affecting locations in my riding, as well as other locations in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and other places across Canada. It is really tragic that this is where the Liberals are choosing to make cuts.

The return on investment in agriculture is massive. Agriculture is the largest exporting element of the Canadian economy, particularly the Saskatchewan economy, and it plays such a key role in supporting our small towns, cities, communities and various organizations because of the strength of that industry.

When we look at the tone the government is choosing to set by cutting funding in agriculture, it is really backwards to the direction this country should be going. To take that at another level, we are going through the comprehensive expenditure reviews, and we are seeing department after department come back to the federal government saying that they will be able to lay off and make cuts with no impact to service delivery. However, I would say that the Department of Agriculture is the one department that is going to notice a substantial impact to the services that are being delivered to Canadians and Canadian farmers, but also to producers around the world.

We know that the research that happens in Saskatchewan and across the country not only benefits farmers here. It benefits farmers here first, but we are then able to export what we learn to the rest of the world. One such practice would be zero-till or low-till farming practices, which is something we changed on our farm when I was growing up. I jokingly say that it was something that put me out of a job on my parents' farm, because I used to do a lot of the cultivating and disking that we needed to do at that time. However, what we learned, which was aided by the research stations, was the value of doing continuous cropping to restore nutrients to the soil. It also helped build and maintain topsoil quality and moisture retention. It showed that we did not need to be plowing up our fields nearly as much as we used to. There are jurisdictions around the world that are still using that practice, and they could learn a lot from Canadian agriculture.

A lot of the research in that farming technique happened at the research stations across Canada. It was in partnership with some other regions in North America, but a lot of it was done at the research stations. However, that is just one firm example of some of the benefits we have seen from the research stations. Also, various crop varieties have been developed there, which have been cutting edge for being able to continue to grow crops in one of the most difficult places to grow crops in the world.

The area I represent is smack dab in the middle of what is called the Palliser triangle, which was designated by the explorer as an area unfit for humankind to live in, yet we are able to be the largest exporting area in the world of pulses. We grow a lot of grain, canola, other oilseeds and lots of cereal crops. We basically feed the world from an area that was deemed to be unfit for humans, so it is pretty remarkable what has happened.

However, it is because of the things that have happened at the research stations. They are strategically placed because of the various different soil types that exist in Canada, particularly Saskatchewan. My area is very sandy, very hilly and very rocky. A lot of it probably should have been left as native prairie grass, but it has now been turned into agriculture-producing land for crops. The research stations have been very key to making sure we have the crop varieties and also the right timing as to when we want to grow our crops in order to make sure we can maximize their output value. Things like research into fertilizer usage, pesticide applications and weed control are all done at these research stations, and they are put into the various different soil zones that exist in Saskatchewan and across the country. That is some of the most valuable research that has happened at these research stations.

To be fair, I know the government is trying to save money because it has been blowing the doors off the vault with the amount of money it is spending out there, so I want to show a few areas where the government would be able to save money.

The government was looking, over the next three years, to cut 665 staff and find about 15% in budgetary savings through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Over the next 10 years, it will total roughly $150 million in cuts. We are currently also going through the supplementary phase of the budget, and in the supps we see one line item, alone, that would actually pay to keep the research stations open and staffed. There is $150 million for the modernization of the CBC. That is on top of their almost $2-billion budget, and they now need another $150 million for modernization. It is quite ridiculous how much money the government continues to pump needlessly into the CBC, but it also shows where the government's priorities are and how it has no clue what actually runs the largest exporting portion of the Canadian economy.

On top of that, there is the Liberals' boondoggle of the tree planting plan they had. They were going to plant two billion trees. They spent about $267 million to barely put a dent in that number. Now they have abandoned the plan, and they spent $200 million just to end the two-billion tree program. It was going to be one of the cornerstone environmental commitments of the government, and it basically wasted close to half a billion dollars on that entire program. Back in the eighties, Saskatchewan farmers had a tree planting program. They would have planted as many or more trees than that program did, and they would have done it for a fraction of the cost.

When we look at the debt charges, for example, just the debt charges alone are over $1,300 per Canadian per year as of last year, and that is in total $53.7 billion more than all revenue collected through GST. We know there are other areas where the government can find savings. It spent between $17 billion and $19 billion on external consultants, because it basically admitted that even though it has massively bloated the public service, its employees are not even able to do the work that they were supposedly hired to do in the first place.

