House of Commons Hansard #141 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was relief.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Canadian Fuel Affordability Act Second reading of Bill C-38. The bill proposes extending federal fuel excise tax relief until early 2027. The Liberal government promotes the measure as essential support for families battling high fuel costs. Conservatives, while supporting the bill, characterize the move as belatedly adopting their past proposals and argue for deeper, longer-term relief. Meanwhile, the NDP advocates for an excess profits tax on energy companies to fund the measure, and the Bloc questions whether savings actually reach consumers. 98600 words, 12 hours in 3 segments: 1 2 3.
Jury Duty Appreciation Week Act Second reading of Bill S-226. The bill seeks to establish a "Jury Duty Appreciation Week" to formally recognize the essential civic duty performed by jurors. Members across party lines support this legislation, noting that jury service demands significant personal sacrifice and emotional resilience. While emphasizing the importance of provincial jurisdiction, the Bloc Québécois supports the measure as a symbolic tribute to citizens who uphold the justice system. 5500 words, 40 minutes.
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 32nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership of committees of the House.
If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence on the 32nd report later this day.
Karina Gould Liberal Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Finance, entitled “Recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance for the 2026 budget”.
I would like to take a moment to thank all the Canadians and organizations that contributed to this report. We received over 1,350 submissions and saw over 90 witnesses. I would like to extend my gratitude to all committee members for the very hard work they did in putting this report together.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, it being later this day, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 32nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
It is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
(Motion agreed to)
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to present a petition with collected signatories from beyond my riding, but including my riding.
The petitioners are very concerned about what we know about bottom trawling, in other words, pulling enormously heavy draggers along the ocean floor, removing everything in their path. It is a non-selective fishing method and the term “nets” hardly describes it. They are heavy implements that actually do enormous destruction.
The United Nations and various international agencies have called for an end to bottom trawling. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has provided data on specific ground fish species, but has not yet acted to protect the entire ecosystem.
Therefore, the petitioners are asking the House of Commons to implement the 2011 United Nations convention that calls for a moratorium on bottom trawling, otherwise known as clear-cutting the ocean floor.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present a petition signed by the law-abiding property owners of Carleton, Kanata, Nepean, Nipissing, Timiskaming and my great riding of Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke.
The petitioners are raising awareness over the lack of legal protections for homeowners and landowners when they try to protect themselves, their property and families. Violent criminals have been emboldened by a decade of Liberal soft-on-crime policies. That is why Conservatives have introduced Bill C-270, the stand on guard act, which will clarify the legal standards around self-defence on one's property. That targets crime where they would not be punished for fighting back to protect what they cherish.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from the communities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack—Hope, Merritt and Princeton calling for stronger, more resilient infrastructure along Canada's critical trade corridors in British Columbia. The devastating floods of 2021 showed how important these routes are to our communities and to our national economy. They are essential for public safety, food security and emergency response.
The petitioners are calling on the government to recognize the West Coast Corridor Resiliency Partnership as a strategic partner and to support long-term investments in transportation, flood mitigation and critical infrastructure necessary to move goods in our country. They are asking for a commitment for long-term investments that strengthen our infrastructure to allow Canada to trade.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is a huge honour today to rise to table petition E-7298, signed by more than 22,000 Canadians, recognizing the essential role nurses play in our public health care system and the serious recruitment and retention challenges facing the profession. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to amend the Income Tax Act to create a refundable federal tax credit for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners, modelled on the tax credit for personal support workers that was introduced in the 2025 federal budget.
I want to thank Linda Silas, who is a nurse, a trade unionist and president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, for sponsoring this petition. I would like to highlight again that Canada is facing a persistent nursing shortage, driven in part by recruitment and retention challenges, heavy workloads and rising cost of living pressures. I hope that the government will act on this petition.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand, please.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
moved that Bill C-38, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extension of the federal fuel excise tax relief), be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be back here this morning.
It is a pleasure to see all my colleagues. I see a lot of smiles in the House on both sides of the aisle. It is great to be back and it is great to be surrounded by so many familiar faces. It is great to see some new faces on this side of the aisle, and I want to welcome them to Parliament. Yes, they have been elected and now they are representing their constituents with distinction and a lot of energy.
Like all members, I spent the summer meeting with Canadians, as we should all do, in Charlottetown, Edmonton, Toronto and obviously in my own riding of Saint-Maurice—Champlain, all of whom, like us, are trying to navigate a rapidly changing world. For those Canadians, I have good news, which is why it is an honour for me to participate in today's debate on the very important bill, Bill C-38, the Canadian fuel affordability act.
