Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, what did 13 provincial premiers and territorial premiers agree to this week? They agreed to a permanent doubling of the national school food program that will be brought into 10,000 schools across the country. Thirteen provinces and territories agreed, but this opposition cannot get on board to feed kids in our schools. If they are going to stand up and talk about affordability for Ca…
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Mr. Speaker, we are incredibly proud of this program. Last year alone, it supported over 2,600 projects right across Canada, helping seniors stay active and engaged and fight isolation. This year, we are increasing the value of the grants and we are making some changes to strengthen the integrity of the program. Service Canada is there to assist any organization with questions on how to apply and …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and subsection 39(3) of the Accessible Canada Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Accessibility Commissioner of Canada for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), the report should be referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status o…
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Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite. We have worked hand in hand with organizations to ensure that these changes to this program are welcomed. We know that this program delivers important services for seniors in every single riding of every member in this House. That is something that we are going to continue. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives in our support for seniors, while they …
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Madam Speaker, this is a government that is hard at work for all Canadians. We have a plan to build Canada strong, and on days like today we are seeing real progress with 88,000 net new jobs. The largest increase in those jobs is in construction. Youth unemployment fell by nearly a point. In the member's home province alone there are 14,000 new jobs. Our plan is working. We are hard at work. We ar…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, once again, let us focus on the facts. The minister has been very forthcoming in terms of her presence on this matter and before committee. The previous government helped launch PrescribeIT. Our government announced it was ending. We have already seen that Quebec has signed a contract to launch PrescribeIT in that province. The Conservatives would rather play parliamentary games tha…
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Madam Speaker, the spring economic update shows that the projected deficit is actually $11.5 billion lower in 2025-26 than forecast in budget 2025. This improvement is possible because of stronger-than-expected economic performance and higher revenues. We are concentrating on what we can control, such as maintaining fiscal sustainability while making targeted, high-impact investments for Canadians…
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Madam Speaker, I am very glad to have the opportunity to respond this evening. While the member opposite and many of his Conservative colleagues have drawn up elaborate theories about PrescribeIT and Canada Health Infoway, their position does not make any sense. The member opposite has been making absurd claims about a program launched by the previous government, but here are the facts. Our govern…
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Mr. Speaker, I hopefully have good news for the constituents of that member's riding. Tomorrow, over 27,000 members of that member's constituency are going to receive the groceries and essentials benefit. That is tax-free. That is automatic. That is $530 in the pockets of a family with two children or $267 for someone who is single. That is real help to make life more affordable for Canadians in t…
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Madam Speaker, despite global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical instability, Canada's fiscal position remains strong. The 2026 spring economic update confirms that our fiscal outlook has improved, not deteriorated. Deficits are declining over the medium term, and the government remains firmly committed to a declining federal deficit-to-GDP ratio. As a whole, Canada also continues to have one of…
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Madam Speaker, Canada's labour market development agreements and workforce development agreements demonstrate what is possible when governments collaborate with a common goal in mind. The economic impact is equally significant. As more Canadians enter and remain in the workforce, consumer spending rises, communities prosper and public revenues grow. This is why workforce development is more than a…
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Madam Speaker, allow me to focus on the positive measures the government is continuing to pursue as we work to mitigate the impact of these uncertain times. As the Prime Minister has said, as we cope with economic uncertainty, our most powerful recourse, our most powerful tool is to control what is within our power to control, and that is what we are doing. Let me focus on the government's uncompr…
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Madam Speaker, fiscal responsibility is about managing public finances in a way that protects Canadians today while securing the country's future, and that is exactly what the government is doing. Despite global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical instability—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us think about the consequences of Conservative policy on those very Canadians that member is talking about. They would be families without child care. They would be families without dental care. They would be families without a national school food program. They would be families that would not benefit from a cut to middle-class taxes. These are the policies that our government i…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Moldova”, done at Gatineau on March 13, 2026.
