Know Your Onions

With respect to the importance of moving to domestic production, there has been a significant shift over the course of the pandemic to more domestic supplies. Dr. Kochhar spoke about the NESS in particular, but if you look more broadly at procurement of PPE, our estimates are that about 50% of the contracts are with domestic companies and about 40% of the value is going to domestic companies.

Thank you. We will now move on to Mr. Dong for five minutes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This study is great. It kind of takes me back to where we were in 2020. We were fighting a war against COVID-19 and a war we weren't prepared for. I remember, while the health care workers were fighting on the front line, the entire population was working together, whether donating PPE or looking after a neighbour or a friend in quarantine. Then we had our MPs and senators working together. I remember the days when we had those technical briefings on a daily basis. We put aside politics and would give ideas, observations and public service. And you were there every day taking the advice and acting on it. The entire nation was fighting against one single enemy. I really miss those days, by the way. With that, I just want to say a sincere thank you to Public Health and especially to the procurement folks. You guys worked magic in a hyper-competitive market. It's not buying product to satisfy wonks. It's actually buying product to save lives. So every country was being super-competitive going to market and purchasing PPE. Unfortunately, Canada did not have the capacity to produce our own PPE, and you folks had to work around the clock—literally, because some of the producers around the globe are in different time zones. So I just want to say a sincere thank you to the witnesses here today. To Mr. Thompson, can you tell us how your department, in a very short period of time, secured the amount of PPE Canada needed? In Parliament we talk about how the provinces are really having shortages, but we actually never see the bottom of the barrel. It was because our international procurement was doing the magic for a short period of time, and then domestic production capacity caught up. But tell us, what exactly did you do to secure those contracts?

As I alluded to in my remarks, a lot of it was just pure effort at the beginning, with the teams working around the clock. But it was also leveraging flexibilities we introduced to make it easier to secure products, such as the ability to delegate authority so we could move quickly, and to use sole-source contracts or advance payments where required. Those were just some of the flexibilities we needed, because we knew when there was a supply available, we needed to move super-fast to secure it.

Exactly. On the report, 50% of the suppliers got this financial viability assessment. That means 50% didn't. Can you tell us what percentage of the contracts weren't honoured—i.e., for whatever various reasons they couldn't deliver the product at the end of the day?

With respect to situations where there was advance payment as part of the mix, the vast majority of those were delivered in accordance with the contract. And in the very small number of cases where there didn't happen, there's legal action to recover the payments. But it was a successful endeavour in the vast majority of cases, and the goods and/or the services were delivered in accordance with the contracts.

To build on this success going forward, do you see perhaps a need to develop an emergency procurement protocol so that in case we have a global pandemic or something major happens, the government can have a different set of rules in terms of procurement that will protect the public interest and the integrity of the system? Meanwhile, we get products procured quickly.

That is certainly one of the lessons learned, and the Auditor General's report is helpful in this regard as to how we can institutionalize some of these practices and make sure that we approach it more systematically. We have a checklist, as was alluded to earlier, so that we know when we're in a situation like this we can follow a set of predetermined procedures. We have procedures in place to rely on financial experts, for example, on this issue of financial viability of the suppliers. Compared to the beginning of the pandemic, it has been a lot more systematized for if and when we face similar situations going forward. We still are facing challenges, for example, with procuring rapid tests, which is one of the key areas where we continue to push.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. I would like to thank the witnesses for coming today. We need to suspend the meeting to go in camera. Members, you will have to log off and log in for the in camera part of the meeting. Thank you. [Proceedings continue in camera]

Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague and congratulate her on her re-election. The government says it wants to defend the economic sovereignty of Canada and Quebec through the back door. However, the Speech from the Throne does not mention the words “aluminum”, “forest”, or “aerospace”, which are three important economic pillars for defending economic sovereignty, among other things. The question I would like to ask my colleague from Sherbrooke is very simple. Does this silence mean that defending Quebec's economic interests is just not a priority for the current government?

Mr. Speaker, it is nice to see you in the chair. I am sure your wealth of knowledge will serve us well. I am looking forward to that. I congratulate the member opposite on his re-election. It is nice to see him back here again. I do have a quick question. I was listening to your words and speech, and you mentioned that at the doors, you heard concerns about overspending, Liberal overspending, over many years. We heard this morning, confirmed by your own leader, the Prime Minister, that there was going to be an increase of 8% in spending. How do you reconcile that increase in spending with what you were hearing at the doors about what you had been currently overspending?

Before I go to the member for Don Valley West, I just encourage members to address their comments through the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, what I heard overwhelmingly at the door was that the taxpayer needs to know that his or her money is being well used. Taxpayers do not want more spending; they want more investing. They want to invest in projects that are of a national character, that will build the identity and character of this country. They want us to continue the social safety net to make sure all of these programs continue, like the Canada child benefit and the dental benefit. To do that, we need a strong economy. We need to invest in the energy sector. We need to continue to invest in artificial intelligence. We need to invest in small manufacturing in Ontario. We need to continue to invest in all these ways, in infrastructure and housing, to make sure that we build our country. We will never apologize for spending money when it leads to good investment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and congratulate him on his re-election. He talked about the importance of having social programs. We know very well that the Liberal government became an expert in interfering in the jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces. After drawing inspiration from and copying Quebec's child care programs that have been around for more than 25 years, it then came up with the dental care program. Now there is talk of the pharmacare program. How can the federal government improve on what the Government of Quebec has mastered for about 20 years now? I would like my colleague to explain that to me.

Mr. Speaker, I think we need to look at all of Canada's realities. We need to learn from Quebec when it comes to things like that. I hope my words about Africa are not lost. Once again, people of the House will dismiss our need to recognize Africa. Half my speech was spent talking about Africa, yet neither of the opposition parties actually wants to engage in this discussion. It is to our benefit that we all engage on it, quit the petty politics of the place and actually talk about some real topics, such as engaging with African countries and with the African diaspora in this country for the betterment of Canadians, so we can pay for the social programs that Quebeckers want us to engage with.

Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to you and to all hon. colleagues. The hon. member for Brampton West mentioned that the Canadian people voted for innovation, among other things, equating that to a Conservative value, while their platform stated that they would cut spending on AI. Does my hon. colleague not think, however, that the election of the government and the Prime Minister's focus on emerging technologies show that innovation is a Liberal value and what Canadians voted for?

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member on her recent election. I know that she brings an engineering background to the position. She brings an expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence that I think we desperately need in the House of Commons. It is the kind of capacity, the kind of intelligence and the kind of creativity that we will need. Canada's economy is changing. Not only are we under siege from a threat from the Americans, the American government, at this particular time, but we also need to retool to address the issues of the 21st century. Those sorts of programs about innovation, creativity, increasing productivity, and using and capturing artificial intelligence are critically important for the success of every Canadian. I wish the member very well in the coming Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few seconds to appreciate this moment, which I will remember for the rest of my life. I rise in the House today because I have the immense privilege of being one of the 343 people chosen to represent 41 million Canadians. Ours is a weighty responsibility; we have a big job to do, and it is up to us to deliver results. This is a privilege we must earn every day. For the past nine years, I had the privilege of serving as the member for Arthabaska-L'Érable in the Quebec National Assembly. I always said that it was a privilege to be my constituents' eyes, voice and ears in Quebec City. Today, I am making that same commitment to the people of Richmond—Arthabaska here in the House of Commons. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for their trust. I took on this mandate with humility and determination. I would like to remind the House that I have been the member of Parliament for all the people of the riding of Richmond—Arthabaska since the day after the election. I won the election on April 28 because of my team, and I want to thank the key players. I am grateful to Pierre-Luc, Denis, Francis, Yannick, Isabelle, Richard, Pierre, Martin, Brigitte and Brian. I am grateful to all of the ambassadors who agreed to get out there in support of my candidacy. I am grateful to all of the volunteers. Over 100 of them went out and put up signs in the rain, wind and hail. Mother Nature was raging, but people were out there putting up signs in 39 municipalities. I am also grateful to all of the other volunteers who got involved. I want to thank my children, Laurence, Rosalie, Amora and Marie-Éden, who are experiencing both the downsides and the upsides of politics. Lastly, I want to thank my wife, Geneviève, who was by my side for the nine years I served as a member of the National Assembly and who will continue to be by my side while I serve as the federal member for the magnificent riding of Richmond—Arthabaska. I would also like to acknowledge the political commitment of Alain Rayes, my predecessor. Alain served as mayor of Victoriaville for six years and was the member of Parliament for Richmond—Arthabaska for nearly 10 years. He has had a full political career serving his constituents. I thank Alain and wish him all the best in the future. I would like to sincerely thank my leader, Pierre Poilievre, for believing in me and for asking me to join the great Conservative family, which is committed to putting money back in the pockets of Canadians by cutting taxes, creating an energy corridor, developing our natural resources, reducing bureaucracy and shrinking the size of government. Over the past 10 years, the Liberals have maxed out our credit card. They have maxed out our children's credit cards, and we will be there to make sure that they do not max out our great-grandchildren's credit cards. How are we going to do that? We are going to start by expecting a budget from the Liberal government. How can the Liberals govern rigorously and responsibly if they run our country blind? What are the real planned expenditures? What are the real projected revenues? What is the real projected deficit? Canadians have the right to know. It is their money, it is their country. I expect the Liberal government to defend supply management tooth and nail. I expect the Liberal government to be there for our business people affected by the tariff crisis. I hope that the Liberal government will continue to steal good Conservative ideas and put them to work for Canadians. Now I would like to highlight a few of the attractions in my magnificent riding. Mont Gleason, in Tingwick, has a lot to offer winter sports enthusiasts, like downhill skiing, snowboarding, hiking and tubing, all at top-rated facilities on a magical site. Marie-Victorin Park in Kingsey Falls is a garden bursting with 60,000 annuals and rare conifers, giant mosaicultures and seven themed gardens. Kingsey Falls is also where the Lemaire brothers and their family founded Cascades, a company that is a point of pride for Quebec, Canada and my riding. I also invite members to come visit the Ulverton Wool Mill and stay for a cup of tea. There, they can learn all about Quebec's industrial past. Built in 1840, the wool mill has since been given a new lease on life as a window to a bygone manufacturing era. The historic Windsor Powder Mill is another star attraction. A former black powder manufacturing plant, it now serves as an interpretation centre focused on explaining the history of black powder production at the plant and offering up interesting facts. For instance, back then, the more dangerous the occupation, the higher the wage. It is a little like the job of Speaker of the House. Visitors can also go for a hike any time of year. They might even want to climb 713 metres above sea level to the top of Mont-Ham, hiking along 18 kilometres of trails, surrounded by spectacular views. Why not stop by Place de la Traversée in Val‑des‑Sources, which has an incomparable lookout point over a mine? It is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. In the summer, there is also a farmers' market there. Speaking of local products, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Balade gourmande, an October event that promotes food trails with stops at farms, vineyards, cheese factories, microbreweries and apiaries. It offers a chance to taste and buy local Quebec products. I invite my colleagues to come watch the Victoriaville Tigres play in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. I was the team's trainer in the late 1990s, and the new member for Beauce, Jason Groleau, was a star player. There are, of course, many other attractions in my riding. I hope to have a chance to talk about them. The riding of Richmond—Arthabaska is home to caring, committed, determined and passionate people spread across 39 municipalities. These people are our farmers, our health care workers, our construction workers, our teachers, our police officers, firefighters, paramedics and all other workers. These people are the lifeblood of our municipalities, the driving force behind our regions, our province and our country. I sincerely believe that together, we can make change happen. As MPs, we must work together to help our young people achieve their dreams. We have a duty toward the founders of our society, the men and women who built our country and contributed to its development. However, we have an obligation to look ahead and be agents of change, to give our children and grandchildren a prosperous, safe and ambitious country to live in, a country that lives up to their dreams, a country that will make them proud. Young people deserve a chance to dream of owning a home and having a job they love that makes them proud and happy. They deserve a chance to dream of living in a safe city where they can raise a family if they so desire. They deserve a chance to dream of simply being happy. My biggest dream is to be a grandpa. I truly hope I have the opportunity and privilege to get to know my future grandchildren and to spend time with them. Today, my promise to them and to all Canadian children is that I will work tirelessly with my colleagues from all parties in the House to give them a country that lives up to their dreams and ambitions, a country they will be proud of.

I would like to remind hon. members that they cannot name members and that they must use the riding name. The hon. member for Compton—Stanstead.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from the Eastern Townships for his speech, and I congratulate him on his election. Given his party's sometimes flexible positions on supply management, I would like to know my colleague's position on supply management for producers in the Eastern Townships.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that supply management will not be just for the people of the Eastern Townships. We will defend supply management for all farmers. We will ensure that supply management is not part of the negotiations with the United States.

Mr. Speaker, it is my turn to congratulate you on your appointment. You are doing a superb job in that chair, except maybe for that little slap on the wrist for the member for Richmond—Arthabaska, who named one of his colleagues in the House. However, he will get used to it now that he is in the House. I think he will become a seasoned parliamentarian, coming off nine years at the Quebec National Assembly. The member for Richmond—Arthabaska is my riding neighbour. Evidently, he was not my preferred candidate in the race. I want to acknowledge my friend Daniel Lebel, who ran a great campaign in Richmond—Arthabaska. However, the voice of the people and democracy have spoken. I welcome this new colleague, but we will not be carpooling despite living so close to each other, because we have very different political opinions. My colleague mentioned microbreweries, but I want to remind him that there are two iconic companies in his riding that he did not name: La Grange Pardue and Fromagerie du Presbytère. I want to recognize Jean Morin, an amazing man making amazing products. I invite my colleague to check them out. Maybe he will return the favour someday and promote products from Drummond. Getting back to supply management, I would like to hear him clearly state that the Conservatives will indeed vote in favour of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Drummond for his kind words, especially his praise for some of the small businesses in my riding. As the member said, we have a number of microbreweries, some wonderful cheese factories and many exceptional entrepreneurs in the riding of Richmond—Arthabaska. Once again, I invite everyone to visit my beautiful riding. To answer the member for Drummond's question, supply management is definitely one of our priorities. We will take the time to read the Bloc Québécois bill.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by commending the excellent work of my colleague from Richmond—Arthabaska, who is also one of my neighbours. I can say that his list of fun things to do in the beautiful region of central Quebec and Victoriaville could have been much longer if he had been given more time. There are so many great things to do in central Quebec that my colleague would have had to filibuster to cover everything that is going on and all the beautiful things in our region. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on the fact that, despite the throne speech and the plan it outlined, the government did not really identify any concrete measures in that speech. There will be no budget this spring. Is that the right way to run a country? Does my colleague think the government should table a budget this spring?

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, with whom I had the privilege of sharing a riding when I was its MNA and he was its MP. As others have said, Quebec is lucky to have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Quebec is home to some top-notch entrepreneurs. All these entrepreneurs prepare budgets. They use budgets to find out what their revenues are, what their expenses are, what investments will be made and what they must plan for in the short, medium and long terms, on a three-year and a five-year basis. That is what an entrepreneur does. Here, we have a Government of Canada that does not have a budget. We apologize to Canadians. We will do everything we can to get the government to present a budget as quickly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing double digits in unemployment for youth, yet in the throne speech, there is no mention of programs such as the youth climate corps, which would ensure that a new generation of young people would get employment opportunities building Canada's infrastructure. Will the member support a youth climate corps for Canada?

