Debates of June 8th, 2026

Road Safety

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Saturday marked 20 years since the death of OPP sergeant Greg Stobbart, a beloved Burlington resident who was killed by a careless motorist while on a training ride on his bike. He was a dedicated officer with 25 years of experience, a committed athlete and a deeply loved family man and friend.

In the face of unimaginable loss, Greg's wife, Eleanor McMahon, chose courage. She founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, which has since become one of the most influential road safety organizations in Canada. Eleanor's advocacy resulted in “Greg's law”, Ontario's one-metre safe passage law, strengthening penalties for drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users. From grief to purpose, she transformed road safety in Ontario and saved lives.

With the 20th-anniversary Share the Road Gran Fondo in Milton and the annual Ontario Bike Summit, we remember Sergeant Stobbart, honour his legacy and together continue the work.

Murray Fearrey

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with profound sadness to pay tribute to a dear friend, a dedicated public servant and a remarkable leader, Murray Fearrey, who passed away on May 28.

Murray spent his entire life in Haliburton, where he was born and raised and devoted time to his entire community, which he loved. His commitment to public service spanned nearly six decades, beginning in 1971. As reeve and mayor of Dysart, plus 12 years as county warden, he served with unwavering dedication, integrity and compassion, always putting the needs of residents first.

Murray's impact can be found from Head Lake Park to the arena, the curling club, the library, the hospital, the long-term care centre and many more. He helped shape the institutions for generations that will benefit because of his work.

Beyond his many accomplishments, of course, Murray was a trusted friend, a source of wise counsel and a true gentleman whose steady leadership earned the respect of all who knew him. I extend my deepest condolences to his partner Donna, his children, his friends and colleagues. May he rest in peace.

Robert Thibert

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the 1950s, today's Quebeckers were French Canadians who worked for the English. With the Quiet Revolution, which was also an economic revolution, the Quebec nation was created, along with a class of full-fledged Quebec entrepreneurs. In their garages, in their basements or on their boats, these small business owners started from nothing, often with the support of Caisses Desjardins at the time, and built Quebec's SMEs.

One of those entrepreneurs is Robert Thibert, who started his business in a garage making rubber mud guards. Thibert has become a large company that distributes various vehicle parts. That is impressive enough. However, in addition to being a tough businessman, although I sometimes find that hard to believe, Robert Thibert is a gentle, attentive, loyal and generous man. For example, he has donated or raised close to $2 million for good causes in his region, in the area around Châteauguay.

Let us applaud the great generosity and business acumen of a Quebec builder. Every region of Quebec should have somebody like him.

I want to thank Mr. Thibert. The best is yet to come.

Pride

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Pride season across Canada, we are reminded that the rights and freedoms many enjoy today should never be taken for granted. Around the world, identifying as 2SLGBTQIA+ remains illegal in 65 countries, and in 12 jurisdictions, individuals still face the death penalty simply for being who they are.

I would like to recognize the work of the Canadian Pride Caucus, which is well known for its work here at home, but it is also playing an increasingly important international role. Through engagement with foreign parliamentarians, human rights defenders, diplomatic missions and civil society organizations, the caucus helps advance Canada's commitment to dignity, inclusion and protection of human rights on the global scale.

I invite all colleagues from all parties to join us tomorrow at noon on Parliament Hill for the Pride flag raising. Let us come together to celebrate Pride season and reaffirm Canada's commitment to equality, inclusion and protecting human rights for all. I wish everyone a happy Pride.

The Economy

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. Now the Liberals want Canadians arguing over labels: technical recession, marginal recession, full recession. Even the Prime Minister himself admitted a technical recession and a recession are the same thing.

Families are not sitting around the kitchen table debating definitions. They are looking at higher mortgage payments, grocery bills that keep climbing and paycheques that are not keeping up. Our economy has shrunk in three of the last four quarters. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says there is less than a 1% chance that this government meets its own fiscal anchor. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada is warning that one in 10 Torontonians may not be able to renew their mortgages next year.

Canadians have worked hard, played by the rules and done everything asked of them. They should not be falling further behind because the government cannot control its spending. Canadians need a serious plan to restore growth, protect paycheques and bring hope back to the Canadian economy.

Islamophobia

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I joined members of our London community for the annual remembering “our London family” vigil and march, marking the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack that took the lives of Salman, Madiha, Yumnah and Talat Afzaal because they were Muslim. I also had the privilege of spending time with members of the Afzaal family, whose courage and resilience continue to inspire all of us across our city.

I would like to thank the Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia for organizing this important commemoration and for its continued advocacy to build a more inclusive and compassionate world. I also want to thank my colleagues who joined me in London for this event.

