House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was decision.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Opposition Motion—Protection of Private Property Rights in Canada Members debate a Conservative motion addressing legal uncertainty regarding property rights following the *Cowichan* decision. Conservatives allege failed litigation strategies threaten homeownership. Liberals dismiss these claims as misinformation intended to incite fear, asserting that property rights remain secure through the appeals process. While the Bloc supports the motion in principle to foster greater transparency, the NDP dismisses concerns about threats to property as unfounded, citing established legal precedent for reconciliation. 47900 words, 6 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Financial Administration Act Report stage of Bill C-230. The bill (C-230) requires the government to establish a public registry disclosing individual corporate debt write-offs of $2 million or more. Proposed by Adam Chambers (Conservative), the legislation aims to increase CRA transparency and accountability regarding uncollected taxes. Having garnered cross-party collaboration, the House passed the bill at third reading, mandating that the Treasury Board publish details of forgiven, waived, or written-off corporate liabilities. 6800 words, 1 hour.
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon South, SK
Mr. Speaker, SOS: Save our Snowbirds.
The Snowbirds are a proud Canadian institution based in the land of the living skies, Saskatchewan. We now hear that the Liberals are going to cancel the Snowbird program. It is unthinkable that we could see the end of this precision squadron that proudly represents this country at home and abroad.
Will the Liberals reverse this mistake and keep our Snowbirds in the sky?
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Surely, these members—
National DefenceOral Questions
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, surely the members on the opposite side, including those who have distinguished service in the Canadian Armed Forces, are not suggesting that we continue to put the pilots of these aircraft, frankly, in harm's way.
They know these planes have to be replaced. They know this assessment is ongoing—
National DefenceOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is still too noisy.
Now that it is a little quieter, the hon. Minister of National Defence may continue.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, as my House leader colleague was saying just a moment ago, it is a bit rich for a party that had funding for the Canadian Armed Forces and defence below 1% of GDP. Honestly, they should stand up and join us as we reinvest in the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, one symbol that unites all Canadians from coast to coast to coast is the Snowbirds, but my colleagues from Saskatchewan have now asked the Minister of National Defence four questions, and his only answer is that to suggest the program should not be cancelled is to put pilots' lives in danger.
What have the Liberals been doing for the past 11 years? They have known for quite some time that something needed to be done, and now the Snowbirds are in danger.
Does the minister have anything to tell us other than this nonsense?
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. The RCAF's fleet of Tutor aircraft was first introduced in the 1960s. The fleet will reach its end of life in the coming years. The member knows that and he has known that for a long time. The Snowbirds will continue air demonstrations with the Tutor fleet for as long as it is feasible and safe to do so. The Snowbirds remain committed to their performances. The member knows that. We are continuing to carry out our good work.
Steeve Lavoie Liberal Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked a historic moment. For the first time, two international trade bills received royal assent on the same day. These two agreements with Indonesia and the United Kingdom provide for the gradual reduction of numerous tariffs in order to improve market access and the competitiveness of our businesses.
As the member for Beauport—Limoilou, I know that diversification is essential for SMEs and workers in Quebec City. Can the Quebec lieutenant explain how these agreements will help SMEs in Quebec City and across the country grow, export more and create good jobs here at home?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. I would first like to thank my esteemed colleague from Beauport—Limoilou for the work he is doing on the Standing Committee on International Trade.
The trend is clear: Our non-U.S. goods and services exports have increased by $33 billion over the past year, but we are not done yet. As my colleague mentioned, two historic agreements with Indonesia and the United Kingdom came into force yesterday. These countries represent 350 million new customers and billions of dollars in opportunities for our businesses.
For Quebec, this means a $5.5-billion Indonesian market for our forestry industry and new markets for our aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. That is good news.
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Mr. Speaker, British Columbia land title certainty is foundational. Families buy homes, secure mortgages and plan their futures on the strength of our land registry. Today, homeowners in Richmond are being told that certainty no longer exists because of the Cowichan decision. That ruling followed a federal choice. The Liberal government instructed its lawyers not to defend private property rights in court. In 2019, the Liberals adopted litigation guideline number 14, telling federal lawyers to avoid defending property rights. That directive is still in force today.
Why is the Prime Minister choosing Liberal ideology over British Columbian homeowners by continuing to tell federal lawyers not to defend their private property rights?
Rebecca Alty LiberalMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Mr. Speaker, the Cowichan case is still in active litigation and we are not going to talk about our legal strategy on the floor.
