Debates of June 11th, 2026

Seniors

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is not even an answer.

I heard something unbelievable. Why did the Liberals “liberalize” the New Horizons for Seniors program? Just a few days before the 2026 call for proposals was launched, the Liberals changed the rules and made it impossible for organizations to apply for grants. I have received about a dozen complaint letters from farm women in seniors clubs.

Will the Liberals have to create another program to help our seniors apply for the New Horizons program? That does not make any sense. I am going to share the minister's response with all of the Liberal ridings, and then we will see what those MPs have to say to the minister, who is telling members that they are not doing their job.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of the New Horizons for Seniors program, which benefits hundreds and even thousands of organizations across Quebec and Canada. We will continue to support this program. It is a program that works.

When my colleague talks to the seniors in his riding, I hope that he tells the over 39,000 healthy people, many of whom are seniors, that they will no longer have access to the Canadian dental care plan if he votes as he did to take it away from them. That is shameful.

Indigenous Affairs

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the real shame is holding seniors' charities hostage. That is ridiculous.

The indigenous languages commissioner hosted a four-day conference that cost $10 million. That is $10 million for four days.

A University of Manitoba professor asked people to imagine how many indigenous students could have learned their mother tongue.

Does the minister agree with the professor?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is well aware, I have ordered an investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment on this matter in the House of Commons.

Intergovernmental Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, there have not been any decent answers today, despite the fact that the questions being asked are incredibly simple.

Every time the Liberals are in power, tensions rise with Quebec, Alberta and the other provinces. Why? It is quite simple. It is because the Liberals do not respect the Quebec nation. They respect Alberta no more than they respect Quebec. They continue to centralize and overstep provincial jurisdiction. The Liberals believe that Canada is their country and it should be run their way.

Can the Liberal government finally mind its own business, respect provincial autonomy and understand that its role is to serve, not to control?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of things in the House. The member talks about respecting the Quebec nation, but where was he last Tuesday when, together with the Premier of Quebec, we announced $10 billion for infrastructure in Quebec?

The only time we see the Conservatives is when they are trying to deprive Quebeckers of the money needed for infrastructure, take $2.75 billion from Quebec City for the tramway or deny Quebec a high-speed rail project that will bring us into the modern era and that we should have undertaken decades ago.

Public Safety

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is another meaningless answer. It is lost. The Liberals think they have control of everything, but they should be serving the people instead of using them.

After 11 years of this Liberal government and the passage of Bill C-83 in 2019, we are seeing the consequences in our prisons: increased violence, staff shortages, repeated inmate-on-inmate assaults and multiple murders. Donnacona's correctional officers have called for concrete tools.

When will the Liberal government fix its mistakes and restore safety in our prisons?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague will be pleased to learn that we are, in fact, working hand in hand with the Government of Quebec on these issues.

My colleague should know that we conducted a pilot project to remove cell phones from the various prisons and penitentiaries across the country. We will always be there to ensure the safety of correctional officers. We will continue to work with the Government of Quebec. We will continue to fight extortion and crime in this country.

Employment

[Jessica Fancy-Landry, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, mining is already one of Canada's largest economic drivers, contributing billions of dollars to the Canadian economy annually, but the sector is experiencing a labour shortage right now, needing 250,000 new hires over the next 10 years.

Can the Minister of Jobs and Families please update the House on a national announcement that was recently held in my riding of South Shore—St. Margarets about what is being done to ensure that Canadian workers can take advantage of these generational opportunities?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her hard work and her advocacy to bring the mining industry together to ensure we have the skills that we need for today and for tomorrow. Yes, this alliance is launched with great fanfare from the industry, which is praising the Government of Canada for taking action to make sure that the skills that are taught are aligned with what the industry needs. This is how we build Canada strong.

Health

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians with documented, serious and permanent COVID-19 vaccine injuries have been waiting years for help. A government contractor was hired to provide that help. The government contractor got $54 million for little to no results. Two-thirds of that money went to administration and overhead. Only 252 out of tens of thousands of vaccine-injured people were given any help at all.

On what day are the victims going to get their money?

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the allegations against the previous vendor for the vaccine injury program were absolutely unacceptable. That is why we made the administration of the program internal, to ensure money is spent appropriately. We have directed the Public Health Agency to alter the program to ensure all our dollars are spent correctly, and we look forward to working with members across the House to make sure vulnerable Canadians are looked after.

