Debates of Sept. 19th, 2025

Marine Transportation

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals know full well that no Canadian shipyard could justify the multi-million dollar cost to build on this major capital project, as contracts were designed with Chinese cheap labour, low worker safety standards and minimal environmental regulations in mind. Now billions of dollars of printed money are going out of our economy and into China's. What is the solution? Let us build new ferries here in Canada.

When will the self-proclaimed “great economist” Prime Minister put Canadian workers and the Canadian economy first and cancel the billion-dollar loan?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, this is a Crown corporation in British Columbia. The federal government is investing massively in shipbuilding across the country. We are building ships in Quebec. We are building ships in Halifax. We are building ships in Vancouver. Irving Shipbuilding alone, in Halifax, employs 2,400 workers with 10,000 additional jobs created across the country in its supply chain.

We are serious about rebuilding Canada's shipbuilding capacity. We are in the middle of it. We are building six Arctic and offshore patrol ships, 15 Canadian surface combatants and two joint support ships. We are getting the work done.

Mental Health and Addictions

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, more than 52,000 Canadians have died since the addictions crisis was declared a public health emergency in 2016. Over 16,000 of those deaths were in B.C., including heartbreaking losses in Nanaimo—Ladysmith, yet the Liberal government has quietly extended overdose prevention site exemptions by a year while failing to expand treatment and recovery.

Why are the Liberals doubling down on temporary measures while leaving us waiting for the treatment and recovery beds we desperately need?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government understands the devastating impact the drug and overdose crisis has had on families and communities in every corner of the country. We must use every tool at our disposal to fight this crisis. That means cracking down on drugs, prosecuting drug trafficking and making sure communities, indigenous people and community health care organizations have the tools they need to connect more people to treatment and vital services faster. We will work with all partners at all levels to put an end to this tragic public health crisis.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Alberta's prevention sites were meant to be temporary, but the Liberal government just extended its legal exemption by a year without consulting local governments or residents. Nanaimo's city council debated spending $412,000 of taxpayers' money to fence off City Hall because of issues tied to our downtown overdose prevention site, and it still has a deferred motion on the books calling for the site's closure. Will the minister admit that bypassing communities was wrong and commit to real consultation, treatment and recovery?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that this is really impacting our community. We share the compassion and empathize with the situation. As I mentioned before, we will continue to work with partners at all levels to make sure we provide the supports that are needed to end this public health crisis.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Speaker, agriculture is top of mind for many people in Canada. We are facing increasing global instability, including unfair tariffs imposed by China on Canadian agricultural products such as pork, canola and seafood. The Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues met with Premier Moe and other key industry players this week in Ottawa.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food give the House an update on the assistance available to Canadian farmers facing these Chinese tariffs?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right. Farming, the entire agricultural sector, is a pillar of our economy. It accounts for one in nine jobs.

To support our farmers who are facing completely unjustified tariffs from China, we have doubled advance payments, added $75 million to the agrimarketing program and, on top of that, opened up the biofuel sector.

We will never turn our backs on our farmers, the folks who put food on our tables.

Health

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, an investigation into the Liberals' failed vaccine injury support program revealed the Liberals gave away over $50 million to a high-priced consulting firm called Oxaro. The consulting firm pocketed $36 million in administration fees while over 1,700 Canadians are still waiting on their claims. After Conservatives demanded an investigation, the Liberals were forced to cancel the contract. The Liberal minister knows unqualified consultants took millions of tax dollars without delivering results, so when will Canadians get their money back?

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

Mr. Speaker, the vaccine injury support program was created to provide support to vulnerable Canadians. The alleged behaviour is completely unacceptable. The Public Health Agency of Canada is accelerating the audit of Oxaro and its management of the program, and we will make the result of this audit public once available. We are bringing about the internal administration of the program, which will align with other G7 countries and Quebec. We will ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately, and we will support Canadians who have been negatively impacted.

[Matt Strauss, Conservative, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals put $50 million away to support those who were legitimately injured by COVID vaccines. That money is all spent. The only problem is that 70% of it went to consultants rather than the people who were legitimately injured. What is worse, 1,700 people have not even had their claims processed and have not even heard back. Why is it that every time the Liberals say they are going to spend taxpayer money to support Canadians, their consultant friends end up getting rich?

