Debates of Feb. 4th, 2026

Justice

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her advocacy for stronger criminal laws to help protect her community.

The reason members of her community are commending this bill is that they see the feedback that they provided in the process reflected in the text of the bill. It was through feedback from law enforcement that we figured out how to best deal with violent repeat criminals when bail hearings come up. It was through engagement with provincial governments that we better understood how we can improve the process in bail hearings and sentencing. I want to thank, in particular, Mayor Patrick Brown for his advocacy for tougher criminal laws.

By working together with provinces, municipalities and law enforcement, we can build safer communities for every Canadian.

The Economy

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, “Canada’s economy is on life support and [the] country is in recession watch”. That is the international headline in Bloomberg. GDP per capita was essentially flat in 2025, and the Bank of Canada expects just 1.1% growth next year. Businesses are postponing expansion, investment is forecast to be weak, and this is very bad news for Canada's jobs. We need a significant transformational plan, but none appears in this legislative agenda from the government.

When will the Liberals introduce a plan to keep Canadians out of a recession?

[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, but she is not referring to all the important data. The data shows there has been an increase in wages year over year of 3.4%, while inflation was at 2.4%. Basically, wages are increasing more than inflation. At the same time, in December, the Bank of Canada maintained its interest rate at 2.25%, and the governor mentioned that the economy was proving resilient. We have created 189,000 jobs more than the U.S.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

The bottom line is, Mr. Speaker, the threat of a recession is real, and nothing the government has done is going to address the economic issues we are facing. Statistics Canada reports manufacturing is being deeply impacted. In November alone, GDP fell 12.6% in the auto sector. That is thousands of layoffs already. Without significant action to grow the economy and protect Canadian jobs, Canada could very well fall into a recession. Conservatives have proposed lowering taxes, removing barriers so we can grow faster than ever and cutting red tape.

When will Canadians see a real plan to ward off recession and protect Canadian jobs from the government?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot cash the Conservative leader's slogans.

Last week we announced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit that will put up to $1,900 in the pockets of working families. On this side of the House, we have a leader with world-class business and economic experience. Their leader has never had a job in the economy.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, economists said yesterday that the Canadian economy is on life support. While the Liberals may clap like trained seals for lower rates, those lower rates are not resulting in more growth. Respectfully, a GST rebate will not revive this patient. The emissions cap, the shipping ban and other anti-development laws are binding the hands of Canadians who would build our country.

Why will the Prime Minister not have the courage to stand up and remove them?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me talk about some good news. The CER just announced that the Taylor to Gordondale pipeline is being built. The CER just announced support for the Sunrise pipeline. The pipe mill in Regina is opening to build pipe again.

We are building Canada strong.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister enjoys illusions, as the Major Projects Office has not given approval to one project yet. Let me give him some other news. BNN Bloomberg reported that my home province of Ontario is the sick man of Canada, with lower standards of living than anywhere else in the country. In fact, by every objective measure, Ontario is doing worse now than it was when the Prime Minister was elected, and that is increasingly because they cannot get a deal with the United States. That is a serious question, and it deserves a serious answer.

I would ask the Prime Minister why there is no plan to deal with the U.S.

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I will invite the member opposite to come to Darlington, where we are building the first SMRs in the G7, creating thousands of jobs.

We are a leader. We are building Canada strong.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, new research from Rosenberg says Canada's economy is on life support. Per capita GDP is falling. Construction is flat, and the economy may shrink by half a per cent. Food inflation is out of control, and billions of dollars are fleeing south. Because of these Liberals, Canada is now on a recession watch.

Conservatives are ready to work with the government to repeal anti-development laws to get our economy going. Will the Prime Minister work with us to build big and build quickly, or will his legacy be one of the worst economies in recent history?

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

Mr. Speaker, I call on Conservatives, yes, to work with us. We can work together for the betterment of this country.

What did we see yesterday? If the Conservatives do not want to listen to Liberals, that is fine. They should listen to Prime Minister Harper, who called on us in a moment of crisis, a moment of rupture for this country, to do what is right for Canada. We have an opportunity. We saw the Conservatives support the groceries and essentials benefit. Will they now support the budget, which could support his community and mine and all of ours? It is up to them. What are we going to do?

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is almost a year since the election. The Prime Minister should be judged not by his words but by his actions. He did not get a trade deal. He doubled the deficit. No new pipelines have been approved. Interprovincial trade barriers remain. We have the highest rate of food inflation in the G7 with 2.2 million Canadians at food banks.

We need to start building pipelines and sell Canadian energy. Will the Prime Minister work with us to repeal Liberal anti-development laws, or will Canadians continue to suffer a Liberal economy that is on life support?

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

Mr. Speaker, there is a plan in front of the House to create $1 trillion of investment in Canada. There is a plan before the House to continue to build the kind of infrastructure that my colleague just referred to. There is a plan before the House that would deregulate, that would free up, that would invest and that would make Canada the most attractive tax investment destination in the world. It is called the budget implementation act. If we bring that bill forward today, will that party support it, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, the prestigious firm Bloomberg is not mincing words. It is reporting that Canada's economy is on life support and the country is in a recession.