Mr. Speaker, we said that on this side of the House. The important thing is to plan ahead for future generations, so that we can have a prosperous country that our young people will be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I had hoped to have the opportunity to wish the Deputy Speaker my warmest congratulations on his new role. He is someone I worked with on the immigration committee. I am sure many people will have appreciated his work and will very much miss him on that committee. We are very proud of him, and I send him my greatest congratulations. I would also like to thank the people of London West. I am rising for the first time in the House of Commons post my second re-election. I want to thank them for their confidence in me and for allowing me to represent them again as their member of Parliament. That being said, I also want to take the time to thank my family, my mom, whom I know is watching today, my son Noah, my brothers, my entire extended family and my cousins, who continue to support me to be the member of Parliament for London West. I also want to thank my amazing team, my volunteers and the London West Federal Liberal Association, which worked really hard to make sure that I could be here today and be a strong voice for London West and for London. It is with gratitude that I rise today to respond to the Speech from the Throne and to reflect on what it means for the people of London West, as well as for all of southwestern Ontario. In London West, I saw the largest vote share in the history of the riding, and for that I am very grateful. That means we are ready to go to work. London West sent me so that I can fight for them on issues like housing, fight for our families, our workers and our small businesses, and make sure that their voices are heard in the House. Southwestern Ontario is not unique in facing intense economic disruption, housing instability and the pressures of a rapidly changing world, but we represent something uniquely Canadian. We are resilient. We are diverse. We are honest and we have hard-working people. We have innovation and a deep-rooted commitment to one another. The throne speech calls this a moment of renewal and an opportunity to build a bold, ambitious and more inclusive Canada, and I could not agree more. I believe that London West stands ready to be a leader in this national renewal. The government's promise to build one Canadian economy by removing internal trade barriers across the country and investing in national infrastructure will directly benefit southwestern Ontario. In London, we know how interprovincial bureaucracy can delay job-creating projects and limit labour mobility in certain sectors and trades. I can say that because I used to be a city councillor. Now, as a member of Parliament, I understand the issues that lead to these challenges for people in London and northern Ontario. To remove those barriers, we are going to provide new opportunities for businesses and workers in my riding. London is home to advanced manufacturing, health sciences, education and a growing agri-tech sector. These industries are eager to grow, and they need stable supply chains, regional infrastructure and policies that reflect their role in Canada's economy. The commitment to double homebuilding and invest in Canadian materials and talent aligns perfectly with the capacity and ambition of our region. We welcome the launch of “build Canada homes” and the focus on affordable, modular and prefabricated housing. In London, housing demand continues to outpace supply. Young families, students and new Canadians struggle to find secure and more affordable places to live. Cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers and municipal development charges for multi-unit homes will have a direct impact on our families, and it will have a direct impact on affordability in our city. These initiatives build on the over $108.3 million that the government has already invested toward housing projects in London West, but success in housing also depends on speed. The promise to reduce project approval times from five years to two could be transformative in our community. London West has shovel-ready projects waiting, and we will do just that with our new government, which is ready to deliver for Canadians. Almost 9,000 families in London West have already felt the impact of the national dental care program, and we have seen the positive impact of the child care program. These are not abstract policies. They save families thousands of dollars every single year. With the expansion of the Canadian dental care program to cover up to eight million Canadians, more of our neighbours will be able to access preventative care without sacrificing any of their essentials. That means there will be more money for parents to do more things with their children. Continuing to fund and protect these programs is not just good policy; it is building a healthier and more equitable Canada by building healthier cities. Now I move to the big challenge. Tariffs and trade volatility have shaken southwestern Ontario's export-based industries. Agriculture, auto parts and advanced manufacturing have all felt the impact, and that is why the throne speech's commitment to strengthening trade relationships and building new ones is absolutely essential. London West needs consistent, fair access to global markets, but we also need a government that understands that when trade disruptions hit, our workers and small businesses are the ones that bear the biggest brunt. The proposed reforms and domestic investments are a welcome sign of support. We know that building a resilient economy means that we have to invest in skilled trades. London's skilled trades programs have long been leaders in training the next generation of workers, but right now, they need support. They need continued support, especially in attracting young people and under-represented groups, and we must invest in restoring the jobs that are being lost right now in places like Fanshawe College in order to train the next generation of skilled workers. We also welcome the commitment to make Canada a hub for innovation. Our region is home to world-class researchers and start-ups that will benefit from simplified approvals, stronger intellectual property protections and better access to capital. We need support for our small businesses, which are the backbone of London West's economy, from local shops in Byron and Hyde Park to tech start-ups and social enterprises. These entrepreneurs need access to capital, support in navigating government programs and relief from inflationary pressures. Just as importantly, workers whose jobs are being transformed or lost right now need to be able to retrain, be protected and have new pathways into new industries. Relief for workers cannot be a footnote. It has to remain a top priority for our entire region of southwestern Ontario. As AI, automation and climate policies reshape our economy, we have to invest in people along with technology. What I am saying is that southwestern Ontario is a place that many call home, and we want to keep it that way. Southwestern Ontario is not just a collection of ridings; it is a powerhouse of innovation, agriculture, industry and community. We need policies that reflect our strengths and challenges, not a one-size-fits-all solution. That is why I welcome the idea of deeper engagement with the region. Southwestern Ontario should be at the table when we talk about infrastructure, immigration, rural connectivity, climate adaptation and mid-sized cities. I look forward to engaging with my colleagues on both sides of the House to get this work done. The Speech from the Throne is more than just a plan. It is a challenge, calling on us to meet the moment with clarity, courage and ambition. That is why we are back in government today. In London West, as in all of southwestern Ontario and across Canada, we recognize both the urgency of the issues and the opportunities before us. We cannot afford to slow down progress, whether we are talking about addressing the housing challenge, growing our economy or developing new industries. To build Canada strong, we have to stay focused. We have to be collaborative, and we have to stay connected to the people who sent us here. That is why I am excited to be back in the House of Commons, speaking for the people of London West and making sure that their voices are not left behind.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on her speech. It is always very nice to hear colleagues express themselves so clearly and fluently in French. I would also like to congratulate her on her re-election. There are several items on the agenda. This morning, we debated, and are still debating, the Bloc Québécois amendment to the Conservatives' amendment to the Speech from the Throne. Our amendment is quite simple. It simply asks that the areas of jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces be respected. I have not yet heard a formal commitment to respecting the areas of jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces. I would like to know if my colleague can reassure me on this point.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulated you earlier but you missed it, so I will offer my congratulations again. I would also like to congratulate my colleague on the other side of the House on his re-election. As we know, there are francophones all over Canada. It should come as no surprise that I can speak French. I am a proud Franco-Ontarian. Once again, as we know, there are francophones all over Canada. In the Speech from the Throne, our government clearly said that communication in French, francophones and francophone culture across the country are very important. That was included in our plan. We will continue to ensure that we respond. As my colleague opposite just learned, there are francophones outside Quebec. We will continue to work together to increase francophone immigration to ensure that everyone in Canada can express themselves in the language of their choice.

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows well, the Prime Minister was actually in the chamber earlier this morning. He highlighted the importance of the throne speech in setting the stage that all Canadians can buy into. It has a high sense of co-operation with provincial governments, territorial governments and indigenous communities, all in an attempt to send a very strong message of building one Canadian economy, estimated to potentially be somewhere in the neighbourhood of $200 billion, that could benefit from moving in that direction. The Prime Minister also highlighted the tax break; giving the tax break to Canadians was one of the very first initiatives he has taken as Prime Minister. Could the member provide her thoughts on those two very important issues?

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague's question and want to congratulate him on being re-elected. He is one of the most precious members of the House of Commons. As the Prime Minister laid out today, we need a tax break for families. We need to make sure we are taking care of Canadians. That is the mandate they gave us. Southwestern Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is an important part of that. I am here to be a strong voice for young families in London West and all young families in southwestern Ontario. When there are pressures in our economy, our workers feel it most. They are the people in southwestern Ontario we are targeting with the tax break that we are talking about. It is creating opportunities for young families. It is creating a future for young people who are going to leave school and go into the workforce. I appreciate the member's question and look forward to continuing to work with him, as he is a strong member of our team.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on her re-election. I know that these issues are near and dear to her heart as the former minister of democratic institutions. What I heard in the campaign during the election period from Vancouver East constituents was the need for electoral reform. Many people wanted to make sure their vote is respected and counted so they do not have to be pressured to vote strategically, so to speak, but can actually vote with their heart. My question to the member is this: Will she champion electoral reform, one member, one vote, for our Canadian democracy and bring in proportional representation?

Mr. Speaker, I also want to extend congratulations to my colleague. I have had the opportunity to work with her on a number of issues. I look forward to continuing that collaboration. I also appreciate the member's nod to the short-lived position I was in as minister of democratic institutions. From while I was there, I can confirm for her that our institutions are strong. Our elections went really well, and as Canadians, we should trust our institutions. I have long been a strong advocate of electoral reform and will continue to be so. I hope to continue to work with the member.

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Victoria. It is a true privilege to address the House for the first time as the member for Madawaska—Restigouche. In carrying out my duties, I will strive to always honour the trust that the people of my riding have placed in me. I will make sure that they are effectively represented in this place. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who generously donated their time to support me during my campaign. They helped put me in the seat I hold today. I also want to acknowledge the important support I received from my family. I want to say how much my wife Stéphanie, who unfortunately is no longer with us, was a constant source of inspiration to me since this new chapter of my life started. Finally, I would like to thank my predecessor, René Arsenault, for all the work he accomplished for Madawaska—Restigouche over the past 10 years. Madawaska—Restigouche has one of the highest proportions of francophones in Canada outside Quebec, at nearly 80%. It is home to dynamic communities of Acadians and Brayons. I myself am from Kedgwick, a rural community where we proudly celebrate our Acadian identity. It is therefore important to me to remind the House that our official languages and the francophonie are distinctive Canadian features and a powerful symbol of our Canadian identity. Canada is a country where we respect and celebrate our official languages and our indigenous languages. As the Speech from the Throne rightly points out, during this time of great change, Canadians are uniting behind what makes Canada unique. We must preserve our fundamental conviction that we are stronger together. Our official languages represent this unity. As a powerful symbol of our shared history, they foster cohesion and cultural vitality while enhancing our country's international image. Key to our identity and culture, French is also a language of knowledge, diversity, creation, business and education. As our government presents an ambitious and bold plan to transform our economy, it is important to point out that one of Canada's greatest strengths is our ability to research, innovate and excel in many fields in French. Last month, people in my riding and across the country called for a lower cost of living. We heard them, and we are acting on our firm belief that the economy can only thrive if it works for everyone. Our new government is taking concrete action to make life more affordable for the middle class. We are going to provide a middle-class tax cut that will save families up to $840 a year. We are also going to eliminate the goods and services tax on the purchase of a first home. As we speak, we are expanding eligibility for the Canadian dental care plan. We are also going to ensure the sustainability of existing programs like affordable child care and pharmacare. During the election campaign, a resident of Tide Head in Restigouche told me how important the Canadian dental care plan is to him. Our announcement to expand the program's eligibility for the first time in over a decade means that he will have access to urgent dental care when he needs it. This example reminds us that the measures we vote on here can be life-changing for the people we represent. During the election campaign, citizens and municipal officials from across my riding also told me about the housing shortage in their communities. That message has been heard. Our government will introduce a series of measures to help double housing construction and create affordable housing. In my riding, a number of housing units have already been built or are being built thanks to federal funding, including in Edmundston, Campbellton, Saint-Quentin and Eel River Bar. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of Edmundston's mayor, Mr. Marquis, city councillors and members of the city administration. I am pleased to welcome them to Parliament today. With our new government's ambitious housing plan, we will see an acceleration of housing starts across the country. We will have to make sure that all regions of Canada benefit from this plan, because there is a pressing need, both in urban areas and in rural areas like mine. We will also thoroughly revitalize the residential construction sector by leveraging Canadian technology, our skilled workers, and Canadian lumber. Promoting the use of our lumber will certainly have economic benefits in regions such as mine, where the forestry industry plays an important role in the local economy. The Speech from the Throne also highlights our government's commitment to protecting those who give us access to fresh, healthy, and high-quality food, namely our agricultural producers. The Liberal plan to protect and strengthen the Canadian agri-food sector is especially important for regions with many farms and agri-food businesses, such as Grand Falls, Drummond, and Saint-André, in New Brunswick. I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that I got a visit this morning from Mr. Beaulieu, the mayor of Grand Falls Regional Municipality. We are also determined to keep Canada's commitment to supply management and the sectors governed by it, including dairy products, poultry and eggs. This system helps protect Canadian jobs and ensures the stability of our food supply as production costs fluctuate, while guaranteeing that farmers get a minimum price for their products. The supply management system is especially important to my riding where, for example, poultry farms are at the heart of the Upper Madawaska economy. There is a reason Saint-François-de-Madawaska is known as the chicken capital. Our government is committed to being a reliable partner for indigenous peoples and upholding its core commitment to advancing reconciliation. I am honoured to represent, here in Ottawa, two indigenous communities from my riding: The Eel River Bar First Nation and the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation. I want to sincerely thank the members of both communities for their strong support in the last election. I am committed to continuing to strengthen the collaborative relationships we have built over the past few months, and I want to be a true ally in support of their various projects. I am especially pleased with our government's commitment to doubling the funding for the indigenous loan currency program, from $5 billion to $10 billion, so more indigenous communities can become owners of major projects. The cornerstone of our plan is to transform, strengthen and unify the Canadian economy. Our new government's goal is to build the strongest economy in the G7. To do so, we will remove barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, as well as the duplication that delays the completion of projects. We will take a “one project, one assessment” approach, working closely with provinces and territories. We will also take targeted action to catalyze private investment and boost productivity. The transformation of our economy will have a significant impact on workers and businesses across the country. During the election campaign, entrepreneurs in Bois-Joli, Baie-des-Hérons, Vallée-des-Rivières and many other municipalities in my riding told me about innovative projects that hold a lot of potential for our region's economic development. I have no doubt that Madawaska—Restigouche will definitely contribute to transforming and strengthening the Canadian economy. In closing, I would like to mention that, as the representative of a rural riding with a francophone majority, I feel very much at home in our Liberal caucus, which has more Acadian and francophone members from Ontario, western and northern Canada as well as Quebec than any other party in the House of Commons. This is in addition to my many colleagues who have worked hard to learn French as their second official language. We are the party that provides real representation to francophones from coast to coast to coast.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Madawaska—Restigouche. I had the privilege of working with his predecessor, Mr. Arseneault, and I hope that member will be as passionate about official languages as he was. I read the Speech from the Throne, and unfortunately there is nothing in it to reassure francophones. My colleague talked about how many francophones there are in the Liberal Party of Canada. However, they must be worried about what they read in the throne speech. What does my colleague find reassuring? What might make francophones across Canada believe in the future? What might stop the decline of French across the country?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent question. The Liberal Party was the party of choice for me as a francophone and as an Acadian. The Liberal Party was in power when the first Official Languages Act was passed in 1969, and it was the party that made French one of our country's two official languages. It is also the party behind the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 23 of which guarantees the right to education in French throughout the country. It was also the Liberals who undertook an ambitious modernization of the Official Languages Act. I would like to acknowledge the work of my colleague from Moncton—Dieppe; my predecessor, Mr. Arseneault; several other francophone members from across the country; and my colleague across the floor as well. They did excellent work on this file. Our new government is planning concrete measures for francophones. For example, during the election campaign, we committed to increasing the francophone immigration target to 12% by 2029. This is a concrete measure that will contribute to the vitality of French. As we know, French has been in decline in Canada outside Quebec since 1969. Under the Official Languages Act, we are required to restore the demographic weight. With a 12% target, we are putting the demographic weight of francophone communities outside Quebec back on track to grow.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his great speech. I also want to thank his predecessor, René Arseneault, who I had the privilege of working with. I also commend him for his passion for protecting and promoting French. On that note, I would like to know what he thinks we can do to protect CBC/Radio‑Canada, especially in the regions.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent question. The Liberals have always been clear: We are committed to CBC/Radio-Canada. We understand how important Radio-Canada is for francophone culture and francophone communities outside Quebec. Along with French-language community media, Radio-Canada is a major source of quality local news. At a time when we are seeing a lot of disinformation, it is essential to have access to quality news in French across the country. I want to acknowledge the work of all French-language community media outlets across Canada, as well as the work of Radio-Canada. That is why, for the Liberals, there is no question: We support CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate and want to strengthen it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and congratulate him on his election. The member talked about the protection of languages and how important that is. An essential part of reconciliation is addressing the harms indigenous peoples have experienced, including the devastating loss of language and culture. In British Columbia, the First Peoples' Cultural Council has been highlighting to the federal government that significant cuts to language revitalization funding is causing harm to indigenous peoples, to the Nuu-chah-nulth people in my riding and the Coast Salish people. They are calling on the federal government to reinstate that funding. Will my colleague, his caucus and his government reinstate that funding to protect indigenous languages, particularly in British Columbia, where the cuts are significant, causing harm to indigenous peoples in our communities?

