Debates of May 6th, 2026

Indigenous Affairs

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that everybody remembers that the recently signed Musqueam agreements do not affect private property. The agreements recognize the Musqueam's constitutionally protected aboriginal rights in the specific areas of fisheries, stewardship and marine emergency management, while establishing a clear framework for collaboration between the first nation and Canada. These agreements respect the rights of indigenous peoples and establish how Canada and the first nation should engage so we get our issues out of the courts and increase certainty for indigenous communities, businesses and all Canadians.

I encourage the member opposite to read the agreements.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, British Columbians bought their homes, paid their mortgages and played by the rules, but due to the Cowichan decision, they now face uncertainty as to whether their private property will be protected going forward. Instead of arguing in favour of those rights in the Cowichan case, this Liberal government told federal lawyers not to defend those rights through litigation directive number 14, a directive that is still active to this day.

How can British Columbians believe that this Liberal Prime Minister will stand up for their private property rights when his government guidelines are telling his lawyers to stand down?

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear about what the facts are. The fact is that the Prime Minister has stood and said very clearly that our government is going to protect private property rights.

Let us be clear about the facts. We have said that we are appealing the decision, which we are.

Let us also be clear that the fearmongering and misinformation coming from the other side of the House is causing uncertainty in British Columbia, not what the facts on the ground say. The facts on the ground say that we are defending private property rights. The opposition is trying to drive uncertainty and is driving problems in the housing market in British Columbia.

Official Languages

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, for over 100 years, the organization Acfas has been helping to advance and promote research, innovation and science culture in French. Next week, it will hold its annual congress in Trois‑Rivières, with more than 260 lectures showcasing the diversity of science in French. It will be one of the largest multidisciplinary scientific gatherings in the French-speaking world.

Can the minister tell us what our government is doing to support the creation and dissemination of scientific information in French?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Madawaska—Restigouche for his excellent question and his excellent work.

I share his appreciation for Acfas, which is carrying out critical work to promote science and research in French. That is a top priority for our government. First, on April 1, we announced $1 million in funding to promote research in French. Second, we are currently reviewing the recommendations of the advisory panel on research in French as part of the action plan for official languages 2023‑28, and we will be publishing the report shortly.

We are proud of the work of our francophone researchers.

International Trade

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers expect the government to defend them at the negotiation table, not leave them behind, yet the Liberals constantly fail farmers in trade disputes.

Canadian beef and pork exports to Europe and the United Kingdom dropped to zero last year, yet the Liberals are rushing into a Mercosur agreement despite the risk to Canadian cattle, pork and poultry. Mercosur countries do not meet our standards on animal health, food safety or the environment.

Why are the Liberals rushing in to sign an agreement that puts our food security, our food safety and Canadian farmers at risk?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in active negotiations throughout the world to create more opportunities for Canadians to create more good-paying jobs for our farmers and for our industries across Canada. That includes a negotiating agreement with Mercosur, which is the fifth-largest trading bloc in the world, with a GDP of somewhere between $3 trillion and $3.5 trillion.

In that process, we are working with farmers, we are working with industries and we are working with stakeholders. Just today, I met with the Canadian Cattle Association. The minister met with them last week.

We are working together to make sure that we create good-paying jobs for all Canadians.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Bruce County and Grey County beef farmers have publicly expressed concerns about the ongoing negotiations with Mercosur. They said, “This won't just hurt farmers—it will weaken rural communities and reduce Canada's ability to produce its own food.... In Ontario...where most imported beef enters the market, the impact on local farmers would be severe.”

Canadian beef producers are waiting to get more access in markets across the world. Should the Liberal government not be prioritizing export market access abroad instead of displacing the Canadian cattle industry at home?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what we are doing. We are living in uncertain times, and our focus is on creating more opportunities for Canadian businesses, including our hard-working farmers, to be able to export around the world. In fact, if we talk to farmers, we hear that they are very excited about the opportunities we are creating for them in India, China, the Philippines and other ASEAN countries, and places like Mercosur.