Firearms

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Ponoka—Didsbury, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in 2020, the Liberals demonized law-abiding gun owners and banned over 2,500 models of firearms. Since then, violent crime and gun smuggling have only increased. Now the Supreme Court of Canada has slapped the Liberals' wrists, extending their hard-line amnesty period on their ridiculous gun grab.

Since the Prime Minister loves off-ramps so much, will he take this one and abandon this billion-dollar boondoggle that even his own public safety minister admits does not work?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, our government's decision to extend the amnesty order respects the judicial process, and it provides greater certainty for firearms owners across Canada. To date, over 142,000 firearms have been declared, and firearms owners have already begun making appointments to drop off their prohibited weapons. We will keep working to keep communities across Canada safe.

Labour

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been well over a year since the Liberal government received evidence that federally funded infrastructure projects were using illegal and trafficked labour, violating funding agreements and leaving legitimate trades workers on the sidelines, unemployed. The Liberal response since then has been crickets.

When will the Liberals stop funding projects that are using illegal, trafficked labourers and instead ensure the work goes to legitimate Canadian trades workers?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the members that the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the infrastructure investments we make as a country follow the Canada Labour Code.

Public Services and Procurement

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, that was a serious question that deserved a serious answer.

Buried in the Liberals' omnibus budget bill is yet another ministerial power grab. Cabinet gives itself more powers to award contracts while allowing itself to muzzle the very watchdog, the procurement ombudsman, who is meant to monitor it.

Why are the Liberals rigging the rules so they can hand out contracts without anyone watching?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, I want to highlight and thank the procurement ombud for the work he has done over the years and for the work he is doing.

The Auditor General also has a role to play in helping us to make sure that as we go forward with procurement, all procurements respect the highest standard and that they are done transparently in an open and competitive process, which is the basic rule.

Indigenous Affairs

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in 2020, the Liberals told chiefs they would make first nations policing an essential service, with new legislation and expanded service and number of communities served. Six years later, nothing has been done, and we hear every week from first nations of how their people are dying because of these broken promises when it comes to safety.

On what date will the Liberals table that policing bill and keep their promises for once?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with first nations and Inuit police in communities across Canada to ensure the safety and security of all those in the communities. We are increasing the number of resources available for infrastructure, and we continue to ensure that funding is applied throughout the year.

What I do want to say is that if the party opposite is serious about public safety, the number one issue that has been sought is lawful access, which is Bill C-22, which the party opposite is blocking and obstructing as we speak.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that was another non-answer.

Joseph Murdoch-Flowers, executive director of the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre in Iqaluit, said this week that the centre has seen its daily meal count go from around 58,000 in 2022 to almost 91,000 last year. It has served 37,000 meals so far this year in a town of 7,500 people. The Liberals have been in power for 11 years, yet 58% of people in Nunavut live in food-insecure households.

After 11 years, does the Prime Minister really think Nunavut has never had it so good?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, we know that a food subsidy alone will not solve the food insecurity issue. That is why we have been working to engage 124 of the nutrition north communities to ensure that we work with them to find the solutions for their communities. What we are working toward is moving from a food subsidy to a food economy. That means a whole-of-government approach. I continue looking forward to working with the member opposite to find solutions.

Seniors

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that was another non-answer.

The Liberal government has said that it is going to make life affordable for everyday Canadians. If this is true, can the minister please stand up and explain why seniors make up the fastest-growing group in the Waterloo region facing homelessness? The wait-list for individuals over 55 needing affordable homes in the region has increased by 700%.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, that was yet another question from a member of Parliament who continually votes against the very things that would help with housing and homelessness, things like the investment in Ontario of $3 billion through the national housing strategy. The member voted against those things.

If the member really wants to help people who are suffering from housing scarcity, what she should do is stop voting against the things they need.

Government Appointments

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague asked a serious question and she deserves a serious answer.

The position of Canada's independent ombudsman for responsible enterprise has sat vacant for a year. Open cases have stalled, and as a result, victims of modern slavery and exploitation are blocked from justice.

Can the minister tell then House the date for when this important position will be filled, and by whom?