There are many places that the government would have been able to find savings. We know through the comprehensive expenditure reviews that there are many departments that can find savings without impacting service delivery, but we know that the research that is happening at these research stations is invaluable. It cannot be replaced, and the fact that the government wants to do away with that is absolutely shameful.

I have met with a lot of the producer groups over the last week. They have two very simple requests right now. If the government is not going to back away from these cuts, at the very least they are asking if the government can at least let the 2026 crop year and research year be completed before any of these cuts are rolled out and also if it could slow down the pace at which it is looking to sell off the equipment that the research stations have. There are very specific and very specialized pieces of machinery at those research stations. If there is any chance we could save the research stations, that equipment needs to be there. The producers' request would be that the government would back off on selling that equipment at this point in time.

I look forward to questions from the government.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague points out a lot of valid ideas. We have been looking at the expenditure review plan at the operations committee. Unfortunately, it actually requires orders of the committee to the government to release some of the details to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The member talks about agricultural research. In the past, we have seen the government spend $7.4 billion on its green energy accelerator. Billions of dollars went to multinational U.S. companies that had not even applied for the money. It actually went to one company that has been convicted of subsidizing ISIS abroad.

What does the member think about the fact that the government is cutting vital agricultural research while at the same time funding foreign multinational companies that are violating international law?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague makes a terrific point about how the government is making it harder for parliamentarians to get access to the information we need to be able to do our jobs. He is right. We did have to compel departments to release information on the CER, not only so we could do our jobs, but also so the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer could properly do his job.

It is disgraceful, the way the Liberals are treating Canadians. We then see, on the other side of it, that they are funding, in some cases, illegal and criminal activity abroad. It is absolutely appalling. If they were truly focused on building Canada strong, they would focus on projects and initiatives that are happening in Canada, they would listen to what is happening in Canada, and they would prioritize those kinds of initiatives instead of groups that are funding ISIS.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will not address the silliness of making accusations about funding criminal activity internationally.

It is interesting, given the member is from the prairie region, that he does not recognize that when we go into an election, a major document we provide Canadians is our election platform. The Conservative Party had nothing in regard to agriculture in its own platform. That is an interesting point.

Does the member support the Minister of Agriculture's aggressive and very proactive approach to finding additional export markets that go beyond the Canada-U.S. borders? Does he support the travel that is necessary for the minister, the Prime Minister and others to secure future markets for our commodities?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers know that the government has been in place for 10, going on 11 years now. They know it is not a new government. They know that when they look at the benches, they see many of the same faces that have been there for the last 10 years.

It was Stephen Harper and the hon. Ed Fast who did a tremendous amount of work on securing trade deals around the world. In fact, we are going to be working, during the next sitting week, on the CPTPP, which was negotiated and signed by Ed Fast. It took the government a long time to actually ratify it. There is an amendment coming forward to that deal.

Conservatives have long been the ones who have championed this, because of the legacy of great Conservative prime ministers like Stephen Harper and members like Ed Fast, who have done a tremendous job on trade. That is a legacy I am proud of.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, also offensive are some of the initiatives the Liberals have funded abroad. I think about the issue with the rice. I am not going to get into it on the rice, but can the member talk about some of the dollars that have been wasted in some crazy investments or expenditures overseas that would have been way better invested in increasing the stability of research stations in rural Canada?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the general strategy of the government has been to pick all kinds of radical DEI projects around the world to fund, but it has also had those same policies in place here domestically.

The Liberals left a $500-million maintenance backlog at the research stations, which has made those research stations vulnerable. The infrastructure is kind of crumbling around people while they are trying to do their work. In the meantime, to fill rabid DEI requirements, the Liberals went about a hiring spree.

If we look at what the Liberals are funding internationally, it just further cements where their priorities are. Rather than actually working for producers here in Canada, they are focused more on these international pet projects that have no benefit to Canadians.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, it is my turn to speak to Bill C‑15, and therefore to the budget. I am sure that many of my colleagues reread it every night. Before beginning, I would like to sincerely thank all the members of the Standing Committee on Finance. After some challenging discussions and debates, we managed to finish our work earlier this week and send the bill back to the House. I really want to thank our colleagues from all the parties. I think that we fulfilled our duty as parliamentarians, and that is something that benefits all of us, the nation and the prestige of this institution.

