House Publications

     Mr. Speaker, for over 150 years, Canada Post has been a cornerstone of our national identity, connecting Canadians in every region. It is more than a mail carrier; it is a vital public service. It is as Canadian as maple syrup, yet today that service is under threat.

    Canada Post is considering cuts to door-to-door delivery, closing post offices, outsourcing jobs and even privatizing. These moves would weaken communities and jeopardize thousands of good union jobs. Postal workers have taken a stand not only for fairer working conditions but to defend this public institution.

    The Liberals shut down the strike prematurely, and to this day, no agreement has been reached. Now Canada Post is pushing for a forced vote on its final offer. This will not bring lasting peace. There is a better way. CUPW has proposed final and binding arbitration and a fair, neutral path that suspends strikes and lockouts and that ensures a just resolution.

    I urge the minister and this House to stand with postal workers, defend this vital public service and restore fairness to the bargaining process.

    Mr. Speaker, with heartfelt gratitude and deep humility, I rise today in this 45th Parliament. I am truly honoured that the people of Mississauga East—Cooksville have entrusted me with the responsibility of serving them once again. Representing this vibrant and diverse community since 2003 has been one of the greatest honours of my life.

    I want to sincerely thank the dedicated volunteers and supporters of our campaign for their commitment to our community and country. I thank my loving wife, Christina, and our twin sons, Sebastien and Alexander. Their unwavering support and many sacrifices are at the heart of everything I do, and I am forever grateful.

    As an immigrant of Portuguese descent whose family's journey reflects the dreams of many, I join all Canadians in celebrating June as Portuguese Heritage Month, honouring the hard work, resilience and contributions of the community. Though challenges lie ahead, our path is clear: We must protect our sovereignty, ease the cost of living, keep our community safe and grow a strong, inclusive economy.

    Canada strong.

    Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Lai is a father, brother, uncle and grandfather with strong ties to Canada. He is a British citizen, a pro-democracy leader, a media freedom champion and a prisoner of conscience.

    Since December 2020, Hong Kong authorities have held Mr. Lai in solitary confinement on trumped-up charges under their authoritarian national security laws. That is over four years, and for what crime? He published the truth, defended democracy and stood up for freedom. Mr. Lai's imprisonment is unjust, not to mention dangerous for a 77-year-old suffering from diabetes.

    This despicable show trial in front of hand-picked judges by the Chinese Communist Party has already lasted over 17 months. Next week, Sebastien Lai will be on Parliament Hill to tell his dad's story and talk about what Canada should do to help free Jimmy Lai.

    This is a gross human rights violation such as the Magnitsky act was designed to address. The Government of Canada should use it, speak out and forcefully call for Jimmy Lai's release.

    Mr. Speaker, it is the honour and privilege of a lifetime to rise in this House as the representative for the remarkable people of Oakville West. I thank them for their trust, and I am deeply grateful to my incredible volunteers, team and family. Their support and sacrifice have brought me here.

    This election was about change, values and Canada's future, and that future is promising.

    With over 20 years in automation, industry and robotics, I have seen how innovation is reshaping our world. As the Prime Minister has said, Canada is poised to lead in AI, clean tech and advanced manufacturing, but only if we invest in our people and our potential. That includes creating real opportunities for women in STEM so that they are not just part of the future but helping to design it.

    I look forward to working with the Prime Minister and this government to ensure that Canada leads with innovation, inclusion and strength.

    We are going to build Canada strong together.

    Mr. Speaker, it is always a distinct honour to rise in this chamber to represent the good people of Souris—Moose Mountain, a region that shaped who I am. It is where I was born, where I was raised and where I learned the value of hard work, integrity and service.

    Our riding is built on the strength of those who rise early and work hard: farmers, ranchers, oil and gas workers, power producers and entrepreneurs. Their industries do not just support families in our region; they help drive the Canadian economy.

    The people of Souris—Moose Mountain embody the best of rural Canada. They are self-reliant, community-minded and deeply rooted in their values. I was raised in that environment, and I will carry those principles with me into every debate, every vote and every conversation in this House.

    To the good people back home, I say thanks for their trust and their example. It is a privilege to serve them, and I will continue to be a strong and steady voice for them and our region here in Ottawa.

    Mr. Speaker, it is with humility and gratitude that I rise today for the very first time in this honourable House of Commons. I thank the people of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun for putting their trust in me. It is a great honour for me. I also want to thank my wife, Carol Anne, my team, our volunteers and my predecessors, the Right Hon. Paul Martin and the Hon. David Lametti, for their help and support.

    Our community is a wonderful kaleidoscope that represents the best of Canada. Every day, I see acts of courage, generosity and resilience. Whether it is young people who are getting involved at school, seniors who are sharing their wisdom, newcomers who are building their future among us or small businesses like those on Monk and Champlain boulevards and Wellington Street in Verdun—

    The hon. member for Ponoka—Didsbury.

    Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honour the life and legacy of my friend Blair Vold of Ponoka, Alberta, who passed away on May 11.

    Born on October 13, 1955, Blair embodied what it means to be Albertan: hard-working, resilient and devoted to community. He was best known for his life in cattle sales and service on local boards, including being president of the Ponoka Stampede. He was a man who earned tremendous respect and accomplishments in Alberta's business and agricultural community.

     Above all, Blair was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Sheryl; a proud father to Nansen, Labrie, Gjenna, Sarah and the late Cooper Tonneson; a loving son to Dolores and the late Ralph Vold; a cherished grandfather; a caring brother; a loyal human to his dog, Odie; and a dear friend to all who knew him.

    I will miss our conversations, his welcoming and hospitable character, his charitable spirit and the fun-loving, mischievous glint in his eye. I say to Blair, “Rest easy, cowboy.”

    Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the first ministers gathered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I think that sent a very powerful message for all of us. Whether we are inside or outside the chamber, the people of Canada understand that in order to have and build the strong Canadian economy that we need to counter Trump, the tariffs and the trade issues, we need to come together. Political partisanship needs to be put to the side, as was clearly demonstrated by the Prime Minister and the first ministers in Saskatchewan. We could all learn from that and, I hope, be able to work together in order to get the legislation that is so critically important to support what the first ministers did in Saskatchewan just a day ago.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the London Knights on their incredible Memorial Cup championship win. What a moment for Middlesex—London and Canadian hockey. With a dominant 4-1 victory, the Knights have claimed their third Memorial Cup title. This is a team that never stopped pushing, never stopped believing and showed what it means to play with grit, determination and heart.

    Easton Cowan from Strathroy made history as the first player since 1972 to lead the tournament in scoring in back-to-back years, with seven goals in this series alone. He has earned his MVP title and made us all proud.

    To the coaches, staff, families and especially the players, I say that their dedication, discipline and teamwork brought this championship home. They have inspired the next generation of young athletes across Middlesex—London and beyond.

    This victory is a testament to the strength of local sports programs and the bright future of Canadian hockey. I congratulate the London Knights, who have made history once again.

    Mr. Speaker, if one was flying over our region, it would be impossible to decide where to touch down: in the rugged mountains of Haute-Gaspésie, where cliffs plunge into the depths of the sea; amid the gentle waves of Baie-des-Chaleurs, where, nestled between the sea and the mountains, a happy people sing; at the breathtaking Percé Rock; on the vibrant Gaspé Coast; in the Gaspé adventure park; among our Mi'kmaq friends; on the stages of one of our many festivals to hear the best talent perform; on the banks of one of our exquisite rivers, such as the Matane, the Matapédia, the Nouvelle, the Cascapédia, the Bonaventure or the York; and the list goes on.

    One could likely spend hours admiring this peninsula from above, soaking in the atmosphere from one area to the next. Ultimately, one quality supersedes all the rest: the Gaspé Peninsula is a land of freedom. On June 5, I would like to wish a happy Gaspé Day to all those who love my corner of the country.

     Mr. Speaker, as I rise today in Parliament as a first-time MP for Hamilton Centre, it is with deep gratitude to the people of Hamilton Centre. I thank them for placing their trust in me to serve as their member of Parliament. It is a huge honour to represent our vibrant, diverse and resilient community in this chamber. I also want to thank my wife, my children and the incredible team of volunteers and constituents who believed in me.

     Our government is committed to cutting taxes for the middle class, to affordable housing and to strengthening our economy. The people of Hamilton Centre deserve nothing less than a government that shows up, listens and delivers. I am here to do just that.

     I thank Hamilton Centre.

    Mr. Speaker, tonight, the Stanley Cup finals begin and our Edmonton Oilers have once again brought the heart and the pride of oil country back to the finals.

     From Connor McDavid's incredible skills to Stuart Skinner's resilience in net, this team has shown Canadians what determination, teamwork and dedication look like. Behind every goal and every save is a city united, cheering from living rooms to patios and, yes, even right here on Parliament Hill. This season, the energy is electric and Canadians from coast to coast to coast are rallying behind a team that embodies grit, passion and true Canadian spirit. In fact, the Toronto CN Tower and Montreal's Samuel de Champlain Bridge will be lit up in orange and blue tonight.

     Let us bring the Stanley Cup home, back from the U.S. to Canada, where it belongs. Go, Oilers, go.

    Mr. Speaker, over the last several months, Canadians have felt the impacts of the groundbreaking dental care plan introduced by the previous Liberal government.

    The program is now open to Canadians of all ages.

    For the first time, a wide cross-section of households do not have to choose between fixing their teeth and putting food on the table. To help Pierrefonds—Dollard residents get coverage, Justin Myers, a PIP intern in my office, called hundreds of households to help them enrol.

    Already, nearly 10,000 people in my riding are registered and eligible to receive dental care.

    The dental program is helping people, and that is because of collaboration within Parliament. If someone living in Pierrefonds—Dollard wants info on the plan, they can call my office or visit canada.ca/dental.

    Mr. Speaker, after 10 years, the Liberals have destroyed our immigration system. It used to work for newcomers, for Canadians and for our country, but the Liberals' radical policies have unleashed chaos. They ignored warnings from their own officials, skipped vetting on applications and allowed fraud and abuse in our TFW, international student and refugee programs. Now we have millions of people in Canada with expired or expiring visas, and we have yet to hear a plan from the Liberals on how these people will leave.

     Under the Liberals' watch, we have had the highest population growth in the G7, and now the OECD confirms that high immigration numbers are causing Canada's economic problems by putting pressure on housing and on jobs. Despite knowing this, the Liberals have already issued 180,000 new temporary foreign worker permits this year. That is a 10% increase already over the last quarter. This is not sustainable.

    If Canadians, the OECD and the Bank of Canada know this, why do the Liberals not?

    Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a significant milestone for North Atlantic, a proud Newfoundland and Labrador energy company, with its planned acquisition of established energy assets in France. North Atlantic has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire a controlling interest in Esso SAF and full ownership of ExxonMobil Chemical France, developing a green energy hub of low-carbon fuels and renewable power.

     This planned investment will strengthen our province's growing connections with Europe and enhance our energy security. North Atlantic's commitment to sustainable local growth is clear through its wind-to-hydrogen project, expansion of its transportation and retail operations, and plans for a green energy hub to export green energy to Europe. These initiatives will create opportunities for our people, our communities and our economy. Newfoundland and Labrador companies are not just participating—

    The hon. member for Oshawa has the floor.

    Mr. Speaker, we have been dealing with rising food costs for years, but this year it is spiralling out of control. Families, seniors and hard-working Canadians are being pushed to the brink and struggling to afford even the basics. I left the grocery store last week after paying $100 for just two bags: the basics, no meat and only enough to feed my family for a couple of days. Beef is up 33%; oranges are up 26%; infant formula is up 9%.

     In Oshawa, Simcoe Hall Settlement House, which has been serving our community for 90 years, is being pushed to its limits with a staggering 55% increase in food bank usage, including from dual-income families, but single moms like me are among the hardest hit and now represent the largest group relying on its support.

    Canadians are not asking for luxuries; they are asking for groceries. It is time for this Liberal government to get serious, table a budget and tackle the rising cost of food.

    Mr. Speaker, as it is the first time I rise in the House in this Parliament, let me begin by thanking the good people of Burlington for electing me to a fourth consecutive term. It is a real privilege to be their voice and stand for them in this place.

     Speaking of the good people of Burlington, it brings me tremendous pride to highlight Keerthana Srinivasan, a grade 12 student at Aldershot School. Keerthana won first place in Samsung Canada's Solve for Tomorrow contest. Her system analysis and reporting for advanced hardware is an innovative algorithm designed to detect and locate faults in large-scale solar farms, significantly reducing downtime and improving the efficiency of renewable energy systems. Her project is a powerful example of how youth are using their creativity and skills to build a better future for us all.

     Congratulations to Keerthana and the entire Aldershot School team.

    Mr. Speaker, let us be clear, Trump's tariffs on Canada are wrong, unjustified and an attack on our workers and our economy. Now, while other countries have gotten deals to lower their tariffs, not only has the PM failed to do that, but he has gotten Canada's tariffs doubled on steel and aluminum. He promised he was the man with the plan; he cannot even get a deal.

     Our workers are terrified about losing their jobs. The Prime Minister promised that he would collect $20 billion in retaliatory tariffs, but then secretly dropped those tariffs to zero during the campaign. If he is so sure that he is still going to collect $20 billion, why not table a budget and prove it to Canadians?

     Mr. Speaker, the American tariffs, the new tariffs on steel and aluminum, are unlawful, unjustified and illogical, I agree with the member opposite, and that is one of the reasons why we have retaliatory tariffs on over 90 billion dollars' worth of U.S. goods. We are in intensive negotiations with the Americans and, in parallel, preparing reprisals if those negotiations do not succeed.

    Mr. Speaker, one way to deal with the Americans is from a position of strength, but now the Prime Minister is saying that he will not even approve a new pipeline unless there is consensus. This is already unravelling. The radical B.C. premier is saying no pipeline through his province, and there is not even consensus in the Liberal cabinet, with top ministers committed to killing oil and gas projects.

     The vast majority of Canadians do not want to give a veto to politicians. They want to be less dependent on the Americans and earn more powerful paycheques from selling our oil and gas around the world.

     Will the Prime Minister show some leadership and commit to approving a pipeline today?

    Mr. Speaker, Canadians from Shawinigan to Saskatoon, and the premiers and the Prime Minister who represent them, have agreed on the importance of building projects of national interest. The consensus that is required includes a consensus with indigenous peoples, something that members opposite do not do.

     We will stand with indigenous Canadians. We will build pipelines, energy infrastructure and the future of this great country.

    Mr. Speaker, if photo ops and phony rhetoric actually got things done in this country, then Justin Trudeau would still be prime minister.

    However, in all seriousness, the Liberals' half-trillion in new spending without a budget will make inflation worse. The PM said that he wants to be judged by prices at the grocery store. So, let us look at those prices. The verdict is in: Beef is up 34%; apples are up 18%; coffee is up 9%.

    Will the Prime Minister listen to Parliament and table a budget that controls spending, lowers taxes and cuts inflation so that Canadians can afford to put food on the table?

    Mr. Speaker, I am pleased, for the first time, to hear members opposite talk about lowering taxes in front of this House. It is the first time in my hearing. Before the House is a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, up to $840, and they want their support.

    Mr. Speaker, the House is demanding that this Liberal government table a budget, but instead the Liberals are asking Parliament to approve half a trillion dollars in new inflationary spending without tabling a budget. They are breaking their promise to limit spending by increasing expenditures by 8%.

    Meanwhile, the number of missed mortgage payments has reached record highs, and food banks are overwhelmed.

    Will the Liberals comply with the order of the House and table a budget now, this spring?

    Mr. Speaker, the bill that is before the House will cut taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians. The House must support it.

    Mr. Speaker, prices are skyrocketing. It now costs 34% more for beef strip loin, 26% more for oranges and 14% more for rice. Even the price of infant formula has risen by 9%.

    After 10 years under the Liberals, families are eating less and less well. They are being forced to turn to food banks more and more. Now the Liberals want to spend another half a trillion dollars without a budget, without a plan.

    Will the Liberals finally table a budget this spring that lowers inflation and cuts taxes so that Canadians can finally afford decent food?

    Mr. Speaker, the bill that is before the House increases health transfers by 5% and increases spending on seniors' benefits by 6%. The House needs to vote for all of that, and to lower taxes and cut the GST on new homes.

    Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on a promise to Canadians that he would stand up to President Trump. He also said that he was the right man for the job in a trade war situation. Aluminum is a major sector in Saguenay, and it has been hit with an unjustified 50% tariff. We know the Liberals. They say things, but they cannot keep their promises.

    Was the Prime Minister's entire election campaign nothing but a political performance?

    Mr. Speaker, the U.S. tariffs are illegal and unjustified. They do not make sense. That is very clear.

    We are in the midst of intensive real-time negotiations with the Americans and, in parallel, preparing reprisals for the aluminum tariffs.

    Mr. Speaker, “a grasshopper gay sang the summer away, and found herself poor by the winter's first roar.”

    Since the election, the government has been dreaming of a bill on major projects of national significance, as reported in Le Devoir. Meanwhile, one thing nobody has mentioned since the election is that President Trump is doubling tariffs on aluminum and steel, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

    What is the government going to do?

    Mr. Speaker, we need to do several things at once. We need to build our economy. We need to build our economy with legislation that will give us one Canadian economy instead of 13. We need to build our economy with projects of national significance.

    Yes, we need to negotiate with the Americans. These negotiations are taking place at a very sensitive time, but we are going to win, and so are the Edmonton Oilers.

    Mr. Speaker, yesterday, his ministers responded to similar questions by describing what was on their agenda and who they were meeting with.

    The government was elected because there was a crisis. Let us not forget that the Prime Minister said, “No crisis, no [name of Prime Minister]”. It is not about trying to negotiate with the Americans, even though that is necessary. It is about providing immediate and meaningful help to businesses in the steel and aluminum sector.

    What are you doing?

    I would remind the member to ask his questions through the Chair.

    The right hon. Prime Minister.

    Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we need to do several things at once.

    We are negotiating with the Americans, while simultaneously offering financial support to businesses in the steel and aluminum sector. We are supporting the workers. We are also offering several support measures through public procurement, as the Minister of Industry mentioned yesterday.

    Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the people we spoke to from the industries in question have not heard of any kind of support.

    However, we have put forward a wage subsidy plan similar to what was done during the pandemic. The aim is to help businesses retain their workforce and preserve expertise. This is a major concern for employers. Tens of thousands of jobs in companies and their subcontractors are at risk.

    Is the Prime Minister prepared to quickly implement a wage subsidy program for businesses?

    Mr. Speaker, we have already strengthened the EI system. We have committed to giving all of the countertariff revenues to the workers and businesses most affected by the unjustified and unlawful U.S. tariffs.

    Mr. Speaker, Trump's 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum are wrong and an unjustified attack on our Canadian economy. This means that manufacturers in Middlesex—London are cutting shifts, delaying investment and relocating to the U.S. These tariffs are a direct threat to Canadian jobs and our economic sovereignty.

    The Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would defend us. He said he had a plan, but in responding to the U.S., the Prime Minister's elbows have gone limp.

    I will ask the Prime Minister this: Was the entire Liberal campaign just theatre?

    Mr. Speaker, I would agree with my colleague that it is very wrong. That is why we had one of our colleagues in Washington yesterday to fight for Canadians, to fight for our workers, to fight for our industry. This is not theatre; this is action.

    On this side of the House, we know that what makes a difference is to fight to protect our workers, to protect our industry and to build Canada with Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum and Canadian workers. We are going to build Canada strong together.

    Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not need more photo ops. They need somebody to fight for them and actually get results.

     During the campaign, Trump endorsed the Liberal Prime Minister, and it is no wonder why. The Prime Minister said his government would collect $20 billion from U.S. tariffs. That was his big talking point, but when the pressure came, he went to his friend Trump and quietly dropped all those tariffs, leaving our steel and aluminum workers blindsided and betrayed.

    Will the Liberals listen to Parliament, be transparent and table a budget so that Canadians can see how much, if anything, was ever collected from the so-called elbows-up tariffs?

