Debates of April 16th, 2026

Strong and Free Elections Act

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is indeed right. The per-vote subsidy, as the main political party funding reform, is not in the bill. In the bill, we focus on political financing. We are trying to prevent foreign and dark money from getting into our political system.

As I mentioned in my speech, we have many opportunities to continue to improve our democracy, to continue to improve the Canada Elections Act, to continue to fight and to put in tools and measures that would counter disinformation and misinformation. I mentioned a number of them in my speech, and I look forward to the work ahead.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that we are very concerned about foreign interference, specifically in our Elections Act, so I would like the member to explain why the Liberals have delayed the implementation of the foreign interference registry.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we have started to incorporate a number of the recommendations that Justice Hogue made in the foreign interference report. It may not all be in the bill, but this is first reading. This bill will go to committee, and there will be an opportunity to propose and suggest additional amendments or additions. There is also an opportunity, in the near future, to introduce another bill and make more reforms moving forward, but it is the intention of our government to implement all the recommendations from Justice Hogue.

Shipping in Hamilton

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share exciting news for Hamilton. On April 1, I was proud to be joined by the Secretary of State for Sport and my Hamilton colleagues, along with representatives from Canada Border Services Agency, to announce that the CBSA has approved in principle a new licence for the Hamilton Container Terminal to operate a rail sufferance warehouse.

For the first time, cargo arriving by ship can be processed right in Hamilton instead of being trucked to Toronto or Brampton. This means fewer trucks on our roads, less congestion and lower emissions. It also means faster processing, lower transportation costs and more economic activity staying in our city, supporting local jobs and helping keep costs down for Hamilton families. I would like to thank the Minister of Public Safety for his leadership in helping make this possible. This is how our government is building Canada strong.

Industry

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for sectors of the Chatham-Kent—Leamington economy that are vital to all of Canada: the steel, aluminum and mould-making industries. These sectors support over 100,000 Canadian jobs and form the backbone of the infrastructure we rely on every day, such as bridges, hospitals, vehicle parts and transit systems, yet today they are under immediate threat. After a year of trade turbulence, business uncertainty is critically high as unfairly traded imports undercut Canadian producers. U.S. tariffs, in some cases reaching as high as 4,000%, are devastating our mould-makers, forcing companies to hold shipments and putting thousands of jobs at immediate risk.

While the Liberals did focus on upstream steel and aluminum production, they took far too long to acknowledge the downstream industries such as the fabricators, processors and manufacturers who actually turn those materials into the products Canadians depend upon. If they truly believe in building Canada, why are they failing to stand up for the very industries and workers who literally make that possible?

Immigration

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for generations, Canada has been a place where people come to build a better life. During my last constituency week, I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of the Oshawa Clarington Welcome Centre and Durham Resettlement Assistance Program House, both of which provide essential settlement services to newcomers in our region. Canada's immigration system has always been about more than just arrivals; it is about helping newcomers build a life, contribute to our communities and strengthen our economy. In recent years, we have seen many pressures that have tested the limits of that system.

This is why I am proud our government is restoring integrity to the immigration system by bringing down levels to be sustainable, while improving the immigration process and ensuring people get jobs in the fields where their skills are really needed. With every successful settlement journey, we are building a stronger Canada for everyone. This is how we fulfill the promise of Canada.

Franco-Ontarian Women's Contributions

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to highlight the important work of Franco-Ontarian women, whose contributions are evident across the province. In particular, I want to recognize Michèle Minor‑Corriveau, a passionate Laurentian University professor who has dedicated her career to educating female francophone students in northern Ontario.

This Saturday, I will be at Soirée Saphir, an event that celebrates the work and leadership of Franco-Ontarian women. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the Centre Victoria pour femmes good luck. The Centre Victoria is an organization in my riding that is one of this year's finalists for its essential work with francophone women affected by gender-based violence.

