Bill C-4

Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act

An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure

Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to reduce the marginal personal income tax rate on the lowest tax bracket to 14.5% for the 2025 taxation year and to 14% for the 2026 and subsequent taxation years.
Part 2 amends the Excise Tax Act and other related Regulations to implement a temporary GST new housing rebate for first-time home buyers.
Part 3 repeals Part 1 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and the Fuel Charge Regulations .
Part 4 amends the Canada Elections Act to make changes to the requirements relating to political parties’ policies for the protection of personal information.

Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for his speech.

I want to pick up on what my colleague from Repentigny was saying. The Liberals did away with the carbon tax and their measures to fight climate change. However, during the election campaign, they promised to increase the carbon tax for big industry. However, there is nothing about that in this bill.

Do they intend to do something, particularly since the European Union is planning to charge countries, like Canada, where it is free or does not cost much to pollute?

[Wade Chang, Liberal, Burnaby Central, BC]

Madam Speaker, our government is attracting investment, growing our resource sector and protecting our environment. At the same time, it is using Canadian innovation and Canadian technology to create more Canadian jobs.

In my riding of Burnaby Central, there are many companies focused on carbon capture technology, renewable energy and solar power. These companies are hiring hundreds of Canadian workers in Burnaby. The choice between the environment and the economy is a false one. We are focused on growing Canada into an energy superpower while protecting our environment at the same time, and that is what Canadians expect us to do.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Madam Speaker, I first want to congratulate my colleague and friend on his election and on his first speech in the House. As we in the chamber all know, and also as the member alluded to in his speech, multiculturalism is not just something we value; it is part of who we are as Canadians. Could the member speak to how our diversity continues to be one of our country's greatest strengths, not just socially but also economically?

[Wade Chang, Liberal, Burnaby Central, BC]

Madam Speaker, as a gay Asian Canadian, I know what it means to live in a country where inclusion is not just principle but a lived promise. In Burnaby Central, I see promise every day in churches, temples, mosques, Pride parades, seniors homes, newcomer classes and small businesses run by people whose first language is not English or French.

Multiculturalism is not a side project of the Canadian government; it is essential to who we are and how we grow. Our government will continue to support programs, protections and partnerships that ensure that everyone can live safely, speak freely and participate fully in Canadian life. That is how we build a country where no one is asked to choose between who they are and where they belong.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I compliment the member on his speech. I really enjoyed his comments. He is no doubt going to be a very strong advocate not only Burnaby but also for the province of British Columbia.

I would just like to hear the member's thoughts in regard to why it was important that the Prime Minister's first legislation was dealing with the issue of a tax break for Canadians. It is bill C-4.

[Wade Chang, Liberal, Burnaby Central, BC]

Madam Speaker, I share the hon. member's concerns. These are the issues that I hear about very often when I speak with residents of Burnaby Central. Whether it is public safety, affordability or building a stronger economy, our government is focused on practical solutions that deliver real, measurable results for Canadians. People expect—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Calgary East.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my very good friend, someone who is a very hard worker and a very patriotic Canadian, the hon. member for Calgary Skyview.

As the The Who says in its song Won't Get Fooled Again:

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss.

If the bill is any indication of how the government intends to make its legislation, we are going to see a repeat of all its old boss's habits of governing by platitudes and poorly thought-out legislation.

Do not get me wrong. Conservatives always support tax cuts; we are the party of tax cuts. In typical Liberal fashion, the Liberals' new boss tried to plagiarize Conservative policies, but just like the old guy, failed to do it right.

We all know that imitation is the best form of flattery. The fact that the Liberals are copying Conservative policies is a compliment to the hard work our members on this side of the House have been doing over the last few years. I cannot think of a better team than the Conservative MPs, staff and stakeholders who have put together world-class policies for the Liberals to steal.

I want to take this time to give a special thanks to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre for finally getting the consumer carbon tax repealed once and for all, for all Canadians. After an eight-year fight, Conservatives axed the carbon tax scam for all Canadians, leaving more of Canadians' hard-earned money in their pockets, where it should have been in the first place.

In October 2024, we announced our GST rebate on new homes to save all homebuyers the cost of the GST on newly built homes. After the Liberals' disastrous job-killing capital gains tax hike announcement, Conservatives promised a “bring it home” tax cut for all Canadian workers, including an income tax cut. These were all things we included in our Conservative platform in the last election. Now we see in the bill we are debating today that the Liberals have taken a lot of our ideas but once again have not implemented them properly.

