Debates of March 23rd, 2026

Public Safety

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals can try to distract and make Canadians look away from their absolute failure. The Auditor General's report is damning: 3,400 RCMP officers short. The Liberal government is continuing to fail to train and retain the officers we need to protect our communities, and it could not come at a worse possible time. After 10 years of the justice minister's failure to toughen up our justice system, there is a wave of violent crime rushing across our country and our police are completely burnt out.

Why is the Liberal Prime Minister failing to live up to his promises to strengthen law enforcement and protect our communities?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has accused us of trying to distract. Let me be clear: I have no interest in distracting from the fact that the Conservatives campaigned on a commitment to hire zero new RCMP officers. I have no intention to distract from the fact that their leader has called the RCMP leadership “despicable” and called upon the justice system to jail his political opponents.

Our legislative agenda has gained endorsements from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Police Association, the National Police Federation, the Police Association of Ontario and the New Glasgow Regional Police force, for what it is worth. We will work with law enforcement agencies to keep our communities safe. If the Conservatives finally decide to co-operate, I would be—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Oxford.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister promised safety with 1,000 new RCMP officers, but that is just typical banker spin. The Auditor General is now reporting that there is a 3,400 officer shortage with the RCMP. Recruitment is failing. Training seats are going unfilled, and after a year-long process only 6% of applicants are making it through.

With crime rising at alarming levels, when will the Liberal Prime Minister stop his illusions and bring boots to the ground and protect Canadians?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the first 1,000 RCMP officers we are going to be hiring will be coming out very shortly. We have also started to roll out the 1,000 new CBSA officers.

What will be important for members opposite to reflect on is their commitment to the RCMP. On this side of the House, we support the RCMP. We support law enforcement. We have introduced Bill C-22 respecting lawful access that would give law enforcement officers the necessary tools that they have been asking for to ensure the safety and security of Canadians.

National Defence

[Philip Earle, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's north is undergoing profound and rapid change. Climate change and increasing activity from foreign actors are reshaping the region in real time.

In Labrador, we understand well what it means to move from reliance to resilience and to ensure our north remains strong, secure and defended. Given our government's plan to defend the Arctic and the north, can the Minister of National Defence update the House on how these generational investments will strengthen Canada's north?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, it is up to us to defend and secure Canada from existing and emerging threats. That is why we are moving forward with a $35-billion plan to defend, build and transform Canada's northern and Arctic region. This includes $32 billion for our forward and deployed operating bases, including 5 Wing Goose Bay in Labrador. We are making major generational investments that matter to build Canada strong and to keep Canada strong.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there are nearly three million non-citizens in Canada on expired or expiring work permits, and Canadian kids cannot find jobs. Today in a report that shocked no one, the Auditor General found a whopping 150,000 cases of foreign student permit fraud. Worse, we found out that the minister is only investigating 2,000 of them, while allocating resources to purchase an entire hotel for asylum seekers. What a dumpster fire.

Is the minister content with putting fraudsters in the driver's seat of Canada's immigration system?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her performance.

With regard to the Auditor General, we welcome that report. We agree that strong oversight helps improve the international student program. We will improve how cases are flagged and prioritized, and will consistently follow up on potentially non-compliant students. Our focus is on identifying organizers of coordinated fraud and those who attempt to deceive the system. We take the integrity of all our programs very seriously.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, by the minister's response, I think she thinks this is a joke. It is not. Canada has an unemployment crisis, and there are millions of non-citizens who do not have a legal reason to be here who are competing for Canadian kids' jobs. Today the Auditor General found out that there were 150,000 cases of fraudulent student permits.

The minister's own team does not think she is up to the job and I agree. Why does she still have her job?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we commend the work of the Auditor General. We are focusing on identifying fraudsters and those who attempt to deceive us. We are improving our case reporting and prioritization processes and are closely monitoring students who do not comply with our rules. We take the integrity of all our programs very seriously.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I actually think the immigration system is worse now than it was under Justin Trudeau, and that is quite a feat. Speaking of former immigration ministers, two of the previous ones said that issuing well over a million foreign student permits was good for our economy and did not think international students were taking away jobs from people. However, today we found out from Blacklock's that the employment ministry knew for certain that this is exactly what was happening. All of these people fail upward in cabinet. Nothing has changed and it needs to.

