The hon. member for Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata.
House of Commons Hansard #81 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was questions.
House of Commons Hansard #81 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was questions.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Standing Orders and Procedure Members debate reforms to the House's Standing Orders and procedures. Proposals include lengthening Question Period exchanges, restoring the Speaker's right of recognition, and reforming committee chair elections. They also discuss abolishing the morning prayer, limiting the Senate's ability to obstruct private members' bills, and restoring voice voting. Concerns are raised about the "weaponization" of the Conflict of Interest Code and the abuse of parliamentary privilege. 20300 words, 2 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Ukrainian Heritage Month Act Second reading of Bill S-210. The bill seeks to designate September as Ukrainian heritage month across Canada, recognizing the significant contributions of Ukrainian Canadians to the country's history, culture, and identity. Speakers from various parties highlighted the pioneer spirit of early Ukrainian immigrants, their service in the armed forces, and the resilience of the community in the face of historical and ongoing challenges. 5000 words, 35 minutes.
EmploymentOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to fix all our issues, but thousands of Canadians are still struggling to make ends meet. In January, Canada lost 25,000 jobs. In addition, since the start of his mandate, $58 billion has fled to the United States. That is unacceptable.
The Prime Minister is in luck. We, the Conservatives, have proposed a Canadian sovereignty act to protect our industries and reduce our dependence on the United States. Will the Prime Minister finally work with us to protect our Canadian sovereignty in the face of American threats?
Caroline Desrochers LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
Madam Speaker, for a party that does not believe in climate change, it does a lot of recycling. We hear it every day here in the House.
Our plan to build is working. Yesterday, we introduced a bill to strengthen Build Canada Homes, which will fast-track the construction of housing across Canada. We will do that by stimulating the steel, aluminum and lumber sectors, which are seeing tough times right now, by protecting jobs, and by providing Canadians with housing that meets their needs and budgets.
Our plan is supported by municipalities, developers and grassroots organizations. We hope the Conservatives will support it.
Jason Groleau Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, the forestry sector has been under attack by unjustified U.S. tariffs since October. In January, the manufacturing sector was hit hard by the loss of 28,000 jobs.
Instead of working to resolve U.S. tariffs and support Canadian businesses, the Prime Minister prefers to buy Chinese cars.
Can the Prime Minister work with the Conservatives, address the real issues and stand up for forestry workers?
Claude Guay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, there now seems to be a consensus in the House that we are in the middle of a trade war and that the tariffs imposed by the United States on our softwood lumber are completely unjustified.
We announced $2.5 billion in support for forestry companies and workers, delivered through a single window. This includes funds for diversification and innovation, while implementing the buy Canadian policy to increase domestic demand in Canada and thereby strengthen the forestry sector. We also have a task force developing recommendations.
Jason Groleau Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, if that is the number one issue, why is he not dealing with it?
The United States is, and always will be, our largest trading partner. Everyone knows that. On January 13, 346 forestry workers at the Domtar plant in Baie-Comeau lost their jobs.
When will the Prime Minister start working with the Conservatives and stand up for workers in regions like Beauce?
Claude Guay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, I am a little surprised by my colleague's comments, because it is the Conservatives who are blocking the $2.5 billion in support that our government has budgeted for the forestry sector.
Will the Conservatives help us pass the budget to support our forestry workers?
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
Madam Speaker, when he addressed the world at Davos last month, the Prime Minister talked about the gap between rhetoric and reality. That gap is alive and well on the Conservative side of the aisle. The rhetoric is encouraging, with lots of talk of collaboration and working together, but the reality does not always match Conservative words. Canadians want to know if the Conservatives will put country above party, or if they will block important legislation, including the budget implementation act.
Can the parliamentary secretary let Canadians know what important measures would be blocked by the Conservative Party?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, our colleague served his community as mayor. He is now fighting for his constituents in the House of Commons. We have an opportunity to come together and do the very same for all our constituents.
What will the Conservatives do? Will they get behind budget 2025? It is a landmark budget that invests in housing, in defence, and in infrastructure to build this country up and put in place the foundation for diversifying our trade strategy so we can ensure prosperity for current and future generations.
Will the Conservatives obstruct and play political games, or will they work with us on behalf of Canadians? It is their choice.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
Madam Speaker, Canadian workers are being pummelled. There were 25,000 net jobs lost in January, including 52,000 in the private sector. These numbers are not outliers. After 10 years of the Liberals, Canada has seen the slowest GDP growth in the G7, a meagre 0.5% compared to more than 20% growth in the United States.
In the face of these numbers, will the Liberals finally accept responsibility for a decade of economic failure?
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, the Conservatives need a reality check. We have had over 100,000 new jobs since the new Prime Minister was elected last year. We are focused on building Canada strong with an economy that will improve the conditions in all regions of the country. That means looking at major projects and looking at investments.
We have a Prime Minister who is aggressively looking at exploring additional opportunities for exports. We have a Prime Minister who is literally bringing in billions of dollars in foreign investment. It is time that the Conservative Party—
The EconomyOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister promised a strong economy. He delivered stagnant growth, including negative growth in the first two quarters of 2025. The Prime Minister promised to build big, build bold and build now, but not a single project has been approved. Meanwhile, 25,000 Canadians are out of work in January alone. We have had enough of the rhetoric and enough of the empty promises.
