Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, that was a serious question that deserved a serious answer. Buried in the Liberals' omnibus budget bill is yet another ministerial power grab. Cabinet gives itself more powers to award contracts while allowing itself to muzzle the very watchdog, the procurement ombudsman, who is meant to monitor it. Why are the Liberals rigging the rules so they can hand out contracts without anyone w…
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague probably has a much better grasp on the numbers than I do. I would simply say this. I am a mom of four adult children who have recently bought homes, trying to get into home ownership, and the cost to do that is incredible. We know it is still the dream of young Canadians to one day own a home, and we know the government is losing valuable time by creating bureaucrac…
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Mr. Speaker, I would just suggest this: My hon. colleague does not need to take my word for it. She does not need to take the word of my colleagues on this side of the House. Maybe she should go back and look at the Auditor General's report or the PBO's report that was tabled last fall. In her report last year, the Auditor General found a clear lack of transparency in reporting numbers on the gove…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-20, an act that seeks to establish the Build Canada Homes bureaucracy, at third reading. As I mentioned during the debate at second reading, this bill is the latest attempt by the Liberals to solve a problem they created. Unfortunately, their solution is to create yet another Crown corporation, which they promise will deal with their housi…
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Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that partnerships between municipalities, provinces and the federal government are important when addressing this issue. Conservatives believe the goal for these partnerships where housing is concerned should be to reduce the costs and delays that prevent housing from getting built, and to be doing that in partnership with other orders of government.
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Madam Speaker, that could be a very short answer if I wanted it to be. The answer is absolutely I am worried. I am worried about the fact that we have a government in power that has created the mess in our economy and then wants all Canadians to believe it has come up with the solutions and is the saviour to the problems it has created. Yes, I am worried because the government continues to introdu…
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Madam Speaker, today we are debating the 330-page budget implementation act, no. 2. All I can say is here we go again. This act, which puts in place measures to implement what was announced in the update, is just more of what we have become accustomed to from the Liberal government. The Liberals keep building bureaucracies and spending at speeds never seen before, faster than the previous Trudeau …
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Madam Speaker, we are already seeing what the devastating effects are for Canadians today. Without a change in policy, without a change in the government continuing to implement its deficit spending and believe that somehow things are going to get better for Canadians, that is concerning. It is just going to continue to repeat itself long into the future if the Liberals do not get control of the d…
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Madam Speaker, I believe that under way are the key words in that phrase, because the first five projects the government announced were well under way. That was more performative than anything. What I would say is that Bill C-31 is proof that in year 11, the Liberals continue to put forward legislation that keeps the same failed logic we have come to expect. Believing that an 11th try using defici…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives would like to reserve the right to speak to this very important point of order at a later date.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, time and time again, Liberal members stand across the way and try to convince Canadians that they are a new government. Canadians need to look no further than the government's actions today to confirm that they are the same old government, spending more and limiting debate with time allocation. When will this minister and the Liberal government realize they are here to serve Canadians…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General did find we needed a new system. That much is true. However, she did not advise the Liberals to manage the program so poorly that 85,000 seniors could not get their benefits in a timely way. The Auditor General certainly did not tell the Liberals to manage the program so poorly that it cost an extra $5 billion. The Liberals want to pretend these failures of Cúram a…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's Cúram software platform has become the newest IT project to make the list of over-budget, chronically delayed programs it delivers to Canadians. The program was launched in 2017, just two years after the Liberals took office. The Auditor General found that, by 2022, the program had run into delays and into cost overruns that increased by 43% before a single be…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs produced a report on the longest ballot issue, and that it was unanimously supported by all parties. What I believe has been noted is that there are loopholes in the current legislation that allow for activities like those of the longest ballot committee to continue, just as it is legal for individuals to cross the floo…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act. This is a complex, technical piece of legislation, but its core objective is one we should all support: protecting the integrity of our democratic process. Before I get into my speech, I would like to thank my hon. colleague from St. Albert—Sturgeon River for his thoughtful remarks on this bill…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the explanation that my hon. colleague has provided, and I would agree with that explanation. I do believe that the proposed increases are significant, and I think they demonstrate the seriousness with which both the committee and the drafters of the legislation take the monetary penalties that would be applied in cases where these fines are appropriate. I will leave it t…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, after running a decade of deficits, the Liberals have doubled the cost of housing, doubled the cost of rent and now doubled the deficit from Justin Trudeau. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians who are struggling to afford groceries, pay their rent and fill up their tanks with gas. When will the Liberals finally admit they have gotten it wrong, …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of Canadians calling on the government to cease the expansion of medical assistance in dying. The petitioners believe that advance requests for MAID could lead to undue pressure or coercion. They also believe that offering MAID rather than providing support services devalues those living with chronic conditions. As such, they ask all member…