It is not the Conservatives who are saying this, but rather Bloomberg. In fact, according to a Bloomberg article about housing in Canada, residential construction expenditures remained completely stagnant over the past year.

Canadians deserve better. We Conservatives are prepared to work with the government to reduce inflationary taxes.

Will the Liberals do it for the good of all Canadians, who want real results?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we are obviously very pleased with our colleague's offer to work with the government to improve Canada's economy, to ensure that we are a country that attracts historic investments from abroad and from within Canada in order to build a stronger, more resilient economy and to create jobs in all trades across Canada. I look forward to working with our hon. colleague and urge him to support the budget implementation act. That is the plan he just described.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want real results. They are eager to see real results because Canada's economy has grown weaker during the Liberals' 10 years in office. That is the reality. Food inflation is affecting all Canadian families. It is the worst food inflation in the G7. The minister knows that. It is shameful. The Bank of Canada predicts that businesses will put off their expansion plans and investment will be low.

When will the government take real action to get good results for Canadian families?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows full well that we have a plan and it is called the budget 2025 implementation act, no. 1. We have been seeing obstruction from the opposition, the Conservatives, for far too long. Unfortunately, in these tough times, where the geopolitical situation is very intense and families across the country are struggling to make ends meet, Canadians expect us to be able to work together.

Will the Conservatives vote in favour of the budget, yes or no? Will they stop filibustering the budget implementation bill?

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that Canada would see the strongest growth in the G7. One year later, nothing has been done to reduce red tape and no anti-development policies have been fixed. There are more and more barriers, and investment is slowing down. According to Bloomberg, Canada's economy is on life support. Workers are feeling the pinch.

Will the Prime Minister finally unveil a plan to remove the barriers that are preventing Canadians from building, investing and working?

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

Mr. Speaker, what the people in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, elsewhere in Quebec and across Canada really want is a plan: an economic plan, the Prime Minister's plan, the plan they voted for, the plan that is before the House.

The Conservatives are filibustering the Prime Minister's economic plan. We managed to get Bill C‑19 passed so we can help Canadians. Now I urge the Conservatives to pass the budget implementation act, Bill C‑15, without amendment. That is the Prime Minister's plan to build Canada.

Diversity and Inclusion

[Tatiana Auguste, Liberal, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to Black Canadians who have helped build our country and shape our future. This year marks the 30th anniversary of its official recognition, and the theme is honouring Black brilliance across generations, from nation builders to tomorrow's visionaries.

Can the minister explain to the House why it is important to celebrate Black History Month each year and how the government promotes it across the country?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by highlighting the member's achievement. She made history when she was elected in Terrebonne, as she is now the youngest Black MP in Canadian history. That is significant.

As she so eloquently stated, this year we are celebrating a month that honours the excellence of the Black community. We are supporting 85 initiatives and organizations that fight racism in order to build a stronger Canada, because Black history is Canadian history.

Science and Innovation

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is wild to hear the foreign affairs minister claim that they support science when the Liberals are literally attacking agricultural research. They are shutting down research centres in Lacombe, Indian Head, Guelph, Quebec City, Portage la Prairie and Cumberland County. Meanwhile, they spend $19 billion on consultants, $33 million on a prison farm and $22 million on beans for women for empowerment in Congo.

Why is the Prime Minister dismantling the foundation of Canadian food security just to fund his foreign virtue signalling?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Science plays an integral role and will continue to play an integral role in this country for agriculture and agri-food. We are maintaining our research and development presence in every single province, and the department continues to be the largest science service centre in this country, with 17 sites.

By streamlining our research, we are prioritizing high-impact areas, reducing duplication and better aligning our needs with our ranchers and farmers across this country.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are not maintaining; they are cutting and shutting. Workers at the Indian Head agricultural research farm are the latest to lose their jobs, thanks to the Liberal government. This research centre provides cutting-edge innovation on soil management, crop varieties, and disease and pest resiliency. It provides jobs for Canadian scientists and improves Canadian crop production to the benefit of Canadian farmers.

Meanwhile, the Liberals have sent hundreds of millions of Canadian tax dollars overseas for stupid, ideologically driven pet projects like $8 million for gender-just rice farming in Vietnam. Instead of closing Canadian research centres that benefit Canadians, why not stop the phony foreign aid projects?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that member's memory serves him correctly, but I will go back to 2011 and 2012, which may jog his memory a little bit: A focused agriculture research presence should move away from scattered soil research, siloed projects and toward a mission-driven, outcome-oriented system that treats food production as a cornerstone of national security, economic resilience and climate adaptation. This is what we are hearing from our stakeholders. We are going to move agriculture forward, and we are going to make science and research a big part of it.