Debates of April 24th, 2026

Strong and Free Elections Act

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the member's comments, especially in regard to AI, deepfakes and so on. It is important for us to recognize that the legislation is in no way meant to have a censorship of sorts. In fact, we want to protect the integrity of our democratic system. That is what this legislation is all about. Given technological advances, AI and mischievous characters, whether it is an individual or another state, this type of legislation is needed.

I wonder if the member could provide further thoughts as to why it is important that we address the changes in technology we have witnessed over the last number of years.

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, something I feel really strongly about is that this piece of legislation is for the next generation of Canadians. It is for our children. One of the big fears I have is not taking action on the emerging threats we are seeing and, when my son, who is currently 11, goes to vote for the first time seven years from now, he is living in a Canada that has not addressed the issue of deepfakes, so he is living in a Canada where it is difficult to know what is real and what is not real.

I am very happy to see there might be bipartisan support for this piece of legislation, because I do feel this is incredibly important, not just for us, but for future generations, in safeguarding our electoral process.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, does it not occur to my friend from Vaudreuil that it is time to revisit what Jean Chrétien put forward as the most advanced financing laws in Canada, and there have been other points made by other members, to encourage Canadians to vote and to give people a reason to vote, even if they are in a so-called safe riding for a party they do not favour, and restore the per vote support?

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

We will need to find out after Statements by Members and question period what the member thinks about that.

Yukon Tourism

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact that when someone visits the Yukon, they will come back. In fact, they may never leave. There are raw adventures, like the gruelling Arctic Ultra in 40 below, or the luxury of viewing northern lights from a fire-warmed cabin. We have it all, and we have it for anyone: hot springs, dog-sledding, kayaking, hiking, or paddling downriver to Dawson City to take in the show at Diamond Tooth Gerties after a soak in the spa.

Sharing this extraordinary scenery, culture and community with the world is an important part of our local economy. Tourism represents close to 5% of the territory's GDP, and the industry is still growing.

I am proud of the investments our government has made toward Yukon tourism, including funding for Josie's Old Crow Adventures, alpine glamping, wellness on the land, the MacBride Museum and many more.

On this final day of National Tourism Week, led by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, I salute and thank the operators, guides, entrepreneurs, artists and community leaders who make every visit to the Yukon an unforgettable experience.

Alvie Burden

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay homage to World War II veteran Alvie Burden. Alvie was a resident of Armstrong, British Columbia, and was not only Armstrong's oldest veteran but also Canada's oldest Black veteran of the Second World War.

Born in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, in 1922, Alvie Burden joined the Canadian Forces at the age of 19 and was posted to the Saskatoon Light Infantry regiment. Alvie served more than 21 months in the Italian and Dutch campaigns and was the only Black member of his company. In Italy, Alvie Burden was nearly killed in action by shrapnel wounds to his head and wrists. Thankfully, Alvie made his recovery, lived on and helped younger generations understand the realities of war, until he passed on March 26 at the age of 104 years old.

Alvie Burden's service reminds us today of the sacrifices that members of the Canadian Armed Forces have made and continue to make on our behalf. Lest we forget.

Medhat Sabet Mahdy

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is grounded in six core values: inclusiveness, integrity, kindness, optimism, respect and well-being. Once in a lifetime, we may encounter someone who truly lives and breathes these ideals.

Medhat Sabet Mahdy, the former president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto, was one of those rare individuals. Earlier this month, sadly, he passed away. He was an inspiring community builder who was named to the Order of Canada in recognition of his more than 50 years serving the YMCA, which he transformed into a place for social infrastructure and health equity. He championed causes like combatting anti-Black racism and youth homelessness and expanding child care centres.

His impact on Scarborough—Agincourt is ongoing through his work on the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre, a project that, when completed, will serve as a physical embodiment of his vision, compassion and unwavering commitment. Medhat's life's work will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Smile on.

National Volunteer Week

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Volunteer Week, I want to thank the remarkable people who are the heart of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes: our volunteers.

These are people like Chief Fire Prevention Officer Brent Norton, with 45 years of service, and Captain John Houston, with 30 years of service, both as firefighters with the Prescott Fire Department; North Grenville's volunteer of the year, Victor Desroches; Wendy Galloway, who received a lifetime volunteer achievement award from the Brockville Chamber of Commerce; and Tye Carswell of the Gananoque Minor Hockey Association.

Whether they are volunteering at the Delta Maple Syrup Festival, the Spencerville Fair, the Cardinal LabourFest or the Athens Cornfest; with the Brockville or Gananoque food banks, the Westport Legion or Senior Support Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville; or with churches, historical societies, agricultural societies and more from Rideau Lakes to Front of Yonge, I want to thank every volunteer in our community. They are the foundation of this incredible community that I am proud to serve and that we share as our home.

Recognition of Vaudreuil Students

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible students being honoured at this year's Montérégie West Community Network youth gala, an annual event that celebrates anglophone students in my community of Vaudreuil who demonstrate perseverance, excellence and leadership in their schools and in their community. These young people have worked hard to overcome challenges and stay focused on their goals. Their determination and commitment set a strong example for their peers and remind us of the important role youth play in shaping our collective future.