Let us go through the parts of the bill that we are concerned about. Part 1 of the bill would save Canadian workers only 1% on the lowest tax bracket, which for the average worker amounts to about $420 a year. In contrast, Conservatives proposed cutting income tax by 15%, which would lower the first tax bracket to 12.75%. That would save the average worker $900 a year. That is more than double what the Liberals have.

Thanks to Liberal inflation, interest rate hikes, other taxes and the skyrocketing cost of living, wages have not kept up with the rising cost of food, shelter or clothing. Canadians are spending more on taxes than on food, shelter and clothing combined. Families are paying $10,000 more in taxes than they did in 2015. The average family will pay an extra $800 on food just this year, making the annual bill for groceries this year for an average family about $17,000.

Young Canadians are giving up on the dream of home ownership. Young Canadians are paying for basic necessities by borrowing more and more on their credit card. Now, more than ever, there are more missed credit card payments and mortgage delinquencies, and business insolvencies are on the rise. Household debt in Canada has reached $2.5 trillion, up from $1.9 trillion in 2015. Unemployment is on the rise; it is currently at 7% and could go higher, according to TD Bank, but of course the Liberals think a 1% tax cut will make all of that go away.

The Conservative plan to restore affordability more than doubled the income tax cut, and it also included lowering the cost of government, unleashing the economy and energy sectors, and axing the industrial carbon tax. Part 3 of the bill would eliminate only the consumer carbon tax. That would still leave the tax on the producers of oil and gas that powers everything from our trucks to our tractors. An industrial carbon tax means steel and aluminum manufacturers, loggers, natural gas producers and the agricultural sector will all continue to be burdened by this tax, and that tax will be passed down to the end user.

It makes these industries less competitive and less attractive for investment, and it affects their bottom line. That cost is again passed on to the economy through weaker production, less job creation, higher prices and lower productivity.

If Liberals truly wanted to make life more affordable for Canadians, they would have adopted the full Conservative plan, which is to lower the first income tax bracket to 12.75% and finally get rid of the industrial carbon tax for good. This is the same carbon tax, the industrial carbon tax, that has made sure investment has left the country.

It is the energy industry killing policies like the ones in Bill C-69, the no new pipelines bill, that have made Canada weaker and more dependent on others. It is policies like the ones in Bill C-48, the tanker ban, where we can get our product to the west coast, but it cannot go anywhere because of a tanker ban. As well, there is of course the job-killing oil and gas cap, which, according to Deloitte, will kill around 110,000 good-paying energy sector jobs.

Only Conservatives will continue to stand up for our world-class energy sector, which will not only make Canada an energy superpower but also allow it to become independent so we can sell our product. What we have under our feet in Canada is what the world needs. It is good for the environment, and it is great to give Canadians good powerful paycheques.

The last part of the bill that I want to go over is the GST rebate for first-time homebuyers purchasing a new home. The Building Industry and Land Development Association in the GTA said:

Unfortunately, this limitation to first-time buyers only will have a very small impact, as very few new home buyers are first time buyers. It will not substantially help address affordability, nor will it help significantly stimulate sales and construction.

That too is what the Parliamentary Budget Officer said this morning in his report. Only 140,000 new homes a year will be up for sale, and in the housing market, only 20% of homebuyers are first-time buyers. This means few homes will be eligible for this GST rebate.

There is also a time limit on the Liberal plan, as it is for homes purchased before 2031, construction started before 2031 and construction substantially completed by 2036. Conservatives proposed a much broader plan to include more Canadians buying new homes, for all homebuyers, which proposed that homes could be up to $1.3 million and would save homebuyers around $65,000 on the purchase of a new home. The plan would also boost the number of new homes built each year by 36,000 new homes annually.

House prices under the Liberals have skyrocketed, but housing starts cannot keep up with the out-of-control immigration system their new boss and Justin Trudeau supported. Even finance officials admitted the Liberal GST rebate could be inflationary as demand for homes continues to climb but not enough new homes are being built in this country. Meanwhile, the Conservatives' plan would lower home prices for all buyers and spur the construction of new homes.

The new boss is just like the old boss, and this bill makes this very clear.

Conservatives will support the tax relief Canadians need, but we want it to go even further. We need to get this country back on track. After 10 years of these Liberals, whether it was the old guy or this new guy, the policies are all the same and the ministers who sat around the old cabinet table and now sit around the new one are all the same, and this does not change anything.

