Order, please. The hon. member has seven seconds left.
House of Commons Hansard #104 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.
House of Commons Hansard #104 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Strong and Free Elections Act Second reading of Bill C-25. The bill proposes amendments to the Canada Elections Act intended to strengthen the integrity of federal elections against threats like foreign interference and digital disinformation. Key measures include prohibiting AI-generated deepfakes, regulating third-party funding to prevent foreign money, and restricting excessive nomination filings linked to "longest ballot" tactics. Members of Parliament generally support referring the bill to committee for further study, while debating the appropriate balance between security, privacy, and political financing regulations. 47600 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Criminal Code Second reading of Bill C-238. The bill, intended to allow community organizations to seek restitution from offenders for costs related to drug trafficking and human trafficking, faces division. Proponents argue it provides accountability, while Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois contend it is impractical, unlikely to work due to legal hurdles like causation and enforceability, and would burden the justice system. The House has deferred the vote. 5700 words, 40 minutes.
TaxationOral Questions
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Burlington North—Milton West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the Conservatives are angry because they cannot read or because they are getting told what to say in this place. Either way, we have Canadians' backs.
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Mr. Speaker, these Liberals are going to have to pick a lane. On the one hand, they claim that a hidden industrial carbon tax buried in the food supply chain does not affect the price of groceries. On the other hand, they offer temporary half measures of relief for Canadians from rising fuel prices, acknowledging the hidden costs, the excise taxes and fuel prices, and are still pocketing the higher tax revenues generated from those same rising fuel prices.
Why did the Liberals vote against our plan to remove all fuel taxes for the entire year?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalSecretary of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, the hidden cost is exactly what the Conservatives are hiding from Canadians. What are they going to cut to pay for their irresponsible suggestions? They are going to cut child care. They are going to cut dental care. They are not going to do a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. They are certainly not going to do a groceries and essentials benefit. How do we know that? They voted against every single affordability proposal the government has put on the table for them to vote for. They can question the economic acumen of a world-renowned economist if they like, but Canadians can see right through this bluster.
Connie Cody Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, after a decade of Liberal policy, Canadians are not just stretched; they are falling behind. New data shows that 61% of Canadians feel financial whiplash from economic instability, 74% say rising costs for essentials are straining their finances, and 43% are just $200 away from insolvency each month.
One senior told me she needs just $100 more a month to avoid the food bank, but even that is now out of reach. Families are cutting back, worried about job security, and in too many cases still not earning enough to cover their bills. Is this the unaffordability reality that these Liberals are deciding for Canadians?
Leslie Church LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour
Mr. Speaker, since our government took office, we have been squarely focused on the issues that my colleague opposite raises. In fact, members can start to see the proof in the pudding here. Wages for Canadians right now are up 4.7% in the past year, while inflation is at about 1.8%. That is making a difference in the affordability in the lives of Canadians. Right now, at this time of year, Canadians are focused on tax season, and they are focused on affordability. That is why we have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and introduced a groceries benefit that is going to help a lot of the seniors in that member's riding when it comes into effect this spring.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to overstate the importance of regional news media. However, the last outlets left in Quebec are going to close unless Ottawa takes swift action. When the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission opened the independent local news fund to 15 Global News stations, it added 15 new players, all required to share the same funds.
As a result, funding for francophone media dropped by half and these outlets are at risk of vanishing. In 12 days, the Liberals are going to present an economic update. Are they going to enhance this vital fund?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, as the member is well aware, whether through the Canadian journalism labour tax credit, the Canada Media Fund or the community newspaper fund, we will never stop supporting a strong and independent French-language media ecosystem.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, we are so close. We almost got an answer. The government is presenting an economic update in 12 days. The future of francophone regional news media is at stake. We cannot wait for the web giants to stop challenging our laws in court to avoid paying their fair share. We are running out of time.
The government must extend its journalism labour tax credit to electronic media as well as print media. It needs to increase funding for the independent local news fund. It also needs to stop subsidizing advertising on the major digital platforms. The future of local media is at stake right now.
Will the economic update provide assistance to our regional news media?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, we will never stop supporting journalists in their efforts or backing strong, independent francophone media outlets, but I find it ironic that the Bloc Québécois is asking us to increase a $127-million fund that it voted against in the last budget.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the U.S. tariffs were imposed, Canadian exports have nosedived by more than 15% and jobs are disappearing across the country. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has confirmed that Chinese steel is being dumped in Canada, directly harming our workers.
Our companies are being hit on two fronts: first by the Americans, and second by unfair competition from China. During the last election campaign, the Prime Minister said he was the only one who could deal with Donald Trump. Canadians, however, are struggling to pay their bills and now they are losing their jobs.
Why did he make a promise that he has a hard time keeping?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, while it is true that some things are beyond our control, including the illegitimate and unlawful tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration, some things we do control. That includes the major projects we are building here and the help that we are providing to the middle class.
