Debates of April 17th, 2026

Automotive and Trucking Companies

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every job lost in the auto and trucking industries, particularly because of tariffs, is a loss for Canada. We are working hard to help auto and trucking companies pivot and adapt to new trade realities through the $5-billion strategic innovation fund.

My departmental colleagues and I are in regular contact with Paccar and Unifor executives and the Government of Quebec to maintain production and protect well-paying jobs in Sainte‑Thérèse.

Retooling a Canadian company's production line takes effective negotiation with all stakeholders and patience to give the company's American headquarters time to determine the required investments and agreements. At the same time, we are also working to encourage our cities and provinces to buy Canadian. To date, we have helped over 100 businesses in Quebec pivot and adapt to this new reality, and we are working hard to do the same for Paccar.

The Economy

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, London is the canary in the coal mine. When things go wrong, Londoners are the first to feel it, and it hits our community the hardest.

The trillion-dollar net capital outflow under the Liberals has taken a real toll. London's unemployment rate has climbed to 9.1%, the highest in Canada, and affordability pressures continue to rise alongside crime, addiction and growing mental health challenges. Londoners know the status quo is not working. We need to reverse the loss of capital and create a competitive environment where businesses can invest, projects get built and workers can find stable jobs.

Londoners need Conservative policies that will lower costs, remove barriers and reward investment in work. We have seen the Prime Minister borrow Conservative ideas before. Our community desperately needs him to do a lot more of it, and fast.

High-Speed Train

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are building big things again in Canada. After generations of studies and delays, the federal government is delivering on an essential high-speed train that will connect the most densely populated part of our country, and Ottawa will be at the heart of the new Alto high-speed train.

The mayor and the City of Ottawa recognize what a transformative project this will be. The Ottawa Board of Trade says that Alto will deliver a larger labour market, easier access to clients and partners across the corridor, and new investment and development opportunities around all station areas. We are talking about $24.5 billion in annual economic activity.

Alto will be good for jobs. Alto will be good for the economy. Alto will be good for Ottawa, and Alto will be good for Canada.

Affordability

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of Liberals, Canadians are drowning in bills. In addition, they are feeling the strain at the checkout and at the gas pump.

Over 8,000 Oshawa residents who responded to surveys tell a concerning story: 73% say the Liberal government has not eased their cost of living challenges since the Prime Minister took office; 57% say affordability is their top concern; and 62% believe Canada is headed in the wrong direction. Even 40% of Liberal supporters say so, all while this week the Prime Minister had the audacity to gaslight, saying Canadians are “getting ahead”.

Oshawa food banks, such as Feed the Need and Simcoe Hall, are seeing record demand beyond pandemic levels. After years of promises and photo ops, the affordability crisis has become a health crisis.

Oshawa families are not asking for more supports or food programs. They want dignity, and they want relief. They need action now.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I move on to the next member, there are members having a conversation. I invite them to go to the courtyard to continue their conversations. We are still doing Standing Order 31 statements.

Gregoria Roubeka Merziotis

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the incredible life of my dear aunt, Gregoria Roubeka Merziotis, who passed away recently at the age of 97. She was the mother of Vassili, the mother-in-law of Kim, the devoted grandmother of Gregory and Leonida, the sister of Costadino, and of course, the extremely devoted wife of Leonida.

She was born in 1928 in Halki, Greece, and came to Canada in 1957. She worked for more than 30 years on Chabanel Street in the garment district of Montreal, where she was so dedicated that she was recognized time and again for her contributions to her work. She raised her family that way.

She will, above all, be missed for her devotion to the family, for her faith, for her abiding love for her family and, certainly, for her abiding love of Greece and of Canada. She was a remarkable Canadian.

Thank you very much, Thia Ritsa, for everything.

Fuel Taxes

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling. Filling up the car to get the kids to school and to get to work is becoming a stress for Canadian families. Conservatives have put forward a plan to put money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadians, which is to suspend all federal taxes on fuel, saving roughly 25¢ a litre, which would be over $1,200 a year saved for a family of four.

