Debates of Sept. 25th, 2026

Taxation

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, there is a plan on the table that is working for Canadians, and it is the Liberal plan. It includes doing things like making sure that families such as Daniel's have affordable child care, which is saving families in Ontario over $10,000 per year right now. It is ensuring that families in the member's riding have access to the Canada child benefit or to a national school food program so that Daniel's kids can go to school and actually have food in their stomachs. It is a program that the Conservative leader called bureaucracy yesterday.

If the Conservatives want to stand here and fight for families, then they should come on board and stand—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Order.

The hon. member for Bow River.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, harvest is here, right now, this very moment. Combines, tractors and grain trucks are starting up and pulling into the field. It is go time. Hopes and plans come to the test. Will the weather hold? Will there be a breakdown? What will the prices be? Everything is on the line. It is supposed to be a payday, not a pay more day.

Diesel prices are at near record levels in Canada. Farmers are facing nearly double what they paid last year. One combine can now cost more than $1,100 a day to fuel. Why is the Liberal government making Canadian farmers pay so much for diesel just to bring in their harvest?

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying that, and this is certainly true on this side of the House, all members of Parliament know the important work that Canadian farmers do across the country. That is exactly why we have eliminated the excise tax on gasoline and diesel. It is why we have increased business risk management programs. It is why we have introduced the national food security strategy, which is over three billion dollars' worth of targeted support to the agriculture sector and the agri-food sector across the country.

We have a plan to help support farmers in the country. That member is from farm country. What should be a little embarrassing to the Conservative Party is that, a year ago, when they had the opportunity to present their plan, there was nothing for Canadians.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are out of touch. They are all talk and no results. Canadian farmers are already paying 32¢ a litre more for diesel than Americans are. Now potential restrictions to U.S. exports threaten to drive costs even higher.

Conservatives are calling for an immediate action plan for relief on diesel prices; a cut to all federal taxes; a secure, reliable Canadian supply; and the use of every available legal power to get Canadian energy to Canadian consumers. The Liberal government is all talk, no results.

Farmers need lower costs. Will the Liberals adopt the Conservative plan to lower fuel costs and save Canadian farmers some money this harvest?

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have been focused on lowering costs for farmers. That is exactly why we have an action plan for reducing regulatory tape with the CFIA and the pesticides regulatory directorate. I do not know if the member shared that with the farmers in his constituency. I certainly have in my neck of the woods in Canada.

The member talks about the importance of market access. I do not ever hear the Conservatives talking about the seven billion dollars' worth of agriculture and agri-food market access that the government established in China or the work we are doing to establish market access around the world, whether that is in Europe or the Asia Pacific. The Conservative Party does not even talk about the work that the government is doing to support farmers across the country.

The Economy

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Clifford is a senior from Oshawa who called my office this week to share his struggles. He is on a fixed income and is having difficulty paying for rent, buying his groceries and even affording the medication he needs to survive. These are life's necessities, not luxuries. The Conservatives have a plan that would actually work to lower inflation and save Canadians money on all of life's essentials.

Will the Liberals adopt our Conservative economic action plan so Canadians like Clifford and other Oshawa seniors can finally afford their rent, groceries and medication?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we know that all of Durham region is benefiting from the work our government is doing to create a stronger economy in Canada, while supporting a strong social safety net that we take pride in protecting.

We are creating jobs because good-paying jobs are the best way to address affordability. In our region alone, the Pickering nuclear plant refurbishment is over 30,000 jobs, and the new nuclear project at Darlington makes that number over 50,000 good-paying jobs in Durham region. That is jobs for our youth and for workers coming out of our auto plants who may need new work. That is good news.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Steve Van Raalte in my riding texted me. He is a heavy-duty mechanic who is frustrated with the price of diesel. It has been cutting into his bottom line. The Liberals are out of touch, and Canadians like Steve are out of money.

There are at least two companies in Alberta that are working to develop diesel fuel out of natural gas, and this would reduce our reliance on American diesel fuel, yet because of the Liberals' lost decade, banks will not fund them, insurance companies do not insure them and there is zero support from the Liberals.

Will the Liberal government adopt our Conservative action plan so Steve can finally afford diesel fuel?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, it is stories like Steve's that have compelled us to act on housing affordability in this country. That is why we have launched Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing at scale across the country. That is why we have increased our rebate for the GST, working in provinces like Ontario and others to bring those costs down. That is why we are investing in infrastructure, housing-enabling infrastructure, that reduces development charges. This is about ensuring that, whether someone rents, buys or pays a mortgage, affordability is improving, and we are going to continue in this regard.

Taxation

[Gaétan Malette, Conservative, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the region I represent in northern Ontario is an economic engine for all of Canada with mining, forestry and agriculture. Removing all fuel taxes until Canada Day would improve productivity and reduce the costs that are passed on to Canadians. This would also go a long way for individual families in Hearst, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane, Matheson, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, Chapleau and all the villages around.

Will the Liberals adopt our plan to remove all fuel taxes?

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my colleague a happy Franco-Ontarian Day. In answer to his question, I would also like to make two points.

