Debates of March 9th, 2026

International Women's Day

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day celebrates the leadership, resilience and achievements of women and girls across Canada and the world.

Nearly a century ago, five determined women, known as the Famous Five, asked a question that today may seem obvious: Are women considered “persons” under Canadian law? At that time, the answer from Canada's highest court was no. Refusing to accept that, they carried their fight to the British Privy Council, leading to the historic decision that finally recognized women as persons under the law. It was a turning point that reshaped our democracy.

Soon after, Agnes Macphail made history as the first woman elected to this House. Today, that progress continues. In this Parliament, 104 women serve as members of Parliament, and 17 serve in cabinet. While we celebrate these milestones, we must also recognize that there is still important work to be done to achieve true equality.

I wish all members a happy International Women's Day.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of International Women's Day, I rise to speak not only as a member of Parliament but as a mother to two daughters and a grandmother to five granddaughters. Watching the women in my family grow has taught me that strength does not look the same in every season of life. Sometimes it is bold and confident. At other times, it is quiet, steady and carried through long days and hard moments.

I think of the women who came before us, who pushed through barriers, so often without recognition, and built the foundation that allows so many of us to stand here today. I also think of the women around us now, raising families, leading workplaces, caring for loved ones, volunteering in communities and holding everything together in ways that are rarely seen but always felt. I think of the girls growing up now, including my granddaughters, who deserve to grow up knowing they are valued, respected and capable of shaping their own future.

International Women's Day is about recognizing the women who shape our lives, our communities and our country every single day. My thanks go to women everywhere.

Jacques Michel

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers have a rich, diverse and unique culture. Our creators have produced music, movies, literature and performing arts unlike any others. All these extraordinary works are the fruit of wonderful and visionary pioneers who have captured the spirit of our people. We should thank them every day and celebrate their creations every chance we get.

Unfortunately, it is often when they leave us that we appreciate their contributions and pay tribute to them. We have lost another one of our giants, Abitibi‑Témiscamingue-born Jacques Michel, creator of universally popular and distinctly Québécois songs, such as Pas besoin de frapper, Un nouveau jour va se lever, Amène-toi chez nous and Salut Léon. These works marked Quebec's entry into the modern world. They are monumental.

We thank Mr. Michel for his works, his love of Quebec, his kindness and generosity. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I offer our condolences to his family and to all those who loved and admired him. Now, I invite everyone to take five minutes to listen to his music again. Members will thank me for.

Tibet

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Penpa Tsering on his decisive re-election as Sikyong, or leader, of the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet's government in exile. More than 51,000 Tibetans in 27 countries voted in this election, a testament to the strength of Tibetan democracy.

The hunger of Tibetans for self-determination, a right unanimously recognized by this House in 2024, will also be on display on the streets tomorrow morning in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park. Tibetan Canadian youth, students and women's activists will begin a walk from Parkdale to the Chinese consulate to mark the Tibetan national uprising.

On March 10, 1959, tens of thousands of Tibetans in Lhasa rose up in peaceful opposition to occupation and were met with a brutal crackdown, claiming countless lives and forcing His Holiness the Dalai Lama and generations of Tibetans into lifelong exile. Inside Tibet, Tibetans are suffering a new form of oppression through colonial-style residential boarding schools, which are depriving as many as one million young Tibetans from connection to their family, language and culture.

Canada joins Tibetans and supporters around the world, guided by the Dalai Lama and his middle way approach, in steadfast support of Tibetans' right to self-determination.

Public Safety

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week three different synagogues were shot at in the Toronto area. There was always conflict abroad, but it never spilled onto Canada's streets like it has under this Liberal government.

The Liberals politicize the Middle East; add to that their soft-on-crime agenda, and it is no longer safe for Canada's Jewish community. They can, please, save the tweets, the empty platitudes and Bill C-9, which will do nothing for the Jewish community, and instead deal with the terrorists in our streets and enforce existing laws.

Now an Iranian activist is missing, and police fear that he was murdered. Hundreds of IRGC agents safely reside in Canada. That is because Liberal immigration minister after Liberal immigration minister fails to protect our borders, and Liberal public safety minister after Liberal public safety minister fails to deport them.

When will this Liberal government start protecting Canadians and finally deport those who are connected to the Iranian regime?

Stephen Wright

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a cornerstone of the Thunder Bay community, a great Canadian and a friend, Stephen Wright. Stephen used to say that his hobby was people, and he led his life that way. It was all about service to the community.

