I can go on and on.
House of Commons Hansard #108 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaty.
House of Commons Hansard #108 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaty.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
National Strategy for Soil Health Act First reading of Bill S-230. The bill proposes creating a national strategy for soil health preservation, aiming to treat soil as a strategic asset by coordinating research, farming practices, industry, and government efforts across Canada. 200 words.
Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty Act Second reading of Bill C-21. The bill, Bill C-21, seeks to正式 Recognize/debates/2026/4/22/rebecca-alty-1/] the Red River Métis self-government treaty, establishing a government-to-government relationship with the Manitoba Métis Federation. Supporters position it as a [historic milestone in reconciliation, formalizing Métis jurisdiction over internal affairs. Conversely, some opposition members express concerns about the lack of meaningful consultation with other Indigenous groups and warn that the treaty’s legal ambiguity may create jurisdictional conflicts or negatively impact the rights of other affected parties. 17000 words, 2 hours.
Living Donor Recognition Medal Act Report stage of Bill C-234. The bill establishes the Living Donor Recognition Medal to honour those who donate organs. Widely supported by all members, the legislation intends to increase awareness of life-saving transplants needed across Canada. During final consideration, MPs highlighted the profound personal impact of these contributions, after which the House unanimously passed the measure at third reading. 6500 words, 45 minutes.
Corey Tochor Conservative Saskatoon—University, SK
Mr. Speaker, on March 25, the Liberal Prime Minister told Canadians that affordability is the best in decades, but food prices tell a different story. Apples are up more than 48%, fresh vegetables are up 57% and potatoes are up a whopping 60% compared to 2015.
When will the Prime Minister stop making the same promises, end the illusions and deliver results, instead of lecturing Canadians on why they have never had it so good?
Buckley Belanger LiberalSecretary of State (Rural Development)
Mr. Speaker, I want to say that for 10 long years, the Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan told the people of our province that Canada was broken. That was their constant message. I think about the billions of dollars they left on the table because they would not represent Saskatchewan well and would not do the work.
Today, Saskatchewanians on this side of the House are going to help grow Canada, and we are just getting started.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister announced the members of his new advisory committee for the negotiations on a new free trade agreement with the United States. The committee includes people from almost every economic sector, which is a good thing, but we could not help but notice that there are no representatives from Quebec's cultural sector, even though our culture is clearly in Donald Trump's crosshairs.
How can the government justify not inviting anyone from Quebec's cultural sector to join the advisory committee?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalPresident of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade
Mr. Speaker, I have two things to point out to our colleague. He knows full well that in our discussions with the Americans, we are not going to discuss the cultural exemption and we are not going to negotiate on this matter. It will not be on the table and it is not on the table. He knows full well that there is no chance of this kind of discussion taking place at the negotiating table with the Americans.
Personally, I am very proud of the Quebeckers and other Canadians who have agreed to serve on our advisory committee on a volunteer basis. There are people from the cultural sector, and there are plenty of people from Quebec. I am really looking forward to working with them.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, people from the cultural sector are included, but none are from Quebec. There are plenty of good people on this committee. We are not questioning their qualifications. We are questioning the absence of a representative from Quebec's cultural sector. Quebec culture is being threatened by globalization. Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ leave very little room for our creators. Advertising revenues have dried up, and our television and film industry is paying the price, as Quebec producers have noted.
On top of that, Donald Trump wants to go after the cultural exemption in the next free trade agreement. He is not even hiding it. The cultural sector does not understand this, and neither do we.
Is there anyone in this government who can explain why the Prime Minister did not appoint someone to stand up for Quebec culture on this committee?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois member is well aware that the cultural sector is not on the negotiating table. However, I hope he is not accusing Jean Charest of lacking culture or, more importantly, saying that Magali Picard does not represent the cultural sector. He cannot be serious.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is completely out of touch with the real world. It is high time he came back down to earth.
On March 25, he had the nerve to say that affordability is the the best it has been in a decade. Was he serious? I do my weekly grocery run and talk to people at the checkout. I can tell the House one thing: No one is breathing easier as they watch the total going up. Families are cutting back on spending, counting every penny and worrying about how much it will all cost.
Why does the Prime Minister keep lecturing Canadians by telling them that everything is fine, when everyone knows that is not true?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows full well, having been here for several years, that he has consistently voted against the Canada child benefit, against school meals, against the Canadian dental care plan, and against both the one-off and sometimes permanent assistance we have offered to Canadians specifically to tackle the issue of affordability. We acknowledge that affordability is an issue; it is the reality.
Why are the member and his colleagues so determined to reject any assistance we propose for the most vulnerable Canadians?
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, if everything is going so well, then why are food banks overflowing with young dual-income families? If everything is going so well, then why have all these measures not fixed the cost-of-living problem in Canada? If everything is going so well, then why does the government have to pay so every family can make ends meet? It makes no sense.
It is pathetic to watch the Liberals applauding all these measures when we know that families cannot make ends meet, that rents are higher, and that gas is more expensive. It is almost $2 a litre in Thetford Mines. When will the Prime Minister stop being so arrogant and acknowledge the true reality of what Canadian families are going through?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, dental care is not pathetic. School meal assistance is far from pathetic. The Canada child benefit is far from pathetic. It is far from pathetic that this government offered a 10¢-per-litre savings on gasoline and diesel this week. The member rejects any assistance and then accuses us of doing nothing.