We are working closely with our farmers. We are working closely with our industries. We are listening to their views, and our negotiations will reflect the needs of Canadians so we can create good-paying jobs for all Canadians.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian cattle producers are among the very best in the entire world. Our ranchers have built world-class beef genetics through generations of hard work, strict animal health standards and some of the most rigorous traceability requirements anywhere on earth. Now the Liberals are considering a Mercosur trade deal that could open the floodgates to beef imports from countries with far lower standards and production costs.

Why are these Liberals willing to sacrifice our Canadian ranchers and undermine our domestic food industry? Will the minister commit today to protecting Canadian cattle producers and exempt agriculture from any Mercosur trade deal?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are unlocking trade opportunities for Canadians and Canadian farmers around the world. Let us look at China. Let us look at Mexico, for example, where we are continuing to stand with Canadian farmers. At the same time, we are unlocking trade agreements and investment directly into Canada, around the world, and negotiating and concluding over 20 trade agreements over the past six months, over four continents.

One thing that would advantage Canadians is if the opposition actually recognized that we are standing for the Canadian—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Acadie—Annapolis.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my riding is proudly home to the largest lobster fishery in Canada, which creates thousands of good-paying jobs throughout Acadie—Annapolis. Our harvesters need safe and secure small craft harbours in order for their product to make it to markets.

Can the Minister of Fisheries tell me how the spring economic update will affect seafood producers?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his tireless advocacy. Small craft harbours are vital to the fisheries and vital to our coastal communities. That is why the spring economic update had almost a billion dollars in it to help support small craft. This will be a—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There is another question period going on here.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We are almost at the end. I can see it. Let us try to get across the goal line.

The hon. Minister of Fisheries. I will give her a bit of extra time, given the brouhaha.

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, fisheries infrastructure will ensure our communities stay strong. We are building Canada and our coastal communities strong.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims that he has taken back control of the immigration system, but that is kind of hard to believe. In the past year, his government has let in hundreds of thousands of new temporary foreign workers while Canadians cannot find jobs. They have no way of tracking whether millions of non-citizens on expired or expiring visas will leave. Now the government is issuing visas to terrorists, and every time the minister speaks, somehow she manages to make things worse.

Why has the Prime Minister not fired her?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as I have shared with the House before, personal attacks speak for themselves.

What do we see on this side of the House? We are working for Canadians, putting in place the platform that every single Liberal MP ran on, which is being executed now: a decline in the number of temporary residents, a decline in the number of people seeking asylum, working toward and improving the international student system, a 70% decline in the number of student permits issued since 2014, and an entry and exit system that is being strengthened in partnership with the CBSA. I could go on.

We will continue to be serious. The Conservatives can continue to play games.

Health

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, legal experts just confirmed what New Democrats have been warning for months: Alberta's private health care law violates the Canada Health Act. Danielle Smith's two-tier scheme lets wealthy patients pay to jump the line, while everyone else waits longer. This breaks a core principle of public health care: access must be based on need, not ability to pay. Upholding this value is the federal government's job, but the Liberals have refused to do it.

Why is the Prime Minister doing nothing while Conservatives dismantle public health care?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, that is news to me, because I spoke with Alberta's health minister last week and the regulations have not yet been put in place. Our two departments are working together.

For the moment, I cannot say that Alberta is not complying with the Canada Health Act. I can confirm that Alberta's health minister has authorized me to say that she wants to work within the framework of the Canada Health Act.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Since I applauded the Airbus announcement on LCN this morning at 6:35 a.m., I would ask you to recognize that the Minister of Transport intentionally misled the House and, as a result, I would ask you to send him to spend some time in the Centre Block dungeons at his own expense.

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

Mr. Speaker, in answer to a question from the Bloc Québécois during question period, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons pointed out the Prime Minister's absence.

I would like you to either remind him of the rules or withhold his dessert when you send him to the Centre Block dungeons.