    Mr. Speaker, instead of talking down Canada, the member should be elbows up with us. This is about making sure that as a chamber, the House stands united.

    This is about our nation. We are fighting a trade war. Everyone in this House has a responsibility to fight for Canadian workers, fight for Canadian industry and build Canada strong.

    We get it on this side of the House. I hope on the other side they get it, because Canadians at home get it.

    Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that it would be nothing but elbows up during the election campaign. Then he paused our countertariffs and said he did not think the U.S. would impose any more. Now the tariffs have only gotten worse. Canadian steel now faces a 50% tariff threat from President Trump. Algoma Steel is warning that its U.S. business may become unviable. Thousands of jobs, including many in my riding in the Hamilton and Niagara area, are at risk.

    If the Prime Minister has gone soft, what was the entire Liberal campaign based on, just theatre?

    Mr. Speaker, the jobs in the member's riding are extremely important, and I look forward to working with him to make sure they are safe and protected. We should all be working together, as people across the country are looking at this government and these politicians because the trade war that was launched against Canada is existential. It is putting the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians at risk.

    That is why we have a plan. We will fight, we will protect and we will build.

    Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's tariffs are an unjustified attack on our Canadian workers. The Prime Minister said during the campaign that he would collect $20 billion from U.S. countertariffs, but he secretly abandoned those countermeasures. This morning was a rude awakening. Aluminum and steel workers and their families are extremely worried.

    Can the Prime Minister look workers and their families in the eye and tell them how much money he has collected and how they can receive that money?

    Mr. Speaker, I would gladly look the people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean in the eye because I have been there often. The people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean know that we will always be there for aluminum workers.

    As the Prime Minister said, all the money collected from the countertariffs will be reinvested to support our workers and the industry. These countermeasures have brought in a total of $1.7 billion, which will be reinvested to help our workers.

    The people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean know that we will be there for them. We have been in the past, we are today, and we will be tomorrow.

    Mr. Speaker, “Canadians will hold account by their experience at the grocery store” are the words of the Prime Minister, so let us see what the new stats say about his performance. Since the start of 2025, the price of rice has gone up 14%, the price of potatoes is up 13%, the price of infant formula is up 9% and beef is up a whopping 33%. By that measure, he is failing miserably.

    The Prime Minister claimed that he had a plan for inflation, but all Canadians got was another half a trillion dollars of spending with no budget. Where is it?

    Mr. Speaker, I know the member on the other side, and I know she wants to do good for the people of her riding and across Canada. She will have a chance to do so very soon. We will have a very important vote during which she can vote to reduce taxes for 22 million Canadians. People who live in her riding will be watching where she will put her vote that evening, because the best way to make sure we support Canadians is to leave them with more money in their pockets.

    The Prime Minister has been clear: We will support Canadians, we will build Canada strong and we will do this together as a nation, a proud nation.

    Mr. Speaker, every Canadian family now pays $1,400 more for government consultants, but let us go back to groceries. The Prime Minister might not know this, but when Canadians go to the grocery store and leave with two bags, they are oftentimes more than $100, and it is getting worse.

    Again, on behalf of the millions of Canadians who are waiting for a plan to tackle food inflation, will the government introduce a budget or ignore the will of Parliament and take a summer vacation?

    Mr. Speaker, we have reduced the use of consultants, to answer the first part of the member's question.

    We are working on a strong mandate to make government more efficient so that we can deliver more for Canadians, which is exactly what we are doing with a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. I am hoping Conservatives can rally behind this common-sense idea.

    Mr. Speaker, when mothers go grocery shopping, it is about their kids. They would rather go hungry than see them go without. In Newmarket, I met a mother of three little boys who was in tears. She did not know what she was going to feed them the following week. Who can blame her? Two bags of groceries now cost $100 and barely last two days.

    The Liberals' inflation is the slow undoing of a family's dignity, yet the Liberals plan to continue their inflationary spending. Will the Liberals present a budget this spring and reduce spending, or will they continue to ask parents to pay for their broken promises?

     Mr. Speaker, nobody should go hungry in this country, and that is why we have taken extraordinary measures to support families just like the constituents the member spoke about. Since 2015, child poverty is down by 38%. We have a ways to go, but we have to continue working together to get the full benefits of this work.

    Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers were told during the election to vote Liberal because their leader would have superpowers that could neutralize Donald Trump. We are seeing the outcome of that today: Donald Trump doubled the tariffs on steel and aluminum. Well done.

    The Bloc Québécois has said it before: These industries need to be offered liquidity and the money from the retaliatory measures need to be redistributed. We also need to prepare a wage subsidy in the event of layoffs. Aluminum and steel have been subject to tariffs for three months. Now they have doubled.

    Will Ottawa finally announce some support for them?

    Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the heads of Rio Tinto, Alcoa and Alouette last night. We are here to support our aluminum companies.

    The Minister of Finance is also having a number of meaningful conversations. We know how important aluminum is to Quebec. We know how fundamental aluminum workers are. That is also why I spoke to Magali Picard of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec earlier today. I have been in contact with the steelworkers union and Unifor. We will keep working on this.

    Mr. Speaker, we are not interested in who the minister had supper with yesterday. We want to know what she is doing today.

    The aluminum and steel industry has been dealing with tariffs for three months now. For three months, Ottawa has offered nothing to help them. The Prime Minister's negotiations did not produce results. The tariffs even doubled. Today, cash flow and wage subsidies are needed to guarantee that Quebeckers are not laid off.

    What is Ottawa waiting for? When will it support our industries and protect our workers?

    Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our government took action even before the election to support workers across Canada who are affected by the illegal and unfair tariffs imposed by the Americans.

    As the Prime Minister said, Canadians gave us a mandate to negotiate a new economic partnership and security agreement with the United States. We also have a mandate to protect our industries and our workers. That is precisely what our government is doing.

    Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said there would only be pipelines if there was consensus. As it turns out, the Premier of B.C. has said no. Several Liberal MPs are opposed. Even within the Prime Minister's own head, there seems to be opposition, because on the one hand he says, “Yes, we are going to go ahead and become the energy superpower,” but on the other hand he says, “No, oil needs to stay in the ground.”

    The Prime Minister clearly has no plan to get things done. Why is he putting his elbows down and making us beholden to the United States of America?

    Mr. Speaker, what we saw on Monday was 13 provinces and territories working together to build the strongest economy in the G7. The premiers and the government are focused on building a strong Canadian economy. What we are seeing from my colleagues across the floor are attempts to divide and to block development. I hope Conservatives will join us in building a strong Canada.

    Mr. Speaker, that is the type of non-answer that we have become accustomed to from the Liberals. Grand gestures, meetings and press conferences will not things done, even though the Prime Minister seems to believe that is the case.

    What would move things forward, of course, is a plan, such as a plan to scrap Bill C-69, the no new pipelines act; a plan to scrap Bill C-48; or a plan to scrap the job-killing oil and gas cap, which exists. On the industrial carbon tax, let us get rid of that as well.

    Is the Prime Minister simply turning a blind eye to these things, or does he just not know how to get things done?

    Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague was listening to what happened in Saskatoon, the premiers and the Prime Minister have a plan to fast-track projects, get projects done within two years and build the strongest economy in the G7.

    Why will my colleagues not get on board?

    Mr. Speaker, there is no consensus. That is the reality this week on getting Western oil and gas to tidewater. There is consensus in Newfoundland and Labrador today, where a VOCM poll shows that 74% agree that the Liberal oil and gas cap is an “investment killer”. No pipelines are required to get Newfoundland and Labrador's 2.5 billion barrels of oil to the world market or its 12.5 trillion cubic feet of gas to tidewater. It is already there.

    Will the Prime Minister put his money where his mouth is and get rid of his investment-killing cap to bring prosperity back to the Atlantic Canadian oil and gas patch?

    Mr. Speaker, we will build and protect our economy from American tariffs, and we will win the trade war, but to find new markets for Canadian energy, emissions in every barrel of oil must be reduced. Serious investment in carbon capture must happen. We will build the strongest low-cost, low-risk, low-carbon economy in the G7.

    Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a hard no to me. Saskatchewan people want to build pipelines. To secure and grow Canada's economy, we must develop a world-class energy sector. The anti-energy NDP Premier of B.C. has stated that there will be no new pipelines in B.C. Anti-development extremists in the Prime Minister's cabinet have dedicated their careers to keeping Canadian oil and gas in the ground, such as the heritage minister and the environment minister.

    If the Prime Minister cannot get consensus within his own cabinet, how will we ever get a pipeline built in our country?

     Mr. Speaker, again, I would say that my hon. colleagues need to look at the tapes. The Premier of Saskatchewan was supportive. The Premier of Alberta was supportive. The representative from British Columbia was supportive.

    Why can our colleagues not get supportive to help us build the strongest economy in the G7?

    Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the energy minister say there will be no pipelines without a consensus, but buzzwords do not build pipelines. How is consensus realistic when the NDP Premier of B.C. has already ruled out a new pipeline. There is currently no proponent for an eastern pipeline, and the Prime Minister himself called for Canada to be an energy superpower one day, and the next day, he insisted that half of the other reserves need to stay in the ground. Half of the PM's own cabinet wanted to see Canada's oil industries die, and they spent the past decade trying to kill it.

    If the Prime Minister cannot find consensus within his own cabinet, how does he plan to approve a pipeline?

    Mr. Speaker, again, we have answered this question. Premier Moe said that it was the best meeting he has been to as a premier. Premier Smith said that we have an opportunity for a “grand bargain”. Why will you not help us get to the grand bargain?

    I will remind the hon. minister to go through the Chair.

    The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra.

    Mr. Speaker, last week my hometown of Vancouver hosted North America's first Web Summit, an event that highlighted Canada's vibrant tech sector and its potential on the global stage. This conference brought together leading innovators and investors from around the world, underscoring the significant opportunities for growth in our AI ecosystem.

    Will the Minister of Artificial Intelligence share with the House how the government plans to solidify Canada's position as a global leader in tech and attract more investment and talent to our country?

    Mr. Speaker, let me first take this opportunity to thank the people of Toronto Centre for placing their trust in me as their MP. I also want to thank my volunteers and my family for their support.

    We are very happy to support the Web Summit in Vancouver. It reinforces our commitment to keep Canada's world-class AI system and ecosystem strong, safe and sovereign. Just last week, we saw two Canadian companies announce billions of dollars in new investments to build eight new AI data centres from Kamloops to Rimouski. We are building the economy of the future right now.

    Mr. Speaker, according to the Liberals' own report, nearly half of first-time homebuyers feel they are paying “too much for their home” and “63% are concerned about the possibility of defaulting on their mortgage payments”, citing interest rates, the cost of living and reduced income as the reasons. This is the direct result of 10 years of this Liberal plan in action. It is why Canadians deserve to see a plan to fix it now.

    On what date will the Liberals table a budget, including a plan for housing, so that Canadians can afford to have a roof over their heads?

    Mr. Speaker, the member opposite will have an opportunity to support a GST cut for first-time homebuyers, which is in front of us right now. We look forward to his support on that and giving new homebuyers a $50,000 break on their purchases up to $1 million. We look forward to his support on that and his support on the cut to income taxes for 22 million Canadians so they can afford housing.

    Mr. Speaker, the minister wants to pretend all is going well, but the facts from his own department show that first-time homebuyers are struggling, as 60% “have had difficulties maintaining debt payments.” That is not all. Recently, TD Bank has cast doubt on the Liberal promise to build more homes, stating that new home starts are actually going to decline next year. When housing starts go down, the prices go up, and we have yet another failed Liberal promise.

    I will ask this again: On what date will we see a federal budget that includes a plan for housing so Canadians can afford a home?

    Mr. Speaker, our housing challenges have built up over several decades, and there is certainly the decade of inaction from the Conservative government.

    We are taking action. The new Government of Canada is focused on delivering on housing, with up to 500,000 housing starts. This is using every tool in the tool box, starting with a break on GST and starting with the important moves we are making to create “build Canada homes”.

    Mr. Speaker, the picture for first-time homebuyers is very grim right now: 63%, nearly two-thirds, fear that they are going to default because of rising costs and the rising interest rates, which have happened on the Liberal government's watch, and 26% are using debt and credit to pay off debt. The Prime Minister may not know we have to pay off debt, but ordinary Canadians do.

    Canadians deserve a plan. Canadians deserve a budget that puts housing first. The government needs to listen to Parliament, listen to Canadians, and deliver a budget so Canadians can put a roof over their heads.

    Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians spoke loud and clear in electing members of this side of the House to deliver on housing. This government, our new government, has put forward the most aggressive plan to build affordable housing this country has ever seen, and it starts today with a break on GST for new homebuyers.

    Mr. Speaker, TD Bank says the Prime Minister's housing policy promises are not enough for the federal government to reach its goal of 500,000 new units annually over the next decade. In fact, housing starts are expected to decline next year. The Prime Minister's proposed new bureaucracy will not build any homes. There is too much red tape. Canadians deserve better.

    When will the government table a budget so that Canadians will learn whether the government has any plan to put a roof over their head?

    Mr. Speaker, we have a number of action steps in play right now, as I have answered repeatedly in the House.

    We are going to take action on a cut to the GST for new homebuyers, as well as to take action on reducing income taxes for 22 million Canadians. These are affordability measures that are for right now, and “build Canada homes” is on the way in to bring us a huge number of new affordable homes. I hope the members opposite will support these efforts.

    Mr. Speaker, a recent survey by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or CMHC, shows that 63% of new homebuyers are worried about not being able to make their next mortgage payments. The main reasons for that are the higher cost of living, increases in mortgage rates and potential job losses in the current economic situation. The reality is that people in Montmorency—Charlevoix and across Canada are using credit to pay off credit.

    Will we see a budget so that Canadians can plan and budget for their future?

    Mr. Speaker, there will indeed be a budget. There is also a very important measure. The first thing we put forward as a government was an affordability plan.

    The people of Charlevoix are interested in that. Why? It is because there is going to be a tax cut. This is very good news for the people of Charlevoix. There is also more good news. The GST on homes worth up to $1 million will be eliminated for first-time homebuyers. These are meaningful measures. These are measures that are going to help people.

    The Conservatives should be happy to have a Liberal government that is helping people.

    Mr. Speaker, in my hometown of Williams Lake, with a population of 10,000, six prolific offenders have committed 98% of the crime. When they are in jail, the crime rate goes down. When they are out on the streets, the crime rate goes up.

    Businesses cannot even get mandatory insurance anymore due to the high rates of vandalism. On top of that, our communities are faced with an out-of-control overdose crisis. Last week, Williams Lake saw an average of 20 to 30 overdoses per day.

    If he is the man with a plan, will the Prime Minister rise today to tell us what his plan is to confront the overdose crisis, lock up repeat offenders and make our communities safe?

    Mr. Speaker, our plan to keep communities safe will keep drugs, guns and criminals off our streets. The first bill that should be debated tomorrow will be the borders bill. We are expecting the Conservative Party to support it in order for us to keep fentanyl and guns off our streets and make sure that illicit fundraising is curtailed, as well as to ensure that our communities are safer. If they want to put action behind their talk, it is time for them to act to support this bill and get it through Parliament.

    Mr. Speaker, last night in North Toronto, a man was shot to death and at least five others were wounded. Three masked men opened gun fire, steps away from the Yorkdale mall. It is not clear if, or how many, bystanders were hit.

    The Liberal record on crime is no accident. Liberal bills, such as Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, put repeat criminals back on the streets, unleashing crime and chaos on the streets of Toronto. Gun crimes more than doubled under the Liberals. The solution is simple: Repeal soft-on-crime Liberal laws.

    When will the Liberals get serious about deadly shootings in Toronto and across Canada?

    Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the news coming out of the city of Toronto this morning. The gun violence is unacceptable and perpetrators must be brought to justice.

     We are partnering with police services across the country to fight organized crime and disrupt firearm smuggling and trafficking operations. The strong borders act, introduced in the House yesterday, includes provisions to crack down on illegal firearms and organized crime.

    I look forward to working with the member opposite to pass this important legislation. We will continue to work tirelessly to support police across Canada.

     Mr. Speaker, as a former city councillor on the front lines of this emergency, I have watched from 2015 until today as Liberal policies simply made the opioid crisis worse. Each new policy just makes things worse. Decriminalization is not a case of not doing enough, but of doing too much of the wrong thing. Conservatives are calling for life sentences for fentanyl kingpins committing mass murder.

    When will the Liberal government recognize that Canadians who are battling addictions are worth fighting for? When will it stop enabling harm and start supporting real recovery instead of palliative care?

    Mr. Speaker, the fentanyl crisis has impacted communities across Canada and across North America. We are accelerating the work to crack down on and dismantle the fentanyl trade and the organized crime groups that profit from it. That is why we listed seven cartels as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code.

     I am working closely with Kevin Brosseau, Canada's fentanyl czar, at home and abroad, to put a laser-sharp focus on dismantling fentanyl. We will put those who are profiting from this drug behind bars. We expect support for the border bill from my friend opposite and the members across the aisle. This is a very important—

    The hon. member for Cambridge has the floor.

    Mr. Speaker, last week in Cambridge, police arrested two individuals at the Galt bus terminal and seized 10 grams of suspected fentanyl, enough to cause up to 5,000 deaths. Police are doing their part, but the Liberal government's soft-on-crime policies are letting drug kingpins get away with mass murder. Conservatives are calling for life sentences for those convicted of trafficking more than 40 milligrams of fentanyl.

    When will the Liberal government treat fentanyl like the deadly weapon it is and make those who profit from it face real consequences?

    Mr. Speaker, one of the first measures the new government has taken is to present a stronger borders act. It would crack down on fentanyl, auto theft, money laundering, illegal firearms, irregular migration and organized crime. It would also make it tougher for violent criminals to get bail, and impose stricter sentences on repeat offenders.

    We will work until violent criminals are put behind bars. The government will do everything it takes to make Canadians safe.

    Mr. Speaker, before I was elected, I had the privilege of serving as Canada's ambassador to the OECD, where I saw how a global rules-based order helps to create opportunities for workers, improve affordability for consumers and support business innovation and growth.

    The rest of the world wants and needs what Canada has to offer, but the free trade system we rely on is now at risk. Last weekend, President Trump followed through on his threat to raise steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.

    Our Minister of Industry has already told us that she was actively working with businesses and unions. Can the Minister of Industry inform the House of measures taken by our new government—

    The hon. Minister of Industry.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her important question and for the great work that she does in Thérèse‑De Blainville.

    It goes without saying that we are in the midst of a tariff war. We believe that the tariffs are completely unacceptable, unjustified and illegal, and that is why we are in problem-solving mode. We will invest in projects of national significance that will create jobs across the country, including in the steel and aluminum industry. We will invest in defence and diversify our markets so that our steel and aluminum can be exported elsewhere in the world and so that we can stop depending on—

    The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes.

    Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that we should judge him by the prices at the grocery store. Well, beef, apples, rice, infant formula and so many things are all up in price. Do members know what else is up? It is food bank use.

    Canadians have to budget, especially during hard times, so that is exactly what they expected from the self-described “man with the plan”. Canadians need to see a budget from the Liberal government so that they can see what the plan is to reverse 10 years of Liberal tax increases and the effects of its inflationary spending.

    When will we see a budget?

    Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleague will be happy, because we are actually reducing taxes for 22 million Canadians. I am sure he is going to rejoice this evening, because tomorrow or in the coming days, he will have the opportunity to put his vote where his mouth is. If he wants to support reducing taxes, we will give him a great opportunity to vote for reducing taxes for 22 million Canadians. I know that Canadians are going to be watching at home. We on this side of the aisle are going to be watching to make sure he does the right thing for Canadians.

    Mr. Speaker, it was the current Prime Minister who said that the metric that he should be judged by is the price of food at grocery stores, and prices are up and so is food bank use. We have been calling relentlessly for the Liberals to put a budget in front of the House. In fact, Parliament has spoken and has said that the Prime Minister must put a budget forward this spring.

