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House of Commons Hansard #136 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debate.
House of Commons Hansard #136 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debate.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Income Tax Act Second reading of Bill C-269. The bill proposes an investment tax credit for industrial waste heat recovery. Conservative MP Greg McLean argues it creates power while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Liberal government opposes the bill, asserting it is redundant with existing incentives. The Bloc Québécois favors referring the legislation to committee to clarify its scope and impact on the manufacturing sector. 8000 words, 1 hour.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further Adjourned Members debate a Liberal motion to end debate on government business. Liberal MP Wayne Long justifies the move by citing unproductive filibustering hindering the cabinet agenda. Conversely, Conservative, Green, and Bloc MPs warn the government is using closure to limit democratic oversight and rush legislation like Bill C-30 without sufficient study. 4700 words, 35 minutes.
Government Business No. 12—Proceedings on BillC‑30 Members debate the government's use of time allocation to expedite Bill C-30. Opposition MPs, including those from the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party, criticize the Liberals for suppressing parliamentary scrutiny on contentious issues like pesticide regulation and airline passenger complaints. Conversely, Liberal members champion the legislation's provisions for economic stability and national social programming. 6000 words, 35 minutes.
Government Business No. 12—Proceedings on Bill C-30 Members debate a programming motion to expedite Bill C-30. Liberals defend the bill’s affordability measures, asserting that Conservative filibustering necessitates limiting debate. Conservatives reject this, labeling the motion a guillotine on accountability that masks reckless fiscal management. Concurrently, Bloc and Green members express intense frustration regarding both the government's environmental policies and the procedural erosion of democratic processes involved in forcing the legislation through the House. 33600 words, 5 hours.
Bill C-9—Time Allocation Motion Members debate a Liberal government motion to limit remaining debate on Bill C-9, which amends the Criminal Code regarding hate propaganda and religious sites. Conservatives allege procedural irregularities and express concerns about religious freedoms, while Liberals defend the legislation as vital for safety and accuse the opposition of spreading misinformation. The Chair concludes the session by calling for a recorded division. 4400 words, 35 minutes.
Combatting Hate Act Bill C-9. The bill amends the Criminal Code to combat hate-motivated conduct and propaganda. The Bloc Québécois supports the legislation for strengthening Attorney General oversight and religious-based hate provisions. While the Liberal government argues it protects vulnerable communities, Conservative MPs contend it creates unnecessary censorship, risks infringing on religious liberty, and duplicates existing laws already sufficient to prosecute hate-motivated crimes. 9600 words, 1 hour.
Access to InformationOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Clearly, members do not want an answer. We are going to start over.
The hon. President of the Treasury Board.
Shafqat Ali Liberal Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague made a statement, but there was no question in that statement.
As the President of the Treasury Board, I strongly support the government's efforts to improve and modernize the access to information process. Access to information is a fundamental part of ensuring transparency and accountability for Canadians. That is why last March we launched a review of the Access to Information Act. We have provided Library and Archives—
Access to InformationOral Questions
Shafqat Ali Liberal Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have awarded Library and Archives Canada with a permanent funding increase of approximately $20 million per year to support its access to information system.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Speaker, the press reports that Liberal MPs say the President of the Treasury Board is not very present, not very diligent and struggling to master his files. Last week, Canadians watched him stand in this House, unable to answer a very basic question about his own department.
If the Prime Minister demands confidence from his ministers, does he still have confidence in the President of the Treasury Board, yes or no?
Shafqat Ali LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government believes in transparency, accountability and fairness. As the President of the Treasury Board, I have been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner. We have launched consultations to modernize the access to information system.
I thank all the government agents, including the Information Commissioner, for their work to hold the government to account.
John-Paul Danko Liberal Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada led the invention of modern artificial intelligence, and now AI is used by millions of Canadians every day. Canadians want AI to strengthen our economy, to enhance job opportunities, to deliver new research and innovation, to protect our communities and our national sovereignty and to always prioritize people.
Can the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation update the House on Canada's new AI strategy?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I would really like to thank the member for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas for his incredible advocacy on behalf of his community.
Our new national AI strategy, AI for all, is building trust, creating opportunity and keeping sovereign control. We are creating a national AI literacy program so all Canadians can build a literate and educated workforce. We are creating 90,000 job placements for young Canadians so they can get the job experience they need. We are also investing in Canadian innovators, small and medium-sized businesses, to keep the jobs, the innovation and the business—
Artificial IntelligenceOral Questions
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, as the G7 gets under way, the Prime Minister remains the only leader of a G7 or G20 economy that is in recession. The Prime Minister should travel, but Canadians expect results from that. When he was back home in Ireland this weekend, investment was leaving Canada. On Saturday, Open Text's Waterloo-based AI company announced a $140-million investment in Ireland. That is 400 new jobs for Ireland. Ireland has lower taxes, less regulation and a better business environment.
