Debates of April 24th, 2026

Public Safety

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for the excellent work she does to ensure that the government is aware of the public safety issues in her riding.

It was a true pleasure to see my colleagues from all parties at the parliamentary reception of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police where we had a chance to discuss Bill C‑22. It is high time that we equipped our law enforcement agencies with the modern tools they need to effectively fight serious crime, including extortion, child sexual exploitation and money laundering. Law enforcement officials clearly informed us that what they needed—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford.

The Environment

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are over 12 illegal garbage dumps in the Cowichan Valley, many on Cowichan tribes' land. Some are so large they will take years to remediate. Others are polluting the salmon-bearing Cowichan River. For decades, authorities at all levels have turned a blind eye to this environmental disaster and ongoing illegal dumping.

I wrote a letter to the Minister of Indigenous Services weeks ago demanding that the Liberals identify authorities at all levels, hold them responsible for this travesty and take action immediately. There was no response from the minister, no action and no cleanup.

The Liberals claim to be stewards of our land. Is this just another Liberal illusion?

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for looking out for my relatives from the Cowichan tribes. I know they are probably very furious about what is happening. We will work with them and work with others to ensure that no illegal dumping occurs on their property. We will make sure that it stops as soon as possible.

Steel and Aluminum Industry

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, steelworkers were in Ottawa this week reminding the government that steel is the backbone of our economy and our economic sovereignty. The Prime Minister has said that Canada will use Canadian materials in Canadian projects, but Canada does not yet have that capacity.

Will the government take advantage of this incredible opportunity to build Canadian capacity, to grow our industry and to invest in workers? Will the government work with the United Steelworkers to develop and implement the comprehensive steel industrial strategy they are calling for?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that steel is a fundamental strength of the Canadian sector. Our buy Canadian policies are all geared toward using as much Canadian steel as possible. We look forward to working with the United Steelworkers and other industrial unions, as well as employers and businesses, to maximize the use of Canadian steel in Canada.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not listening to steelworkers. The government left USW off its CUSMA advisory council. It also shut out the Canadian Labour Congress and the over three million Canadian workers it represents. Instead, the government gave seats to more than a dozen CEOs, prominent Conservatives and just two labour representatives.

How can the government claim to be there for workers while refusing to give them seats at the table? Will the government expand worker representation before CUSMA negotiations begin, starting with the CLC?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's advisory council includes the president of Unifor. It includes the president of FTQ. Workers' interests will absolutely be represented on the advisory council.

I was proud, just a couple of weeks ago, to visit Sault Ste. Marie, with my incredible colleague from Sault Ste. Marie, to visit Algoma Steel and to meet with the steelworkers to talk about the exciting future of building Canada strong, buying Canadian and seeing that electric arc furnace fired up.

We are going to have a steel industry in Canada—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

That brings question period to an end.

I have a point of order from the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to table a document detailing the cuts Conservatives would make.

[An hon. member]

No.

Notice of Closure Motion

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the consideration of Government Business No. 9, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House a minister of the Crown shall move, pursuant to Standing Order 57, that debate be not further adjourned.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Order. I want to remind members who are walking around that Standing Order 16(2) applies. Members cannot come between the Speaker and the member who will be recognized.

Foreign Affairs

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), and in accordance with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Treaty Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and on Cooperation in the Enforcement of Penal Sentences”, done at Manila on May 22, 2003.

Government Response to Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 24 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of Canadians calling on the government to cease the expansion of medical assistance in dying.

The petitioners believe that advance requests for MAID could lead to undue pressure or coercion. They also believe that offering MAID rather than providing support services devalues those living with chronic conditions. As such, they ask all members of Parliament not to support legislation that expands medical assistance in dying, including advance requests, and suggest that the federal government focus on enhancing palliative and hospice care for Canadians instead.

Agriculture

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present this petition on behalf of farmers across this country who have signed this petition.

They cite that, in January, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced plans to cut 665 positions, primarily scientific, technical and support staff carrying out agricultural research, and close seven research facilities. They cite that the affected positions and facilities are essential to Canadian agriculture, representing an irreplaceable investment in facilities, equipment and highly educated personnel; an irreplaceable knowledge base; essential infrastructure for public plant breeding needed to address critical production challenges to provide ongoing success for farmers and our agricultural economy; and a strategic asset to safeguard Canadians' ability to feed ourselves.

They call on the government to reverse these planned cuts of 665 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada staff and the closure of the organic and regenerative research program at Swift Current and of the Lacombe, Guelph, Quebec City, Indian Head, Scott, Portage la Prairie and Nappan research facilities.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. One is identical to the petition that was just presented by the hon. member. In fact, he basically read the entire text of it, so I will not repeat it.

I have two copies of it signed by a considerable number of people, mostly from the agricultural sector in my constituency.

Rail Transportation

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition relates to the Alto high-speed rail project. I am being flooded by literally thousands of signatures on petitions on this subject.

The petitioners list a series of concerns about the Alto project and have three specific requests for the House of Commons: first, to get the government to immediately cancel the entire Alto high-speed rail project; second, in the event that the Ottawa-Montreal part of the project goes forward, to restrict the ability of Alto to engage in expropriations in the area west of Ottawa, which is not covered in that area, until such time as we can be certain that this part is actually going to be built; third, in the event that expropriations do occur, to restore to property owners the rights they had prior to the changing of those rules, the diminution of their rights in the Alto high-speed rail act.

Religious Freedom

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present another petition from residents of Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies. I believe this is my sixth petition on this issue.

The petition calls on the Government of Canada to reject any amendment to Bill C-9 that removes the religious exemption from Canada's hate speech provisions, to protect Canada's constitutional rights of freedom of religion and freedom of expression and to ensure that legislation does not criminalize good-faith religious discourse and teaching.

Herbicides

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

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting virtually today a petition from very concerned residents and people who have been exposed through their military service to toxic contamination from phenoxy herbicides. This dates back to an era even before Agent Orange was used in Vietnam. Various formulations were tested in the vicinity of Camp Gagetown in New Brunswick.

The petitioners point out that the previous health studies were inadequate and had enormous gaps. They are asking the House and the government to please initiate a public, independent inquiry into the health impacts, on veterans and on neighbouring communities, of the testing of phenoxy herbicides and their widespread use in the vicinity of Camp Gagetown, including the subsequent toxic contamination, as well as the health effects for people who were in the vicinity.

Questions Passed as Orders for Return

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

Mr. Speaker, if the government's response to Questions Nos. 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938 and 939 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand, please.