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-261 and to highlight the supports that the Government of Canada provides to seniors across the country. After a lifetime of hard work, of investing in and building our country, Canadians unquestionably deserve to retire free from the anxiety of struggling to make ends meet. This became even more pressing in recent years. Canada and the rest of the world…
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Mr. Speaker, all Canadians, including this government, are hoping for an end to the volatility that we have seen across the world that affects us in our local communities. I hope that member takes a moment to consider why he voted against the groceries and essentials benefit, which is being delivered to Canadians this Friday. Over 40,000 constituents in his riding are going to receive that benefit…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize an extraordinary milestone, the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, a national organization headquartered in my riding of Toronto—St. Paul's. For half a century, CCRW has championed the idea that a stronger Canada is one where everyone can fully participate in the workforce. Its work has connected Canadians with disabilities t…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich for that member to stand up and talk about supports for parents and families, when he does not support affordable early learning and child care in his very province. It is a program that is delivering for thousands of children right across the province and saving families in Alberta over $10,000 on the cost of their child care in a given year. On this side of the Hous…
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Mr. Speaker, in that member's own riding, next Friday over 36,000 of her constituents are going to receive the groceries and essentials benefit. That is up to a $530 payment for a couple in her riding. That is part of this government's plan to make life more affordable for Canadians, part of a plan that includes efforts not only to make life more affordable but to grow our economy as well. I hope …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I was in the home province of the member opposite just last week. I was meeting with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, talking about the amazing work that is being done there to graduate young people into the trades. It is work that we continue to build on. Just yesterday, I met with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. They called our investments in the spring economic st…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for his question. It provides another opportunity to remind Canadians of our government's commitment to renew the nation's workforce with targeted, dynamic investments in our young people. We are building big, we are building bold, and we are building now. We are building at a scale not seen in this country since t…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of a dear friend and remarkable Canadian, Eric Roher. A leader in the field of education and labour law, Eric was at the heart of our community in Toronto—St. Paul's. He was infinitely generous and warm. He loved every inch of Canada so deeply, whether paddling up north or zipping along St. Clair on his Vespa. It was his love of community that drove h…
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Madam Speaker, let us take a look at the record of those across the aisle and of all the programs that the Conservatives continue to vote against. They are voting against a national school food program. They are voting against dental care for Canadians. They are voting against the groceries and essentials benefit that, in five weeks' time, on June 5, is going to be putting dollars into the pockets…
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Madam Speaker, as the member knows, this system administers our main benefit programs, namely OAS, EI and the CPP. The first phase of the project is proceeding as planned. The project's other phases are still to come. This is a necessary and ongoing project.
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Madam Speaker, here are a few facts for my colleague across the way. The deficit is down. GDP growth is up. Non-U.S. exports are up by almost a whopping 40%. Investment is at a 20-year high. Wage growth is up and two times stronger in Canada than in the United States. Home prices are coming down. Rents are down. We have a plan to put 100,000 apprentices to work. Those are going to be the steamfitt…
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Madam Speaker, we have been very open and clear about this project. I will be clear. On a total budget of $4.8 billion, $1.8 billion has been invested. In fact, the modernization of old age security was delivered under budget. Of the $674 million allocated for this phase, only $633 million was required, reflecting strong project oversight and effective cost management. As the project evolves, so d…
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Madam Speaker, fighting for Canadians means delivering a responsible economic plan, which is exactly what we did on Tuesday by delivering a copy to every member in the House. Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We have the lowest debt burden. We have the second-strongest GDP growth right now. We have the highest labour force participation in the G7. We have the highest per capita i…
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Madam Speaker, we believe firmly that section 107 is used only in extreme cases when other options have been exhausted. Just last year, for example, a federal mediator supported over 200 collective bargaining negotiations, and 97% of labour disputes are resolved without a major work stoppage. We have a consultation right now on the future of the federal Labour Code. I would invite the member, her …
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Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make sure the member opposite knows that our temporary foreign worker program use is down 50% in 2025 and makes up less than 1% of our workforce. In terms of ensuring that our EI program tackles the needs of all communities across the country, that is something that our government remains committed to, especially at a time when our EI program is so essential to Ca…
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Mr. Speaker, we understand that Canadians have had a tough go of it, and that is one of the reasons why, over the past year, our new government has been absolutely focused on bringing down the cost of living for Canadians. They are going to feel that this Monday when they see prices drop at the gas pumps because we are removing the federal excise tax on fuel. That is a big deal. We also know that …
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Mr. Speaker, it is more than a bit rich to hear the member opposite talk about kids going hungry when that party will not vote in favour of a national school food program to save their lives. We are the last country in the G7 to have a permanent national school food program, which will help nearly half a million kids in this country not go to school hungry. If the member is truly concerned about t…
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are going to get a real break on Monday, when they see the prices drop at the gas pump by 10¢ a litre with the federal excise tax on fuel coming off. It is not just about families. For the member opposite, let me also remind him that by removing this excise tax we are also helping businesses. We are helping businesses in food production, in agriculture, in construction and i…
