Debates of March 26th, 2026

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, I think that member, who was around in those days, is not really very nostalgic for the peak of 0.99% of GDP that was achieved under the Conservatives. This government is going to equip our members in uniform. We are going to give them raises. We are going to improve their bases. We are going to buy new equipment. We are going to create jobs, jobs and more jobs in the defence industry in this country, unlike the Conservatives.

Justice

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us face it. The Liberal Party of Canada is an organization that has something of an influence over the government. However, at its convention, that party proposed to urge the Government of Canada to invoke a veto over any provincial legislation that pre-emptively uses the notwithstanding clause. That ultimately constitutes veto power over the sovereignty of the Quebec National Assembly.

I would like to know whether the government is in favour of that proposal.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government's power of disallowance has not been used since 1943, and it will not be used by this government.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government did not simply go to the Supreme Court to challenge a law passed by the Quebec National Assembly. It went there to curtail Quebec's powers within its own areas of jurisdiction. With its fear campaign and talk about slavery and summary execution, this government is attempting a real constitutional coup. If the Liberals want to amend the Constitution to weaken Quebec, then they know the deal. Either they launch a constitutional review, or they respect Quebec's powers.

Which will they choose?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I find the Bloc's questions absolutely baffling. One thing I know about Quebeckers is that we are proud to live in a society governed by the rule of law. The fact that some Quebeckers are challenging a law before the Supreme Court is entirely legitimate. They are well within their rights to do that. On this side of the House, we respect the work of the Supreme Court, and we will let it continue to do that work.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, a year ago, Canadians thought they were getting a new Liberal Prime Minister, but he is just like all the other Liberals we have seen over the past 10 years. Our investments are not doing well. Today, the C.D. Howe Institute is reporting that industrial investments are down: investment per worker is down 25%, investment in buildings is down by 32% and investment in machinery is down by 29%. There is one thing that will go up on April 1 and that is the Liberal industrial tax. While industrial investment is declining, the industrial tax is set to increase.

Is there a Liberal who can explain to me how that is going to work?

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

Mr. Speaker, there is something I can certainly explain to my colleague, whose friendship I rather enjoy, and that is the fact that the tariffs that are currently in place against the manufacturing sector are affecting our industrial base. This certainly has an impact on investment.

In the meantime, the government has not just been sitting around twiddling its thumbs. What have we done? We have been working on a plan. We have worked with businesses in Quebec and across the country. We have also made sure to help those directly affected by the tariffs, including workers and entrepreneurs. Our goal is to create jobs, despite everything. Guess what? We have created 80,000 of them over the past six months.

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

Mr. Speaker, in the last two months, 100,000 Canadians lost their jobs. That is the reality. While the government blames everything on Donald Trump, the reality is that this government could be taking direct action. Instead, what the government is doing for industry is increasing the Liberal industrial carbon tax. That is the truth.

When investments go down, taxes go up. That makes no sense. It is proof that this Liberal government has not changed at all in 10 years. It is using the same formulas that led to the loss of 100,000 jobs in the past two months.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience]

Mr. Speaker, I have some good news for my colleague. Last week, I was with the Minister of Finance in my riding, where Kraft Heinz announced a $250-million investment to increase the number of Canadian products being made here at home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. That is because Kraft Heinz has confidence that the new government knows what it is doing with the economy. I think we should look at this investment as an asset for Quebec and Canada.

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

Mr. Speaker, whether we are talking about a new Liberal government or an old Liberal government, it is a Liberal government that is no good at math. For the past 10 years, the same Liberals have been ruining our country. Canada has lost more than 100,000 jobs since the start of the year. Business investment per worker has fallen by 25% since the last Conservative government and investment in industrial and commercial buildings has dropped by 32%.

Will the Liberals cut the industrial carbon tax so that our country can once again become a place to invest?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is making a very serious allegation when he says that the government is no good at math. Sure, if he challenged the Prime Minister to a singing contest, then he might win, but if he challenged the Prime Minister to a math contest, then I am certain the Prime Minister would come out the winner.

Transportation

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for several weeks now, there has been a lot of conflicting information circulating about the Quebec City tramway project. Here we have the member for Beauport—Limoilou telling us about a $13-billion project, while project managers are telling us it will cost $7.6 billion. One of the things that we do not know but that we need to know is how much money the federal government is willing to put into this project, because everyone in Quebec City is waiting to hear this news.

Can the government's Quebec Lieutenant give us the answer?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, March 26, 2026, is a historic day. It is the day when the member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles finally threw his support behind the tramway project, a landmark initiative for Quebec City with economic spinoffs of $10.5 billion. It is a historic day because, just a year ago, he was campaigning, hand on heart, saying that he would take away federal funding from Quebec City residents. We are talking about $1.44 billion in funding that is set to increase. We are signing agreements with Quebec City worth $25 billion for public transit over the next 10 years, in addition to $13 billion in funding through my colleague’s infrastructure fund. I am very much looking forward to working with him on this important project.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let me clarify that just because I am asking him how much money he is putting in does not mean that I am in favour of the project. We have been clear: Our position is still the same.