    The Prime Minister has not delivered on his promise to lower food prices or deliver affordable food. Will he at least respect the will of Parliament, respect the majority of members of the House who have called on him to produce a budget so we can see that plan?

     Mr. Speaker, we take note of the vote of Parliament, but in fact the people in the member's riding and my folks from Shawinigan will be watching to make sure that the Conservatives are actually voting in line with their values, because in the coming days, they will have this great opportunity. We are giving them a golden opportunity to show Canadians that they care, that they want to reduce their taxes and that they want to help 22 million Canadians. We are all going to be watching whether they do the right thing. We certainly hope so.

    Mr. Speaker, Canadians are getting crushed at the grocery store. Food inflation, since the start of this year, is out of control. Beef is up by 34%, oranges are up by 26%, and the list goes on.

     Ten years of Liberal inflationary deficit has a record number of Canadians going to food banks. Single mothers are watering down milk for their kids, and Canadians are eating less nutritious food. The Liberals now are increasing spending by 8%, but they promised 2%.

    Will the Liberals table a budget that will actually reduce inflation so that Canadians can afford to feed their family?

    Mr. Speaker, since 2015, we have seen a significant decrease not only in child poverty but also in youth poverty and seniors' poverty, which means that the measures we are putting into place to support Canadians, whether it is the Canada child benefit, dental care or affordable child care across this country, are working for Canadian families.

    Of course we need to do more, and of course we need to stand up to the United States, and we will do that, as my colleagues have outlined, but the Conservatives need to get on board and be part of the solution.

    Mr. Speaker, my waterfront riding of Spadina—Harbourfront in downtown Toronto is proud to host many Canadian Armed Forces members, from the army to the air force and the navy. Every year, about 8,200 members are released from the Canadian Armed Forces, and roughly half of them are looking to start new careers.

    Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us how the national veterans employment strategy is supporting veterans who are seeking new career opportunities?

    Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Veterans Affairs, I am honoured to answer my first question here in the House.

    The national veterans employment strategy focuses on connecting veterans to good jobs, expanding access to skills training and supporting entrepreneurship. It also recognizes veteran-ready employers and strengthens hiring in the public service.

    I am proud to build more opportunities for our veterans.

    Mr. Speaker, the 50% tariffs that Donald Trump has imposed on steel are an unjustified attack on our economy and our Canadian workers. This morning, I talked to representatives from two steel-producing businesses in my region. The repercussions will be devastating. Ninety per cent of their sales are in the United States. That represents a loss of $200 million, and hundreds of jobs are at stake.

    After campaigning on a promise to stand up to President Trump, the Liberal government has done nothing.

    What does the Prime Minister have to say to the businesses and workers in Beauce who are worried?

    Mr. Speaker, I understand and respect my colleague's point of view. That is why I will be pleased to work with him to help the businesses in this industry in Beauce.

    I am the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and we have funding to help these businesses. Let us work together. Together, let us stand up to the U.S. government that is imposing completely illegal and unjustified tariffs.

    Mr. Speaker, I was going to ask the Prime Minister a question about nation-building projects, but then today Tina called our office. She got my chief of staff on the phone and started explaining that she is a mom with disabilities and cannot figure out how she is going to feed her children, and she started crying on the phone. I have a nation-building project question. Cheques start going to Canadians with disabilities in July, but they have a lousy max-out at $200 a month.

     How about a nation-building project to lift all Canadians with disabilities out of poverty?

    Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for having such compassion for the constituents in her riding, as we do all across the country.

    People who are living with disabilities have the right to be fully included in community. They have the right to live a decent life, just like the rest of us. That is why the government is proceeding with the Canada disability credit. That is why we are also working with provinces and territories, including, most recently, Ontario, to commit to ensuring that the money will not be clawed back from other benefits.

     moved for leave to introduce Bill C-203, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month.

    He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce a bill called an act respecting Ukrainian heritage month. If passed, it would declare September of every year Ukrainian heritage month across Canada. I would like to thank the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore for cosponsoring this bill with me, and I hope that members on all sides of the House support it.

    The first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada came to Canada on September 7, 1891. Today, there are over 1.3 million Ukrainian Canadians, and they make important contributions every day from coast to coast to coast, in all the ridings represented here, that touch our political, economic, cultural and social life.

    Canada was the first country to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991. We have recognized the Holodomor as a genocide, and we continue to support the Ukrainian people in their fight for their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Ukrainian heritage month would give us an opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, the role that Canada has played in supporting Ukrainian Canadians and the role that Ukrainian Canadians play here in Canada.

     moved for leave to introduce Bill C-204, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer tax credit).

    He said: Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to table the volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer tax credit bill, which calls on the government to increase the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue responders.

    Members may be surprised to hear that most firefighters in Canada are volunteers. Across our country, 100,000 volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers answer the call. They put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. They show up for wildfires, vehicle collisions, medical emergencies and more. While some volunteers receive an honorarium, they are not paid a living wage for their work.

    In the last Parliament, thanks to the advocacy of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, people from hundreds of communities and the over 17,000 Canadians who signed petitions in support of my previous bill, Bill C-310, the tax credit was doubled from $3,000 to $6,000. However, that is not enough. Increasing the tax credit further would help compensate volunteers for expenses like gas and gear, as well as lost wages. It would also recognize the important contributions of these volunteers.

    I extend my thanks to these everyday heroes for their sacrifice. I want to thank the member for Nunavut for seconding this bill, and I hope all members will support it.

     Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations among the parties—

    Some hon. members: No.

     I am afraid there is not going to be unanimous consent.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of concerned Canadians, especially those serving in the armed forces. These Canadians are concerned that the Liberal government is not doing enough to ensure that servicemen and servicewomen have the freedom to express their religion. They note that Canada has a strong tradition of respecting, honouring and affirming the role of faith traditions in the armed forces.

    These Canadians call on Parliament to affirm that the Canadian Armed Forces ought to support the freedom of servicemen and servicewomen through public prayer, in keeping with the hard-won and honourable traditions of the armed forces, especially on Remembrance Day.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of many British Columbians, and certainly all petitioners, who continue to draw attention to the perilous state of wild salmon populations and are looking at the entire food chain and the threat to herring populations, which are also being overfished. The petitioners ask that we at least go back to the recommendations of Mr. Justice Cohen and the report that he tabled, which, after years of study, called for the removal of fish farms. My constituents do not want me to call them that; they have asked me to call them toxic fish factories, and they should be taken out of open waters and placed on land.

    Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

     Is that agreed?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair has notice of a request for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Thornhill.

    Mr. Speaker, it now seems that the Liberal government failed to get a deal on tariffs. In fact, we learned that during the last campaign, the Liberals quietly reduced the retaliatory tariffs to near zero. We found out yesterday that Donald Trump has increased the unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%. Of course, this is after the person who was elected in this country claimed that he was a man with a plan, that he was the guy we hire in a crisis. What we see now is a 50% increase in tariffs.

    For steelworkers who say that they are “on the verge of collapse”, for families who are worried about putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their head and for businesses that need certainty, Liberal ministers need to answer to the House. I know that is not something they care to do. I know they want to go home early for their summer vacation. We saw that when they ignored calls from the House to present a budget. However, I think this is important and requires an emergency debate. Therefore, I am requesting one, on behalf of Canadians and on behalf of members on this side of the House.

     I thank the hon. member for Thornhill for her intervention. However, I am not satisfied that this request meets the requirements of the Standing Orders at this time.

    Mr. Speaker, it is an immense honour for me to rise for my first speech in the House of Commons. To be entrusted with the responsibility of representing the people of my hometown of Oshawa is both humbling and motivating. Oshawa is a proud city built on hard work, resilience and innovation. This chair belongs to it. Oshawa has roots as a manufacturing powerhouse, but it is also a resilient and forward-looking community. It is a place built on hard work and determination, and to me, it reflects the best of Canada's values: strength, opportunity and community.

    I want to begin by thanking my neighbours in Oshawa for placing their trust in me, electing, for the first time, to send a woman to represent them in the House of Commons. I carry their voices with me into this chamber, voices of families, workers, students, seniors and small business owners, each with hopes and concerns that deserve to be heard and must be addressed with respect and action.

    I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude first to my family, especially my two children, my 21-year-old son Clayton and my 14-year-old daughter Claire. They have sacrificed much over the past year and have been among my greatest supporters.

    I would also like to thank my late parents, my mom, who passed away suddenly in 2021, and my dad, who quickly followed her to their heavenly home just 10 months later. I believe they would be proud. My mother was a meek, quiet woman but knew how to get the job done always. My dad introduced me to politics when I was 14. He was super interested in something called the Reform Party and Preston Manning, and that was my entrance into politics.

    I also thank my siblings, whom I am more grateful for than ever. I am the youngest of seven children, often being the brunt of all the jokes, such as they found me on the side of the street and decided to bring me home. Those are the fun stories, but I am thankful that I have my siblings now that my parents have passed.

    I also could not be more grateful to my incredible campaign team and volunteers. Their support made this moment possible. I am so thankful for their belief in me and in the work ahead. If I could name them all here today, I would, but time does not allow me to name the hundreds of workers who pounded in signs, knocked on doors and spoke to Canadians about their dreams and concerns. I look forward to thanking them all in person at our appreciation event this Friday in Oshawa.

    I want to give a special thanks to Andrew, Alex, Skip, Maryann, George, Callum, Phil and Paula, who chaired this campaign with their whole hearts. Yes, they are my friends, but more than that, they gave their time and energy because they care deeply about Oshawa. They believe, as I do, that our city deserves strong, thoughtful representation and leadership that truly listens.

    As I stand here today, I would be remiss if I did not mention members who came before me, whom I have held in high esteem as I have sought to represent my hometown. The late Hon. Michael Starr, the first cabinet minister of Ukrainian descent, served as minister of labour in the government of John Diefenbaker and served as the opposition House leader as well.

    I would also like to thank my immediate predecessor, Dr. Colin Carrie, who faithfully served the people of Oshawa for nearly 21 years in opposition and in government. He served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of health under the Conservative governments of former prime minister Stephen Harper and as parliamentary secretary to the minister of the environment. It should also be noted that Dr. Carrie was instrumental in bringing record investment back to Oshawa while he was a member, more than the previous NDP and Liberal members combined, in fact. Oshawa should be proud of their choice since 2004. I intend to follow in that tradition, bringing the same level of commitment and purpose to my work for our Oshawa.

    The recent election in Oshawa was more than just a political contest. It was a powerful reflection of our community's hope for a Pierre Poilievre Conservative government. One of the most unforgettable moments of the campaign came during our rally with our leader Pierre Poilievre in Oshawa. I had the privilege of standing amid 6,500 people and leading them in singing O Canada, and wow, did they ever do so with pride and purpose. In that moment, everyone could feel it: the unity, the hope and the belief that change is not only possible but within reach.

    Among the crowd, I would find out later, was a 15-year-old high school student who had convinced his mom to attend. A few days later, she walked into our campaign office and wanted to share what that night had meant to both her and her son. He had been moved deeply. He spoke to her about his fears for his future and his hopes for our country.

     That conversation has stayed with me because what that young man felt is what I heard repeatedly at the doors. It reminded me of my own children. His hopes were theirs. His fears were real. It was the story of every family I met who told me they are working harder than ever but falling farther behind, wondering if their kids will ever be able to afford a home in the community they grew up in. Therefore, I rise today not just as a member of Parliament but as a neighbour, a single mom, a worker, someone who understands what is at stake for every Canadian dreaming of a better future.

     When we talk about building that future, we must talk about homes, because housing is the foundation of stability for so many families. Today that foundation is crumbling. It is time to restore the dream of home ownership, a dream that has been steadily slipping away over the past 10 years. Young Canadians are giving up on the hope of owning a home. It used to take 25 years to pay off a mortgage, and now it takes 25 years to even consider saving enough for a down payment. This means that when my son graduates from university next year, it is now expected to take him until he is about 47 years old to even consider having enough saved for a down payment. Conservatives refuse to accept that as normal.

     Why can Canada not be faster when it comes to getting a building permit? There should be no more waiting for months or years to get shovels in the ground. If we want to solve the housing crisis, we need to act with speed and efficiency. As Conservatives, we will fight to free up land, speed up the permitting process and cut taxes for both homebuyers and home builders.

     We all know that building more homes is not enough on its own; we want to ensure those homes are part of safe, vibrant communities, places where kids can play outside without worry, where seniors can enjoy a peaceful walk and where families can go to bed at night without fearing that their car might be gone or vandalized by the morning. Home ownership should mean more than just having a roof over one's head; it should bring a sense of security, stability and pride. We are committed to making that vision a reality again for every Canadian.

     Downtown Oshawa is feeling the impact of the government's soft-on-crime policies. I hear it every day from business owners, parents and seniors who no longer feel safe walking to their car. Violent crime is up. Public drug use is rampant. People are scared, and they feel abandoned. The Liberal government has made life easier for repeat violent offenders and harder for law-abiding Canadians trying to raise their families and run businesses.

     Conservatives will fight to end the dangerous policies that are putting our communities at risk, such as the catch-and-release bail system that lets repeat offenders walk free instead of facing real consequences. We will also champion a compassionate but tough approach to addiction, which means focusing on treatment and recovery, not simply handing out more drugs. People deserve the chance to rebuild their lives and break free from addiction, not to be left to struggle in it. Our goal is of course a drug-free Canada where individuals can get the help they need, where families can be reunited and where hope replaces despair. In Oshawa and across the country, Canadians deserve safe streets, and I will keep fighting until they have them.

     Oshawa is a proud city, a city that helped build this country through auto manufacturing, small business, innovation and grit. From the early days of McLaughlin Motor Car Company to the modern production lines of General Motors, manufacturing is in our DNA.

     Sadly, just a few weeks ago, we learned that General Motors will be reducing operations at the Oshawa Assembly plant, moving from three shifts to two and affecting 700 workers at the plant and thousands from feeder plants in the community. That news was heavy, but if there is one thing Oshawa has shown time and time again, it is that our people are resilient. We have weathered hardship before, and we have come through stronger. We will stand by our workers and families every step of the way.

    Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague from Oshawa referenced Mr. Carrie, her predecessor, who helped, in her words, deliver an incredible amount of federal funding to the constituency of Oshawa. I remind her that of course it was our government that helped deliver that funding, whether it was the $259 million into the Oshawa plant on the auto side or the Oshawa port investments. Again, I am looking these up in live time right here. There is also rapid housing.

    I hope my colleague will continue to be a constructive voice in this House, but will she recognize there has been major federal investment from this Liberal government into Oshawa? I know she will continue to engage constructively with this side of the House so that we can keep doing good things for Oshawa in the days ahead.

     Madam Speaker, Dr. Colin Carrie is one of the hardest workers I know, and he always advocated for Oshawa.

    Some of that investment came because of Dr. Carrie's advocacy, his standing up in this House and saying over and over again what Oshawa needed. The other part was when he was in government for 10 years, with our last Conservative mandate under former prime minister Stephen Harper.

    Madam Speaker, my colleague and I seem to have something in common: housing issues in our ridings. I deplore the situation in Granby, where there is a housing shortage and homelessness.

    It seems to me that the Liberals clearly adopted a conservative tone in their throne speech, meaning a very centralized vision of housing funding. Quebec is asking for funds to be transferred to the Government of Quebec and to the municipalities, which are in the best position to know what the housing needs are.

    Does my colleague agree that funds should be transferred to Quebec and the municipalities as quickly as possible so that they can take action on housing?

    Madam Speaker, Oshawa has elected a hometown girl who understands its struggles and its strengths. I would be remiss to stand here and speak about things I have not fully learned about.

    I am here to defend our rights and freedoms, bring common sense back to government and be a voice for families, workers, seniors and youth in Oshawa. I will always work to effectively bring better housing for my community, and I do wish that for all Canadians.

    Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise during the member opposite's first intervention in this House.

    Since this is my first intervention in the 45th Parliament, I would like to thank my constituents for sending me back here with an ever-increasing margin of victory for my fourth term. That is because of Julie Astley and the great team in my constituency office. It is because of everybody who worked on my campaign, but it is also because of my wonderful wife, Ravi, and my two kids, Nova and Solar.

    I believe we have an opportunity here where the member opposite can pledge not just to oppose but to propose solutions, because no matter where we sit in this House, we are all on team Canada. Will she pledge to work with us to find solutions for all Canadians?

    Madam Speaker, I am really superhappy that the member opposite asked me that question, because our Conservatives proposed a ton of solutions in the 44th Parliament as well as during the last campaign. Some of those, I believe, were plagiarized by his government. I am happy that it plagiarized them. Some of them are good. I would like to see them go further.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Oshawa on her win. We all know that in order to get to the House of Commons, we have to knock on a lot of doors, listen to our constituents, form opinions and campaign very hard. I would like to know if she has a story to tell from her door knocking, because every time we knock on a door, every story we hear stays with us and shapes us as young politicians. Could she share a story with us, please?

    It should be a very brief story, in 15 seconds.

    The hon. member for Oshawa.

    Madam Speaker, I will be brief. There was story after story. It really comes down to affordability, and people just want the freedom to be able to live on a safe street and have a home. The best story is about one young lady in southern Oshawa. She came out with her son and said, “This is Ms. Kirkland, who is running for the Conservative Party. You know, the blue party.” Then she said, “Can I give you a hug?”

    Honestly, it was those—

    We have to leave it at that. I am sorry.

    Resuming debate, the hon. member for Calgary Signal Hill.

    Madam Speaker, it is my honour to rise today in this chamber to speak on behalf of my neighbours and fellow residents of Calgary Signal Hill. Others in this House have commented since the beginning of this 45th Parliament that politics is a team sport, and I for one would not have it any other way. The Conservative team in Calgary Signal Hill is one of the best in our country, and I am proud to be part of that team.

    I am also grateful to all the individuals who volunteered their time and energy in the general election campaign, and I thank them today. I am thinking about Joanne Birce, an amazing volunteer in our community, who, together with Cynthia Williams, ran our campaign office; Adrian Smith, Stuart McConkey and Tim Wall, our sign crew; Steve McLeod, one of the sharpest minds in politics; Barb Shaw, Changping Shao, Bob MacDonald, Mark Moennich, Bonnie McGinnis, Carrie Wall, Rick Harland and others who gave hour after hour to knock on doors and do whatever needed to be done; and of course, Michael Smith, who kept it all on track and running smoothly. Jeff Sterzuk and Myron Tetreault were tremendously supportive as well, as were friends old and new who gave support in so many ways.

    These volunteers gave of themselves with no reward other than the betterment of our country and perhaps an occasional cup of coffee or a Timbit. I am mindful today of their commitment and contributions, and I will remain mindful of these things as I strive to represent them and all residents of Calgary Signal Hill in this House to the very best of my abilities.

    One does not venture into the challenging waters of politics without the solid support of family. I want to thank my partner in life, Michele, for her rock-solid support of my long-held desire to enter federal politics. Taking on this important role means many days and nights of being apart, but she has never wavered in her support. My two children, Kristen and Alex, have likewise encouraged me to start a new career when others much smarter than me are retiring from theirs. They have believed in me as I have believed in them, and I love them for it. My daughter, Kristen, is a young scientist presently completing her master's in biology, and Alex has recently started his career in finance. They are hard-working and passionate people, and I am so very proud of them. I also extend my thanks to Lianne for cheering me on and being a wonderful mother to our children.

    During the election campaign that concluded a short five weeks ago, I heard from many people at their doorsteps of the expectation that I will be part of making our country better by working with all members of the House to obtain the best outcome for Canadians. A good idea is a good idea, regardless of which side of the House it arrives in, and members of this House need to focus on ensuring that the best ideas win the day. It is working: The best ideas the Liberals have right now all came from the Conservatives. I agree with my neighbours on the need to work together, and I pledge to keep my focus on what is best for them and what is best for Canadians.

