Debates of Oct. 27th, 2025

The Economy

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, years ago, Food Secure Canada did an analysis of all the issues in the food system. Do members know what issue was the most popular among Canadians? It was feeding kids. It is instinctual for any parent, but the desire to feed kids extends almost universally to all Canadians, except when it comes to the Conservatives. They have taken the most unpopular position. They actually oppose a national school food program. Their usual excuse is to claim that there is no food in the food program, but last week they actually had the gall to call the food program “garbage”. Who does that? Who says that?

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

Mr. Speaker, if those programs actually fed the children the Liberals are claiming they feed, there would not be 750,000-plus children lining up at the food banks every month.

The Liberals' hidden taxes, such as the fuel standard, the food packaging tax, the industrial carbon tax and rising inflation, are making it harder for families at the grocery checkout. Grocery prices are up 4% overall, with ground beef up 17%, coffee up 28% and soup up 9%. Those numbers translate to record numbers of Canadians turning to food banks to feed their families.

When will the Prime Minister stop making it harder for families?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, while our government invests in feeding 400,000 more kids healthy food in schools, the Conservatives call that “garbage”. While our government works to expedite major infrastructure projects, creating tens of thousands of jobs, the Conservative leader calls them “pathetic”. While our government gives law enforcement the tools it needs to keep our communities safe, the Conservative leader calls the RCMP “despicable”.

The pattern is clear: The Conservatives will disparage people, projects and programs that help Canadians, while we continue to deliver for them.

Seniors

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the very people who built this country and taught us the value of hard work while managing our budgets are having to line up at the food bank. Food Banks Canada reports that almost 10% of food bank users are seniors, which is up 22% from 2019.

The Liberal government's reckless spending has driven up prices and left our seniors behind. When will the Liberal government respect our seniors and stop the inflationary spending so they can live their retirement years in dignity?

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

Mr. Speaker, this government is the only party in this House that can be trusted to have seniors' backs. We returned the age of retirement to 65 when Conservatives wanted to push it up to 67.

Through this government's actions, we are ensuring that Canadian seniors have access to one of the largest social programs in the country, and that is old age security and the guaranteed income supplement. Through that, we are ensuring that folks have up to $1,086 per month for the most financially vulnerable seniors. It is things like this that ensure seniors have—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Markham—Unionville.

The Economy

[Michael Ma, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians through higher prices and food inflation. Monthly visits to food banks have doubled since 2019, with 2.2 million visits per month. Nearly 10% of food bank users are now seniors. This is up 22%.

This reliance on food banks has become an ongoing necessity to survive. When will the Liberals realize that their inflationary deficits are driving up the cost of food and driving Canadians to the food bank?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think we have covered quite a bit in this question period, but let me remind the opposition that, today, I was with the SEIU, which represents personal support workers across this country, and for these incredible, hard-working people who support our family members and our seniors every day, budget 2025 proposes that they will receive a non-refundable tax credit worth $1,100 a year. The union fought for this; they asked for this. It is a promise made, promise kept.

I will end with this: This is money in the pockets of these workers. I sure hope the Conservatives are going to support the budget.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, sadly, this morning, a baby who was abandoned in a bus shelter passed away. There are no words to describe how sad this is, and I am sure that all my colleagues in the House join me in hoping that that baby rests in peace.

It makes me wonder what suffering the mother went through to reach that point. People are suffering. They are discouraged. They are struggling to find housing and to put food on the table. They are losing their jobs. Those people are our people. They are Canadians.

Are the Liberals aware of the consequences of their mismanagement?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I believe I speak for all my colleagues when I say that we are sending our deepest condolences to the baby's family. This is a tragedy that has touched all of Quebec at this time. I find it truly appalling that the Conservative Party is using it to raise a question today.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, those are the facts. We are showing our support for the baby and the baby's family. That is what we are doing. We have to fight. We are talking about our people. I will talk about my people in Richmond—Arthabaska.

The use of food banks has risen. Some people have created an organization called Clan Destins that provides food for children's lunch boxes. What are the Liberals going to do to help people feed themselves and their children?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have a national school food program for children. It seeks to help Canadians cope with the challenges they are facing these days. What I am trying to say is that the members across the way will have the opportunity to support this program and the budget for this program. I encourage them all to support Canada’s national school food program.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, food banks in Canada reported a record 2.2 million visits in a single month.

The CEO of Food Banks Canada has said that poverty and hunger have become normalized in Canada. People are stopping at food banks on their way home from work instead of going to the grocery store.

