Debates of Feb. 27th, 2026

Industry

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec company Lithion will be bought out by the Americans if Ottawa does not invest $30 million by March 3. There are four days left to avoid losing another company in our battery industry, this time to an American rival heavily subsidized by Washington.

The battery recycling market is expected to top $70 billion by 2040. It is worth the investment. Abandoning a Quebec company to the Americans due to a lack of federal intervention is exactly the opposite of the Prime Minister's election promises.

Will the Liberals support Lithion?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we have been in discussions with the company. We know that the company is facing financial difficulties. The Quebec government has decided not to move forward with supporting this company. However, we believe in the battery sector. We also believe that Lithion has significant assets that tie in with our strength in critical minerals. I have worked with the Bloc Québécois before to find solutions, and we will find a solution.

The Economy

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Liberals sure love to talk a good game. For months, they have been saying they are going to build the fastest-growing economy in the G7. I mean, at least they got the fastest right. The problem is that it is actually the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7. That was just reported. This is what we get when we get a Liberal government that is all talk, all photo ops and all fancy announcements, but the reality is that they are driving the Canadian economy into the ditch.

When will the Liberals recognize their fancy photo ops and fancy announcements are not an actual plan to get the Canadian economy to grow?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the member talks about posturing and pretending. I hate to do this. Do I have to remind him, though, about just a few weeks ago? He is very big on labour issues, apparently. He made a whole thing in here about CAMI in Ingersoll and did not even talk to the union in question. He failed to talk to their members. He failed to talk to their leadership. He made this whole point about severance pay. I hate to remind him again, but if he is being serious on the floor of the House of Commons, surely he will bring forward serious agenda items for the government to consider. We are working towards a major nation-building project for this country at a difficult time. The Conservatives have nothing to offer.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what is laughable is how these Liberals get up and talk about things they know very little about. Let us talk about the auto sector. What is very clear is that the Canadian auto sector cannot survive at a 5% tariff. These Liberals somehow bungled it into a 25% tariff, and we have had the result of thousands of auto job losses. They have some strange strategy that includes giving EV rebates to American cars from the president who wants to take our entire auto sector. Meanwhile, our economy is actually shrinking as a result of these terrible decisions.

When will they wake up to the fact that their decisions are hurting the Canadian economy?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, again, we are hearing the same rhetoric from the Conservatives blaming Canadians for the trade war. The Conservative member for Bowmanville—Oshawa North said that Canadians are having a “hissy fit” over, basically, tariffs, at a time when GM auto workers in his own riding had just lost their jobs. Why are they not able to say that the trade war is because President Trump decided to impose tariffs on the world, including Canada?

We will fight for our auto workers. We have a great auto strategy. Even Premier Ford is in favour of it. We will make sure that we save jobs.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Instead, he has delivered the weakest. Today, Statistics Canada reports that Canada is the only country in the G7 with negative growth. How did this happen? It is because of years of inflationary deficits, high taxes and an exploding bureaucracy. Business has stalled. Capital is leaving. The GDP per capita is flat.

It is time for the Liberals to remove the taxes and red tape holding Canadians back. What are they waiting for?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, I think we are starting to recognize that the opposition has finally gotten the memo that we may be in the middle of a trade war, in which our closest ally and trade partner has turned its back on us. That is why we are so focused on making sure that we diversify our trade. That is why we are working hard to open markets in China, India, Japan and Australia, where the Prime Minister is visiting right now, as well as places like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

While those members on their side are trying to figure out whether they are having a hissy fit about this or not, we on this side are focused on creating good-paying jobs across Canada.

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley Township—Fraser Heights, BC]

Mr. Speaker, despite promising the fastest-growing economy in the G7, the Prime Minister has delivered the weakest. Today, we are the only country in the G7 with a shrinking economy and young people are paying the price.

The generation that should be building up wealth for the future is instead falling further behind. Personal debt is at an all-time high. Savings are basically non-existent, and millennials are giving up hope. They want to know when the government will create a working economy so that they can have hope for a better future.

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, as I said earlier and as my colleague also said earlier, when one reads a report from Statistics Canada, one should read the whole report.

What we find out in today's report is that for the year 2025, the whole year, economic growth in Canada was plus 1.7%. That makes it the second fastest in the OECD area. On top of that, we created, in absolute terms, more jobs here than in the U.S. No, we are not falling apart.

[Gaétan Malette, Conservative, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, northern Ontario, once prosperous for young Canadians, has become the source of economic anxiety for over 60% of millennials. Chapleau, in my region, a logging, mining and rail town where young Canadians chased opportunity, now stands as an example of the affordability crisis facing our youth. Canada is now the only G7 economy moving backwards.

When will the government let Canadians build, invest and grow again?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague is sincere in his wanting to support the forestry sector. He does try to work with us on occasion in committee.