Now, the Prime Minister wants to pretend that full relief would somehow blow a hole in the deficit. That is simply not true. Even the Liberals' own former economic adviser Tyler Meredith estimated that, for every $10 increase in oil prices, there is roughly $2 billion in extra federal revenue.

With the extra increase in federal revenue coming from rising oil prices, all we are asking the Liberals to do is give back the money that they did not earn. Canadians are already paying about 20% more than Americans at the pumps, despite the fact that they are facing the same global pressures. Families here are paying more, and Liberal taxes are to blame. Why will the Liberal government not give Canadians the full relief that they need at the pumps?

Member for Terrebonne

[Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Liberal, Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to highlight a remarkable victory that is breathing new life into our community. In Terrebonne, Tatiana Auguste has distinguished herself, proving that talent, determination and hard work lead to great results.

Through her dedication and perseverance, she has become a source of inspiration. This success is not hers alone. It also belongs to a proud, dynamic, and supportive community. It also reminds us that behind every success lies tireless effort and a deep commitment to excellence. In a world full of challenges, stories like this remind us of the importance of believing in our abilities and pursuing our dreams with confidence.

On behalf of the House, I would like to offer her my heartfelt congratulations and wish her every success.

The Economy

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, facts are facts. Canadians do not live in the world of advertising. They live in the real world, which is becoming increasingly difficult. Indeed, 60% of Canadians are saying that price increases are giving them financial whiplash. The rising costs of essentials like gas and food are putting significant strain on the finances of 75% of Canadians. In addition, 40% of Canadians are afraid of losing their jobs.

Why do the Liberals keep taxing Canadians and spending their money on their ideological agenda or, worse, handing out cheques worth mere crumbs to improve Canadians' purchasing power, when it was in fact their own money that was taken from their pockets?

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

Mr. Speaker, what is ideological about our decision to lower the price of groceries, lower the price of oil and lower taxes in this country? On the contrary, it is pragmatic. That is exactly what we are doing as a federal government, as the Liberal Party. We know that Canadians need help. That is why we are here.

Not only that, but we have some good news. In the meantime, wage growth in Canada has outpaced, if not doubled, the rate of inflation. Our plan is working.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I received the following message from Anthony. His words clearly illustrate the reality facing our young people.

I am 23 years old and have been working as a carpenter for four years now. I still live with my parents and I'm very lucky. I don't dare hope that I'll ever own my own home. Not having my own place also means giving up on the idea of starting a family.

I receive dozens of messages like this every week, and it shows that our young people have lost hope.

Why, after 11 years of Liberal policies, is everything more expensive? Why are our young people losing hope for the future in a country that is as wealthy as Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will be there for Anthony; we will be there for all young people across the country.

That is why, today, the Prime Minister is meeting with the Premier of Quebec, because we will be there to help build more homes across Quebec and across the country. That is also why we have eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers. That is also why we are here to support young families.

Meanwhile, what are the Conservatives doing? They are voting against all the measures currently in place to help young people across the country.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if we were to listen to the Liberals, we would think that Canada is going through some kind of an economic boom. The reality is so far from that truth, as 43% of Canadians are now saying that they are within $200 of not being able to make ends meet. This is despite all of the programs they continuously announce and reannounce. This is despite doubling the deficit.

When will the Liberals realize that, whatever medicine they are trying to give to fix the Canadian economy, it is not working?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the question is about more or less. The Conservatives want us to believe that they would actually do more for Canadians but, every chance they get, they would do less. They would do less on child care. They would do less on dental care. They would do less of an income tax cut. They would do less investing in infrastructure, less investing in housing and less investing in defence.

In every category growing the economy and helping Canadians get through tough times, they would do much less than the government does. That is clear from their voting record, and it is clear from the things they say in the House. Canadians will not be manipulated.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if we want to talk about manipulation, manipulation is telling Canadians that they have never had it so good. It is the definition of gaslighting. That is what the Liberals do every single day in the House of Commons. They deny the facts.