Inflationary deficits are driving up the cost of food. Why does the Prime Minister continue to spend more and more without caring about people who have nothing to eat?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I always find these questions surprising from a party that was prepared to sacrifice so many programs that Quebeckers and Canadians depend on every day. Examples that come to mind are the Canada child benefit, the dental care program and the school food program.

If the member wishes, I invite him to come to my riding to speak with the people at the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul or the United Way and tell them that this bureaucracy serves no purpose and has never fed anyone. I think the members opposite need a reality check.

Health

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been there to support health care workers, the dedicated women and men who care for our loved ones and our seniors every day.

My question is for the Minister of Health.

Can she explain how the newly announced measures, including the tax credit for personal support workers and increased support for union training, will help strengthen our health care system and better support these truly dedicated workers?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his question. Our new government supports, protects and values those who care for Canadians every day.

Our personal support workers tax credit, a new refundable tax credit of up to $1,100 per year, recognizes the valuable work they do. We are protecting workers by prohibiting non-compete agreements in federally regulated sectors.

We are delivering results for Canadians.

The Economy

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told a room full of students that they are going to have to make sacrifices. They have already given up their dream of home ownership, they went all summer without work and they are paying the price of exploding food costs. Food bank visits have doubled since 2019, and Canadians should not have to sacrifice any more for Liberal failures. They have sacrificed enough over 10 long years.

Will the Liberals finally keep their promises and get spending under control so that young Canadians can 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, today, I announced another $75 million for skilled-trades training, in partnership with unions across this country. Why? It is because Red Seal trades are great-paying jobs, and we need individuals all across this country to build homes and to build the projects that build infrastructure.

We know that unions can get the job done. These great-paying jobs are what youth have to look forward to as we build Canada strong together.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told a room full of students that they are going to have to make sacrifices. This includes students at Fanshawe College in London.

Young Canadians have already sacrificed enough over 10 long years. They have sacrificed the dream of home ownership. They have paid the price as food costs have exploded. They have spent a summer without work.

Food Banks Canada reported that monthly food bank visits have doubled since 2019, reaching over 2.2 million. Nearly one in five people using food banks has a job, but they still cannot make ends meet. Its CEO warned that poverty and hunger are being normalized in Canada.

When will the Liberals stop breaking promises so hungry Canadians can afford to feed themselves?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, while the party opposite's leader and that party are clearly out of control, we are focused on this side on what we can control. We are going to make generational investments to change our economy from reliance to resilience. On November 4, we are going to table a budget that will invest in Canada. We are going to build Canada because we believe in Canada.

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, food bank usage has doubled in the past six years, now with over two million users per month. One in five of those people is actually employed. Even more alarming is that one in four food bank users is from a two-parent household.

Young people in this country are doing everything right, and they still cannot live because of Liberal inflation. Instead of asking young Canadians to make more sacrifices, why can the Liberal government not sacrifice its ego and stop its inflationary budgets?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador in the opposition that school nutrition programs are important to a province. We were the first to sign on to this program, because it mattered. The Conservatives voted against it. One Conservative called it “garbage”. It does feed children. It matters. I am asking the member if he is going to vote with us when the time comes.

Health

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians depend on personal support workers every day, whether they are in long-term care homes, retirement residences or community settings. These workers deserve fair recognition for the critical care they provide.

Can the minister update the House on how budget 2025 will help strengthen the PSW workforce and ensure it is supported and rewarded for its vital contributions?

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I was at Extendicare with a number of personal support workers as we announced a measure of support for the very workers who care for our loved ones. Kelly, one of the support workers, said that people talk all the time about the importance of the work, but this was the first time they had ever felt like someone was doing something for them.

I am so thrilled to say that we will be supporting personal support workers with a refundable tax credit of $1,100 a year. What is more is that we will make sure that these workers are not just feeling supported but are supported in the workplace.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we thought we had seen it all at the Canada Revenue Agency, but Radio-Canada reported yesterday in an article by Daniel Leblanc that the CRA had produced documents showing a large cheque for a company requesting a refund. The cheque was sent without any verification by CRA officials. Can anyone guess how much it was for? It was for$4,997,433.72, almost $5 million. Can anyone guess who noticed? It was not the CRA. It was TD Bank. It is ridiculous that the bank is doing the CRA's job. That is what happens after 10 years of Liberal mismanagement.

Is there anyone over there who will stand up and dare to defend the indefensible?