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, Canada is a country that celebrates both its official languages and its indigenous languages. I am proud to have the opportunity to represent two indigenous communities in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. They are the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation and the Eel River Bar First Nation, two communities I have a great relationship with. They gave me their support, and I want to thank them once again for backing me during the election campaign. I hope to be an ally in the development of their projects.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say hello to you and all my colleagues in the House. It is a great honour for me to be here today. I am very proud to have the opportunity to represent my community of Victoria. First and foremost, I thank my wife, Carolyn, and our daughter, Eleanor, without whom I would not be the person I am today. I love them both more than I can say, and I am so grateful for their support and sacrifice as we undertake this new political journey together. My gratitude and love extend to all my many Greaves, Thomson, Mendez and Cornford relations spread across Canada and around the world. I am indebted to all of them, and I know that they join me in thinking of our loved ones who are no longer with us but would be so very excited today: my grandparents, Wilf and Peggy; my Abuela Maria; and my mother, Sherry, whose son I am so proud to be. I also owe a debt of gratitude to the incredible team of Liberals in Victoria. Not only did the members of the Victoria EDA give so much time, energy and passion to our recent campaign, but, for many years, they also did the hard, unglamorous and often unrecognized work of maintaining a functioning organization. Victoria Liberals kept the lights on, the engine warm and the bank account full over the two decades since our party last won this seat. That hard work was recognized last year with the award for the best Liberal riding association in British Columbia, and it set up our campaign for unprecedented success. Led by my extraordinary campaign manager, adviser and friend, Naomi Devine, I am proud to say that our efforts resulted in the second most votes of any candidate in B.C. and the most votes for any Liberal candidate west of Ontario. I also thank the voters of Victoria, without whose support I would not be here today. They have sent me to Ottawa to support a strong Liberal government and to represent our west coast and island values, interests and priorities. Indeed, being all the way to one side of this great country, we know a few things about being far from Ottawa. I commit to ensuring that the voices of my constituents on southern Vancouver Island are heard and respected in Parliament. Victorians and Vancouver Islanders are proud Canadians who want to build up an even stronger Canada. Unlike some, we do not threaten to dismember our country to score cheap political points. In Victoria, we believe in a strong, free and united Canada. Governing this remarkable country is hard and requires common ground, common sense and common adherence to some basic truths. Truths are not always easy to accept, but that is the point. They are true regardless of how we may feel about them, and our success or failure hinges on whether we can come to terms with them. As some of my hon. colleagues opposite have been fond of saying in the past, facts do not care about our feelings. Fact: Canada is one of the oldest and most successful constitutional democracies in the world. Our tradition of parliamentary government reaches back well before Confederation, evolving through generations of change, struggle and hard-won progress. I am deeply honoured to carry that legacy forward. Before there was a Parliament, before there was a Canada, this land was home to vibrant and self-governing indigenous nations. Their cultures, languages and legal systems shaped these territories for millennia before the expansion of colonialism brought profound harms that continue to shape the lives of indigenous peoples to this day. Our shared history includes settlement, immigration, trade, conflict and transformation. It has made Canada a diverse and peaceful country, one admired around the world. However, that story is incomplete if we fail to acknowledge that the prosperity many of us enjoy was built unevenly and, too often, at the expense of others. I am grateful for the stewardship of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territories Victoria is built; this is where my family is so fortunate to reside. Ours is a country where pride in our past must walk hand in hand with the courage to face its shadows so that we may build a future worthy of all who call this land home today. That includes the founding agreement between the French and English peoples, which is the basis of the Confederation and sets us apart in the world. Bilingualism and multiculturalism are at the heart of Canada. I am the proud son of a Canadian mother and a Dominican father, the grandson of an English-Canadian grandfather and a French-Canadian grandmother, and the product of a history of peoples in Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. As an academic and professor who has lived and worked across Canada and around the world, I have seen how fortunate we are and understand the work it takes to build a just society and maintain a robust democracy. We are bound to our past, not defined by its mistakes but guided by its lessons: resilience, progress and a deep well of national purpose. I want to be clear: Canada will never be another country's 51st state. We are not a footnote in anyone else's story. We are a sovereign nation with a voice, a vision and a vital role to play in the world, and we are stronger than those within our borders who would seek to divide us for their own political gain. They have tried before and failed. They may try again, but they will fail again, because Canadians are rightly proud of what we have built and clear-eyed about what we must still do together. One thing we must do together is combat climate change. Climate change is not a debate; it is a fact: undeniable, unrelenting and already shaping the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. In my riding of Victoria, we do not have the luxury of denial. As a coastal island community, we are surrounded by the evidence of rising sea levels, intensifying storms, smoke-choked skies—

I greatly apologize for interrupting the member's speech, but it is two o'clock. The member will be able to continue his speech; he will have about three minutes left after question period.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House for the first time, deeply honoured by the trust the people of Mississauga Centre have placed in me. I thank my family, friends, team, volunteers and dear constituents. I also want to acknowledge the Hon. Omar Alghabra for serving our beautiful riding for over 19 years, whether as MP or community member. I pledge to serve Mississauga Centre with purpose and humility, knowing we must never lose sight of those among us who struggle. If one Canadian is struggling, we are all struggling. As the first Palestinian Canadian elected to this House since Pierre De Bané, I understand the weight of the responsibility I hold and want to remind every member to put humanity above politics, always and in any context. As Canadians, we know that solutions can only begin when we come together with the courage to name injustice for what it is: unacceptable, undeniable and unequivocal. I take pride in elevating the voices of marginalized communities, the oppressed and others whose stories deserve to be heard, as well as youth across the country. I thank Mississauga Centre for that privilege.

Mr. Speaker, as this is my first statement in our new Parliament, I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank all the good people of Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna for their support in this past election. While on the topic of the many good people from my riding, I would like to recognize many of the local mayors, members of city council and regional directors who are in Ottawa for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention. I know from my own time as a city councillor how challenging and demanding local government can be. This is especially true right now in British Columbia, where we face intertwined crises of crime, homelessness and opioids that severely impact local government, whose citizens ultimately bear the burden of ill-conceived provincial and federal policies. I have greatly enjoyed my working relationships with the mayors, councillors and regional directors from places like Summerland, Peachland, Greater Westside, West Kelowna and Kelowna. I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of our constituents, and I would ask that we all make them feel most welcome here in Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise in the House today and highlight the remarkable contributions of Dr. Joss Reimer. Dr. Reimer is a force in Canadian medicine: a trailblazer, a change-maker and a proud Manitoban. Before stepping into her current role as president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Reimer served as the medical lead and official spokesperson for Manitoba's provincial COVID-19 vaccine task force, where she played a pivotal role in guiding our province through the largest and most successful vaccine campaign in provincial history. Dr. Reimer also served as the medical director of public health for Winnipeg, where she focused on critical areas such as drug-related harms, infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections and health equity. Now that her term as president of the Canadian Medical Association comes to an end, we thank her for the lives she has changed. Manitoba is proud of Dr. Reimer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two outstanding athletes from my riding of Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee: the Hladik brothers. Not only have Ben and Bradley Hladik made remarkable strides in Canadian football; they are brothers united by blood and bound by a shared commitment to excellence both on and off the field. Ben is an outstanding linebacker with the BC Lions, drafted in 2021 following an exceptional career at the University of British Columbia. His younger brother Bradley, a versatile fullback and long snapper, was recently drafted by the Edmonton Elks. From Vernon minor football to the VSS Panthers, both brothers have embodied the values of hard work, integrity and community pride. Their journey is a testament to their family, their coaches and the vibrant football culture of the Okanagan. On Saturday, June 7, they will face off for the first time in the CFL at BC Place. Congratulations to the Hladik brothers. Vernon is proud.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election to this well-deserved new position. Tanti auguri. For my first statement in the 45th Parliament, I want to thank the people of Alfred-Pellan from the bottom of my heart for placing their trust in me for a fourth term. I am deeply moved by their loyalty and trust, which fill me with humility, pride and a greater sense of duty. Their engagement inspires me on a daily basis. I will continue to dedicate myself to working for the families, young people, seniors, organizations and businesses of Alfred-Pellan with conviction and respect. People of all ages rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to make sure Canada remains a strong, united country that reflects who we are. I am honoured to represent the big, tight-knit family of Alfred-Pellan.

Mr. Speaker, what was meant as a celebration of culture and heritage turned into a moment of unspeakable sorrow. On April 26, the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, a symbol of Filipino unity and pride, was shattered by an act of senseless violence. Many lives were taken, many more injured. Families were torn apart. Dreams were cut short and a community was left grieving, but in the face of all this darkness, we see the Filipino community being strong and resilient, coming together, grieving together and sharing with each other. Today we stand in solidarity. To the Filipino community, we see them. We mourn with them and we stand with them. We know they will continue to celebrate the richness of their culture, traditions and history, as they should. I thank them for bringing the best of the Philippines to Canada and making it part of our Canadian cultural fabric. Together we are Canada, the true north strong and free.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound gratitude and humility I rise today as the first member of Parliament for the new riding of Pickering—Brooklin, a vibrant community that unites the entire city of Pickering, the northern part of Whitby and the thriving heart of Brooklin. To the people who placed their trust in me, I thank them. To the tireless volunteers who gave their time and hearts and to my family who stood beside me every step of the way, their support means everything. Ours is a riding within Canada's most populous region. We are nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario, and people from all over the world are choosing to call Pickering—Brooklin home. With that growth come unique challenges, from housing and infrastructure to protecting our environment and building inclusive communities. I proudly support the Liberal government's “build Canada homes” plan to ensure affordability and meet the unprecedented housing demand and opportunities of the next generation. I am ready to stand up and—

The hon. member for Portneuf—Jacques Cartier.

Mr. Speaker, a throne speech gives the government an opportunity to outline its policy and objectives and to specify how it will achieve them. When it comes to official languages, francophones have every reason to be very concerned. Here is the entire passage stating the will and intentions of the Liberals: The Government is determined to protect the institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, like CBC/Radio-Canada. That is some wishful thinking from the government. It believes that CBC/Radio-Canada alone is the saviour that will halt the decline of French. During the election, we committed to maintaining Radio-Canada, but much more needs to be done to halt the decline of French. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has shown us once again that he does not understand French or recognize the importance of the various francophone cultures that are alive and well in the 10 provinces and three territories that make up our great nation, Canada.

Mr. Speaker, it was a stroke of genius to ask Johanne Régimbald to join the Bloc Québécois's little team on the Hill. That is how the member for Montcalm, the former member for Repentigny and I ended up securing the services of a multi-talented woman with an unparalleled sense of values and responsibilities. Every party boasts about having a rare gem on their team. I am sorry for the other political parties, but the rarest gem on the Hill is our Johanne. Obviously, inevitably, we lost her to the leader's office, where her expertise once again served everyone's interests. Aside from professionalism and efficiency, the word that first comes to mind when we think of Johanne is “kindness”. She took the entire team under her wing and, for 10 years, we have felt confident at all times. I thank Johanne for everything she has given to the Bloc Québécois and for everything she has given to each and every one of us. I hope she gets to go back home to the Laurentians but comes back to see us often. I wish our friend a happy retirement. We miss her already.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep gratitude to the people of Surrey Newton for once again placing their trust in me. Being elected for a sixth term is a tremendous honour, and I remain fully committed to serving our community with dedication and integrity. I sincerely thank my family and friends for their constant support, my campaign team for their tireless efforts and all the volunteers and supporters who believed in me and our party's vision. I am proud to stand with our Prime Minister and the Liberal government as we continue working to build a stronger, more resilient Canada. Together, we will keep moving Surrey Newton forward and ensure it remains a place of opportunity, growth and hope for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate you on your recent promotion. I look forward to working with you, as well as my colleagues in this coming Parliament. It is an honour today to rise for the first time on behalf of the constituents of the beautiful riding of Yellowhead, Alberta. I, too, would like to recognize some of my town and county councillors in Ottawa today. Considering that this week's throne speech made no mention of Canadian oil and gas, no mention of Canadian pipelines and no mention of the necessity of getting Alberta's world-class energy to new markets, it is clear that the current Liberal government is no different from the last. Canadians need a government that works for powerful paycheques, not a government that continues to support job-killing laws. When will the current Liberal government repeal the “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69, cut the red tape and finally give Canadian energy workers the respect and recognition they deserve?

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep gratitude that I rise today to thank the residents of Brampton South for once again placing their trust in me. I am also deeply grateful to my family, volunteers and supporters for working day in and day out during the campaign. At the doors in Brampton South, the message was loud and clear: Canadians are feeling the strain. While affordability remains our top priority, public safety is also a leading issue in my community. Public safety builds confidence in our institutions, which is why we must continue to take this issue seriously at all levels of government. I remain committed to working with all partners to ensure safety and prosperity for all Canadians. As we begin this new Parliament, I promise to continue working hard for Brampton South, alongside our Prime Minister, to tackle affordability, keep our communities safe and build the strongest economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the constituents of my hometown in Kitchener South—Hespeler, and I am grateful to them. Let me tell members something about the folks in Kitchener South—Hespeler. They are honest, hard-working people who do not like a tax cheat. They remember how, back in 2016, Donald Trump shockingly refused to release his tax returns to the public. Thousands of news stories were written about it. There is no law that leaders must disclose their tax returns, but the public expects that someone who seeks to lead a nation would go above and beyond the bare minimum legal requirements. I am sad to say that we now face a similar situation in our country. The new Prime Minister refuses to give Canadians a public disclosure of his conflicts of interest. Even Justin Trudeau gave such a disclosure prior to becoming the Liberal Party leader. Conservatives implore the Prime Minister today to look inside himself. Why is he taking another page out of Donald Trump's book? Why will he not disclose his conflicts? Does the answer have to do with offshore tax havens?

