Debates of March 12th, 2026

Public Safety

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the minister was not paying attention to the question I just asked. Fentanyl is a dangerous and lethal drug. Eight kilograms means potentially millions of doses. Millions of doses means that Canadians will be murdered by this drug and its dealers. What happened in Swift Current is one example among too many of the radical left's pathetic views on crime. Families are being torn apart, loved ones are being lost and those criminals should be behind bars.

If the Liberals were serious, they would adopt our plan to give life sentences to people trafficking enough fentanyl to kill thousands of Canadians. Why will they not do it?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government is taking very important measures to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. We have Bill C-14, which would address the issues around bail and sentencing, the issues the member opposite is talking about. We also have Bill C-16, which is about supporting victims and ensuring the administration of justice.

Just today, I had the opportunity to introduce Bill C-22, on lawful access, an important tool that all in law enforcement have been asking for. I am going to ask the members opposite if they will support this. Will they pass this bill today?

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebecor's investigative journalists have reported that 239 visas have been revoked over links to Iran's revolutionary guard. However, only one person has been deported, just one. We are talking about a terrorist regime on Canadian soil.

We also found out that a Canadian Armed Forces camp on a military base in Kuwait was the target of attacks, of Iranian missile strikes. Fortunately, there were no injuries. I am of the opinion that the Iranian regime is not our friend. The Liberal government is keeping these criminals here under the pretext that they have rights and have applied for asylum.

Will the Prime Minister deport them or not?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the IRGC was listed as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code in Canada in 2024. The state of Iran has been listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. We have been working to ensure that those who are inadmissible are removed forthwith. Any information that is received by law enforcement, by CBSA, of alleged members of the IRGC who are in Canada, is investigated thoroughly. The issues that the member opposite is referencing have been addressed.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when crime occurs, the Liberals say they are wholeheartedly behind the victims, but when we ask for members of a terrorist organization to be deported, they tell us that these people have rights.

There are Iranian women protesting against the regime, and they report that members of the regime are taking photos of them during the demonstrations. They no longer feel safe. This week, a critic of the Iranian regime disappeared, and the police are investigating a possible murder.

What will it take for the Liberal government to grow a backbone and deport the 238 members of a recognized terrorist group who are enjoying the good life in Canada at taxpayers' expense?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, to be clear, on the number the member opposite is referencing, they were never allowed into Canada. Those visas were revoked as they were outside of Canada.

Let me just say for the record that individuals who are believed to be members of the IRGC are being thoroughly investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency. They are going through the legal process of being removed. Some have already been removed. We will continue to ensure that every single member who is inadmissible to Canada and those who were members of the IRGC are removed.

Health

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, cancer affects nearly every family in Canada. I myself lost my wife Stéphanie at the age of 34 to this disease.

Stéphanie firmly believed in the importance of research to advance treatment for this disease and support life-saving progress. In Canada, it is estimated that about four in 10 cancer cases could be avoided with better risk reduction and prevention measures.

Can the minister tell us about investments we are making in cutting-edge research on cancer prevention?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Madawaska—Restigouche for sharing his personal story with us.

It is precisely for people like Stéphanie that our government is investing more than $40 million in cutting-edge research for cancer prevention. These investments are saving lives and reducing the burden of cancer on families across the country. By supporting these projects, we are advancing science, improving prevention and moving toward a future where cancer treatment is more effective.

Natural Resources

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals handed out a $200-million loan at below market value to a company to build a wind farm in Nova Scotia. It turns out that the chair of the company is the former leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, and three of the directors are close family members of former Liberal MPs. Given that, are we to believe that it is just a coincidence that this cabal of Liberal insiders received this $200-million sweetheart loan?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite likes to think about cabals and conspiracies. Maybe he should talk to the Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia, who stood beside us and said that this was one of the best projects he had ever seen.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a $200-million sweetheart loan to Liberal insiders. Canadians deserve to know that their tax dollars are not being handed out on the basis of political connections to this government.

If, in fact, everything is above board, the Liberals should have no trouble releasing all of the documents and all of the terms of the loan. Will they?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a large megawatt wind farm that is producing thousands of jobs in Nova Scotia and giving the opportunity to people in Nova Scotia to buy renewable power. This is good for Nova Scotia. That is why the Premier of Nova Scotia stood beside it and said it was a great project.

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

Mr. Speaker, the scandals never end. The wind is blowing in the right direction for Liberal wind turbines.

This week, it came to light that the Liberals issued a $205-million loan at a below-market rate as well as $150-million in subsidies for a wind farm in Nova Scotia. In fact, to get a seat on the board of directors, a person has to be a former Liberal MP or part of the Liberal family—no exceptions.