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have made grand promises of spending less and investing more, yet we heard from Finance Canada that their savings plan was not about spending less at all. With net new spending at $90 billion and interest on our nation's debt totalling more than we spend on health care transfers, Canadians are footing the bill in the amount of $3,300 a year per family. What are the Libera…
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Mr. Speaker, I would disagree with my hon. colleague on the efficacy of that suggestion. It is important that political parties are subsidized not simply by a few votes they receive but by the voluntary contributions of Canadians who believe in what a political party represents and hopes to achieve. I know that, provincially, individuals can donate much more to candidates, and so can corporations …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, the authors of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms understood the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of conscience and religion; the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression; and the freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Across Canada, places of worship, from churches and gurdwaras to mosques, synagogues and temples, serve as vital centr…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, while the Prime Minister continues to make big promises, Canadians continue to struggle. The truth of the matter is that he is an illusionist. Canadians are paying 35% more due to rising global oil prices, and Liberal taxes are making it even worse, forcing them to pay almost 20% more than Americans. Not only is the Prime Minister late to the game at announcing relief at the pumps, it…
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Mr. Speaker, I would simply tell my hon. colleague to ask that question to his colleague who spoke at the justice committee and gave his opinion on what should happen in such a case as the member is speaking about. I would add that the government's motion is truly not about protecting places of worship. It is about shutting down debate to force through a controversial amendment and, which the memb…
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Mr. Speaker, I will refer back to the comments I made in my speech on this very issue. The Supreme Court, the highest court in Canada, has recognized that the religious defence is necessary to keep Canada's hate speech laws constitutional. When it made this ruling, it understood how crucial freedom of expression and freedom of religion are. I will end by saying that we already have laws in the Cri…
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Mr. Speaker, I was clear in my speech that what is deeply concerning to me, and perhaps to my colleagues on this side of the House and to the individuals I represent back home in Saskatchewan, is that the government does not seem to care about the implications for our country or our citizens who want to practise their faith. This would have an impact on them that would not be easily unwound. They …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to first acknowledge our Jewish communities that have been victims of recent shootings in Toronto taking place at synagogues. The rise in anti-Semitism has only worsened since the attacks on October 7. These are attacks that are already illegal and that nothing in Bill C-9 would have prevented from occurring. That is why I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table two petitions on behalf of Canadians who are concerned about the implications of Bill C-9. The petitioners believe that freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. They believe that Liberal Bill C-9 is an infringement on those rights. As such, they call on the House to withdraw Bill C-9 and prevent go…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-20, which is an act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, the Liberals' latest promise to solve a problem that they created. The bill would create a Crown corporation, their third that deals with housing, while our young people have watched the prospect of owning a home slip away. As rents have doubled over the last 10 years,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals refuse to be transparent with Canadians. The Auditor General has reported these cost overruns numerous times. Their attempt at updating an outdated technology has ended up costing Canadians $5 billion more, three times more than they projected. The bottom line is this: Canadian seniors deserve better than Liberal excuses and denial. Why is it that Liberals cannot ever del…
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Mr. Speaker, while the minister continues to deny issues with the software system Cúram, tens of thousands of Canadians have been impacted by the Liberals' botched update. Cases are backlogged, benefits are delayed and seniors are left paying the price. The program, which was set to cost less than $2 billion, has ended up costing $5 billion more. Why do Liberal programs always massively exceed the…
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Mr. Speaker, the Cúram software has cost Canadians $5 billion more than what was originally budgeted. To add insult to injury, hundreds of seniors have been delayed in receiving their benefits. An overdue update to an outdated technology has turned into a nightmare for Canadians, with tens of thousands of cases backlogged. Why is it that Liberal programs always massively exceed their projected cos…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to deny that there are any cost overruns for Cúram, even though the Auditor General herself reported four in 2025. Canadian seniors deserve better than denial. I will ask the same question, and I would like a serious answer from the minister. Why can the Liberals not stay on budget, and why are seniors being forced to pay the price for yet another Liberal failure…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table a petition on behalf of constituents in Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek. The petitioners believe that freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. They believe that Liberal Bill C-9 would be an infringement on those rights. They therefore call on the House to withdraw Bill C-9 and to prevent government intru…