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Accessibility Week. It is a time to recognize the achievements of persons with disabilities across our beautiful country. Over eight million Canadians currently live with a disability. Accessibility is vital to financial stability and to our future. Our government is focused on improving accessibility in key areas like infrastructure, employment and financial security. Also, payments to the Canada disability benefit are beginning this July. In 2019, our government introduced the Accessible Canada Act. We have come a long way. However, our work is far from done. This year's theme for National Accessibility Week is “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future”. Together, we can achieve our goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise for the first time to represent my Cambridge community. This week, the Liberal Prime Minister introduced his first spending bill. It is worse than Justin Trudeau's. He inherited a bloated Liberal government and promised to spend less, but this first spending bill spends 88% more than Trudeau did in his last year. It is a half-a-trillion-dollar spending spree, with no budget. Single moms, seniors and small businesses must budget before they spend. Why can a supposedly brilliant banker, a man with a plan, not do the same? No, this is not about investments. Consultants alone get a record-breaking $26.1 billion, costing every household in Canada $1,400. He promised to cap spending at 2% in his throne speech. The same afternoon, he introduced a bill boosting overall spending by 8%. Is this why the Prime Minister did not table a spring budget, to hide his broken promise to rein in his out-of-control spending?

Mr. Speaker, in my constituency of Davenport, we recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Alexander G. Muir building, currently the home of the Alexander Muir/Gladstone Ave Junior and Senior Public School, also fondly known as AMG. It is named after the Scottish-Canadian poet and educator, Alexander Muir, who composed the lyrics to the The Maple Leaf Forever and served as the school's first principal. Educating generations of family members, AMG fosters a strong learning environment where all students are valued and respected. Evolving with the community and the times, AMG is a reflection of the dreams and aspirations of our nation, where education is the key to prosperity and where, no matter what one's background is or their financial situation, one can achieve one's potential. It was a true honour to join students, staff and community members of AMG to celebrate this historic anniversary. I wish them a happy 100-year anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that he would be guided by a new fiscal discipline. He said that he would limit operational expenditures to no greater than an increase of 2%, yet he has presented a bill of half a trillion dollars to Canadians. Single mothers, seniors and small businesses all make a budget before they spend. One would think that a highly esteemed banker would know that and would do that. Is he really committed to a new fiscal discipline, or is he just like the last guy?

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House, and it is a pleasure to deliver for Canadians. We are delivering on our plans to make life more affordable in Canada. The first measure we introduced was a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. There are Canadians in her riding who are going to benefit from the tax cut. We are eliminating GST for first-time homebuyers for their new house, and we are removing the consumer carbon price from law. Together, we are going to build Canada strong, and I hope the Conservatives will join us in that.

Mr. Speaker, Liberals never learn, and they never keep their promises. The Treasury Board president said in the last Parliament that she would find savings of $7.1 billion on high-paid consultants. Instead, the government is now spending another $6 billion on high-paid consultants. The Prime Minister said that he would limit increases in operational spending to no greater than 2%, yet he has presented a half-trillion-dollar bill to Canadians. Who is the Prime Minister going to choose: Canadians or his friends?

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear we have already chosen Canadians, and Canadians have chosen us to lead this nation, build a more ambitious Canada, build a strong Canada and build the best economy in the G7. Together, on this side of the House, we are going to build a Canada of the future.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that he would be guided by a new fiscal discipline. He promised to rein in spending, yet here he is bringing in a bill that includes $500 billion in expenditures with no budget. Single mothers, seniors and small businesses make a budget before they spend. Why in the world would a banker not do the same? Is he really committed to an new fiscal discipline or is he no different than his predecessor?

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague can see, we are presenting an ambitious plan for Canadians. The very first measure we introduced was a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. Some of the people in her riding will benefit. Next, we said that we were going to eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers. These are concrete measures for Canadians that will help us build a strong, resilient economy, the best economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is asking Parliament to approve almost half a trillion dollars in spending, up 8% from last year. Nothing says spend less and invest more like spending more money on high-priced consultants and contractors. That is going up to $26 billion a year, which is more than a 35% increase. Is the kind of change the government is trying to deliver to push civil servants out to bring their friends and high-priced consultants, such as McKinsey, back in?

Mr. Speaker, we are focusing on the results. The first measure we introduced this Parliament was to help 22 million Canadians, which includes people in every riding. Canadians are watching at home and are wondering if the Conservatives are going to support them. Are they going to support the government? Canadians know that we have their backs and that we are going to fight for them every step of the way.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he wants to spend less and invest more, but this week his government tabled a half-trillion-dollar spending bill with no budget. While 15,000 people are using Loaves & Fishes, the food bank in my riding, the government has increased spending on consultants by a jaw-dropping $6 billion, a massive increase of 36%. Consultants will get a $26.1-billion gift that makes every household in Canada $1,400 poorer. Is the Prime Minister's reckless spending the real reason why there is no budget this spring?

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be part of the new government, which is fighting for Canadians, from day one, with a proposed bill that would make life more affordable for 22 million Canadians. That is an average of $840 per family in income tax reductions. This is giving real help to Canadians, and I am very proud that we are delivering on day one.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims he is different from his predecessor, but the numbers tell a different story. In his own first spending bill, consultants get a record-setting $26.1 billion, up more than 36% in one year. The government talks about restraint, but this is half a trillion dollars of spending without a budget. Single moms, seniors and small businesses must budget before they spend. How come a brilliant banker cannot do the same?

Mr. Speaker, the question a lot of Canadians are asking is how come Conservatives cannot get behind the idea of supporting 22 million Canadians with a tax break that would make life more affordable for Canadians and of eliminating GST on new homes, which is going to help new homebuyers. Our plan is an ambitious one to grow this economy and to make life more affordable for Canadians. I am hoping Conservatives will see the light and rally behind this ambitious plan for Canada.

Mr. Speaker, some of the plans outlined in the throne speech do not bode well for Quebeckers. When the Liberals talk about one Canadian economy, not 13, what they are really saying is that they want to run Quebec's economy from Ottawa. That is why the National Assembly immediately and unanimously rejected the proposal for one economy, not 13. Quebec is and always will be in charge of its economic future, its trade and the laws that govern it. When the Prime Minister meets with his counterparts on Monday, will he commit to Quebec that he will respect its jurisdictions?

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for that important question. I also want to thank Quebec Minister Christopher Skeete, with whom I spoke yesterday and who joined me at a meeting of provincial and territorial ministers responsible for internal trade. We have a constructive and productive relationship with the provinces and territories. We always respect provincial and territorial jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, Canada is not a business, and Quebec is not a subsidiary. If there is more than one economy in Canada, it is because there is more than one nation. Quebeckers' interests will never be sacrificed in the name of so-called Canadian unity. The French-language workplace in Quebec is not a barrier to labour mobility. Employing Quebeckers when we harvest our public forests is not a barrier to trade. The existence of the Quebec nation is not a trade barrier. Does the Prime Minister understand that?

Mr. Speaker, yes, as the Prime Minister said this morning, our government respects and will always respect the importance of Quebec, the importance of the Quebec nation and the importance of the French language. These are key elements for our government. We also understand the importance of economic growth. Our government's main objective is to create the strongest economy in the G7. We understand that this will be good for Canadians across the country and for Quebeckers.

Mr. Speaker, in the throne speech, the Liberals reiterated that only one environmental assessment per project is necessary. In other words, for a dirty oil pipeline from Alberta to Quebec to be subject to a single assessment, the federal government would impose its own and bypass Quebec and the provinces. However, Quebec is master of its own house. Quebeckers and their institutions, such as the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement, or BAPE, are the ones that must decide on projects that go through Quebec. The BAPE's primacy and Quebec's sovereignty over its territory are non-negotiable. Will the government commit to respecting them?

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to say how pleased I am to have so many Quebec members in our government. We have 44. They are the ones who will defend the interests and ideas of Quebeckers. I will always work hand in hand with Quebeckers, and I will work with our members to ensure that they are heard.

Mr. Speaker, in his speech on Tuesday, the King was very critical of those who have mismanaged Canada over the past 10 years. He said that the government would be guided by a new fiscal discipline. The problem is that, just hours after that speech, the President of the Treasury Board introduced his first spending bill. It includes an 8% increase, meaning $40 billion in additional spending. I never thought these people would do worse than Justin Trudeau. How can the Prime Minister stand up, look Canadians in the eye and tell them that he is doing a good job, and that he is even doing a better job than Justin Trudeau? It is the exact opposite.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Louis‑Saint‑Laurent—Akiawenhrahk knows that I have a great deal of respect for him. He will be able to look the people in his riding straight in the eye about a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. He will be able to look them in the eye and say that he did something for them and that he voted with the Liberal government, because a tax cut is one way of showing Quebeckers and the people in his riding that he is there for them. I invite him to vote in favour of the motion.

Mr. Speaker, that minister should realize that the King's statement about the importance of a new approach of fiscal discipline was actually very critical. The Minister of Finance has a golden opportunity to do things properly, but no, he is going to spend even more on consultants. I never thought the Minister of Finance would do even worse than Justin Trudeau. Can he stand up, look Canadians in the eye and tell them that he, unlike Justin Trudeau, will manage taxpayer dollars properly?

Mr. Speaker, who were Quebeckers actually critical of? This past election, they were critical of the Conservative Party, which failed to present a plan worth the paper it was written on, even though it had been demanding an election for years. Quebeckers chose an ambitious plan to make the government more effective, to make the economy stronger and more resilient and to make life more affordable. That is what our tax cut for 22 million Canadians will do. That is $840 per family. I hope the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk will support this plan.

Mr. Speaker, our most important job is probably our first job, because it starts us on the road to our career, but after 10 years of Liberal failures, that road is blocked for one in seven Canadian young people. This is already an unemployment crisis, with 100,000 more job losses coming. Rather than address this crisis, the Liberals continue to waste billions on consultants, a $6-billion increase. Why are they choosing a great job market for elite Liberal insiders and consultants and a terrible job market for Canadian young people?

Mr. Speaker, I share the member opposite's deep and profound concern over ensuring that Canadian young people get opportunities across the country, especially in their first job. That is why it is so exciting that Canada summer jobs will provide almost 70,000 jobs this summer, with great first-time jobs for young people all across the country. These are quality employers and quality jobs, and I look forward to hearing about them in my own riding.

Mr. Speaker, the minister has sat around the cabinet table for more than 10 years, and unemployment is steadily going up. It is actually at the highest point it has been in 10 years, outside of the COVID period. We have an unemployment crisis, and the Liberals are making things worse with another outrageous spending bill. The Prime Minister wants to spend even more than Justin Trudeau. How can they ask Parliament for another $400-billion blank cheque with no budget, no plan for jobs and no plan to address the pain that their policies have caused?

Mr. Speaker, we hear the member opposite talking out of both sides of his mouth. On one side, he is talking about the need to do something: to do something about unemployment and do something about youth having excellent experiences in the workforce. On the other side, he is talking about the need to reduce spending. We know that we can do big things together. That is what employers want across the country. They want skilled workers all across this country in every sector. We will be there with the provinces and territories to make sure that we have the fastest-growing economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Prime Minister introduced his first spending bill, and despite promising to cap spending during the election, the bill would increase spending by another 8% on an already bloated federal government. Half a trillion in spending was introduced the same day as he promised again to cap it, all with no budget, on the backs of hard-working Canadians and at the expense of future generations. When will the Liberals finally cap spending and put the financial future of young Canadians first? Will the Prime Minister give us the date for a spring budget today?

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the member to the House of Commons. One thing is clear: We have the backs of young Canadians. If the member had been listening carefully, he would have known that in the very first motion we introduced in this House was the elimination of the GST for first-time homebuyers for their first house. This is a measure to help young Canadians get into the real estate market. Young Canadians who are watching understand that we have their backs and we will always work for them.

Mr. Speaker, on April 5, 17, 20, 21 and 29, the Prime Minister committed to “Free trade in Canada by Canada Day”. Almost immediately after the election, the Prime Minister already broke his promise, saying instead that the Liberals would only introduce legislation to eliminate federal and provincial trade barriers by Canada Day. I have a simple question: Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I am really delighted to get a question on internal trade from the Conservatives. We do not agree about a lot of things, but I think everyone in the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party agrees that free trade in Canada will make us all richer. That is why I have a question for my Conservative counterparts. Will the Conservatives vote for our legislation on free trade in Canada by Canada Day? We are counting on them. Canadians are counting on them.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are struggling with the complexity and obscurity of the customs notice. For a government program that was designed to help businesses, the CBSA is causing turmoil, costing time and money for many in manufacturing and its supply chains. On May 20, the department quietly issued an updated notice on its interpretation of the scope, narrowing the order. Why, in this time of uncertainty, should businesses be left to navigate costly and consequential red tape from the government? Does the government not understand that livelihoods and Canadian businesses are on the line?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague opposite for the question. He brought this to my attention a couple of days ago, and we are looking into the situation. I look forward to responding to him in the next couple of days.

Mr. Speaker, even with a new leader, the Liberals are spending like there is no tomorrow. The Prime Minister promised to limit spending increases to 2% per year, yet the main estimates show that he is going to raise spending by another 8% this year. That comes before the tax cuts and before the $200 billion in spending that he hopes to pass during this session. It is ridiculous to present these measures without disclosing the precise status of government finances. Is the Prime Minister going to table a budget or is he going to govern exactly like Justin Trudeau?

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé and he knows it. However, it comes as a bit of a surprise that the Bloc Québécois is opposing a measure that will help people in the member's own riding. We just tabled the first motion in the House to cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. That can add up to as much as $840 for a two-income family. This measure is important for the people of Berthier—Maskinongé. The people of Berthier—Maskinongé expect their member of Parliament to stand up for their interests and vote for the motion put forward by this new government.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Saint-Maurice—Champlain expect parliamentarians to draft a budget before spending the money. It is as though the Prime Minister followed Trudeau's example when it comes to spending and thought, “Just watch me”. What is next? Is he going to show up here wearing Adidas running shoes? The Prime Minister is proving that this is the fourth edition of the same Liberal government. The Liberals would still have us believe that they can continue to spend while reducing revenues, without increasing the debt or cutting transfers to the provinces. They need to show us in a budget how they plan to do that. Is transparency too much to ask?

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my colleague for giving me the opportunity to salute the people of Saint-Maurice—Champlain, who have sent me here for a fourth term, which I will fulfill with humility and conviction. That conviction includes presenting a fiscal framework, a budget, in early fall, as we have indicated. It is a prudent way of doing things. It will be an ambitious budget, one that will enable us to build the Canada of tomorrow. I know that is exactly what Canadians expect. We will build a strong economy, the strongest in the G7, and a resilient and strong Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I recently talked with a young fellow who said that unless his parents die and leave him their house, he will never own one. That is a reality for many young Canadians, so imagine their shock when they heard the new housing minister say that home prices do not need to come down. Under the former mayor of Vancouver, house prices shot up 179%, rent went up 50% and homelessness went up 40%. If the housing minister did not fix it then and does not see a problem now, how much more expensive does he plan to let things get?

Mr. Speaker, we are spending many days this week with mayors and councillors from across the country at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting. I would caution members opposite against insulting our local government officials, who we are partnering with to deliver results on the ground. We will deliver cuts to the GST for first-time homebuyers. We are going to see a $50,000 savings for first-time homebuyers delivered by this new government.

Mr. Speaker, the housing market in the GTA is descending into complete chaos. New data shows that GTA home sales are the worst since the market crash of the 1990s, falling 89% below the 10-year average, and that condo sales fell 94% below the 10-year average. Home prices are too high for buyers and too low for sellers. Sellers cannot sell, buyers cannot buy and builders are not building. The report warns that there will be a massive housing shortage in just two years. Can the Prime Minister tell us why he refuses to present a budget immediately to provide much-needed help for both buyers and sellers?