Why is the Liberal family getting subsidies and below-market interest rates courtesy of Canadian taxpayers?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is three times with gusto, I guess. It does not change the answer. There is no conspiracy here. The Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia says this is one of the best projects he has ever seen. This is good for the people of Nova Scotia, and it is good for the people of Canada.

Financial Institutions

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over one-third of Canadians are hit with NSF fees, non-sufficient funds fees, and those fees can be as high as $50. That is money Canadians could be using to put towards rent, food and other essential items.

Can the Minister of Finance tell the House how we are helping Canadians with affordability by capping NSF fees and lowering banking costs?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for a great question. I know that everyone wants to hear more good news. It is Thursday. In fact, she is right: Yesterday we announced that we are capping the non-sufficient funds fee to $10.

We know that one out of three Canadians is affected by these fees. It is going to save $600 million for Canadians. We are going to continue our quest to make life more affordable, to help Canadians and to build a strong country.

Veterans Affairs

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, later today Vancouver Islanders will gather at the British Columbia Afghanistan Memorial in Victoria to mark the 12th anniversary of the end of Canada's mission in Afghanistan and remember the 165 Canadian lives that were lost there.

Canada's mission in Afghanistan was the longest military campaign in our country's history, where more than 40,000 Canadians served. We remember the courage, sacrifice and service of those who answered the call.

It saddens me to ask, however, why the Liberal government has failed to build the dedicated Afghanistan war memorial here in Ottawa that was announced 12 years ago. It is shameful.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we thank all Canadian Forces members and their families for their service to Canada. We acknowledge the incredible contributions that Canadians made in Afghanistan, including the 158 who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Acknowledgement of Canada's serving members is incredibly important, and we continue to move forward with that. I look forward to sharing more with the member opposite in due course.

Foreign Affairs

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while Israel and the United States are attacking Iran on the false premise of the nuclear program, the entire region is in going up in flames. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is taking advantage of the situation to once again drop bombs on Lebanon.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed, thousands injured and nearly 80,000 displaced after fleeing in terror. France is clearly supporting Lebanon, its people and its sovereignty. What is the Liberal response here? Nothing. It is silence. It is embarrassing.

When will this government find the courage to say “enough is enough” and stand up for the people of Lebanon?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether my hon. colleague heard today's announcement, but our government has announced support for Lebanon. It consists of $37.7 million in humanitarian aid for people suffering due to the situation in Lebanon.

We will continue to be present with humanitarian aid. We will continue to ensure that we support—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni has the floor.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, because the Liberal fisheries minister has failed to explain the Pacific salmon allocation policy review, misinformation is spreading across the west coast. Recreational fishing is essential to many Vancouver Island communities, which are uncertain about their future, and that confusion is fuelling division and racism.

This review was directed by the courts to update an outdated policy with conservation first, recognition of constitutionally protected indigenous fishing rights and fairness for everyone on the water.

Explaining what this review actually means is the minister's job. When will she show leadership and set the record straight?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, it was an extensive review. The policy was established in 1999. In due course, obviously, we needed to look at this. There were six years when the terms were reviewed. There was a full year of consultation, which closed in the middle of January. We are now reviewing the work, and when we are ready, I will be pleased to bring our findings forward.

Business of the House

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

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Thursday question, the day on which all of CPAC's servers experience a massive spike. We hope its IT department is well prepped for what is about to happen.

I wonder if the government House leader could update the House as to the business in the chamber for the rest of this week and the week after our constituency work week. I am especially curious to hear whether he is going to be tabling any kind of action plan to not just ban new IRGC agents from entering the country but deport the ones who are in this country, who are causing so much harm to Canadian citizens and security and, of course, funding a terrible regime in Iran.

I also wonder if he could update the House as to whether the Liberals are going to repeal any of the hidden taxes that add to the cost of groceries, like the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard tax, which adds seven cents a litre and is rising to 17¢ a litre. In this affordability crisis that the Liberals have caused, will they at least bring in some legislation to provide relief at the grocery store for hard-working Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think we will have to ask CPAC which of the two of us more people tune in to see, because both of us, as the member well knows, tend to be very lovable and appreciated by all Canadians as we talk about the Thursday question.

I will say, in response to my hon. friend, that we will be coming back next sitting week to Bill C-9, which I know was a solemn election commitment by his party as well as mine. I know we all look forward to protecting community centres, temples, synagogues and mosques in Canada. These are obviously important things, especially as we watch the conflict in the Middle East.

We will continue the debate at third reading of Bill C‑13, an act to implement the protocol on the accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Tomorrow, we will resume debate at second reading of Bill C‑20, an act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes.

As I said, when we return from our constituency week, on Monday, March 23, priority will be given to the very important Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, and of course Bill C-8, the cybersecurity legislation, which is essential for Canada in these days of online risks.

Finally, Tuesday, March 24, shall be an allotted day.