Debates of May 7th, 2026

Jewish Community Institutions

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a deeply troubling complaint filed with the Canada Revenue Agency targeting 11 Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto. These schools are essential pillars of Jewish life in Canada. They exist to teach language, history, culture and identity, just as faith-based schools across this country do. For months, there has been a coordinated effort to mis-characterize Jewish schools, to strip them of funding and to undermine their place in Canadian society. Let me be clear: Attacking Jewish schools or Jewish day camps is a direct attack on Canadian Jewish life.

The CRA must be unequivocally clear that it will not allow tax laws to be weaponized against any group. Jewish schools in this country have already faced serious threats, including repeated gunfire attacks. All Canadians have a right to be safe and feel safe; this includes Canadian Jews and this includes Canadian children.

I hope all members of the House will join me in denouncing these attacks on Jewish community institutions.

Vyshyvanka Day

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, every third Thursday in May, we celebrate Vyshyvanka Day. This year marks 20 years of this tradition in Ukraine and 10 years here in Canada. What began as a student initiative at Chernivtsi University has grown into a global celebration of Ukrainian heritage, identity and resilience. This Vyshyvanka Day, more than four years into Russia's illegal invasion, we are reminded that this symbol has endured centuries of attempts to erase the Ukrainian people, both physically and as a nation. Like every stitch in a vyshyvanka, every act of support matters.

Canada must continue to step up by providing the military support Ukraine needs and by dramatically increasing our energy exports to displace the Russian resources that are financing this war. On behalf of Canada's Conservatives, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand with Ukraine until victory.

Happy Vyshyvanka Day and slava Ukraini.

Gérald Savard

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a great man. Gérald Savard has served as the mayor of the municipality of Bégin for nearly 30 years. He is descended from a long line of public servants. Like his father and grandfather, he has dedicated his life to serving the people of his municipality.

Gérald also served as reeve of the Fjord-du-Saguenay RCM for 13 years, during which he dedicated himself to developing our region. Gérald often spoke of Lucien Bouchard, who he said once told him that in order to succeed in politics, one must love people and act with courage. I can assure everyone that Gérald has always been known for his abiding love for the residents of Bégin and for his genuine interest in the people of our region.

Today I especially want to acknowledge Gérald's exemplary courage and perseverance. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, he continues to serve as mayor with the same passion and dedication he has shown for the past 30 years.

On behalf of everyone back home, and with the utmost respect, I wish to offer our most sincere congratulations on his exceptional career.

Vyshyvanka Day

[Jake Sawatzky, Liberal, New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today many of us in this chamber wear a vyshyvanka, a symbol of Ukrainian heritage and resilience that has endured through some of history’s darkest moments. For Ukrainian Canadians, these embroidered shirts carry identity and the stories of generations who held on to their culture through hardship and persecution.

Canada is home to one of the largest Ukrainian communities in the world outside Ukraine. For more than a century, Ukrainian Canadians have helped shape our country. These roots also exist in my own family. My grandfather came from Ukraine after his family endured persecution under Stalin's regime. He came to Canada in search of freedom and opportunity, and he was always grateful to live in such a welcoming country that allowed him to give back to the next generations.

Today, as Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty and democracy, Canadians stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. To those celebrating, I wish them a happy Vyshyvanka Day.

Slava Ukraini.

Fuel Taxes

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, gas prices across Canada remain higher than they need to be, not just because of the war in Iran but because of unnecessary federal taxes. The last time a barrel of oil cost $100 was in 2014 under a Conservative government, and gas prices never reached their current levels.

In Penticton and Oliver, gas prices are now two dollars a litre, with communities like Castlegar, Grand Forks, Osoyoos and Princeton over $1.90 a litre. We need to offer real relief for longer. Our Conservative plan would scrap all federal gas taxes, the excise tax, GST and the fuel standard tax, for the rest of 2026. We would pay for this by ending Liberal waste, like their gun-grab program.

Uncertainty abroad does not mean Canada cannot be affordable and strong at home.

Finance

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, families in my riding of Whitby are working hard, but rising costs are certainly stretching their budgets.

This spring's economic update responds to that reality with action and tangible help that people can count on. It would deliver a new federal benefit this year for almost $1,900 for the average family to help them with the cost of groceries, along with real relief at the pumps, saving 10¢ a litre for daily commuters. It would also protect families from unfair banking fees and help workers keep more of their hard-earned paycheques through lower Canada pension plan contributions, while offering higher tax deductions for tradespeople who must relocate for work. It would also accelerate over $7 billion in financing to build more homes faster and offer support to recruit, train and hire up to 1,000 new skilled trades workers.