Mr. Speaker, the critical piece that we need to invest in is more affordable housing across Canada right now, and we are doing that by delivering a GST cut for new homebuyers. We are doing that by reducing the cost of housing through development cost charges. We are working in partnership with local governments to deliver that. We also have to be sure we build more affordable housing for young people and those most vulnerable across our country.

Mr. Speaker, new data out this week shows that home sales in the GTA are down 89% below their 10-year average. That is not a slowdown; that is a market stall. What is the Prime Minister's response? It is a GST proposal that industry has dismissed, saying it will not improve affordability. What is the Prime Minister's plan today, not in September, for buyers who cannot buy, sellers who cannot sell and builders who cannot build?

Mr. Speaker, we have good news coming with the GST cut for first-time homebuyers. We are seeing a stall in the market as people wait for that cut. We hope the members opposite will support the cut to the GST. We are also going to focus on building more housing on the affordable end of the spectrum. That is what the young people of Canada need. That is what we need to deliver in this House for the people of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, the price of the average home in my hometown of Oshawa has gone up 121% since 2015. According to Equifax, a record number of Ontarians are missing mortgage payments now, up 71.5% since early 2024. A TMU professor said, “The first thing you make sure you do in life is to pay your mortgage, but people aren’t doing that, because the whole system is so broken now.” The Liberal housing minister, former mayor of Vancouver, comes to us with an already broken record of sky-high prices and surging homelessness, so why should Canadians trust him to do the job?

Mr. Speaker, again, I will caution the members opposite against insulting local government officials who are here in Ottawa this week to partner with the federal government. The only way we get housing built in this country is with alignment with the provinces, territories and local and indigenous governments. We need to work in partnership and collaboration to deliver housing for Canadians that they can afford.

Mr. Speaker, according to new data, Ontario's homeowners are missing mortgage payments in record numbers. The 90-day mortgage delinquency rate has jumped 71% since last year. Canadians are facing 40-year inflation highs, lacklustre housing supply and skyrocketing mortgage rates. What does the housing minister have to say? He says that prices do not need to come down. As Vancouver's mayor, he oversaw rent going up 50%, home prices up 179% and homelessness up 40%. Can the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure tell Canadians how many more families must fall behind before his government takes action and finally tables a budget?

Mr. Speaker, I say to the member opposite that we have real challenges with housing across this country, and we have to address the affordability. We also have to tackle the trade war we face with the United States. The tariffs are having an impact on Canadians. They are impacting affordability. They are impacting our markets. That is why I applaud the actions of our Prime Minister and our ministers in addressing the challenges we face with the U.S., growing the Canadian economy and ending this trade war.

Mr. Speaker, after years of delays, uncertainty and economic damage, it is undeniable that Bill C-69, the no more pipelines bill, has been an absolute failure for Canadians. Industry leaders, provinces and indigenous communities have repeatedly sounded the alarm over its complex, unpredictable regulatory process that chases away investment and blocks development. Now that the Supreme Court has confirmed that key parts of the legislation are unconstitutional, will the Liberal government finally admit it got this wrong and scrap Bill C-69 to take real action to get Canadians back to work?

Mr. Speaker, in trade wars, we must capitalize on every competitive advantage we have. This means working with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples and proponents to make Canada an energy superpower. We will fast-track projects, cut red tape and approve projects in the national interest within two years. These activities will build the strongest low-cost, low-risk, low-carbon economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House for the first time, representing the people of Brampton Centre. I want to thank my family, friends, campaign team and constituents for all their love and support. Our constituents from across Canada sent us to Ottawa to deliver to them real results. Can the President of the Treasury Board share with the House what we are doing to bring down the cost for Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to work with the newly elected member for Brampton Centre to deliver results for our community and for all Canadians. Canadians elected a new government to take bold actions, and that is what we are doing with our first act: a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, new supports for first-time homebuyers and removal of the consumer carbon price. The new government is taking decisive actions to make life more affordable for Canadians and to build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberal government was first elected in 2015, it killed 16 major resource projects and chased $176 billion out of the Canadian economy. This resulted in thousands of lost jobs in my city alone, and Bill C-69 continues to make it impossible to build the pipelines needed to unleash our resources and to restore our economic independence. Will the Prime Minister commit today to cancelling Justin Trudeau's no more pipelines law, Bill C-69?

Mr. Speaker, I have been clear: We will support new pipelines if there is a national consensus in favour of them. With our country's facing American tariffs, we must strengthen our energy and natural resources sectors. There is no question that energy is Canada's power. We will help build the strongest economy in the G7, create jobs for Canadians and give the best cards to our negotiators at the negotiating table. Canada's new government will win this trade war.

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives and Canadians know that if people pay more taxes to the government, the weather will not get better. Conservatives have been standing up for Canadians and against the carbon tax for more than a decade. The Prime Minister made a big splash in March when he told Canadians he would axe the carbon tax. After the Conservatives pleaded for years, finally his government removed the consumer carbon tax. Will the Prime Minister also repeal the industrial carbon tax so Canadian companies and industries can compete in the global economy, yes or no?

Mr. Speaker, that was an interesting question, but I am going to disagree with all of its premises. If we actually care about industries, then we are going to look at what is actually costing them right now, which is the tariffs coming from the United States and impacting their ability to do what they need to do. We are here standing up for Canada. We are here standing up for a strong economy. We know that is what we need to do. That is what Canadians asked us to do, and that is what we are going to keep doing.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says that half of Canada's oil needs to stay in the ground, and now he is backing that up with a production cap that the Parliamentary Budget Officer says will kill 54,000 jobs and gut $20 billion from our economy. This keep-it-in-the-ground agenda does not just kill paycheques; it also makes us more dependent on foreign oil. It weakens our economy and punishes Alberta families and Saskatchewan families that have built this country's energy sector. I will ask the Prime Minister a simple yes or no question: Will he scrap his job-killing production cap and finally let Canadians restore energy independence?

Mr. Speaker, my goal is to get things built where there are proponents. Canada's new government will fast-track projects, cut red tape and approve projects in the national interest within two years. We will make Canada strong and protect ourselves from American tariffs if we work together with indigenous partners and our workers, but across party lines. I encourage my Conservative colleagues to join us in creating new jobs, building the strongest economy in the G7 and making Canada an energy superpower.

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Liberal anti-energy policies, the devastation continues. There have already been hundreds of thousands of job losses in the industry, and thanks to the radical ministers on the front bench, the Liberal oil and gas production cap has another 54,000 jobs and over $20 billion on the chopping block. The Prime Minister campaigned on having a plan to get things built, yet he has already committed to not overturning the production cap. Is the Prime Minister's refusal to scrap the cap an admission that he supports this devastating policy?

Mr. Speaker, after seeing, under the former Conservative government, nothing getting built, I think we had some lessons to learn. What we learned is that we cannot actually get results if we decide that we are not going to do any environmental assessments and that we are not going to be consulting with indigenous peoples. What we are going to do is to make sure that we build an effective, efficient assessment system that gets projects built. That is what we committed to do and that is what we will do.

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister was the chair of Brookfield, Brookfield registered $30 billion of investment funds in offshore tax havens in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, all to avoid paying taxes in Canada. Now the Prime Minister refuses to come clean and disclose his assets to Canadians. Canadians deserve to know. Does the Prime Minister have any financial holdings hidden away in offshore tax havens, yes or no?

Mr. Speaker, Canadians should feel very reassured that we have among the most stringent ethics requirements for public office holders in the world. The Prime Minister has not only complied with all of those requirements but has also proactively and pre-emptively filed all the information the Ethics Commissioner requires. Obviously, complying with the rules is something we will always do on this side of the House. Canadians can bank on that.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been anything but transparent, hiding behind a loophole in Canada's ethics laws to hide his assets from Canadians. It really begs the question “Why?” Is it because Mr. Elbows Up himself is dodging paying taxes?

Mr. Speaker, I do not know that evoking conspiracy theories is going to advance the case of the Conservative Party. What I would say, to repeat one more time, is that Canadians should feel very reassured by the fact that we have among the most stringent ethics guidelines in the world and that the Prime Minister has not only met those requirements but exceeded them.

Mr. Speaker, 10,000 people in Lévis recently applied for food aid. That is twice as many as in 2021. People working full time can no longer put food on the table. Meanwhile, the Liberals promise to cut spending in the morning and then increase it in the afternoon by 8%. The Prime Minister has a new face but the same bad habits. Does the Prime Minister realize that his out-of-control spending is fuelling inflation and driving Canadians to food banks?

Mr. Speaker, we are all concerned about this situation across the country. That is why the very first measure that the government introduced was an affordability measure, to ensure that 22 million Canadians across the country get to pay less tax. The best way to keep money in the pockets of Canadians is to keep taxes low. That is one way to help Canadians across the country. That is what we will continue to do.

Mr. Speaker, those who are profiting right now are the consulting firms. They are getting a 36% increase, $6 billion more. There are 10,000 people in my riding using food banks. Can the government at least have the decency to table a budget this spring?

Mr. Speaker, our goal right now is to help the people who are having a tough time making ends meet. That is why we are lowering taxes for the middle class. We are also cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers. As my colleague knows, we are currently in a tariff war. Our goal is to fight to create jobs, protect those currently under threat and, again and always, invest in creating the strongest economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election. This is my first time rising in the House as the member for Beauport—Limoilou, and I thank my constituents for putting their trust in me. Last month, my constituents called for change that will put more money back in their pockets. Can the minister explain what this government will do to make life more affordable for Quebeckers and Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to thank my constituents in Louis-Hébert, without whom nothing would have been possible. I thank my constituents for placing their trust in me once again. I would add that I thank the people of Beauport—Limoilou for giving us a third voice in Quebec City, a third member to join me and my friend and colleague from Québec Centre. With his strong voice, we will be able to defend the interests of the Quebec City region even more effectively. With his help, we are already taking action with a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. This will mean an average reduction of $840 per family. My colleague can be proud of that. I hope we will have the support of the entire House as we meet Canadians' expectations for a more affordable country and a stronger economy.

Mr. Speaker, the government is not serious when it comes to public safety. We recently learned that terrorist-related charges were up 488%. If we thought this statistic and the problem that goes with it would be reported in the Speech from the Throne, we were wrong. Why is the government so unserious about a matter that impacts all Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious that my friend opposite did not hear the Speech from the Throne, because we have some very significant measures to address issues of security. New threats to our safety are emerging each and every day. Canada's intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies have robust measures in place to monitor and take action to address them. From listing terrorist entities to investigating and prosecuting those who seek to cause us harm, our government will always be there to protect Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, will the government always be there to protect Canadians? Let us move to exhibit 2: the case of Randall Hopley, who kidnapped a three-year-old child. He served a lengthy jail sentence. He was released into the community in 2023. Shortly thereafter, he was at large for 10 days, with his photo being plastered everywhere. He was released again this week and did not last even a day in the community. If the government is so committed to going after sex offenders, to protecting Canadians, will they repeal the legislation that allows this?

Mr. Speaker, when we speak about crime, safety and security, it is important that we have the facts right. The case in question is a matter of statutory release, which is in law. I invite my friend, again, to—

Oh, oh!

I cannot hear the hon. member. Could the hon. member repeat that?

Mr. Speaker, we cannot conflate the issues of statutory release with bail. We will ensure that, as this is a matter before the Correctional Service of Canada, we work with it to ensure that it has the right measures in place. I can assure everyone in this House that this is a matter of law, that it—

The hon. member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.

Mr. Speaker, I have news from my riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. Yesterday, a Hamilton city bus was caught in the crossfire of a shooting. This comes just weeks after an innocent young lady tragically lost her life by a stray bullet on Upper James simply by waiting for the bus. Crime is out of control, and this status quo is unacceptable. When will the Prime Minister repeal Liberal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 so we can bring back safety to the streets of Hamilton and Canada?

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to sympathize with the family of the innocent bystander. Her family lives in my riding and I have met with them. This issue is close to home for me and is one I am committed to in my position. I know the Prime Minister is committed to it. We are going to make changes. This new government is committed to making sure that we hold criminals accountable and make our streets safer. We are going to do the work that is necessary, making bail penalties stricter and sentences stricter, and do all the work we need to do across—

The hon. member for St. Catharines.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect our government to keep our borders secure. A strong border leads to safe streets. Can the Minister of Public Safety provide this House with an update on the implementation of Canada's $1.3-billion border plan?

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating my friend from St. Catharines on his re-election. Our border is strong, and through our border plan, the single largest investment in our border in Canadian history, we are making it even stronger. We have eyes on the border 24-7, with more officers, drones, Black Hawk helicopters and sensors. Our plan is working. Earlier this year, we seized more than 46 kilograms of fentanyl, 122 firearms, 33 stolen cars and over $800,000 in cash, and arrested 524 criminals. Canadians elected this government to keep our borders safe and that is exactly what we will do.

Mr. Speaker, even as Canadians worry about their economic future, the Prime Minister continues to raise doubts about his own financial interests. His past ties to Brookfield, a company with a presence in several tax havens, raise serious questions. The people of Beauce and Canadians want to know if the Prime Minister still has financial interests hidden in tax havens. Will he be fully transparent and disclose his past and present assets and financial ties, yes or no?

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my hon. colleague from Beauce. What he, like any new member of the House, will learn is that the rules and compliance with our code of ethics are non-negotiable. That is why the Prime Minister was proactive and went above and beyond the requirements of the code of ethics, which the member must also comply with. I hope that he, too, will comply with the code, just like the Prime Minister.

Mr. Speaker, due to the escalating climate crisis, Manitobans are being uprooted from their communities by raging wildfires. The premier has ordered a province-wide emergency as 17,000 people in northern communities and first nations have fled their homes. Many are being evacuated to Winnipeg Centre, where countless people already suffer with housing insecurity and unmet mental health needs. Will the government act to ensure that all communities impacted by the fires receive the health and housing resources they need so they can live in dignity?

Mr. Speaker, I rise for the first time in this House. Our hearts go out to all of the communities that are affected by wildfires from coast to coast to coast. Last night, the Prime Minister and I received a request from the Province of Manitoba seeking airlift evacuation support for two northwestern Manitoba first nations communities, and of course we immediately agreed to that support. There are a number of communities affected by—

The hon. member for Nunavut.

Uqaqtittiji, indigenous peoples must give free, prior and informed consent for projects developed in their territories. Last Parliament, I addressed this concern in my private member's bill. The throne speech highlighted one project and one review and ignored UNDRIP. The Prime Minister plans to make Canada an energy superpower. No wonder the AFN is concerned. Will the minister reverse his colonial approach or will indigenous people's rights be violated?

Mr. Speaker, we face a major challenge that requires united efforts to advance nation-building projects, making Canada's economy stronger and one of the fastest-growing in the G7. The Crown, including the provinces and territories, must consult with indigenous people to support indigenous self-determination. This partnership fulfills legal duties and advances reconciliation. While we will not comment on provincial matters, we remain committed to collaborating with all to build a stronger Canada.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today for the traditional Thursday question. It is the most anticipated time of the week for Canadians who follow the House proceedings closely. First, I would like to begin by thanking the people of Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière for allowing me to continue serving as their representative.

