Debates of Sept. 16th, 2025

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, believe it or not, the Prime Minister admits he will outspend Trudeau. Large Liberal deficits made core inflation 50% over target and food prices 75% over target. No wonder everything is so expensive in this country. Let us listen to these stats: beef is up 33%; soup, 24%; and coffee, 22%. Now inflation is up, deficits are up, and borrowing costs are up, while the economy is down, and Canadians are down, because the Prime Minister's elbows are down.

Why does he not put his head down and stop spending so much, so grocery prices can come down?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the situation of many families in this country, and that is why the Prime Minister has been key in acting to make life more affordable for Canadians. The real question people are asking at home today is, why would the Conservatives vote against child care? Why did the Conservatives vote against pharmacare? Why would the Conservatives vote against the dental care program?

Why would the Conservatives stand up in the House asking these questions when they voted against helping Canadians? On this side of the House, we will always be on the side of Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is about a $90 tax cut. That is not even enough to get a bunch of bananas in the week, but Liberal policies are bananas. It is always about promises that they might do something. It is fantasy finance and pretend promises.

At this rate, the next budget might as well come out with a box of crayons and a colouring book. The Prime Minister said to judge him by the price of groceries; grocery prices are up. He said he would deliver the fastest-growing economy in the G7; we have the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment rate.

Since the Prime Minister does not do his own groceries, and he admits that, will he at least commit to not making Canadian groceries more expensive?

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

Mr. Speaker, every time the Conservatives have a chance to help make it easier for families, they vote against these measures. For example, the national school food program, which is actually putting food in children's bellies and helping families with alleviating the cost of feeding their families. These Conservatives voted against that, too.

Every time they have a chance to help bring down costs for Canadian families, like supporting the national child care program, they vote against it. They should look hard in the mirror about who is standing up for Canadian families.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims to be different. Instead, six months in, Canadians are now learning that the Prime Minister is no different than the last guy. As Liberals increase spending on their well-connected consulting friends by 37%, everyday Canadians pay more and more for gas and for food. Butter is up 64%, apples are up 60%, and rice is up 74%.

Here is a lesson for my Liberal friends: A deficit that doubles is not different, is it?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. I would like to remind her that we already cut taxes for the middle class and first-time homebuyers, and as many Conservatives have asked us to do, we also cut the carbon tax. All that is to say that, over the summer, we also took very strong action to bring down costs for broadband services and increase competition in the telecom sector.

We will continue to be there for Canadians and to build Canada strong.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians that he was the man with the plan, yet six months later, his budget is nowhere to be seen, and experts now project that his deficit will be double what Trudeau already created.

The Prime Minister is proving one thing: Liberals, no matter how they brand themselves, cannot be trusted to handle our finances. Canadians expect and deserve a government that will work for them on the issues that matter the most, yet 60% of Canadians say that the cost of living keeps them up at night. When will the Liberals start acting like it?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we spent the summer listening to Canadians. Do members know what Canadians have told the House? They said to act with respect to the cost of living, and that is exactly what we have done by reducing taxes for 22 million Canadians and having a rebate for the GST for first-time homebuyers. The second thing they said is to make homes more affordable. That is why we recently launched build Canada homes.

The Conservatives should be celebrating today instead of talking down Canada and the Canadian economy. Let us work together to build the strongest nation.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the out-of-control spending of these Liberals has driven up inflation 50%. The Prime Minister's deficit is projected to be double that of Justin Trudeau's.

Canadians are paying the price, especially at the grocery store. Soup is up 20%. Coffee is up 22%. Groceries overall are up 70%. The Prime Minister said he should be judged on the price of groceries. He has broken his promise to cut the food costs for Canadians and has shown he is just another bait-and-switch Liberal. When will he cut Liberal deficits to bring the cost of food down?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians chose in the last election a Prime Minister who could drive forward an agenda to grow the strongest economy in the G7, and that is exactly what we are doing, but let us take a look at the past. The Conservatives, every time they have the chance, vote against families. The national school food program, for example, puts food in the bellies of children so that they can learn and grow, and by the way, it saves Canadian families $800 a year. Conservatives voted against it. What kind of help for families is that?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned, as are my Conservative colleagues. Canadians are concerned about the Liberals' broken promises. The Liberals are blindly spending without a budget. The results are going to be devastating when they finally table a budget one day. This is not a joke. Justin Trudeau was a real Scrooge McDuck compared to the current Prime Minister. The Liberal deficit will be double.

Out of respect for Canadians, the Liberals must table a reasonable budget now.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure my colleague and remind him that we cut taxes for the middle class. That is the first measure that we put in place. Then, we also cut taxes for first-time home buyers and eliminated carbon pricing. This summer, we lowered Internet prices for Quebeckers and Canadians. We also increased competition in the telecommunications sector.

My colleague should simply support the government and its agenda to lower costs for Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister is announcing spending without a budget.

