Debates of May 25th, 2026

Employment

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister is just another costly Liberal with nothing to show for his waste. It is more cost, more debt, more taxes, more on the national credit card and more of the same. The Liberals' trillion dollars of debt means less growth, fewer jobs and fewer opportunities for Canadians. Eighteen thousand jobs were just lost, unemployment rose to 6.9% and 111,000 full-time jobs are gone under the current Liberal government in just the last four months.

How many more jobs will Canadians have to lose before the Liberal government stops its costly credit card budgeting?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I am so excited to stand and talk about Bill C-30, the spring economic update that would invest $6 billion in working people, skilled trades workers, unions and great-paying jobs, building up the workforce of today and the future.

It is clear that these guys have no idea what working-class people are calling for. They are calling for investments in their communities, investments in their families and investments in the future. That is what we are doing.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, sending more students through trade schools without any jobs is creating certificates for unemployment. If the Liberals really want to invest in Canadians, the Liberal government can do one thing: just get out of the way.

Let our natural resources get produced so we can create more jobs, create more boots on the ground, get shovels in the ground and get more projects built. That is what is going to help our youth, not more blocking of our resource projects.

When will the Liberal government get out of the way and remove its anti-development laws so youth actually have a future in this country again?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, maybe if that member went to northern Ontario and talked to people in the mining sector and really listened to what big employers and small business owners are saying, he would hear that what we are doing is exactly what is needed. In fact, we have been applauded by employers, by union representatives, by trainees and by hard-working people who are saying, “We need an opportunity to take advantage of these jobs that are building Canada strong.”

Maybe the member needs to get out of this place and go into the communities and talk to people about what they need to get these projects off the ground. Then, actually, he would have something worthwhile to say in here.

Finance

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under this Prime Minister, we have the same old, same old, costly Liberals: more taxes, more debt, more on the national credit card and nothing to show for the waste.

In April, gas prices exploded by 28.6¢ per litre, the largest monthly increase on record, hammering Canadians every time they fill up, and driving up the cost of everything. Now, the Liberal finance minister has even signalled that the Liberals think they have done enough.

Does the Prime Minister actually believe Canadians can afford this level of Liberal inflation?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. government House leader.

[An hon. member]

Uh-oh, here is good news.

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

It is good news, actually.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, when we put things before this House that actually provide relief for Canadians, the member, at the absolute demand of her leader, stands up and votes against them. She votes against child care. She votes against a reduction in fuel taxes. She votes against dental care. She votes against training and opportunities for young people. When will that member convince her leader to stop voting against help for Canadians?

Taxation

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again, Canadians are not asking for excuses or these so-called half measures that the Liberals mention. They deserve relief.

Every time my neighbours in Oshawa fill up their tank, buy groceries or pay rent, they feel the impact of Liberal inflation. The Conservatives have a real plan to put money back into Canadians' pockets by removing all federal fuel taxes for all the year to bring the costs down immediately at the pump and across the entire economy.

Will the Prime Minister finally adopt this common-sense plan and give Canadians a break?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, we hear no common sense from the other side, and perhaps that is because they do not speak to Canadians.

Over here we are hearing from Canadians regularly, and they know that Canada faces a profound global economic uncertainty right now. That is why we are responding with responsible measures, like protecting seniors from fraud and making the social programs that they rely on efficient and resilient to global shocks. For example, the groceries and essentials benefit will give single seniors almost $950 back in their pockets. This is what it means to be fiscally responsible managers, investing in the public.

[Ned Kuruc, Conservative, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is more cost, more taxes, more debt, more on the national credit card, more of the same. The Prime Minister is just another costly Liberal with nothing to show for his waste.

Gas prices surged 28.6% in April, grocery prices were up 3.8% in April and energy prices rose 19.2%. My community is being squeezed, and they cannot pay more.

Conservatives have a real plan to give Canadians relief from Liberal inflation by removing all federal fuel taxes for the year. On what day will the Liberals adopt it?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek should talk to the 10,600-plus people in his riding who have accessed dental care that he and his party voted against. Perhaps he should talk to the over 20,700 families that access the Canada child benefit and the benefits that this government has put on the table to fight for affordability that he and his party consistently vote against.

Whether it is child care, a national school food program or improvements in recreation facilities, the Conservatives have voted against every single measure to improve the lives of Canadians, including those in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week the CRTC announced that it will be tripling the online streaming tax from 5% to 15%. This tax will now drive up the cost that consumers pay for things like Netflix or Disney+. Just this weekend, Spotify announced that, taking effect in July, they will be increasing their prices.

For over 800 years, it has been parliamentary tradition that only Parliament imposes a tax. Regulators like the CRTC do not have the authority to do that. Will this government speak to the CRTC and make it reverse course?

[David Myles, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, this is not a new tax. This is an imaginary tax, once again brought up in the House.