Colleagues, when leaving the House, please do so quietly, because this is an important question that alerts us to what will come next week. The hon. member has the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I would not want my new colleagues to miss out on the unique opportunity to hear the Thursday question. It is a very important moment this week. As I was saying, during the election, I promised to be the voice of the people of Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, to speak for those in my riding who are struggling to make ends meet and for the young families who cannot pay their mortgage. I will ask the Liberal House leader if this week's agenda provides for a budget to be tabled soon. It is particularly vital that a budget be tabled this spring, especially after we learned this week that, despite all the fine words in the Speech from the Throne, Liberal spending is worse under this Prime Minister than under Justin Trudeau. I have another important question. The Prime Minister claims he wants to take action quickly, immediately, with an ambitious agenda. Can the Liberal House leader tell us when the parliamentary committees will start meeting? When will we have the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs? As a sign of good faith, I will assure the Liberal leader of our full co-operation. We would consent to a budget being tabled tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday or Monday, and to calling—

The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

Mr. Speaker, the Thursday question seems to have grown enormously since the election. I have some advice for my friend from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière: Be concise and hire an editor. I would like to acknowledge his constituents, as well as my own constituents in Gatineau. My fellow Quebeckers across Quebec can rest assured: This new government has a grand vision, a plan for the country's growth, for jobs in Canada, for major new projects. Of course, it will take time, in keeping with our best democratic traditions. First of all, we must debate the important speech delivered by His Majesty King Charles III. That is what we will be doing in the coming days. Today, we are continuing with the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne. The vote on the amendment to the amendment put forward by the member for Beloeil—Chambly, another Quebecker, will happen tonight. Finally, the amendment put forward by the leader of the official opposition will be put to a vote on Monday evening. It is the government's intention to continue tomorrow with the third appointed day of the address debate. The fourth, fifth and sixth appointed days will be scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Furthermore, pursuant to the special order adopted on Tuesday, May 27, I would like to designate Thursday, June 5; Monday, June 9; Tuesday, June 10; and Wednesday, June 11, for consideration of the estimates in committee of the whole. These and many other very important parliamentary initiatives will be rolling out according to the rules in due course, and I look forward to exchanging with my hon. colleagues on all of them.

The House resumed consideration of the motion for an address to His Majesty the King in reply to his speech at the opening of the session, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, as a coastal community, we in Victoria are surrounded by the evidence of climate change: rising sea levels, intensifying storms, smoke-choked skies and forests devoured by wildfires. We live it. We breathe it. We see the damage mounting with every passing season. As I speak, the province of Manitoba is under a state of emergency, and I extend my sympathies to the people being evacuated from their homes and to their representatives in the House. Tomorrow, it could be anywhere. The climate crisis is not a future threat. It is a present reality. It is costing us more than just our natural spaces. It is taking our livelihoods, our health and, if we fail to act, our children's future. I am proud to stand with a Liberal government that understands what is at stake. That is why we are acting with urgency and ambition. We will draw on the wisdom of indigenous knowledge, the strength of modern technology and the power of a united Canada to protect more lands, more waters and more of the natural infrastructure that sustains us. We have an opportunity to lead the world in sustainable economic growth and to leave our children a country worth not only inheriting but celebrating. Canada truly has the power to be the strongest economy in the G7. By investing in our resources, our skills and our people, we can show economic leadership in sustainable ways. Canada is an energy superpower, which is clear to those of us in the west because Canadian oil moves through the Trans Mountain pipeline and goes to market on tankers that sail past my riding every day. In fact, under the Liberal government, Alberta oil output is at record levels while it maintains some of the highest standards for oil production in the world. Despite the opposition's rhetoric, our government takes Canadian jobs seriously. Today, we are supporting jobs while preparing our economy for the energy system of the future. That means scaling up clean technology and renewable energy projects and building the national west-to-east infrastructure to support them. Our platform is clear: A prosperous future must also be a sustainable one. However, sustainable growth is not just about GDP or emissions targets. It is about ensuring that no community is left behind. In Victoria, the toxic opioid crisis has pushed entire blocks of our downtown core, such as Pandora Avenue, to the brink. A vibrant part of our city has been hollowed out by a national drug crisis that continues to take lives and dignity at a staggering pace. People in the grip of addiction are dying in plain sight. Some are beyond the reach of help; others are begging for it. This is not just a housing crisis. It is a drug crisis, a mental health crisis and a call to action for improved national coordination. We must offer real solutions that restore safety and dignity, both for those living on the streets and for the communities around them. That too is what economic leadership looks like. As a proud—

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford.

Mr. Speaker, to the member for Victoria, congratulations on your first speech in the House of Commons. As a fellow British Columbian—

We have been away for a while, but please address the question through the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, through you, I congratulate the member for Victoria. As the member knows, my riding of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford suffered one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of Canada. Our major roadways were washed out. Sumas Prairie, the breadbasket of British Columbia, was flooded. It was turmoil. Since that natural disaster, the federal government has not come forward with any additional infrastructure dollars for Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Would the member agree that to support British Columbia's breadbasket, British Columbian food security and British Columbia's ability to transfer goods throughout all of Asia, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley need additional infrastructure dollars to protect Canadian supply chains?

Mr. Speaker, the impacts that Abbotsford experienced from extreme weather events and natural disasters show the vulnerability of British Columbian communities, and communities from coast to coast to coast, to the effects of climate change. The natural disasters and climate-related impacts in 2021 alone cost British Columbia between 3% and 5% of our GDP. That is exactly why we cannot afford to not take action on climate change and why the government is committed to continuing to invest in critical infrastructure and adaptation that will prevent such disasters in the future.

Mr. Speaker, in this first week of sittings, I want to take the opportunity to sincerely thank the people of Berthier—Maskinongé, who not only elected me to a third term, but to a third term with a clear majority. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and I will honour their trust. I would like my colleague to answer the following simple question. At home, does his family draw up a budget before spending money? Does he think he could work within his party to try to convince his Liberal friends to share the state of our public finances before presenting us with new spending?

Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election as Chair. I look forward to working with you. The hon. member is a new member, and I thank him for his speech. I know that any number of us in the House of Commons have identified priorities that we wish to deliver to our communities. The member comes from a beautiful part of the country in Victoria. What is the number one priority that he wishes to deliver for his riding in the coming years?

Mr. Speaker, the priorities that I have been sent here to Ottawa to advocate for by my community are very clear. As a community, we have deep concerns about the state of critical infrastructure across Victoria and across the south island. We need to invest in infrastructure that will make us more resilient in the face of climate impacts and extreme weather events, as well as the kind of infrastructure that will help us to actually reduce our emissions, such as more dense and sustainable housing built with Canadian materials and public transit so that people can get to work without driving their vehicles. That is how we are going to tackle climate change every day.

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of this talking point about the strongest economy in the G7. The reality is that youth unemployment of over 14% is really killing opportunities for young people. We are headed into a summer without summer jobs for so many. The lack of private sector job growth is killing opportunity for the next generation. In that context, why can the government not offer a budget that shows what it is going to do to reverse its failures on youth unemployment?

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt about the impact that the trade war thrust upon us by the United States is having on Canada's economy. That is why the government is focused on ensuring and strengthening our domestic economy so that we can provide employment to all Canadians, including young Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations on taking that seat. I hope you bring back dignity and honour to that office, and I know you will. I would like to start off by saying that I am splitting my time with the member for Battle River—Crowfoot, somebody I have known to be a great colleague and friend. We are going to miss him around here. When he made the decision he is going to tell you about, I called him a mensch and told him he could look it up. I want to thank him, Danielle and the entire family for what he is going to do in putting his country first. I also want to thank the people of Thornhill for entrusting me a second time to take their seat here in the House of Commons. The first time around, they took a chance on a relatively unknown quantity to fill the shoes of a long-time Conservative MP and former cabinet minister. The second victory feels a bit more profound. I think the people of Thornhill have entrusted me with this honour to serve them because of the work we have done, our advocacy and what the team and this party have promised to Canadians. We have done that with the biggest mandate in the riding's history of any MP. I am so proud and honoured, always, to have this seat. None of this is done on our own. I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers, not only leading up to the election and election campaign but also for the years before, travelling the country from riding to riding. I thank all of those who helped, who came in the snow and the rain, who stuffed envelopes, who banged in signs and who went door to door talking to everyday Canadians about the issues that matter to them. I thank my family, both blood and the ones we acquire on this journey. Everybody knows that politics is a family business, and I have the best family in the business. They are the ones who are honest with us, who tell us that we are not eating enough, that a slushy is not considered lunch, that we look tired or that our jacket does not match. They are the very ones who tell us to go a bit more, go to one more event or one more door and talk to one more person; they also know when it is time to go home because it is better for us. I thank all of them. I thank my partner, who is lax in all the things that I miss: the dinners and birthdays of family members, the celebrations that normal people with normal jobs get to do much more often than we do. She has never once put that ahead of what we do for the people of Thornhill. When I ran the first time, I did not have my mom with me. I am part of a club that not a lot of people my age are a part of. I am part of the orphan club. I have lost both my parents. I lost my father between the first and second elections. He was here for my first election. I often tell their story, because I think it is the embodiment of one that so many share in this country. I come by conservatism honestly. I often tell people that I am a product of a mixed marriage: My mom was a Liberal, and my father was a Conservative. My mom always said that she did not leave the Liberal Party, but that the Liberal Party left her. Boy, is that ever true today. She left a long time ago and supported me throughout my journey to elected politics. I say that because my parents are the embodiment of the Canadian immigrant story. They immigrated here from the former Soviet Union. My dad was an uncredentialed engineer who drove a taxi to put my mom through school. They put two kids through university and watched them get jobs and homes. I also tell a joke that my parents bought their first home, in the place I now represent, for about seven raspberries and 12 almonds. They did that on a taxi driver's salary and with a woman who was still in school, trying to make it in the corporate world. They did that in a safe neighbourhood where they could raise kids the way they wanted to, in the freedom of this country, the freedom they ran from the Soviet Union to attain. People cannot do that anymore. They cannot do any of that, and that is what I heard every single day at every single door in more than 40 ridings across the country, from east to west: Young people cannot afford a home. I heard that if someone came here and drove a taxi today, or probably an Uber, there is no way they could buy a home in the suburbs, raise two kids and send them through university. There is no way that today, somebody with my last name, whose father was a cab driver, can go from the front seat of a taxi to the front row of Parliament Hill in one generation. That dream is absolutely dead in this country, which brings me to a government that was a big part of killing that dream. Over the last 10 years, we saw the same ministers. There are 13 of the same ministers on the front bench. It feels a bit déjà vu. They are saying the exact same things, except for some of the new things they are saying, which they borrowed from the Conservative platform. I invite them to borrow more and go all the way, not with these half measures that we are seeing, with a GST cut that does not go far enough and includes only first-time homebuyers, or a tax cut that is about half of the one that we promised. That is not going to stand up when someone has a $5,000 mortgage to pay. If they are going to take our ideas, they should go all the way with them. That brings me to the Speech from the Throne, which is an exact regurgitation of what we heard on the campaign, except without detail. There is no detail. There is no meat on the bones of any of this. It is a lot of grand, lofty statements about what is going to happen and what they are going to do. This is coming from a Prime Minister who said that a plan is better than no plan and that he was the man with a plan. We do not see that right now, and I suspect that we are not going to see that, because it is what they do in the government of the 13 ministers who are still there and some of the new ones who now fill that second row. It is a government of lofty statements, and it is the exact reason that, when we knocked on doors, affordability, crime and immigration were the number one things that people talked about in so many different regions. The immigration system had a consensus in this country for a generation. Let me talk about what the throne speech did not say, because I would be remiss if I did not say it. I come from a community whose people are terrified of living in this country. It is not that they feel scared; they are actually in danger. The government has been absolutely silent on Jews in this country, the ones who were shot at and harassed and whose businesses were being firebombed. We have seen lawless mobs in the streets screaming genocidal slogans at their fellow Canadians. If one goes to the faculty clubs of our universities or, frankly, the halls of this place or even close to it—

Or the Liberal Party.

Mr. Speaker, I actually did not think it would be worse than with the last foreign minister, but we have a new foreign minister who, whether she knows it or not, is parroting Hamas talking points. That very same terrorist organization that is listed as a terrorist organization in this country has thanked this country for its position, for a second time now. If they are thanked for a second time by a terrorist organization, we all know that they are probably on the wrong side of history. I do not know if they need to be thanked for a third time to actually get it, but we have gone from “free Palestine” chants to full-blown extremism in this country, just as long as it targets Jews who look a bit too complicit for comfort. Forget nuance and forget humanity. If we squint hard enough, anyone with a Hebrew name or an Israeli cousin is now a war criminal in this country. That is what the Liberals have allowed to happen in our streets. I would like to have seen something in the throne speech on this. I know that there are many constituents in many different ridings. Maybe they do not make up the majority of the constituents in those ridings, but if anyone is scared to live in this country, to walk the streets, to wear a yarmulke, to wear a Star of David or to put a mezuzah on the door, to walk into a synagogue or to walk into a church, because there are officials in Ottawa who said the church burnings are understandable, and that is to say nothing about the Hindu temples that are desecrated in this country, I hope the Prime Minister is successful, because we cannot go on like this.

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with many of the things the member opposite said. At the end of the day, as a Liberal member of Parliament, I believe that within the very heart of the Liberal caucus the member will find an appreciation of Canada's diversity, which is second to that in no other caucus. We understand the true value of what diversity can do for Canada, not only for today but for tomorrow. When the Prime Minister talks about looking for opportunities that go beyond the relationship between Canada and the United States, we can look at other countries, whether we are talking about India, Africa, the Philippines and so forth. Using that diversity, we can build a stronger and healthier country. I challenge the member to be as bold as to say, and to make the attempt to recognize, the important role that diversity plays in our society today.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that was a question, and perhaps it was a comment, but it is more platitudes from this government. It talks about diversity, and its members talk a strong game about diversity, but when it comes to the actual protection of minorities for the lawlessness that is in the streets, and not just in the Jewish community, not just against Christian churches and not just against Hindu temples, they are nowhere to be found. The same repeat violent offenders, the same mobs of people covering their faces are the ones who rule the streets, and the Liberals have been silent about it. Perhaps the member can tell the Prime Minister that this is actually a problem, since the Prime Minister has come back to Canada, and he can advise him on doing something rather than saying nothing, or, in the case when they do say something, that it is not parroting the talking points of a terrorist organization.

Mr. Speaker, the first part of my colleague's speech focused on housing, an issue on the minds of a lot of people right now. People are having a hard time finding housing or buying a home. This throne speech reveals the Liberal government's willingness to play the role of a real estate developer, even though housing is a jurisdiction that belongs to Quebec and the provinces, in co-operation with the municipalities. Can the member explain how the Conservative Party ultimately persuaded the Liberal Party to adopt its idea of setting conditions on municipalities in order to obtain funds for housing? Simply put, this is yet another Liberal-Conservative attempt to interfere in the jurisdictions of Quebec and the municipalities.

Mr. Speaker, I think the member is referring to the decelerator funding or whatever the last scheme of the Liberal government was in terms of giving municipalities more money in order to block more homebuilding. It is the exact opposite of what we have said. When I talked about home ownership in the speech, I talked about it as an aspiration that so many in this country have, and about the blocking of it from governments right across the board, municipal, federal and provincial, that do not see the value in actually getting homes built. In fact, we have a housing minister whose record in Vancouver was to have housing prices rise 180%, who is now building a bureaucracy rather than building homes, and who is married to the generational divide that the Liberals caused in this last election between those who own their home and those aspiring to get one. That is not the right course of action, and Conservatives will stand ready to make sure that we bring solutions to the floor of the House of Commons and that they take more of our ideas on it.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the member for her powerful words about anti-Semitism. My grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. I remember hearing, when I was growing up, some of the stories she would share with us about her experiences. It is very dark to see some of the things that have happened in this country and other western countries around the world. I did want to ask the member about youth unemployment, the rise we are seeing and what she is seeing in particular in her riding in terms of the unemployment crisis that is going on right now.

