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House of Commons Hansard #113 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debt.
House of Commons Hansard #113 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debt.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Weights and Measures Act Second reading of Bill S-3. The bill seeks to [modernize trade laws] by updating regulations for digital and electric technologies. While generally supported, opposition members raised concerns regarding potential [bureaucratic overreach] and a lack of accountability. Specifically, Bloc and Conservative MPs highlighted the need for a fair [appeal process] for businesses after sharing anecdotes about negative experiences with Measurement Canada inspectors. It is now headed to committee for study. 10100 words, 1 hour.
Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act Second reading of Bill C-260. The bill, Bill C-260, proposes amending the Criminal Code to prohibit government employees from initiating discussions about medical assistance in dying (MAID) with individuals who have not requested information. Proponents argue this prevents the coercion of vulnerable citizens and veterans. Opponents, including the Liberal party, contend the legislation lacks an evidentiary basis, arguing that existing safeguards and training already address these concerns. 7900 words, 1 hour.
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Kennebecasis, NB
Mr. Speaker, the former prime minister lives rent-free in all of their heads. The current Prime Minister is focused on building an economy for everyone. In yesterday's spring economic update, we announced bold changes to the disability tax credit so more Canadians with disabilities can get the support they need. We also reinvested in the community volunteer income tax program, which is run by volunteers. It does taxes for our most vulnerable, over a million Canadians. Of those, 17% have not filed for—
FinanceOral Questions
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that with the Liberal Prime Minister, just like his Liberal predecessor, Canadians are struggling now more than ever. Groceries, gas and homes have never been more expensive. Members do not have to take my word for it. The Globe and Mail said, in a scathing review, “Canada's New Government is no more interested in arresting our economic decline than Canada's Old Government.” We should be the richest and most affordable country on earth, but instead the Liberals are borrowing today and making Canadians of future generations pay it back.
Why will the Liberals not deliver relief?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, these guys will find any excuse to talk down Canada and talk down investing in Canada, even in a trade war. Our credit rating is the highest in the world. We have just lowered the deficit by $11.5 billion, and we are using that money to invest in Canadians. We are making the largest investments in the skilled trades in our history: 100,000 jobs in the skilled trades. The Conservatives should support it.
Our plan is simple, and I will put it simply: build in Canada, buy in Canada, believe in Canada.
Michael Guglielmin Conservative Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals claimed that in their latest update they would show discipline. Instead, Canadians got more debt, more spending and more of the same. The deficits are now projected to be double Trudeau's and as debt rises, taxpayers pay the price.
Public debt charges are predicted to be more than $54 billion this year, rising to $81 billion in five years. That is money that cannot go to tax relief, cannot go to housing and cannot go to health care. It is no wonder that The Globe and Mail said it is a bit rich for the finance minister to be claiming fiscal responsibility.
When will the Liberal Prime Minister end his costly budgeting so Canadians can afford to live?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, what is a bit rich is the fact that the Conservatives are not defending our auto workers. This spring economic update is all about our auto strategy and supporting our 5,000 auto workers, including those working in the parts sector of the auto sector.
I have good news today. GM just announced, in St. Catharines, more than $690 million of investments in the next generation of engines. This is our plan working.
Parm Bains Liberal Richmond East—Steveston, BC
Mr. Speaker, respecting the spirit of truth and reconciliation, Richmond residents in my hometown are seeking clarity following last summer's Cowichan decision and recent federal agreements with first nations in British Columbia. To dispel the misinformation, it is important that we continue to provide clear, factual information and constructive leadership as Canada moves forward with the important work of advancing reconciliation.
Can the Prime Minister outline the government's position and explain how the government is working collaboratively to uphold reconciliation, while protecting private property rights for residents and businesses?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this is an important question. Private property rights are fundamental, and this government, indeed, this House, will always protect them. This government fundamentally disagrees with the B.C. Supreme Court's decision in Cowichan. We immediately appealed that decision, alongside the Government of B.C., the City of Richmond, and other first nations.
We will always advance viable legal arguments to protect private property. Federal agreements, including agreements about aboriginal title, have always protected and will always protect private property. No modern treaty, negotiated agreement or federal approach—
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
Dan Muys Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday's statement proved nothing has changed: more debt, more costs, more spending, more taxes, more of the same. Canada has the worst housing costs, worst growth and worse food inflation in the G7. As The Globe and Mail said, “This 'New Government' has no interest in arresting our economic decline”.
Why have the Liberals doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit and doubled down on costly credit card budgeting, forcing Canadians to pay more for gas, groceries and housing?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, as we conclude this question period with about 32 identical questions from the Conservative Party straight off of the Leader of the Opposition's desk, let us conclude it this way. Every time we propose what that member purports to want, such as lower costs, lower prices, higher salaries, new dental care or new social programs, every single support, they are against it. We are for it. We are going to go back and do the work of building Canada strong. They are going to go and write a new question for tomorrow.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's decision to end the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires' preferential contracting threatens jobs for veterans who rely on it for stable work after service, while potentially shifting contracts to for-profit firms. For decades, Commissionaires has supported their transition from serving our nation in the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP with dignity.
Why is the Minister of Veterans Affairs moving ahead without any consultation with the commissionaires, and will she instead reverse these arbitrary procurement changes before veterans pay the price?
Jill McKnight LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, government policies must evolve as the goals they speak to change. In 1945, the first right of refusal was designed to respond to the needs of soldiers returning from war. Today, this policy no longer meets the needs of veterans.
Today, the average age of a releasing veteran is 34. They have a range of transferable hard and soft skills. These skills are in demand in the Canadian economy. Guard services will continue to be one option for veterans, and I will continue to advance all options for veterans.