Why are these failed immigration ministers still in cabinet in charge of important files and failing?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I really feel sad for that member who always sees her cup as half empty.

We have a plan. We have a system that is working. TD, Stats Canada, the Parliamentary Budget Officer and CMHC have all commented that our plan is working. Over the last year, we have reduced temporary resident arrivals by more than half. We brought the asylum numbers down by a third. We refocused on economic immigration like never before. Canadians see that this new government has a plan. The plan is working and that is what we will continue to do.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Ontario is home to a vibrant francophone community. Now more than ever, I am proud to rise in the House to celebrate the wealth of the French language. The International Day of La Francophonie is an important time to strengthen the francophone presence and attract and retain francophone talent in Ontario and across Canada.

Can the Minister of Immigration tell us what our government is doing to better support francophone communities across the country?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent work. Last week, on the International Day of La Francophonie, I announced new funding in support of francophone immigration. With these investments, we are strengthening the ability of francophone minority communities to attract and retain skilled workers.

That is how we are going to reach our objectives and ensure the vitality of French here, in Canada.

Foreign Affairs

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been caught misleading Canadians. After his trip to Beijing, he claimed human rights violations and foreign interference were discussed in meetings with CCP leaders. However, the government documents I requested revealed that neither of these topics were discussed in any of the bilateral meetings. Today, the Prime Minister is trying to change his story yet again.

Canadians want to know: Why can the Prime Minister not stick to his story?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary return in question was submitted in error and will be corrected at the earliest opportunity. The Prime Minister has been clear that while in Beijing Canada's positions on areas of concern, including human rights, were raised proactively at multiple levels, including by the Prime Minister and his counterparts. I also raised the matter with my counterpart while in China, along with other matters. I want to emphasize that Canada is a world leader in advancing human rights and the rules-based international order.

Emergency Management

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after the last atmospheric river and flooding in the Sumas Prairie, the Liberals promised support, but those were just empty words. Last week, there were two atmospheric rivers, but the Liberal government continues to delay action on flood protection in this nationally significant corridor for food production. Ottawa has yet to deliver the millions needed for flood mitigation plans, leaving people, infrastructure and farmland at risk.

When will the Prime Minister deliver the funding needed to protect this vital economic corridor?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can advise that I have been in contact with officials in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley region since December of last year. I have attended meetings with a number of my counterparts there, and we will be taking active steps with Abbotsford to talk about flood mitigation strategies.

Chief Electoral Officer of Canada

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It is my duty to lay before the House, pursuant to section 536 of the Canada Elections Act, the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the 2025 by-elections.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(a), this report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 50 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, in relation to Bill C-10, an act respecting the commissioner for modern treaty implementation.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Public Accounts

[John Williamson, Conservative, Saint John—St. Croix, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. The committee requests that the government establish a public and independent inquiry into cost overruns on information technology contracts, including the Phoenix pay system, ArriveCAN and the benefits delivery modernization program.

I would note that the motion was adopted unanimously by the public accounts committee.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, three reports of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

First is the committee's fourth report, entitled “Marine and Coastal Protections”.

The next is the fifth report, entitled “Equal Opportunities for Coastal Communities: Attribution of Redfish Quotas and Exploratory Lobster Fishing Licenses”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the fifth report.

Last but not least is the sixth report, entitled “Main Estimates 2026-27: Votes 1, 5 and 10 under Department of Fisheries and Oceans”.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have tabled a dissenting report.

The then minister of fisheries, the member for Beauséjour, came to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2018 and talked about how massive the unit one redfish fishery would be. Some harvesters invested up to a million dollars, money they would have had to retire on, to prosecute this fishery. When the decision came down, coastal communities and folks who were adjacent, who would have relied on this unit one redfish fishery, found that it was an absolute bust.

Our report talks about the fact that one of the number one factors in fisheries management, adjacency, was not adhered to properly. We are not quite happy with the report the member referenced, so we have tabled a short summary of how we feel the report could have been better.