For families and workers in my riding, it means a boost today and a bridge to a better tomorrow.

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

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Liberals for turning Canada's economy into a “buy now, pay later” scheme. Canadians now finance their meals. Never before have we heard of Canadians buying pizza in four separate installments. The Liberals' only financial plan is to spend like crazy now and have Canadians pay forever.

The Liberal Prime Minister doubled Trudeau's deficit and added even more to the national credit card; more costs and taxes are all on the heads of struggling families. No wonder Canada has the highest food inflation in the G7, with 2.2 million Canadians at a food bank in a single month and one in 10 Canadians living in poverty. This is what happens when Liberals tax the farmer, the trucker, the grocer and the restaurant, and then act shocked when the price of meals goes up.

We should scrap the Liberals' fuel taxes, stop inflationary spending and bring home affordable food for Canadian families. In Canada, feeding families should not be put on a line of credit.

Francophone Distance Education

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the tabling of a white paper by the Réseau d'enseignement francophone à distance, or REFAD, on inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in distance education.

This document is the product of a collective effort. It highlights concrete issues facing francophone learners and institutions, especially in a minority context. In today's digital age, we have to ensure that no one is left behind. This white paper contains practical recommendations for building a more inclusive, equitable and accessible education system for all of Canada's francophones.

I congratulate REFAD, its partners and the working group for their efforts and contributions to this analysis of a topic of vital importance to Canada's francophonie. Through these initiatives and the Government of Canada's commitment to official languages and accessibility, we are building a more inclusive Canada where everyone has full access to learning opportunities, regardless of their circumstances or background.

Property Rights

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, British Columbians are increasingly concerned about the security of private property rights. Following the Cowichan decision, many Canadians were looking for clear assurances from the federal government about the stability of fee simple ownership and the implications for homeowners across British Columbia. Instead, questions remain about the government's approach in court and about agreements reached with the Musqueam nation, which some homeowners and stakeholders believe have added further uncertainty.

Conservatives believe reconciliation should proceed in a way that provides transparency, certainty and fairness for all. We respect indigenous rights. We respect the Constitution. We recognize the importance of meaningful reconciliation and the need to address historical wrongs. That is why Conservatives are calling on the government to provide greater certainty and clarity on how private property rights will be protected to ensure future agreements give homeowners certainty and to restore confidence in Canada's land title system.

Cops for Cancer

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that on Friday, April 24, I was arrested by the Coquitlam RCMP. The crime was drinking too much coffee while on House duty. I pleaded guilty. I was cuffed for a cure.

Cuffed for a Cure is the lighter side of Cops for Cancer. The harder side is the cycling. Each year, officers across Canada cycle hundreds of kilometres raising funds for life-saving childhood cancer research and supporting families facing the unimaginable. Their commitment reflects the very best of our community: compassion, resilience and a deep sense of service.

I encourage all Canadians to support Cops for Cancer and to help ensure that no child faces cancer alone.

The Economy

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, after too many years of this costly Liberal government, Canadians are broke. They are lining up at food banks, and our streets are more dangerous than ever, yet the Liberal government has spent over $742 million on a failed gun grab. While in Newfoundland and Labrador, hard-working Canadians are choosing between gas for their trucks and heat for their homes, the Prime Minister is wasting nearly $25,000 per gun to target law-abiding hunters. It is more cost, more corruption and more Liberal waste.

When will the Liberal Prime Minister cut the waste and cut the gas taxes so that Canadians can afford to live?

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

Mr. Speaker, of course, we have cut the gas tax by 28¢, but the member from Newfoundland and Labrador gets up, and maybe we will ask her, because we have not really had success of late getting that list of things that they consider to be inflationary spending on the table. We have no idea what the Conservatives consider to be inflationary spending. Is it the child benefit? Is it employment insurance? Is it small craft harbours? Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to know.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, to start, Conservatives would cut $20 billion in consultants. The failed gun grab is another example of the trillion dollars of spending by the costly Liberal government. The Prime Minister is more interested in $524,000 being spent on food for his private jet than in making life more affordable for hard-working Canadians who actually pay the bills. It is more cost, more cover-up and more Liberal waste. The Prime Minister is just another costly Liberal.

When will the Prime Minister remove all the taxes on all the gases for all the year, so Canadians can get real relief?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue to focus, on this side, on affordability. We just launched the grocery and essentials benefit that will put up to $1,900 in the pockets of hard-working families. We just cut the excise tax. That is 10¢. I combine that with the carbon tax cut, and that is 28¢. The spring economic update continued to confirm that our economy is strong and growing.

