Debates of Oct. 27th, 2025

The Economy

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government is not creating a bulwark against inflation. It is creating inflation. It is forcing Canadians to turn to food banks. There is a reason why Food Banks Canada's 2025 HungerCount report is called “Food Banks as a Lifeline: Canada's New Normal”. The new normal in Canada involves relying on food banks. That is the new normal under these Liberals. In fact, 20% of food bank users are employed, 8% are seniors and 23% are two-parent families.

What is the Prime Minister waiting for? When will he stop his inflationary spending, which is forcing more and more Canadians to turn to food banks?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, this report clearly shows that we need to strengthen support measures for families to address these challenges.

However, Conservative members have opposed each and every measure we put forward to help overcome the challenges outlined in this report. The Conservative member for Central Newfoundland said that the national school meal program is garbage, even though it is already feeding more than 4,000 children in his province.

We are focused on solutions and on getting results for Canadian families.

Forestry Industry

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff increase for our forestry industry. That 10% is on top of the 10% we have been subject to since October 14 and the 35% countervailing duties that already exist. That is a 55% tariff in total. One thing is clear: Washington wants to destroy our industry.

This situation calls for a rescue package that includes financial support and wage subsidies to protect jobs, and the industry needs it now.

How is it that 55% tariffs is not enough for the government to take action for the forestry industry?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, of course, our government remains fully prepared to resume discussions with the U.S. government.

However, our colleague alluded to certain potential tariff increases. We have to be careful and wait for the official executive order from the U.S. government before concluding that certain percentages will be applied.

However, we fully share his concern about the future of forestry workers and industries. As in other sectors of the economy, we will support these workers and industries and—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Jonquière.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, voicing concern is one thing, but taking action is another.

The forestry industry was already at the breaking point before the new tariffs were announced on Saturday. No other industry has taken a harder hit from Washington than this one. Even so, the financial assistance announced by the Liberals in August is still on hold nearly three months later. There are still no wage subsidies to protect jobs and there is no rescue plan. To top it all off, Ottawa has cut measures to facilitate access to employment insurance. The crisis is not over; it is getting worse.

When will the Liberals step up for the forestry industry?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we are taking action, and we are willing to work with our colleague. I know there are a number of forestry industry companies in his riding.

Financial supports are available through banks. Everything is guaranteed by the BDC. The system is working. The first payments have already been sent out in the past two weeks. We are working to find solutions.

That said, we know that more remains to be done and that we have to help the industry and the workers. We will be there.

The Economy

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberals, food prices have gone bananas. They are so bad that one in five food bank users works full time. Even people working full time cannot afford to eat in Canada. Now food banks are feeling the crunch, jammed with 2.2 million visits in a single month, and the Liberals think Canada is ripe for more inflationary spending, which is rubbing salt on the wounds.

When will Liberals stop squashing workers with their inflationary spending and realize it is time to reverse course?

[Stephanie McLean, Liberal, Secretary of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, Food Banks Canada has highlighted the importance of federal government action that is helping Canadians, such as the national school food program and the Canadian dental care program. This is helping more than two million seniors.

We are building an economy that works for everyone. Conservatives have a record of pushing the retirement age higher, cutting benefits and leaving seniors behind. I say, “not again”. The Canadian public trusts us, not the Conservatives. That is why, while they are voting against every measure for Canadians, we are empowering older Canadians and protecting not only their dignity but also their peace of mind.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals love to talk about political food programs instead of affordable food. That was the question. Before Liberal inflationary spending and hidden food taxes, Canadians could actually afford to feed themselves. Parents do not want the state parenting their children for them. Parents want the government to eliminate food taxes and stop inflationary spending so they can afford to feed their kids themselves.

We have the Liberal fuel standard, the food packaging tax, the industrial carbon tax and inflationary spending. When will it end?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, a few things need to be cleared up here. The Conservatives talk about these imaginary taxes. I think the member needs to come clean. There is no tax on groceries. There never will be a tax on groceries. That is pretty clear.

They talk about imaginary programs. I assure the member that he has voted against some very real programs for school food, dental care and many other things for the most vulnerable in society. The last thing is this: What is inflationary spending when it comes to supporting Canadians? Canadians want to know.

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

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians through higher prices and food inflation. It took decades for food banks to have one million food bank users every month. It took the Liberals just six months to double that number. The Prime Minister said, bet, he is going to double the deficit and make more than 2.2 million Canadians visit a food bank in a single month.