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Madam Speaker, Conservatives had two objectives when introducing amendments to Bill C-12. One was to truly fix Canada's broken asylum system, and the second was to strengthen Canada's border security. Can the member please tell us here in this place why the Liberals were so opposed to our very reasonable amendments?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Pursuant to Standing Order 43(2)(a), I hereby divide all Conservative caucus slots in two.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, Canada's economy is on life support and the country is in recession watch. Bloomberg reports that “per capita GDP is still falling, and the economy is growing at only one per cent annually.” GDP growth in November was 0%, and real GDP is expected to decline 0.1% in the fourth quarter. The news for business is bleak. Businesses are postponing their expansion plans. These numbers matter…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to the motion introduced by the member for Cumberland—Colchester, Motion No. 16. While this motion appears to be related to the current and future use of federal office space, it calls upon the House to recognize, among other things, “that the government is making historic investments in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to meet our NATO funding targe…
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague gave an excellent speech in which he noted that higher input costs mean higher grocery bills. I am wondering if the member would speak to how these hidden taxes are contributing to the fact that we have the highest food inflation in the G7.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding. The petitioners believe that freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. They believe that the Liberal bill, Bill C-9, is an infringement on those rights. As such, petitioners call on the House to withdraw Bill C-9 and prevent government intrusion int…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, while the Prime Minister delivered his speech pointing out the gaps between rhetoric and reality on the world stage, the reality here at home is that Canadians cannot eat speeches. Our food inflation is the highest in the G7, and the bill is in: Food costs are now up 6.2%, with groceries up 5% and restaurant meals up 8.5% year over year. The Prime Minister's $78-billion deficit has tu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberal government was asked about its billion-dollar subsidy deal with Stellantis, the minister said to read the contracts and we would see job guarantees. After her officials lied and were forced to release the documents, we see exactly what the Liberals got in return for Canadians' money. The contract stated that there would be no penalties against the recipient should the…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of constituents from Hague, Osler, Warman and Rosthern, to table a petition on their behalf. The petitioners believe that Canadians who find themselves struggling with mental illness should be given support and resources to address the challenges they face. They also believe that vulnerable Canadians deserve compassion and care, and should not be o…
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Mr. Speaker, after being ordered to hand over their multi-billion dollar subsidy deal with Stellantis unredacted, the Liberals refused, with senior officials blaming the company, stating that Stellantis had outlined every redaction they had felt to be necessary and that they were, “comfortable with the redactions they proposed.” The problem is that Stellantis has now gone public, saying it never a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise in this place this morning to speak to the government's long-awaited budget. While the suspense built over the last six months waiting for this day, at the end of it, our biggest fears were realized and the disappointment was palpable. Canadians have been sold a bill of goods packaged up in promises and buzzwords, with the same tax-and-spend policies of the…
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Madam Speaker, obviously in my speech I referenced that the Prime Minister has broken every promise he made six months ago, and he continues to break promises. He is adding the largest deficit this country has seen since COVID. Conservatives were really clear. We offered to work with the government, but even in this minority parliament, the government refuses to work with other parties. We were cl…
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Madam Speaker, Conservatives have always been united under a common vision of hope and restoring the promise of Canada. That is what we have been asking for over the last 10 years. This has never been more important than today. Taxes are up, housing costs have doubled, our national debt is out of control, and crime and chaos are wreaking havoc in our streets, all of which has led to the worst decl…
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Madam Speaker, the short answer is that I think it is normal for the current government. We have seen this over and over again over the last 10 years, and I would say this Liberal budget lets everyone down. After promising to deliver a generational budget, the Liberals instead delivered more broken promises. Conservatives have been clear. We want an affordable budget for an affordable life for Sas…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-255, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief—religious property). Mr. Speaker, I rise to table my private member's bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code as it relates to mischief to religious property. I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Thornhill, for seconding the bill. Over the past 10 years, there has been an alarming increase in inciden…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to pay tribute to Major Lorne Benedict Plemel. Raised on a family farm in St. Gregor, he joined the military at the age of 17 and served the guns of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and the Royal Canadian Artillery for 38 years, climbing the ranks from gunner to major, a remarkable feat in itself. His service included many peacekeeping missions and tours o…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, giving hundreds of millions of dollars in excessive bonuses to failed Liberal insiders drives up inflation, and Canadians are paying the price. In the 2.2 million food bank visits, 700,000 visitors are children. Rent has doubled. The food bank in Saskatoon is moving locations to keep up with the rising demand, as it is “bursting at the seams”. Canadians cannot afford homes. They canno…
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