Debates of May 8th, 2026

Employment

[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 job numbers come in every month. It seems that the Conservatives rejoice too much when there are job losses in this country. Why are they so jovial and celebratory when they hear that Canadians are losing jobs?

On this side of the House, we are empathetic to what Canadians are going through and we are stepping up to support them with real support: extending EI for seasonal workers, increasing tax deductions for workers that they need and helping to recruit, train and hire 100,000 new skilled trades workers. That is real support.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here is the definition of this costly Liberal Prime Minister: more agencies, more taxes, more spending, more credit card spending, more interest payments on the credit card and more job losses. It is always the same old story. The proof is that, after 11 years of Liberal government, all that the government is doing right now is losing jobs.

When will the Prime Minister realize that throwing money down the drain is not the way to grow the economy?

[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 premise of the member's question is patently false. This government is exercising fiscal restraint and discipline. We have the strongest fiscal position.

Members opposite can say whatever they want, but the International Monetary Fund, one of the experts at analyzing world economies, has said that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We are using that fiscal capacity, just as has been recommended by the IMF, to support Canadians by making generational investments that—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, he is talking about fiscal restraint when the Liberals just doubled Canada's deficit. The current Prime Minister is an illusion. Contrary to what my colleague is saying, Canada is currently shedding jobs by the tens of thousands every month. Quebec alone lost 43,000 jobs in April, bringing the total job losses in 2026 in Quebec to 91,000. That is the fault of Liberal management.

How can the Liberals then turn around and say that everything is fine? It is unbelievable. It is impossible.

[Madeleine Chenette, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that, on this side of the House, we are working hard for jobs. That is why, this week, the Prime Minister met with people from Enertec, a company that is facing difficulties because of the unjustified U.S. tariffs. The company's CEO, Julie Desrosiers, thanked the Prime Minister for promoting the buy Canadian movement in Canada and for all the innovation they will be able to carry out. They are confident that they can build and have jobs for the next year for Enertec employees.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was meeting with his Alberta counterpart, Danielle Smith. We know that he has already promised her new pipelines, provided that the proponents foot the bill. According to what the Liberal member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie told Le Devoir, the Prime Minister has put himself in a tight spot with that promise. He promised more pipelines, but oil companies do not want to pay. Guess what? Quebeckers do not want to pay either.

Did the Prime Minister reiterate to Ms. Smith that their agreement specifies that no public funds will be used for these pipelines?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about what we are doing with public money. We are making major investments in renewable energy. When it comes to electricity and the tax credit, we are investing billions of dollars in a power grid that works well for the whole country. We are also making investments to reduce methane emissions. We are doing the work. We are continuing to fight climate change.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, seems like there is a new pipeline in the works in Ottawa. The Liberal member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie said this morning: “Where I draw the line is if the federal government decides to use any of the many mechanisms at its disposal [to buy a pipeline].” His Prime Minister's economic update gives us cause for concern. He has come up with a scheme called a “sovereign wealth fund” that contains $25 billion in public money to finance dirty oil.

Are there any other Liberals who will draw the line and refuse to pass the cost of a pipeline on to taxpayers?

[Claude Guay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our friends in the Bloc Québécois do not know the difference between the words “and” and “or”. We have made it clear that we will be an energy superpower in both conventional and clean energy. That is what we are doing, and it is for all of Canada and all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister confirmed yesterday that he is going to relax the regulations governing pipeline approvals as early as this week. At the same time, in his economic update, he announced a sovereign wealth fund that he is going to create using $25 billion in public money to pay for energy projects. Everyone can put two and two together.

Is the Prime Minister going to make Quebeckers pay for his dirty oil pipelines that will not even have to comply with laws and regulations?

[Claude Guay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear. Our goal is to catalyze half a trillion dollars in private sector investment. The Major Projects Office plays an important role in that. Alberta has indicated that it will submit a proposal by July 1. We will evaluate it against the criteria set out in the Building Canada Act.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the federal government is willing to utilize Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation to help backstop indigenous co-ownership if necessary.

Youth

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after over a decade of reckless Liberal inflationary spending, young Canadians are falling further behind than ever before. Last month, Canada lost 47,000 full-time jobs, and youth unemployment is up over 14%. That is more than double the national rate.

Young Canadians are now more unemployed than at any point in recorded Canadian history. Young people cannot afford rent, they cannot afford groceries and they certainly cannot afford a home. They are sending out hundreds of résumés with no response.

Under these Liberals, it is more taxes, more job losses and more of the same.

Why is this Liberal Prime Minister making young Canadians sacrifice for his failures?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we know that youth unemployment is uneven across the country. There will be 6,600 new youth jobs in Alberta, by the way, this year.

Let us talk about the top line here. We have the second-fastest growth in the G7, the best fiscal position in the G7, 20 new trade and security deals, non-U.S. exports up 40%, highest foreign direct investment in the G7 and that is twice that of the next country, created more jobs than the U.S. last year, wages are growing, inflation is slowing, investments in affordable gas and affordable food, affordable child care and affordable dental care.