If we look at the figures for the past year, we see that inflation is in the bottom range of the Bank of Canada's estimate, that salary increases are the most impressive of the G7, at 4.7% year over year, and that the International Monetary Fund is predicting that Canada will post the second-strongest growth among G7 nations. That is what building Canada strong is all about.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, can the minister go talk to the 700 employees of Paccar in Sainte-Thérèse who lost their job because of the tariffs? Then there is BRP, which suffered a $500-million loss due to a 35% drop in its stock price. Once again, it is the jobs of Quebec workers that are at risk. These are not just abstract numbers. They represent the reality of everyday life.
Let us not forget that the Prime Minister said during the election that he was the only person in the world who could deal with Donald Trump. We are seeing job losses and disasters, and on top of that, there is China.
What is the Prime Minister going to do?
Carlos Leitão LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, for nearly a year now we have been renegotiating our relationship with the Americans. We are not going to sign just any agreement. This agreement will need to benefit us, too.
In the meantime, we are supporting our businesses, as we did with Paccar. Paccar was affected by the tariffs and our government negotiated a host of measures to help it through these difficult times. We will do that again.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, we thought we had seen it all with the Liberals in charge of the Canada Revenue Agency, but it turns out that things are worse than we thought.
Canadian families are struggling to cope with Liberal food inflation. Meanwhile, CBC reported this morning that the Canada Revenue Agency paid out $5 million to a fraudster who filed a bogus return. It paid out $5 million without checking a thing. This is where we are at after 10 years of Liberals running the Canada Revenue Agency.
Can anyone defend the indefensible here?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, Connor McDavid is a great hockey player.
Abuse of the tax system is illegal, and the CRA takes enforcement action when instances of abuse are identified. We cannot comment on specific cases and matters that are before the courts. Canadians can be assured that the CRA will always take every measure to ensure tax fairness. When the debt is established to the CRA, the agency takes legal action if necessary, using all available measures to ensure compliance.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, [Technical difficulty—Editor] hockey player. The CRA gave a fraudster $5 million. Those people have been mismanaging the CRA for a decade. As a result, if honest folks make a little $100 or $200 mistake on their income, it is the end of the world and the CRA throws the book at them, yet it gives $5 million to a fraudster.
I will not stand for the minister hiding behind the fact that he cannot comment on specific cases. Five million dollars is crazy. I want him to stand up and—
Canada Revenue AgencyOral Questions
Canada Revenue AgencyOral Questions
Saint John—Kennebecasis New Brunswick
Liberal
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, I respect the member opposite and appreciate his passion. We know that abuse of the tax system is illegal. The CRA processes millions of tax returns per year. It does an outstanding job overall. We are in tax season right now. It is my chance to tell Canadians to file their taxes before April 30. We cannot comment on individual tax cases that are before the courts.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, my granddaughter Clémence, my eighth grandchild, was born last night. The Liberal federal government has gifted her with $44,716 in debt. What a great start to life. Luckily, the Prime Minister is offering her a four-cent reduction on a litre of diesel. Talk about ironic.
How will those four cents help Clémence start her life with peace of mind?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, we would like to welcome little Clémence. However, I would warn the member opposite that, when she grows up, he will have to answer some difficult questions. With eight children, the Canada child benefit starts to add up to quite a bit of money each month, and, unfortunately, the member opposite voted against it. We can spare pretty little Clémence a bit of disappointment if the member stands up and apologizes for having voted against such measures for her.
Will Greaves Liberal Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, wild Pacific salmon are a part of who we are for everyone who calls British Columbia or Yukon home. Climate change and habitat loss are already putting additional pressure on this threatened species. We have a responsibility to help this species rebuild.
Can the Minister of Fisheries tell us what this government is doing to help protect wild salmon populations for everyone in British Columbia and along the west coast?
Joanne Thompson LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his commitment to wild salmon.
Wild Pacific salmon is a vital part of the economy of the west coast. I was in British Columbia recently to announce our government's new commitment of close to $143 million in funding for the Pacific salmon strategy initiative. This brings the federal commitment to wild Pacific salmon to over $1 billion to support science, restore habitat and modernize salmon fisheries.
Together, we can rebuild wild salmon and build a stronger economy.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business released a damning report, saying that Canada is now in an “entrepreneurial drought”, with more businesses closing than opening for six straight quarters. More than half of small business owners “would not recommend starting a business” in this country, and there are now 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs than we had 20 years ago. Most damning is that 73% of survey respondents indicated a lack of confidence in this Liberal government.
What is the Prime Minister's response to the alarming decline of entrepreneurship in Canada?
Rechie Valdez LiberalMinister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Mr. Speaker, small businesses have shown incredible resilience as we continue to face this trade war. We are cutting red tape for small businesses, improving access for financing for them and helping SMEs pivot to new markets while the Prime Minister secures trade agreements with other countries.
Our buy Canadian policy is giving Canadian businesses those opportunities to secure procurement opportunities. That is strengthening our economy, creating jobs and ensuring that we are giving them all the opportunities to grow and thrive.