Mr. Speaker, I would be the first one to say that I do not want to talk about anti-Semitism in the House or ever in this country, and I do not think anybody should ever have to. However, the fact that the Liberals do not leads me to use this seat to speak for my community. With regard to youth unemployment, I think the data is very clear. We are seeing the highest youth unemployment rate in Ontario, and we are seeing the highest unemployment rates in Ontario.

I am now prepared to propose for the ratification of the House a candidate for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and deputy chair of committees of the whole. Pursuant to Standing Order 8, I propose Mrs. Mendès for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and deputy chair of committees of the whole. The motion is deemed moved and seconded. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

I am now prepared to propose for the ratification of the House a candidate for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and assistant deputy chair of committees of the whole. Pursuant to Standing Order 8, I propose Mr. Nater for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and assistant deputy chair of committees of the whole. The motion is deemed moved and seconded. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

The House resumed consideration of the motion for an address to His Majesty the King in reply to his speech at the opening of the session, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in my place and deliver what will be my farewell speech in this Parliament, for now. I will, at the earliest opportunity, resign my seat to trigger a by-election, but let me start by first sharing my thanks. It is an honour to serve in this place. Being elected for the third time to represent the people of Battle River—Crowfoot truly is an honour, and for anyone who has had the opportunity to sit in this place, it truly is. Being able to serve our communities is something that is a profound honour and something that I hope each and every other member, all 342 of them, takes very seriously. One never gets here by oneself. I am so thankful for a team that has supported me since I first put my name forward to run in a nomination in 2019, and for the three elections since. They were an incredible team of grassroots Conservative supporters who believe in common sense and in the things that we believe as a party, not simply because it is an election, but because they are the foundational things that they know our country needs and that they know is best. Those are the grassroots people I am so proud to call my teammates. Of course, there is the team that helps us, our staff who do the hard work and who help make us look good, whether it is in this place or in the communities in which we serve. The deepest “thank you”, though, goes to a woman who is sitting in the front row, and I hope the Speaker gives me latitude to acknowledge that here today, since it is my farewell speech. I say to my wife, Danielle, that it is one person's name on the ballot and on the election sign, but it is a team sport. I cannot thank Danielle enough for her support and love through what has been a wild ride. I did not know it would be quite so much work to resign, but I know the work continues. My boys have not seen their dad as much over the last number of years, and I certainly am looking forward to being able to spend some more time with Matthew, Emerson and Winston, those three boys Danielle and I are so very proud of. We get into politics for a reason, and when I first put my name forward to run in 2019, there were things that I stood for and believed in, like putting Canada first no matter what the circumstances, and like ensuring that I was always going to put my country first when it comes to the deliberations in this place and when it comes to my actions. That is why I am so proud to stand with Danielle and with my family and offer to resign my seat to Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's Conservatives. It is because that man, I truly believe, is the right man to lead this party and to lead the opposition in this Parliament. My belief before remains my belief today, that Pierre Poilievre is the right man to be Prime Minister of Canada. The people in Battle River—Crowfoot overwhelmingly put their trust in me. I was honoured to receive more than 80% of the vote. It was an incredible affirmation, but not just of myself, because politics should never be about oneself, even though so many of the Liberals make it about that. Politics needs to be about doing what is best for one's country. As for the people of Battle River—Crowfoot who put their trust in me, I have a simple request of all of them. I would ask that they trust me as I ask them to put their trust in Pierre Poilievre in this upcoming by-election and elect him as the member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot for the remainder of this Parliament. He will fight for those in rural east central Alberta and represent Canadians with the common-sense vision that so many Canadians put their trust in for the first time in the election. More than eight million Canadians voted Conservative in the last election. More than 41% of the population voted Conservative in the last election. I am asking the people of Battle River—Crowfoot who trusted me to trust me once again as I ask them to support Pierre Poilievre when he runs in the upcoming by-election in Battle River—Crowfoot. Our country faces significant challenges that require real action and a real plan. We face a national unity crisis. It is not something that can be flippantly dismissed by those in other parts of the country who would suggest that Alberta, for example, should simply pay up and shut up. No, I am sorry; that is not what Alberta should do. Alberta deserves a fair voice in the federation, just like every province. I heard earlier that a new colleague from Newfoundland had a similar sentiment. I have heard the same thing when I have spoken with colleagues from every region of our country. There are challenges our nation faces, and they deserve more than platitudes and a decade of the same failed ideology that got us into the disastrous position we find ourselves in now. This is a debate on the throne speech. As I listened to the throne speech, I noted there was an interesting mix of things. There was a co-opting of some of our ideas for political benefit, but at the very root of it, we saw that the Liberals are simply the same old ideologues we have seen for the last decade who have eroded trust in our institutions, held back our economy, shut down our resources and told Canadians that their voices, their freedoms and who they are as people do not matter. As I shared my decision and offer a number of weeks ago and as I spoke with Canadians from coast to coast to coast over the last number of weeks, I saw so clearly how the vision that Conservatives brought forward with leader Pierre Poilievre in the last election proposes the solutions that our country truly needs. As I stand here to offer my farewell address, I look to the Conservative team. I can look back to the class of 2019, but the class of 2025 is pretty incredible. There is a depth of talent and esteem that we should and can be proud of. I know this team will do incredible things. I look forward to championing the cause from outside the House in the interim. Many of my constituents have asked whether I am retiring from politics, and the simple is that, no, I do not plan to retire from politics, but I am stepping aside to ensure that this by-election gets triggered. I will go back to where I started, with a note of thanks, reflection and humility. One is driven by things in one's life. There are things in people's hearts that drive them. I think of my faith, the fact that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour, the fact that foundational beliefs were taught to me by my dad, my mom, family members, my grandparents and my grandpas, who are not with me any longer. There is so much that we have to be proud of in this country. As I conclude, and as Danielle and I move on to what is a bit of an unexpected chapter of our lives, I would ask each and every person in this House to fight for Canada, fight for what is right and do so boldly and strongly because that is the least we can do for the people who send us here.

I had the pleasure of sitting on the environment committee with the member. He always displayed honesty and goodwill, and that did not keep him from keeping the chair on his toes. As a matter of fact, it led him to make efforts to keep the chair on his toes. Questions and comments, the hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni.

Mr. Speaker, first, it is an honour to rise today. I know my colleague is leaving. We sure had our differences in this place. We had some pretty heated debates over the years too and could not have had more different politics, except that we share that we are both from rural communities. I admired his passion. My former colleague from Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, Alistair MacGregor, and I sat pretty close to him, within earshot, and we had some good laughs. We would refer to him as “hockey dad” because he had such passion when he spoke in the House on issues. He is a hockey dad, and he will get to spend some time with his three kids. He is going to be home with his family. I want to pass on my condolences to my colleague. He lost his father in the last year, and I know he is going to take on the farm and do well with it. We wish him well as a farmer supporting Canadians so we get our food and in the work that he will do around his farm. On behalf of all New Democrats, we want to wish him and his family well, and we want to thank him for his service in this House.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the very kind words. They emphasize that in this place we can trade passionate, partisan barbs and can passionately disagree, but that does not mean there is hatred toward each other. It is our job to passionately defend the people who send us here and the ideas that drive the very core of who we are. As a rural Canadian, I am very proud to have been that voice for rural east central Alberta over the last five and a half years. While I am stepping back now, I can assure those people that I will do everything I can to ensure that Pierre Poilievre is given the support he needs if he has the honour of sitting in the chair of Battle River—Crowfoot. Let me simply conclude with this. All of us in this place, with humility, grace and passion, can represent our constituents well. I hope that is a lesson I have imparted on all members as I vacate this seat and offer it up for a by-election in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, I had not intended to give a Caesar-like speech. We are not burying the member. I am tempted, of course, as ever, to praise him because we are friends. I do not think the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot will be gone long from this place, and I do not know if the official residence of Stornoway is now found within the borders of Battle River—Crowfoot, but I am sure that all things will be revealed. I hope the member for Battle River—Crowfoot will be back here. I want to ask him a question, very briefly, because it is my first time taking the floor today. The hon. member for Calgary Centre pointed out how many Conservative ideas are in this Speech from the Throne. I think it could have been a Speech from the Throne from a Conservative government. I wonder if the member for Battle River—Crowfoot will be tempted to vote for it.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague's remarks, and especially our work at the National Prayer Breakfast together, have always been something I have appreciated. In the interim, I look forward to being able to spend a bit more time in a tractor cab. The one thing about being in a tractor cab is that it does not heckle, but like government, it requires maintenance, fuel and direction; it requires everything. If we do not take care of it, it breaks down, and we have to call the mechanic. Do members know who I think the best mechanic to fix our country is? I can say to my friends that his name is Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservatives.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to continue what the member for Courtenay—Alberni started with, which is offering congratulations and a level of gratitude to the member for his service in this place, with this of course being his resignation speech. I think about the way my former colleague Scott Brison stepped aside so Joe Clark could run for a seat as leader at that time. I have great respect for my predecessor, Mr. Brison. I have great respect for the member for Battle River—Crowfoot as well. The House will remember his big, booming voice when he came in on debate. Some of us will perhaps be thankful that he will not be bringing forward that big voice and his the ability to hold the government to account, but I know others will probably miss it. The member represents a rural constituency and I represent a rural constituency. We may not always see every issue the same, but I know he has been a great champion for rural Canada. I suspect we may see him back in this place in due course. I offer him congratulations and wish him all the best in the days ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the kind words. As to how long it will be before I once again run to represent the people of Battle River—Crowfoot, I will leave that to the people who will remain in this place and the confidence votes coming forward. When it comes down to it, we fight for what we believe is right. It has been an honour to serve the people of Battle River—Crowfoot in this place for the last five and a half years. I count it an honour to serve them in this way, as I step aside temporarily to trigger a by-election. Let me assure everyone who may miss my voice and the volume and tenor that sometimes come along with it that if they listen carefully in the coming months, they may just hear me during question period from Alberta heckling the Prime Minister and other Liberals, who deserve it, quite frankly. As these are my last words in this place, it has been an honour. From Danielle and me, may God bless all members and may God bless Canada. Let us keep working to not just put Canada first as a slogan but truly put Canada first, for that is what I believe our country needs and deserves. Together we can do that.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to join this debate. The member for Battle River—Crowfoot and I actually have a long history together. We both started as members of the Saskatchewan Party caucus office working in research. I was elected in 2011, and the hon. member took my job as the director of research in the Saskatchewan Party caucus office. I decided to make the trip to Ottawa, and I was very happy that my friend followed me to Ottawa. I guarantee this is not the last time I will have the honour of working with this very honourable man. I cannot wait for him to come back to the House in the next election so we can work together once again. To his lovely family and his boys, he is a great dad and an awesome husband. I am proud of him and cannot wait to see him in two or three years.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada, like the governments of all other countries, is not quite the same thing as a family. We are a Canadian family, but government finances look a little bit different. We will be seeing the government introduce a budget in the fall, and we look forward to being able to address the member's concerns then.

Mr. Speaker, I never got to know my colleague from Battle River—Crowfoot, but I want to acknowledge his decision, which must not have been easy. I also want to point out that he seems to be a real team player. In his speech, my colleague talked about the challenges to Canada's national unity, so I would like to give him the opportunity, before he leaves us, to share his thoughts on what appears to be a growing desire for independence in Alberta. What does he think of his fellow Albertans who want their province to have the power to govern itself and achieve its full potential?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the kind words, truly. It is humbling to hear from colleagues. I may be one of the more partisan voices in this place. As I said to one of the Speaker's predecessors, my constituency and my electors elected me to be that way, and they expect it. However, it is humbling to hear from members from all parties in this place, regardless of our political differences, regardless of where we come from in our country, that we can fight for Canada. We can fight for what we believe is right. I thought my previous words would be my last, but I appreciate this opportunity. I would simply like to put this on the record: To Danielle and my boys, Matthew, Emerson, and Winston, as well as the rest of my family, who have stood guard, including my dad, who is no longer with us, I cannot express my gratitude. I was a farm kid from rural Alberta who had no real political background, outside of the fact that I liked politics and watched question period as a kid instead of doing my math homework. The fact that somebody like me could end up in this place is a testament to what democracy should be. To Danielle, Matthew, Emerson, and Winston, and the many others who helped make this dream come true for me, who supported Danielle, me, and our family in the midst of this, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I plan to be back, God willing, but in the meantime, I look forward to being the best husband, the best dad and the best rural farmer I can possibly be. I hope to have some fun in the process.

We wish the member the very best in his upcoming endeavours. Resuming debate, the hon. member for Surrey Newton.