When will these guys realize that inflationary deficits are driving up food costs and driving more Canadians to food banks?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister said it is time for Canada to bet big, he meant bet big on Canadians. This is something these guys do not understand. They refuse to invest in Canadians.

Today I announced that, in budget 2025, $75 million will go to building trade unions to make sure kids and young people can get great jobs in the skilled trades. These are good-paying jobs. This is what it looks like to bet on Canadians. This is what it looks like to have the backs of Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, if programs like that actually worked and did not feed bureaucracy, 700,000 kids would not be visiting a food bank every single month. Their Liberal deficits are what is making the food go up in cost. This is why grocery inflation is up 4%. People who used to donate and who used to volunteer at food banks are now standing in line for food at those food banks.

Why will the Liberals not stop feeding their egos and their bloated bureaucracy so Canadians can finally afford to feed themselves?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, which is it? They are either about empowering Canadians through good-paying jobs or empowering Canadians through programs such as the school food program. We believe in both, because we are betting on Canadians. We are betting on both their resiliency and their ability to get those great-paying jobs as we create those projects across the country. The member opposite does not want to invest in Canadians, either to support them now or to help them have better features.

Which is it? Which is it that he is asking for, to cut services for Canadians or invest in them? We are going do both. We are going to make sure—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Saskatoon—University.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, hard-working Canadians spend all day at work, and on the way home, they are not stopping in a grocery stores. They are stopping in food banks. For millions of working Canadians, they have to go to food banks because they cannot afford the hidden Liberal food taxes, such as the industrial carbon tax and the food packaging tax. Food Banks Canada reports a record smashing 2.2 million visits in a single month. Donations are down because Canadians are broke.

When will these out-of-touch Liberals admit to driving up the cost of food and driving Canadians to the food bank?

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative MPs coming to Ottawa, collectively, with the 14 of them coming, that is 140 years, and that is the first question we got from a Saskatchewan perspective. In my riding, Saskatchewan is finally here on the government side. We are going to address housing. We are going to address the cost of living. I am glad that the Conservatives from Saskatchewan have finally woken up.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, constituents of my riding of Avalon, and the good people of Newfoundland and Labrador, were shocked to hear the Conservative member for Central Newfoundland say that the healthy meals program, which feeds 4,100 or more kids at schools in our province was “garbage”. In reality, hundreds of thousands of additional children are being fed at schools across Canada thanks to the government. I guess it is easier to say they are going to cut a program if they try to make themselves believe it does not exist.

Can the secretary of state please inform my constituents of the benefits of the national school food program?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, Sarah from Central Newfoundland reached out to tell me about the national school program at their school after the member's comments last week. She said that it is wonderful. More students are getting healthy lunches, and the lunch lady went from working part time to working full time. Plus, they hired two nans to work part time. This is employment in this area.

There are countless examples like this across Canada of kids getting meals thanks to the national school food program. We will always be there for Canadian families.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, children are going hungry in Canada due to Liberal mismanagement. Every dollar the Liberal Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadian families through higher prices and food inflation. A third of Canadian children now live in a food-insecure household. Food Banks Canada reports record-breaking food bank use with 2.2 million visits in a single month, and over 700,000 of those visits were children.

When will the Liberals realize that their inflationary deficits are driving up the cost of food and driving Canadian children to the food bank?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are committed to growing the strongest economy in the G7, and protecting and strengthening the supports that help Canadian families. Of the report that is being highlighted here, I would say that the relief families get through the school food program, as well as through dental care and child care, are all things the report cites as being critical to addressing the challenges that Canadians are facing right now.

The government will always stand with Canadian families.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if a single one of those projects and programs actually worked, there would not be 700,000 children waiting in food bank lines every single month. This is not okay, yet somehow the Liberals have normalized this. Nine out of 10 kids are not even fed by the school food program.

When will the Liberals realize that their inflationary deficits and hidden food taxes are making food more expensive and driving Canadian children to food banks?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, no child in this country should go to school hungry. That is why our government brought forward the national school food program, and that is why this new government has committed to make this program permanent, introducing legislation to do so, as well as the funding necessary to ensure the program continues in perpetuity. This is an essential piece of tackling the challenges that Canadian families are facing. We are proud of this program.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians through higher prices and food inflation. Food Banks Canada is reporting 2.2 million visits in a single month. That is double what it was just six years ago. Even more alarming, one in three of those visits is by a child. Its CEO says that parents are stopping in at the food bank on their way home from work, not at the grocery store.

When will the Prime Minister finally admit that his inflationary spending and deficits are driving parents to food banks?