Debates of May 26th, 2026

Department of Finance—Main Estimates, 2026-27

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the attention to that matter from the minister. Yes, we do have a great working relationship, and I know that will continue.

We have a lot of small businesses in Kings—Hants. When we talked today in the House about affordability, I chastised some of the Conservative positions in the opposition day motion as being too narrow and not looking at broader affordability measures. Yes, we have already reduced gasoline prices by 28¢ a litre, but I talked about some of the social programs we have put in place, and I also talked about the CPP rate reduction.

In the spring economic update, the government, through the Minister of Finance, is proposing to take the rate reduction from 9.9% down to 9.5%. This is going to save a T4 employee in the economy about $170 a year, which is important. That is more money back in people's pockets. Of course, there is a corresponding connection to the employer not having to put that CPP contribution in, and that can be multiplied by the amount of T4 employees that it has.

Would the minister care to comment on that CPP rate reduction being a small but meaningful policy to move the needle for small businesses and employees across the country?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair, before I do that, I want to thank the staff of the House of Commons. I see these young pages and the staff at the table working hard. I know it is getting late, and I just want to give kudos on behalf of all parliamentarians for the work they are doing on behalf of all of us and to support democracy. To every employee in the House, the security folks and everyone who is working extra late tonight to support our work, I want to thank them on behalf of colleagues.

My colleague is so right. Not only was it a flagship measure, but it was unanimously approved and supported by the provinces. When we make policies, when we talk about a co-operative federalism, this is one of the best examples I can imagine.

We had a meeting with the federal, provincial and territorial ministers. I made the recommendation that we would lower it, because that would be an affordability measure. It would leave more money in the pockets of workers and businesses. Unanimously, the provinces came back and said, “Yes, we support you in that.”

For me, this is a great example of how our country is working and how we should be working with our colleagues in the provinces and territories. We can put proposals on the table and make sure we work together. This is a great example of us working as one country to the benefit of businesses and workers.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, I represent the largest agricultural riding in Atlantic Canada. Kings—Hants is home to a whole series of different commodity groups and one is the wine sector. We have an emerging grape and wine sector in Kings—Hants. The hon. minister had an opportunity to visit the riding. I know he is a great friend to the agricultural community across the country.

One program that is of deep interest to the wine and grape sector is the wine sector support program. The hon. minister was part of the cabinet in the last government that helped put this program together. I compliment him on his leadership.

This program does not sunset until the next fiscal year, but some of the wine growers in the community that I represent have highlighted it as a great initiative of the federal government being involved in agriculture under a trade-compliant program. I do not expect the minister tonight to have an answer about the future of that program, but he knows the importance of the wine sector across the country.

I am wondering if the minister might talk about that industry, whether it is in Niagara, the Okanagan, Kings—Hants or areas of Brome-Missisquoi. Maybe he could share some of his experience as a member of Parliament in seeing that first-hand and what it means across the country.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair, the member brought me to a number of wineries and a number of food producers. Together, we had round tables. I also think of my colleague who is a farmer who I see in the House tonight. These farmers need to be celebrated. They put food on the table. That is why the national food security strategy is so important, and that is why supporting our farmers is so important.

The member went beyond his normal duty. He went to China, along with the Premier of Saskatchewan, to defend the industry and to defend our canola farmers.

We have always been there for our farmers. We have members in our caucus who have deep experience in farming. This is the richness of the people who are working on the government benches. They have personal experience, they know how the industry works and they give us advice. I would say that the member for Kings—Hants is one great example.

I could name a number of other colleagues who I see in the House tonight who are also contributing very much to the work we are doing. I want to celebrate them tonight, because not only are they helping us to shape policy, but they are the best of the best in representing the interests of their constituents and bringing their experience to this House of Commons.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, I agree with the hon. minister. He may have been referencing the hon. member for Peterborough and her experience in working in the agriculture sector. Let me go on the record in seconding the minister's belief that the member for Peterborough is a great champion in this House, along with the hon. member for Compton—Stanstead. We have a whole host of leaders in that agricultural space.