On this side of the House, we are laser-focused on building a strong economy. That side can continue with the rhetoric and the riddles.

Natural Resources

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for weeks now the Liberals have blamed external events for homegrown problems. For higher gasoline, they blame Iran. For higher diesel, they blame Iran. However, yesterday the CEO of Cenovus said it was not external events but Liberal policies that were making resource development and investment in Canada uncompetitive. He said the industrial carbon tax incents industry to invest outside Canada, so Liberal policies equal higher costs, more debt for Canadians and fleeing investors.

Will the Minister of Energy instead give Canadians a break and cut all the gas taxes for the entire year?

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

Mr. Speaker, maybe he should read about what the CEO of Shell said. The CEO of Shell said that Canada is the best place in the world to invest, and he just put $20 billion behind that statement. The CEO of Enbridge put $4 billion behind his statement, so maybe they should look a little harder in the paper.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, CBC is reporting that the Liberals will change the rules for resource development and pipeline approvals to allegedly try to speed them up, but we have been here before. Last year they promised big projects at speeds never seen before. If the minister were right, we would have projects coming out of everywhere, but in that year, no project has been approved in the national interest and nothing has been fast-tracked. Not one anti-resource development law or tax has been removed. It is beginning to feel a little like Alice in Wonderland, in which the rule is, “pipeline tomorrow, pipeline yesterday, but never a pipeline today.”

If that is not the case, will the minister tell us when the next pipeline will be approved?

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

Mr. Speaker, if the member took the cotton out of his ears, he would have heard there was a pipeline being built from Taylor to Gordondale. He would have heard there was an expansion of the largest pipeline system in British Columbia. He would have heard there was $8 billion being spent in Goose Bay. He would have heard there was $500 million being spent on a new wind farm in Nova Scotia. He would have heard about the new transmission line between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. I could keep going. They should listen a little more carefully.

Youth

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years at the helm, the Liberals would have us believe that it is normal to run deficits in excess of $60 billion a year. While the Liberals are spending billions of dollars, Quebeckers are counting every penny. A new Fraser Institute report confirms that Canada is facing a real youth unemployment crisis. In 2022, the youth unemployment rate was 12.3%. Now it is close to 19%. This is unprecedented outside of a recession.

Will the very Liberal Prime Minister finally start putting our young people and their future at the heart of this country's decisions?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleague will support us with the fall economic update, which provides for an investment of $6 billion over five years specifically for training, to give our young people opportunities in the construction trades, given that we know the demand will be huge. This government is focused on delivering major projects, building a future for our country and ensuring we have one of the strongest economies among the G7 nations.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government keeps talking about building major projects, but the Major Projects Office has spent $41 million without starting a single project. The cost of living is skyrocketing, home ownership is increasingly out of reach and jobs for young people are now scarce. There are no jobs in retail, no jobs in restaurants and no jobs in hospitality. After 11 years of raising taxes, adding bureaucracy and driving our country into debt, the Prime Minister has the gall to tell our young people that they have to make sacrifices and to tell Canadians that life has never been so affordable.

When will the Liberals put down the national credit card and start making decisions that will secure our young people's future?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague just talked about training initiatives to ensure that our youth in skilled trades have access to really good jobs. Nevertheless, the Conservatives, including the member, are against all these major projects. They are against the the Alto high-speed train we will be building in Quebec, which will create 51,000 jobs. They are against yesterday's announcement about the sale of 18 billion dollars' worth of aircraft made in Mirabel, designed and built in Quebec. They are against expanding the Port of Montreal in Contrecoeur. The Conservatives should—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Saint‑Jean.

Climate Change

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

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Liberals have decided to speed up pipeline construction by cutting red tape: too many rules, too much hemming and hawing, too much focus on reducing greenhouse gases and social acceptance. Canada has oil, so we are going to make a fortune, and to heck with the regulations. The Conservatives are losing the battle for the hearts of oil lovers. Soon enough, the Liberals will be the ones wearing “I love oil and gas” pins.

If there is a single Liberal left who believes in the environment, what on earth are they doing in this party?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I must say this again, as I do every time: Our government is committed to continuing the fight against climate change and to protecting the environment. We have a nature strategy. It is a major investment in our country's future. We have introduced methane regulations. This is something that people in other countries are looking at and admiring; they are saying that Canada is ahead of the curve and is a leader. We will continue doing our job. I hope our colleagues will look at this and support us.