Debates of Feb. 26th, 2026

Forestry Industry

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Finance would say, it is already Thursday, but we still have good news.

In my home province of New Brunswick, the forestry industry accounts for 25,000 jobs and contributes more than $1.5 billion to our economy every year. The United States has imposed unjustified tariffs on our softwood lumber. To support the industry, our government has already announced $2.5 billion, but we know that it still needs help.

Can the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs tell us about the new support measures announced for our forestry sector?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Acadie—Bathurst for his leadership in fighting for forestry workers. I fully agree that the forestry sector is essential to our country.

Yesterday, the government announced the reopening of four programs to support the forestry sector, as well as funding to strengthen forestry companies in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These programs will deliver $500 million to support innovation, market diversification and the competitiveness of our forestry companies.

Our government will always stand for forestry workers in the face of American tariffs.

Public Services and Procurement

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

Mr. Speaker, any time the Liberal government touches a major IT system, it is a disaster. Let me remind the House what happened with ArriveCAN. It was supposed to cost $80,000 and ended up costing $59.5 million. Now, with Cúram, the cost has ballooned from $1.6 billion to $6.6 billion. That is $5 billion more, and $5 billion down the drain. That is what the Liberals do.

Why are the Liberals incapable of managing spending properly?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I sometimes wonder about the premise of questions from the opposition, but in this case, the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk is well aware of the situation. He knows that this program is within budget. He knows that this program is replacing an outdated system from the 1960s that did not accurately pay OAS recipients. Today, we have a new, updated, modern and open system that is delivering payment to some 7.7 million Canadians.

I know that the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, in his heart—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Louis‑Saint‑Laurent—Akiawenhrahk.

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

Mr. Speaker, these are 85,000 people, 85,000 seniors, who are among the most vulnerable in our society. These are people who live off their old age pension, and the minister knows it.

Unfortunately, that minister said that the program is a success, and 85,000 people are still waiting. He said that it was just a few cases, but it is 85,000 people that are hurting.

Why is the minister being so arrogant?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, being arrogant would be to keep using a system that made more mistakes than that in just one month. It would have been arrogant to ignore this outdated system, a system that lacked accuracy and that constantly made mistakes. We assumed our responsibilities. We set a budget and we came in under budget to give Canadians a system that will pay dividends and pay amounts accurately.

As for the cases of the people affected, we are going to fix them. In fact, there are fewer of these cases every day.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Champlain Bridge in Montreal is used by close to 60 million vehicles every year and was built 75 years ago. Rebuilding it cost $4.2 billion. Then there is the Cúram software. The legacy system was 60 years old, and rebuilding it resulted in a $5-billion cost overrun.

How is it possible to be off by $5 billion, a cost higher than that of rebuilding one of the busiest bridges in North America?

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

Mr. Speaker, Cúram is a software system. In fact, it is going to serve three separate—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Order.

The hon. minister may continue.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us take a step back. Cúram is a software system. It is used around the world for benefit payments in countries all over the world. In fact, each country needs to specialize that system because, of course, benefit rules vary in different countries. In fact, the number the member opposite is quoting is the total envelope that it could take for three separate benefit systems.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing confusing about Cúram: It is the federal SAAQclic. The software was supposed to cost $1.6 billion and ended up costing $6.6 billion. That is money from taxpayers' pockets.

This week, the Prime Minister tells us that everything is fine, that a $5-billion cost overrun is par for the course, a success story even. Meanwhile, 85,000 pensioners are not receiving their payments and the government's answer to us is to have them give them a call.

Will the Liberals admit that their new approach is to spend like there is no tomorrow, to downplay their failures and to congratulate themselves on their deficits?

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

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I have been in front of committee talking about these numbers and being very transparent with Canadians. In fact, here is a number: 7.7 million recipients of OAS on the new system received their benefits on time and without a hitch. There are some cases that are more complicated. They are paper-based applications. We have dedicated staff working with these individuals. If the member opposite has a person in their riding who needs urgent help, we can also do that. These payments can be processed within 24 to 48 hours.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the agriculture minister gave his word to farmers that he would support a request for emergency use of strychnine. Prairie farmers were devastated last season, with some losing 20% of their yield. Denying the request from Alberta and Saskatchewan is another Liberal broken promise when farmers needed help the most. It is also further proof that the agriculture minister does not have clout at the cabinet table.

Will the minister keep his word to farmers? Will he reassess this decision with a lens on economic impact and food security?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, this is an extremely important question for the prairie provinces and Alberta. I am certainly disappointed, and I have said publicly that I supported the application. I am disappointed in the PMRA's decision, but ultimately it is an independent agency.

We will keep working with the provinces and farmers to find an effective alternative. It is crucial that our farmers and producers have the tools they need to feed Canadians, and we will do what we can to help them.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, he is disappointed. The agriculture minister gave his word to farmers. He gave his word to the provinces. He broke that promise again when farmers needed him the most.

This summer, and I cannot understate this, if we do not have access to strychnine and the gopher population continues to explode, the damage on the Prairies will be catastrophic. Again, will the minister keep his word to farmers? Will he reassess this decision, or will he see another disaster on the Canadian Prairies?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I went before committee and this hon. member asked me a question relevant to whether I would advocate on behalf of the farmers about strychnine in the prairie provinces and Alberta. That is exactly what I did. He is exaggerating the facts. It was in committee. It is in the Hansard. Anybody can go and look at it.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It is getting a little loud over there.

We are going now to the hon. member for Bow River.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, prairie farmers have warned that uncontrolled Richardson's ground squirrel populations have surged since the loss of strychnine, causing millions of dollars in losses. For decades, farmers used strychnine safely and effectively. Today's alternatives are far less effective. On multiple occasions, the Liberals committed to supporting emergency-use approval. That promise has now been broken, perhaps by the health minister.

Alberta and Saskatchewan have called for urgent action and proposed reasonable risk mitigation measures, measures the Liberals have rejected. When will the Liberals approve emergency access to strychnine for provinces that request it?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, again, this is an extremely important issue for the prairie provinces and Alberta. I have been there. I have seen it.

We are working very closely with the Department of Health, which is in charge of the PMRA, and we will continue to advocate on their behalf.

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

Mr. Speaker, that answer does not deal with the crisis of bad Liberal policies in my province. There is an emergency. Farmers across my riding have been sounding the alarm bell for years. The ban on strychnine has led to uncontrolled gopher populations devastating crops.

The Government of Saskatchewan, rural municipalities and farmers have called for emergency access to strychnine. The Liberal minister committed to farmers in my province that he would support emergency-use application. Will the government listen to farmers and for once keep its promise?

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, again, it is a very important question. We seem to be on a roll today on strychnine.

We will continue to advocate on behalf of the prairie provinces and Alberta. I have had consultations with both ministers responsible for those provinces, and I will continue to communicate and collaborate with those ministers.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Liberals voted against my bill that would allow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians access to the recreational food cod fishery seven days a week, like the rest of Atlantic Canada. Now they are fishing for excuses. They wrongfully stated that we never did any consultation, and they are spreading misinformation and imagining new fees.

Why do one of these Newfoundlanders not stand up and tell us why they do not put political parties behind them, add amendments to address any of their concerns and work with us to make better policies for Newfoundland and Labrador?