He worked with Hockey Canada. He created PRO Kids to support underprivileged kids' participation in sports. He led no fewer than five winning political campaigns. Stephen was a tireless advocate for health care in northwestern Ontario. He was chairman of the board of Thunder Bay Regional and helped to bring it both a medical school and a cardiac care unit.

To every endeavour, Stephen brought his characteristic wisdom, patience, compassion and sense of humour. Stephen represented the very best of Canada. His impact on Thunder Bay and those who knew him will be felt for many years to come. We thank Stephen for all he did, and we miss him.

Natural Resources

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, with rising oil prices, Canada should be well positioned to supply energy to ourselves and our allies.

However, a decade of Liberal policies has chased away investment and production. Despite the rhetoric, the Prime Minister has not approved a single new pipeline to tidewater, and the Major Projects Office has not approved a single project. Now another $8-billion project has been put on hold, citing the Liberal industrial carbon tax and regulatory barriers.

Canadian consumers used to have some protection when oil prices went up because our dollar did too, but today we produce less oil, and that protection is gone. Canada has the resources to supply our allies and strengthen our economy. Why will the Prime Minister not get out of the way so we can fuel our allies and power paycheques at home?

International Women's Day

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with International Women's Day celebrations still front of mind, let us take a moment to reflect on how far we have come.

The advances that we celebrate today were never a foregone conclusion. They happened because one generation of women after another had the courage to challenge what seemed unchangeable. International Women's Day is more than simply a time to look back. It is an opportunity for us to look at the world as it is today, and the current context calls for clarity.

In many parts of the world, conflict and crises are hitting women and children hard. Even in our societies, certain realities remind us that more work needs to be done on the road to equality. Women's rights cannot be taken for granted. They exist, advance or regress depending on the choices we make. Ultimately, equality is not built only on great strides forward. It is built every time we decide to take—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Regina—Lewvan.

The Economy

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot control what happens abroad, but the Liberals do control the policies that are imposing an affordability crisis on Canadians here at home. Right now, we have the worst food inflation and the only shrinking economy in the G7.

The Liberal Prime Minister is going ahead with his newly renamed carbon tax, the clean fuel standard. This policy now costs seven cents a litre but will rise to 17¢ a litre. This makes everything more expensive for our farmers, fishermen and those who deliver food to our tables.

The industrial carbon tax, which the Liberal Prime Minister will continue to increase, only makes steel, aluminum, plastic and farm equipment more expensive as well. These costs are imposed at home, not abroad.

When will the Liberals accept responsibility for what they can control, and remove their out-of-touch policies to make life more affordable for all Canadians?

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in these times of great geopolitical upheaval, I am particularly committed to celebrating a multilateral association in which I place a great deal of hope.

Today, around the world, 56 countries are celebrating Commonwealth Day, an occasion to remind us of the commitments we have made to democracy, peace and sustainable development.

As chair of the federal branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, I am delighted to invite all hon. members to a reception being held at 6 p.m. today in the Speaker's dining room.

I also want to express the delight of Canada's delegation when MPP Catherine Fife, a remarkable parliamentarian from Waterloo, Ontario, was elected as chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians in October 2025, in Barbados, after earning the support and admiration of a very demanding electorate.

Catherine's unapologetic certainty that women are part of the solution, and one can insert all manner of challenges here, makes her a formidable voice in the Commonwealth family. As a fellow parliamentarian, I want to formally congratulate her and assure her of her federal colleagues' staunch support.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, we cannot control what happens abroad, but the Liberals do control the policies they are imposing that make life more expensive, like the Liberal fuel standard. This is effectively another kind of carbon tax, which adds seven cents a litre and will rise to 17¢ a litre, meaning more costs for drivers, farmers, fishermen and those who transport our food.

The Liberal Prime Minister is also hiking the industrial carbon tax on steel, aluminum, plastic and farm equipment. These costs are imposed at home, not abroad, and paid for by Canadians.

When will the Liberals accept responsibility for what they can control and cancel their policies that make life more expensive for Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada is an energy superpower. Last year, Canadian oil production reached a record high. No one can predict the future of energy markets, but our allies are looking for stable, reliable energy supplies in an increasingly uncertain world. That is why we are fast-tracking projects like the Taylor to Gordondale pipeline. That is why we are fast-tracking projects like the Sunrise expansion. That is why the TMX optimization is moving forward. We are helping solve the world's affordability problem.

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

Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. As for the G7, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada now has the worst food price inflation and the only economy that is shrinking. All of this has gotten worse since he became Prime Minister.

Instead of helping lower prices by cancelling Liberal taxes, he is driving them even higher. When companies that process, transport, store or sell food pay more, who does he think all those costs get passed on to?