The cost of living is higher than it has ever been before. Housing prices are higher than they have ever been before. Under the Liberals, housing prices have doubled, whether someone rents or has a mortgage. The cost of groceries is higher than it has ever been before. It is the highest cost in the entire G7.

We can then talk about other things, such as the crime that is out of control. These failed Liberal policies have caused all this devastation on Canadians and changed the look of what Canada has become.

When it comes to Bill C-4, we will propose common-sense amendments to make sure this bill actually provides Canadians with the relief they desperately need.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, the Conservatives need to realize that this is a new government. There is a new Prime Minister, and that Prime Minister has made it very clear that we are going to build Canada strong to make it the strongest nation in the G7, and that is good for all of us.

We have already seen significant signs of this, whether it is by bringing first ministers together in Saskatchewan or bringing forward legislation, such as Bill C-4, before the House, to give a tax break to 22 million people in Canada. We are going to repeal the consumer carbon tax. We are going to provide tax relief for first-time homebuyers in eliminating the GST, which will cause more homes to be built. We have a new Prime Minister, a new government.

Will this old Conservative opposition agree to support Bill C-4?

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, just because there is a new leader, it does not mean there is a new government. It is the same ministers sitting around the table, who caused the last 10 years of pain and misery for Canadians, who doubled the cost of housing, who made food prices go up and who made crime out of control in this country.

The policies have not changed. The cabinet table has not changed, and neither will these Liberals. They are going to continue to make promises they can never deliver on, and that is why Canadians need a change now. We need to get this country back on track. If the Liberals keep following their failed broken record, Canadians will never have it any better.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Madam Speaker, I tend to agree with my colleague in that, although we may have a new Prime Minister, we are still dealing with the same old government.

Make no mistake about it. Once the honeymoon is over and reality kicks in, we will see how true it is that we are still dealing with the same old worn-out government. That being said, there is one thing that I do not understand.

In his remarks, my colleague said something that seemed to make sense. Not so long ago, we would have heard the Conservatives proposing such things and we would have seen the Liberals rejecting their proposals in earnest.

I do not understand why the Conservatives are upset about the Liberals stealing their program.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, we are not angry at all. In fact, we told the Liberals that, if they are going to steal some of our ideas, why not just take all of them? This is what would get this country back on track. When it comes to the income tax cut, Conservatives proposed a bigger income tax cut that would have let families keep double, more than double, the amount the Liberals have in their plan. In fact, it would have been a 12.75% total, which means there would have been $900, on average, a Canadian would have been able to keep in their pocket at the end of the year.

The Liberals' housing plan, according to the industry, does not go far enough. Of course, instead of taking our idea of getting rid of the consumer carbon tax, they should get rid of the industrial carbon tax as well, so we make Canada once again competitive on the world stage.

[Michael Guglielmin, Conservative, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, it seems the only thing new about the government is the new and creative ways the members avoid answering questions and accountability.

My question for my hon, colleague is, given the tariff threats and the threats to our economy, if the Liberal government is going to steal half of the Conservative policy in removing the consumer portion of the carbon tax, should they not go the whole way and remove the entire carbon tax for good?

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, I would add that I think the biggest threat to the Canadian economy is the Liberal government, because it put in place bills that are continuing to kill our energy industry, such as Bill C-69, the “no new pipelines“ bill; Bill C-48, the tanker ban; the oil and gas cap, which, according to Deloitte, will kill around 110,000 jobs here in Canada; and this industrial carbon tax. We need to get rid of that, too.

I fully agree with the member. If the Liberals wanted to steal some of our ideas, why not just take all of them and let us get this country back on track to make it an energy superpower, like it once was?

[Amanpreet S. Gill, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is with deep humility and great honour that I rise in the chamber today to deliver my first speech as the member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my wonderful wife Jaspreet Kaur Gill, my son Daya Singh Gill, and lovely daughter Ekam Kaur Gill for their unwavering love and support. It is their strength that carries me through every challenge.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the voters and supporters who placed their trust in me. I promise I will not let them down.

I would especially like to remember my late father Sadar Amritpal Singh Gill, whose memories continue to inspire me each and every day. I also thank my mother Gurcharan Kaur Gill for her endless love and encouragement.

I thank the tireless volunteers who knocked on doors in rain and shine, the dedicated sign team who made sure our message was seen across the riding, and the community leaders who guided and inspired us every step of the way. Their hard work, passion and belief in our vision made this victory possible. Together, we will work to build a strong and fair community where everyone has a chance to succeed.