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

Mr. Speaker, the program was created to provide support to vulnerable Canadians and, as I mentioned before, the alleged behaviour is unacceptable. The Public Health Agency of Canada is accelerating the audit of Oxaro and its management of the support program, and we will make sure the result of this audit is made public once available. We are bringing about the internal administration of the program, which aligns with G7 countries, to make sure that taxpayer dollars are well spent.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last spring, in Montmorency—Charlevoix, there was a citizens' symposium on the subject of how to improve health.

Canadians are aware that our policies and systems do not seek to prevent disease. We always wait for something to happen. Sedentary lifestyles and chronic diseases cost taxpayers $3.9 billion and account for nearly 60% of deaths in Canada. This situation could be avoided.

It is 2025, and Canada still does not have a national physical activity strategy. How much longer will it take for the Liberal government to act on this important issue?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to improving the overall health and well-being of the people of Canada. Healthy habits, such as a balanced diet, regular physical activity and an active lifestyle, are essential to supporting quality of life and the long-term well-being of Canadians.

We are collaborating with all partners, and I look forward to working with the member directly on advancing any of the issues that he is experiencing in his community.

National Defence

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in an increasingly uncertain world, Canada must be prepared to protect our people, secure our sovereignty and work with our allies. That is why our government is making historic investments in our armed forces and has committed to reaching NATO's 2% spending target by the end of the fiscal year.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement share with this House how our investments will strengthen Canada's defence industrial base and create good jobs for Canadian workers?

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that not only are we making generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces to reach our NATO target, but we are going to leverage and grow Canada's defence industry to create and support good-paying jobs, get the equipment that our forces need, and deliver to our allies.

We will be launching Canada's defence industrial strategy to protect Canadian sovereignty, safeguard our security and create long-term opportunities for our workers.

International Trade

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian canola farmers are being punished by crippling Chinese tariffs, yet those in the Liberal government just shrug their shoulders. Instead of fighting for market access, they have responded in the most Liberal way possible: creating more government programs.

Farmers do not want handouts; they want a trade deal. When will the Prime Minister stop hiding behind bureaucratic band-aids and finally get to work on making a real trade deal for Canadian canola farmers?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister and our government are working really hard to resolve these unfair tariffs from China on our canola producers, our pork producers and our pea producers. We are not waiting for that to be resolved. We are proposing to double the advance payments program for canola farmers. We have added $75 million to the AgriMarketing program. We have also opened the market for biofuel.

We will stand up—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway.

Climate Change

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, alarming reports reveal that Canada will miss our 2030 climate targets, yet the Liberal government is abandoning key climate policies the Liberals once called essential. Before entering politics, the Prime Minister said that he believed in climate action, but now in office, he is ripping policies right out of the Conservatives' playbook.

Canadians know economic development must be sustainable. Will the Liberals deliver nation-building projects, like the NDP's east-west electricity grid, to provide low-cost clean energy to Canadians and enhance Canada's sovereignty?

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's emissions are now 41% lower today than they have been in the past. Canada's climate plan is designed for our economy and trading realities, and it plays to our strengths in clean energy, critical minerals and innovation.

I am proud to stand on this side of the House as a father of two young children. We are working for today, we are working for tomorrow and we are working for future generations. We are working for six or seven generations ahead, and I am proud to be on this side.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, hunter and trapper organizations protect Inuit lands and wildlife. The environmental assessment process is not balanced. Mining companies have millions to coax Nunavummiut to extract minerals. Hunter and trapper organizations barely have enough just to participate. Article 5.7.13 of the Nunavut Agreement is not being fulfilled.

Will the Liberals finally uphold their legal obligations in the Nunavut Agreement and fully fund the hunter and trapper organizations?

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, this is certainly an issue that we will take note of. I look forward to bringing a forthright answer back to my Nunavut colleague.

Combatting Hate Act

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places).

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Financial Administration Act

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-230, An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (debt forgiveness registry).

Mr. Speaker, in 2023-24, the government wrote off record amounts owed to it by corporations. In fact, the top 100 corporations had amounts written off totalling $1.8 billion. That is an average of $18 million per corporation write-off. The CRA has decided to give even less information about these write-offs today than it used to, but Conservatives are here to change this.

We are here to stand up for the average taxpayer, who works hard and files their taxes on time. Reasonable people are frustrated to know that they comply with the rules, but then in some back room under the cloak of secrecy, the government secretly writes off large debts that corporations owe it.

If passed, this bill would require the government to publicly disclose all amounts over $1 million that are written off to corporate taxpayers. After all, this is not the government's money, it is the taxpayers' money, and we are here to protect it.

I appeal to all of my hon. colleagues to support this common-sense bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)