Members can think about it, as 43% of Canadians are saying they are within $200 of not being able to make ends meet. That is one minor car repair. That is one tiny repair to their house. They are then on the verge of going bankrupt. This is what 10 years of Liberal policies, which have doubled the deficit, have done.

When will they realize that whatever they are trying to do is not working?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can rest assured that the Conservatives would do much less in every category. They pretend, in the House, to say that they would do more.

Let us just take food prices for example. We have cut, just recently, 10¢ per litre off gasoline at the pump. That is in addition to 18¢ cut earlier in this government's mandate. That is 28¢ per litre, which is more than what the Conservatives have proposed.

We have moved forward with the groceries and essentials benefit, which is worth almost $1,900 for the average Canadian family. The national school food program—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

Taxation

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this government can continue to make false claims, or it can actually take real action on behalf of Canadians.

The reality is that single moms are struggling, families are struggling and seniors are struggling just to be able to make ends meet. Sixty-four per cent of them say that they are working harder but still falling further behind. That is not the type of Canada that we want, and I think, I would hope at least, we would all agree to that.

We put forward a proposal to take off 25¢ per litre at the pump. This government responded by taking an itty-bitty little amount, 10¢ per litre, off at the pump, which means, really, no savings at all, because this summer gas prices will be increased by 10¢ a litre at the pump.

Why would this government not take Canadians seriously and actually give them a real break?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is talking about what is false. Let me tell her what is true.

This Monday, a federal break on the excise tax on fuel comes into effect, which is going to save Canadians 10¢ at the pump. That is true. That is on Monday. Canadians are going to feel that when they pull into the gas station.

The Conservatives can stand up and they can rail against the programs that we are legitimately putting in place to help Canadians, but they stand up in opposition to them every single time.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member is willing to recognize that they have agreed to take only 10¢ a litre off at the pump. Meanwhile, summer gas prices will go up by 10¢ a litre, which means that, really, Canadians are saving absolutely nothing.

Meanwhile, the Conservative plan was to take off 25¢ a litre at the pump. That is real savings. That makes a real difference. That is what Canadians want.

Will the Liberals take Canadians seriously and actually make a real difference? Axe the tax.

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite should know, the combined effect of what the Liberals have done is that we have actually saved Canadians 28¢ at the pump when we cancelled the carbon tax and now, as of Monday, with an additional 10¢ that we are taking off because of the removal of the federal excise tax.

Being in government gives us the privilege and the honour of serving Canadians to make a real difference in their lives. These are real policies that are going to hit Canadians' wallets at a time when we know they are concerned about affordability.

Justice

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during a ceremony held yesterday to commemorate the repatriation of the Constitution—an event known in Quebec as the night of the long knives—the Minister of Justice dropped a bomb. He announced that no matter which way the Supreme Court rules on the notwithstanding clause, he will take action to constrain it before the court even renders its decision.

He announced that if Quebec is unhappy about it, he will attack Quebec's powers. Does he think he can bend Quebec's democracy to his will? Who does he think he is?

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice's comments will always support the fact that this government is the party of the charter. We are always going to protect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, just a few hours before the new Premier of Quebec's first visit, the Minister of Justice announced that he would be cracking down on the notwithstanding clause. He is going to limit the right of Quebec's elected officials to pass laws that Quebeckers voted for. He is going to target secularism, the protection of the French language and all of our societal choices that are different from those of Canada.

Is that how Quebec deserves to be welcomed to Ottawa?

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

Mr. Speaker, here is some good news. The Premier of Quebec is indeed in town, and we are going to work together to defend Quebeckers and Canadians. We will do so knowing that we are proud to have a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that has been in effect for over 40 years and that has protected Quebeckers and Canadians since the Constitution was repatriated.