Debates of Feb. 5th, 2026

The Economy

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of building, we are building big. The port of Montreal expansion project has 7,000 construction jobs and over 1,000 permanent jobs. Darlington nuclear has 18,000 good-paying jobs and clean power for generations. LNG Canada in B.C. means thousands of jobs in Canadian energy, reaching new global markets. That is cranes in the ground, paycheques in pockets and Canada building big.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister sells himself as a master of economics, yet Bloomberg reports our economy is on life support. The Bank of Canada expects economic growth to shrink in the last quarter and to grow by only 1.1% this year.

Canadian workers want to build and produce, but the government is holding them back with its anti-development laws and high taxes. The Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7, yet he has not delivered, and Canadians are paying the price.

When will the Prime Minister listen to the Conservative Party's ideas and introduce a plan that gets the government's barriers and tax burdens out of the way so Canadians can build?

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, for 10 long years, Conservative members from Saskatchewan have said Canada is broken. Conservatives have stifled opportunities that Saskatchewan had in potash, uranium, oil and gas. The list goes on.

Well, Saskatchewan is on this side of the House. We are going to work hand in hand with Saskatchewan to join the rest of the country and build a great future. This is about economic and social justice for Saskatchewan. We are going to deliver that.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, according to Bloomberg, Canada's economy is on life support and we are now on recession watch. Growth has stagnated, and real GDP is expected to decline. Forestry and logging are down 2.8% for the third month. The Prime Minister has not delivered on his trade promises, and sawmills in Yellowhead are paying the price.

Since the Liberals love our ideas, why do they not remove the industrial carbon tax, fuel standard and anti-development laws so Canadian businesses can succeed?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the contrast could not be more clear. We like to build; they like to block. We are building our auto sector with a new auto strategy; they are blocking. We are building affordable housing; they are blocking. We are investing in defence; they are blocking. We are making life more affordable for families with the GST tax credit; they are blocking. We like to build; they like to block.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the latest data from Rosenberg Research is deeply concerning. Manufacturing output is down, forestry has declined for three consecutive months, and paper mills in northern Ontario are closing. The Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Instead, the government has failed to remove a single anti-development policy.

When will the government adopt our plan to restore economic growth by reducing red tape, lowering taxes and allowing Canadians to invest, work and build?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the former premier of Alberta said, “you can't deal with the reality of the [tariff] threat by pretending it is not there”, but the Conservatives would rather obstruct. We have $2.5 billion allocated in budget 2025 to attack this problem. I ask members to please support the budget.

Housing

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we recently hit 100 days since Build Canada Homes was launched, and we are already seeing real momentum on the ground. Projects are moving faster, partnerships are coming together, and communities are seeing concrete progress on affordable housing.

Would the Minister for Housing and Infrastructure please update the House on all we have accomplished and what more is to come?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question and her great work.

We have got right to work with Build Canada Homes. Since the launch, we have been signing major partnerships with provinces and cities. We have six major development sites on federal lands. We are delivering over 7,500 homes, with tens of thousands more in the pipeline right now, with the Build Canada Homes act that was introduced this morning, which we expect the support of this House on.

We are establishing a lean, efficient agency that is 100% focused on delivering affordable housing for Canadians. We ask for the support of all members in the House.

Pensions

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberals have created an IT fiasco. The Cúram system, which is used to pay old age security benefits, has gone from $1.75 billion to $6.6 billion. Worse still, 93% of public servants give it a failing grade. Employees are reportedly under strict instructions not to blame the software when communicating with the public.

How could the Liberals have failed so badly? What will the minister do about the software? Did the minister approve these irresponsible increases?

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

Mr. Speaker, transforming a 60-year-old system is not an easy task. I want to start by thanking the employees at ESDC who are working so hard to make sure seniors get their benefits on time and with accuracy. In fact, that is exactly what has happened, as 98% of the cases have gone through. I will say that we are working diligently on the remaining outstanding cases where people who have signed up have not yet received their benefits.

If the member opposite or any member of Parliament has an urgent case, we can accelerate those cases in situations where people are in dire need, so I would ask them to please contact my office—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's own employees say that the system does not work. Our seniors built our country and paid taxes their entire lives. Now there are some who have to wait eight months to get their money. It is unacceptable. I have a specific example. Martial Lavoie in my riding is still waiting. Do members know what Mr. Lavoie did? He postponed his retirement because his help was needed. There was a need for employees. He remained in service. Now he wants to retire and he cannot get his money.

