Debates of May 4th, 2026

Finance

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government is committed to build a strong, resilient and independent economy.

Despite what we hear opposite, our economy is strong. The IMF projects our economy to be one of the most resilient, fastest-growing in th G7. We are going to continue to build the economy. The spring economic update invests $6 billion in the trades, and it invests in the sovereign wealth fund.

On this side, we are continuing to build a strong economy. That side can continue with the rhymes and rhetoric.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians that he was the guy who people hire in a crisis, and then spent double what the last guy spent.

Just five years from now, the Liberal credit card bill will reach $1 trillion. All that spending has brought us the highest grocery prices, the worst housing crisis and two-dollar-a-litre gasoline while everybody falls behind. The crisis guy is racking up more debt and promising that somehow it is going to be different this time.

When are the Liberals finally going to stop the credit card craziness so Canadians can afford to live?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of credit, we have the best credit rating in the world. Wages have grown twice as fast as inflation.

What would the opposition cut? For example, would they cut support for our workers?

Just today, we have invested $1 billion to support the steel, aluminum and copper industries hit by a trade war that the Conservatives deny, with another $500 million for good jobs, like at Beau-Roc, where they are building with steel.

Would these guys cut support for those industries? You can ask them, Mr. Speaker.

Natural Resources

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, despite the illusions with the Prime Minister, it's more cost, more blocking our resources and more of the same because he is just another Liberal.

The Prime Minister said a pipeline was “more probable than possible”, but there is no proponent, no start date, no completion date and no route. There is no plan.

If the Prime Minister wants Canadians to believe he is not just another Liberal, will the government tell us on what date construction will start on this new pipeline? We would like just the date, please.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague in charge of natural resources will be able to answer that question.

What I can add to that is that the Conservatives, in all their questions, always forget something that all Canadians know, which is that we are in a trade war. A lot of workers' jobs are at stake, and that is exactly why today we announced $1 billion through the BDC to help our steel, aluminum and copper workers, and it is also why we announced $500 million to support workers across the country.

We have been there since the beginning of the trade war, and we will continue to be there.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is not the Americans who are blocking a pipeline to the west coast. It is the government. The biggest barrier we are facing within the industry is the Liberal government.

The Prime Minister has not reversed a single Liberal antidevelopment law, reduced a single tax on our resource industries or delivered a single shovel in the ground on a new project from his Major Projects Office. It is more of the same because he is just another Liberal.

They said that they would move at unimaginable speeds, so on what date will construction start on the new pipeline?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, if instead of working on their social media clips, they actually spent some time talking to proponents, they would understand that we approved the Taylor to Gordondale pipeline, and Pembina is building a pipeline. They would understand that Enbridge approved the Sunrise pipeline and is building a pipeline. Also, if they actually talked to the Government of Alberta, they would understand that Alberta is coming forward with a proposal by July 1.

Finance

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one trillion is the number one followed by 12 zeros, or 1,000,000,000,000. The Liberals have added $1 trillion to the national credit card in 10 years. More zeros mean more debt. More debt means higher taxes. Higher taxes mean less money in families' pockets.

When will the Prime Minister, who is just another Liberal, stop adding zeroes to the national credit card so that Canadians can make ends meet?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague seems to have forgotten the extent to which we are in a tariff war and he refuses to recognize how much we have been there to support the auto sector, the copper sector, the aluminum sector and the steel sector.

Quebec welcomed the announcement we made this morning regarding our $1-billion investment through the Business Development Bank of Canada and our $500-million investment in our regional economic development agencies.

My colleague must recognize that we have reduced the government's operating expenses while still making investments. These investments are driving economic growth. In short, our plan is working, and we stand by it.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, add another zero for the minister's answer. When a student gets nothing but zeros, they fail. This Liberal government is racking up zeros, and Canadians are paying the price for its failure.

What is the result? Grocery prices are skyrocketing, housing is unaffordable, and gas costs a fortune because the Liberal Prime Minister is racking up debt like there is no tomorrow. However, tomorrow it will be our children who will have to pay off this debt, along with the interest that comes with it.

Will the Prime Minister, who is just another costly Liberal, finally put an end to his costly budgets funded by the national credit card?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I give my colleague 100% for following his leader's instructions. He just had to read the question he is asking us today. He is full of jokes this morning.

We are going to give him a little lesson on the numbers. Right now, Canada's economic growth is the second highest among the G7 countries. We also have the strongest fiscal position in the G7. Those are the numbers. Those are the facts. We have a solid plan, and we are going to stand by it.

The Economy

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have obviously understood that overlooking our businesses and the tariff crisis as they did in their economic update was outrageous. Unfortunately, today's announcement seems improvised. It will not help the SMEs hardest hit by the revised U.S. tariff schedule. All businesses are saying the same thing: They do not want more loans; they are already in debt.

In the very, very near future, in addition to assistance with modernization, they will need cash most of all to survive. This is a first step, but will the government confirm that it is not going to stop there and that it will immediately get back to the drawing board?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her important question. The fact is that we announced some good news for our businesses this morning: $1.5 billion to help with cash flow. Extremely favourable loans are also on the table, with 0% interest in the first year and very low interest rates in the second and third years. Furthermore, there is no requirement to repay the loan before the end of the term, that is, in three years.