Hon. Member for La Prairie—Atateken

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to some important news that went largely unnoticed last week. In Quebec, the regulations governing boxing matches have just been strengthened following some investigative journalism into the tragic death of Mexican boxer Jeanette Guadalupe Zacarias Zapata.

At the heart of this heightened awareness is the rigorous, impartial and essential work of a coroner. There are 101 coroners in Quebec, men and women who are dedicated to making our lives safer. In this case, the coroner helped not only to bring the truth to light, but also, and more importantly, to better protect the lives of all boxers in Quebec. This individual is a physician by profession who has dedicated his life to caring for patients here and around the world. He has always been driven by a single goal, and that is to preserve human life.

Today, I want to acknowledge the work of someone who is often unassuming but whose impact is immense, namely the member for La Prairie—Atateken, who is my colleague and friend.

Lac‑Mégantic Sauro

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous pride in Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière that I rise today to celebrate the victory of the Lac‑Mégantic Sauro, who won the regional hockey league championship on Sunday.

Their victory was about more than just the final score. It was about heart, determination and team spirit. In this deciding game, the players kept their cool under pressure and played with indomitable spirit in front of an electric crowd. They represented the entire community with honour and passion.

I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of head coach Alain Bisson, his assistants Keven Jacques and Samuel Nolette, general manager Marco Jacques and president Serge Côté, as well as all the staff and the many volunteers who contribute to the organization's success behind the scenes. Last but not least, I want to recognize the fans who showed up to support the team throughout the season.

Congratulations to the Sauro on this historic and well-deserved championship.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

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

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks the 44th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The charter stands as one of the strongest pillars of human rights protection, guaranteeing our fundamental freedoms and protecting the rights of all Canadians. The charter is a profoundly Canadian document. Its impact goes beyond our borders, inspiring and providing expertise to nations around the world, allowing Canada to lead by example.

I would also like to recognize prime ministers Trudeau and Chrétien for their roles in achieving this landmark in Canadian history and for carrying this legacy forward by advancing equal rights, including the legalization of same-sex marriage, ensuring that the promise of the charter applies to all Canadians.

We believe that the charter works because it truly represents us, the Canadian people, and it stands the test of time. Let us recommit to these principles, ensuring that the charter continues to serve Canadians for generations to come.

Retirement Congratulations

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true icon of Canadian sport and broadcasting and the pride of Unionville, Joe Bowen. For more than four decades, Joe Bowen has been the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, bringing passion, professionalism and an unmistakable love of the game to fans from coast to coast.

Through thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses, Joe made us feel every moment, from last-second goals to unforgettable playoff runs, with a sincerity that connected generations of listeners and resulted in more than a few bent steering wheels in Leafs nation. His calls were never about hype. They were about respect for the game, for the players and for the fans who gathered around radios and televisions season after season. “Holy mackinaw” became more than a catchphrase. It became part of our national hockey culture.

As Joe Bowen closes this remarkable chapter of his career, we thank him for the memories, the emotion and a voice that helped define a love for hockey in Canada. Thanks for everything, Joe, and holy mackinaw, enjoy retirement.

Hockey Playoffs

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, go Habs, go! Spring is well and truly here because our Canadiens are in the playoffs.

It has been a long time since their nickname, “Les Glorieux”, the glorious ones, has been so well-deserved. That is because, this year, the Canadiens have a new Maurice Richard in Cole Caufield, our first 50-goal scorer since Stéphane Richer in 1989–1990. I was five years old back then. This year, the Canadiens also have a 100-point scorer: our captain, Nick Suzuki. He is only the fifth in over a century of hockey in Montreal. What can we say about Juraj Slafkovský, who has just broken the 30-goal mark? I bet that is just the beginning for this powerhouse. Did I mention that Lane Hutson is having the third-best season in the history of the Habs for a defenceman? Let us not forget Jakub Dobes, who is having a better rookie season than even Carey Price or Patrick Roy did.

It will not be easy against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but our young guns are ready to fight, and it feels like the cup is within reach.