Let us return to Bill C‑15. As we know, the global context is rapidly changing, leaving economies, businesses and workers under a cloud of uncertainty. Quite frankly, a lot of people no longer know what to make of it. There is a great deal of uncertainty, volatility and ambiguity. That is why the Government of Canada is focusing on what it can control, which is building a stronger economy to make life more affordable for Canadians. We are doing this by forging new trade and investment partnerships abroad and strengthening our capacity at home. This allows us to provide Canadians with good job opportunities and better wages from coast to coast to coast. Our government has a plan to ensure that Canadians have the support they need, and now is the time to implement that plan.

We heard many comments from various groups and analysts. We heard a number of opinions on the Government of Canada's fiscal framework. People ask us why we are doing this, why we are doing it at this scale and whether we really have the means to do so. We are taking action now because the time to act is now. It is not three years or five years from now. We must take action now to help us get through what our Prime Minister recently said in Davos is a rupture in the world order. This world order served us well in Canada for about 30 years. However, the world has changed and the time to act is now.

Obviously, there are no secrets in the budget: There is a deficit. This deficit is clearly indicated in the budget. The deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year is $78 billion, or 2.5% of GDP. We are not hiding it. We are not playing any tricks. It is clearly stated in the budget documents. Our friends across the way keep saying that we should have limited the deficit to perhaps $40 billion or even less than that. However, they have never told us where they would have found $30 billion or $40 billion in savings. They have not told us what they would have cut in the budget to achieve that.

This also means that, with this deficit, Canada's public debt stands at 42% of GDP. Of course, 42% of GDP is no small amount. We all agree that it is a significant debt. We are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars, but it is 42% of Canada's GDP. We always need to keep in mind the order of magnitude. We are often presented with financial indicators of debt and deficit in absolute terms. A trillion dollars in debt, or $1,000 billion, or nearly $80 billion in deficit are really shocking numbers, but we must put them into perspective in relation to the size of the economy and the capacity of that economy to absorb such levels of debt.

What we have noticed and observed since the budget was tabled in early November is that the financial markets are not in distress at all. They are absorbing this deficit very well. Canada still has a AAA credit rating, one of the best credit ratings in the world, giving us privileged access to capital markets to enable us to implement our plan. I agree that our plan is ambitious, but we absolutely have the ability to implement it. I will say it again: The time to do it is now, and now is when we are doing it.

At the end of the budget period, in fiscal year 2029-2030, we will still have a deficit of 1.5% of GDP. We are going from 2.5% to 1.5% of GDP. Once again, this is entirely manageable, and Canada's public debt will represent 43% of GDP. We are going from 42% to 43% of GDP. With numbers like these, I can assure the House that financial markets will continue to welcome Canada's debt. We will therefore be able to continue financing our activities without any issues, still with a AAA credit rating, one of the best in the world, which will allow us to achieve our objectives.

I want to come back to the budget. The government quickly introduced several new measures to lower costs, which included cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, boosting residential construction and protecting and expanding crucial social programs. We believe that we must be able to foster and support economic development, while always taking care of our people.

We must always be able to provide the social programs that we truly value and that set Canada apart. What makes Canada what it is, in large part, is the range of social programs that we have had in place for a long time—these are not recent developments—and the fact that we continue to support these programs and make them more accessible. This continues to make life affordable for many Canadians.

That is another point of contention, so to speak, between our opinion and that of our friends across the floor, who believe that social programs are expensive. Of course, these programs are not free, but they help keep life affordable for millions of Canadians, whether through the Canada child benefit or affordable day care. Both of these programs help many families and enable many women to join the labour market. These programs cost money, but at the same time, they make life affordable for many Canadians. If we decided to make changes now and eliminate these social programs, it would be completely counterproductive, because it would make life much less affordable for millions of Canadians.

Members on the other side tell us that when we do these things, it creates inflationary deficits: Liberal inflation. I would need far more time than I have to explain why that is not the case.

First, inflation in Canada is currently well under control. I understand that many of my friends on the other side are not very fond of the Bank of Canada. In fact, their leader said in a somewhat reckless statement that he would have fired the Governor of the Bank of Canada.

It turns out that the Bank of Canada was one of the first major G7 central banks to successfully bring inflation back within the target range of 1% to 3%. The Bank of Canada's goal of controlling inflation without creating a recession was successful, even though many said that it was inevitable. That inflation was not the result of budget deficits; it was an international phenomenon. There was COVID‑19, then the resurgence of COVID‑19. There were a lot of factors, and it affected everyone, in Canada, the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea. All developed countries experienced a sharp rise in inflation, and we were the first to manage to bring it under control.

