Steven Guilbeault

[Housing, September 16th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the members opposite are saying, it is important to know what we are talking about. I am a founding member of a housing co-op. I know very well that in order to get these projects off the ground, we need to work together, not against each other, because that does not work. The Conservative approach, which is to cut, cut, cut, does not work. That is not the right way to build homes. Furthermore, expecting the private sector to step up and build affordable, social housing is certainly not how we will get this done.

That is why the federal government is working in partnership with provinces, municipalities and community groups to help all Canadians have access to housing.

[Housing, September 16th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, what we need to do to address the housing crisis is co-operate with municipalities, provinces and people on the ground. That is the opposite of what the Conservative Party is proposing. The Leader of the Opposition has repeatedly criticized the mayors of cities like Quebec City, Montreal and others across the country.

Yesterday, my friend and colleague, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, and I announced 20,000 homes, 10,000 of which will be non-market, in other words, social and community housing. That is how we are going to address this crisis. It is not by insulting our partners on the ground.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, as to part (a), Parks Canada directly informed the following people of the decision.

Chief Dwayne Blackbird and others of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation were informed on May 9, 2025, by Leanne Cooper, field unit superintendent, at an in-person meeting.

James Plewak of the Coalition of First Nations with Interests in Riding Mountain National Park was informed on May 9, 2025, by Leanne Cooper, field unit superintendent, at an in-person meeting.

Julia Tetrault, director of strategic priorities at Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, was informed on May 13, 2025, by Jonah Mitchell, executive director, via phone call.

Jeff Long, director of the aquatic invasive species program at Manitoba Environment and Climate Change, was informed on May 15, 2025, by Jonah Mitchell, executive director, via phone call.

John Gunter, chairman of the board of the Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba, was informed on May 15, 2025, by Jonah Mitchell, executive director, via phone call.

Kelsey Connor, from the Clear Lake Marina, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Tom Sheldon, acting field unit superintendent, at an in-person meeting.

Lynne Tovell, from the Cottage Owners Association, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Jim Avram, acting townsite manager, via phone call.

Christian Robin, from the Cabin Owners’ Association, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Jim Avram, acting townsite manager, via phone call.

Ian Drul, from the Municipality of Harrison Park, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Borden Smid, resource conservation manager, via phone call.

Tamara Sellman, from the Municipality of Harrison Park, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Borden Smid, resource conservation manager, via phone call.

Karly McRae, from Clear Lake Country, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Tom Sheldon, acting field unit superintendent, via phone call.

George Hartlen, from the Friends of Riding Mountain and the Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Tom Sheldon, acting field unit superintendent, in person.

Michael Kreshewski, from the office of member of Parliament for Riding Mountain Dan Mazier, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Tom Sheldon, acting field unit superintendent, via phone call.

Jeff Long, director of the aquatic invasive species program at Manitoba Environment and Climate Change, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Borden Smid, resource conservation manager, via phone call.

Brendan Spearin, aquatic invasive species regional coordinator at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Government of Canada, was informed on May 16, 2025, by Borden Smid, resource conservation manager, via phone call.

As to part (b), during the specified period from March 1, 2025, to May 15, 2025, Parks Canada directly consulted with representatives from Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, including Larry Beaton, James Plewak and Chief Dwayne Blackbird, regarding the planned watercraft management measures for Clear Lake. This was done on April 15, May 2 and May 9, 2025, by Leanne Cooper, field unit superintendent; Borden Smid, resource conservation manager; and Mireille Kroeker, acting external relations manager, in person.

As to part (c), the answer is yes. Part (i) is not applicable. Part (ii) is Ian Drul, Reeve, Municipality of Harrison Park. Parts (iii) and (iv) are not applicable. Part (v) is the office of Member of Parliament for Riding Mountain Dan Mazier.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian Heritage was responsible for the research and policy work underlying the development of Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, including its passage through the parliamentary process. However, the Department of Canadian Heritage is not responsible for the implementation of the framework once the parliamentary process is complete. The implementation of the framework is the responsibility of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the CRTC.

With regard to (a), the Online Streaming Act amended the Broadcasting Act. As of March 2025, the CRTC’s total expenditures to implement these amendments have been approximately $15.2 million ($11.9 million in salaries and $3.3 million in operational and maintenance costs), of which $9 million was spent in fiscal year 2024-25.

With regard to (b), employees or full-time equivalents are not assigned to work specifically on items related to measures contained in the Online Streaming Act, as they are interconnected with other provisions in the Broadcasting Act. All the measures contained in the two bills are applied jointly and concurrently.

With regard to (c), the CRTC has hired 59 full-time equivalents to implement and maintain measures contained in the Online Streaming Act. These employees also work on maintaining the measures contained in the Broadcasting Act.

With regard to (d), the CRTC projects that the cost to maintain the systems and items mandated by the Online Streaming Act will be approximately $9.7 million annually.