This week, our government introduced two very important bills that go hand in hand. We introduced Bill C-38, which comprehensively addresses affordability issues, and I could name others, considering the numerous initiatives introduced over the past few months. We also introduced Bill C-39, which is going to create good jobs and strengthen our economy. That is what Canadians in our ridings want.

The Environment

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with Bill C-39, the Liberals are exploiting the public's fear of Donald Trump.

Let us not forget that, under the pretext of fighting tariffs, they gave themselves the power to circumvent all environmental laws in order to build pipelines. That is irresponsible, but at least the Bloc Québécois managed to get a sunset clause added so that it would expire after five years, because Donald Trump will no longer be in office in five years' time. However, in Bill C‑39, they are repealing that provision. They want to circumvent environmental laws for good.

Does this not prove that the tariff crisis is basically just an excuse for them to bulldoze over everything?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his important question. As a Quebecker and a former employee of Quebec's environment ministry, I am very pleased to answer it today.

Our proposal is simply about speeding up the response. Quebec's environment ministry wanted to review its own environmental laws and its environmental impact assessment legislation. It has the same goal, specifically, one year. That is all we are doing.

Laws and regulations are not being repealed. When we grant ourselves powers, conditions will be attached. We will be rigorous and—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what the Liberals are doing through Bill C-39 is nothing new. It is rooted in the concept of a permanent state of emergency. That is when a government exploits a crisis, a temporary situation, to impose changes that are actually permanent and that would never be acceptable under normal circumstances.

The Liberals are using the trade war and Donald Trump to introduce permanent rollbacks that will impact the environment, workers' rights, land protection, endangered species and more. The Liberals are not doing this to protect Quebeckers; they are doing it to line the pockets of the oil companies. Have they no shame?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have two pieces of advice for Bloc members today. First, if they want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec, Canada and around the world, they should get on board with the high-speed train, which will slash greenhouse gas emissions. Second, they could enthusiastically get behind the Churchill Falls project. The federal government brought Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador together to reach an agreement on a project that will create 23,000 jobs, meaning employment opportunities for Quebeckers, and that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the economy.

Public Safety

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month in Richmond Hill, multiple armed suspects forced their way into a family home, assaulted the residents and opened fire in the house with a gun. Families in my community should not have to wake up wondering whether violent armed criminals will be kicking down their door next. After years of Liberal soft-on-crime policies, it is arrest by day and bail by night. All Canadians are hearing is plenty of Liberal talk, but no results.

When will the Liberals keep Canadians safe and repeal weak Liberal bail, house arrest and catch-and-release to lock up extortionists, human traffickers, car thieves, burglars and violent criminals?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as members are aware, earlier this year we passed an amount of transformational legislation that speaks to criminal justice reform. First and foremost, we have Bill C-14, which strengthens bail as well as sentencing, and Bill C-16, which ensures the rights of victims are protected. We will continue to support public safety and invest in our frontline officers, including hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel, as well as 1,000 CBSA officers.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians are aware, the Liberals are talk, talk, talk, but no results, but people in Richmond Hill want to know when they will actually feel safe in their own homes. Conservatives have called for tougher bail and sentencing rules, and real consequences for violent repeat offenders, burglars, car thieves, extortionists and violent criminals, to keep Canadians safe. Instead, the Liberals are doing the opposite. This spring, they made mandatory minimum prison time optional with Bill C-16, and earlier this year, each and every Liberal voted down our Conservative jail not bail act.

When will Canadians finally see a justice system where victims are not the ones feeling like they are being held in house arrest?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let me share some of the early results from the justice reforms that we brought forward. Extortion is down 10% across Canada. Firearms offence is down 14%. Homicide is down 16%, which is the lowest in a generation, and child sexual abuse and exploitation is down 21%.

We will continue to ensure the safety and security of Canadians and continue to invest in law enforcement, to ensure that all Canadians are safe, and not just safe, but also feel safe.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, six people have been charged following a major police operation that led to the seizure of drugs and firearms on Manitoulin Island. Drug trafficking fuels other, more serious crimes in northern communities. It contributes to addiction and overdoses that cost our health care system millions of dollars. The Conservatives have a plan to keep Canadians safe.

When will the Liberals follow our example and start taking this issue seriously?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience]

Mr. Speaker, since our government took office, keeping Canadians safe has been one of our top priorities. Since we were elected, we have passed three major pieces of legislation in collaboration with provincial governments and law enforcement agencies across Canada, all of which support these laws. They are the Combatting Hate Act, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, and the Protecting Victims Act. It seems to me that the federal Conservatives are the only ones opposed to these laws.

[Chak Au, Conservative, Richmond Centre—Marpole, BC]

Mr Speaker, in Richmond, the RCMP says shoplifting has increased dramatically over the last five years. Some offenders were arrested twice in one day. This is Liberal catch-and-release in action, and Richmond small businesses and store clerks are paying the price. Liberals talk but deliver no results. Conservatives will lock up repeat offenders.

When will the Liberals stand with law-abiding Canadians and repeal their reckless soft-on-crime policies?