The measures set out in this bill will give Canadians the support they need right now.
We are faced with a world that is increasingly complex, increasingly volatile and, for many, more costly and unpredictable. The United States is imposing new tariffs on Canada. Global conflict and ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East have been driving up fuel prices around the world, adding pressure to household budgets here and in many jurisdictions. In response, Canada's government remains focused on what we can control: building a stronger, more independent and more affordable country.
Economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living mean that affordability is a major concern for families and businesses across Canada. One of our government's priorities is to help Canadians keep more of their hard-earned money. While we are working tirelessly to make Canada stronger in the long term, we are giving Canadians a hand today to help them bridge the gap to this better and more certain future.
Our government is diversifying our trade partners abroad, attracting historic levels of foreign direct investment, and I am sure everyone took notice of the great investment summit we had; delivering responsible fiscal management as every Canadian expects from this government; and supporting Canadians while under pressure from everyday expenses. There is no doubt that Bill C-38 is a key part of this effort.
Bill C-38 is just the latest initiative by our government designed to help Canadians cope with elevated fuel costs. Members will recall that in April of this year, we introduced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, aviation gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuel. This measure reduced federal fuel excise tax rates to zero cents per litre. The positive effects were felt right away.
When the suspension took effect, gas prices dropped by 11¢ per litre on day one. Again, that was 11¢ per litre on day one. Clearly, the savings were passed on to consumers right away. The suspension was set to end earlier this month, after September 7, but before that date, our government announced that it would be extending the suspension of the federal excise tax on fuel until January 31, 2027, and then reducing the regular rates by 50% through March 31, 2027.
The passage of Bill C-38 would ensure that Canadians get this much-needed relief at the pump right now. This would be immediate, targeted and felt across our nation. This measure has already brought down everyday costs for Canadians, including those in trucking, in the food industry, in agriculture, in housing, in construction and in the delivery sectors.
This provides Canadians with immediate, substantial support. The additional fiscal impact of extending the federal fuel excise tax suspension is estimated at approximately $2.9 billion. All told, Canadians are expected to receive an estimated $5.3 billion in tax relief in 2026 and 2027.
We know that this measure will continue to make a difference for Canadians, and we also know that extending the fuel tax suspension is one of the measures helping families, workers and businesses cope with global economic uncertainty.
Let me put this measure in context and talk about fiscal responsibility and economic strength, because Canada is entering this period of a new world economic order in a position of strength. Canada's economy has remained resilient, despite global challenges. I want to take this opportunity in my first address to Parliament in this session as we come back to thank all the workers around this country. They have proven extremely resilient. I want to thank all the business owners. I think they deserve a big round of applause, because they are the ones who make this country work every day. I want to thank the countless small and medium-sized businesses across our country, which have proven resilient.
The world has seen that Canada is far more resilient than people expected. Despite the winds bringing tariffs and other uncertainty in the world, Canada has shown a degree of resiliency that is an inspiration to all of us and to the world. In fact, Canada's economy is so resilient that our country is projected by the International Monetary Fund to have the second-fastest economic growth in the G7 this year and next. This is a testament to the resilience of our people, our workers and our businesses across the country.
This performance has put us in a solid fiscal position. As highlighted in the spring economic update, we have reduced Canada's projected deficit for 2025-26 by more than $11 billion relative to budget 2025. That fiscal firepower is allowing us to build a Canada that is both strong and fair. As government revenues have increased, we have redirected some of that growth toward measures to improve affordability and support Canadians at a time of need.
These measures are having a real impact on the lives of Canadians across the country. As Canada continues to build a stronger, more resilient and more independent economy, our government is taking concrete steps to bring down costs now while investing in long-term prosperity. For example, we are going to double the capacity of Canada's electricity grid to ensure a supply of clean, reliable, affordable energy produced right here at home.
Our government has already accomplished much in helping bring down costs for Canadians. We have cut income taxes for 22 million Canadians by lowering the first marginal personal income tax rate from 15% to 14% as of July 1, 2025. In fact, it was the very first measure of this new government. This is providing tax relief of up to $420 a year per person or up to $840 a year for two-income families. We have eliminated the goods and services tax for first-time homebuyers on new homes worth up to $1 million and reduced the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.