With regard to (e), as a result of the Online Streaming Act, the CRTC has invoiced streaming service fee payers $19.9 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year and $22.9 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year so far.

With regard to (f), the CRTC uses a cost recovery model wherein the fees it collects from streaming services are used to cover the costs of applying the regulatory framework established through the Online Streaming Act. These funds are not considered revenues and therefore are not distributed. Once fully implemented, the Online Streaming Act will see streaming services make financial contributions directly to the Canadian media and broadcasting ecosystem.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a)(i) and (a)(ii), the total number of grants and contributions provided by Heritage Canada during the 2024-25 fiscal year was 28,129 and the total value was $1,859,294,977.

With regard to (b), the departmental financial system does not track transfer payment information by federal riding and/or census metropolitan area.

With regard to (c), two payments were made to entities outside of Canada for a total value of $8,034,896.

With regard to (d), one payment was in France, for TV5 Monde, in the amount of $7,945,511, and one was in Germany, for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, in the amount of $89,385.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), some portions of the Parks Canada-administered lands along the Rideau Canal in Smiths Falls have been subject to archaeological assessment. More detail about specific properties and types of agreements is required to provide a full response. A manual search of non-digitized records would also be required. Parks Canada has determined that producing and validating a comprehensive response is not feasible within the allotted time frame and could result in the disclosure of incomplete and misleading information. Assessments that have been conducted can be shared with the municipality.

With regard to (b), any activities that include soil disturbance trigger an archaeological assessment.

With regard to (c), the scope of the assessment is determined by the archaeologist conducting the assessment, based on the scope and potential impacts of the proposed project.

With regard to (d), the municipality, as the proponent of the project, is responsible for the funding, as well as for engaging a professional archaeologist to conduct this work. All archaeological work on Parks Canada land requires a Parks Canada research and collection permit and is reviewed by Parks Canada’s archaeology team.

With regard to (e), the review timelines and implications vary depending on the scope of the project and the nature and extent of the archaeological resources.

With regard to (f), Parks Canada’s standard on realty agreements outside of national park boundaries, which includes requirements set out in the Treasury Board “Directive on the Management of Real Property” and the “Rideau Canal and Merrickville Blockhouse National Historic Sites of Canada Management Plan, 2022”, govern the use, enhancement or activation of Parks Canada lands under lease to municipalities.

With regard to (g), the national parks of Canada land use planning regulations provide a general framework for consideration of the authorization of any improvements in Parks Canada-protected spaces. Improvements of any type on Parks Canada lands under lease to municipalities may be considered on a case-by-case basis but can only be undertaken in accordance with an authorization or permit issued by the appropriate authorized superintendent responsible for the protected space in question.

As per the national parks of Canada land use planning regulations, the director of Ontario waterways holds the delegated authority to permit or decline development applications on Parks Canada lands adjacent to the Rideau Canal within the Smiths Falls municipal boundary and exercises that authority in consultation with the appropriate internal and external subject matter experts.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the purchase order was for a one-time, non-recurring recruitment service to secure the recruitment of a specialized external candidate.

With regard to (b), the purchase order was issued on October 5, 2016.

With regard to (c), CBC's hiring manager responsible for filling the posting authorized the purchase order following the hiring of the successful candidate.

With regard to (d), GC Strategies Inc. identified and provided a candidate who was ultimately successful. The agency earned a corresponding placement fee.

With regard to (e), GC Strategies Inc. approached CBC's hiring manager following the public posting of the job opportunity.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), operations team meetings allow open discussion and are primarily used for sharing information and updates related to a variety of regional and national issues. Formal agency decisions are taken through a governance process whereby documents are maintained in compliance to the Government of Canada records management standards.

With regard to (b), I was not, and am not routinely, updated or engaged on the note-taking practices at internal Parks Canada meetings.

With regard to (c), neither I, nor anyone from my office, provided any input into the note-taking practices at internal Parks Canada meetings.

With regard to (d), as per Government of Canada information management best practices, all decisions and actions of business value are kept and maintained in official records.

[Housing, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, to build more housing, we need to work together. We need to work with municipalities. We need to work with stakeholders on the ground. We need to work with the provinces. Unlike the Conservatives, who think we need to insult people, we believe we should work together.

That is what we did this morning, when the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and I made a historic announcement to build 20,000 homes. That is 20,000 homes in a single announcement, and that is just the beginning. We are going to do this across the country. From coast to coast to coast, we are going to build more homes with our partners.

[The Economy, September 15th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I was with my colleague and friend, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, our colleagues from the Quebec government, and the mayor of Montreal. At that time, I had the pleasure of announcing a project to build 20,000 housing units. That 20,000 units includes 6,000 affordable off-market units—social housing to help families and young Montrealers. We are going to be doing this across the country.