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is talking about what is false. Let me tell her what is true. This Monday, a federal break on the excise tax on fuel comes into effect, which is going to save Canadians 10¢ at the pump. That is true. That is on Monday. Canadians are going to feel that when they pull into the gas station. The Conservatives can stand up and they can rail against the programs that we …
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Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite should know, the combined effect of what the Liberals have done is that we have actually saved Canadians 28¢ at the pump when we cancelled the carbon tax and now, as of Monday, with an additional 10¢ that we are taking off because of the removal of the federal excise tax. Being in government gives us the privilege and the honour of serving Canadians to make a re…
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Mr. Speaker, since our government took office, we have been squarely focused on the issues that my colleague opposite raises. In fact, members can start to see the proof in the pudding here. Wages for Canadians right now are up 4.7% in the past year, while inflation is at about 1.8%. That is making a difference in the affordability in the lives of Canadians. Right now, at this time of year, Canadi…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to recognize the leadership of the Carpenters' Regional Council, Tom Cardinal and the entire leadership team here in Ottawa today, who proudly represent more than 60,000 members across the country. Canada is a nation of builders, and carpenters are at the heart of that story. My own grandfather Malcolm MacLeod was a proud member of Carpenters' Regional Council Local 13…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this Wednesday, April 15, Canadians across the country will come together for National Canadian Film Day, a celebration of who we are and the stories we tell about ourselves. From classrooms to community centres, from libraries to living rooms, people will gather to watch Canadian films sitting side by side. More than 2,000 free screenings will take place across the country with over …
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Mr. Speaker, what we are hearing from that side of the House, what we are hearing heckled today, is that the programs we have been putting in place to help Canadians and Canadian families are glorified food stamps, that these are ideological, radical programs. In fact, they are actually designed to help Canadians. We have boosted them, whether it is our groceries and essentials benefit, which Cana…
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Mr. Speaker, I have respect for my colleague opposite, but I would remind him that TFWs are less than 1% of the workforce and that temporary foreign workers use is down by 70% in Canada. In fact, this is a government that stands behind youth. We are creating jobs for youth. One of the things we are doing right now is investing in our union, training and innovation programs, supporting 1,800 trades…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, let me address the member opposite's concerns, particularly about costs. He was looking for answers. He may not like them, but here they are. The fact of the matter is that spending on the project has not surged. The recently completed move of old age security onto the Cúram platform was delivered as planned and under budget. Let me say that again: It was delivered as planned and unde…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I am a bit confounded by this particular line of argument from both of the members opposite this evening, somehow comparing Canada to European countries in particular, and to Japan, in terms of just comparing the level of integration that we have as a Canadian economy with the United States and calling it comparable to that of European members of the G7. I think the…
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Mr. Speaker, I would note that in the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan's nearly four-minute opener, we barely heard about the impact of the trade war on Canada's economic situation. In fact, what we heard was a fair amount of heavy sarcasm about the state of challenge that has been placed on Canada and on Canadians in the past 14 months as a result of a very serious trade war that contin…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct my colleague across the way. I said no such thing. I take these concerns very seriously, as does our government: investing in jobs and investing in the growth that is going to propel new jobs in this country in the years to come, to bring in foreign direct investment, to diversify our trade, to build major projects, to invest in housing and to make life more af…
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Mr. Speaker, the government's priority is reducing pressures on costs and creating new opportunities for Canadians. I would note to my colleague that, as mentioned in the previous response, Canada right now is set to have the second-fastest growth in the G7. Foreign direct investment into the Canadian economy is at an 18-year high. These are proof points that the serious economic plan that we have…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue for his question. I also want to thank him for attending the technical briefing recently held for members of Parliament. This debate gives us yet another opportunity to share with Canadians our commitment to ensuring that they may continue to receive the critical federal benefits to which they are entitled. We have been investing in…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, enough rhetoric from that side of the House. This is a government that is supporting Canadians right across the country. We have delivered on the groceries benefit, which in my riding is going to help over 30,000 of my constituents. I expect something similar in that member's riding as well. That benefit is going to help deliver close to $1,900 this year for a family of four. It is th…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with respect to Bill C-12, the government is always interested in ensuring that legislation passed in the House moves quickly through here and the other place. I am going to take a moment to address the question that I think prompted this evening's late show. I want to take a moment to address Canada's actions with respect to the officials of the Iranian regime and the integrity of ou…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada screens those entering the country for potential criminal activity and links to terrorist groups. We have designated the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist entities. That has made senior Iranian officials inadmissible to Canada. Since November 2022, the IRCC has cancelled 234 visas for individuals who are inadmissible because of the …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if my colleague across the way could describe why he continues to obstruct after there has been the introduction of a “for greater certainty” clause that would address the concerns that Canadians have and clarify that it would absolutely not be prohibited to read scripture, to preach or to read a religious text under this legislation. Why does the member opposite contin…
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