I want to thank the organizers, teachers, principals, parents, mentors and caregivers who support these students each and every day and help create opportunities for them to succeed. Without their guidance and love, these students simply could not reach their full potential.

I am proud of the students being honoured, and our community of Vaudreuil is proud of them too. They have worked hard, and in their own way, they have made their mark. Their dedication inspires us all, and I wish them every success in the years ahead. I have no doubt this is just the beginning of wonderful things to come.

Government Policies

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is one year into the Liberal government's mandate. That means it is report card time.

Let us have a look at how the Liberals are doing: negotiating a trade deal with the United States, fail; making housing more affordable, fail; addressing the rising cost of living, fail; lowering government spending, fail; getting immigration under control, fail.

Across the board, the Liberal government has earned a failing grade, but it is not the Liberals being held back, it is Canadians. The young couple who cannot afford a first home, the auto worker whose shift got cut, the small business owner who woke up to a 25% tariff and the farmer with nowhere to sell are all being held back.

The Prime Minister wants to talk about forward guidance. How about he starts by looking back at 365 days of failure and the impact that has had on Canadians?

National Volunteer Week

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Volunteer Week, a time to honour those who make our communities stronger, kinder and more connected.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of recognizing outstanding volunteers and community leaders through monthly spotlights and community leadership awards, individuals like Jocelyn Hynes, Maranne Currie, Whitney Green, Steve and Gina Deveaux, Christina Lamey, Dennis Shea, Matt MacDonald, Angie MacDonald-Fraser, Heather Kerr and Faith Dillon, along with groups like the Cape Breton University hockey team and the volunteers of St. George's church.

Their compassion and dedication remind us that meaningful change begins at the community level. I invite all members to join me in thanking the volunteers of Sydney—Glace Bay and volunteers across Canada for all they do.

Resource Development

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, today the Liberals want people to believe that they are in favour of pipelines, but it is all an illusion. Not so long ago, they declared that there was no business case for LNG development. The Liberal Prime Minister still has not gotten rid of the Liberals' antidevelopment laws.

In my home province of Saskatchewan, natural resource development is not an abstract. It makes up 10% to 15% of the provincial government's budget. It pays for hospitals, schools, roads and social services. As a landlocked province, Saskatchewan cannot prosper from these resources without pipelines.

For over a decade, the Liberal government has been all talk and no action on resource development. In the face of global trade threats, when will the Liberal government get serious about resource development? Instead of more recycled speeches and photo ops, we need to get shovels in the ground quickly for oil and gas infrastructure, to build strength at home and unbreakable leverage abroad.

National Volunteer Week

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the 52nd edition of National Volunteer Week draws to a close, it is with pride and gratitude that I wish to highlight the commitment of those who give so generously.

Helping a neighbour, supporting an elderly person, delivering a meal, providing transportation to a medical appointment, cooking, providing assistance, supporting, loving: That is what volunteering is all about. Without these guardian angels, countless people would be isolated, a huge number of young people would have no one to rely on, and many amateur sports would cease to exist. Being a volunteer means finding fulfilment through selfless giving; it means spreading smiles; it means sowing and reaping moments of happiness.

A great many organizations rely on volunteers, and I would particularly like to pay tribute to the volunteer centres that coordinate these generous efforts in D'Autray, Maskinongé, Matawini and throughout Quebec. Volunteers are the light that shines at the heart of our communities. I want to thank them for their daily dedication.

Charity Basketball Tournament

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, you missed an amazing basketball game this Wednesday. The all-party basketball team made up of MPs and staff was victorious yet again this year, by just two points, against the parliamentary press team. It was done to support Christie Lake Kids, which is an incredible charity in my community of Ottawa Centre that provides recreational supports for so many kids in our community. The charity basketball tournament this year raised $20,000. It is just incredible.

I want to give a special shout-out to our teammates, the hon. members for Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, La Prairie—Atateken, Sackville—Bedford—Preston, Victoria, Whitby, Honoré-Mercier and Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River. These were incredible players.

I also thank all of the parliamentary press gallery members, the sponsors, the volunteers, the staff and the Christie Lake Kids staff team for making this such an incredible event.

Auto Industry

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am raising the alarm bells about Ontario's auto sector. The sector depends on access to the U.S. market. The sector has paid $5 billion in tariffs over the last year. Passenger, car and light truck exports to the United States are plummeting.

The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association has said, “You cannot have a commercially viable automotive plant in Canada facing tariffs of that size.”

Toyota has said that tariffs have made manufacturing in Ontario “unsustainable”.

However, the government has given no date for formal negotiations on section 232 tariffs, unlike Mexico, and no explanation for the decision to go slow on the tariff negotiations. The auto sector and its workers are worried about the status quo. They need to know when tariff relief is in sight. Bleeding $5 billion a year is unsustainable. Something is going to break. The auto sector is running out of time while the government goes slow on its approach to the tariff negotiations.