It is important to not confuse “inflation”, which is the rate of price increases, with “price levels”. The cost of living involves price levels. After a few years of high inflation, prices are very high, and there are indeed affordability challenges. There are cost-of-living issues, particularly with respect to food. However, as I said earlier, if we were to start cutting social programs now, we would be making life much less affordable for millions of Canadians.

The budget also includes measures to support consumers. Specifically, Bill C‑15 includes a few measures to make life more affordable. For example, it includes measures to promote competition in order to support businesses and consumers. More competition is good for the economy. Healthy competition pushes businesses to operate more efficiently, to innovate so they can stand out and to reduce operating costs.

In budget 2025, we are also addressing structural issues that have held the Canadian economy back for far too long. We will increase competition in areas where it is weak. We will simplify regulations in areas where they are too restrictive. I want to say just one word on this matter. Yes, regulations can become burdensome. Regulations can become an obstacle, but often there are good reasons to have regulations. We must always find a balance.

I see that my time is up. I have a lot more to say, but I will close by saying that we tabled a very good budget.

William Herbert Loewen

[Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the remarkable life of William Herbert Loewen, an entrepreneur and patron of the arts. Bill passed away in Winnipeg on February 4 at the age of 95. He was predeceased by his equally remarkable wife, Shirley, and is survived by their children, Ann, Howard, Louise, Peter and Jennifer, as well as many loved ones.

From modest prairie roots, Bill founded Comcheq Services Limited and built it into Canada’s largest independent payroll service provider. Bill believed deeply in the power of the arts to enrich our spirits. He was a member of the Order of Canada and an honorary member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the only person ever to receive that distinction.

Bill had a profound impact on many lives, including mine when he hired me at the age of 23. Canada is better because of Bill's leadership in business, his love of country, his passion for the arts and the tremendous example of his life.

Veterans Advocate

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great privilege that I rise in the House to honour an outstanding member of the Elmwood—Transcona community, Peter Martin. Peter Martin is a tireless advocate for military veterans and the Transcona community in Winnipeg. He is a Métis veteran of the Canadian Army, a member of the Last Post Fund, the missing marker program, and the organizer of wreaths for veterans at the Transcona Cemetery Field of Honour.

Peter is also the Manitoba coordinator of the No Stone Left Alone ceremonies, which bring children and veterans together to place poppies on veterans' headstones. This program educates our youth about our military veterans and gives veterans the opportunity to share their stories with our local youth.

I would like to tell Peter, from me personally and from the House, that I thank him for everything he does in service to our community and in service to our country. From the bottom of my heart, I thank him.

Black History Month

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Black History Month and the vital contributions of Black Canadians to our nation. The 2026 theme of honouring 30 years of Black brilliance across generations celebrates both our history and the promise of the future.

This past Sunday, I had the honour of hosting a community Black History Month celebration in Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East. The event was inspiring, full of performances, reflections and recognition of the richness of Black culture, heritage and leadership. It reminded us that Black history is Canadian history. Black History Month also calls on us to continue addressing systemic barriers and creating a more inclusive society. I thank all the participants for sharing their stories and their talents.

Let us carry the lessons of this month forward, celebrating achievements, fostering understanding and building a stronger, more equitable Canada for all.

Tourism

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the incredible performance of our tourism sector. Leading the way is my home province of Alberta, guided by the work of Travel Alberta under the leadership of David Goldstein. Alberta's tourism sector reached $14.4 billion in visitor spending in 2024, receiving global recognition as a destination of choice from several leading international travel publications.

Alberta is creating and promoting new must-visit destinations, improving air access and attracting additional private sector investment. I congratulate the hard-working businesses, operators and workers, who are key to Alberta's vibrant visitor economy. Tourism is proving essential to diversification, job creation and growth and delivering new opportunities in every corner of the province.

Alberta's success shows what is possible nationwide if the federal government recognizes the power of tourism to diversify and grow our economy and create trade opportunities and prosperity for all Canadians.

50th Anniversary of Club Fondeurs Laurentides

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of Club Fondeurs Laurentides. In 1975, physical education teacher Marc Desjardins decided that cross-country skiing was an excellent way to get our young people moving.