As we reflect on the legacy of the Afzaal family, let us recommit ourselves to confronting Islamophobia, rejecting hatred in all its forms and building a Canada where everyone can live safely and with dignity. The Afzaal family will never be forgotten.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister has driven Canada into a full-scale recession. Our economy has been shrinking for three of the last four quarters. We are the only G20 country in an economic downturn. While the government tries to downplay it, families know something is wrong. They feel it every day at the checkout counter. Manitobans are worried. I have spoken with farmers, families and small business owners, and they all say the same thing. Everything costs more: groceries, gas, fertilizer and housing.

At a time when we are seeing record food bank use, the Prime Minister is spending nearly $195,000 on luxury inflight catering. That is outrageous. The budget watchdog said the government has no chance of meeting its own fiscal targets. Growth is slowing, unemployment is growing, and businesses are leaving Canada.

Manitobans cannot afford the Prime Minister's out-of-touch leadership or his luxury lifestyle. It is time the Liberals replace their costly and inflationary policies with solutions that put Canadians and Manitobans first, not last.

2026 Dance World Cup

[Braedon Clark, Liberal, Sackville—Bedford—Preston, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a rising star from my riding of Sackville—Bedford—Preston.

Ten-year-old Elayce Clayton from North Preston is headed to Dublin, Ireland, this July to represent team Canada at the 2026 Dance World Cup, the second-largest dance competition in the world. Elayce's talent in dance has earned her a solo performance at the competition, where she is certain to make our community and country proud. Even at her young age, Elayce has been preparing for this moment her whole life. According to her mom, Elayce has been dancing on beat since she was just two years old.

With her training in the categories of jazz, contemporary and hip hop, Elayce has an exciting dance career ahead of her, but first, she is off to Dublin, and no matter where her passion for dance takes her from there, all of us in Nova Scotia will be cheering her on. I offer my congratulations to Elayce.

The Economy

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is the only leader in the entire G20 to plunge their economy into a recession. In his own words, he admitted a recession is two consecutive quarters of GDP decline.

StatsCan confirms that Canada is in a full-blown Liberal recession now. The PBO came out with a scathing report against the government's so-called fiscal anchors. They are all going to be broken. The Liberals are not going to meet their debt-to-GDP ratio. They are going to blow through their own fiscal projection by $7 billion, and they have less than a 1% chance of meeting their deficit-to-GDP ratio. There is a better chance of a Liberal actually answering a question in this place.

We have solutions. We would remove Liberal antidevelopment laws that block our resources and infrastructure. We would cut taxes for Canadians and Canadian businesses to unlock our Canadian growth, and remove capital gains taxes for companies that reinvest right here in Canada. The incompetent Liberal government just needs to do one thing: get out of the way.

Artemis II Mission

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the craft safely returned to earth on April 10, an exciting new chapter began in space exploration.

For the first time in over 50 years, humans left Earth's orbit and journeyed toward the moon, on the Artemis II mission, a mission that marked not only a major milestone in science and space exploration but also a proud moment for Canada. As the first Canadian to participate in a lunar mission, Colonel Jeremy Hansen joins the ranks of great explorers who have pushed the boundaries of what is possible. He and his fellow astronauts demonstrated the courage, dedication and excellence that define humanity's greatest achievements.

For Canadians, Colonel Hansen's example is a source of pride and inspiration. On behalf of my community, Vaudreuil, all members of the House, and all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Colonel Hansen and the entire Artemis II crew on their historic mission. I thank them for inspiring a new generation to push the boundaries of what is possible.

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, while 2.2 million Canadians line up at food banks, the Liberals are still refusing to let Canadians know that we are the only G20 nation in a recession. The apparent reason has something to do with decisions made over the past 11 years and the Liberals' lack of vision. Let us look at the facts: Economic growth is sluggish, productivity is weak and deficits already exceed what was forecast in the budget.

After a week of dodging the question, can the Prime Minister tell us, yes or no, if we are in a recession? The first step toward solving a problem is to acknowledge it.

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously, the member opposite missed the stellar jobs report that came out last Friday. Had he read it, he would have seen that Canada has created some 88,000 jobs. However, there is more good news. In our province, Quebec, the province with the second-lowest unemployment rate, unemployment rates fell for women, youth and men. Across the country, this is good news for Canada. We are going to keep building Canada very strong.

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague may not be aware of this, but on May 15, 2016, when the Prime Minister was the governor of the Bank of England, he said that the technical definition of a technical recession is two consecutive quarters of flat or negative growth. Let us look at what is happening in Canada. The economy has slowed down in three of the last four quarters. That is not two quarters, but rather three of the last four quarters.

What will it take for the Prime Minister to realize that his plan is not working and that the Liberal government's actions over the past 11 years have led us straight into a recession?

