House of Commons Hansard #137 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was hate.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act First reading of Bill C-286. The bill seeks to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Food and Drugs Act to allow physicians to prescribe psilocybin counselling to patients without requiring override approval from Health Canada bureaucrats. 300 words.
Combatting Hate Act Bill C-9. The bill proposes amendments to the Criminal Code to combat hate, including creating new offenses for intimidation or obstruction at places of worship and adding the noose to the list of prohibited hate symbols. Supporters, primarily from the Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois, argue the bill provides essential protection against rising hate. Conversely, Conservative Party members oppose the legislation, arguing it endangers religious freedom and risks criminalizing good-faith expression while failing to address enforcement of existing laws. 29800 words, 4 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further Adjourned Members debate a motion to end debate on Bill C-26, authorizing $1.7 billion for provinces to boost housing supply. Liberals argue the urgent funding is essential to stimulate construction, citing Ontario's success. Conservatives condemn the lack of study and oversight, characterizing the bill as a blank cheque that bypasses necessary parliamentary review. 4700 words, 30 minutes.
National Framework on Sickle Cell Disease Act Second reading of Bill S-201. The bill aims to establish a national framework for addressing sickle cell disease, including improved research, screening, and patient support. While MPs across party lines acknowledge the importance of the issue, concerns persist regarding federal interference in provincial health jurisdictions, the need for cost transparency and accountability, and ensuring genuine collaboration with provinces. The motion passed and was referred to committee. 6700 words, 1 hour.
Government Business No. 11—Proceedings on Bill C‑26 Members debate Bill C-26, authorizing $1.7 billion for housing. The Bloc Québécois supports the legislation for respecting provincial jurisdiction despite their concerns about fiscal imbalance, while Liberals argue the funding is vital to boost housing supply. Amidst opposition frustration regarding the government’s frequent use of closure motions to bypass debate, the House votes to pass the bill. 8100 words, 2 hours.
Admissibility of Government Business No. 13 Claude DeBellefeuille and Elizabeth May argue that Government Business No. 13 creates an unprecedented, unfair, and undemocratic precedent by imposing a retroactive deadline for committee amendments, thereby hindering the opposition's ability to participate effectively. 500 words.
An Act to Authorize Certain Payments to be Made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund Second reading of Bill C-26. The bill would authorize the Minister of Finance to provide over $1.7 billion to provinces and territories to increase housing supply. Liberal members argue these payments allow flexibility to lower development fees and accelerate construction. Conservative members criticize the lack of accountability and measurable outcomes for taxpayers. Bloc Québécois members support the unconditional transfers as respecting jurisdictions, while the NDP argues the bill fails to prioritize affordability and housing need. 15800 words, 2 hours.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I have a simple answer for the Conservative: Pass Bill C-26. Instead of grandstanding in the House, do something, get on with it, work, vote and pass Bill C-26.
We are in touch with our colleagues in Ontario. We are there for the builders and the homeowners, and we will work for the people of Canada.
Jason Groleau Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, I mentioned that a company from back home, Garaga, had provided the government with overwhelming evidence that garage doors imported from China contained harmful toxic substances that are banned in Canada.
Why, despite these warnings, has the Minister of Health not done anything about this yet?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, Garaga is an iconic brand in Canada. I have Garaga garage doors myself. I will continue to support this Quebec-based company, just as I do all Quebec-based companies. If Garaga has an issue it needs to raise with the government, then it should do so, and I can assure the hon. member that we will act very quickly.
Doly Begum Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot fully benefit from the digital economy if they do not trust it. The rules that govern how personal information is collected, used and shared have not kept pace with technology. The protecting privacy and consumer data act would recognize that. It would recognize privacy as a fundamental right and give Canadians the tools they need to take back control over their data.
Can the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation explain how the bill would protect Canadians and their data?
Evan Solomon LiberalMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for her hard work representing her riding.
Our AI strategy for all is about trust, opportunity and sovereign control. The first pillar is all about trust: a promise to protect our kids, to protect privacy and to protect our citizens' personal information. The protecting privacy and consumer data act would do just that. We would give citizens the rights to deletion and to take down harmful deepfakes. We would act against surveillance pricing to stop price gouging. We would treat children's information as sensitive.