Port of Churchill

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's Prime Minister and this government believe in big projects. We understand the benefits of having jobs and building the strongest and healthiest economy in the G7.

I stand today because of the potential of the port of Churchill, which will connect the prairie provinces to the Atlantic Ocean directly. The potential is there. It is real. It is tangible.

We look to the Prime Minister, the premier of the province, the indigenous communities and the leadership to understand the value of the port of Churchill not only to Manitoba but to all of Canada.

I ask all parliamentarians to get onside and recognize the true value of these major projects.

Government Priorities

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' recently manufactured majority is starting to settle in. All of a sudden, they can move fast when it comes to grabbing control of committees to prevent scrutiny of their behaviour. The ethics, public accounts, and operations and estimates committees are important to ensure the public can trust that power is not being abused, and they are at risk of being taken over by the Liberals.

We never seem to have to look very far for glaring examples of why oversight is so important. There was the software scandal with almost $300 million wasted on failed e-prescribing. The program did not work. This latest boondoggle makes the ArriveCAN scandal look like a warm-up act.

While the Liberals complain about two-tier health care, they keep defending the $275 million spent on health care benefits for fake asylum claimants, benefits that Canadians do not have access to. This is Liberal logic.

Finally, I hope, as the week is not over, the Liberals are turning a gravel pit into a money pit, with $200 million spent for Liberal insiders to get rich, and they say that they are just getting started.

Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share some news that is great for Canada and for the Canadian Armed Forces. We confirmed this week that Canadian Armed Forces recruitment has reached its highest level in 30 years. The number of applications has more than doubled over the past year, reaching over 45,000.

On top of that, we have recruited 7,310 regular force members, surpassing our target. Our soldiers, sailors and aviators do important and incredible work. We need more of them. The Canadian Armed Forces' continued recruiting success signals much more than progress. It reflects a renewed strength at the core of our military. Our government is proud to reinvest in our forces to rearm them and rebuild them.

Food Security

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week our local food bank held a volunteer appreciation day to thank its supporters for the role they play in helping to address and solve issues of affordability within our community.

Project Share has been providing emergency food and support services to residents of Niagara Falls for more than 30 years. Sadly, more than ever, food banks in Niagara and across this country are being stretched beyond their limits by an affordability crisis caused by the Liberals.

The PM likes to remind himself, and anyone who will listen, that he is the smartest person in the room, yet he doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit and only added inflationary pressures to the economic hardship Canadians face today. On March 25, the PM told Canadians, “Affordability is the best it has been in over a decade”, but the more the Liberals spend, the worse inflation gets and the more Canadians struggle just to get by. If it is the best in over a decade, he should tell that to the two million Canadians who visit a food bank every month and to the 13,000 residents in Niagara Falls who have to—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock.

International Association of Fire Fighters

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

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Ottawa was proud to host the 33rd Canadian Legislative Conference of the International Association of Fire Fighters. This annual gathering brings firefighters from across the country together to engage with parliamentarians and to raise awareness about federal issues that affect both their profession and the communities they serve.

Representatives from the White Rock and Surrey fire departments raised issues directly affecting their members, including increasing the memorial grant program and strengthening protections for communities against lithium battery fires. These courageous first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our residents and respond to emergencies. They are also deeply committed to their communities, raising funds for local charities, supporting families in need and giving back through countless volunteer initiatives.

I thank our firefighters for their courage, their compassion and their unwavering service to our communities.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, with these Liberals, it is more spending, more debt, more inflation and more of the same. They tell Canadians that things are under control, but this Prime Minister doubled Trudeau's deficit, adding $90 billion in net new spending. Now debt interest costs Canadians $55 billion a year, more than we spend on health transfers.

The C.D. Howe Institute says, “Fiscal excess has...undermined economic growth and living standards.” Translation: Reckless Liberal spending is making Canadians poor.

Next week, this government tables its fiscal update. Will it doom Canadians to more of the same?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I know it is Friday, but it seems that my colleague has the wrong QP card. Let me help him, because I think he might want to have some of the facts to send to his constituents.

Just last week, the International Monetary Fund said that Canada has the strongest fiscal position of the G7. That is great news that I hope he is going to bring to his constituents. More than that, Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7. This is extraordinary.

We are going to build this country strong with all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, hot air and no results, more of the same is exactly what Canadians are getting: reckless spending that never stops, billions on consultants, billions on their failed gun grab, billions on high-speed rail and more waste, inflation and pressure on Canadians.

When the Prime Minister says that affordability has never been better, is that what he calls record prices and the worst food inflation in the G7?

Will the Prime Minister cut the waste and bring down his out-of-control spending or is he just another Liberal?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I am just another Liberal fighting for Canadians every day, like all my colleagues.

It is astonishing. I know it is Friday and things are light because there is sunshine in Ottawa, but no results? Just look at what the International Monetary Fund said last week. It said that Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7.

I would like to look at his scorecard.

On this side of the House, we know what matters: fighting for Canadians every day, helping Canadians in need and building Canada strong together.