    Signal Hill is a shining example of the promise of Canada. In the election campaign, I met many proud Canadians who, because of their work in the energy industry, are living the Canadian dream. The energy industry is not just an employer; it is a means of advancement for families. While the Canadian energy sector is the lifeblood of my community, many are worried about their future under a Liberal government that told us one day not that long ago that it was done with building pipelines but then said the next day that it wants us to be an energy superpower.

    For the last 10 years, Canada's energy sector has endured what my colleague from Calgary Heritage referred to a few years ago as a “systemic attack by a government indifferent to the consequences of its decisions.” When we consider that almost 90% of Canada's oil production comes from Alberta and Saskatchewan, it should surprise no one that these attacks have been taken as partisan bullying aimed at our western provinces. As a proud Canadian who loves this country from coast to coast to coast, that saddens me.

     I have been in this House over the last number of days as assurances have been given that it is different now, but I am sure that one can forgive the people of Calgary Signal Hill for being skeptical of this sudden about-face from a Liberal government that killed energy east and northern gateway, that banned west coast oil shipments by tanker and that has put in place a regulatory framework for a new project review that our energy industry tells us is utterly unworkable.

    Before members opposite rise to tell us that promises have been made and all will be well, perhaps they need to be reminded of some of the promises the Liberal government has made that simply were not kept.

    In 2015, Justin Trudeau promised electoral reform; that did not happen.

    In 2019, the Liberals promised they would criminalize elder abuse; that did not happen.

    In 2019, the Liberals promised to establish a dedicated agency for defence procurement; that did not happen, and our forces continue to suffer today.

    In 2021, the Liberals said that they would create a new federal hub to help Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs take advantage of trade agreements that Canada is party to; that did not happen.

    In 2021, the Liberals promised a $4.5-billion Canadian mental health transfer to the provinces; it did not happen.

    In 2022, the Liberals promised they would establish a permanent council of economic advisers to provide independent advice to government on long-term growth. Guess what. It did not happen.

    When the Liberal government says today, “Don't worry, we promise to fix it”, residents of Calgary Signal Hill do worry. They do not understand why the Liberal government refuses to repeal Bill C-69, refuses to repeal Bill C-48 and refuses to scrap the production cap on oil and gas.

     The Minister of Natural Resources recently spoke in Calgary, a prime opportunity to walk away from these three suffocating policies, but there was not a word. In fact, there seems to be an aversion to saying the word “pipeline” out loud in the Liberal government, even with thousands of kilometres of pipelines operating in Canada at this very minute, safely and responsibly, taking petroleum products from production to end users.

    If a person knows somebody with a habit of over-promising and consistently under-delivering, that person eventually loses faith that they will say what they mean and mean what they say. Today, the answer is no; it is not enough to make more promises. It is not enough to say, “Don't worry, we will do this or we will do that”. My neighbours in Signal Hill require action and results, not empty promises.

     As I conclude, I wish to take a moment to acknowledge the exemplary service of Ron Liepert, the prior MP for Calgary Signal Hill. After serving as press secretary to the late and great Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed, Ron was elected to the Alberta legislature in 2004. Ron served three premiers over seven-plus years in that institution, acting successively as minister of education, minister of health and wellness, minister of energy and minister of finance. After time in the private sector, Ron was elected to the House with the class of 2015 and served the people of Calgary Signal Hill for just under 10 years. The former member is now focusing on his golf game full time, and he does so with the thanks and appreciation of his friends and neighbours in the riding that we share. He has been an outstanding example of public service at its best. The residents of Calgary Signal Hill join me in thanking Ron Liepert.

     Finally, I want to share the contents of a letter I just received from a resident of Calgary Signal Hill. Lily writes:

    These words perfectly lay out the work ahead for the House and the expectation that all Canadians hold for us as parliamentarians.

    Madam Speaker, last month, more than 8.5 million Canadians voted for our ambitious plan to strengthen and unify our economy. That is the most votes a party has ever received in a Canadian federal election. The Speech from the Throne accurately reflects the commitments we made during the election campaign.

     The throne speech reflects the will of the more than 8.5 million Canadians who gave us such a strong endorsement in the last election. Will my colleague vote in favour of our throne speech this evening?

    Madam Speaker, what is most important right now is what the government plans to do with respect to the energy industry, which, as I have stated in this House, is the lifeblood of my community in Calgary Signal Hill. We do not need more empty promises. We need results. We need a commitment to repeal Bill C-69. We need a commitment to repeal Bill C-48. We need a scrapping of the production cap on oil and gas. Those are the issues that are of greatest importance in my riding. I would invite the member opposite to make that commitment today on behalf of his party.

    Madam Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. He suggested that the pipeline is an element of nation-building. The new Canadian identity is taking shape. We neglected this concept for decades, but now the American giant is forcing us to define Canadian identity. Some believe this new identity should be shaped by a pipeline.

    If I understand correctly, Alberta's gambit was to convince people that it had separatist inclinations and then, at this week's first ministers' meeting, convince everyone that its pipeline construction plan is in the whole country's interest.

    Does my colleague agree that, if Quebec opposes this project, if Quebec's conditions are not met, the pipeline will not cross Quebec's territory?

     Madam Speaker, the question of pipelines is a question of the logical pursuit of projects that make sense. Yes, the energy industry is part of the culture in my part of Canada. I would expect all parts of Canada to understand the importance of this critical industry in our country and support those industries as not just part of a way of life, but a common-sense method of funding, financing and empowering the best interests of all Canadians.

    Madam Speaker, I welcome the member for Calgary Signal Hill to this House. He is another Calgary MP. It is great to see him here. I share his thanks to his predecessor, Ron Liepert, who is a good friend and known to all of us in this House. We wish him the best in retirement.

    The member spoke in response to the last question. I would like to give him more time to fully explain some of the points that he might want to make there. It is not just because in his riding and mine the oil and gas industry, the energy industry, supplies high-paying, good jobs and careers that support families; it supports the entire country. It is the biggest industry in this country and it is where the revenue comes from to fund public services in every province. Does he agree and does he have anything else to add with respect to this important industry?

    Madam Speaker, there is no question at all that the petroleum industry, centred in Alberta really, indeed in the fine city of Calgary, my friend's riding and mine being a part of that city, is central to the Canadian economy. It supplies jobs and opportunities not just in our province but indeed across Canada with manufacturers in Ontario, Quebec and other provinces that take part in our industry. It makes a central financial contribution. Its importance cannot be ignored and put on the shelf, which has been a long-standing tradition in the federal government under the Liberal Party. It is something that has to change.

     Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital.

    I am thankful for this opportunity to rise in the House for the very first time. I am grateful to be here. It is not lost on me what a special privilege this is.

     I want to start by thanking the constituents of Fredericton—Oromocto for entrusting me with this responsibility. To be their representative here in Parliament is the honour of a lifetime.

    I have always loved the Fredericton—Oromocto region. It is where I grew up, where my parents grew up and where I am now raising my children. I feel very fortunate to be able to do that.

    Let me say that this campaign only made me appreciate what we have even more. Fredericton—Oromocto is a riding of about 80,000 people along the mighty Wolastoq, or the Saint John River. It is the traditional territory of the Wolastoqey, the people of the beautiful and bountiful river. It is a truly beautiful place that has sustained and nurtured life for thousands of years.

    We are a riding of tech entrepreneurs, new Canadians, descendants of British loyalists, Acadians, two first nations communities, the Sitansisk and the Welamukotuk, and Canada's second-largest military base in Gagetown. It is a wonderful microcosm of this very country, with all the joys and all the challenges.

    I thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped make this election campaign such an exceptional and unifying experience for all of us.

     People of all sorts came out to help, many of whom had never been part of a campaign before. I had no idea what running was going to feel like. The truth is that I was nervous and scared. What I did not know was how it would feel to have people vouching for me. Volunteers were going to bat, supporting me, and going door to door in the rain and the cold, telling people that they thought I was a good guy and that I was the right person for this job. I will never, ever forget that. It meant so much to me. I thank them.

    I thank my parents, Jim and Carmel Myles, who were both high school teachers. My dad taught in Fredericton. My mom taught in Oromocto. They loved their jobs and they set the standard for what it means to serve the community, to be part of a community and to love the community. I felt that during the entire campaign. Everywhere I went, I heard stories about how they had positively affected people's lives, and it was remarkable. I am sure I benefited from all of the years of their committed hard work in the community.

    I thank my wife, Nina, and my daughters, Maria and Silvia. They are the ones who really convinced me to take on this challenge. They believed in me and convinced me that I could do it and that the time was right. Their support is invaluable, and I could not have done this without them.

    Being here in this House is a privilege and that is not lost on me. I will not squander this opportunity and I promise to work tirelessly for everyone. I mean everyone, not just those who voted for me. That is a big part of the reason I ran in the first place. I love people, all sorts of people. I decided to run because I believe in Canadians.

    I spent the last 20 years as a professional songwriter and musician, travelling all over this beautiful country. I travelled to hundreds of small towns in every province: east to west, up north, French, English, mining towns, military towns and every single big city. I will say, everywhere I went, I met decent people who cared about their communities and who wanted to build a good life for their kids in a country that they love. I did not see a country that was broken or impossibly divided. No, I saw a country of people who were fundamentally more similar than social media would ever have us believe.

    Let us be honest. Sometimes we hear the same thing in politics, that we are too divided or too different to talk, to work together, to build together. I do not believe it for a second. Why? It is because I know deeply from experience that it is not the case. I learned it from being on the road for 20 years. It was also reinforced by my time campaigning. Over and over, door after door, I had so many great conversations with people who were tired of the polarization, skeptical of the partisanship and yearning for a focus on problem-solving over ideology.

    Sure, there were folks who did not agree with me. That is normal. Did we still find time to have a chat about our community and our country's challenges? We did. I would say that this House, this Parliament, is no different. I really do believe that we are all here because we want to serve our communities, represent our constituents, and work hard to help build a country that we can be proud of for future generations, no matter what party we represent. I know perhaps I sound naive, but that is what Canadians want from us and expect from us. Let us keep that in mind.

    There is a lot of talk about robust debate, but jeering and laughing while others are talking has very little to do with debate. I have been in show business for 20 years, and this is not show business, or at least it should not be. This is serious work and it deserves our respect. If we want Canadians to respect each other, we have to respect each other.

    If we want Canadians to work together in spite of their differences, we must find ways to work together in spite of our differences too.

     If we want Canadians to be united, we need to find ways to be united, and I am excited to do that. That is what I have always been interested in: building relationships across division. Why is this so important now?

    It is because we are going through a very difficult period. Uncertainty, economic threats and a rapidly changing political landscape have forced us to really think about who we are as a country and how we can move forward together, strong and sovereign.

     This will not be easy. It will depend on how well we can work together. Infrastructure east to west and south to north is going to require an ability to build relationships and trust from all parts of Canada and also from each side of the floor. It means identifying our common challenges and moving toward solutions together. Like the throne speech suggests, let us focus on making life more affordable, housing more abundant, our cultural organizations the envy of the world and our economy the strongest in the G7, and let us give our military the respect it deserves.

    We can do this, and I look forward to working with all the members of the House on those goals every day that I am lucky enough to have this job.

    Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague across the aisle on his first speech in the House. His enthusiasm is very contagious; I appreciate that.

     What I want to ask him is this: I am wondering whether families he represents, families in his riding, are having trouble putting groceries on the table. Are the children going hungry, or are they not able to go into sports this fall, not able to play hockey, for example? Are people having to choose between sports for their kids and groceries?

     I am wondering whether the member can explain how, after the last 10 years of Liberal government, food prices are so high and how the Liberal government is going to change anything that it has done consistently for the last 10 years to cause this problem.

    Madam Speaker, I would say first of all that there is a new government, and affordability is very important. I have actually spent many years dedicating much of my work to raising money for food banks, and I do understand families and how they struggle. It is a really important priority for me here, and I think that the first step is a tax break for 22 million Canadians. That is good news, and I suspect everybody will support that.

    Madam Speaker, my colleague gave a very good speech with a smile on his face. I have to say that throughout his speech, I kept thinking about how his first and last names, which I cannot say here, are so similar to Miles Davis, one of my favourite musicians. This brought the following question to mind.

    Does my colleague not think that, given the crisis we are experiencing with the United States, calling an election and coming back with just a throne speech and not presenting a budget, despite the economic emergency, feels a bit like improvisation?

    Madam Speaker, I am a big fan of jazz. I am not as talented as Miles Davis, but I do play the trumpet. I thank the member for making that association.

    We have already started doing things we can be proud of. We are already going ahead with some big plans, like the tax cut I just mentioned.

    We also have plenty of other plans that we will be talking about more in the coming weeks.

    Madam Speaker, congratulations on your return. I am pleased to see you back in good health.

    I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleague on his election and on the mandate that brought him here to the House. It is very important, and it shows how much Canadians want a government that can work for them.

    My question for my colleague is this. How important is the work he wants to do here, in order to fulfill the mandate that his constituents have given him? How important is it to get through all the business we want to get through the House while making sure we are working with everyone? Can my colleague explain how important it is for all members of the House to be able to vote in favour of the work we do here? Can he talk about the importance of the mandate that he and his Liberal colleagues have been given?

    Madam Speaker, these are projects of national significance, so it is important that people who come from other ridings support us in getting these projects done, because it would be impossible to get major infrastructure projects built without the support of Canadians.

    We now have the support of Canadians. That is important.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his discourse and his speech in the House, and to welcome him.

    I have a bit of a concern, because I think about so many people in this country who are living with a disability and who did not see their concerns echoed within the throne speech. I wonder whether the member, while he was talking to his constituents, heard from constituents who are deeply concerned that $250 is simply insufficient to help people living with a disability stay out of poverty.

    Will the government be taking the necessary steps to protect Canadians living with a disability, particularly in my province of Alberta, where the provincial government has taken $200 off, with the—

    I have to give the hon. member for Fredericton—Oromocto time for a very brief answer.

    Madam Speaker, it is absolutely an important issue, as the minister spoke to in question period. It is a real priority of our government to make sure that people with disabilities live with the same dignity and accessibility that all of us do in Canada.

    Madam Speaker, it is with great humility and an even greater sense of duty that I rise today to deliver my maiden speech. I am honoured to represent the people of St. Boniface—St. Vital, a riding that is vibrant, diverse, creative and resilient, a place where French is a living heritage and where dozens of cultures, languages and histories converge to enrich our collective story.

    I want to thank the voters of St. Boniface—St. Vital for putting their trust in me. They have entrusted me with an immense responsibility, and I will never take it for granted.

    I would also like to thank my incredible campaign team and volunteers, who dedicated hundreds of hours to our campaign. I also want to thank my family and friends, without whom I could not have fathomed undertaking such an endeavour; they have been the wind in my sails, and their unwavering faith in my ability to do difficult things has helped me immeasurably.

    I want to pay tribute to Dan Drummondville, who served St. Boniface—St. Vital with integrity, generosity and dedication for over a decade. Dan was a strong voice for francophones, for culture and for Manitoba and the Prairies. I am committed to continuing his work with the same passion.

    Many have asked me why I got into politics. I did it out of duty, hope and love for my community. It is an immense privilege to be able to serve my community and bring its voice, hopes and concerns to the House. I believe it is time for the voices of women, artists, francophones, young people and newcomers to be at the heart of our democracy.

    What I heard at the doors deeply moved me: sincere, urgent concerns, with people fearing that a strong Conservative government could undo the social, environmental and cultural gains, and parents who are anxious about their children's future. I heard seniors wanting to age in dignity and young people dreaming of a just, sustainable future where environmental protections, equity and opportunity go hand in hand. I am here to tell them that I heard them and that I am here for them.

    Sometimes we get an especially touching message. A woman in my riding wrote to tell me that her daughter had exclaimed that I was their prime minister, and that she had had to explain that this was not exactly the case. This woman told me that I was having a very positive impact and that I was a strong, authentic female role model for the younger generation. I reread that message often, because politics is also about inspiring people, representing them and giving them a dream to work toward.

    The recent Speech from the Throne paints a picture of Canada that matches what I saw on the ground throughout the election campaign. It is a picture of a country that wants to move forward together, without leaving anyone behind. I am especially pleased to see that culture, the francophonie and immigration are an important part of this vision.

    Culture is everywhere in St. Boniface—St. Vital. It is in the murals in the French-speaking neighbourhood, which tell the story of the Red River Métis and francophone pioneers. It is in the Festival du Voyageur, an annual event that brings tens of thousands of visitors together to have fun, listen to music and experience the warmth of human connection despite the February cold. It is in the celebrations at gurdwaras and temples. It is in the hip-hop concerts, modern art exhibitions and theatres, which are living expressions of our spirit and creativity.

     Cultural industries generate over $58 billion in GDP and nearly 700,000 jobs, yet artists and creative talents still face precarity. They deserve better.

    I appreciate the commitment made to CBC/Radio-Canada. For francophones out west, Radio-Canada is more than just a media outlet; it is a common thread that unites generations, a lone voice in an English-dominated media landscape. It is also a tool for regional development, artistic dissemination and community cohesion. Above all, however, it is the cornerstone of the kind of free and independent press that is essential for our democracy to thrive. In a world where disinformation is gaining ground, protecting our public media institutions is more important than ever.

    The francophonie is alive and well in our riding and co-exists alongside a cultural mosaic. In my riding, indigenous people and people representing communities from around the world enrich our social fabric.

    Our strength lies in this diversity. A united Canada means that every person feels they belong and can contribute their best.

    To develop this vision, we have to address barriers to labour mobility, especially for internationally trained immigrants. Francophone immigration remains a challenge, particularly in minority settings. We have doctors in our communities who are blocked from teaching or practising medicine.

    I must interrupt the hon. member. A phone is ringing and it is bothering the interpreters. I would appreciate not hearing that kind of noise in the House.

    The hon. member for St. Boniface—St. Vital.

    Madam Speaker, in our communities, there are doctors who are not allowed to practise medicine, teachers who are not allowed to teach and engineers who have to rebuild their careers from scratch. We absolutely need to thoroughly review our mechanisms for recognizing credentials and skills. Not only is the current situation a waste of these people's time, but it is also a waste of their talent and a loss for Canada as a whole. Removing these barriers is not only the right thing to do, but it will also help build a stronger, fairer and more competitive Canada.

    I commend my colleagues from Don Valley West and Hull-Aylmer, who stressed our connections with Africa. They reminded us that Africa is full of young, dynamic countries, many of them francophone, and that our future is connected to these partnerships. Let us work together to strengthen the international Francophonie. The desire to build collectively extends beyond our borders. Canada must forge new relationships based on respect, co-operation and solidarity.

    My commitment as a member of Parliament is clear. I will defend the language rights of western Canadian francophones in all places and at all times. I will strengthen arts and culture, because they are the soul of our communities, large and small, all across the country. I will support an ambitious and inclusive immigration plan that is aligned with this country's economic and social needs. I will build bridges between francophones here and around the world.

    I will close by reaffirming that I am here because of all the people who refused to stay silent, whether they were women, francophones, immigrants, artists or builders working in the shadows. All of these groups were often marginalized, but they were the people who built Canada as we know it and who made it a great place to live.

    I am here because I believe in solidarity, culture, language and a country where everyone can dream, build and be heard.

    Madam Speaker, I want to welcome my new colleague as a fellow newbie from Manitoba.

    The Prime Minister and the government have talked a lot about nation-building energy projects. My constituency of Brandon—Souris in Manitoba, the member's and my home province, contains its oil and gas industry in the southwestern corner. We have talked a lot about getting our natural resources, oil and gas products, to tidewater on Hudson Bay. The throne speech failed to mention any real plan to get those products to Hudson Bay's tidewater.

    Will the member agree that the throne speech failed to mention this and that the government should take further action to ensure that natural resources and products from my constituency in southwest Manitoba can get to Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba?

    Madam Speaker, as the throne speech demonstrated, we are here to build a strong Canada, to build a stronger economy for our country, and that will go through all kinds of initiatives and projects. We are in the process of consulting and putting together those plans. We cannot do that in a silo. We must be talking with partners. We must be talking with everyone in order to develop these plans constructively and with responsibility.

