Rachael Thomas

[The Economy, October 3rd, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, I would invite the member to give that same passionate speech and those condescending talking points to the four million Canadians lined up at food banks in order to be able to feed their families. It is despicable and he should be ashamed.

Since the Prime Minister came to power, food prices have only gone up. Food prices are rising twice as fast as they did under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Food insecurity is up by 128%, and one in four Canadians cannot even provide the very basic necessities of life for themselves. Meanwhile, the member opposite rolls his eyes and shakes his head as if I am saying something that does not matter to him.

Why does the government not—

[The Economy, October 3rd, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that he would be judged by the price of food at grocery stores as to whether or not he is successful. The data is in, and it does not look great. Due to the Liberals' hidden food taxes, Canadians are paying more than ever when they go to fill their fridge. The hidden carbon tax is applied to the production of food; the hidden plastic tax is applied to packaging, and the hidden tax known as inflation is applied to everything because of the government's out-of-control spending. All of these things add up, and Canadians are stuck with the bill.

Yesterday the Liberals blocked our Conservative motion to make food more affordable by scrapping these taxes. Why are the Liberals so hell-bent on making things tough for Canadians?

[Business of Supply, October 2nd, 2025]

Madam Speaker, we seek a recorded division for the motion.

[The Economy, September 25th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, the member says the Liberal government has “stood by and supported families”, a direct quote.

I would like her to tell that to Scott. Scott is in my riding. He has children and a wife. He works hard, but he finds it very difficult to make ends meet. We recently got off the phone, and he was telling me on that call that he is struggling to feed his family. In fact, he and his wife are down to one meal a day to make sure that his kids get enough food and their bills can get paid.

This is a hard-working family that is not able to make it happen for them. They are struggling. What would this member have me tell Scott and his family?

[The Economy, September 25th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of the Liberal government, Canadians cannot afford to feed themselves. Printing money has resulted in inflation tax, which has driven up the cost of food. The Liberals' industrial carbon tax has increased the cost of farming, which has driven up the cost of food. The food packaging tax installed by the Liberal government has also driven up the cost of food. Families are struggling, and the hardest hit among them are children. In Lethbridge, food bank use among kids is up 150% in just the last four years.

Enough is enough. Will the Liberals support the Conservative motion to scrap the tax on food?

[Business of Supply, September 25th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has said that with the coming budget on November 4, we should expect to see record deficits. This is very concerning for myriad reasons, but today we are talking about the increased cost to food, the increased cost of living and the struggle Canadians are having.

The government insists on spending more money that we do not have. What impact will this have on Canadians families?

[Committees of the House, September 24th, 2025]

Madam Speaker, I wish to respond. We have two dissenting reports.

First, we have a dissenting report with regard to the study on tech giants. On behalf of my Conservative colleagues, I rise to draw attention to the findings in that report on the use of intimidation tactics, along with excessive censorship from the Liberal government.

Through Bill C-11 and Bill C-18, the government has chosen to censor what Canadians can see, say and share online. Bill C-11 makes Ottawa bureaucrats and the government the gatekeepers of the Internet rather than allowing Canadians freedom of choice. Bill C-18 has had equally devastating consequences, taking news off many platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, thus preventing Canadians from being able to access local media.

Conservatives believe in free expression, open access and opportunity for all Canadians, which is why we are calling for both Bill C-11 and Bill C-18 to be repealed and for Canadians to have their freedom restored.

I also have a response to another report, if members will bear with me.

On behalf of my Conservative colleagues, I rise to address the urgent and growing threat of online harms. Canadians, especially women and girls, are increasingly being targeted by non-consensual intimate images and deepfake technology. These are not abstract issues, but rather forms of violence that cause real and lasting harm. The evidence is clear: 92% of adult cases of non-consensual image distribution involve women, and nearly all deepfake pornography targets women.

Female journalists, politicians and public voices are being harassed and silenced through this type of abuse, yet the government's so-called online harms legislation, which it introduced in the last Parliament, failed to address these dangers and instead imposed censorship on Canadians. We hope for better in this Parliament.

Conservatives believe in real solutions. We are calling for legislation that criminalizes these acts, modernizes the Criminal Code and puts victims at the very centre. Survivors need protection, support and justice, not empty promises or flawed laws. To that end, my colleague from Calgary Nose Hill has put forward a fantastic private member's bill, and I hope that we can count on the members of this place to support her.

[Firearms, September 23rd, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that after the Liberals released violent offenders and targeted law-abiding citizens of this country, such as sports shooters or hunters, gun crime has actually surged by 130% under the Liberal government. The public safety minister admits that it is simply a gun grab rather than accomplishing anything good for Canadians. He has confessed he does not know what an RPAL is, and he has sponsored a bill that undermines civil liberties. He is mired in conflict of interest concerns.

Would the Prime Minister finally do the right thing and fire the incompetent minister?

[Criminal Code, September 23rd, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, my point is clear that for over a decade, Liberal justice policies have increasingly favoured criminals and undermined the safety and dignity of victims and communities alike. The bill I am bringing forward today seeks to put victims ahead of criminals, which is where we need to land as a country. Liberal reforms have repeatedly prioritized repeat offenders, sending the wrong message that protecting predators matters more than protecting Canadians, and this practice is wrong and must end.

My bill would amend the Criminal Code to require courts to impose consecutive sentences rather than concurrent ones for sentences for sexual offences. With my bill, each crime would carry its own penalty and each victim would receive the recognition they deserve.

It is long overdue that we put victims ahead of criminals, and I hope I can count on all members of this place to agree with that.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Criminal Code, September 23rd, 2025]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-246, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentences for sexual offences).

Mr. Speaker, for over a decade, Liberal justice policies have increasingly favoured criminals, therefore undermining the safety and dignity of victims and communities alike. Nowhere is this more painfully evident than in the case of sexual assault. Sexual violence is one of the most devastating violations a person can suffer. It strips away their dignity, their safety and their trust, yet multiple sexual assaults are often treated as if they are one offence, therefore minimizing harm, weakening deterrence and eroding public trust.

Since 2015, sexual assaults have increased nearly 75%, and offences against children by 120%. Liberal reforms have repeatedly prioritized repeat offenders, sending the wrong message that protecting predators matters more than protecting Canadians—