Presence in GalleryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and the Hon. Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities, both for the Province of Alberta.
Presence in GalleryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I would also draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the finalists for the 2026 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing: Don Gillmor, Maggie Helwig, Brian Stewart, Ira Wells and Karin Wells.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, this morning I gave notice with respect to the question of privilege I am raising today. The question arises from the reporting obligations of the Minister of International Trade, specifically the requirement under the order in council that annual reports be tabled in each House of Parliament by the minister.
I am honoured to be one of the co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. We just held a parliamentary briefing with the International Justice and Human Rights Clinic from UBC. At that briefing, we learned from the former ombudsman that the Minister of International Trade has failed to fulfill this obligation to table annual reports from the Canadian ombudsman for responsible enterprise. Not only was one report not reported, but three reports have not been reported.
I want to be clear. What we are discussing here is the annual reports of an entity empowered by the Crown to respond to potential victims of exploitation, forced labour and modern slavery being committed by Canadian companies operating in other countries.
I went to the CORE web page to verify this for myself yesterday, and the last annual report tabled in Parliament was the 2021-22 report tabled on March 22, 2023, by the minister. The former ombudsman confirmed that she sent the 2022-23 annual report to the minister in November 2023. She also confirmed to me that she provided a draft report to the interim ombudsperson at the end of her term in April 2024. That report has never been tabled in Parliament, nor has the 2024-25 report that would have been completed by the interim ombudsperson. Furthermore, the minister has left this position unfilled for over a year, and I doubt we will see a report later this year.
In accordance with Order in Council P.C. 2019-1323, dated September 6, 2019, which establishes the mandate of the CORE, section 13 states:
(1) The Ombudsperson is to submit an annual report to the Minister on their activities.
(2) The Minister is to table [that] annual report in each House of Parliament.
(3) The Ombudsperson is to publish the annual report after it is tabled in Parliament.
This raises concerns regarding the compliance with this order in council, which imposes a clear legal and fiduciary obligation on the minister to table these reports in both Houses each year. If the minister does not table these reports in the House of Commons, the CORE cannot release them publicly.
Furthermore, the failure to ensure timely tabling of these reports limits our ability as members to access this information, required for effective parliamentary oversight of an entity established by the Government of Canada. It also prevents members from engaging the House's established process for scrutiny of these tabled documents.
I recognize that orders in council are not statutes, but they do have force in law. Orders in council are indeed a form of subordinate legislation, deriving their power from a statute, an act of Parliament. In other words, they are legal instruments made by the Governor in Council pursuant to a statutory authority and take legal effect when signed by the Governor General.
There is a clear precedent in supporting this proposition that the failure to comply with the statutory tabling obligations may engage the privileges of this House.
On February 3, 1992, a question of privilege was raised concerning the failure of a minister of finance to table order in council appointments in the House of Commons required under the order of the Customs Tariff. In the ruling on February 5, 1992, at pages 6425 to 6427 of the Debates, Speaker Fraser affirmed, “It is through tabling that Members are officially apprised of the existence of a document....it is not done lightly but is done for a serious purpose.”
Speaker Fraser went on to state that “the tabling of documents...is one of the procedures on which hinges the ability of Members to discharge their functions” and recognized that the failure to table these required documents may impede both members and the standing committees in carrying out their mandate under Standing Order 108(1).
Speaker Fraser also noted that the House is the appropriate forum to address the deficiencies arising from non-compliance with statutory tabling requirements. In that instance, the Chair declined to find a prima facie breach because the matter had already been taken up by the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations.
That circumstance does not exist in the present case. No committee has been seized, however, with the failure to table the CORE annual reports.
As a result, members have been deprived of access to these reports that would have otherwise been subject to parliamentary scrutiny through the House's established procedures, including the referral mechanism contemplated under Standing Order 32(5), which depends on proper tabling in the House.
A further ruling, in 2001, similarly addressed a failure to comply with statutory tabling obligations. In that case, the Chair observed that where statutory deadlines exist, the prima facie finding of contempt would be more readily supportable, as the members' ability to scrutinize the government's action is directly affected by compliance with tabling requirements. The Chair also emphasized that the tabling obligations are central to Parliament's ability to function.
Unlike that circumstance, the present case involves a recurring statutory obligation to table annual reports. The concern here is not an isolated delay but an ongoing failure to ensure that Parliament is kept informed through the mechanism that it established. In this situation, I would remind members, we are discussing annual reports addressing potential situations of exploitation, forced labour and modern-day slavery being committed by Canadian companies operating in other countries.
I am sure every member of the House would agree that we need to have access to these annual reports, which the minister is obligated to table in the House of Commons and has failed to do for three years. The effect of this failure is to limit members' access to information required for effective parliamentary oversight of an entity established by the Government of Canada and to frustrate the operation of the House's own procedures for examining these reports.
It is on this basis that I submit that this matter engages the privileges of the House, Mr. Speaker, and I respectfully ask that you find a prima facie question of privilege, at which point I am prepared to move the appropriate motion.
Ministerial Compliance with Order in CouncilPrivilegeOral Questions
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, on the question of privilege that was raised, we would like to review the comments that the member put on the record and then report back to the House on the matter.
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the Protection of Military and Defence Classified Information”, done in Ottawa on February 25.
Michael Coteau Liberal Scarborough—Woburn, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, entitled “Structural Challenges in Canada's Beef and Pork Supply Chains: Toward Greater Food Sovereignty”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, entitled “Main Estimates 2026-27: Vote 1 under Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Vote 1 under Canadian Energy Regulator, Vote 1 under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under Department of Natural Resources, Vote 1 under Northern Pipeline Agency”.
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House.
If the House gives its consent, I move that the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be concurred in.