Debates of Feb. 9th, 2026

Public Safety

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Edmonton residents are paying the price of inaction in the Liberal extortion crisis.

Every day I hear about extortionists and gangsters who are threatening families and businesses in Edmonton and across the country. Meanwhile, the government has done nothing but weakened sentencing and pushed catch-and-release bail. Liberal Bill C-5 scrapped mandatory jail time, and Liberal Bill C-75 forces judges to release repeat violent offenders back into our communities.

Criminals should fear the law; law-abiding Canadians should not. Under the Liberal government, extortion is up 330%. A Conservative government will bring back mandatory minimum sentences for extortion. These criminals deserve to be in jail, not on bail. It is time to stop crime, end the chaos and bring home safe streets to Edmonton.

Franco Nuovo

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the sudden loss of Franco Nuovo has shaken Quebec as a whole. Like many francophone listeners across Canada, I could count on his voice, his personality and his insights to set the tone for my Sunday mornings. He knew how to create unique moments by making radio a meeting place, a space for dialogue and exploration, but above all, for culture.

His passing is an incredible loss for Quebec, which has lost not only one of its warmest voices, but also an extraordinary host, journalist, columnist and, most importantly, a passionate advocate for culture, engagement and the francophone community. For more than five decades, Franco informed, inspired and brought us together.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as to all those who loved him and listened to him faithfully. We share their grief.

The Cost of Food

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, three years ago the Liberal finance minister promised Canadians that he would stabilize food prices. Well, he failed.

Since that promise, lettuce is up 40%, beef is up 27%, and baby formula is up 13%. While Liberals excuse their failure as a global phenomenon, the facts tell a different story. Canada now leads the G7 in food inflation. It is double what it was when the Prime Minister took office and twice the U.S. rate. The result is that Canadians are forced to make 2.2 million visits to food banks every month. Food bank usage has more than doubled under the Liberals.

Now the finance minister is offering another temporary rebate that will not lower the price of a single grocery item. That is not a long-term solution; it is an admission of failure with no plan to pay for it.

Let us be clear, food price inflation is a Liberal, homegrown, made-in-Canada crisis. Conservatives have a plan: axe the industrial carbon tax, scrap the fuel standards that is adding 17¢ a litre and increase competition in grocery chains. Will the Liberals drop the excuses, stop obstructing Parliament and support a real food affordability plan, or will they keep serving up Liberal rhetoric on empty plates?

60th Anniversary of the Canadian Ski Marathon

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight a major winter event in my riding that takes place every year, the Canadian Ski Marathon, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Held on February 6, 7 and 8, this great tradition brings together thousands of skiers and volunteers from across the country.

The Canadian Ski Marathon shows off our landscapes, our northern trails and the spirit of achievement and solidarity that drives our communities. The trails go through Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation, and one of them ends in the municipality of Montebello, a community that is proud to contribute to the success of this iconic event.

I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the organizers, volunteers and municipalities that are participating and whose commitment made it possible for the Canadian Ski Marathon to thrive for more than six decades. For 60 years now, this event continues to be a source of pride for our region and for Canada as a whole.

Automotive Industry

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government's decision to scrap its EV mandate confirms what Conservatives have said all along, which is that a forced 100% EV sales target was unrealistic and only created uncertainty.

Bringing back EV rebates now offers little to Canada's auto workers, including those in St. Catharines, when up to $2.3 billion in taxpayer incentives will be subsidizing U.S. auto production and when the U.S. is putting U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles.

Canada's auto sector supports hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. Decisions affecting it should put Canadian workers who are working in domestic production first. That is what our workers deserve, yet Canadian auto workers are now left asking what their future will be when over 95% of the EVs the Liberal government will be promoting will come from outside of Canada.

Sadly, under the Liberal government, no job is safe. The Liberals promised the Canada-U.S. trade deal to protect Canadian jobs, but instead, they are supporting foreign manufacturers. Donald Trump is smiling—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Sherbrooke has the floor.

Sherbrooke's Innovation Ecosystem

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with only days remaining before the new defence industrial strategy is unveiled, I would like to highlight a remarkable achievement by one of our own companies, DARIT Technologies.

In a national challenge held in Ottawa as part of the Department of National Defence's IDEaS program, DARIT Technologies took first prize, worth $1 million. After rigorous testing by defence experts, the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and a number of partners, DARIT Technologies' urban drone detection solution won the day. It consists of surveillance equipment based on a unique acoustic detection technology.

Sherbrooke has reason to be proud. This award is a testament not only to the technological excellence of DARIT Technologies, but also to the vitality of our innovation ecosystem. I sincerely congratulate its entire team for putting a spotlight on Sherbrooke and helping us strengthen security and innovation in Canada.

Youth

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, everywhere we look, life is getting harder for young people after a decade of the government. Finding a place to live is harder because home prices, rents and mortgages have doubled. Getting a job is harder because youth unemployment is still double the national average. Even buying groceries is harder, because food inflation is up 100% under the Prime Minister's watch. After paying for the basics, there is barely anything left, and often nothing at all.

How can anybody on the other side of the House stand behind a record that has completely failed an entire generation of Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way as the government has supported Canadians in what undeniably is an uncertain time, the Conservatives have fought against. Conservatives have stood up time and time again against Canadian families, against Canadian workers and against Canadian children. They have been voting down things like the school food program, enhancements to EI, work and support for families, and early learning and child care. No matter the solution, all they can do is obstruct and get in the way.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister can pretend everything is fine, but she is clearly not listening to anything anybody says in the House. Maybe she will listen to Miriam from Toronto, who is 26 years old. She works 12-hour shifts as a nurse. She told CTV News, “Saving for a home [is] completely out of reach right now.” She said that she is barely making ends meet, even after going to school, getting a good-paying job and doing everything she was told to do.

