Debates of June 1st, 2026

Justice

[Amarjeet Gill, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my community is living in fear. Sadly, the Prime Minister is just another weak-on-crime Liberal. Every day extortion calls are coming in and houses and businesses are being shot at, and gangs are sending letters to the police bragging about having thousands of extortionists ready to commit crimes. Last week, the Liberals tried to boast that the Peel police busted 17 members of an extortion ring targeting businesses in Brampton, but half are already on Liberal bail.

When will the Liberal government get serious and ensure that violent repeat offenders are in jail?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, that is false. Half of those individuals are not on bail. We have changed provisions. We have made it so that people can be easily removed from this country. Many of those individuals are being removed and others are being charged and trials will be held. We have seen trials across this country in extortion cases, and people have received hefty sentences, but if our bail and sentencing bill is to pass, then the sentences will be even stiffer.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, the newly announced Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon National Marine Conservation Area Reserve is a major step forward for marine conservation, indigenous stewardship and coastal communities in British Columbia.

Can the Minister of the Environment tell the House how this initiative will help protect our oceans while creating benefits for local and indigenous communities?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I was able to go to Klemtu in British Columbia's beautiful central coast, along with the MP for Vancouver Quadra, where we established Mia-yaltwa. It is a new marine conservation area reserve, the first under our nature strategy. It was established in partnership with six first nations and the Province of British Columbia, along with the federal government, and it is going to be conserving the sister to the Great Bear rainforest in the Great Bear Sea. It is larger than the island of Prince Edward Island. It is a beautiful place where we protect biodiversity, create economic opportunity and advance recognition.

The Economy

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. No matter how the Liberals spin it, this is a full-blown Liberal recession. Investment is leaving, jobs are disappearing and the economy has shrunk for two straight quarters. They can blame tariffs and global conflict, but every G7 country faces those pressures. In London, this comes as no surprise. London has been the canary in the coal mine. With unemployment at 9.2%, the worst in the country, Londoners saw the warning signs first. The Prime Minister can quote projections, but Londoners are living the reality.

Will the Prime Minister stop denying this recession and reverse the Liberal policies that caused it?

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

Mr. Speaker, while they continue to run down Canada, what we are doing is building. We are building in Quebec with Nouveau Monde Graphite. We are building new nuclear right here in Ontario. We are building new mines in Thompson, Manitoba. We are building four new mines in Saskatchewan. We are building new pipelines in British Columbia and Alberta. We are building new mines and LNG in British Columbia. Maybe the Conservatives should start trying to help build this country instead of tearing it down.

Foreign Affairs

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada signed a police co-operation agreement with China behind closed doors. The RCMP reportedly revealed that Canada cannot publicly disclose details of the MOU without Beijing's approval. The foreign affairs minister said she spoke frankly with the Chinese foreign affairs minister about human rights abuses, foreign interference and transnational repression activities last week.

China has a history of weaponizing shared intelligence such as Operation Fox Hunt. Will the minister be frank with Canadians and tell us whether she asked China's permission to release the MOU, yes or no?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me be frank with this House and with Canadians: Canada has entered into MOUs with China with respect to combatting crime in various forms since 2010 and, as has historically been the case with this agreement, the advice of Canada's intelligence agencies is always followed.

I had a productive exchange with China's minister of foreign affairs regarding areas of mutual interest. I raised issues relating to transnational repression, human rights and security domestically. I will always stand up for Canadian values.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals for the Province of British Columbia.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Motion

The House resumed from May 28 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Elimination of the Streaming Tax

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It being 3:13 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Lethbridge relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The question is as follows.

Shall I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

[Chair read text of motion to House]

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #129

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I declare the motion defeated.

I wish to inform the House that, because of the deferred recorded division, the time provided for Government Orders will be extended by another 12 minutes, for a total of 42 minutes.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 55 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 28th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the report later this day.

Justice and Human Rights

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would be honoured to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, in relation to Bill C-231, an act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 28th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

There being no dissenting voice, it is agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to)

Iran

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions that I would like to present today.

The first petition is e-7157. It has been signed by 1,443 Canadians. These Canadians are alarmed by the fact that the Iranian regime is carrying out executions of political prisoners, protesters and Iranians who are exercising their fundamental freedoms. Detainees face imminent risk of execution after unfair trials, and petitioners are calling on Canadian members of Parliament to politically sponsor individuals imprisoned in Iran who face risk of execution.

Petitioners are urging the Government of Canada to recognize and back political sponsorship efforts, to establish a framework for political sponsoring of individuals facing execution or several human rights violations abroad, and to take immediate diplomatic and international action to pressure the Iranian regime to release political prisoners on behalf of the petitioners.

Palestine

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I also present petition e-6834 signed by 1,444 Canadians. These Canadians are concerned by the anti-Palestinian racism they see on clear display with the Liberal government.

The petitioners note that since the beginning of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, over 21,000 Palestinian children have become disabled, since October 7, 2023. They are calling on the government to create a special program to issue emergency temporary resident permits for wounded children and their parents and siblings. They urge the government to change impossible biometrics requirements, making them more in line with other emergency programs. Finally, they ask that the government work with NGOs and health care facilities to coordinate care.

Animal Cruelty

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of rising in the House to table petition e-7108, signed by over 15,000 Canadians, including 14,000 Quebeckers, who condemn the fact that the Liberals still do not understand that state and religion are separate matters and that they should not provide financial support for kosher and halal ritual slaughter practices.

The petitioners point out that section 141 of the safe food for Canadians regulations requires that all animals be rendered unconscious so that they are unconscious at the time of bleeding. However, the ritual slaughter methods in question require the animal to be conscious at the time of bleeding, which causes unnecessary suffering and violates the obligation to ensure the humane treatment of animals.

These citizens criticize the government for providing financial assistance to slaughterhouses wishing to bring their operations into line with kosher and halal standards, and point out that favouring companies on religious grounds constitutes discrimination and violates the principle of the separation of religion and state and the principle of state secularism.

The petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to stop financially incentivizing halal and kosher practices; to maintain the requirement to stun animals before bleeding them, with no exceptions; and until this is done, to require meat from animals that were slaughtered without being stunned or according to religious norms to be labelled with the method of slaughter.