House of Commons Hansard #109 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was majority.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Military Justice System Modernization Act Report stage of Bill C-11. The bill seeks to modernize the military justice system by transferring jurisdiction over sexual offences to civilian courts, a move Liberals describe as crucial institutional reform. Conversely, Conservatives and the Bloc argue the legislation removes essential options for victims. They advocate for amendments to ensure victim choice between systems, contending that the government is ignoring concerns regarding capacity within civilian police and failing to listen to survivor testimony presented during committee. 32800 words, 4 hours.
Government Business No. 9—Changes to Standing Orders Members debate Government Motion No. 9, proposing expanded committee sizes to ensure a government majority. Liberal members argue this reflects parliamentary tradition, while opposition MPs, including Andrew Scheer and Yves Perron, contend the change stifles accountability and ignores election results. Critics argue the government seeks to evade scrutiny on key issues, and John Brassard introduces an amendment to preserve the composition of specific oversight committees. 19100 words, 2 hours.
National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act Second reading of Bill C-266. The bill proposes a national framework to harmonize skilled trades certification and improve labour mobility. Liberals argue it will boost economic efficiency. Conservatives, however, accuse the government of attacking trades workers through recent funding policies, while the Bloc Québécois rejects the legislation, claiming it constitutes federal encroachment on Quebec jurisdiction regarding labour training. 7700 words, 1 hour.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, let me help the Leader of the Opposition. He has no doubt seen that we have always been there for Canadians with our affordability measures. Recently, we suspended the federal gas tax. The suspension is in effect, and the price at the pump has dropped.
On this side of the House, we will always be there for Canadians in their time of need. Together, we will build Canada strong.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, my question was for the Prime Minister, who is in Ottawa today but is hiding under the desk. He does not want to answer—
FinanceOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I did not hear the end of the Leader of the Opposition's sentence, but I assume he was not referring to the presence or absence of a member. I imagine it was more general than that.
The hon. Leader of the Opposition may carry on with his question.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, the reason the Prime Minister hates answering real questions is that it breaks the illusion. Although he would have us believe otherwise, he doubled the deficit Justin Trudeau left us. It is unbelievable. Trudeau left behind a $40‑billion deficit. The deficit is now almost $80 billion.
Will he cut back on the bureaucracy, the corporate welfare, the tax havens and other waste to bring down his out-of-control deficit?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition certainly is here. One thing I can say is that, as the days go by, the questions remain the same.
One thing that is true is that we have the most—
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, I think the members on that side would do well to listen because Canadians are listening.
Canada's growth is the second-fastest in the G7. The International Monetary Fund just confirmed that Canada's fiscal position is the strongest. On Tuesday, we will be presenting Canadians with a plan to build a strong Canada together.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, with the Liberal Prime Minister, it is more cost, more crime and more corruption, more of the same. That is because, despite the illusions, he is just another Liberal. This is true with gas taxes.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, yes, they are applauding. The Prime Minister is just another Liberal. He is keeping two-thirds of the gas tax in place while Canadians get ripped off at the pump with the carbon tax, which he calls the clean fuel standard, and the GST at 15¢ a litre.
Will the Prime Minister stop gouging Canadians at the pump and get rid of all taxes for all the year, or is he just another Liberal?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, it is more of the same. I think the Leader of the Opposition should look at himself in the mirror. Every other day it is the same question, but one thing Canadians know is that we are always going to have their back.
When it was time to present the grocery rebate, the Leader of the Opposition was nowhere to be seen. When it was time to give a gas tax rebate, he was nowhere to be seen. On this side of the House, we will always stand with Canadians, and on Tuesday we will present a plan to build Canada strong together. That is leadership.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister hides under his desk instead of answering questions, because whether it is today when he was snarling at a female journalist for simply asking a question, or in the House of Commons where he hides from those same questions, he knows that as soon as he faces a tough question, it exposes the thinly veiled illusion and that the reality is that he is just another Liberal. He has doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit, the biggest deficit in Canadian history outside Covid, because of massive increases in spending.
Will the Prime Minister cut back on the bureaucracy, the waste and the tax havens to bring down his out-of-control deficit for Canada?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, if being just another Liberal means that we support single mothers with the cost of child care, then I am just another Liberal. If being just another Liberal means that we help ensure that kids get food to eat in schools, then I am just another Liberal. If making sure that skilled tradespeople get the training to get those prosperous jobs, or investing in major projects, is being a Liberal, then I am just another Liberal.
I guess the question is this: What do Conservatives really stand for if being Liberal is about helping Canadians?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we now understand why the Liberal Prime Minister is fleeing from questions today, refusing to face accountability. If doubling the deficit to the worst in Canadian history outside COVID means being just another Liberal, he is just another Liberal. If giving Canadians the worst food price inflation in the G7 means being just another Liberal, he is just another Liberal. If doubling housing costs so an entire generation cannot afford homes means being just another Liberal, he is just another Liberal. If sending 2.2 million people to a food bank means being just another Liberal, he is just another Liberal.
Is that not why the “just another Liberal” will not stand in the House—
The EconomyOral Questions
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, let us try this another way. If being Conservative means voting against hungry kids, I guess the Leader of the Opposition is just another Conservative. If being a member of the Conservative Party means voting against workers, trades, GST tax credits, tax on fuel and doubling down on—
The EconomyOral Questions
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I know that there are a lot of Conservative voters out there, even in my own riding, who come up to me every single day. Do members know what they say to me? They say to keep going, to keep fighting for our workers, to keep fighting for our kids and to keep fighting for our families. That is why I am proud to be just another Liberal.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, from imaginary conversations with the minister to illusions from a Prime Minister who hides under his desk rather than being accountable in the House of Commons, one could cut through the Liberal arrogance with a knife. What we cannot cut is the Liberal deficit.
Amazingly, Justin Trudeau left behind a $40-billion deficit. We thought it could not get worse, but along came the current Liberal Prime Minister, and he nearly doubled it to $80 billion. Just like he caused inflation when he printed money in Great Britain, he is causing inflation now.
Will the Prime Minister, who has been wrong about every single economic issue, learn from his mistakes and reverse the deficit?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. Let me be very clear. While the Leader of the Opposition is talking down the Canadian economy, the International Monetary Fund said some things last week: Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7, Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7, and Canada has attracted record direct investment in the country.
This is being a Liberal in the 21st century: building a strong Canada, attracting investment, and sound fiscal policy. We are proud to be Liberal.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will be celebrating the first anniversary of his election on April 28 with an economic update. He promised to resolve the tariff crisis quickly, but it is hitting harder than ever—
The EconomyOral Questions
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear the applause.
The Prime Minister will be celebrating the first anniversary of his election on April 28 with an economic update. He promised to resolve the tariff crisis quickly. However, it is hitting harder than ever, with new tariffs on the total value of processed products.
The Bloc Québécois has laid out what we expect in terms of better support for Quebec's economy. First and foremost, we are calling for a wage subsidy to protect jobs in businesses threatened by tariffs, especially SMEs.
Will the government adopt this vital proposal?