    Madam Speaker, in her speech, one of the things my colleague from St. Boniface—St. Vital talked about was immigration, which is essential in certain regions. In my riding of Shefford, however, some businesses are complaining about measures recently implemented by the government, especially measures related to temporary foreign workers.

    The new targets are unrealistic and also miss the mark when it comes to immigration. Temporary foreign workers are essential to businesses in my riding of Shefford. Many entrepreneurs and new business owners are telling me that unless these new temporary foreign worker standards change, a number of regional businesses could be forced to close.

    I would therefore like to know whether my colleague would be willing to consider certain accommodations or arrangements to recognize that these workers are essential to regional economies.

    Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent question.

    Once again, I think we know that there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to immigration. Certain credentials are not recognized, and people who are already on the ground may not have the jobs they would like. There is significant work to be done.

    I obviously think the targets need to be reviewed. That has to be discussed, and it has to be done effectively and carefully. We do not want to set irresponsible targets. We certainly want to ensure that targets are reviewed in co-operation with the communities. It is important to listen.

    Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. member on her maiden speech, which was excellent.

    The French language in St. Boniface—St. Vital, and throughout southern Manitoba, is alive and well. I wonder if the member would say a few words about francophone immigration and how important it is to western Canada, as she is a western Canadian.

     Madam Speaker, yes, immigration is essential to all of our communities. I was fortunate enough to work with a national association over the last number of—

    I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but there is a phone near the mics. Can we get it out of there, please? The vibration is causing interference.

    The hon. member for St. Boniface—St. Vital.

    Madam Speaker, I am sorry for the interruption.

    As I was stating, I have become acutely aware that francophone immigration is critical for all francophone communities across this country, because we do need skilled bilingual workers in every sector, whether it is health care or education. It is crucial. In my own riding as well, it has been a first-hand experience seeing that there are people we are welcoming into our communities whom we want to put to work in great ways, so we need to do more to recognize their skills.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague for her victory.

    The province of Manitoba set a record last year, in 2024, for homicides. My own city of Hamilton also set a gun crime record. I would like to ask the member, is she willing to vote yes to repeal Liberal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 and put the teeth back in our justice system so criminals are afraid to commit crimes?

    Madam Speaker, there is a bill that was tabled, Bill C-2, the strong borders act, which does address and start to discuss issues around security, gun controls, drug trafficking and all of those issues that certainly are having impacts on the security and the safety of our communities.

    I would hope my neighbour across the aisle will consider that bill once it comes to the floor for debate and will vote in favour.

    Madam Speaker, it is a privilege and an honour to rise in this House as the elected member of Parliament for Abbotsford—South Langley. I stand here today with deep gratitude, but I promise to be a committed advocate for the people I represent. I have a clear sense of duty and immense gratitude to stand here today.

     I want to thank my family, my friends and all the amazing volunteers who stood by me throughout this campaign. I thank them for placing their trust in me, giving me their time and sharing their concerns with me. Volunteering on a campaign means upholding democracy and upholding our civic duty as Canadians.

    I must acknowledge that I only stand here today because of my family. To my grandparents, Iqbal Singh Gill and Surjit Kaur Gill, their values and wisdom continue to guide me. To my parents, Avtar Singh Gill and Kanwaljit Kaur Gill, their sacrifice, strength and courage made all of this possible. They came to Canada from our village of Bukkanwala, Punjab, in the 1990s, carrying the hopes for a better future. Their journey, hard work and belief in the Canadian dream laid the foundation for everything that I stand on today.

    I also want to recognize the pride and joy that were felt in my village of Bukkanwala. To the families, the elders and the youth, their celebration and blessings have reached me here. This moment is not just mine; it is theirs. It is a reminder that no matter where we come from, we can dream big and rise together. I carry this responsibility with humility and hope, knowing that the journey we have all been on has just begun.

    To my sisters, Avneet and Anoop Gill, and my fiancée, Simran, they all are the constant rock that held me together throughout my ups and downs. Their encouragement, patience and love are what brought me here today. To my mentors, my friends and my community members, I am inspired by them every single day. I will make them proud by speaking on the issues that affect our homes and our families. This election was truly a team effort from day one, and I will never forget that.

    Abbotsford—South Langley is composed of Canadians like truck drivers, farmers and tradesmen who rise before the sun and provide for our country. My riding has young families with aspirations from winning hockey tournaments to purchasing their first home. Our retirement communities deserve a safe place to live each day, share their wisdom with us and have nurturing environments. The truth is that Canada is struggling to maintain these warm ideals for our communities. When public safety fails, it endangers our families, our children and our elders.

    Tens of thousands of Canadians have lost their lives to opioid overdoses in less than a decade. Our citizens are struggling from this opioid crisis and deserve to come home drug-free. Despite the number of overdoses and rising deaths in my riding, the Liberal government insists on funding these drugs rather than supporting our loved ones.

    Furthermore, the data from Statistics Canada keeps getting worse. Firearms-related violent crime has risen over 25% nationally. Criminals who are caught offending time and time again are being let go because of poor rationale and bad policy. I must hold the government to account. I must express my blatant disgust with Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. These laws make it easier for repeat offenders to get bail and reduced mandatory jail time. Since these changes, violent crime has gone up over 50% in just 2024.

    Concerning gun crimes like extortion illustrate the combined effects of the catch-and-release sentencing and Canada's struggling borders. Public safety needs evidence-based policies and a justice system with integrity. Canadians are expecting their elected officials to put their safety first, uphold the rule of law and make decisions based on grounded facts, not ideology.

    There are two border crossings that fall within my riding and serve as international trucking entryways. Protecting our border communities is my priority, especially given the lack of funding for our border security, our military and our national defence. Canadians deserve better. They deserve a government that puts victims first and takes real action to make sure that our communities are safe.

    I urge the Liberal government to stop turning a blind eye and work with us, Canada's Conservatives, to urgently address the growing concerns in our communities. Together, we must implement stronger laws, restore accountability, and ensure that extortion and violent crimes are met with the serious consequences that they deserve.

    The safety of our communities cannot wait any longer. The Prime Minister was elected on a promise, not slogans, and a real plan. Canadians trusted that promise, yet we are still waiting for a clear answer. The recent Speech from the Throne reminded us of our democratic foundations, but symbols and speeches are not enough. Canadians expect leadership and a concrete plan.

    After the election, we expected details, not empty talk. Canadians deserve to know how the government will build homes that people can actually afford. What will it do to ease the tax burdens on families, workers and small businesses? How will it support our armed forces, from our new recruits to our veterans? What funding are the RCMP and border security going to get? How will repeat violent offenders be kept off of our streets?

    We do not need any more vague promises or any more empty words. What Canadians need is a budget that shows real priorities, real numbers and real leadership. People want safer streets where they can feel secure, homes they can afford without struggle and fewer families having to rely on food banks just to get by. No one working multiple jobs should have to stand in line for groceries or worry about making ends meet. Canadians deserve to have enough money to support their families, a chance to build a better future and a government that respects the trust they have placed in it.

    I ran for office to serve the people, and I am proud to be representing my community of Abbotsford—South Langley, where I was born and raised. I am here representing those in my community for the very first time in the House, and I promise to work hard every day on their behalf, making sure their voices are heard.

    Our country deserves a government that has a clear, honest plan to address these challenges, and we will keep the government accountable until it delivers the results that Canadians expect and deserve.

    Madam Speaker, I wanted to pick up on two points that the member made reference to, as I am sure they have not told him about this. Just to make sure that he is aware, Pierre Poilievre was a member of Stephen Harper's cabinet. At one point, he was even a parliamentary secretary when Stephen Harper was the then prime minister. During that tenure, we had Stephen Harper, and he and Pierre Poilievre are one and the same. Stephen Harper, in essence, cut border control by hundreds of millions of dollars, not to mention the cuts to the border control officers.

    Tomorrow, we are going to have a good debate on that. I would hope that Pierre Poilievre has instructed his caucus to do what he did not do when he was in government and vote in favour of strengthening our border.

    The other quick point is with regard to the Canadian forces. The member might be surprised to know that the lowest GDP in the last 20 years was when Stephen Harper and Pierre Poilievre were in charge. They got 1% of the GDP. I am wondering if he would acknowledge that there is room for improvement within the Conservative Party.

    Madam Speaker, it has been a lost Liberal decade, and there has been nothing done by the Liberal government to build our military, our defence and the communities surrounding the border areas. I would like to know what the Liberal government has done over the last Liberal decade. There has been nothing that the Liberal government has put forward that can help the communities that are around our borders.

    Madam Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his election and thank him for his speech.

    When you watch the news, at least in Quebec, the situation is crystal clear. Health care is in crisis. At the height of summer, emergency rooms are overwhelmed. Psychiatric services cannot keep up. People who are homeless need services on the street.

    My colleague talked about the government's fiscal and budgetary responsibilities. The government justified the election by citing the urgent need to properly budget. The first thing this government did was introduce a tax cut without presenting a budget and without saying where it would find the money. Here in Ottawa, the Liberals keep telling us that everything will continue to function, as though money were growing on trees, without even presenting a budget or, at the very least, an economic update.

    Does this not prove that there is a fiscal imbalance and that, basically, this central government in Ottawa has far too much money for the responsibilities it has?

    Madam Speaker, we need to make sure that we support our communities wherever they are throughout our nation.

    It is a priority for me to represent my riding and bring up the problems that are within my riding. While I am in Ottawa, I will make sure that I work to represent local communities, municipal communities and provincial communities. I will work with communities at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to do what I can to support them.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleague on his recent election and on his first speech in the House of Commons.

    Given that the Liberal government is ignoring the vote and the verdict from the House of Commons to introduce a budget, can the member speak to how his constituents responded to him over the period of the election and what they would expect the Liberal government to do with respect to spending in the country?

     Madam Speaker, there is real concern within my constituency and my community, as we see that young families are not able to make ends meet; they are struggling. This was not the same situation 15 years ago.

    We need a plan. We need a budget, not false Liberal ideas. They are ideas, dreams that are out of reach. We need to make sure that we hold the government to account and come up with fiscal responsibility.

    Madam Speaker, I am thankful for this opportunity. First and foremost, I congratulate you on your role as Assistant Deputy Speaker, as well as all the members who were elected in this 45th Parliament. I trust in your capabilities to diligently live up to your role as a non-partisan and be fair to members of all parties during the term of this Parliament. I can tell that so far you are doing great.

    It is an honour and a privilege to become a member of Parliament, and I am humbled to be the first member of Parliament for the new riding of Edmonton Southeast. I want to thank all the residents of Edmonton Southeast who put their trust in the Conservative Party and in me. It was because of their trust and efforts that I won the seat for the Conservative Party, with one of the biggest mandates in the country. This is despite the fact that the Prime Minister himself spent half a day in my riding just before the election date. It shows that my riding was ready for a change and was ready to get the answers that the Liberals have failed to give in the last 10 years.

    How can I thank the people of Edmonton for the support I got? Honestly, I cannot thank them enough in words, but I can definitely thank them by representing them in Parliament as their rigorous voice whenever and however it is needed and by making sure I hold the Liberal government accountable for its actions.

    Edmonton Southeast is a diverse and ethnically rich riding, and I want to thank all the churches, synagogues, gurdwaras, temples, mosques and other religious congregations for extending their unwavering support to me. I also want to thank all my volunteers, the group captains, my nieces, my nephews, my three naughty yet wonderful kids and my lovely wife Mandeep for their tireless work and effort to make this dream come true. The work they did, day and night, was commendable.

    I also want to extend a special thanks to my younger brother Chand, who I am lucky to have as my brother. I could not have done this without his organizational skills and foresightedness.

    Moving forward, I want to talk seriously and bring to the floor some of the issues I heard about while door knocking, such as crime. I want to tell members about a young, hard-working Canadian in my riding named Harshandeep Singh. She was gunned down by a repeat offender on bail in the city of Edmonton. Another young Canadian was killed while at work by another person who was there.

    Even earning money and running successful businesses in Edmonton and the rest of the country have become a curse and a nightmare. I personally know business owners who have received threats of extortion and ransom calls, and they are forced to live in hiding. From door manufacturing companies to realtors to restaurant owners, no one is safe.

    I personally know families who were escorted by police out of Edmonton to live in a different place. If people do not pay money, bullets are fired at their houses and death threats are delivered to them and their family members and to their businesses. Newly built homes are set on fire if homeowners do not meet the demands of the criminals and pay them money. Cars are stolen in the GTA and Montreal and are found in Nigeria and South Africa, and the Canadian police and CBSA do not have any clue.

    I urge the Liberal government to correct its mistakes by immediately repealing Bill C-5, which removed mandatory minimum penalties, and Bill C-75, which made bail easier, and bringing in stricter laws for repeat offenders and for violent crimes, such as human trafficking, hard drug trafficking, arson and extortion, so that successful Canadians can feel safe and enjoy the fruit of their hard-earned money.

     I also want to talk about immigration. The immigration system has been broken in this country. This has had a direct impact on the health care system, housing and policing. Immigration needs to be based on quality and not quantity, yet at the same time, the government must stand in solidarity with international students and try to extend their visas as much as possible before providing visas to new immigrants.

     Our first and foremost duty is to accommodate international students and people who are already in Canada, but that does not mean we should promote the bogus claims that refugees make after being in Canada and not being successful in getting permanent residency in this country. Refugee claims and pre-removal risk assessments have literally the same requirements to be successful, so why burden Canadians with added bureaucracy?

     I have seen CBSA officers in my practice as a lawyer who have turned down LMIAs for not being genuine. If a CBSA officer is the ultimate decision-maker, why burden Canadians with Service Canada bureaucracy and why not give all the work permit powers to CBSA officers?

     The next point I want to touch on is unleashing oil and gas. I have never seen such bigotry and hypocrisy at the hands of government. Alberta holds one of the largest oil and natural gas reserves, but the Liberals have failed to pass laws and legislation to build pipelines and to secure deals with global partners to unleash the energy sector of Alberta. Rather, the Liberals have passed legislation like Bill C-69, making sure that our oil and gas stay under the ground. What is even worse is that the Liberals have turned down building needed infrastructure and killed the LNG deal with Germany, a deal worth billions of dollars that could have generated hundreds and thousands of jobs.

     The continuous denial and ignorance of Alberta's genuine demands have led to a strong feeling of separation. Believe me, it is not trivial; it is real this time. I am a strong believer in Canada and its unity, but the onus is now on the Liberal government if it wants Canada to stay together. If the Liberals want Canada to be together, then this is the prime time to unleash Alberta's oil and gas and make sure Alberta feels listened to and honoured. That is what unity and Confederation are anyway, is it not?

     As for soaring house prices and affordability, the rising cost of houses for new Canadians in Edmonton has been inexplicable. I hear Liberals talk about aggressively building houses, but they are not saying whether Canadians get to own those houses or whether they are just playing into some sort of scheme.

     I see the Speaker signalling that my time is up, but there are so many issues that I want to touch upon, like jobs. We need jobs in Edmonton. We need infrastructure in Edmonton. We need to make sure that oil and gas get out to market.

    I want to thank all my constituents, my riding and my family. I will stand strong in Ottawa, and I will make sure that the Liberals are held accountable on jobs, the fight against crime, building pipelines and building more infrastructure.

    Madam Speaker, I congratulate the member.

     I want to find out if the member is going to be supporting our initiative to lower income taxes for Canadians.

     Madam Speaker, as it has alway been, it is the Conservative Party's mandate to stand to support any positive step. Despite the fact that the tax cut the Liberals are talking about is so minimal, we will stand behind it.

    Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech, in which he talked about Alberta's frustrations with various things.

    One thing I can say is that the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion opposing the principle of a single economy. The motion states that Quebec has its own economic model, and we want the freedom to develop our economy in a manner consistent with who we are.

    At the moment, we are being subjected to U.S. President Trump's wrath and mood swings. During the election campaign, the Prime Minister made this his pet cause. He said people had to vote for the Liberal Party so that it could deal with the American president's volatility. It is now clear that neither the party nor the government has a plan to deal with Mr. Trump.

    My question for my colleague is this. How should we deal with Mr. Trump's economic roller coaster?

     Madam Speaker, that is such a wonderful question. From day one, when I heard that the Liberals are working on a single economy, I had questions like the member has. Until and unless the Liberals put down a plan or make clear what they mean by “single economy”, we are not going to support that.

     The real challenge or force that we can put forward to fight against Trump is making the economy stronger, making the micro-economy stronger, making the national economy stronger and making sure that our infrastructure is such that we can send our oil and gas out to other markets. We are not dependent just upon America for that.

    Madam Speaker, it is great to see you in the chair once again.

    I want to congratulate my colleague for getting elected for the first time. It is a pleasure to work with him.

     I am just curious to know what the member's thoughts are. We have heard a lot of soft talk from government members on how they want to build nation-building projects, yet we are not hearing about any specific projects. They met with the premiers, yet nothing concrete actually came out of it. It was just lots of words but no action.

     I am just wondering what the member heard at the doors about things that his constituents would like to see the government do and get done, versus just the fluffy words we have heard so far.

    Madam Speaker, that is such a wonderful question.

     Yes, at the doors, I heard that we need pipelines, we need more jobs and we need infrastructure. I agree with the member that so far, the Liberals have come up with no concrete plan. They have given solid slogans and beautiful speeches, but that is about it. There are no details. There is no action plan with respect to how we are going to do that. That is where the whole question comes in.

    The throne speech is empty. Liberals have not tabled a budget so far. The Liberals are trying to convince the opposition to go on a blind date with them. That is not going to happen. We need to know what the budget is going to bring.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Edmonton on his election. I am certain that this evening he, like I, will be cheering for the Edmonton Oilers as they head into the Stanley Cup finals.

     I have a question for the member. In regard to this particular throne speech, but in previous Parliaments as well, the workers across this country have been demanding that the government take steps to reform EI and make it more appropriate. Now that we are getting such incredible threats from the United States, from Donald Trump, and we are seeing illegal tariffs on our steel and aluminum, would the Conservative Party support reforming EI to make it so that all workers can use it as they need to?

    Madam Speaker, Conservatives are all about common sense. They are strong advocates for strong paycheques so that Canadians will not be worried about paying their mortgage or about getting groceries for their kids. We will work hard on those principles, and we will make sure that we hold Liberals accountable for that.

    It is my duty pursuant to Standing Order 38 to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River, Ethics; the hon. member for Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, Oil and Gas Industry; the hon. member for Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, Housing.

    Madam Speaker, you have handed me a golden opportunity to say hello. You know how much I appreciate you, and I am delighted to see you again. Congratulations on your election to this position. Please know that you are in my thoughts. I also congratulate all my colleagues who have been elected.

    It is true in life, it is true in love, it is true in general, but it is especially true in politics: One should never take anything for granted. Over the past few months, we have learned that we cannot take democracy for granted. I am a sovereignist, a separatist here in the House. Our voices must be heard. It is a voice from Quebec. We are lucky to live in a democracy. We are lucky to be able to share these ideas and debate them. It is a great privilege.

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank all 82,525 voters in the riding of Mirabel for their trust. I include those who voted for another party, those who did not vote and their children, those who will be voting in a few years, those to whom we must leave a clean and healthy planet and a healthy environment. We do not count them in our voters, but they exist.

    I would like to thank out supporters, because before being members of Parliament, before being elected, we are first and foremost political advocates, carriers of a cause and ideas that we hold dear. We devote a great deal of our lives to them. However, there are costs. A few minutes ago, my wife texted me to tell me that my six-month-old boy had just sat up for the first time. I was happy, but it shows how much we sacrifice to be here, for our ideas. This work must be respected. I would like to thank the campaigners, everyone who supported me and, of course, the citizens of all the municipalities in my riding and their elected officials. We have worked on many files, but some are not finished. I will continue to carry them. I carry them with me, in my heart, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I will be worthy of them. Being the member for Mirabel is one of my greatest honours in life. It is hard to find the words to express how fortunate we are to be doing this work.