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

Mr. Speaker, despite the good news we received last Friday regarding employment and unemployment, we know that there are still people in this country who are struggling with affordability. That is why, also on Friday, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit was paid into the bank accounts of 12 million Canadians, providing $543 to single people and $1,086 to couples with two children. That is one-time assistance to Canadians who need it.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and in the last few days, we have learned more about how bad the numbers actually are. Stats Canada reports that business investment has now fallen for five straight quarters. Labour productivity has declined in three of the last four quarters.

If the Prime Minister's plan is working, why are Canadian businesses seeing a continuous decline in investment and productivity? Will the Liberals admit that we are in a recession and that their plan is not working at all?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, what a great day it is to be Canadian when we have Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on the Hill today. He brought this country together.

The Conservatives love numbers. I know they love numbers, so here is a number for them: 88,000. The Canadian economy created 88,000 jobs in May. That is an amazing accomplishment.

On this side of the House, we are going to focus on building a Canada strong. It is time for them to get on board.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Gateway, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while it is good to see some positive job numbers, the fact is that we are still thousands of jobs below where we were at the beginning of this year.

Under this Liberal Prime Minister, household savings have fallen to their lowest level in years. Families are struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries, housing and other necessities. Some Canadians are now spending more than 120% of their income on food and rent alone. However, the Liberals claim that it is only a technical recession.

Will the Prime Minister explain to Canadians why they are only technically worse off after a decade with this Liberal government?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, actually, last Friday in Halifax, I had the honour to announce the one-time top-up payment of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which will pay 50% of an annual groceries and essentials benefit return.

On this side of the House, we are going to build a strong economy. I know that party loves the glass half empty, but on this side, the glass is half full. Our Prime Minister is building a strong economy for all Canadians. We are going to continue to invest in Canada and build Canada strong.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession right now, and it is no surprise why, with the Liberal Prime Minister's record. The economy has shrunk in three of the last four quarters. Labour productivity is getting worse. Investment is leaving the country. Government spending and debt are up. Even the Prime Minister's own hand-picked economic watchdog has had to downgrade the forecast for this country. A government that will not acknowledge the problem sure as heck cannot fix it.

Will the Prime Minister admit that Canada is in a recession?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the member says that investment is leaving the country. How about the $20 billion that Shell just invested in this country? How about the $8 billion being invested for the Canadian Armed Forces in Goose Bay? How about the wind farms in Nova Scotia? How about the Darlington nuclear reactors in his province?

They say investment is leaving this country. They should wake up and see what is going on.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish the minister were as interested in the jobs of Canadians as he is in his own.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer said the Liberal government has a 1% chance of meeting its fiscal anchor, which is still better odds than getting a straight answer from the government in question period. Behind these numbers are people: people in food bank lines, people going on unemployment, young people who cannot get that critical first job. The London region, which includes St. Thomas and Elgin, has lost another 600 jobs in the last month, bringing it up to over 21,000 in the last two and a half years.

Maybe the minister will not tell me there is a recession, but will he tell these Canadians there is?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, what I am not interested in is his job. I am interested in the 18,000 jobs we have created at Darlington. I am interested in the 2,000 jobs we have created at Contrecœur. I am interested in the 8,000 jobs at LNG Canada. I am interested in the 5,000 jobs we are going to create at Ksi Lisims. I could keep going.

He should start worrying about his job.

Canadian Identity and Culture

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this time it is clear. The Prime Minister is abandoning the cultural sector in the face of American digital giants. Not only is he capitulating on the levy increase demanded from streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime, and Disney, but we also found out that he will require the CRTC to cancel every last bit of funding for Quebec and Canadian content. Even the meagre 5% that Ottawa was trying to impose is too much for the Prime Minister. In one fell swoop, he is undoing 10 years of fighting to defend our creators.

Is he at least aware that he is openly threatening the future of Quebec culture?

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

Mr. Speaker, only the Bloc Québécois would stand up in the House and vote against three-quarters of a billion dollars for culture, for CBC/Radio-Canada, for Telefilm Canada and for the National Film Board of Canada.

Next, the Bloc Québécois members are going to turn their noses up at the $600 million offered to a cultural sector that we love and must support. While they pretend to support culture, we are taking action.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we predicted his appointment would be a disaster, and it is. The Prime Minister is once again abandoning Quebec culture because of Washington. The Union des artistes and the entire cultural community spoke out against it in the media on Saturday. Their letter is entitled “Chronicle of a disappearance foretold”, because our culture is sure to disappear unless the Prime Minister grows a proverbial spine.

The European Union collects levies from the web giants. It even lets its member states add to them. Why is the Prime Minister incapable of taking a stand?