After six months of broken promises by the Liberals, who misled Canadians, the latter are paying the price. Core inflation is 50% higher than the target. The price of groceries is 75% higher than the target. Beef, grapes and sugar have gone up. I invite the Prime Minister to go to a grocery store to buy fruit, vegetables and meat to make decent meals.

What does he have to say to Canadians? That he is going to double the deficit, that unemployment is going up, that prices are going to keep going up and that everything is fine and dandy?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, it goes without saying that our goal is to lower costs for Canadians. We are taking action. My colleague should take note.

In the meantime, the government is also doing everything to create jobs. Even though there are tariffs on certain sectors, we have implemented a significant strategic initiatives fund of $5 billion.

Some businesses in my colleague's riding are affected. As the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, I will be happy to work with my colleague on finding solutions for those business owners.

Justice

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in January, the Liberals appointed Robert Leckey as a judge on the Quebec Superior Court. However, Mr. Leckey had only seven years of experience at the Quebec bar, whereas the requirement is 10 years.

He did not meet the legal criteria, but he certainly met the Liberal criteria. In addition to being a Liberal donor, Judge Leckey is a fervent activist against bills 21 and 96. He is against secularism, against the Charter of the French Language and against Quebec identity.

Will the Minister of Justice revoke this partisan appointment?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge that there is a legal challenge surrounding the appointment of this judge to the Quebec Superior Court. The Canadian judicial appointment process is among the most thorough and independent in the world, and we remain committed to preserving it.

Judicial independence is one of the cornerstones of our democracy and it is essential to protecting the rule of law. Any suggestion to the contrary undermines these very principles, but we will always defend the independence of our courts.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the legal challenge against Bill 96 was in full swing, Mr. Leckey was a vocal opponent during demonstrations against it. When the legal challenge against Bill 21 was in full swing, Mr. Leckey argued that the courts should prevent the provinces from using the Constitution's notwithstanding clause.

He is an enemy of Quebec's laws, and yet the Liberals appointed him as a judge. In politics, this is known as stacking the deck, except in this case, the deck is the court. The public's confidence in the entire justice system is being compromised by partisan appointments.

Why has the minister not yet revoked this appointment?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important that we come to understand the process by which we nominate judges benefits from the independent advice of those who are experts in assessing the quality of those who are elevated to the bench.

It is extremely important that we maintain the independence of the judiciary if we are going to count on our democracy to serve future generations of Canadians. To characterize those who have been appointed as “enemies of the state” is dangerous.

I would encourage my colleagues on all sides of the House to advocate for an independent judiciary to defend our democracy for years to come.

The Economy

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said Canadians should judge him by the cost at the grocery store. Well, they have, and his record has aged like an expired yogourt on a hot day in July. Food prices are up another 3.5% because his out-of-control spending keeps driving up inflation. This spending does not just show up on the government books. It shows up on the grocery bill of every Canadian family.

Will the Liberals admit that the doubling of the deficit will only make food inflation worse?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is important that Canadians can rely on the services that the federal government has put into place to make life more affordable with things like a national dental care program. I have heard from so many people in my riding about how programs that the federal government has put into place to make life more affordable are changing their lives.

These are the kinds of things Conservatives would cut if they had the chance. We will not stand for that.

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if Liberal excuses could fill a shopping cart, no one in this country would go hungry, but families cannot eat the word salad these ministers keep dishing out. Today, 25% of households cannot afford food. Many are having to skip meals for days. This hardship is the direct result of the Liberal government's reckless spending. Every dollar the Liberals add to the deficit feeds inflation, but it does not feed hungry families.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit his broken promises and reckless spending are hurting Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians clearly understand the difference between investment and cuts. That is why they chose us in the last election. They know we are going to create the jobs that are going to ensure that they and their children have the bright futures that all Canadians deserve.

The Canada child benefit delivers over $7,700 per child into Canadians' bank accounts every year. This is a game-changer for families, and Canadians knew that these kinds of things were at risk with Conservatives, who cut, cut, cut.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said Canadians would judge him by the cost at the grocery store. Canadians are indeed judging, and 25% of Canadian households are struggling to afford food. Food bank use since the pandemic is up from 600,000 to four million at Canada's largest food bank in Toronto. This is another Liberal broken promise.

Does the Prime Minister understand that the country is facing a cost of living crisis, and will he admit that doubling his deficit will pour gas on the fire of food inflation?

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

Mr. Speaker, just a short while ago, Canadians had a choice. They could choose Conservatives, who were promising to cut their way to growth, something that Canadians know is impossible, but instead, they chose a Prime Minister who would invest in them, invest in their families and invest in the growth that Canada and Canadians deserve. That was the result of the election. The Conservatives know that they have stood against families every time they have had a chance to support them.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, despite the attempt to distract from the real issue, the reality is that everywhere I go in my riding, I hear the same concern. People are stretched thin and families are struggling to put food on the table. This is a national crisis. A new report from Food Banks Canada gives the Liberal government a failing grade on food insecurity. Beef is up 33%. Basics like sugar and potatoes are climbing by double digits, and food banks are stretched way beyond their limits.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit that doubling the deficit will only make food inflation worse?