Organ and Tissue Donation

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Green Shirt Day, which was last week, as well as National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week and Ontario's Be a Donor Month, a time when Canadians come together to honour donors, their families and the gift of life that organ and tissue donation makes possible.

Throughout Canada, thousands of people are waiting for a transplant that could dramatically improve or even save their lives. Registering as a donor is one of the most powerful acts of generosity a person can make. A member of our community in Georgetown is currently waiting for a life-saving living liver donor. I met with Jason McArthur and his wife Angela to learn more about living donors and the gift of life those donors give to people like Jason when they choose to share a part of themselves.

I encourage all Canadians to learn more, have conversations with loved ones and register as organ and tissue donors. Together, we can give hope and the gift of life to those who need it most.

Sergei Magnitsky Legislation

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine drags on into its fourth year, billions of dollars in Russian state assets are collecting dust in Canada while Ukraine bleeds. The government talks about standing with Ukraine, and the Liberals are good at writing cheques using Canadian taxpayer dollars, but they will not touch the 23 billion dollars' worth of frozen Russian assets right here in Canada. These are assets that belong to the regime in Moscow waging this illegal war.

Legal experts, security analysts and human rights lawyers agree that Canada can and should forfeit these frozen Russian assets and use them to support Ukraine's defence and reconstruction. This is why I am calling on the government to quickly pass my private member's bill, Bill C-219, the Sergei Magnitsky international anti-corruption and human rights act, so Ukraine can defeat Putin's war machine, stop his imperial ambitions and begin to rebuild after Russia's barbaric invasion.

Canada can help save Ukraine by using Bill C-219. The only question is whether the Liberal government will act to hold Russia accountable for the devastation it has caused in Ukraine.

National Dental Hygienists Week

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, oral health care is health care, and that is why I am so proud that our government launched the Canadian dental care program. For millions of Canadians with a family income under $90,000, it has made life more affordable and provided access to dental care they would not otherwise be able to access. It is also helping to prevent other, more serious health conditions that arise without proper oral care.

A key group of people in delivering oral care to Canadians are hygienists. I do not know if you knew this, Mr. Speaker, but April is Oral Health Month, and part of the celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week, which ran from April 4 to April 10. This annual event is sponsored by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and is focused on the importance of good oral health practices while underlining the role of the dental hygiene profession in preventing and treating oral health issues. This year's theme of “oral health for total health” reminds us that taking care of our mouth, teeth and gums has a positive impact on other aspects of our life and our health care.

Dental hygienists play a critical role in prevention, early intervention, treatment and education in Etobicoke and across Canada. We thank them. Happy Oral Health Month.

The Economy

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised economic strength, but Canada was the only G7 country with a shrinking economy at the end of last year. The Bank of Canada and the OECD predict barely 1% growth this year, and Canada has already lost 95,000 jobs so far.

The Liberals have presided over the largest capital exodus in Canadian history, $1 trillion from 2015 to 2024, with two dollars of foreign direct investment leaving Canada for every one dollar coming in. Canada now ranks last in the G7 for investment in machinery, equipment and intellectual property. After 10 years of the Liberals, investment is down, productivity is down, and Canada is being left behind.

Conservatives warned that Liberal taxes, red tape and reckless deficits would stall Canada's economy, and now we are seeing the results. Only Conservatives have a plan to restore economic growth and productivity, by cutting taxes and regulation to unleash investment and actually deliver economic strength.

Outstanding Orléans Residents

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

Mr. Speaker, on March 19, I had the privilege of attending Rideau Hall, where two Orléans residents received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Eileen McCauhey was honoured for her remarkable work with Busy Fingers, a group of 120 women who crochet thousands of items for organizations in the region.

Fourteen-year-old Hana Fatima was also recognized for her exceptional leadership, becoming the youngest person in Canada to receive the Meritorious Service Medal.

Orleans is also proud of Roy Allen. He celebrated his 100th birthday on April 5, but that is not all. He will be running in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 5K on May 23, showing that age is no barrier. Additionally, he will become the first Canadian to complete an official five-kilometre race at age 100 or more.