I really do hope, however, that Conservatives will bring that forward more positively in the House generally, and help us vote in support of an agenda that is trying to modernize and strengthen the forestry sector in Canada. We have announced $2.5 billion in support so far. We have a transformation task force going on right now. We do want to work with the member. I look forward to continuing to work with all members.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, real leaders take ownership of their mistakes. They learn and they change. Contrast that with the daily Liberal approach in the House of blame, blame, blame. The fact is that the Prime Minister's signature election promise was to “build the strongest economy in the G7.” That exact phrase appeared, word for word, 10 times in the Liberal platform.

Today we learned that Canada has the only shrinking economy in the G7. Our global competitors, faced with the same global challenges, are all doing better. Will someone take some ownership over there and admit that record Liberal spending is crushing the Canadian economy?

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

Mr. Speaker, what is very clear, coming out of the last election, less than a year ago, is that Canadians elected a new Prime Minister with a mandate to build a strong and healthy Canada. That is exactly what we are doing. Whether it is budgetary motions or legislative measures, this is exactly what Canadians want, and it is exactly what this caucus continues to deliver. Contrary to what Conservatives like to spread, misinformation, Canada is still the best country in the world to call home.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of misinformation, let us talk about the Liberal promises in the last election. Ten months ago, Canadians trusted the Liberal Prime Minister when he promised a budget deficit of only $62 billion. Five months ago, that number ballooned to $78 billion and, again this month, they added billions more, which is a promise clearly broken. Ten months ago, Canadians trusted the Liberal Prime Minister when he promised “to build the strongest economy in the G7.” Today, we have the weakest economy in the G7, and it is actually shrinking, another promise clearly broken.

Why should Canadians believe anything anyone over there has to say now?

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

Mr. Speaker, contrast the Conservatives with the government of the day and the Prime Minister. We believe in Canadians. We are investing in Canada's infrastructure. We are investing in Canadians. All the Conservatives want to do is talk down Canada.

Have I got a news flash for the members opposite: You have a choice. You can either come onside and be a part of team Canada, or continue what you are doing, which is not representing your constituents. It is representing the Conservative Party of Canada. Let us be there for Canadians first.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

I would just remind the experienced member to address his questions through the Chair.

The hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon.

Marine Transportation

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has announced a subsidy program for Canadian steel transportation that applies only to rail, not to marine transportation. There was a time, however, when our shipowners moved hundreds of thousands of tons of steel every year.

The lack of equivalent support poses a direct threat to these shipments. Nevertheless, interprovincial marine transportation plays a vital role in supply chains, and Transport Canada's mandate is precisely to promote an integrated transportation system.

Will the minister correct this inconsistency and include national marine transportation in his program?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. I know that she works very hard on her files. I also know that she represents a riding where marine transportation is very important. I will be happy to look into this issue with her.

Of course, we are also looking for ways to move steel across the country as we develop more major infrastructure projects domestically, and we will be working on that with the Minister of Transport as well. I will be happy to work with my colleague after question period.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the Port of Valleyfield in my riding, Desgagnés Logistik Valport stands to lose customers because Transport Canada decided to create unfair competition between rail transportation and marine transportation. The federal government is jeopardizing ports, jobs and entire logistics corridors.

Since the Minister of Transport claims to understand the importance of marine transportation and the hundreds of thousands of tons of steel that depend on it, will he clearly commit to adding national marine transportation to the program with a firm timeline and equitable parameters?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is also well aware that if the company in question is struggling financially, then we can work together to support it through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the portfolio I am responsible for.

That said, I will be happy to look into this issue with the Minister of Transport to find a solution that is good for the people of Valleyfield.

The Economy

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, child poverty in Canada has risen for the third consecutive year. In 2025, nearly 30,000 more children fell below the poverty line, according to the latest child and family poverty report card. The progress our country once made is not just slowing; we are going backwards. Behind every statistic is a child going without, a family stretched beyond its limits and parents forced to make impossible choices.

When will the Liberal government reverse the rise in child poverty, reduce the cost of living and strengthen our economy so Canadians can afford basic necessities?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, that same report mentions how our government's investments in the Canada child benefit, in dental care and in child care are helping families lower their cost of living.

I welcome the Conservatives and the question, because it gives me an opportunity to talk about the supports we have in place to help all children. One child in poverty is too many, but that is why we have a Canada child benefit that is tax-free. A majority of the recipients of it are lone-parent families, and 90% are single moms. Those are the kinds of supports that the government is putting in place and enhancing, while the Conservatives continue—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, one in five children under six in Canada is living under poverty due to the government, 2.5 million children are growing up in food-insecure households, and most alarming of all, the number of children in severely food-insecure households doubled between 2019 and 2023. For too many parents, the gap between working hard and making ends meet has become impossible. For too many children, opportunity is being replaced with uncertainty.

At what point will the Liberal government confront the reality families are facing, take meaningful actions to lower costs and rebuild an economy where no child is left behind?