    There was talk of elections. Everyone knows that there was an election recently. The circumstances were unusual, with the arrival of Donald Trump, tariffs and a new Prime Minister with new polls. Under those circumstances, we were told that we needed an election quickly. What did the Liberals do? They found a new leader and formed a new cabinet, including some ministers who were around for the length of a reality TV show.

    One of the ministers who had been around longer was the Minister of Finance. He was told to draft a budget because that is all he has to do. He was told to work on the budget because we were going to have a new government and a new Parliament, and we could not table estimates without a budget. Why? It is a matter of transparency. In our work as elected officials, especially in opposition, our main tool is information. The government has the information, such as the budget forecasts, the deficits, the debts, the revenue; when we are not given that information, we cannot do our job.

    They are not even doing the bare minimum of what needs to be done in the first week of a sitting, yet the Liberals tell us there is a precedent. Earlier, I heard the member for Winnipeg North talk about Stephen Harper as though he were a disease in need of a cure. That is the precedent he gave for not tabling a budget. At the time, Mr. Harper's government had just arrived after years and years of Liberal governments. The senior public service had been appointed by the Liberals. There was no cabinet. These people had not sat in the House. There was no global crisis. What is more, the election was not called because a budget needed to be tabled. That is not what happened. That is the precedent we are being given for not tabling a budget. This is a 10-year-old, worn-out government, repackaged under a new name and with a new CEO. That is what we have.

    The Liberals had time to table a budget, or even just a budget statement. It could be something shorter. The previous finance minister got us used to shorter updates.

    I worked with the Minister of Finance and National Revenue when he was industry minister. We worked on his Bill C‑27 on artificial intelligence. He is a brilliant man and a pleasure to work with. We call him the Energizer bunny because he is super energetic, but his drawback is that he has a tendency to not finish what he starts. I think that in some drawer in his office there is a half-finished budget. He has certainly started working on it. Why will he not table it? It could be a budget statement.

    Instead of doing that, the government is turning into an oil projects department. Maybe in the end, it will be all about vacuum cleaners. I guess we have to wait and see, because it changes all the time. The risk is that we are being told that, in two years, we will be able to approve all sorts of projects that will quickly save the economy. We are told that the projects are going to go ahead and that is the only way we are going to get by.

    We have seen this strategy before. It was called the Canada Infrastructure Bank. That bank had the same mandate for the same projects, and the provinces were all in on it. Everyone was happy. Supposedly, many projects were going to be implemented, including public transit projects. However, things went so wrong that when the minister appeared before the committee, we asked him why he was not changing the name of the bank, since it was no longer even a bank and was not building any infrastructure. That is how badly it was working.

    The Liberals say they are going to approve everything in two years. They are introducing a huge bill that could infringe on the jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces in many ways. We will have to study it. In short, that is the Liberal plan. No budget is being presented, and no budget forecasts are being made. Bankers are not what they used to be.

    What immediate action do we need to take to protect our economy? We must fully protect supply management through legislation. That is what we need to do. There has been progress, but the Liberal discourse has me worried. We know that, in the beginning, the Prime Minister was new to this, that he was taking one step forward and one step back. He was being advised and sometimes he listened to the adviser and sometimes he did not. We are not sure what happened, but in the beginning, he said he would protect supply management. I believe that is his intention. I want to believe it. He told us that we do not need a bill. Then he realized that Parliament exists, even though it is not always obvious that he knows that. He realized that a bill had already been drafted, that a bill was already ready to go and that it was two senators short of being passed.

    During the leaders' debate, he said that the Liberals would vote for the bill. Now, the Liberals are back in the House saying that they will protect supply management, but not through legislation. They came up with new reasons. Yesterday in the House, the Liberals gave us new reasons not to fully protect supply management through legislation.

    The first reason they gave us is that there is no point in doing this through a bill, because bills can be undone. Someone can introduce another bill and undo the first one. Imagine if I took my car to a mechanic, and the mechanic refused to repair it on the grounds that it would break again eventually. That is pretty much the same thing. While we are at it, we might as well stop regulating firearms and stop amending the Criminal Code. What are we here for as legislators if not to pass legislation? This is what they tell us every time. The Bloc Québécois has introduced this bill 13 times. If the government had said yes the first time, we would have the bill by now.

    The second reason they gave us for not protecting supply management is that it would take time to get through the House and that, by the time the bill received royal assent two years from now, the negotiations would be over. Still, the government claims that in just two years, it can build an energy corridor in a country the size of a continent, make major infrastructure investments, build a port way up at Hudson Bay and launch a major federal project office, while consulting all indigenous peoples.

    It says that, yet it seems that two years is not enough time for this same government to move fast enough to pass a bill that has already been drafted, introduced, put on notice and passed. Apparently, the government lacks faith in its senators. The Americans will respect this legislative approach because U.S. negotiators are appointed by Congress. The bulk of negotiations are handled not by politicians, but by professional negotiators within the departments.

    That is a good thing, considering that the last time Liberal politicians went down to Mar-a-Lago to negotiate with President Donald Trump, they were treated to a T-bone steak with ketchup followed by threats of annexation. The task needs to be entrusted to non-elected professionals who are required to perform their work transparently and appointed by Parliament. The Americans will respect that. The matter is urgent.

    No matter what their reason is for not supporting a bill to protect supply management, it is basically an admission of failure. After all, the Canadian government is not going to be the one deciding what is on the table. When two people negotiate, if someone puts something on the table, it stays on the table. Now they are telling us that if supply management is on the table, they will hold out. However, the last three times they told us they were going to hold out, they did not, and nearly 20% of our market was sold to the Americans for compensation. Having a business' list of customers sold off in exchange for a cheque, which is what they did to our dairy farmers, is not a career plan; it is a retirement plan. We need to protect our supply management system.

    They talk about creating one economy out of 13. As we know, that is the Liberal line they keep repeating. The Prime Minister's cabinet prints that in bold and underlined and they repeat it. What problem do we have with that? What problem does the National Assembly of Quebec have with that? That rhetoric suggests to Quebeckers and people from the other provinces that if the provinces and Quebec do not give up their jurisdictions and do not allow Ottawa to walk all over them, then they are rejecting the others and engaging in protectionism. The Liberal government makes it sound like there is a guard at the Quebec border with a fleur-de-lis on his face and a blue cape at his back monitoring the containers, examining them gun in hand and sending them back to Manitoba. I have the data in front of me. Quebec's biggest trading partner is Ontario. Our imports and exports are higher with the rest of Canada than they are with the rest of the world, including the United States. There is free trade, but let us not forget that even the Supreme Court, in Comeau, said that if we had perfect free trade within Canada, that would prevent the provinces from regulating in a way that protects the public. Saying that it takes just one economy is just cheap rhetoric to tell people to give up their jurisdictions, allow pipelines through, or they will be seen as Trumpists and just as bad as the orange man to the south. That is what we are being accused of. If they want us to work together, then this sort of rhetoric needs to stop. They cannot tell us that they want everyone in Canada to sit at the same table and work together and celebrate the good times all while they keep up the rhetoric of creating one economy out of 13.

    What do we need to do to address the crisis? We have been saying it for a long time: We need to be competitive. We need to be more productive. We need to invest in training. We need to invest in education, modernization, automation, home automation and artificial intelligence. We need to invest in our universities, our CEGEPs, our vocational training programs. We need to do all kinds of things to make Quebeckers and Canadians produce more per hour worked. That is what we need to do. It is also the solution to the labour shortage. That is the job of Quebec and the provinces, but there is a specific agreement with Quebec on workforce training.

    The same goes for taxation. If we want to attract investment, we need a competitive tax system, we need to be able to offer export assistance programs, and Quebec has a role to play in that. Quebec knows what it is doing. It is a geographic reality. Canada is a big country, and Ottawa is far away. It is a geographic reality. How can we ensure that the provinces and Quebec can do their job so that we can move on to the economy of tomorrow? They need to have the means. The reality is that in Quebec's public finances today, health care eats up approximately half of the Government of Quebec's program spending. Technology is costing more and more, the population is aging, infrastructure is failing and, as health care takes up more and more room in the Government of Quebec's program spending, there is less and less money for the children I mentioned at the beginning of my speech. They are the ones who cannot vote yet, the ones who are going to work, study and grow in the most competitive economy in the history of humanity. There is no more money for universities, for CEGEPs, for vocational training, for assistance to businesses, for support, for adjusting our tax system. It is a tragedy.

    When we say that we need higher health transfers and that the deal with the federal government is that 35% of health costs should be paid for through unconditional transfers, that is what the funds are for. The government tells us that health transfers have increased. Granted, an agreement was entered into with the federal government, but the amount is not enough. When the Prime Minister met behind closed doors with the provincial premiers in Saskatoon, was he aware that each and every one of them has called on the federal government to increase those health transfers to 35%? That could be done over several years if the government budgeted for it. It can be done, preparations can be made, but evidently the government does not budget. That is what it is for. It is for the economy of tomorrow.

    What is the government doing instead? It is talking to us about pipelines, oil and gas, when our energy security is already taken care of. As for the plan for one economy instead of 13, the economic benefits were calculated by the Montreal Economic Institute, or MEI, though they were not verified. Between 1999 and 2019, the MEI defended the oil and gas industry 97.5% of the time during its media appearances. This information comes from a doctoral thesis. I am one of those people who reads them. The MEI said that climate science was mafia science. While we do not know who funds this institute, some people assume that it is backed by oil companies. Here is why: At the time of the energy east pipeline, the CEO, who is one of the highest-paid non-profit CEOs in Canada, complained that TransCanada was not giving him money. Perhaps he held off complaining about the others because they were giving him money.

    The other study that was held up as proof that this plan will have infinite benefits was done by the International Monetary Fund. It is an econometric, statistical study. It was very intelligent, a well-crafted academic document that was summarized by the National Bank of Canada and published widely during the election campaign. It made the rounds. Those folks engaged in a thought experiment and asked themselves what Canada's GDP would be if there were no more provinces and no more geographic borders. According to HEC Montréal's Centre for Productivity and Prosperity, the main reason people in Newfoundland do not do business with people in British Columbia is not because we have 13 economies instead of one. It is because those two places are as far apart as Quebec is from Venezuela, which is something to consider if they want to build a pipeline. That is the situation.

    There is one last thing I would like to address. We have to promote Quebec's businesses and business sectors. Why does the auto sector get $4 billion the moment they say “ouch”? Why has oil become a “nation-building project” when we do not have a national aerospace strategy? Why are we one of the only countries in the world capable of manufacturing an aircraft or a helicopter from A to Z, in a long-cycle, high-value-added industry, where more than half of the research and development jobs are in Quebec, and yet we have no government strategy? Why is Bombardier is able to produce reconnaissance planes that are purchased by a number of countries, but Canada chooses to pay more to buy from Boeing? That is what it did a few months ago, without going through a call for tenders, to buy aircraft that were about to become obsolete. The other countries that are buying this military equipment from Bombardier are asking us why our own country is not buying it. Why is there no strategy? We asked the then minister of industry, but he did not know. The Liberals will not tell us. There is no strategy for this long-cycle industry. Do they realize how privileged we are to have such an industry here? This industry is present in my riding, Mirabel, and in Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, whose member is playing on his phone. Do the Liberals realize what a privilege it is to have such an industry in a country the size of Canada, which, given its GDP, should not even be part of the G7?

    I believe there is a lot of work to be done. There are intelligent people with good ideas on both sides of the House. That is a good thing because the government is a minority. I, personally, am all in favour of cross-party collaboration. However, we are going to have to share ideas. We will need to go beyond rhetoric, pipelines, “one economy out of 13” and other things that, frankly, make no economic sense. I think I am qualified to speak on that.

    I am now ready and more than willing to take questions.

    Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to welcome my colleague and neighbour from Mirabel.

    I am also glad to hear him say that it can be a privilege and a source of pride to be part of the G7. Then again, I was a little hurt to be described as “repackaged”. I stand here as a proud new member of the Liberal Party and the Liberal government. I do not really think of myself as repackaged. This is who I am, a fresh, new member.

    That said, I share my colleague's point of view. When it comes to rhetoric, we need to tread carefully. The same can be said about political activism. We need to listen to all citizens, not just our own supporters, and in his case, not just those who support the rhetoric we sometimes hear from the Bloc Québécois.

    I am appealing to my colleague because, given the major projects on the table, we will definitely need to work closely and collaborate with Quebec, Ontario and the other provinces on a multitude of projects that will have a significant impact on our economy.

    Can we count on my neighbour's co-operation? Will he work with the rest of Canada and with his neighbour on these projects?

    Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague. She is my neighbour, so we are bound to run into each other.

    It is funny because during the election campaign, someone new arrived in the region. We looked into it. We saw that early in her career she was at a large consulting firm that practised tax evasion. We wondered if she took part in that. She did not so we did not give her a hard time about it. That said, we found out that she spent her entire career appointed by Liberals in all sorts of embassies, all sorts of organizations, so maybe repackaged is not quite the right word. We could talk about it more over a beer. I imagine we do not live far from one another.

    That is always the way with the Liberals. We are asked if we want to collaborate, provided we vote with them. We are asked if we want to collaborate, provided they do not table a budget. We are asked if we want to collaborate, provided we do what they say. The government is in a minority. We have always collaborated. We have always worked in a spirit of openness.

    An hon. member: Oh, oh.

    Jean‑Denis Garon: Madam Speaker, the member for Winnipeg North will be able to ask a question since there will be another round.

    We can collaborate, but they need to understand that in my speech I talked about major priorities that would help Quebec's economy, Canada's economy in general. There was no mention of that in the Speech from the Throne and saying so does not amount to political activism.

    Madam Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on being re-elected once again.

    The House has already passed a motion, actually an amendment, to the throne speech, asking for a budget to be produced this spring.

    What are my colleague's thoughts on that and what would his constituents, the people of Quebec, generally think about the government not providing a road map or a budget to show how it will get things done to build this nation of Canada and to build Quebec?

    Madam Speaker, time is running out to introduce a budget. The Liberals have pushed things far enough, and it is hard to backtrack. There were no pre-budget consultations. Now they find themselves having to draft a budget without having heard from anyone. They spent their campaign scaring people.

    The solution is a budget update. At the very least, we need to know where we are at with revenue and spending. How much revenue will tariffs generate? How is the government going to pay for tax cuts? We need a summary document that would enable Parliament to do its job properly.

    I think the government can provide a pared-down budget while we wait for the fall edition. As I said, I am pretty sure that the Minister of Finance had already worked on this. I am guessing it is in his top drawer, but at some point, the Prime Minister and advisers told him to hide it away until the fall.

    I am fairly confident that it could be done pretty quickly.

    Madam Speaker, it is nice to see my two neighbours here in the House. That is the first question I will ask.

    I am pleased that you decided to run again, because you had decided that you would not. I get the impression that you are elevating the debate in the House. It was a pleasure to hear you speak.

    I would remind the hon. member to speak through the Chair. We do not speak directly to other members.

    Madam Speaker, I am very happy to see him; that is my first question.

    There will be a very important vote shortly. The major aerospace companies are located mainly in my colleague's riding. I am thinking of Safran, L3 MAS, Airbus, Bell and its helicopters.

    Right now, we are in a tariff war. I would really like my colleague to tell us whether he will support us in our various options for reaching an agreement.

    Will he support us through this whole tariff war?

    Madam Speaker, it is funny because, over the weekend, I thought I would get my colleague's cellphone number to say hello, since we are working on a joint file in a municipality. I would like to take this opportunity to tell her that I know she is very much appreciated.

    Now, to answer the question more specifically, I would say that that is precisely the issue. My colleague is asking me whether I will vote in favour of the throne speech.

    I read the throne speech. Perhaps she can tell me which page mentions aeronautics. There is no policy on it, and there is no mention of it. All the aeronautics companies are in my riding, but I am being asked if I will vote in favour of a throne speech that makes no mention of that field.

    That gives me pause, and it underscores the importance of the Bloc Québécois in the House.

    Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his passionate remarks.

    When I hear the member speak about his riding, I cannot help but think that he understands my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith very well. We, too, are concerned about our jobs. We feel very far away from Ottawa, and we wonder how the government is going to put meat on its slogan of creating one government out of 13.

    Canadians want us to work together in this House, and I am wondering whether the member can shed any light on how we might work together to convince the government to deliver for Canadians and to deliver the things that we need for our ridings.

    Madam Speaker, when my colleague was asking her question, she made a slip of the tongue that I am going to keep and reuse. Instead of saying, “one economy out of 13”, she said, “one government out of 13”. She said that the Liberals wanted to create one government instead of 13, and not one economy. That is what they are trying to do.

    Canada's nature and geography mean that there will always be multiple economies. There is a Texan economy, but it is in the United States. There is a Californian economy, which has a carbon exchange with Quebec, but it is also in the United States. There are distinct economies.

    What the Liberals are trying to do is walk all over Quebec, centralize everything and form one government instead of 13.

    Generally speaking, that is bad news for the economy.

    Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Mirabel for his presentation.

    I thought that his focus on the Trojan horse that is one economy out of 13 was interesting. The Liberals claim that they have changed, that they have turned over a new leaf. However, if we look back over the history of governments in the House, whether following the events involving the Patriotes, the world wars, the 1980 referendum, the 1995 referendum or COVID‑19, governments have consistently taken advantage of a crisis to advance their efforts to centralize power and extend their tentacles.

    Now they have a crisis. Are we once again witnessing a centralizing offensive ultimately designed to pursue the same course as the one steered over the past 10 years? In other words, this government's thinking is much the same as it has always been over the past 10 years, except that now they have an excuse.

    Madam Speaker, I will quickly read the Supreme Court decision in R. v. Comeau:

    Why am I reading the Supreme Court ruling? It is because the Supreme Court says there are barriers. It is true that Quebec introduced its own bill to break down some barriers. It is true that some regulations do create barriers. However, it is not true that every regulation adopted by a province's executive or legislature for a specific reason is a barrier, that it is its main purpose.

    Right now, what the Government of Canada is trying to do is indirectly grab all of the regulatory power that is needed at times to maintain and strengthen Quebeckers' vision for society, particularly when it comes to the environment.

     Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

    It is my enormous pleasure to rise in this House to respond to the Speech from the Throne. However, before I begin, I want to thank the residents of my constituency of Davenport for their faith and trust in me. I am enormously grateful that they have re-elected me for a fourth term to serve them as well as serve our great country.

     I give a special thanks to my incredible team and my created family. There is no way I could do this job without their love and support.

    Davenport residents came out in full force to vote in this election, because they are worried. They are worried about the threats by the President of the United States to our sovereignty, to our economy and to our future prosperity. They also know that the world is a more dangerous and a more uncertain place than at any other point since World War II. They feel that Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes, and so they voted for a leader and a party with a plan to make Canada more economically resilient.

    We have a plan to unite our country, and to defend and secure our country. We have a plan to turn the challenges that we face today into incredible opportunities so that Canadians can face the future with confidence, strength and the resources we need to succeed and prosper in the 21st century.

    Canada is the greatest country in the world. We are a strong and brave country, and our potential is unlimited. We are also a country that is in crisis, and we must act urgently and immediately to ensure that Canada remains strong and free.

    Key segments of our plan are outlined in the Speech from the Throne, and I will highlight some that I believe are particularly meaningful to the residents of my constituency of Davenport.

    At a time of global uncertainty and economic threats, Davenport residents are very happy that part of our plan is to ensure a more resilient Canada, one that is anchored in our own internal economic strength. We have virtually everything in this country. We now need to eliminate the roadblocks and ensure the resources to build us up.

     How do we do this? Our Prime Minister is clear: We will have one Canadian economy, not 13, which is what we have now. We will eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Our federal government has promised to pass legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by July 1. The impact will be the freer movement of people, goods and services across our country. This will also allow our small and medium-sized businesses as well as our innovators to expand and grow across our country, which is something Davenport businesses will be very happy and very excited about. Best of all, lifting these barriers has the potential to add $200 billion to our economy each and every single year.