There is one thing I want to ask the minister. In the spring economic update, there is an intention from the government to change the mandate of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CFIA, and also the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate, the former PMRA, to put an economic lens on the decisions. Of course, I know all members of this House would agree that environmental and health safety are paramount, but so too is food security and economic decision-making around the regulators.

The minister has a very big portfolio, but this is part of the work that the government is doing around red tape. Whether they are in Peterborough or Kings—Hants, farmers have pointed to this government leadership as being a great example of trying to look at regulatory agility.

Would the hon. minister be able to speak to the CFIA and PRD amendments specifically, or talk more broadly about regulatory reform and agility and how it is part of our economic growth agenda?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is amazing. We are getting to 11 p.m. and the questions are getting better and better. It is great. I will not say they are coming from this side of the House, but I want to celebrate the member for Peterborough to start with. She is an amazing colleague, but also a great farmer. I want to thank her. Being members of Parliament, bringing our expertise and our experience to the House is what our work is all about.

She is a farmer. She knows how things work. I can tell everyone who is watching in Peterborough that they have an amazing member of Parliament. Every opportunity she has to tell me about the reality of farming in this country, she takes. I want to celebrate her and all the farmers in the country. Wherever they are in the country, we celebrate them, and they should be feeling good that they have people in the House who represent their industry. It is a way of life when one is a farmer. Being both a member of Parliament and a farmer is quite a unique position. I want to thank the member for Compton—Stanstead as well.

To my colleague's point, it is true that when we think about farming, it is also about economic security. I would say the world today realizes the nexus between food security, energy security, economic security and national security. There is this great nexus that is coming together. When it comes to food security, Canadians can count on Canadian farmers. We can play a big role in feeding Canadians. This is why we want to make structural investments.

The member for Kings—Hants has been helping us. Not only do we have the groceries benefit that is going to come to Canadians, with 12 million Canadians receiving it on June 5, but we have also made structural investments in greenhouses, for example, so we can grow more. During the year, we might import 60% of our fresh produce, but when it gets to winter, we get to 80% or 90%. One way of having better management of the cost is to grow more in Canada, to become more resilient. I want to thank the member for Kings—Hants again for bringing me to some of these facilities to better understand how we can support that, with the member for Peterborough—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, the hon. member for Waterloo is a great colleague. She and I have talked a lot about Canada's fiscal position.

We have a AAA credit rating. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We have a strong fiscal position.

I do not want the minister to take a whole lot of time, because I only have two minutes, but does he have quick comments on Canada's fiscal position and how he would message that to Canadians?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

As I said, Mr. Chair, the questions are getting better and better. I think we will ask if we should extend a bit now because we are getting into the real issues.

I want to thank the member for Waterloo, who hosted me recently. We have seen so much innovation in that region. Mr. Chair, I know you do not have the time to travel with me everywhere I go in the country, but you should come once to Waterloo with me. You would see that the member of Parliament is so well respected by everyone.

She represents the University of Waterloo. Every person I have met there knows the work she is doing. She has been an amazing ambassador for the innovation and the work in Waterloo. I want to applaud her and celebrate her work. She has been a—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The parliamentary secretary has the floor.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Chair, I am sorry I had to cut the minister off. He is great, but I have to get in one last question.

I see the hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets, who has done great work on China, on the file around lobsters and working with the government to remove tariffs. I see the hon. member for Labrador and the member for Avalon.

I can say that it is fisheries that matter in Atlantic Canada. It is the base of our economy. I would be remiss as a member from Nova Scotia to not ask the minister in the time we have remaining to talk about small craft harbours and a generational investment.

Why does the hon. minister not take us away on that happy note?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am going to turn my back just for a second to say that the member for South Shore—St. Margarets came to my office to advocate for small craft harbours. She was there. She put her fist on the table. She said that I needed to listen and that we are going to do something. We did—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

Order. It being 10:57 p.m., pursuant to order made earlier today and Standing Order 81(4), all votes are deemed reported.

The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 10:58 p.m.)