Congratulations, Mr. Allen.

Fuel Taxes

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again the Liberal government has proven it is out of touch and out of ideas. While Canadians struggle to afford essentials, the Prime Minister has failed to listen, instead borrowing Conservative solutions without delivering full benefits.

Across the country, Canadians are paying 51¢ more on gas and 75¢ more on diesel, which is almost 20% more than Americans. Producers are raising the alarm about the impact this will have on food prices. Canadian farmers say they will face extremely high grocery prices, which will be going up 25% to 50%.

Canada already has the highest food inflation in the G7. That is why Conservatives have brought forward a plan to respond to Canadian needs and deliver on affordability when people need it most. Our plan would eliminate all federal taxes on fuel until the end of the year, which would cut costs at the pump by 25¢ and save families over $1,200. Canadians do not need half measures and Liberal headlines. They need real relief, and only Conservatives are fighting to deliver it.

Human Rights

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians, we take pride in the role we play on the international stage, committed to international law and to the principle that power must be constrained by rules, not exempt from them. Today, that commitment matters more than ever before.

There are too many places, such as Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, Yemen and Palestine, where civilians bear the weight of conflict, instability and the erosion of rights that should never be negotiable. Many in Mississauga Centre have lived that reality first-hand.

On April 17, we mark its inverse, the anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a declaration not only of who we are but of who we must continually choose to be.

As Canadians, we know that these rights, which stem from struggles against injustice, are rooted in the belief that every person has the right to dignity, freedom and security.

Human rights are not conditional. They are not selective. They are universal, or they are meaningless.

Taxation

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost a year since this Liberal Prime Minister took office, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The MNP Consumer Debt Index paints a telling picture of the Prime Minister's record: 61% of Canadians are experiencing financial whiplash and 43% of them are just $200 away from insolvency every month. Three-quarters say the rising costs of essentials like gas and groceries are straining their finances.

Day after day, the Prime Minister proves that he is just another Liberal. Yesterday, the Liberals rejected our plan to eliminate all taxes on gas for the entire year. Why will they not give a break—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are offering relief to Canadians, but the Conservatives are rejecting all of it. They reject dental care, they reject tax cuts, they reject GST cuts, and they still reject lowering the excise tax on gasoline and eliminating the carbon tax.

Since my colleague is talking about comparisons with last year, I would like to point out that wages in Canada increased by 4.7% in the last year since the Prime Minister took office. In the United States, that increase is 3.5%.

The Economy

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians continue to pay 20% more than Americans for gas. Despite all the wonderful measures the member just listed, have grocery prices gone down? Have gas prices gone down? Have housing costs gone down? Have the lines at food banks gotten shorter? The answer is no. Despite all those measures, Canadians are getting poorer, because the Liberals' costly inflationary policies are driving up the price of everything and leaving people to struggle to make ends meet.

What happened to the Liberal Prime Minister's lofty promises on affordability?

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

Mr. Speaker, I did not even have time to go over all the numbers, which are very, very encouraging. The member is likely well aware of the following, and if not, he needs a better researcher. Inflation in Canada in February was 1.8%. That is at the lower end of the Bank of Canada's target range.

We are creating jobs and building this country, and we are doing so with Canadian workers and materials. We are going to build a very, very strong Canada while ensuring that wages, living conditions and quality of life improve for Canadians.

Taxation

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a tale of two Canadas under the Prime Minister, one where people's portfolios grow and the other where people's paycheques shrink. The government's own data confirms it. The wealth gap is widening, and nearly half of Canadians are $200 from insolvency. That is what inflationary Liberal taxes and spending does. It makes gas, groceries and everything else more expensive.

Yesterday, Conservatives put forward a plan to remove all of the federal taxes on gas and diesel. The Liberals voted against that.

Do they love the tax that much or do they just hate that the idea came from Conservatives?