     Second, we will unite the country by investing in nation-building projects, primarily infrastructure, transportation and supply chain corridors. This would mean more supply chain options in Canada, which would mean more railroads, ports, highways, etc. The focus will be on projects of national significance and projects that will connect Canada, which will deepen Canada's ties with the world and will create high-paying jobs for generations of Canadians. Of course, all of these projects of national significance will have to ensure meaningful consultation with indigenous peoples, and all projects must adhere to our climate commitments. Best of all, Davenport residents are so excited by the ambition of our government. We truly believe that if we implement these measures and more, we can become not only a resilient economy, but also the strongest economy in the G7.

    As our Speech from the Throne says, the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. Many Davenport residents, like so many Canadians, are having such a hard time making ends meet, and so we are responding by introducing a middle-class tax cut, which will save two-income families up to $840 a year. Our government has also committed to continue to fund programs that we introduced over the last almost 10 years. This includes national child care, national dental care, pharmacare, the Canada child benefit and the Canada disability benefit. All these programs and more are life-changing programs that the residents in my constituency of Davenport love. I know they will be delighted that we will continue to support them.

    Our Speech from the Throne also contains a clear commitment for our government to build more housing. We are located in downtown west Toronto, and Davenport residents are worried that they are not going to be able to continue to live in the city that they love, that their kids and their grandkids will not be able to live in the city where they were raised. Our government has committed to a number of measures that will greatly benefit Davenport residents. We are going to provide more support for Canadians who are trying to buy homes. We will cut the GST on homes under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, which will deliver savings of up to $50,000. We are going to lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

    Davenport is a multi-ethnic working-class/middle-class riding, and most of our homes are in these price ranges, so both of these measures are very welcome and will be very helpful. In addition, we are spending a lot more to build houses.

    Our federal government has committed to double down, with an ambitious new housing plan that will double the rate of homebuilding in Canada. We have learned a lot over the last few years about what worked and what we can do better. Based on this data, we have announced the most ambitious housing plan since World War II. These measures will include the creation of “build Canada homes” to accelerate the development of new affordable housing. We will invest in innovation. We are going to invest in the growth of modular and prefabricated housing. We will increase the financing for affordable home developers. We will eliminate red tape and development costs by cutting municipal development charges in half for multi-unit housing.

    All of this will rapidly increase housing supply and bring housing costs down. Members will be happy to learn that our additional funding and ambitious housing plan will use Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and Canadian lumber. All these measures, in addition to the ones we have already had in place over the last seven to eight years, will go a long way in ensuring greater housing supply and affordable home prices for the residents of my riding of Davenport and, indeed, for all Canadians.

    Community safety is vitally important to Davenport residents. For us, there are way too many American handguns on the city streets of Toronto. While the numbers have gone down, we still have far too many car thefts in Canada's largest city. I know that Davenport residents will be happy to know that our government, just yesterday, introduced Bill C-2, which would enhance security at the border.

    When passed, CBSA officers who work at our borders will have new powers to stop stolen products, like cars, from leaving our country. They will also ensure the deployment of more scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel and canine teams, which will help stop guns and drugs from coming into our country.

    Finally, our government has committed to toughen the Criminal Code, to make bail harder for repeat offenders charged with violent crime and/or major offences.

    We have made serious commitments to spend more money to protect Canada's sovereignty. We have to do more to secure borders, to secure the Arctic and to secure Canada from coast to coast to coast. We have made a commitment to fulfill our NATO commitment of 2% of our GDP and we will achieve this with haste. I also believe that we will commit to even greater NATO spending, but we have to wait for NATO meetings in June for the total number and commitments.

    In conclusion, Canada is in crisis. It is time for Canadians to continue to stay united. It is time to build a resilient Canadian economy, to invest in national building projects and to spend less but invest more. It is time for us to secure our borders and protect our sovereignty, to build more affordable housing and put more money in the pockets of Canadians. These measures and more, as well as working together, will continue to ensure a prosperous Canada, the strongest economy in the G7 and an economy that truly serves everyone.

    Canada is the greatest country in the world. We are a confident country with an ambitious plan. We are indeed a country that is strong and free.

    Madam Speaker, my colleague says that the Liberals ran on a plan but Canadians are still waiting to see it. The new Prime Minister came in with the weight of big promises, fiscal discipline, economic competence and leadership in uncertain times, but since then, spending has jumped 8%. There is still no budget. Canadians are facing real struggles and they deserve more than campaign slogans. Canadians deserve a government that takes its responsibility seriously, and that starts with a budget.

    Will the Liberals bow to the will of the House and produce a budget before this spring, as we all voted for?

     Madam Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we do have a plan. We were discussing that plan with provincial and territorial leaders earlier this week. We have talked and have agreed that we are going to have one Canadian economy. We are going to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. We are going to ensure the free movement of people, goods and services. We are going to invest in nation-building projects. We are going to determine what those projects are. We are going to continue to invest in Canada. We are going to continue to invest in Canadians, and we will have a strong country, strong and free.

    Madam Speaker, I am inspired by my colleague from Mirabel, who talked about how proud he was to see his six-month-old son sit up today. Family is so important to both of us. Personally, I am very proud of my three-year-old daughter, who is full of energy. I am trying to help her grasp ideas in children's literature. That brings me to my question.

    Earlier, a Conservative member made an interesting slip of the tongue. She talked about creating one government out of 13. That is indeed the government's vision. When people talk about one single economy, not 13, that means they really want to centralize things. When I look at everything the government wants to do, it reminds me of The Tortoise and the Hare. It is sometimes better to take more time to hold consultations than to move too quickly. That is what we learned from The Tortoise and the Hare.

    In financial matters, let us not take our cues from Harry Potter books. We do not need a magical budget or a Harry Potter budget. We need a rigorous framework, which might include tabling a budget statement that would give us an overview of the state of public finances.

    I have asked two questions in one, so I would invite my colleague to answer one, the other or both.

    Madam Speaker, when we talk about having one economy instead of 13, from my perspective what we are talking about is something I think many Canadians have been hoping we would do for a really long time, which is to ensure that we have a very strong internal Canadian economy, that we have such a strong foundation and economy that we are able to withstand a lot of the uncertainty and unpredictability in the world.

    The more we eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, the more our small, medium and large businesses are able to expand and grow across our country to create high-paying jobs and to ensure that all our kids and grandkids have great-paying jobs both now and into the future.

    Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague from Davenport on her re-election. I had the good fortune, just a short while ago, to see her at work in her community, in her constituency, where she was present and powerful. I am not at all surprised that she has been re-elected. As I recall, we visited a dental clinic together. We talked about the importance of dental care for the people in her riding.

    What does the member think about the Canadian dental care plan expanding to cover adults aged 18 to 64?

    Madam Speaker, the hon. member's words were kind. I invite him to come back to my great constituency of Davenport any time. He was very popular and very well loved.

    I will say that the dental care program is one of the life-saving programs in my community. I have a largely working-class constituency, so a program like the national dental care program is a life-saver for many of them. The fact that it has been extended now to all Canadians who qualify and are eligible under the criteria is, I think, going to save them money. Again, it is going to ensure that we are providing the support Canadians need during this time of high prices.

    Madam Speaker, I thank my dear colleague, the member for Davenport, for giving me the opportunity to respond to the Speech from the Throne.

    We had an amazing experience at the opening of this Parliament: the visit by our King, King Charles III. I agree with the main theme of the Speech from the Throne, which is the need to build Canada strong. However, there are some details that were not mentioned in the Speech from the Throne.

    I look at it and think, yes, of course, let us build a stronger Canada. It was the moment of the November 2024 election that made everyone realize the U.S. had once again put someone in the White House who showed no shame whatsoever about ripping up any agreement he had already signed, and who was prepared to break all sorts of laws and make all sorts of threats against us.

    It was December 3, 2024, when then prime minister Justin Trudeau asked Pierre Poilievre, me, Jagmeet Singh and the leader of the Bloc Québécois to meet him to talk about what we could do as individual leaders of opposition parties working with the then prime minister to create a team Canada approach to deal with the threat. I signed up, and so did everybody else. We said we could all stand together. It made me proud to be Canadian that the leader of the official opposition, the leader of the New Democratic Party, the leader of the Bloc and the leader of the Green Party could all say, with the Liberals, "how do we work together?". We continue that effort.

    That was the one time we met in person. We continued, by the way, in early January and early February, meeting on Microsoft Teams to continue the effort of working together. Now we have a different effort, and I hope we can still work together, because it is terribly important that we stand united and are not bullied by what we could say right now is one of the world's champion bullies. He is not the only one. Vladimir Putin is competing for world champion bully. There are others.

    As far as the Speech from the Throne is concerned, there are some things I completely agree with. There are also, as I said, some details.

    It is clear that our economy must change. It is not just about our economy, but perhaps also our culture as a country that is not really a country. There are 13 countries in our united nation.

    We have a sense that there is less solidarity, I think, among the 10 Canadian provinces, three territories and the federal government than we find within the 24 separate sovereign nation-states of the European Union, at least within the oral history of my childhood with parents who were very much affected by the Second World War. The members of the European Union that now work so well together were, not that long ago, at war with each other. How is it that we, as one country, not only do not act like a country a lot of the time but also do not think like a country.

    We need to start thinking like a country, acting like a country, because we are facing challenges. The threats are real. There are fundamental threats to our country and to our civilization.

    I agree that we need, as the Speech from the Throne says, the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War. We need it quickly. Over hundreds of years, Canadians have been known to be, and our economy has been somewhat limited to the idea of, a raw-resource colony, not just for other countries but increasingly for transnational corporations around the world that own a lot of our resources. From hewers of wood and drawers of water, we have become scrapers of bitumen and wasters of water.

    We need to take action to put an end to this system of exporting raw resources instead of value-added products.

     We could be doing more with our raw resources to make sure that we do not rip and ship, shipping out raw logs and shipping out unprocessed bitumen, failing to gain the opportunities of extracting value before we send our raw resources to other countries, where they get the jobs and we get the waste and pollution that is left behind as they take the resources for their benefit. This is an opportunity where we could actually rethink our economy and rethink the way we act together.

    As the Prime Minister has said repeatedly, we can stop thinking about ourselves as 13 separate economies and think of it as one economy. What kind of economy is that? I am certainly hoping that we start thinking about a circular economy. We have signed on to numerous international agreements where that is a goal: that we want to be the kind of country where we are resilient, resourceful and sustainable and that we lift everybody up and leave no one behind. These are things we can do now, and it is terribly important that we actually do them.

    I have a question about the Speech from the Throne. I am a little concerned because there is not a single reference to the Paris Agreement in this speech.

    There were two passing references. The words “climate change” appear, not in full sentences, but they do appear twice in the document. However, there are no commitments, not even the minimum we had planned for meeting our international, legally binding obligations under the Paris Agreement. Of course we know that, while King Charles III read the speech, it was written by the Prime Minister.

    These were words I would have liked to have seen in the Speech from the Throne. They were also written by the Prime Minister:

     That is from page 273 of the Prime Minister's book Value(s). He wrote it, and it was published in 2021, so we have waited four years. It appears that the Prime Minister understands we have to cut our greenhouse emissions in half every year. This is a very steep challenge, and as he put it in Value(s), which I read and enjoyed, “the carbon budget to [stay] below catastrophic levels is rapidly being exhausted”.

    He is not saying that this is a political commitment that somebody before him, as prime minister, took on and he is not very interested in it, although we might think that from the lack of details about what kind of climate action we are talking about in the Speech from the Throne, and why now we are suddenly finding it acceptable that everybody talks about expanding oil and gas as though that were a nation-building project as opposed to a sunset industry.

    We want to protect the workers and the communities in those industries, but we have to actually be looking at what is a nation-building project that protects our future. We desperately need an east-west, north-south electricity grid so we can make good use of, and share across provincial boundaries, energy and electricity that is far cheaper than what many provinces now have. Their consumers are stuck with bad decision-making by their provincial utilities.

    There are huge opportunities before us. It is, as the Prime Minister says, a “hinge moment” in our history.

    We must do more and we must reduce greenhouse gases to protect our future and our grandchildren's future.

     I would just like to say that I will vote in favour of the Speech from the Throne, but I wait with bated breath to find out what the government actually thinks is a climate plan, because so far all it has done is cut the one measure that was working.

    Mr. Speaker, I appreciate many of the member's words, even at times when I disagree with her, such as on the whole pipeline issue.

    I am interested in a couple of other thoughts. There is renewable energy, such as Manitoba hydro. Quebec has hydro, and B.C. has hydro development, and it is great to see the potential that is there. What I am interested in is the member's comments on nuclear power. Does the Green Party have a position on nuclear power? I know that many of my colleagues and I are very much open to and actually promoting it because it has so much value here in Canada and because there is also the potential of exporting that sort of expertise abroad.

    Mr. Speaker, it is not an ideological position. We approach this way for every kind of energy source: For the dollar invested, how much carbon is reduced, how many jobs are created, and how long does it take from the decision that has been made until we see the energy produced? The reality is, on that measurement, that the top-notch winner is energy efficiency, then renewables. Nuclear is at the bottom of the pile.

    One last thing is this: With the nuclear proponents right now, it is like a witness protection program. They changed the name, but it is SNC-Lavalin behind every SMR proposal. Its name is now AtkinsRéalis, and it stays under the screen that it is the biggest shareholder in Canadian nuclear laboratories, which makes it sound legit. It is a scam.

    Mr. Speaker, I would also like to carry on with a question about nuclear, because we know that in the last Parliament, the Liberals actually proclaimed that nuclear was a sin and categorized it as a sin stock, which included many other vice stocks in the mind of government. The government changed the credit system, and nuclear companies could not have access, because they were characterized as a sin. This was as recently as three years ago.

     I just want to get the speaker's comments. Do you think the Liberals are telling the truth now or when they were declaring nuclear a sin?

     Before the member responds, I will say that the Speaker will not be responding, but the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands will.

    Mr. Speaker, to defend my friend from Saskatoon—University, I think he meant the last person speaking.

    However, I will proceed to say that the Liberal Party of Canada has been the biggest promoter of nuclear energy ever since Pierre Trudeau. It has never stopped shovelling money toward it.

     I enjoyed my time briefly working with leaders in the Reform Party, who called former prime minister Jean Chrétien “radioactive man”. That was back in the days of Deb Grey and a number of other fun friends in the Reform Party. They wanted to figure out whether there was a business case behind this or whether it was just shovelling money into something called AECL that would take endless billions of dollars and not produce a product that other countries want to buy from us.

    Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new title and your new seat. I hope you are enjoying your time in the chair.

    My colleague talked about the government's intentions with regard to reducing greenhouse gases. First, I would like to know if she believes it. I would also like to hear her thoughts on how these objectives square with all the talk about building this pipeline.

    Does my colleague believe in the pipe dream of green oil that has been so popular in the petroleum industry over the past few years?

    Mr. Speaker, it is not a pipe dream. It is getting to be a bit of a joke, but it is not funny.

    The reality is that we have programs to reduce greenhouse gases, but there are no longer any at the federal level. Good programs exist, particularly in the province of Quebec, which plays an important role in global alliances against fossil fuels. When I attended UN conferences, the one thing that made me proud to be a Canadian was the role that the province of Quebec played in those partnerships.

    This new government might change its approach. It must do so, because time is running out. It is not too late.

     Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak today. I will be sharing my time with the member for Willowdale.

    First, I would like to congratulate all members of the House. As they say, there is not a bad seat in the House of Commons, so congratulations. We have a lot of work to do. Welcome to the 45th session of Parliament.

     I just reminded myself that throughout our political careers, we should never lose sight of the fact that it took a lot of people to get each and every one of us here. We should never forget where we came from and who helped us get here.

     I have been elected for 22 years. I started off as a school board trustee and then was a provincial member. This is my second term in the House of Commons.

    I want to thank the people of Scarborough—Woburn for putting their faith behind me and supporting me during the election. I want to thank volunteers. We had a lot of volunteers, hundreds, who came out for the campaign. I thank, of course, my team at the constituency office. Without them, it would be very difficult for me to do my job. I thank my campaign manager and CFO and the entire team. Of course, I also thank my family: my wife Lori and my daughters Maren and Myla.

    Again, I thank the people of Scarborough—Woburn. I appreciate that they have put their faith in me.

    If members were in Ottawa last week, or anywhere in the country, actually, they may have noticed that something special happened. We had a throne speech and the King came to deliver that speech. It was a pretty big deal. I thought it was a fabulous speech.

    One of the pieces that really resonated with me was the King's position and words on democracy, as reflected through, of course, the government's position. He talked about democracy in the world and how everything is shifting. We have found ourselves at a place where the world is shifting and where there is more division and uncertainty.

     Canada is not immune to that. We are feeling pressure. We feel our economy being challenged, as well as our safety and way of life. Global trade is being redefined. At home, we are struggling with the threat of tariffs, which compromise industry and make life more expensive for people overall.

    We are seeing threats toward our democracy. I want to talk a lot about democracy today. We see the changes taking place around the globe, with attempts to overturn elections; democratic backsliding with governments weakening courts, media freedoms and civil liberties; and crackdowns on opposition and the free press. There is a lot happening in this country and a lot happening around the world, and Canada is not immune to the challenges that democracy faces.

    In Canada, we have a strong democracy, but we need to pay attention to the challenges we are facing. We have seen the rise over the last little while of polarization and extremism in this country, with increased hostility, misinformation, divisive rhetoric and an erosion of respectful democratic discourse; foreign interference, which we are all concerned about; online disinformation; and an increase in hate. We have seen a massive increase in hate, and we as Canadians should not tolerate that.

    Even during the campaign, I saw many different types of interference. Hundreds of my signs were destroyed. Pieces of literature were being distributed, which I am sure folks saw, with disinformation about churches and other religious institutions having their charitable status removed. There was misinformation about the sale of homes and capital gains, even to the point where letterhead was being manipulated showing positions by governments and parties that were not real. We have had politicians decide not to run because of the threats they have felt, and the media and reporters have talked about this as well.

    One thing that always fascinates me about democracy is who shows up to vote. We know that there has been a statistical decline historically in voter participation. The good news is that in this election, the numbers increased compared to the election in 2021, but we are seeing a decrease compared to the period from post-World War II to the 1980s, when we saw about 75%. In 2008, the lowest numbers came forward, at 58%, and in the recent election in 2015, we saw 68.3%. We are seeing an increase right now, but traditionally over the last 30 to 40 years, we have seen a decline.

    Democracy matters in this country. Democracy is what keeps our country moving forward and is going to be our pathway forward to strengthen the relationship of all Canadians. I am a big supporter of the preservation and promotion of democracy because it gives people a voice. When a good democratic institution is working, people feel like their voice is being reflected in it. Democracy protects our freedoms. The freedom of speech, the right to vote, the freedom of the press and the right to protest are not just ideals; they are foundations to a strong democracy.

    Democracy creates space for change, which is really important, especially in a time like now when as Canadians we need to make sure there is space for discussions and respectful discourse. Then at the end of the day, we can bring forward the type of change necessary.

    Democracy also keeps our government leaders accountable. It is so important because it allows us to make changes if we do not like a politician or a party. That is what is beautiful about democracy. It reflects who we are and allows us to build a stronger future together.

    We must meet the challenges our country faces, and there are many challenges. As I said, our entire global trading system is being reshaped by the threat of tariffs and the divides that people are working behind the scenes to create. We need to take on these challenges, and having a strong democratic system is the key to continuing to build a strong country.

    The government in place under our new Prime Minister is going to look for ways to take on trade and create economic fairness to make sure that we not only continue to build a relationship with the United States and redefine this relationship, but also open up trade routes and trade relationships around the world. I have always talked about how Africa is on the rise, and we as Canadians should be looking toward Africa as we look for ways to reshape and rethink our entire trading system.

    We have to invest in the Canadian economy. We have diversity here. We represent all countries around the world. We need to leverage that to build a stronger economy, and we need to build this future together. We know that democracy is not perfect, but we also know it is the best system we have in place to shape our future. It reflects our values of fairness, justice and opportunity.