Is the minister really saying to young people who have done everything right that they should just lower their standards and accept a future of just getting by?

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

Mr. Speaker, what the government is saying to young people is that they can help us build big things in this country, and Canadian young people are stepping up to help. All across the country, Canadian youth have been taking advantage of skills training, in partnership with provinces just like Ontario, to make sure that as we build big things, they are on the frontline in the skilled trades, building bigger and building better.

However, the Conservatives will vote again and again against the very people they say they help, including young people.

In the member's own riding of Thornhill—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Barrie South—Innisfil.

The Economy

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie South—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the last 10-plus years have been incredible if one is a well-connected Liberal insider or lobbyist friend, or has business connections to the Prime Minister. Every leading indicator says that the Canadian economy is in free fall, and while the well-connected people get to gorge on the all-you-can-take taxpayer buffet, auto workers, tradespeople, families and single moms struggling to pay rent and mortgages, young people who have lost hope and seniors who cannot afford groceries are being told they have never had it so good.

What happened to all the grand promises of the last election? Were they not more about the Liberals' self-preservation than about solutions to fix the self-inflicted wounds they have caused over the last 10 years?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan to attack affordability across this country; it starts with housing, but it certainly extends to tax breaks, as we saw in recent weeks with respect to groceries. There was also a tax break for 22 million Canadians last year.

We are delivering on affordability. We are focused on a first-time homebuyers' tax break of up to $50,000 and on building affordable homes for young Canadians at an unprecedented scale.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie South—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, by every metric, every problem Canadians faced before the last election is getting worse. Food costs have doubled, food bank use has doubled and housing starts are almost non-existent. There are mass layoffs and plant closures across all sectors of our economy. The interprovincial trade barriers still exist. There is still no trade deal with the U.S. Half a trillion dollars in investment capital has left Canada. Deficits are ballooning, and Canada's debt is at record levels.

In the last election, the Liberals promised affordability, lower prices and real relief for Canadians, so after a year of higher costs and broken promises, which part of that do the Liberals actually think they have delivered on?

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the member does not know, but we are in the middle of a trade war. Despite that, Canada's economy has been resilient.

Canadians have created over 160,000 jobs since September. Wages are rising. Inflation is now within the target range. However, we are not stopping there. We are building big, building bold and building now with Canadian lumber, Canadian steel and Canadian unionized workers. We are making the largest infrastructure investment in Canadian history, to strengthen communities and to create more jobs and long-term careers in the trades.

While the Conservatives continue to object and to play games in Parliament, we are working for Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more essential than food.

People cannot live if they do not have enough to eat. Sadly, though, Canadian families, all Canadian families, are facing the worst food inflation of any G7 country, at 6.2%. Inflation is twice as high as in the United States. Canadian food banks are overwhelmed.

When will the government take concrete and effective action to really tackle inflation head-on, with good results against food inflation?

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

Mr. Speaker, grocery prices are indeed rising; we know that, which is why we are in problem-solving mode.

We have proposed a solution to Parliament—a clear solution that is also supported by the Conservative side—which aims to give $1,200 back to a family of four and $900 back to a single person. We are here to help Canadians in these times of food inflation.

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

Mr. Speaker, we need measures that have an impact and produce concrete, long-term results, because the situation is getting worse.

When I was doing my grocery shopping this weekend, the grocery store manager came up to talk to me. He was discouraged. He told me that moms and dads are now the ones stealing food. That is how bad things have gotten. The Retail Council of Canada has confirmed this, stating that nine billion dollars' worth of food is stolen from grocery stores.

When will the government implement concrete measures to combat food inflation in the long term?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are here for Canadians, and we are here for the long term.

The program is planned for a five-year period, which will help support families throughout this time of rising grocery prices. We are also here for Canadians through other programs such as the Canada child benefit and the national school food program.

The good news is that the federal government and the Quebec government have signed an agreement. We will be there for kids and families. We will be there for everyone across the country.

Pensions

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister revealed that 85,000 pensioners have been having issues with their OAS benefits because of the Cúram software, in some cases for nine months.

The government was warned by its own public servants as early as this summer. However, the government today seems content to say that, if people have indeed been affected, we should give them their names. When there are 85,000 names, these are no longer isolated cases. This is turning into another fiasco, like Phoenix or the passport crisis.

Why did the Liberals wait until 85,000 people were affected before taking action?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, the switch for OAS has been completed.

It came in under budget. More than seven million seniors are now receiving their benefits on time through a modern system. The total cost of Cúram will cover four separate projects. The amount that was planned and approved for the life of the project was $6.6 billion.

I encourage the member opposite to give me their names and we will help them.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there was a time when the Liberals told Quebeckers to stay in Canada or lose their pension. Now, they are telling Quebeckers to stay in Canada even if they are no longer receiving their pension.

What is more, they will pay a fortune for this fiasco, because the Cúram software has already incurred nearly $5 billion in cost overruns. Denying pensioners their OAS is expensive.

How come every time the federal government gets involved we end up with skyrocketing costs and no service?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State just provided an update of the situation.

This government modernization will allow seniors to register for OAS so that they can receive their benefits promptly and accurately. Obviously, if there are cases—and I think that if there were, members of the House would have heard about them—our colleagues are invited to share those with us. However, I can assure the member that the few errors that have been made are being—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Shefford.