Debates of March 12th, 2026

Natural Resources

[David McKenzie, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources promised that Canada would “do its part” to bring down oil prices, so this question follows: What exactly are we going to do?

Today is the day that we are smacked in the face with the outcome of more than 10 years of Liberal “keep it in the ground” law and policy respecting our petroleum industry. The fact is that the Liberal government has starved our energy industry of essential strategic infrastructure. Bill C-69 is an unworkable approval permit law. The Liberals have blocked pipelines and banned oil tanker shipping.

Fortunately, my private member's bill would at least repeal the west coast oil tanker ban. When it comes to strategic reserves, thankfully Pierre Poilievre has proposed the emergency energy supply plan that will allow us to assist our friends abroad in times of crisis and would blunt energy shocks that further drive up the cost of living and hurt Canadians.

I call on the Liberal government to adopt our plan—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I just want to remind the member that he cannot refer to another member of the House by their proper name.

The hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock.

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday I was joined by the Surrey police and fire departments to deliver a speech and to cheer on everyone at the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics BC. The Polar Plunge is about the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics BC, which has raised more than $2 million to support athletes.

In August, Alberta hosts the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. As a father of a child with a disability, I have seen first-hand how sport builds confidence, friendships and joy. It opens doors for athletes, families and entire communities. Through Special Olympics, people are defined not by their challenges but by their courage, their determination and their incredible abilities.

People who took the plunge this year should remember that they did not just brave the cold but also helped to create a more inclusive world where every athlete is celebrated.

Public Safety

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there have always been conflicts abroad, but we have never seen them spill onto our streets the way they have under the Liberal government. Last week, three synagogues were shot at in the GTA, and now an Iranian dissident has gone missing, which is being investigated as a homicide.

Today we are calling on the Liberals to table a plan within one week to do the following: enforce deportation orders for regime officials and close the loopholes that allow them to stay here in Canada, coordinate Canada's Iranian sanctions to ensure effective compliance, end the regime's money laundering efforts here in Canada, evaluate Canada's terrorism threat level, identify any gaps in Canada's national security legislation and, finally, complete Canada's foreign influence registry.

The Liberals have failed to provide a plan to combat the regime in Tehran and their predations in Canada, so we have done the work for them because Conservatives believe that Canadians deserve to feel safe here at home.

International Women's Day

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am truly honoured to rise today in the House of Commons to mark International Women's Day, which took place on March 8.

On Saturday, in my riding, we had the honour of celebrating and recognizing, for the fourth consecutive year, 19 exceptional women from Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester who actively contribute to our community. Through their commitment, leadership and dedication, they strengthen our communities and inspire us all to continue to take meaningful action.

International Women's Day reminds us of the importance of recognizing women's achievements and continuing our efforts to promote gender equality and equity. On March 8, we honour the women who built, the women who resisted, the women who innovated, the women who make a difference in their community and the women who, every day in their personal and professional lives, create a more humane, more united and more courageous world.

When women succeed, everyone succeeds.

The Economy

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government treats inflation as if it were a natural disaster, something it cannot control, when in reality it is a policy it authored.

The Liberals are not just watching prices rise; they are actively driving the spike with a tax-and-spend agenda that ignores the reality of the Canadian kitchen table. The industrial carbon tax is a prime example. It is not just another number on a ledger. It is an extra seven cents a litre today, climbing to 17¢. These taxes and red tape hit our farmers, our truckers and our food processors like a man-made storm. Canadians see the carnage at every stage, from the fuel needed to plant the seed, to the final total at the grocery checkout.

This affordability crisis was made right here in Ottawa by the members on the other side of the House. They keep pointing south of the border to shift the blame, but they cannot hide the math. Their taxes are making life more expensive. It is time to stop the excuses and put Canadians first. It is time to cut the taxes that fuel inflation. It is time to make decisions that favour our families. Finally, it is time to bring back hope for a better Canada.

World Kidney Day

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Mr. Speaker, representatives of the Kidney Foundation of Canada are on the Hill this week. March 12 is World Kidney Day, and the foundation is launching its national strategic framework for chronic kidney disease, Canada's first unified road map to move kidney care from reactive and fragmented to proactive, coordinated and resilient.

As someone born with a solitary kidney, who has undergone dialysis and who has received a transplant, I know the importance of early detection, timely treatment and strong medical teams. I am grateful to all the medical professionals and to organizations like Canadian Blood Services that offer hope to patients nationwide. Thanks to the dedicated medical and transplant teams at Vancouver General Hospital, I am here today. I thank the Kidney Foundation for its leadership and its commitment to a healthier future.

Natural Resources

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources made the absurd promise that Canada would “do its part” to help stabilize global oil markets, but Canada cannot do its part because after a decade of Liberal energy policies, we do not have a strategic oil reserve. When allies need energy and markets need stability, Canada has nothing to offer but the minister's promises.

Conservatives have proposed a strategic reserve to fuel our allies abroad and give Canada real leverage, especially at times like these, so will the Liberals adopt our plan so Canada can be stronger at home and more reliable abroad?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me explain to the member opposite the way the IEA works. Net importers have strategic oil reserves; net exporters do not. That is how it works.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let me explain something back. Just because one does not have to do something, it does not mean they should not, especially when they lead their allies to believe that they will. We have a name for that.

The Liberals cannot paper over a 10-year record of shutting down the oil and gas sector, leaving our country weaker, more dependent and unable to step up when it matters. They can say the words and they can sign the MOUs, but we all know that the minister's new project office has not approved a single new project.

Will the government finally scrap the anti-pipeline law, repeal the emissions cap, lift the tanker ban and approve real projects so we can get Canadians to work and be there for our allies?