    We are going to look at how we move forward to build stronger, safer communities. We are investing more, as the throne speech said, in defence, securing our borders and keeping communities safe. We will look at how we spend and will look for ways to reduce the growth taking place naturally through inflation and other systems to keep it at a reasonable rate that is good for Canadians.

    We have to embrace technology, automation and AI, and look for ways to strengthen our country by making sure that at the end of the day, we take advantage of them.

    We will also keep investing in national programs such as child care, pharmacare and dental care. Of course, we are promoting a tax cut, which I hope all members of the House will support.

    In my final 30 seconds, I would like to say that as Canadians, we stand for fairness, democracy and inclusion. We protect the vulnerable, fight climate change and push forward on reconciliation. We celebrate our bilingualism, multiculturalism and shared values, and we step up to big moments. Through war and global challenges, we are always called to lead, and we will continue to do so. Let us shape a Canada that works for everyone, not just today but for generations in the future.

    Mr. Speaker, while I share many of the member's ideals of democratic government and elected parliaments, I would like to discuss the actual matter at hand, the Speech from the Throne. This is a Speech from the Throne that contains no plan or map forward for the government, through these admittedly very difficult times that we face, and there will be no budget tabled in the spring session.

     Parliament has not sat for many months. Does the member not agree that there should be a budget this spring?

    Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member on his recent election.

    I do not know if the member read the actual throne speech, but I would advise the member to take a look through it, because there are a lot of concepts and ideas. Some are traditional ideas that Liberals hold as values, but we do talk about lowering taxes. We talk about removing GST from homes and apartments. I am hoping that the member opposite will support the throne speech.

    Mr. Speaker, in his speech, my colleague touched on technological innovation and the environment. However, there is a contradiction in the throne speech.

    How can the government seriously think it can fight climate change while abolishing scientific environmental assessment studies?

    I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on that.

     Mr. Speaker, when we look at history and the position of Liberals across the country and among members of Parliament, there is no question that, in the House, we have been at the forefront of looking for ways to mitigate climate change. We, as a country, are looking for different ways to do it, but I would say that all people in the House agree that we need to keep our country clean, and we need to keep our country beautiful. We may have different ways of doing it, but at the end of the day, we are all on the same page.

    Mr. Speaker, I also would like to congratulate my colleague on his re-election. In his really great speech he highlighted democracy and why it is so important.

    He talked about the different ways that we are looking to trade around the world and the different partnerships that Canada is looking to grow. He mentioned in his speech the opportunities that could be available to also collaborate with Africa. I would like to see if the member would like to expand a little on that and talk about the economic power that lies within our communities.

     Mr. Speaker, as Canadians, we need to rethink how we approach trade. I meet with people who are promoting Africa and the African diaspora within the Americas. We have to look for alternative ways to build trade. In the Americas alone, there are 220 million people of African descent. Throughout the Caribbean and throughout America, there are chambers of commerce. We need to tap into those networks as Canadians and leverage them, because we have the people here. The great thing about our country is that we have representation from all around the world, and we need to leverage it today to build for tomorrow.

     Mr. Speaker, it is very nice to see you in that seat. You look very distinguished there.

    For me, when I read the throne speech, one of the things that shocked me the most as an Albertan, as somebody who is deeply worried about housing, health care and all of those things, was that none of that was in the throne speech. There was nothing on below-market housing, nothing for indigenous housing, nothing for health care, and nothing for workers, who are the most impacted by the tariffs that we see from Donald Trump. Why is that?

    Mr. Speaker, this is astonishing. I do not think folks on the other side have read the throne speech, because it is full of different solutions, ideas and themes, but what a throne speech really does is set the tone for the direction in which a government is going. I would be happy to talk about some of those—

    Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I just want to be very clear. I asked the member to tell me about where it was in the throne speech or why those things were there—

     I am going to interrupt the member. That does not sound like a point of order; that sounds like a point of debate. I will let the member finish.

    Mr. Speaker, as members and a new government come forward, we all have to work together to find solutions so that we can help build a stronger country for all Canadians.

     Mr. Speaker, allow me to commence by thanking the residents of Willowdale for having granted me the privilege of once again returning to the chamber to advocate on their behalf. I was fortunate during the election campaign to have the best campaign team anyone could possibly ask for. As always, I give eternal thanks to my spouse, Celeste, who was deeply engaged in every aspect of the campaign. My campaign team headed by Sean, Alex, Maddie and Marcus, and hundreds of volunteers did an inordinate amount of work to fully engage the residents of Willowdale. I can assure every one of them that I will be thinking of them every day as I sit in the chamber.

    Like all members in the chamber, I was confronted at the doors by Canadians with a renewed sense of national pride. While the world faces unprecedented challenges and uncertainty has become the new norm, Canadians were unified during this election in demanding that we remain laser-focused on addressing challenges, on strengthening the economic foundations of our country and on creating opportunities for all Canadians. The residents of Willowdale recognized full well that our country faces a uniquely critical moment and expressed their collective desire to see our country prove resolute in charting a bold, dynamic and ambitious agenda. The Speech from the Throne, delivered by our sovereign last week, captured the essence of what Canadians expect of their elected officials and of the need for our country to seize the moment, to ensure that we are creating new opportunities that will ensure we remain the greatest country in the world.

    The world today is more dangerous, erratic and uncertain than at any time since the end of the Second World War. I would be remiss if I did not mention that this year we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The heroism and valour of Canadians at Juno Beach, at Dieppe, on the Somme and at Vimy Ridge and countless other locations around the globe will be the topic of discussion for Canadians. We should also remember that after the guns fell silent, Canadians were intimately involved in creating the institutions that acted as the pillars of a post-World War II era and proved responsible for eight decades of peace and prosperity. We owe it to the inspiring generations that preceded us, as well as those who succeed us, to be vigilant.

    Previous generations of Canadians met the moment and it is now up to us to ensure that we protect Canadian interests and build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians. Our government, under Prime Minister Carney, recognizes the need to think big and act resolutely. We must build a stronger and more secure Canada. Much of such work will be accomplished by building new and enduring relationships with allies around the world, including with Europe and the Asia-Pacific, and to deepen and broaden our ties with Japan and the Republic of Korea.

    As was noted in the Speech from the Throne,“Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects.”

    We can all certainly agree that to build Canada strong, our federal government must partner with the provinces, territories and indigenous peoples. As the Prime Minister emphasized throughout the federal election, the core mission of our government is to build the strongest economy in the G7 by unlocking Canada's full economic potential.

    Although Canada has one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios and one of the lowest levels of inflation among the G7 countries, we have much more economic work to do. It all starts with creating one Canadian economy out of 13. As the members are well aware, earlier this week Prime Minister Carney had many robust discussions with our premiers and made the pledge—

    The member has used the Prime Minister's name twice now. I know we are all back and are a bit rusty, but just as a reminder, we cannot use the names of ministers or the Prime Minister in this House.

    My apologies for that, Mr. Speaker.

    Just to remind everyone, as everyone is fully aware, earlier this week, the Prime Minister had robust discussions with premiers and made the pledge to remove all federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility in the coming weeks, prior to the celebration of Canada Day this summer.

     We are also focused on building commercial corridors and building projects of national significance that will fortify the ties that bind us together as a country, will deepen our ties with the world and will create high-paying jobs for Canadians. We must build on a scale and at a pace like never before. Critically, we are committed to doubling the rate of homebuilding by establishing “build Canada homes” that would ensure we tap into Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and, of course, Canadian lumber.

     Another significant portion of the Speech from the Throne was devoted to recalibrating our economic and security relationship with the U.S. and on forging stronger partnerships with other countries in the world. As the members are aware, our government is fully engaged in intensive negotiations with our neighbours to the south, but we are also focused on engaging with the rest of the world. Within days of becoming Prime Minister, the new Prime Minister visited London and Paris. It was also announced within days of the Prime Minister being sworn in that Canada was partnering with Australia on a $6-billion Arctic radar.

     We are keen to join ReArm Europe, which would provide us access to new opportunities in Europe's over trillion-dollar defence marketplace. As our Minister of Defence recently declared, Canada is ready to take immediate and decisive action to boost our military preparedness. Indeed, very soon we can expect to see a tripling of military spending from 2014 levels.

    All that is to say, our government fully appreciates that Canadians expect us to stand up for our interests and to do so with great energy and as expeditiously as possible, and that is exactly what our government will deliver. Rest assured, we will be ambitious and we will be bold.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

    As shadow minister of trade, Canada-U.S., I would like to acknowledge that earlier today the Speaker had ruled against an emergency debate on Canada-U.S. trade. I would just like to acknowledge that I am seeking an emergency debate and I am hoping that all parties will approve.

     Canada and the United States share one of the most successful and mutually beneficial trade—

     I am sorry. I am going to have to interrupt the member. That is not a point of order; that is a point of debate. The Speaker has already ruled with respect to the emergency debate.

     Questions and comments—

    I am seeking unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker.

    I am sorry. I have already moved on to questions and comments.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

     I am seeking unanimous consent for an emergency debate.

    Some hon. members: No.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his speech and for not mentioning Prime Minister Carney's name too often.

     My question for the member is that in order—

    Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, you did just ask all of us to behave and follow the rules of the House and not mention colleagues by name. I think the member can take that back.

    Mr. Speaker, we just learned moments ago that former parliamentarian Marc Garneau has passed away at the age of 76.

    I would ask for unanimous consent for a moment of silence from the House for that.

    Is there unanimous consent from all members?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Deputy Speaker: I would now invite all members to stand and have a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Marc Garneau.

    [A moment of silence observed]

    Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, my hon. colleague was trying to seek unanimous consent for the House to have an emergency debate on the unjustified U.S. tariffs applied on Canada. It was ruled out of order by the Speaker. The Speaker made his decision earlier, but of course the House can do whatever it agrees to, so we are seeking unanimous consent for the following motion: That, notwithstanding any standing order—

    Some hon. members: No.

    Unfortunately, the member does not have unanimous consent. I heard several noes.

    Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former MP Marc Garneau.

    In order to make Canada a more self-reliant country that is less dependent on the United States and that stands up for its interests, does the member support the building of a pipeline in Canada?

    Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. As I tried to indicate in my speech, this is a government that appreciates full well how incredibly important it is to partner with the provinces and the territories. As the member knows, earlier this week, there were some very robust discussions taking place, so we will have to wait to see what the conclusion of those discussions is. I am sure there will be some great news.

     Given what we just heard, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Garneau family. I know that for all of us here who had the privilege of working with Mr. Garneau, he really embodied the best qualities and was by all means one of the most honourable people I have had the great privilege of working with.

    It being 6:15 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House.

    If a member participating in person wishes that the motion, as amended, be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

    Mr. Speaker, carried on division.

     Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

     All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.

    It is agreed.

    The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

    The motion is carried.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise to follow up on a very straightforward question I posed to the government House leader last week in question period. I asked if the Prime Minister has any financial holdings hidden away in offshore tax havens.

    It is a straightforward question, which the government House leader very conveniently refused to answer. It is a question the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to answer. The Prime Minister has refused to come clean. He is a Prime Minister with a history with tax havens.

    When the Prime Minister was chair of Brookfield, Brookfield registered $30 billion of investment funds in offshore tax havens in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Why? It was all so the Prime Minister's company could avoid paying taxes in Canada. So much for elbows up. Then again, this is the same Prime Minister who, as recently as the fall, led the charge to relocate Brookfield's headquarters out of Canada to New York City, but I digress.

    Canadians deserve to know if their Prime Minister is using offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes in Canada. Instead of being transparent, the Prime Minister continues to take advantage of a loophole in Canada's ethics laws by hiding his assets from Canadians. Why? It really does beg the question, what is it that the Prime Minister does not want Canadians to know about his financial interests?

    There is, frankly, a lot of smoke here. I invite the government to finally clear the air. Does the Prime Minister have any financial holdings hidden away in offshore tax havens, yes or no?

     Mr. Speaker, respecting Canada's ethics rules is not optional. It is an essential part of serving in public office. These rules exist to safeguard the trust Canadians place in their democratic institutions. The Prime Minister and every member of the House, regardless of their role or political affiliation, is expected to uphold them.

    What Canadians need to know is that the Prime Minister has taken clear and deliberate steps to meet and exceed the expectations set out in the Conflict of Interest Act. He has proactively disclosed the required information to the Ethics Commissioner. That sets the kind of example we should all strive to follow, whether one is in cabinet, on the opposition benches or a newly elected member to this chamber.

    That is what Canadians should expect from a prime minister, a standard of conduct that reflects the seriousness of the office and the trust placed in it by the public. We have heard concerns raised by members opposite, and in some instances, we have seen these questions turn into political theatre.

    Let us be clear. Without evidence, this does more than just distract from serious debate. It damages the credibility of the House. It erodes public trust, not to serve democracy, but to serve partisan ends.

    While the members opposite focus on rehashing and repeating questions that have already been addressed on many occasions and dealt with transparently, we remain focused on delivering for Canadians on the clear agenda they elected us to pursue.

    Canada is recognized globally for having some of the strongest ethics and conflict of interest frameworks anywhere. That is not up for debate. These systems are in place to ensure all public officials are held to account, and the Prime Minister has acted fully within this framework. That is what leadership looks like, and that is the kind of leadership the Prime Minister has shown.

    On this side of the House, we take seriously the responsibility of earning and maintaining the trust of Canadians. That trust is not automatic. It must be earned through transparency, responsibility and respect for our institutions. While so many choose to focus on spectacle, we will stay focused on the work that matters, upholding the public trust and delivering for Canadians to build a strong Canada. That is our commitment, and Canadians count on us.

    Mr. Speaker, that was a complete non-answer. The Prime Minister has a history with tax havens and has not denied that he is currently using them. Instead of clearing the air, the Prime Minister is hiding behind a loophole in Canada's ethics laws and refusing to answer all questions about his financial interests. In the face of that, what conclusion can be drawn other than that Mr. Elbows Up himself is using offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes in Canada?

     Mr. Speaker, what Canadians need to know, and I will repeat it again, is that the Prime Minister has taken clear and deliberate steps to meet and exceed the expectations set out in the Conflict of Interest Act, which was passed by Parliament. He has proactively disclosed the required information to the Ethics Commissioner. Canada is recognized globally for having some of the strongest ethics and conflict of interest frameworks anywhere. That is not up for debate.

     These systems are in place to ensure that all public officials are held to account, and the Prime Minister has acted fully within the framework. While the members opposite focus on rehashing and repeating questions that have already been addressed on many occasions and dealt with transparently, we remain focused on delivering for Canadians on the clear agenda they elected us to pursue.

    Mr. Speaker, this is my first opportunity to rise in the House of Commons, and I just want to thank the great people of Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley for putting their trust in me for a third time after this last election. I also really quickly want to thank my wife, Kyla, and our three kids for their support. I would not be able to do this job if it were not for my wife and all the things she does with our kids. In fact right now she is sitting in the hospital in Swift Current getting a CT scan on our daughter's foot, because she broke her foot last week. I wish good luck to my wife and my daughter. Hopefully everything goes well.

     I rose earlier to question the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the emissions cap, which is essentially a production cap. One of the main issues we are facing is that we are looking at over 54,000 job losses and over $20 billion in lost investment into the Canadian economy. This is on top of the hundreds of thousands of job losses that have already occurred in the energy and resource sector because of the Liberal government's anti-energy policies. That was led by Justin Trudeau for the past 10 years, and now the current Prime Minister is following in his steps.

    This is what we are seeing as well from the current environment minister. I have served on committee with her before, and she is actually very vocal about her opposition to any expansion of the oil sands, and quite frankly, on committee, she has been very deliberate in trying to suppress the oil and gas industry.

     I was looking at some more numbers. In 2022, for example, $45 billion in revenue from the oil and gas sector alone went to Canadian governments. In 2022, that would have just slightly trailed the cost of health care. If we think about it that way, the money that comes in for governments from the oil and gas sector is equal to right around the same number of dollars as health care costs.

     There are many great businesses and companies in the oil and gas sector in our ridings that support the local health care foundations. They sponsor our local hockey rinks. They sponsor our community centres and our seniors centres. This is the money that funds education. It funds nurses. It funds doctors. The government today has tabled a bill on fixing the border and the ports. Funding from the oil and gas sector is what would be used to hire some of the agents needed to fix a lot of the problems.

     The Liberals are deliberately trying to cap the single biggest driver of the Canadian economy with their emissions cap, which is a production cap. If this cap stays in place, which the Prime Minister has already committed to, and I would assume his silence on the matter only confirms that, oil production in Canada is actually going to have to be curtailed by 5% in the next couple of years.

    We are looking at a 5% reduction, and yet we see what the rest of the world is wanting and needing. The rest of the world has come to Canada numerous times looking for Canadian gas, for Canadian oil and for LNG, and Justin Trudeau repeatedly said there is no business case, despite the fact that numerous countries have come to Canada begging for these things. Industry wants to have export pipeline capacity so we can reduce our dependence on the United States for selling our product. The production cap that is in place is going to further hamper Canada's ability to be the supplier of clean, reliable energy around the world.

    I am just wondering whether the government would be willing to admit that the production cap is a terrible idea and that they need to scrap it.

     Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the Government of Canada is committed to making our country an energy superpower. I think we can agree about that. I say this at a time when our new government is laying the groundwork to build projects of national significance while fighting climate change and defending our economic sovereignty. If we want our country to remain competitive over the long term, we must not only diversify our country's energy production but also offer to produce oil and gas with the lowest possible emissions.

    By decarbonizing oil and gas production, we will position Canada as a supplier of choice for fossil fuels in a future that prioritizes low-carbon sources of production. For example, the European Union plans on imposing a fee on high-methane imports of oil and gas.

    The clean energy revolution represents a tremendous economic opportunity for Canada to be more globally competitive while fighting climate change. I believe that no Canadian wants our country to be left behind. Enabling Canada to become the world's leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy will in turn sustain hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades.

     Despite the many economic challenges Canada is currently facing, we must not forget that the climate change emergency remains. We need to look no further than the massive impacts that forest fires are having on communities and families in western Canada today. We cannot simply let up on our climate fight. The time is now to make a difference and ensure that we have the best possible future for everyone.

     Mr. Speaker, what would make Canada competitive would be a competitive regulatory framework.

     With respect to the Impact Assessment Act, the one that has been ruled unconstitutional already, the government has said that it made a bit of changes to it, but we know that there are other unconstitutional elements still in place. It is one of the biggest barriers, one of the biggest problems. We are trying to get approvals here in Canada. It is taking over a decade to get an approval on a major project. That is why there are no major projects being built in Canada today. The first thing the Prime Minister is going to have to do is get rid of the emissions cap and also fix the Impact Assessment Act.

     In the United States, then president Biden, three years ago, gave an order to make sure approvals were handed out in less than two years on big projects. Our party, in fact, especially our critic from Lakeland, has been very vocal about the need to not only match that but to do better than that and try to get approvals even more quickly. If we are going to be competing with the United States for investment dollars, we need that regulatory certainty, and we are not getting it.

    Mr. Speaker, every sector of the economy in Canada should be doing its fair share when it comes to limiting pollution. That includes the oil and gas sector. Canada's largest oil and gas companies are already committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and I applaud them.

    Our measures are working. Canada's greenhouse gas pollution is going down. In every sector of the economy, Canadian workers are lowering greenhouse gas pollution in a way that creates good jobs and cleaner air.

    In the face of the increased flooding, wildfires and hurricanes from a change in climate, the government will continue to work with the oil and gas sector, provinces, territories, stakeholders and indigenous communities to promote clean innovation and the adoption of technologies to reduce emissions, including carbon capture, utilization and storage.

     Mr. Speaker, Canada is in a housing crisis. After 10 years of Liberal policy failures, home prices have doubled, down payments have doubled and rent has doubled. According to Teranet, which is Ontario's land registry office, the average age of a first-time homebuyer in Ontario last year was 40, up from 34 a decade earlier. Keep in mind that this is the average age. That means there are people buying their first home when they are 45 or 50, or even older.