Debates of May 29th, 2026

Families, Children and Social Development

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, respectfully, I will just state the obvious. My question was about parental leave reform. That response did not even attempt to mention the issue of parental leave reform. Canadian parents have been waiting long enough with a parental leave system that is inflexible and poorly aligned with the realities of modern parenting. Modern parents want the flexibility to work in different ways that integrate work and family life. Why does the government not simply implement the constructive proposed suggestions that we have put forward as part of its upcoming fall budget?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich for that member to stand up and talk about supports for parents and families, when he does not support affordable early learning and child care in his very province. It is a program that is delivering for thousands of children right across the province and saving families in Alberta over $10,000 on the cost of their child care in a given year. On this side of the House, we have enhanced maternity and paternity benefits. We have brought in paid sick days. We have increased pay equity for women and for families. That member has stood against all of those measures.

The Economy

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G7 nation facing a recession under this Liberal Prime Minister. After months of “elbows up” rhetoric, he went to New York this week and said he would be making America great again. If flip-flopping generated electricity, the Liberal Prime Minister could power the EV sector all by himself. As a former cop, I have seen plenty of U-turns, but I have never seen one presented as a trade strategy.

Can the Prime Minister just make up his mind and get to work, or are Canadians expected to live with a government that is always a day late and several dollars short?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are well aware of the headwinds facing the global economy: trade wars and actual wars in the Middle East and in Europe. This government has a plan: a plan for infrastructure, for major projects and for investing in people and skilled trades workers, giving our young people opportunities.

I think Canadians are troubled by the enthusiasm and the glee that they witnessed when the Conservatives paraded in here this morning and trumpeted bad news in terms of these headwinds for the Canadian economy. It is time for the Conservatives to stop celebrating the challenges we face and get on board.

The Environment

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week marks a turning point, with the Prime Minister's climate betrayal and the Liberals' election deceit on environmental issues. The green banker they sold us on is green only in his thirst for wads of cash derived from black gold. He is also dragging down all the Liberals who ran on a platform that mentioned the words “climate change” 28 times, but never once mentioned the word “pipeline”.

Is there a single Liberal member who will refuse to be complicit in this betrayal?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am a woman of strong principles, and I know the member knows that. We work very well together.

One thing that is important to me is protecting nature, of course, and I am privileged to have been appointed Secretary of State for Nature. However, the fight against climate change is also important. I am a mother of four. I hope to be a grandmother like my colleague one day. I know this is important. We will continue our efforts. We are going to do it differently. We will do so in the context we find ourselves in today.

We already have methane regulations, we have the nature strategy, and we will continue to achieve—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister's environmental track record had been acceptable, the former minister of the environment, the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, would not have stepped down. Nor would his predecessor, the member for North Vancouver—Capilano, have announced his departure too. His predecessor, Catherine McKenna, would not have said that we live in a petrostate where rich oil and gas companies have convinced politicians that fossil fuels are better than renewables. Every environment minister of the past decade is pulling away from the Prime Minister.

How can the Liberals possibly brag about his record?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting to get these questions from Bloc Québécois members because of their blatant flip-flopping. Let me remind members again that the leader of the Bloc Québécois was ready to move forward and support oil drilling in Anticosti. Now it seems that Bloc Québécois members are taking a keen interest in the issue.

Let us talk about what we are doing on this side of the House. We are still fighting climate change. Our work on methane and our international investments in climate change issues have made us a world leader. We are going to keep doing the work.

The Economy

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, we learned that Canada is the only G7 country that is in a recession. What is more, according to one report, more than 50% of workers say that the cost of living has gone up.

The Prime Minister told young Canadians that they would have to make sacrifices, and yet he is recklessly using the national credit card to pay for luxury inflight meals, while 2.2 million Canadians are relying on food banks to put food on the table.

Why is this Liberal Prime Minister asking Canadians to tighten their belts while he and his friends are treating themselves to lavish meals on the dime of hard-working Canadians?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is odd to see the Conservatives looking so pleased this morning. I do not understand their attitude this morning.

I know the people of Portneuf. They are watching question period this morning. Those who are watching understand that the world is facing headwinds in the global economy. People understand that there is a conflict in the Middle East, the most significant conflict we have seen in terms of energy.

However, because I know the people of Portneuf well, I know that they know that we have a plan. We have a plan to invest in our country, a plan to invest in our young people, a plan to invest in our workers and our industry. That is exactly what we are going to do.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, we are not pleased. We want the Liberal government, which has been in power for 11 years, to take meaningful action to ensure that Canadians have a better quality of life.

Our seniors have to skip meals just to put food on the table. Our children have to give up their dream of owning a home. Last year, this same Prime Minister asked young people to make sacrifices.

Obviously the Prime Minister has to eat, but could he show a little more judgment? There is a huge difference between baloney and caviar.

Will the Liberal Prime Minister—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we are still hearing rhetoric from the other side. On this side of the House, we know that the cost of housing and food are the biggest expenses for families.

That is why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and why a groceries benefit for 12 million Canadians will be deposited into their accounts next week. We also put in place a school food program for 400,000 children. We created Build Canada Homes. We have already reached agreements to build tens of thousands of units, with the work scheduled to start in the coming weeks. They voted against all these measures. They need to stop showing contempt for Canadians.

My question for them is this: When will they get out of their echo chamber, listen to Canadians and get to work?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians woke up this morning saddened to learn that Canada is the only G7 country to have been in a recession for the past year, despite the fact that the current government is led by what is said to be one of the world's most prestigious economists. The result is that Canada has the worst economic record in the G7. Furthermore, it has the highest food inflation of any G7 country. We also learned that one in three workers has to borrow money to buy groceries.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent $190,000 on food during three trips. Earlier, the finance minister said that the government was tightening its belt. Is he proud of his Prime Minister?

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: Canada is not in a recession. I could tell the member that, per capita, the GDP rose in the first quarter, but I am not going to say that. I could have also told him that the financial markets have completely ignored this message and that they are not in turmoil over it.

What I can say, however, is that the Canadian economy is suffering directly from the impact of the trade war and is suffering directly from the impact of the war in the Middle East. Fuel prices are very high. Investment is down, due to uncertainty. That is the problem, but we have a plan.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a misunderstanding. How can the parliamentary secretary say something that is in no way based in reality?

Is my colleague familiar with Statistics Canada? It just so happens that it is part of the Government of Canada. Statistics Canada states that Canada is in a recession and that it is the only G7 country in this situation. While all G7 countries are facing the same challenges, Canada has the worst record and is the only country in a recession.

How can the parliamentary secretary say the opposite of the truth? Canadians have had enough of this sort of lie.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk is well aware that one cannot use the word “lie” in the House when referring to another member; one cannot say that a member said a lie. I would remind him that this is a rule of the House. He cannot use that sort of word.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw it.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

I believe this is straight harassment from that side. It is trying to shut me up. You cannot do that. We are supposed to be able to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I am going to interrupt the parliamentary secretary. The parliamentary secretary is a veteran member of two Houses. He understands that we speak through the Chair and that he is not to address members directly.

I will let the parliamentary secretary start from 20 seconds and finish his response.