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

Mr. Speaker, apparently the Conservatives do not agree with the premier of Alberta that now is the time to build.

The new Liberal government signed and will deliver the promise of the Canada MOU. We will build strong with indigenous peoples. That is why Canadians elected the new Prime Minister, because the new Prime Minister knows how to work with the premiers and knows how to work with indigenous peoples to build things. Unfortunately the Leader of the Opposition does not.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources promised here in the House that Canada would do its part to help release oil reserves in order to stabilize the market. That is a good idea, but we have a bit of a problem: We do not have a strategic oil reserve, in part because for 10 years the fine people facing me right now have shown contempt for Canadian oil. Our party is proposing a strategic reserve of energy and minerals. Today, the Conservative leader wrote to the Prime Minister calling for such an initiative to go ahead.

Will the Prime Minister say yes to this creation of wealth and thus create an essential lever in this uncertain world?

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

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to creating an energy superpower, Canada is already there. The minister just explained that oil-exporting countries generally do not have reserves. Importing countries are the ones that do.

Canada will also be a renewable energy superpower, whether through the sale of uranium or through support for renewable energy and technologies across the country. Canada is and will remain a conventional and renewable energy superpower.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources has been in office for a year, but the minister who just answered that question has been here for 10 years. For 10 years, he and his fellow ministers have snubbed Canadian oil. We are now paying the price. All Canadians are paying the price.

There is also food inflation. Sadly, Canada, a major G7 country, has the worst food inflation at 7.3%. What is the result? Families in Saint‑Georges, in Beauce, will go buy groceries 50 kilometres away in Jackman, where they are 7.3% less expensive.

Why do Canadians have to pay more at the grocery store?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, who has also been here for 10 years, also has a record. He has consistently voted against every support measure to protect Canadians from rising costs, including dental care, school food programs and the Canada child benefit. This member has systematically voted against every initiative. He has not approved one single support measure for one single Canadian.

When will he start doing so?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot control what is happening abroad, but we can fix things here at home.

The majority of Canadians now report that they are worse off today than when the Prime Minister took office, and they are right. Under his leadership, Canada now has the worst food price inflation and the only shrinking economy in the G7. The Liberal Prime Minister was warned that imposing his industrial carbon tax and adding a fuel standard tax that is now at 7¢ a litre and that he is raising to 17¢ a litre would drive up prices, but he did it anyway. Canadians cannot afford this.

When will the Prime Minister remove his inflationary taxes so Canadians can afford to eat?

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

Mr. Speaker, while the Conservative leader was in Europe trying to reboot his tarnished image and meeting with leaders who wondered why he was even there, do members know where the Prime Minister was? He was in the Indo-Pacific signing trade deals with Japan, Australia and India. We can talk about the $2.6 billion of uranium from Saskatchewan. Did the Saskatchewan members even comment on that? Premier Scott Moe certainly supported it.

On this side of the House, we are going to continue to build our economy. That side is full of rhetoric and obstruction.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if someone believes that answer, I have an oceanfront property I will sell them in Alberta.

Everyone knows that when the government charges higher fuel and carbon taxes on fertilizer, fuel and equipment for farmers, food processors and truckers, it drives up the cost of food. It is going to get worse as long as the Liberals keep on hiking these taxes. Canada now has the highest food price inflation and the worst shrinking economy in the G7, and it has gotten worse since the Prime Minister took office. We cannot control what is happening abroad, but we can fix things here at home.

Why will the Liberals not reverse their taxes so Canadians can afford to eat?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I am standing up for my daily reminder that studies show that the industrial carbon price adds zero dollars to the cost of food. If the Conservatives want to speak about taxes, I can point out that on this side of the House, we cut them. If they want to talk about imaginary taxes, they can go ahead, but we are going to make sure that we support Canadians with real measures.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the Ali Al Salem Air Base was the target of an Iranian missile strike on March 1. This military complex is home to Camp Canada, a Canadian Armed Forces operational base. In other words, on March 1, Iran targeted Canadian military personnel. The government, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and, of course, the Prime Minister, were aware of this attack on the Canadian Armed Forces in Kuwait.

Why did the government fail to inform parliamentarians and the public about this attack?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada was not consulted, did not participate and will not participate in offensive strikes against Iran. All Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and sound and have been located.

For operational security reasons, we cannot provide more details, but I want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for the work they do every day for our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 9, the government proposed a take-note debate on the conflict in the Middle East in response to requests from the Bloc Québécois and the Conservative Party. It has been eight days since the Ali Al-Salem military base was attacked by Iranian missiles. It has been eight days, and the Liberals have not seen fit to mention it to parliamentarians. The information was made public by La Presse. We would not know about that today were it up to the Liberals.

Are there other attacks like this that the government is trying to hide from us, and why should we trust it?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, all Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and accounted for. As we keep saying, Canada reaffirms that international law applies to all parties and actors, including the United States and Israel, which must follow the rules of international law.

Once again, I would like to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for all of the work that they do for our country.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the conflict, the Prime Minister said he supported the United States and Israel. Since then, he has been reconsidering his position on a daily basis. The lives of Canadian Armed Forces soldiers in Kuwait have been threatened by Iranian missile fire. The Prime Minister knew about it, as did the Minister of National Defence and perhaps the entire cabinet, but parliamentarians and the public were not informed.

Did the Prime Minister support the American offensive because the Camp Canada military base in Kuwait was targeted by missile fire?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to confirm that all Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and accounted for. For operational security reasons, we cannot provide further details, but I would like to be clear: Canada has not been consulted regarding offensive strikes against Iran, has not participated in them and does not intend to participate in them, period.