Why do this member and his colleagues not stand up and speak out against their leader to demand the same assistance that we are offering—
The EconomyOral Questions
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, what is pathetic is seeing the Liberal Prime Minister stand up and say something that could not be further from the truth. On March 25, the Prime Minister said that affordability is the best it has been in a decade.
Where is the Prime Minister when we know that what he said about the past 10 years is really not true? In the past 10 years, rents have doubled. In the past 10 years, what has happened to housing prices? They have gone up 67%. In the past 10 years, the number of people using food banks has doubled. Those are the facts.
Why is the Prime Minister saying something completely out of touch with reality when families are struggling?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, repeating a falsehood day after day during question period does not make it true. This Prime Minister and this government have always recognized the affordability challenges Canadians are facing. That is why the first thing we did was lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. That is why one of the first things we did was eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers. That is why we have impactful programs like the Canada child benefit and the Canadian dental care plan.
I see that my colleague is rising to ask me another question. In my second answer, I will gladly remind him how many people in his riding are receiving help through these programs.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Mr. Speaker, it gives me no pleasure to tell my colleague that two million Canadians are using food banks every month. It is a proven fact that Canada has the worst food inflation for the fourth month in a row. What is true is that, compared to the past 10 years, beef now costs 69% more, vegetables now cost 57% more and chicken costs 43% more. That is insane.
What is completely false is what the Prime Minister said when he said that affordability is the best it has been in a decade.
Is the minister prepared to contradict his Prime Minister, who uttered a falsehood?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, what is true is that this member opposes the Canadian dental care plan, which is helping 20,545 Canadians in his riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. What is true is that this member opposes the Canada child benefit, which is sending $73 million to more than 10,000 families in his riding. What is true is that he opposes the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which helps the most vulnerable Canadians at a time when they are facing a higher cost of living, with up to $1,800 per family. Shame on him.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, on March 25, the Prime Minister told Canadians that the cost of living is better than it has been in a decade. I would like to remind him that, since 2015, the average price of homes has gone up by 51%, the price of food has gone up by 42% and the price of gas has gone up by 62%. What is more, the data confirms that food inflation in Canada remains the highest in the G7.
When will the Prime Minister stop lecturing people and start producing meaningful results?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, meaningful results is having lifted one million children out of poverty over the past 10 years. That is concrete evidence.
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, in Waterloo, UWaterloo grads are turning Canadian research into real-world solutions. KA Imaging's advanced X-ray technology is improving diagnostic accuracy, creating skilled jobs locally and helping clinicians make better decisions for patients. Its portable X-ray technology is being used in Canadian hospitals and globally in remote rural clinics in Kenya, Nigeria and 12 other export markets.
Will the government share how we are supporting innovators like this in Waterloo, across Canada and around the world that are improving global health outcomes and saving lives of women and children?
Randeep Sarai LiberalSecretary of State (International Development)
Mr. Speaker, another unique feature of the Waterloo region is how technology intersects development. KA Imaging is a great example of how Canadian innovation can have an impact both domestically and globally.
Through Grand Challenges Canada, our government supports innovators that are developing and scaling solutions to some of the world's most pressing health challenges, from improving maternal and newborn care to strengthening health systems in challenging contexts. Our government reaffirmed our support for GCC to ensure that Canadian innovators continue to turn bold ideas into life-saving solutions.
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General found massive security screening failures with people allowed into Canada by the Liberal government.
Ahmed Eldidi entered Canada on a visitor visa. The Liberals let him in despite a 2015 ISIS propaganda video showing him participating in a brutal beheading-style attack. This guy is just one of many, as the same porous Liberal vetting process has allowed hundreds of IRGC agents into our communities.
Will the Liberals support the Conservative request for the Auditor General to audit all immigration screening processes, yes or no?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, every individual who applies to come to Canada is thoroughly reviewed for security. Our law enforcement agencies, including CSIS and CBSA, undertake a thorough check before documents are issued. When they are in Canada and are deemed to be inadmissible, CBSA enforces those removals.
Last year, we removed over 22,000 individuals for inadmissibility, the highest number in recent history.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when confronted with cases of non-citizens convicted of serious crimes getting sentence discounts to dodge deportation, the former Liberal immigration minister claimed there was no rule requiring judges to do this.
However, now a Quebec judge has exposed the truth, warning that judges and prosecutors across Canada are doing exactly that. If a person does the crime, they should do the time, but Canadians are paying the price as convicted foreign nationals are receiving discounted sentences due to their immigration status.
If the former Liberal immigration minister knew this loophole was being abused, why did he vote against our Conservative bill to stop the abuse so that there is one law for all?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that serious crimes need to be met with serious penalties. I am pleased to inform the hon. member that the case law in Canada makes sure that judges may not completely distort a sentence so that it would not be fit for the crime committed.
It is essential that as we ensure we have more serious penalties, particularly for the most violent offenders, we also allow our court system to operate independently. I am proud to live in a country that is governed by the rule of law. I hope the same is true for all members of this House.