Our government is relentlessly focused on the cost of living for Canadians. That is why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. This decision from the CRTC only ensures that existing rules are applied in a way that fosters fair competition. This is about protecting Canada's distinct culture and identity, and ensuring the vitality of our cultural sectors.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a tax is a tax is a tax. He can call it whatever he wants, but at the end of the day Canadians pay more. That is a tax.

This tax will do much more than just cost Canadians. It will actually impact us in terms of our negotiations with regards to CUSMA. The Liberal government has already been accused of escalating this irritant. It has already been signalled by the U.S. that this will in fact hinder us in terms of getting a deal, a deal that the Prime Minister promised to get for us months ago and has failed to deliver.

Will this Liberal government cancel this costly tax, protect our trade relationship with the United States, protect Canadian jobs, protect trade and get it done?

[David Myles, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, again, what we are talking about here are imaginary taxes.

Once again, the way that Canadians consume content over the last decade has changed entirely. People are streaming content. It is not only with broadcasters. It is important that our regulatory regime reflect that change.

The Environment

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is official: The Prime Minister is an environmental sellout. It has been announced that a new dirty oil pipeline will be built as early as 2027. This is a pipeline that could violate environmental laws and endanger species at risk. The environmental assessment for this pipeline will be carried out by the Canada Energy Regulator in Calgary, and the Prime Minister will even be able to change the criteria as time goes on. Furthermore, construction may begin before the assessment has even been completed.

This is an environmental sellout that will have a ripple effect for generations. Are there any Liberals who will refuse to be complicit?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to paraphrase our Prime Minister. He said that we live in the world as it is, not as we would like it to be. What matters to us is that we all work together, with all the provinces and across Canada, to improve our economic competitiveness, but also to meet our climate targets. We have not given up on meeting the 2050 net-zero target.

Personally, I am working very hard on the nature strategy, a strategy that has drawn unanimous support across Canada.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to selling out on the environment, the Prime Minister is taking things farther than Stephen Harper. We are not the ones saying it. The Liberal member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie says it, and he is not alone. About 15 Liberals have written to the Prime Minister to express their uneasiness with the shift to oil and gas. About 15 Liberals reminded him that climate change is the most serious threat of our time.

If this is the most serious threat of our time, what is stopping them from standing up and leaving their party?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues, I am very proud to be part of a government that takes climate change and environmental protection very seriously. However, economic development is also essential to our country's future.

When we speak of the environment and the fight against climate change, we might think of clean energy tax credits amounting to as much as $90 billion, or the nature strategy, which will protect 30% of our land by 2030, or industrial carbon pricing, or regulations that will reduce our methane emissions by 75% by 2030. These are real and concrete actions for protecting nature.

Taxation

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after weeks of pressure from the Conservative Party, the Liberals have finally come to their senses and eliminated the excise tax on gasoline, but that is not enough. The Liberals continue to maintain the so-called clean fuel standard, another hidden tax that currently adds 7¢ per litre and could rise to 17¢ per litre by 2030. Canadians need real relief now, not a half-measure from the Liberals.

Will the Prime Minister finally abolish the clean fuel standard, yes or no?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to take steps to improve affordability. We have already cut the gas tax by 10¢. That has an impact on Canadians. We need to keep implementing a range of measures, not just a single measure. That is important. We have been working on this, and people will soon receive their cheques for the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, if they have not already. That is what helping Canadians is all about.

We need to work on multiple fronts, and that is exactly what we are doing, in addition to working to grow our economy and protect the environment.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, countries around the world are working to help their citizens. As everyone knows, filling up the car with gas is really expensive these days. Everyone is talking about it everywhere. The holidays are coming up, and it costs a fortune to gas up. Australia, Spain and Ireland have realized this and have eliminated gas taxes.

What is the government waiting for now to eliminate the GST? The GST applied to the cost of gas is on top of other taxes. Will the government eliminate it, at least temporarily, to give people some breathing room?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague talks about giving people some breathing room and about helping Canadians. He could start by voting for measures that directly help Canadians in their daily lives. One example is the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which will help 12 million Canadians. They will receive their first payment on June 5. That member opposes this measure. Another example is the Canadian dental care plan, which helps at least 25,000 people in his riding, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles. He also opposes that. Another example is the tax cut for 22 million Canadians. That was the first thing we did. It is time for my colleague to walk the talk and support the government.

Aerospace Industry

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the Liberals we get higher costs, higher taxes, more spending, and more job losses. The Minister of Finance and National Revenue thinks that the Liberals have done enough. I agree. They have done enough damage.

Just look at how they are managing the new Liberal space launch pad. A company is renting land from the provincial government for $13,500 a year. That company then rents it to the Liberal government for $20 million a year, which is $200 million over 10 years on our children's credit card.

The question is simple: If it were your money, what would you do?