There is much more to do, but it would be great if the opposition would get serious and join us.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I thought that this Liberal Prime Minister was supposed to be good with money, but they just lost $175 million in less than six months on a failing diamond mine that just sought creditor protection.

Young Canadians were promised opportunity, but after a decade of Liberal reckless spending, they are getting fewer jobs and less opportunity.

This year, Canada has lost 111,000 full-time jobs. We have thousands of skilled workers just waiting for this Liberal government to get out of the way. Unfortunately, it is just more taxes, more job losses and more of the same.

Why is this Liberal Prime Minister making young Canadians pay for his economic recklessness?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we are making historic investments in young people. My colleagues today have already mentioned a number of those major projects. I am sure we will get to hear that question and get expansions of that question many more times today.

Between November and April, we have reduced our deficit by $11 billion, strengthening what was already the best fiscal position in the G7.

I would ask the opposition this: In 2026, right now, with the wars and the trade wars and the crisis today dragging on the economy, is this the time for austerity budgets, slashing social programs and slashing affordability supports, as you seem to be suggesting? We are—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Again, we will address comments through the Chair.

The hon. member for Lakeland.

Finance

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's new job numbers are out. They are devastating: 47,000 full-time jobs gone and unemployment at 7%. It is 4% in the U.S. For young Canadians, it is double the overall rate.

The Liberals' trillion-dollar debt means higher costs of everything, lower standards of living and fewer opportunities for Canadians who want to start families, plan a future and put aside savings, but they cannot afford it since the government takes and takes.

Canada is rich in natural and human resources. No one should struggle to find work.

How much longer will the Prime Minister force Canadians to pay the price for his costly credit card budgets?

[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, Conservatives say they care about affordability, but then then oppose essential supports for families, such as child care, dental care and school food programs. They say they care about Canadian jobs, but they only celebrate the losses and are completely silent on the months when we make major gains across the country. They say they care about Canada's fiscal management while completely ignoring $11 billion less of a deficit, the fact that we saved $60 billion on government operations and we have the strongest fiscal position in the G7, according to the IMF.

While Conservatives seem to only want to see Canada fail, we are here to make sure it succeeds.

Youth

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, these guys are so out of touch, they just do not give a rip about what Canadians are actually going through.

Last fall, the Prime Minister told young Canadians they would have to “make sacrifices”. Well, he sure did mean it, did he not?

New numbers show youth unemployment is at 14.3%. Young Canadians now face the toughest job market on record and struggle to afford rent, groceries and textbooks. No wonder young men and women lose hope. How can they ever get ahead? Young Canadians pay the highest price for Liberal debt, deficits and costly credit card budgets that mortgage their futures.

Over a year in, how much more will the PM force young Canadians to sacrifice and suffer?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we believe now is the time to invest and build our communities. We are creating jobs while building housing and building infrastructure. I wonder if our colleague from Alberta could let us know what projects she would cut from our budget. Is it the investment to rural communities across Alberta to expand fleets and transit services, and plan for the future? Is it the new Japanese community centre in Calgary? Is it $3 million to improve treatment services at the Conklin water treatment plant in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta? What would the Conservatives plan to cut?

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada lost 18,000 jobs in April. The unemployment rate is now 6.9%. Youth unemployment jumped to 14.3%. Young Canadians are unemployed longer than at any time since 1976. Instead of results, these Liberals have given us more job losses and more of the same. The Prime Minister told Canadians they must prepare for sacrifices, while young Canadians are already sacrificing jobs, opportunities and their futures.

How much longer will the Liberal government force young people to sacrifice for its failures?

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, young Canadians are feeling the pressure right now, and that is why we are making ambitious investments in the Canadians economy and young workers, so they can be part of building Canada strong. In our spring economic update, we announced our team Canada strong plan that invests in training and apprenticeship supports in the skilled trades. This will help train 100,000 skilled trade workers by 2030. We are going to ensure they have the tools they need to learn, grow and help us build Canada strong.

Finance

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals speak of their latest programs, but the investors have already given us their verdict. Capital is leaving this country at a record pace. Our investment per worker is the lowest in the G7. In a country that needs millions of homes, 100,000 skilled tradespeople cannot find a project to work on. A country is not built by speeches, MOUs and press releases. It is built by employers willing to invest here, and they are choosing to invest elsewhere.

When will the Prime Minister fix the conditions that have driven investment, jobs and opportunity out of this country?

[Karim Bardeesy, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, before I came to this place, I taught undergraduate students for 15 years, and I know the number that COVID did and now the trade war is doing on them.

What do we do when a number is being done on young people? We build them up and help them with hard skills and soft skills. That is why we have the team Canada strong plan with 100,000 apprenticeships. This summer we have 32,000 jobs with Statistics Canada in the census, a project that the party opposite would be first to cancel. That is how we build up the skills to get the kinds of careers that our students want and need, and that is why we are there for them.