When will the Liberals come up with a real plan to get Canadians back to work?
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. We have had enough of the rhetoric. The Conservative Party's interest, generally, is in the Conservative Party. It is time that it starts thinking about Canadians.
When we talk about investments, members can think about the first five major projects, which is over $60 billion of investment. Every region of the nation is going to benefit because we have a Prime Minister and a government that works for Canadians day in and day out. I urge the Conservative Party of Canada to get onside.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, in January the Canadian economy lost 25,000 jobs, while even more unemployed Canadians have given up looking for one. Job loss at a time of food and housing unaffordability is catastrophic. The Prime Minister promised the best economy in the G7, but under his watch, Canadians have the highest food inflation, the most expensive housing, the lowest per-capita GDP growth and $58 billion in capital flight to the United States.
When will the government repeal the taxes and regulations that kill jobs and make life more expensive?
Leslie Church LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour
Madam Speaker, in the member's own home province of Alberta, unemployment has decreased this past month and the participation rate has actually climbed. That is part of the proof of the hard work that the government is doing with its solid and strategic economic plan for the country.
We cannot move forward as a country unless we have the opposition's support to pass that economic plan, to invest in the jobs that we need, to build the projects that are going to bring our nation together and to fight off the unjust tariffs and the trade war that we are in. The opposition needs to join team Canada, get on board and pass our budget.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, yesterday I talked to a mortgage broker in Calgary who said her clients are increasingly worried about their jobs and that layoffs are killing home deals. She said that construction and energy workers are among the most affected.
The Prime Minister said that we are going to be an energy superpower and claimed that the Liberals are going to build over half a million homes per year. If that is so, why are energy and construction workers the ones losing their jobs?
Rechie Valdez LiberalMinister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Madam Speaker, in stark contrast with the Leader of the Opposition, our Prime Minister is doing what he did in Davos, showing what real leadership looks like. In Davos, the Prime Minister said, “Middle powers must act together because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu.”
Thanks to our Prime Minister, Canada is at the table. We are securing multi-billion dollar deals with many different countries, including Indonesia and China.
Do members know what this is going to do for Canada? This is going to double exports. It is going to create more jobs. It is going to make life more affordable and support our local businesses right here in our country. That is real leadership.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON
Madam Speaker, Canada has lost over 5,000 automotive jobs and 32 paper mills have shut down. In my riding, three facilities are shutting down. As well, 51,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the year since the Prime Minister took charge.
He said he was going to “build, baby, build” but the only thing he has built is the highest unemployment rate for youth we have seen in a generation.
Will the Prime Minister do what he promised, build at a scale we have not seen in generations and work with Conservatives to restore Canada's sovereignty in the face of American threats?
Claude Guay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, we have a plan to build strong across the country, including in the forestry sector. We are going to use our wood for things like Maisons Canada and the buy Canadian policy. For that, we need to be able to implement the budget we presented. We need co-operation.
When are the Conservatives going to get on board to implement the build Canada strong program?
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON
Madam Speaker, where is the urgency? There were 67,000 jobs lost in Ontario last month. Young people cannot find work. Canadians are worried about paying their mortgage and affording groceries.
Will the Prime Minister do what he promised, which is to build at scales we have not seen in generations and work with Conservatives to restore our sovereignty in the face of these American threats?
Caroline Desrochers LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
Madam Speaker, this is exactly what we are doing. We are building Canada strong. We are building more and more housing. We are building at a speed never seen before. Yesterday, we introduced in the House the bill to enact the build Canada homes act.
Day after day, the Conservatives are in the House talking about affordability, yet they are blocking everything. I am sure Canadians and Conservative ridings would like to see, going forward, the proper measures we are putting in place to put more food on the table.
Grant Jackson Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Madam Speaker, Canadians are being crushed by the Prime Minister's failure to get the economy moving again.
StatsCan confirmed that Canada lost 52,000 private sector jobs last month, including 28,000 manufacturing jobs, a sector Manitoba families rely on, from aerospace in Winnipeg to value-added ag and resource processing across our province. Since the Prime Minister took office, $58 billion in investment has fled to the U.S., while the only job growth here has come from hiring more bureaucrats.
Will the Prime Minister explain why his rhetoric about building and growing the economy means lost jobs for Manitoba families?
Peter Fragiskatos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, unemployment is down to 6.5%. Inflation is within the Bank of Canada guidelines. We have a AAA credit rating and record foreign direct investment. In fact, we are building up the country for the success of current and future generations.
I am going to go off the script for a moment. He is on it, and the previous member was on it. They both care about defence. I know that about these members. Southwestern Ontario, my region, is an anchor of the defence sector in Canada. We can all bring jobs to our communities and sustain them by supporting this budget, because it is a landmark budget for defence.
What will the member do, and what does he have to say to that?
Grant Jackson Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Madam Speaker, these members want to talk about defending our veterans. They have just closed the veterans affairs office in Brandon and moved it out to CFB Shilo, so I think that is a bit rich coming from the member.
Manitoba workers want to build. That is what the question was about. Whether it is critical minerals, forestry or manufacturing, uncompetitive Liberal laws have killed the jobs market. While plants are cutting shifts and communities worry about their future, the Prime Minister promised to build at speeds never seen. When is he going to get started?