This relief has allowed more Canadians, particularly young families, to achieve their dream of home ownership. We eliminated the federal consumer carbon price as of April 1, 2025, directly saving Canadians money at the pump. On that same day, our government also removed the requirement for the provinces and territories to have a consumer-facing carbon price.
To deliver additional support for more than 12 million Canadians, we also launched the new Canada groceries and essential benefit, a flagship measure that is immediate, targeted and meaningful for families across our country. It provides a family up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years and provides a single person up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years. This is meaningful, and it is going to help Canadians across our nation, but there is much more.
We made the national school food program permanent, which is something every member of the House should be proud of. This is a game-changer for so many kids in our country and so many families. We just have to talk school teachers to know how much this is appreciated and is making a meaningful difference. It is going to provide school meals for up to 400,000 children per year. These are the kinds of things we were elected to do: to be there for children, to be there for families and to be there for Canadians. This is going to save participating families with two children in school an estimated $800 annually on groceries. This is really meaningful for many people.
We also introduced automatic federal benefits, starting in the 2026 tax year, to ensure that up to five million low-income Canadians automatically receive the benefits they qualify for in the 2028 tax year. This is something that is very meaningful. It is the right thing to do to support Canadians.
Canada is well positioned to respond to external pressures from the increasingly fragmented and uncertain world beyond our borders. We cannot control the global forces driving up prices, but we can control how we react to them.
Our government is cutting taxes and boosting affordability to help Canadians manage everyday expenses, while building a more robust, more independent economy. Canadians see it, and they are behind this project to make Canada strong.
It is not a coincidence that our government made this bill one of our first priorities of the new fall session. Canadians are expecting swift and concrete action from all of us, and when I say all of us, it is not not just those members sitting on this side of the aisle, but I am looking at my colleagues who are here this morning. They expect all of us to address the cost of living challenges, and today we are offering an opportunity for every member of the House not only to speak but also to take a step to support Canadian families.
Canadians across the nation will be watching what people will do today, because it is sending a message that we stand with them. We are there for them, and that is the kind of message Canadians expect from the House. We are delivering for Canadians and expect all members of the House to do the same. The passage of this legislation would advance our government's important work to bring down costs for Canadians today while building a stronger economy for generations to come.
I urge all hon. members to pass Bill C-38 without delay. Let us seize the moment. Let us be ambitious. Let us be there for Canadians together.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie South—Innisfil, ON
Madam Speaker, I have been here long enough, coming up to 11 years now, to remember the Liberals' talking about the Conservative proposal of removing the excise tax on fuel. They accused Conservatives of spreading disinformation and said that it in fact would have a limited effect on affordability, yet here we are with the finance minister's doing this today.
The minister talked about swift and concrete action. Well, in April 2024, the Leader of the Opposition put forward an opposition motion to save families $670 by removing the tax on gas. Again, on April 15, 2026, the hon. member for Calgary East proposed another motion. Then, on May 27, 2026, the member for Richmond—Arthabaska—des-Sources proposed another motion to remove the tax on gas. In each and every case of those opposition motions, because Conservatives were ahead of the curve and saw the affordability crisis impacting Canadians at that time, it would have provided real relief, but instead the Liberals accused us of disinformation.
In every case, the Liberals voted against it, including the Minister of Finance. Why has there been the change?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. He is an esteemed and very experienced member of the House. I am trying to understand what he is saying to Canadians at home. I think what he is saying is that he is going to vote for the bill. I think that is good news, because it is something we should all support because it is meaningful, it is targeted and it is immediate. It is going to have an impact across our nation. It is going to reduce the pressure on the price of gas and the price of food.
I take it that my hon. colleague will convince all his colleagues, because I know he is a man who has a lot of influence in his caucus. He will convince all those members to stand in unity with the government and do what is right for Canadians.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance will already know, because of the earlier negotiations between parties for unanimous consent on various aspects of the bill, that I will support it. I do have some misgivings, and I am glad for the opportunity to debate it later today.
However, since the minister mentioned the investment summit, I will say that there is a piece of legislation I desperately want from the finance minister, which is to amend the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act. He will know that the investment board was set up in 1997 with only one rule: Invest Canadians' pension money where it gets the greatest rate of return on investment, which means we are invested more outside Canada than in it, more in the United States than in Canada.
I would like my pension dollars to go to the school down the road, to the hospital in my community, and to help for small business, not for Petco in the United States, not for Grok to build deepfake—
Bill C-38 Canadian Fuel Affordability ActGovernment Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
I want to remind the hon. member to ask a question.
