House of Commons Hansard #121 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was affordability.

Topics

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Criminal Code Second reading of Bill S-233. The bill proposes making assaults against health care workers and first responders an aggravating sentencing factor. Conservatives emphasize the urgent need for protection against rising violence, criticizing past legislative delays. A Liberal representative welcomes the goals but notes broader government sentencing reforms, while the Bloc Québécois supports the bill while also advocating for increased health transfers to address systemic issues. 8600 words, 1 hour.

Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) invokes Standing Order 69.1 to request a separate vote on division 17 of Bill C-31, arguing that its substantial amendments to the Canada Transportation Act are unrelated to the budget. 500 words.

Bill C-30—Time Allocation Motion Members debate a Liberal motion limiting discussion on Bill C-30. Conservative and Bloc MPs criticize the use of time allocation as a tactic to stifle debate and avoid scrutiny regarding national debt. The government defends the move, insisting that expedited passing is necessary to deliver critical affordability measures and economic support to Canadians before the parliamentary summer break. 5100 words, 30 minutes.

Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act Second reading of Bill C-30. The bill implements provisions from the spring economic update. Liberal members argue the measures provide essential affordability supports and infrastructure investment, framing them as fiscally responsible. Conversely, Conservatives characterize the legislation as a collection of short-term gimmicks that fail to address reckless government spending. Meanwhile, the Bloc Québécois and NDP highlight significant gaps, criticizing a lack of support for regional businesses and arguing the current government is taking progressives for granted. 31100 words, 4 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives call for removing fuel taxes to address inflation and high energy prices. They condemn the tripled streaming tax and rising crime and extortion. Furthermore, they push for protecting private property rights in British Columbia and criticize job losses, wasteful spending, and the Immigration Minister’s performance.
The Liberals focus on affordability measures, such as suspending fuel taxes and dental care. They highlight grocery benefits, investments in skilled trades, and aerospace manufacturing. Furthermore, they defend private property rights in British Columbia, address extortion networks, and collaborate with provinces to counter U.S. tariff threats.
The Bloc denounces the Clarity Act as undemocratic interference and demands its repeal. They also condemn the approval of a new oil pipeline, accusing the Prime Minister of being an environmental sellout.
The NDP condemns the government for abandoning the environment and using bullying tactics against Indigenous leaders.

Premature Disclosure of a Bill and its Elements to a Third Party Xavier Barsalou-Duval raises a question of privilege, alleging the government leaked legislative details concerning Air Canada to an external party before informing the House, an accusation the Liberals and Conservatives reserve comment on. 700 words.

Petitions

Ministerial Compliance with Order in Council—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules that the government’s failure to table reports from the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise does not constitute a breach of privilege, as no law or Standing Order mandates their tabling. 800 words.

Adjournment Debates

Government performance and economic policy Warren Steinley accuses the Liberal government of failing on grocery costs, trade deals, and child care initiatives. Caroline Desrochers defends the government's record, citing the suspension of federal fuel taxes, new grocery benefit payments, and housing affordability measures as evidence of their commitment to supporting Canadians.
Government spending and affordability Andrew Lawton calls on the government to cut fuel taxes and curb excessive spending to alleviate the rising cost of living for Canadians. Sherry Romanado defends government investments, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors, arguing they are essential for economic growth, job creation, and national sovereignty.
Canada's housing market crisis Tamara Jansen blames the Liberal government’s erratic immigration policies and excessive red tape for creating market instability and developer insolvencies. Caroline Desrochers defends the government's approach, highlighting billions in strategic investments, GST tax cuts for first-time buyers, and the new "Build Canada Homes" agency as keys to restoring affordability.
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HousingAdjournment Proceedings

7:30 p.m.

Trois-Rivières Québec

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is focused on making housing more affordable and on making home buying more attainable for Canadians. Through budget 2025, we are making generational investments of $25 billion over five years for housing and $115 billion over five years for infrastructure. These strategic investments will build major infrastructure and homes, and create lasting prosperity, empowering Canadians to get ahead.

That is why the Prime Minister launched Build Canada Homes in September 2025. It is a completely different way to build affordable housing for Canadians. The new federal agency is going to catalyze a more productive housing industry, something that sets it apart from anything that has been done previously. There are already agreements for over 10,000 units to be built over the coming months, and some of those shovels are already in the ground.

Build Canada Homes is not going to act alone. It will work in close partnership with developers, manufacturers, provinces, territories, municipalities and indigenous partners to get housing financed and built. The goal is to make it faster and easier for builders to get big projects off the ground and deliver homes for Canadians right across the country.

Young families and first-time homebuyers deserve the same opportunity to own a home their parents did. That is why we are taking action to provide Canadians with immediate relief through targeted tax measures. We are cutting the goods and services tax on new homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, delivering savings of up to $50,000. We are lowering GST on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. These initiatives, despite what the Conservatives are saying, will help more Canadians buy their first home.

We are also helping first-time homebuyers through the tax-free home savings account that helps Canadians to save for their first home, which the Conservatives voted against.

We are building on the success of programs delivered through the national housing strategy, like the $4.4-billion housing accelerator fund, which incentivizes municipalities to eliminate barriers to building that can be big obstacles to building fast.

We are investing in a purpose-built rental supply through the apartment construction loan program.

We are also taking action to help the community housing sector acquire at-risk rental apartment buildings, ensuring they remain affordable over the long term with the launch of the Canada rental protection fund.

It is unacceptable for anybody in Canada to go without safe, affordable and inclusive housing. That is why the federal government is committed to solving the housing crisis and taking a leadership role on housing.

The Government of Canada is removing barriers to construction, reducing risks for home builders and making significant investments in non-market housing in partnership with developers. We are working closely with builders, investors, indigenous partners and all levels of government to implement innovative solutions to get the job done. Together with partners, the Government of Canada is leading transformative changes in Canada's housing sector.

HousingAdjournment Proceedings

7:30 p.m.

Conservative

Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Mr. Speaker, what we are witnessing now is the consequence of years of Liberal market distortion through subsidies, red tape and unpredictable government policy. The Liberals overheated the housing market with record immigration levels and developers responded by investing billions, hiring workers and putting shovels in the ground based on the conditions the government created. Then Ottawa suddenly slammed on the brakes. After years of overheating demand, the Liberals abruptly reversed course without a plan, leaving developers watching the market shift beneath projects already under way as rental vacancy rates jumped more than 40% year over year.

Housing projects take years to plan and build. The government cannot pull one policy lever to flood the market and then yank another to choke off demand and expect builders, renters or buyers to have any stability. This is a failure of central planning. The Liberals created this distortion and now Canadians are paying the price.

HousingAdjournment Proceedings

7:30 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to solving the housing crisis. We are working together with all our partners to use every tool available and get the job done. The housing accelerator fund and the apartment construction loan program are just some of the key programs that are helping Canadians and helping developers get apartments and homes built.

Build Canada Homes is going to partner across the housing ecosystem to drive the development of affordable housing, supporting a mix of income needs. We need to increase our stock of affordable housing. There is no way around it. We are at 4%. We need to get to 8%. It will catalyze modern methods of construction as part of a national effort to increase housing construction, restore affordability and reduce homelessness.

The federal government is back in the business of building homes for Canadians. We are taking bold action to build a housing market that works for everyone and to create lasting, meaningful change across the country.

HousingAdjournment Proceedings

7:30 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Tom Kmiec

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7:32 p.m.)