It is common sense. Canadians want it. The Privacy Commissioner supports—
PrivacyOral Questions
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, how many citizenships have been issued to non-citizens with bogus documents since the Liberals passed the chain migration bill, Bill C-3, and how many more does the government project may be issued over the next five years?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I have been clear. Just because someone has a Canadian ancestor, this does not mean they are automatically eligible for citizenship. They must definitively prove their link to Canada at each and every generation. Genealogy websites are not enough.
My job is to safeguard the integrity of our citizenship program, and I will do everything necessary to protect that.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada is a country of lakes, mountains and rivers. Sadly, more and more anglers, paddlers and boaters fear they will lose access to Quebec's lakes. While public access points are disappearing or becoming prohibitively expensive, the Liberals are looking the other way and leaving local authorities to fend for themselves.
These waterways belong to all Canadians. When will the Liberal government take action to protect fair access for everyone?
Nathalie Provost LiberalSecretary of State (Nature)
Mr. Speaker, my colleague raises an important issue. Lakes and rivers are indeed a valuable resource for Canadians. That is precisely why we have invested in the nature strategy, which aims to protect 30% of our land and waterways.
However, it is also important to safeguard the right to navigate on lakes. This is an issue of concern to us, and one on which we are continuing to engage with the relevant municipal and provincial authorities.
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Mr. Speaker, in July, thousands of federal public servants will return to the office four days a week, but several departments are saying there is not enough office space.
I would like to ask the President of the Treasury Board how many employees will not have a desk next month.
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, that is an important question as we prepare for a return to the office four days a week across the public service. I can assure her that my department, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Treasury Board, is working around the clock to make sure that public servants have the space and the tools they need to do their important work for Canadians.
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, for far too long, too many first nations have gone without access to safe drinking water, which every community deserves.
Could the Minister of Indigenous Services explain how Bill C-37 would strengthen—
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I was able to hear only the beginning. Could the hon. member start from the beginning on this important question?
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, for far too long, too many first nations have gone without access to safe drinking water, which every community deserves.
Could the Minister of Indigenous Services explain how Bill C-37 would strengthen first nations' jurisdiction over water while helping to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for first nations across Canada?
Mandy Gull-Masty LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, that was an important question. Bill C-37 would ensure that first nations have the authority and means to deliver safe, reliable drinking water in their communities. By affirming jurisdiction over water sources and by also ensuring drinking water and waste water for first nations, we would be enabling the development of clear, consistent, first nations-led standards. The authority—
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The member for Winnipeg Centre is not allowing the minister to answer the question.
Would the minister continue, please?
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, the authority, clear standards, historic funding and sustained support are at the core of the bill. I am proud to have ensured that this government, the only government, has pushed forth the bill to support real jurisdiction over water systems, to create standards, and to govern these systems according to their rights, priorities and lived reality.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, what a mess this is. I actually feel bad for the Prime Minister that this is the cabinet he has to deal with. The fisheries minister shrugged because she did not even know what a question was about, before winging it anyway with a non-answer. The foreign affairs minister just said she is consulting to cover up three years of inaction. The public safety minister is refusing to listen to Canadians' concerns on Bill C-22 and is hell-bent on ramming it through. I thought we actually had an overperformer with the treasury board president's finding his notes today, but then the Liberals did not let him answer a question anyway, because he did not have the answer.
Is the Prime Minister happy with his front bench? Canadians sure as heck are not.
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, well, it is pretty obvious that the Leader of the Opposition has an issue on his backbench. After all, the colleague sat down at a small desk in a cabin somewhere and wrote out the biography of the leader of the opposition, longhand, and look where he got.
I can tell the House that the Prime Minister, from the G7, from representing us proudly on the world stage, has confidence in the entire team of 174 MPs—
Government AccountabilityOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I guess it is getting a little personal today.
The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have raised the alarm on surveillance pricing, an invasive and unfair scheme that gouges Canadians. We called on the Liberals to follow the Manitoba NDP government, which moved swiftly to ban this insidious practice. Instead, the government tabled legislation that not only fails to address this issue, but does not even mention it. I guess AI for everyone really means everyone is a target.
Why are the Liberals refusing to protect Canadians from abusive technology that invades their privacy and enables discriminatory pricing?