The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk.
House of Commons Hansard #130 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
House of Commons Hansard #130 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Build Canada Homes Act Report stage of Bill C-20. The bill proposes establishing *Build Canada Homes*, a Crown corporation intended to streamline federal housing efforts. While government members argue this adds efficiency, Conservatives criticize it as unnecessary bureaucracy that fails to accelerate construction. The Bloc Québécois supports the initiative's goal but expresses concern regarding potential complexity and overlap with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 7900 words, 1 hour.
Build Canada Homes Act Third reading of Bill C-20. The bill proposes establishing Build Canada Homes to address housing supply. While Liberals argue it enables essential collaboration, opposition members dismiss the plan as unnecessary bureaucracy. The Bloc Québécois provides conditional support despite jurisdictional concerns, while the NDP critiques the lack of accountability, and the Greens warn the legislation offers no action to resolve the housing crisis. 9800 words, 1 hour.
Silver Alert National Framework Act Second reading of Bill C-263. The bill, which proposes a national framework for silver alerts to help locate missing vulnerable seniors, receives support from Conservative and Liberal MPs, who view it as a compassionate tool for protecting at-risk Canadians. However, the Bloc Québécois opposes it, arguing that it infringes on provincial jurisdictions and potentially duplicates existing provincial systems that are already effective. 4400 words, 30 minutes.
The EconomyOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC
Madam Speaker, of course I respect Statistics Canada. In fact, I asked that Statistics Canada's report confirming that Canada is in a recession be tabled, but the members opposite said no. That is a real shame.
The reality is also that the banks have bad news. The Bank of Montreal predicted yesterday that over the next year, Canada will experience the worst economic growth in the G7, yet the government still refuses to talk about a recession.
Is there a minister who has the courage, honour and dignity to acknowledge that Canada is, in fact, the only country in the G7 and G20 that is in a recession?
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Madam Speaker, I will reiterate what my colleagues said because it is important.
Over the past few months, the Canadian economy has created 80,000 jobs. We are seeing a drop in the unemployment rate, especially in youth employment. That is good news for Canadians.
I want to take this opportunity to say that we learned something else this week. We found out that the Government of Canada is going to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure, including in the Quebec City tramway. This is going to create more than 80,000 jobs. Those are 80,000 good jobs for our constituents.
It is well known that the opposition MP for the Quebec City area has always opposed this project. He campaigned on a promise to cut nearly $3 billion in federal funding from the Quebec City tramway. That is shameful.
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Madam Speaker, Ottawa is once again bowing to pressure from Washington. The government wants to cancel a levy increase and allow Netflix, Amazon and other streaming platforms to get out of paying their fair share towards funding culture.
The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is concerned about this situation. It stated: “Ottawa's decision...represents a major and deeply troubling setback in the face of U.S. pressure on Canada's cultural sovereignty.”
Who is in charge of cultural policy in this country: the Prime Minister or Donald Trump?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I understand why the Bloc is trying to redeem itself, given that it did not even mention culture in its election platform or budget requests.
I also understand why it wants to ignore today's good news about employment and the job market in Quebec. For our part, we are focusing on the economy, on creating opportunities for young people and on delivering major projects.
The economy has created some 88,000 jobs. Quebec stands out as having the second-lowest unemployment rate among all the provinces, thanks in particular to the manufacturing and construction sectors.
Well done, young Quebeckers. That is good news.
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Madam Speaker, he should take a look at our platform. It is full of proposals about culture.
Here is what the Société des auteurs et autrices de radio, télévision et cinéma said concerning the Prime Minister's cultural capitulation: “this announcement cuts us to the core, because it suggests that our industry is nothing but a bargaining chip”. Those are their words, not ours.
The Prime Minister had already capitulated on the digital services tax to the tune of $1.4 billion a year. Today, he is capitulating on the $2 billion a year in levies payable by streaming platforms.
Whey are the Liberals always so eager to capitulate when it comes to protecting francophone culture in North America?
Madeleine Chenette LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Sport)
Madam Speaker, unlike the Bloc Québécois, members on this side of the House have zero doubts that culture is important, and we are ready to invest in it. We did so in the budget, yet they were against it.
With the $600 million that we are investing in the industry and the $95 million that we are investing in exporting our industry, giving access to 120 international markets, we are fostering its development, because our culture is extremely important.
We, the 44 Liberal MPs from Quebec in this place, are constantly fighting to defend, protect and promote culture.
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
Madam Speaker, let us be clear. The Prime Minister of Canada regards Quebec culture as nothing more than an annoying trade barrier.
The Quebec government says that, in the context of the CUSMA negotiations, this sends a signal that Ottawa is prepared to compromise on our culture. Quebec is also considering its own options for making streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime contribute financially, since the federal government is capitulating to the Americans.
Do the Liberals realize that they are sending a message to Quebeckers that they can rely on no one but themselves to safeguard the future of our culture?
David Myles LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Secretary of State (Nature)
Madam Speaker, how can the Bloc Québécois claim that a $600-million investment in the cultural sector is bad news?
I see that as good news, and so does the industry. This investment is boosting a sector that needs our support. We are there for artists. We will always be there for Canadian artists.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Madam Speaker, let us imagine I was pulled over by police on the way here this morning, and I said to the officer, “Officer, I know I was technically speeding but it was just a couple kilometres over the speed limit.” I do not think that would work, because a recession is a recession is a recession, and Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Under the hood of that recession is even more bad news. The parliamentary budget watchdog said that Canada's growth has been downgraded for both 2026 and 2027. The best case is now effective stagnation.
Why is Canada the only country in a recession?