Why did this investment not get made in Canada?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, no one can understand the economy if they have never worked a day in it, like the Conservative leader. Maybe he should listen to actual economists in Canada, like BMO's chief economist, who said adding 88,000 jobs should silence the critics. What about RBC's Frances Donald, who said that it is the wrong diagnosis, “neither accurate nor helpful”. The head of C.D. Howe gave his thoughts on the economy. I could go on and on.
On this side of the House, we are going to build Canada strong. The Conservative leader can continue with empty parking lot press conferences, props and slogans.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government's props and slogans are cold comfort to the young generation of Canadians, who are feeling its failures most acutely. The United Way's report last week confirmed that food insecurity concerns are highest among young Canadians, income declines are most acute among young Canadians and fully 91% of the next generation feel personal financial anxiety. Add on top of that the highest unemployment rate in 35 years.
When will the government stop selling out the next generation?
Karim Bardeesy LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, there are some very promising signs in the Canadian economy, especially in Ontario and especially for youth. The Ontario unemployment rate is now the lowest in two and a half years. The Toronto unemployment rate is the lowest since November 2023. Full-time jobs are up 154,000, 99,000 of which were for youth.
There are some very promising signs in this economy. We have investment both going to Canada and in—
The EconomyOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member for Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee has changed seats. I can hear him in a different spot now.
The hon. parliamentary secretary may continue.
Karim Bardeesy Liberal Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, we have very promising results with incoming investment, the highest investment in over 18 years in foreign direct investment into Canada. It is very good to have very strong Canadian companies that are both exporting their products and finding trading opportunities elsewhere.
I think we should celebrate and talk up these strong Canadian technology companies instead of running them down.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is the only G7 leader and the only G20 leader who has delivered a recession in his own country.
A United Way survey found that 60% of Canadians are anxious about their finances, 38% face food insecurity and 40% are losing sleep over how to stretch their paycheque. Meanwhile, this Liberal Prime Minister's luxury inflight catering bill has reached nearly $1 million over 14 trips, including $175,000 for food on a single trip, which is enough to feed a family for 55 years.
Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly Liberal policies that put Canada into a recession, so Canadians can afford to live again?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, instead of tearing down this country, which the Conservatives do, or counting airline miles, they should help build it up.
The May jobs report showed that Canada created 88,000 new net jobs. Do they mention that? No. Our trade surplus is up 55%. Do they mention it? No. Our total exports are at a record high. Do they mention it? No. When we have a groceries and essentials benefit to help Canadians, do they vote for it? No.
Why do they not get on board and help build up Canada?
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are not tearing down Canadians. It is Liberals who are keeping down Canadians.
Those Liberal talking points will not help the full-time workers living in RVs and trailers because they cannot afford homes, or the families spending 120% of their income on food and rent alone, or the 22% of Canadians who have personally experienced poverty, or the one in five households that are food insecure. Every dollar wasted on Liberal luxury is a dollar not used to lower taxes, build homes, improve safety or help Canadians make ends meet.
Will the Liberal Prime Minister end the waste, cut the bureaucracy and reverse the Liberal policies that caused this recession?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, when we propose programs like dental care or the groceries and essentials benefit, anything that could help vulnerable Canadians, these Conservatives are against. When our closest ally launches an unjustified trade war, what do Conservatives do? They say we are having a “hissy fit”. When the Prime Minister goes and brings back tens of billions of dollars of jobs and investment to this country and proposes major projects, what do the Conservatives do? They vote against that.
What, for the love of all that is good, are the Conservatives for?
Grant Jackson Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, despite leading Canada into a recession, the Prime Minister continues living in luxury, racking up $1 million in inflight catering alone. Meanwhile, more and more Manitoba families are struggling just to put food on the table.
Last week, Harvest Manitoba shared its Manitoba poverty report card, which says it all, giving the government an F in its poverty rating and advising that of the record-setting 60,000 Manitobans who visit food banks monthly, 30% are employed full-time. What? If full-time workers cannot even afford food, these gimmicks and rebates are not going to cut it.
When is the government going to take serious action to reduce food prices in this country?
Rebecca Chartrand LiberalMinister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Mr. Speaker, I represent some of the poorest communities in this country, so when the member opposite tries to lecture me on affordability, I have to ask: Why does he vote against every single measure that is supporting Manitobans, including affordable child care, grocery rebates, automatic tax filing and cutting taxes at the pump? He needs to get onside and start voting and working for Manitobans.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, we know how bad inflation has gotten in Canada. We know grocery prices are through the roof. Fuel prices are skyrocketing, and even the cars that Canadians need to fuel up are becoming more and more unaffordable for the middle class. The prices of used cars have doubled in the last seven years in this country, and the government is still putting the federal sales tax on them each and every time they are sold, sometimes collecting double, triple or quadruple revenue off the backs of Canadians.
Conservatives come armed with solutions. We have Bill C-285, which would take the GST off of used cars and save Canadians thousands. Will the Liberals support it?