I came to Canada as a teenager, with my family, carrying a dream, like many newcomers who still arrive in this country today. I worked nights, went to school during the day, and through hard work and sacrifice, I achieved my goals. I punched above my weight class every step of the way, becoming a small business owner, raising my children on safe streets and teaching them the values of discipline, responsibility and respect. However, today, I stand here deeply concerned that the Canada that once gave immigrants like me a fair shot at success now feels out of reach, even for those born and raised here. Young Canadians cannot afford to buy homes. Wages are not keeping up with inflation, and good-paying jobs are harder to come by.

The Liberal government increased the immigration level with no plan on housing or infrastructure, and no job strategy. This is not just an immigration issue. It is a national failure of leadership. It is unfair to Canadians who are watching their dreams pushed further out of reach in their own country. It is unfair to newcomers who arrived with hope, but find only struggles. We need a responsible, balanced approach to immigration, one that puts jobs, housing and economic security first.

There were 1.6 million unemployed Canadians in May, which is an increase of 13.8% from this time last year. Things are projected to get even worse. TD forecasts that there will be 100,000 job losses by the third quarter of this year. It is clear that the same Liberal ministers, with the same Liberal policies, are delivering even worse results. Canadians need a real plan to unleash Canada's economic potential and deliver powerful paycheques for our people.

I come from Alberta, a province built on grit, resilience and determination. For over a decade, Albertans have been overlooked by Liberal governments that have failed to understand who we are, what we contribute and what we stand for. They attacked our energy sector with Bill C-48, blocked our pipelines with Bill C-69 and cost our working families their livelihood.

Let me be clear, we do not back down. We roll up our sleeves, and we get the job done no matter the odds. In Calgary Skyview, we may have dirty hands, but our money is clean. It is earned through early mornings, long days and honest sweat. We believe in hard work, not handouts. We believe that the people who built, drive and power this country deserve respect, not red tape.

I also stand here with deep pride in my Punjabi Sikh heritage and in the sacrifices of those who came before me. My grandfather and my wife's great-grandfather both fought bravely alongside the allied forces in World War I and World War II, wearing their dastar with honour and serving with courage, loyalty and unwavering commitment. They stood for freedom, justice and the values we hold dear as Canadians.

Their legacy lives on in me. Just as they wore their dastars with pride and fought with honour on the battlefield, I will wear mine in the House of Commons and fight with the same spirit for Canadians and for the principles of my Sikh faith: equality, courage, justice and service. I carry their strength with me every day as I rise to represent Calgary Skyview. I will never forget who I am or where I come from.

I would also like to take a moment to remember the horrific first week of June 1984, when the Indian army attacked Darbar Sahib, the Golden Temple complex, which is the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith. Thousands of innocent Sikhs were murdered in those days. I was seven years old at the time, and it affected me deeply. Even today, the scars of that assault remain deeply engraved in the hearts of Sikhs around the world, reminding us of the importance of religious freedom and protecting human rights.

Albertans and all Canadians deserve better. They deserve a government that emphasizes their hard-earned dollars, the dignity of hard work and the importance of safe streets, a government that supports energy workers, builds pipelines and strengthens our economy, instead of tearing it down.

That is why I stand here today as a proud member of the Conservative Party, committed to jail, not bail, for repeat offenders. This means holding criminals accountable and ensuring that justice is served swiftly and fairly. It means investing in communities, supporting law enforcement and making our streets safer for all Canadians.

It is clear that the Liberals are out of touch with the needs of Canadians. We need a government that focuses on job creation, economic growth and fiscal responsibility. It is time for a government that puts our economy back on track and secures a brighter future for all Canadians. It is time for action. It is time for the Liberals to put Canada first and introduce a budget that supports Canadians now.

Our vision is clear: a Canada where the economy is strong, families are supported and communities thrive, a Canada where government spending is accountable, taxes are fair and opportunities are abundant for all.

I came to this House to work. I came with a clear mandate backed by my commitment to serve, to lead and to deliver real results. I came here to stand up for the hard-working people of Calgary Skyview and for every Canadian who feels left behind by Liberals who have failed to deliver on their promises. I will fight every day to ensure that others get a chance to live in safe communities, to build better lives and to raise families with dignity and pride.

I will bring the voices of my riding into every debate and every decision, grounded in values of service, fairness and accountability. I am here because I believe in a Canada that is full of potential and opportunities, not one held back by broken promises and a lack of actions.

Let us rise to the moment, work together and build the strong, united and free Canada that we all deserve.