However, what we can talk about are public agreements, which the Conservatives have called “secret”, the Musqueam agreements. They are available online. I encourage my Conservative colleagues to read them.
These agreements did not appear overnight. In 2017, Musqueam and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding. In February 2026, that work evolved into a framework agreement. However, it is not a title agreement, it is not a land claim. Let me be absolutely clear. The agreement does not affect Canadian—
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
Sukhman Gill Conservative Abbotsford—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims he will defend property rights, but his Liberal government's own website still shows that litigation directive number 14, which was announced as a directive back in 2019, still remains in effect today. The directive instructs federal lawyers not to defend private property rights in court.
While the Prime Minister makes promises publicly, his government policies have not changed. Will he reverse his directive today so British Columbians can have certainty of home ownership?
Jill McKnight LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. What is happening with the opposition is that they are creating uncertainty and fear. They are intentionally scaring Canadians, they are making investors scared, and they are making reconciliation out to be a bad thing.
Our government has appealed. We will continue to defend private property rights in Canada.
Real leadership means working together to address problems, not creating more fear in the world. Real leadership is respecting the Constitution, respecting the courts and respecting the work of advancing reconciliation.
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Mr. Speaker, British Columbians bought their homes, paid their mortgages and followed the law, but because the Liberal government directed its lawyers not to argue for property rights in the Cowichan case, the judge did not protect private property.
In 2019, the Liberal government issued a directive called litigation guideline number 14, which discourages federal lawyers from defending property rights in court. The Liberal Prime Minister has kept that guideline in place. In fact, it is still on the government's website today.
Why do the Liberals continue to tell lawyers not to defend homeowners?
Randeep Sarai LiberalSecretary of State (International Development)
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. The federal government is defending the property rights. The property rights are not at risk. The only people who are saying the property rights are at risk are the Conservatives over here and their counterparts in the province of British Columbia. They know it and we know it.
The Canadian government will always defend private property rights. None of the treaty agreements take away those rights. We will defend the rights of Canadians.
They are just disseminating fear in the hearts of British Columbians and Canadians for the wrong reasons.
Braedon Clark Liberal Sackville—Bedford—Preston, NS
Mr. Speaker, we know young people are the foundation of Canada's future.
Can the Secretary of State for Labour tell the House what our government is doing through the spring economic update to invest in the next generation, ensuring they have both the opportunities to stay active and the pathway to build meaningful careers across this country?
John Zerucelli LiberalSecretary of State (Labour)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for all of his hard work on behalf of his constituents in Nova Scotia. He is an excellent member.
Our spring economic update is investing in the next generation. We are creating paid pathways for 100,000 Canadians to get into the skilled trades with a $6-billion investment, helping young people build good careers right here at home, and we are making the largest investment in sport in Canadian history so kids have the ability, across this country, to stay active and thrive.
These are some of the things we are doing to support Canadian youth and to build Canada strong for all.
Adam Chambers Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister recently recalled MPs from a trip, a delegation, to Taiwan. He has been sitting on, for over a year, an updated and finalized trade co-operation framework arrangement with Taiwan. It is just awaiting his signature. Also, Taiwan has been patiently waiting for additional flights to operate to Canada, only to see the government recently fast-track and announce new flights with China.
What does it say to our democratic allies around the world when the Liberal government stonewalls Taiwan in favour of getting closer to an autocratic Beijing?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Actually, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is not accurately reflecting the importance we place on the Indo-Pacific region in general, including Taiwan, which is an important economic partner.
We enjoy strong people-to-people ties with Taiwan, and we will continue to ensure that Taiwan continues to be an important economic partner for this country as we diversify trade and double non-U.S. trade over the next 10 years.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' privatization agenda is disturbing and dangerous. They are planning to sell off Canada's ports and airports, strategic assets that will end up in the hands of foreign buyers, compromising our security.
When Heathrow was privatized in the U.K., it resulted in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China controlling major stakes in that airport. Passengers paid more and services declined.
Will the Prime Minister commit to keeping Canada's ports and airports in public hands, or will he sell our sovereignty to the highest bidder?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is exploring all possibilities, but one thing we will not compromise on is that we want to actually improve the travel experience and keep air travel in this vast and beautiful land accessible to all. We want to make sure that pricing continues to favour Canadians' ability to move around the country. We want to explore all possibilities in terms of safety, accessibility and making travel a responsive, comfortable, good and positive experience for all Canadians.