We cannot control what happens in other countries, but we can absolutely control whether to drive prices higher with tax increases. Why not at least give Canadians a break from Liberal taxes and cancel the fuel standard tax and the industrial carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, it seems that my colleague was missing in action. In fact, we are taking back control. The first thing we did was cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. That is the very first thing we did. Just to correct the record, Canada is projected to have the second-fastest growth in the G7. This morning, we had the G7 finance ministers' call. We are coordinating our actions. We are going to take action together to make sure that we can bring energy to the world.

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

Mr. Speaker, meanwhile, here at home, Canadian families, seniors and businesses are still dealing with ideologically flawed economic policies, regulation and legislation that have seen the cost of everything, including food prices in Canada, rise 7.3% in January alone.

Taxes imposed on our farmers, fishers and those who transport our food, as well as the industrial carbon tax, which the Liberal Prime Minister keeps in place, have raised prices on everything made with steel, aluminum and plastic.

Why can the Liberal Prime Minister not do the right thing and remove these failed policies that have caused unnecessary hardship and make life more expensive for our people and our businesses?

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

Mr. Speaker, when my colleague talks about ideological programs, I sure hope he is not talking about the national child care plan, which has actually reduced costs for Ontario families by $16,000 per child, per year, here in Ontario. I sure hope he is not talking about the school nutrition program, which families, experts and educators have all sung the praises of for ensuring that kids get good food. I sure hope he is not talking about the dental care plan, which is helping low-income Canadians get their teeth fixed. I do not know what he means when he says “ideological”.

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

Mr. Speaker, what I am talking about is our businesses and our people dealing with self-inflicted wounds, because they are. From failing to eliminate these ideological taxes, causing cascading affordability impacts, to the ideological, almost hate-driven attacks on our wealth-creating natural resource sector, every problem we have started here at home in 2015 and continues today under the Liberal Prime Minister.

Our nation has the worst food inflation in the G7 and the only shrinking economy in the G7.

When will the Liberals accept responsibility for what they can control and for what they caused by removing policies that have made life more expensive for our people and businesses?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me correct the record again. I know my colleagues like to say things in the House, but they have to be credible. Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7. That is what is reported by international agencies.

When we are talking to Canadians, because it is Monday, they should talk about the good news for Canadians. The good news is called the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. On this side of the House, we understand that we need to help people now. It is really interesting to see the Conservatives' criticism, because they have voted against every program, whether it is about—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is Monday and we are hearing the same old thing from the finance minister.

Yesterday evening, I was at the grocery store and the price of food items, such as fruit, vegetables and meat, keeps going up. Eating should not be a privilege, especially not a privilege that millions of Canadians do not enjoy. The cost of food has skyrocketed.

Is the Liberal dream to see a small family at the grocery store buying two cases of ramen noodles? We have the worst inflation in the G7. The government needs to take action. When will it eliminate the Liberal fuel tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague likes to repeat himself, so I will tell him about something that he can repeat to all of his constituents. It is called the Canada groceries and essentials benefit and it helps 12 million Canadians. That is something that he can repeat to people throughout his riding. He is talking about hearing the same old thing, but the news about this benefit bears repeating because it will help Canadians.

What is more, when we consulted the Union des producteurs agricoles, people asked us to take structural measures. That is exactly what we did with a $500-million fund that will be managed by my colleague to strengthen resilience and ensure food security in Canada. That is what taking action looks like.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about taking action, since the minister mentioned it. Canada cannot control what the heads of other countries do, but we can control our own destiny. We have energy; let us develop it. We have critical minerals; let us develop them. We have housing issues; let us build homes. We have issues with food costs; let us eliminate the carbon tax. Those costs are imposed here at home, not abroad. I encourage the Liberal government to take our ideas and put them into action. We want to give Canadians some breathing room.

When will the Liberal government finally take action?

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

Mr. Speaker, the more I listen to my colleague, the more I think he has read our game plan, because apart from what he said at the end, he just repeated everything we say every day. If my colleague wants to join us, there is still room on our benches, and we are ready.

Public Services and Procurement

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

Mr. Speaker, let us come back to the Cúram software. It is causing problems with the old age pensions of 85,000 seniors and has racked up $5 billion in cost overruns. All of this could have been avoided had the Liberals done their homework because Cúram has caused these sorts of problems all over the world. Australia experienced problems with Cúram in 2006, North Carolina in 2012, Minnesota in 2013, Ontario in 2014 and Maryland in 2019. Cúram has not been working properly and has been costing more than expected for 20 years.

Why did the Liberals not make sure that all the bugs were fixed before launching Cúram?