What does the minister have to say to Mr. Lavoie? He is listening right now.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are happy to help any seniors who finds themselves in dire need. As I said, we are making progress. They are a very small percentage of the over seven million Canadians who have been successfully transferred to the Cúram system. This system brings us into the modern age, which is what Canadians want. In fact, seniors can now apply online and have a fully automated process to get their benefits started.

In cases where things have been done the old way, with paper forms, often there is missing information, and there may be other challenges. We have put additional resources into ensuring we get through those cases and can help people like Mr. Lavoie.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to expropriating farmers from their land, the Liberal government is closing agri-food research centres. The Sainte-Foy research centre in the riding of the member for Louis-Hébert is one of seven agricultural research centres that the Liberals just randomly closed.

Canadian science and innovation are built in these centres. They drive our productivity.

How does the Prime Minister justify his decision to prioritize consultants and foreign-based projects rather than cultivate expertise here at home, which feeds Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, it warms my heart that the Conservatives are now concerned about science and research. I am happy to reassure them that the federal government will continue as the largest agriculture researcher in this country. In fact, just last month we invested $9.7 million with the Government of Saskatchewan in science and research.

We are not going anywhere. We still have 17 centres across the country. We are going to work with our stakeholders and with academia to make research better than it has ever been.

Housing

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, in Rankin Inlet, the NDP caucus heard from one Inuk who shared that he has waited for 11 years for a house. There are 17 people living in his two-bedroom unit. His story is all too common in Nunavut.

The government is acting on what I have told it. Nunavut will receive 50 more homes added to the 700 originally promised in the budget. This is a good start.

Will the minister keep working with Nunavut to address the worst housing crisis in Canada?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am very excited to share that the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated reached an agreement to deliver up to 750 homes in the territory. Build Canada Homes will lead this work using innovative factory-built components to get homes ready faster.

We are prioritizing Canadian materials. We are supporting Inuit-owned businesses and creating lots of job and training opportunities. This partnership will make a real difference on the ground.

I thank the member for her leadership in helping to bring more homes to Nunavut, much-needed affordable homes. I encourage all—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for North Island—Powell River.

Natural Resources

[Aaron Gunn, Conservative, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have good news. The Canada Energy Regulator has rejected Brookfield's plans to send Canadian hydroelectricity to the United States with almost no benefit to the people who live here, and has instead recommended a full licensing process and review. However, the final decision still rests with the Minister of Natural Resources.

Will the minister commit to accepting the Energy Regulator's recommendations and ensuring that Canada's national interests always come first?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the member across the aisle that our government is working closely with the Government of British Columbia to build an affordable, reliable and clean electricity grid that meets the significant surge in demand that we are expecting in the years to come. As the member opposite said, this matter is currently before the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator, which makes its decisions independent of the federal government in the best interests of Canada's ability to meet its domestic energy needs.

Emergency Management

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, the state of emergency in Cross Lake Pimicikamak is now over 40 days old. The army came, made recommendations and left, and where is the federal government? It is still brainstorming solutions. Meanwhile, evacuees remain stranded in cities without adequate supports.

When will Ottawa move past talking points and, at a minimum, implement the army's recommendations and uphold their constitutional responsibilities to support people returning to a safe home?

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure my friend across the aisle that emergency management, our department, was in contact with that nation.

From the commencement of the power outage, we have worked, as has Indigenous Services Canada, to make sure that, firstly, we sent the Canadian Armed Forces, and secondly, there were sufficient people on the ground to help evacuate and provide benefits to the region.

International Development

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as International Development Week comes to a close, I know I and many of my colleagues in this place have met with dozens of frontline workers from development organizations who are reeling from a broken promise. During the election, the Liberals promised and the Prime Minister said that we would “not cut foreign aid” or development assistance, but the budget showed a cut of $2.7 billion.

We used to be known in the world. Lester B. Pearson, when he was prime minister, set the global target for development assistance, yet here we are, falling through the cracks and not delivering.

Will the minister commit to reviving the Pearson target?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we remain committed to our long-standing international assistance priorities. We will continue to fight poverty; to support gender equality; to strengthen health, food and education systems; and to build climate resilience. We will continue to deliver urgent humanitarian aid abroad.

The measure of our work is in the partnerships we build to deliver development outcomes at scale.