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Madam Speaker, I have never seen this in my 22 years in the House. I have never heard such good news be disparaged and cast aside, and they continue to run down the Canadian economy. We added 88,000 jobs. Unemployment is down. Foreign direct investment is up. We have dropped the fuel excise tax. We have increased our capital gains exemption. We are making massive investments in housing, in infrastructure and in defence. In short, we have a plan and that plan is working.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Madam Speaker, I have only been here a year, but I have never heard so much bad news be cheered by the government. Fewer Canadians are working today than at the beginning of the year. Fewer youth are working today than at the beginning of the year. Business investment continues to lag. In fact, it is below the replacement rate. That means we have lower labour productivity. As Krugman said, “Productivity isn't everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything.” It seems like the government does not care about that. In fact, it will cheer this bad news.
Why is that?
Rechie Valdez LiberalMinister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Madam Speaker, in the face of global uncertainty and U.S. tariffs, our country remains strong. I do want to cite that in the face of this, Canada has created over 147,000 jobs. We have already heard today youth unemployment is going down, wage growth is outpacing inflation by 4.7% and Canadians are working.
In fact, who is leading the way? Women are leading. They are working in this country. They are delivering. That is something to be celebrated. This also exceeds the United States.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary East, AB
Madam Speaker, the only leader in the entire G20 to plunge their economy into a recession was exposed by the PBO for leaving $7 billion out of the deficit projections. That is an extra $150 out of each Canadian's pocket. However, it does not matter to the guy who has sent a record number of Canadians into food banks, while he stuffs his face with $200,000 of crème brûlée and fine wines on just three taxpayer-funded flights.
Was the Prime Minister technically misleading Canadians or are we in a full-blown Liberal recession?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I think people are really puzzled at these scripted questions from the Leader of the Opposition. Over 35 times a day, the Conservatives stand up and read the same wrong, fake question, yet they fail to defend their votes to the very people they pretend to uphold.
Today, in Canadians' bank accounts, we will see the groceries and essentials benefit, which will provide a single person with a base GST credit of $543. The Conservatives are against it. We are supporting Canadians.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary East, AB
Madam Speaker, his answer on plunging the economy into a recession is to give Canadians $18 a week. The PBO also exposed the government for having a less than 1% chance of meeting its own deficit-to-GDP ratio fiscal target. That is a better chance than a Liberal actually answering a question in this place.
Will the Prime Minister stop stuffing his face with taxpayer-funded crème brûlée and tell us if we are in a technical recession or a full-blown Liberal one?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalSecretary of State (Sport)
Madam Speaker, I have known the member for a number of years and, in fact, I have a great deal of respect for him. He overcame enormous personal challenges to be in the House, which he has been open about. That is why I respect him, but he conducts himself in this way. The opposition leader's office, I guess, has given orders for him to throw insults like this, and the rest of it.
We are not going to focus on that. We are going to engage in a positive approach to politics.
What do we find? Almost 90,000 jobs were created, many of which are in the construction sector. He is from Alberta. He talks about the trades. We need to build the country up. That is exactly what we are going to do. We have a plan—
The EconomyOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Calgary Crowfoot.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, last Friday, we learned that under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Yesterday, we learned that there is only a 1% chance that their latest fiscal anchor will hold. The Liberals have, so far, refused to acknowledge their own government's reports.
Will they admit today that they caused the only recession in the G20 and that they are already breaking their latest fiscal anchor, or are they going to say that it is all just a technicality?
Tom Osborne LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Madam Speaker, when Conservatives vote against affordability measures and then complain about affordability, Canadians see that as disingenuous. What is also disingenuous is when they talk down the Canadian economy while we are trying to find solutions.
The U.S. is Canada's largest trading partner. It only stands to reason that we would have the largest impact. We are building Canadian infrastructure using Canadian labour and Canadian materials. We are building trade corridors with other countries. I ask the other party to join us in believing in Canada, in believing in Canadians and in believing in building Canada—
The EconomyOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
The hon. member for Calgary Crowfoot.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, of course we believe in Canada. We believe in Canadians. We do not believe in the Liberal government, because it is the only government in the G20 to lead its economy into a recession.
This week, we also learned that the government is borrowing $72 billion this year, not $65 billion as stated in the budget. The Montreal Economic Institute said that the deficit is on track to exceed $117 billion by 2035, and that is even without new spending.
Will the finance minister admit that this week's reports have destroyed whatever fiscal credibility he thinks that he might still have?
Yasir Naqvi LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)
Madam Speaker, I appreciate that the opposition has a job to do, which is to critique the government, but, as a government, our focus is to build our economy.
That is why we have been working very hard to make sure that we diversify our trade and that we open more markets for Canadian businesses. The results are coming in. It has been reported that 88,000 new jobs have been created. We are also not leaving people behind. That is why, as of today, the groceries and essentials benefit is going to be coming to people. They will be getting, additionally, up to $533 for a family with two kids. This is how we are helping Canadians.
Kathy Borrelli Conservative Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON
Madam Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. Just by stopping the illegal dumping of cheap subsidized Chinese aluminum, the government could help aluminum extrusion companies be profitable, provide jobs for hard-working Canadians and put food on their tables.
Will the Liberal Prime Minister tell aluminum workers that Canada is in a recession or just a technical recession?
Kody Blois LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, we know the challenges for certain sectors in the Canadian economy on aluminum, on steel, on auto and forestry. Our Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade and our ambassador in Washington, Janice Charette, who has been appointed, are engaging with the U.S. administration.
The member talked about jobs. I do think it is important to recognize that there were 88,000 jobs created in the Canadian economy. We know that there are challenges in particular sectors and that is why the Minister of Industry has been helping, with targeted programs to support workers and those industries being impacted. At the same time, we are focusing on building the Canadian economy across the country.