However, during the last election campaign, the Liberals promised to fund 40% of the project. The project is starting now, but the funding has not been confirmed. There is legitimate concern in Quebec City.

Can the minister confirm that his government will be there before the tree clearing starts? If 100-year-old trees are cut down and there is no money, what then?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain. Honestly, I feel like the world is upside down when I hear these questions from the member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, because what he promised the people of Quebec City was nothing. Tramway projects are good for Edmonton and good for Calgary, but Quebec City should get nothing. That was the Conservatives' pledge, and it is completely unacceptable.

In contrast, we have been there since day one, since 2018. It has taken him eight years to get on board. We are contributing $1.44 billion with a budget of $25 billion over the next 10 years, including $13 billion for infrastructure. We are working closely with Quebec to secure more money for transportation in Quebec, throughout Quebec.

Finance

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for Canada. Consideration of the budget implementation act is nearly complete, and we can expect royal assent shortly.

Families in my riding of Scarborough—Agincourt know we are investing in Canada's future, building an economy that is strong and resilient to global shocks, unlocking generational investments in our long-term prosperity, driving economic growth and modernizing our tax and financial systems. Can the Minister of Finance tell us how else the bill will help Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her strong leadership. She is right. There is even more good news. We can just look at the Conservatives' faces. They are waiting for that, because they are going into their ridings.

We are expecting to get royal assent for the budget implementation act. This is a great day for Canadians, because Canadians will see a production-enhancing tax credit and a historic investment in housing. We are going to reduce red tape. We are going to make the national school food program permanent. We are going to modernize our consumer-driven banking. We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stood in this place and tried to tell Canadians that immigration is under control. Well, here are the facts. The temporary foreign worker program has ballooned by 178% since 2015. The Auditor General revealed that 97% of student fraud cases are not even being investigated, and the asylum backlog is a staggering 300,000 cases. However, Canadians cannot find jobs, housing or health care.

This did not happen by accident. This was the work of three incompetent ministers, and all three are still in cabinet. When will the Prime Minister fire these ministers and fix the core issues in our immigration system?

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, I will get to the question in due time, but I want to say to the Conservatives across the way from Saskatchewan who have been here 10 years that I have been here 10 months, and what did I see? It was defending our northern border, check mark; building the one Canadian economy, check mark; strengthening our world trading partnership, check mark; creating nation-building projects across Canada, check mark; $2.5 billion in uranium sales with India, check mark; and canola sales dramatically increasing, check mark. More good news is that we are just getting started.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, he forgot scurvy in his riding, check mark.

The Prime Minister says things are under control, but with seven ministers in 11 years, the system is getting worse and worse.

Yesterday, the justice minister issued a fake apology for his failed tenure as immigration minister by blaming the provinces, as if he held no responsibility. His successor, the current Minister of Culture, oversaw the surge in asylum claims that have overwhelmed our health care system and housing supply. The current immigration minister is so incompetent that her own Liberal colleagues are calling for her to be fired.

The Prime Minister chose these people. Will he take responsibility for their failure and fire these cabinet ministers?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, personal attacks speak for themselves.

I have great respect, in fact, for the member. We have had the pleasure of working together on the House of Commons committee responsible for immigration. He understands that, fundamentally, immigration has played a very important role in the history of this country, and that needs to continue. He also understands, as our side does, that transformations in immigration policy are needed. In fact those are under way: a 60% decline in the number of international students on an annual basis, a 53% decline in the number of temporary residents and a one-third decline in the number of asylum seekers.

We will continue that work. Of course we take seriously the recommendations of the Auditor General, because change is needed—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Cloverdale—Langley City.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have been hearing something troubling from people in my community. They tell me that the international students whose visas have expired are being told by immigration consultants, “Just claim asylum. You'll be able to stay.”

Now people are gaming a system that was meant for people fleeing real danger, and this is clogging the line for genuine refugees who actually need protection. The Prime Minister says that claims are down, but since 2015, the backlog has exploded from 10,000 to 300,000 asylum claims.

Will the Liberals finally admit this is happening and fix it before the entire immigration system loses its integrity?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the new government is ensuring that we have control over the immigration system.

Today we passed Bill C-12, which gives greater law enforcement powers to both the CBSA and the IRCC. For example, when people are using the asylum system to game the system, it will enable officials to disallow their claims.

We are taking control of the immigration system, and Bill C-12 is a perfect example of how we are moving forward.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is not just the abuse of our refugee system that has people in my riding shaking their head. They are hearing about situations like this: a young woman going about her life, when a stranger violated her by groping her not once but twice. He was charged, he was convicted and then he was given a discharge by the judge, and no criminal record, because without a record he can stay in the country and fight deportation.

After years of decisions like this, will the Prime Minister fire the ministers responsible for creating this out-of-control immigration system?