We are doing that because we know that our businesses need help. We are there to help them. We received a positive response from the Conseil du patronat du Québec and from Manufacturiers et exportateurs du Québec. We are meeting their needs to the letter.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we will work together on the first step. However, to quote the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, “For businesses whose survival is currently in jeopardy, this is not enough. They need to have the cash flow necessary to maintain their day-to-day operations, not take on more debt or make investments that will only benefit them in the medium to long term.”

We repeat: Immediate assistance and a wage subsidy are needed to prevent layoffs. When will the government finally do something?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, I was just speaking with the CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. She told me how pleased she was with the government's work. Of course, there is always more to be done, and we will certainly be doing more.

In the meantime, I think this is good news. It is good news for companies like BRP, which have been affected by the White House's new interpretation of tariffs. The same applies to companies like Manac that employ thousands of people in Quebec and across the country.

That is why my colleague and I were in solution mode this morning.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette—Manawan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the revised U.S. tariff schedule in effect since April 6 is a disaster for Quebec's manufacturing industry. The Desjardins Group reports that a quarter of all Quebec exports to the United States are now subject to tariffs. We are talking about a 60% increase overnight. Moreover, it is our small and medium-sized businesses that are being hit.

Today's announcement ignores the businesses that are most at risk. They cannot take on more debt to modernize in the medium term when they are at risk of shutting down right now. They need help today.

Will the government change course?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague the Minister of Industry clearly indicated, today we announced additional measures to support these businesses that are facing unjustified tariffs from the Americans.

I, too, have met with many of these businesses, as has my colleague, of course. Our ministers and our members of Parliament are very much aware of these challenges. That is precisely why we have supported these industries and that is precisely why we are here to do more if necessary.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, this Liberal Prime Minister racks up the national credit card, because he knows Canadians have to foot the bill.

Despite all the Liberal illusions, it is more costs, more taxes, more debt and more on the national credit card, all by the same old costly Liberals. Every time these guys say they are going to change, they end up racking up more on the national credit card, now leaving Canadians with $1-trillion debt bill over the lost Liberal decade.

Does the Prime Minister know this is Canadians' money, not his, or does he just not care?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer says Canada's fiscal indicators are good. The Bank of Canada governor has said he is encouraged by the federal government's efforts. That is because the Canadian economy is stronger and more resilient than anticipated, with $11 billion less of a deficit, inflation within the Bank of Canada's target, and the highest foreign direct investment in nearly two decades. We still enjoy a AAA credit rating. Wages are growing faster than inflation, and the IMF says Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7.

Those things do not happen by accident. They are proof that our plan is working.

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

Mr. Speaker, does this guy want a gold medal for having the second-highest deficit in the entire Canadian history outside of COVID?

The Prime Minister skips on the bill, while Canadians are skipping meals. More than one in 10 Canadians are now living in poverty, and the pain is only going to get worse with these guys piling on more debt. The Liberals spend like there are no consequences. It is Canadians who have to pay for those consequences.

When will the Prime Minister stop the reckless spending and stop the out-of-control deficits so Canadians can afford to live?

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

Mr. Speaker, in that member's province alone, the national school food program is feeding nearly 60,000 children, and with early learning and child care spots, families are saving up to $13,700 per child per year. In fact, we have the Canadian dental care plan in that riding as well, which helps over 155,000 people in Alberta.

All across the province that the member claims to represent, people are benefiting from Liberal-developed programs that are helping with the cost of living and making sure families get ahead.

Natural Resources

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims that a new pipeline is more probable than possible. Yet, there is no proponent, no start date, no completion date, no route, no timeline, no shovels in the ground, nothing. This is after promising to move at unimaginable speeds.

Despite the illusions, it is clear that the Prime Minister is just another Liberal. If he wants Canadians to believe he is anything other than just another Liberal, will he answer this simple question: What is the exact date construction will begin on a new Pacific pipeline, just the date?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives would stop focusing on their social media clips and focused on what is happening, they would see that Pembina Pipeline is building a Taylor to Gordondale pipeline this summer. They would see that Enbridge is building the Sunrise pipeline this summer. If they talked to the Government of Alberta, they would realize that the Government of Alberta is bringing forward its proposal this summer.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am focused on the people of Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

The problem is that this is yet another Liberal illusion. The biggest barriers that we face in developing Canadian natural resources are imposed by the Liberal government here in Ottawa. It has not repealed a single anti-development law. There is not one tax cut for the resource sector and not one shovel in the ground through the Liberals' Major Projects Office. It is the same old story, because this is just another Liberal.

The promise was to move an unimaginable speeds. Can he just very clearly state what is the date for this new Pacific pipeline, just the date, please?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, here is what is not an illusion: $4 billion going into the Canadian economy this summer; 2,500 new jobs on the Sunrise expansion this summer; and $3 million annually in new GDP from this summer forward.

If the Conservatives bothered to talk to the Alberta government, they would understand that it is bringing its proposal forward this summer, for the benefit of the people of Alberta and all of Canada.