Over time, the club grew and now has 650 members from municipalities throughout the Lower Laurentians. Club Fondeurs Laurentides organizes nothing less than Canada's largest cross-country skiing competition for schoolchildren, bringing together more than 2,000 young people, in addition to hosting the Coupe Québec at Sommet Morin Heights in Les Pays-d'en-Haut.

I would like to congratulate all the parent volunteers, coaches, board members, and especially the president, Dang Thanh Bùi, former president Daniel Roch, head coach Rémi Brière, and, of course, Marc Desjardins, who, 50 years later, is still bursting with energy and remains involved in all aspects of the club.

Congratulations to everyone and long live Club Fondeurs Laurentides.

Automotive Industry

[Kathy Borrelli, Conservative, Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, who are counting on me to defend their jobs and their future. I am here to fight to protect our workers and the automotive industry that sustains our community.

On Monday, Liberals and the Bloc voted down the Conservative motion that would have strengthened Canada's automotive sector. For our community, that decision is deeply concerning. Windsor is highly dependent on a strong auto industry to keep a robust and healthy local economy. By defeating this motion, the House missed an opportunity to provide certainty and stability for our local manufacturing and our economic growth. The ripple effects will be felt across our community, in workplaces, in storefronts and around kitchen tables.

I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our workers and fight relentlessly to protect our industry and the livelihoods it supports.

Ukraine

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as we enter the fifth year of Russia's invasion of sovereign Ukraine, I want to bring attention to the ongoing abduction of Ukrainian children. Over 35,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted since the start of the war, stolen from their families through manipulation, coercion and violence, and relocated to Russia for ideological re-education, military training and abuse. Only 2,000 have been repatriated.

The United Nations demands their immediate and unconditional return. This forcible abduction of children to de-Ukrainize them is a grave violation of international law. The Geneva Convention is clear on this issue. No child should have their identity erased.

Russia is now bartering a child for the return of each Russian prisoner of war. This is a disgusting violation of the rights of the child. Canada must continue to lead on this issue. Ukraine's war is our war. Ukraine's children are our children.

Holi Celebration

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, around the world, there are few festivals as instantly recognizable as Holi. Streets become rivers of vibrant colour as music and dancing fill the air, but beyond the colour and celebration lies something deeper, the timeless reminder of the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, and the renewal for a brighter future.

As a proud member of the Indian diaspora who has made Canada my home for four decades, I know how meaningful this day is for Hindu families in Windsor and across our country. Holi is not just a festival of colours. It is a bridge between generations, connecting children through faith stories and teaching us all lessons in resilience, humility and hope.

I want to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Hindu mandir and the gurdwara in Windsor. They are pillars of service, charity and community. As spring arrives, may the vibrant colours of Holi help us carry forward the spirit of optimism and faith in our hearts as well as in our communities and our country. To all those celebrating, I wish them a happy Holi.

Danica Hills and Kayla Peacock

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of two young ladies, Danica Hills and Kayla Peacock, following a fatal collision near Jasper, in my riding of Yellowhead. These two Harry Collinge High School students were dedicated hockey players with the Jasper Bearcats and were driving home after practice. Their passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of their families and friends in the wider Hinton and Jasper communities.

We are mourning the loss of these two beloved daughters, sisters, classmates and teammates. My deepest condolences are with their loved ones. No parent should ever have to lose a child. No community should have to bear such a loss. As a parent of two daughters, my thoughts are with them. In moments like this, being there for one another matters more than ever. May their memory be eternal. May their loved ones find strength in the days ahead.

Ukraine

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

Mr. Speaker, at this critical hour, Canada calls on Russia to cease hostilities and withdraw to Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. Canada condemns the deliberate Russian attacks on energy infrastructure that deprive civilians of both heat and electricity.

Canada recently announced $2 billion in military assistance for 2026-27, including over 400 armoured vehicles and an additional $20 million for the Ukraine energy support fund. Furthermore, Canada has sanctioned 21 individuals, 53 entities and 100 shadow fleet vessels and lowered the Russian oil price cap. I commend Canada's leadership in the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children and support accountability before the International Criminal Court.

For four years, families have endured profound hardship, yet their courage endures. Canada stands firmly with Ukraine for freedom, justice and a durable peace with legally binding security guarantees.

The Economy

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of the Liberal government, the cost of living crisis is crushing young Canadians and seniors alike.

