Debates of June 10th, 2026

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, everything the Liberals say about our military is just an illusion. They promised our troops raises, but they never materialized. Retention benefits for reserves are missing in action. The Liberal minister is gutting housing support for our troops by up to $7,000 a year, plus he is hiking housing rents on Canadian Armed Forces members. Our military is short over 8,600 personnel and over half of our military occupations are suffering critical staff shortages.

Why is the defence minister making retention worse for our soldiers, sailors and aviators?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the member has been, but he has not been to any of our 33 bases lately. He is not seeing the investments that are being made there. He is not seeing the improvements that have been showing up, such as a 61% increase in applications this year, year over year, a 13% increase in those accepted into the forces, reductions in times for training, and 8%, 13% and 20% increases in salaries.

It is so bad. I really just cannot figure out how they can make this stuff up.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, let us separate the fiction and actually have some reality here. Most of our troops are not seeing a bump in their paycheque because the Liberals continue to claw it back at every opportunity. Rents are up by more than 5% for military housing. Housing support is down in more than 10 of the major housing posting locations. These reckless cuts are making retention and readiness much worse.

How can our brave women and men who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces trust these Liberals when they give with one hand and claw back with the other?

Will the defence minister reverse these bad policies and actually start improving the retention of our brave women and men?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, it is a good day to answer this question, because, in fact, a year ago today we announced that we would achieve 2% of our GDP expenditures for defence. I remember where the member was at the end of the Harper regime when it was less than 1%. I did not see him fighting then for the money that we needed for our forces. In fact, he has been missing in action.

On the housing front alone, we are building 7,500 new units, 800 units are under construction now and three new apartment buildings have been purchased. We are making progress step by step. That is exactly what the women and men of the forces deserve.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' pay raise for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces is a farce. The Liberals are slashing the housing benefit by up to 72%, while upping the rent by 5%. CAF members in the national capital region will see their housing differential cut by up to $4,200 a year. In Kingston, they will see their housing differential cut by up to $7,200 a year.

When will the defence minister reverse these harmful changes?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue to make thoughtful, systematic and disciplined investments in the Canadian Armed Forces. Applications are up 61% year over year. The number of folks brought into the system is up 13% year over year. We have more women joining. We are making progress on the cultural challenges inside the Canadian Armed Forces. We are buying weapons systems. We bought new rifles. We are building new homes. We are building for the future.

When a mess is left like it was by the last regime under Mr. Harper, it is kind of hard to defend it.

Canadian Identity and Culture

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have exciting news. June is Portuguese Heritage Month and today we also celebrate Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas.

Can the hon. Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages speak to the significance of the Portuguese Canadian community and its contribution to Canada's diversity?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by wishing a happy Portuguese Heritage Month and a feliz Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas to all Luso-Canadians.

Since the 1950s, generations of Portuguese immigrants have come to Canada and today nearly half a million Canadians trace their roots to Portugal. Across every sector, Luso-Canadians continue to enrich our society through their hard work, talent and commitment to their communities, including in this House. It is a chance to reflect on the values that unite us and to celebrate the diversity that makes us strong.

The Economy

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. In Edmonton, families are feeling the effects of Liberal mismanagement. A recent United Way survey found that 60% of Canadians now feel anxiety about their personal finances. Global factors are not to blame. It is Liberal inflationary spending and antidevelopment laws that have staled our economy. Canadians deserve better.

Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies causing this crisis so Canadians can afford to live again?

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, our government has a clear plan to build Canada strong by creating good careers for workers in Alberta and across the country. Last month, 14,000 new jobs were added to Alberta's economy. We know there is more work to do. That is why we are building big and scaling up efforts to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 additional skilled trade workers.

I have a simple question: Why are the Conservatives so disappointed by positive news?

Air Transportation

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Doug Ford wants to force through a $5‑billion Billy Bishop expansion that the people of Toronto do not want. It is a good thing the Ontario NDP is fighting back, but where are the Liberal members of Parliament? They are nowhere to be found. In fact, they are hiding behind a sham consultation that community groups say is a waste of time, with no business case, no environmental assessment and no details.

If Toronto Liberal MPs will not represent the people who elected them, will the Prime Minister step in and stop this scheme?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member from Edmonton that the 23 Liberal MPs from the 416 are incredible members who represent their people and that city to make sure that we have housing and other investments that will move that city forward.

We will, of course, continue to listen to the people of the GTA. We will, of course, listen to the voices of Toronto as we continue to move forward on this very important file.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That brings question period to an end for today.

The hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the members of the Bloc Québécois stand with the members who expressed their full solidarity with our colleague from Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata earlier. Our hearts go out to him. I believe that this spirit of collegiality and solidarity is fundamental to the House.

In the same vein, I would like to call your attention to the fact that, in responding to my colleague from Drummond, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture claimed that the Bloc Québécois members have been here since the party's founding “getting absolutely nothing done”. The truth is that we work hard.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Duly noted.

The member for Drummond is also rising on a point of order.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, a Conservative member suddenly raised his voice while asking his question. I think this could pose a risk to the interpreters, and I think we should keep in mind that interpreters do delicate work and that hearing health is a major concern that we should all be mindful of.

I just wanted to point that out as a reminder.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The member raises a good point. Whether in committee or here in the House, we must be mindful of the impact that the tone we use has on the occupational health and safety of the interpreters.

The House resumed from June 8 consideration of the motion.

Justice and Human Rights

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It being 3:15 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights concerning the extension of time to consider Bill C‑223.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #145

Committees of the House

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I declare the motion carried.

The House resumed from June 9 consideration of the motion that Bill C-20, An Act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, be read the third time and passed.

Build Canada Homes Act

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-20.

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

Vote #146

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)