The hon. Minister of Finance.
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my hon. colleague for her support. She has always been there to rise to the moment and support the government in a meaningful way. I want to thank her, not only on behalf of the government but also on behalf of Canadians, for the work she does and the position she has been taking in the House. I have had the privilege for almost 12 years now to see her in action, and she has always been there to support the government in a meaningful way.
My hon. colleague's point about the investment summit should reassure her. She will have seen that our pension funds in Canada have been recommitting very large investments into the Canadian economy. This is very much welcome. I am always glad to work with her.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I reflect on my constituents and what they want. We have a Prime Minister who has been leading a government that talks a great deal about building a stronger, healthier Canada, but that does not leave out the important issue of affordability. I think about one of the very first actions the new government took, which was to get rid of the carbon tax and then to provide a tax break to over 20 million Canadians.
Today, the Minister of Finance has provided a true reflection of what every Liberal member of Parliament has been asking for: to provide additional tax relief in the form of the gas tax to address the issue of affordability, something I know he and my colleagues are very passionate about.
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Speaker, I just want to compliment my colleague. He is a true voice for our government in the House. He is right. This is one of the measures. We understand that affordability is front and centre, and we have been acting on all fronts. Canadians are concerned about the end of the week and the end of the month, with the price of food, the price of rent and the price of gas. He is right that we have a suite of measures to help Canadians. We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. We cut income taxes for 22 million Canadians. We cancelled the consumer carbon tax, and we provided GST relief for first-time homebuyers.
At every step of the way, we have been there to support Canadians. The message is very loud and clear that we are going to be there for them. We are going to build Canada strong. We are going to do that together. We should all be proud of what we can achieve in this country. We support each other. We build for the future. We are going to make Canada strong.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of Finance for agreeing to bring forward Bill C-38. Thanks to relentless pressure from the Conservatives, we have some taxation relief today. The finance minister outlined a series of other measures related to affordability.
We should note in the House of Commons today that the government is doing better on its finances because of the high price of oil. Much of that oil actually flows through my riding; 37% of all oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline goes right through the Sumas Prairie where we had the big flood in 2021. That area is very vulnerable. In the MOU signed between the federal government and the Province of B.C. this summer, they committed to providing $20 million for funding the study, but there was no final commitment to put in the pump station to protect the most agriculturally significant lands in the province, the Trans Mountain pipeline and where they wanted to build a new pipeline.
Would the finance minister be able to outline to the House whether the government will fund a new pump station to protect future investments in the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor, British Columbia's most significant agricultural lands and—
Bill C-38 Canadian Fuel Affordability ActGovernment Orders
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Speaker, that is a very important question that my hon. colleague posed, and I thank him for raising the issue. It is great to hear an MP from British Columbia supporting the ambitious agenda we have set for ourselves.
I will state the words of the executive director of the International Energy Agency, who recently said that the world energy architecture is being redesigned, and Canada is going to be at the centre. This is a project for all Canadians. With great attention to the comment he made, we want to make sure that we develop our resources in a sustainable and responsible way. The member can trust the government to always do that with all the partners, the Province of British Columbia and indigenous nations. We are going to do what is right for this country, and I welcome his question.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Madam Speaker, New Democrats support relief for people right now. They are struggling to make ends meet. This bill alone would cost over $5 billion. I will remind the House that oil and gas companies are posting record profits. We have never had more profits than right now in the oil and gas sector. Conservatives in Britain have even brought in an excess profit tax, but we cannot get Liberals here in Canada to even consider it.
I would ask the Minister of Finance the following. Is there a number? Is there a threshold? Is there an amount of profits? Is it $200 billion? Is it $300 billion? What is the number before the Liberals bring in an excess profit tax? This amounts to corporate welfare. That is exactly what is happening here. This bill should not be on the backs of everyday people.
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Madam Speaker, first of all, the support from the New Democrats is welcome. I think they understand that the measure is a much-needed support for Canadians. This is about Canadians. This is about families, truckers and farmers. This is about the people who provide the logistics and feed this country. This is a measure that is very much needed. It is going to be impactful.
I welcome the support, and I am sure the member is going to help us at committee to do that as quickly as possible to show that the NDP can stand up for Canadians.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Madam Speaker, before I begin, I seek unanimous consent to split my time with my colleague from Barrie South—Innisfil.