An RBC poll shows that 64% of millennials are anxious about their future, and 57% have nothing left at month's end. Four in 10 fear that they will never escape their debts. TransUnion Canada reports that household debts have surged to a record $2.6 trillion, driven largely by mortgages as families take on staggering debt just to keep a roof overhead.

Today, the Financial Post reported that only 41% believe they will have enough to retire, with most worried they will not have enough savings to live securely.

Seniors in the communities in my riding are asking how they are supposed to survive with the ever-escalating costs of groceries and everything else.

When will the Liberals rein in their inflationary deficits, lower costs and restore an economy where Canadians can finally get ahead?

World Obesity Day

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, March 4 is World Obesity Day, and we should be aware of the serious situation that Canada is facing.

In 1981, just 9% of Canadians lived with obesity. Now, according to a recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, this has risen to roughly a third of Canadians. We have one of the highest rates of obesity in the OECD.

What is troubling is that obesity is a strong predictor of health complications, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver and kidney diseases and cancer.

Obesity is a chronic disease that is placing enormous pressure on an already overburdened health care system, but by taking action to prevent and treat obesity, we can improve our health care systems. Personalized lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise and, when necessary, medical interventions like pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery can all help to improve the health of Canadians.

Jacques Tremblay

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on February 16, at 8:08 p.m., my friend Jacques Tremblay passed away.

Jacques was a cornerstone of the political world in the riding of Montcalm. He made his mark as president of the Bloc Québécois in Montcalm, but also as a municipal councillor for the City of Mascouche and as a political aide to the MP for Montcalm. Yes, in 2015, despite adversity, we joined forces to win back Montcalm, driven by a common cause: the Quebec nation. My friend and I travelled many kilometres to meet the people of Montcalm.

He was a man in search of social justice, a tad impulsive, but above all full of humanity. He was a man who deeply loved his family. He was so proud of his sons, Francis and Guillaume; his daughter, Émilie; and his grandchildren.

I want to wish my friend Jacques a safe journey. May he rest in peace.

Olympians from Sault Ste. Marie

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize two outstanding athletes from Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma who have made our region and our country immensely proud.

From Thessalon, Shilo Rousseau reached the Olympic stage in the biathlon, a sport she has pursued since the age of 12. She was inspired by her father, himself a former member of Canada's national team. Her dedication to a demanding sport that combines cross-country skiing and precision marksmanship speaks to years of discipline and perseverance.

From the Soo Curlers, Brad Jacobs has once again earned gold for our men's curling team, his second after winning gold in Sochi in 2014. Brad has been a cornerstone of Canadian curling, with steady resolve, sportsmanship and a deep pride in his hometown.

Their achievements reflect not only talent and discipline but the strength of the communities that stand behind them.

I call on the House to “hurry hard” and congratulate these two athletes, as well as all of the Canadian athletes who did so well at these past Olympics.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week the Prime Minister stated that he had the immigration system under control. Well, let us review the facts: 86% of rejected asylum claimants stay in Canada, 25,000 have been let in without security screening, some of them from the most dangerous countries in the world, and right now, the CBSA has 33,000 non-citizens listed as wanted criminals in Canada.

At the end of this year, three million temporary residents will have their visas expire, but the government has no plan to remove them, and of the 1.5 million temporary residents whose permits expired last year, the Liberals assume they left, but they do not know.

This is not a system under control. It is a system out of control, because the Liberals destroyed the fair, compassionate and secure system that the Conservatives created, which was the envy of the world.

The Prime Minister needs to take accountability and finally fire his incompetent Liberal immigration minister.

Bill Loewen

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honour the life and legacy of Bill Loewen. For many years, he was a proud resident of St. Norbert and a true community builder in Winnipeg South.

Bill was a successful business leader whose entrepreneurial drive was matched only by his generosity. Through his philanthropy, he strengthened institutions across Manitoba, including the Behavioural Health Foundation, and quietly supported initiatives that continue to serve families to this day.

St. Norbert was at the heart of his life. He understood its historic significance and worked tirelessly to preserve its distinctive character. As a co-founder of Heritage Saint-Norbert, he helped safeguard its history and championed projects like the St. Norbert Farmers' Market, which is now a cherished gathering place for so many.

I extend my sincere condolences to Bill Loewen's family and to all those who had the privilege of knowing him. Canada has lost a remarkable community leader, and his legacy will endure for generations.