Mr. Speaker, before I start my speech, I would like to congratulate the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot for his service to the House. I would also love to congratulate the Deputy Speaker on his appointment. I am sure the residents of Calgary Shepard are very proud and that he will do great work. I will be splitting my time with the hon. Conservative member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith. I rise today, with pride and responsibility, to speak to the government’s vision as shared in His Majesty’s Speech from the Throne. It is a plan built on hope, strength, and a deep belief in keeping Canadians safe, united and moving forward together. Today, the world is more uncertain and more difficult than it has been in many years, but our government is ready. We are focused on protecting what matters most to Canadians: their safety, their values and their way of life. As the MP for Surrey Newton, I talk every day with hard-working Canadians in mosques, churches, mandirs, gurdwaras, community halls and small businesses. People are proud of Canada, but they are also worried. They are worried about the cost of living, housing and crime in their neighbourhoods, and they are worried about ensuring immigration remains fair and manageable. Today, I will speak to how our government is addressing those concerns with real action to strengthen public safety, improve affordability, grow our economy and manage immigration responsibly. Canadians are feeling the pressure of rising costs. That is why our government is taking concrete steps to make life more affordable. We will introduce tax relief that will help nearly 22 million Canadians, saving families up to $800 per year. This will allow Canadians to save more of their hard-earned money and put it back into their homes, families and communities. To help tackle the housing crisis, we are eliminating the GST on all new homes up to $1 million for first-time homebuyers and also reducing the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. This targeted support will help more Canadians achieve their dream of home ownership and ease demand in the market. Public safety remains a top priority. When people feel safe, they can build better lives and stronger communities. We are giving police and border officers better tools to fight modern crimes. We are hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers across the country to address gang violence, drug trafficking and gun crimes. These officers will provide frontline support where it is needed most. We are changing laws to prevent stolen vehicles and illegal goods from being exported, targeting the profits of organized crime. We are also using modern tools, such as drones, scanners, helicopters and police dogs, to intercept dangerous drugs, like fentanyl, and illegal firearms before they reach our streets. To protect victims of domestic violence, anyone who has assaulted a partner or is under a court order will be barred from possessing firearms. We are making bail harder to obtain for repeat offenders involved in serious crimes, such as car theft, drug smuggling or human trafficking. In response to the growing threat of foreign interference, our government is taking action to protect Canadians and safeguard our institutions. We have introduced new measures to increase transparency, strengthen intelligence oversight and ensure that those who seek to undermine our country’s values and public confidence are held accountable. Canada must remain a place where people are free from intimidation and foreign influence. Canada is a country built by immigrants. People from all over the world have come here for a better life, and together, they have built the Canada we are proud of today. Our immigration system must be fair and manageable. Right now, immigration growth is outpacing the capacity of our schools, hospitals, housing and job markets. That puts stress on everyone, including newcomers and long-time Canadians. To restore balance, we will limit the number of temporary foreign workers and international students to below 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027. We are not stopping immigration, but we are making sure that it works properly. We want newcomers to succeed. That means making sure that there are enough homes, enough teachers, enough doctors and enough jobs. We will continue to welcome skilled newcomers such as doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, drywallers, plumbers, electricians and other technical workers. We will improve the recognition of their credentials so that they can contribute to the economy in a faster way. We are also calling on talented Canadians living abroad to return home. Their energy and experience are vital to building Canada’s future. Immigration is not a federal issue alone. We will work closely with provinces, municipalities and community organizations to ensure that these changes are successful. A strong and secure economy is the foundation of everything we do. While the United States remains a key partner, we must diversify our trade relationships. That is why we are building new economic partnerships in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. Diversifying trade helps Canadian businesses grow, reduces risk and strengthens our economy for the future. In Surrey Newton and across Canada, this means more opportunity for exporters, small businesses and workers, and a more resilient, globally connected economy. These are not easy decisions, but they are the right ones. We are not choosing between compassion and safety. We are choosing both. We want a Canada that is welcoming and fair, secure and strong, affordable, and full of opportunity for our young people. When His Majesty opened Parliament, he reminded us of the enduring strength and promise of Canada. That Canada is still here, but the world has changed. We must respond. Let us work together, across party lines, to build a Canada that is safe, fair and prosperous, for this generation and the next. Let us show our future generations that we met challenging times with courage, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I congratulate the Deputy Speaker on his new role. My colleague across mentioned public safety. I think he is right. It is an issue that we have been hearing about right across our country. Under their government, under their Liberal watch, we have seen violent crime, extortion and auto theft go up. That is unacceptable. Our Conservative team has brought forward bills to crack down on auto theft and extortion. Can members guess what happened? The Lliberals voted against those measures. We have had the support of frontline police officers, mayors and premiers who are asking for bail reform. Instead, the government has been targeting lawful, law-abiding gun owners, who are carrying out the great Canadian traditions, instead of going after the repeat violent offenders who target our communities. In Oxford county, I heard loud and clear that seniors do not feel safe. Families do not feel safe. Kids do not want to go out at night to play basketball on the streets. That is unacceptable. Will the government finally crack down on criminals, put repeat violent offenders behind bars and bring back safe streets for all Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member for Oxford hears the same thing. The people in my neighbourhood in Surrey do not want assault rifles or handguns. That is an action we have taken. In fact, they want to make sure the bail terms are standard for the people who are repeat or violent offenders. That is what we are going to do. At the same time, we will have 1,000 new RCMP officers to deal with crime on the forefront.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new position. I listened carefully to my colleague's speech, in which he emphasized the importance of public safety and border security. The throne speech makes no mention of the promised hiring of 1,000 additional border officers to ensure border security. I would remind my colleague that the real number of officers needed is closer to 3,000, as documented. However, there is not a word about hiring more border officers. Can my colleague explain this backpedalling on the part of his government, which advocates border security but refuses to actually hire the personnel needed to ensure proper security?

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to border security, I take pride. As a member in the past two terms, I saw that we put more resources when it comes to border security officers and hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers. In fact, they are also going to help us when it comes to the crime happening around the border. They will help us protect our border as well.

Mr. Speaker, many of us look at my friend as a godfather of sorts in dealing with some really important issues. I know that one of them he holds very close to his chest is the importance of sound immigration policy. The mandate letter emphasizes the importance of getting the right balance with respect to immigration. I thought maybe he could provide a thought on the whole immigration file from his perspective.

Mr. Speaker, you are an expert on immigration issues, as is the hon. member for Winnipeg North. In Canada, by 2030, five million seniors will retire. The way we can sustain that is by bringing in new immigrants. To bring in new immigrants, we have to make sure we are fair and equitable when it comes to making sure they have schools, houses to live in and doctors to serve them. Those are the things we will take into consideration before we make those important decisions.

Mr. Speaker, it is with humility, pride and a profound sense of responsibility that I rise in the House as the member of Parliament for Nanaimo—Ladysmith. Let me begin by offering my heartfelt thanks to the people of my community. I thank them for placing their trust in me. From the shores of Saltair to Ladysmith harbour; from the vibrant arts communities on Gabe to the farms of Yellow Point, Cedar and Cassidy; and from the businesses of downtown Nanaimo to the heights of Mount Benson, I am deeply honoured to represent them. I will work every day to earn their trust, to re-earn it and to serve the people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith. I thank my family: my husband, Martin; our daughter, Sam; son, Joel; bonus daughter, Amara; my mother, Fran; my sisters; my in-laws and their families; my dad, Jules, whom I miss greatly; and everyone who stood by me through this journey. Public life is demanding, and I would not be standing here without their support, dedication and sacrifice. I thank our incredible volunteers, and especially Kyle, who built more than a campaign; he built a community, one where everyone is welcome, where ideas are exchanged respectfully and where people are free to be their authentic self. I look forward to expanding our community to include everyone in Nanaimo—Ladysmith who wants to be part of this incredible journey. The people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith voted for change and hope. They sent a Conservative to the House because they are tired of promises without performance, announcements without action and spending without results. They are counting on those of us who have been sent to the House, all of us, to work together to make real progress on the issues that matter to our communities. Like many members of the House, I had a career before running for office. As a lawyer, I helped clients navigate complex legal systems that are too slow and too bogged down in red tape, paperwork and jargon. As a goldsmith, I learned that patience, precision and attention to detail are essential. As a business owner, I learned that budgets never balance themselves. Those experiences taught me that quality matters, that what one builds must stand the test of time, that it is a privilege and an honour to be part of people's lives and that even the smallest mistakes can have real consequences. I bring those lessons with me to the House. Nanaimo—Ladysmith is one of the most breathtaking and diverse ridings in this country: coastal and forested, urban and rural, stretching from mountains to sea. It is home to indigenous communities like the Snuneymuxw and Stz'uminus first nations people, who live and work alongside the descendants of coal miners, fishers, trades workers, foresters, small business owners and new Canadians. However, beneath that natural beauty, there is despair. It is a despair that is as real and as deep as the coal mines that used to dot our landscape. The addiction crisis continues to devastate communities like mine. In 2024, Nanaimo lost 94 people to overdoses, more than three times the number lost in 2016, when B.C. first declared the opioid crisis a public emergency. Already I have sat with grieving parents who have had to bury children, spoken with first responders who are stretched to the limit and door-knocked in neighbourhoods in my community where despair has become the daily norm. The people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith are compassionate. We care deeply about our neighbours, but our patience is running thin. We want real treatment, real recovery and real results. As a lawyer, I have seen what happens when the system prioritizes bureaucracy over justice. As a legislator, I intend to help fix it. As a Conservative, I believe that the government should do fewer things but do them well. That starts with getting our fiscal house in order so we can have the resources to help those who need it. The cost of living is truly out of control. Seniors are cutting back on essentials, splitting pills and skipping meals. Families are working harder than ever but falling further behind. For many young people and a lot of people who are not so young, the dream of home ownership feels like a wall they can never scale. After a decade of overspending, Canadians are sick of paying more and getting less. Inflation is eating into paycheques in a way that just cannot be fixed with a modest tax cut spaced over a couple of years. Mortgage payments are crushing young families now. Groceries are unaffordable now. Tariffs are threatening our jobs and businesses now. Canadians cannot wait for relief until next fall or next spring. Canadians need relief now. We also need bold action on housing. In Nanaimo, I have met single parents forced into unsafe living conditions just to keep a roof over their head. In Ladysmith, families are being priced out of the very communities they helped build. We do not have enough homes, and the answer is not buzzwords; it is builders. It is not another department, agency or czar; it is more shovels in the ground, in the hands of workers earning good wages to support their families. We must slash red tape, eliminate delays and confront any ideology that stands in the way of building. We must invest in skilled trades, in the very people whose hands will build the future. Recently I had the pleasure of watching culinary arts students at Vancouver Island University reclaim the record for the world's largest Nanaimo bar. Yes, I did get to sample it, and yes, it was delicious, but even that sweet moment was overshadowed by the bitter reality of financial distress, in part due to the federal government's disastrous and abrupt changes in immigration policies. VIU was already staring down a deficit that caused it to cancel all its music programs and end its relationship with Elder College. Now VIU has no choice, as a result of the government's immigration about-face, but to propose suspending six additional programs and cancelling 13 others entirely, including the dental assistant programs that I would have thought necessary to deliver dental care, the master of community planning program that is needed to build the houses the government claims it wants, and the graduate diploma in hospitality management that is vital to our tourism industry. VIU is an economic anchor of Nanaimo—Ladysmith as well as a cherished community institution. What VIU needs, what we all need, is clear, predictable immigration policy and better coordination across governments, universities and industries. Canada must also reclaim its economic independence. Conservatives will stand proudly for Canadian energy and the jobs and prosperity those industries create, particularly in communities like Nanaimo—Ladysmith, where over 20% of the workforce is dependent on the natural resource sector and trades. We call on the government to repeal job-killing laws like Bill C-69 and Bill C-48. We need to build pipelines and other transportation infrastructure to unleash our resources and create good-paying jobs, not for special interest lobbyists in Ottawa, but for workers in communities across this great country. Parliament has much work to do, but we face some pretty simple choices: more bureaucracy or more building, more taxes or more paycheques, more excuses or more action. The people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith have made their choice. They want change. They want lower costs, more homes, safer streets and real economic growth. To my colleagues, including my colleagues across the aisle, let us—

The member will have to continue her thoughts during questions and comments. It is always important to look up at the Chair for a moment, as I am trying to signal members when their time is elapsing. I want to give members the maximum amount of time. Questions and comments, the member for Winnipeg North.

Mr. Speaker, it is really important to reflect on the speech that was made first thing this morning by the Prime Minister. Through the throne speech, there is good reason for people to have hope and understanding, and there is an appreciation for a throne speech very much focused on a stronger, healthier Canada for all regions of our country. We need to see support and maybe put political partisanships to the side, as we try to deal with Trump, the tariffs and the trade issue, for example, which is so critically important for the member opposite's constituents and mine. Would the member not agree with that?

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more that it is critically important for us to work together in the House across the aisle. That is why I respectfully ask the Prime Minister and cabinet to produce a budget. Canadians should be able to understand where the money is coming from and where it is going.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say hello to my colleague from Nanaimo—Ladysmith. We have things in common. My riding is also made up of mountains and seas. My colleague talked about the tariff war and the importance of taking action now. We know that very important negotiations will have to take place with the American government. Today, the Bloc Québécois introduced a bill to protect supply management, a price-setting mechanism that protects Quebec's family dairy farmers. If the bill were to pass, it could protect supply-managed sectors across Canada. The Liberal government has already announced that it will look at the bill very closely and that supply management will never be on the table. What is my colleague's position on the bill introduced this morning?

Mr. Speaker, I too am very interested in the legislation that will be passed in the House. I also want to focus on some things that maybe were not covered to the depth they needed to be covered in the throne speech. I really look forward to seeing the government produce a bill that leads us toward real treatment, real recovery and real enforcement with respect to the addictions crisis. Harm reduction is not enough. People in Nanaimo—Ladysmith want safe streets and real pathways out of addiction, not a government-sponsored decline that has resulted in little kids finding bags of meth or fentanyl in the park. Like my colleague, I too look forward to seeing the kind of legislation that is going to be brought forward in the House, and I very much hope the government will bring forward the kind of legislation that will allow us to work together for the people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

Mr. Speaker, the government has been very good at spending enormous amounts of money and driving our debt through the roof. Fiscal mismanagement is a hallmark of the government. In the Speech from the Throne, there was talk of a 2% increase in spending, yet at the same time legislation was introduced that actually increased spending by 8%. What are the member's thoughts on that, and what is her confidence that the government will have any hope of getting government spending under control?

Mr. Speaker, this morning the government introduced a bill with half a trillion dollars of spending, but without a budget to back it up. There are people in my riding who simply do not know how to find another dime for government. I really hope the government will introduce a budget that will tell us where the savings will come from that are going to allow us to deliver for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard the member, and a number of members prior to her, speak. Liberals have indicated when a budget will be coming forward, but is the member aware of how long it took Stephen Harper to bring a budget into the House of Commons? It was a considerable amount of time, about five to six months. Does the member think that was acceptable, given her comments regarding the current government?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has presented the Prime Minister as being a finance whiz, someone with considerable expertise in the world of finance, in the world of business and in government. He should be in a position to be well aware that the finance department stands ready to produce a budget on short notice. I respectfully request again that the government inform Canadians of where the spending and the cuts will come from, to allow us to make informed choices on behalf of our constituents and, more than that, to allow us to represent our constituents properly. We need to be able to consult with them, and to do that, we need to have information. I would really like to know why the government is keeping my constituents in the dark.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility. Representing this riding is an honour, and I do not take it lightly. I want to sincerely thank the people of Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay for placing their trust in me and electing me to represent them in the House. I want to thank my campaign managers, Chris and Cheryl, who pushed us all to success. I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who spent countless hours door knocking, making calls, putting signs in and doing other jobs that all members in the House know about. They spent so much time to elect me, a Conservative candidate and the first woman MP ever in this riding. Most of all, I want to thank my family for their amazing support. I thank Adam and my wonderful children, Zoe and Zakary. They are my rock. I could not do it without them. I am here because of them. We have an immense riding, and it is my mission to carry forward the voices of our communities into the House. From Castlegar to Princeton, from Osoyoos to Rossland, from Oliver to Grand Forks and from Penticton to Rock Creek, our riding is located in the heart of British Columbia's interior and is one of the most breathtaking places in Canada and, indeed, the world. It is home to hundreds of internationally recognized wineries, world-class ski resorts and some of Canada's warmest lakes, lined with pristine sandy beaches. This region is truly a national treasure. Tourists come from across the country and around the world. They are drawn here to our region to float down the Similkameen River or the Penticton channel, to kayak in Christina Lake or to hike through pristine trails in the Kootenays. I invite all Canadians to come and experience this extraordinary part of our country for themselves. Our economy is as diverse as our landscape. It is built on the strength of tourism, agriculture, mining, ranching, manufacturing, forestry and the emerging tech sector. Our communities are proud, hard-working and increasingly attractive as a retirement destination. However, despite the beauty and promise of our region, we are facing challenges that cannot be ignored. I chose to seek federal office because these challenges have outpaced the resources and capacity of local governments, where much of this burden is falling, and because we need real, effective leadership in Ottawa. I served as a city councillor in the City of Penticton for nearly a decade. In that time, I witnessed alarming changes. Despite being a small city of 37,000, we are grappling with issues often seen in Canada's largest urban centres. For one thing, as we have already heard, housing affordability has become a crisis. Home prices and rental rates continue to climb far beyond the means of average workers. Local governments are doing everything within their power to provide affordable housing. Of course they need to lower their development cost charges, but the reality is clear: The Liberal housing policy of the past decade has failed to keep pace with demand and to support our smaller rural communities. This housing crisis has been accompanied by a deeply troubling rise in homelessness, of which I saw nothing mentioned in the Speech from the Throne. Tent encampments are now a regular sight, and because of the rural nature of our riding, multiple RVs, trailers and campers are tucked away on forestry roads and on Crown land. These people are the hidden poor. They are living are in precarious situations, particularly during the harsh winter months. Our capacity to provide safe, stable housing for those in need is being overwhelmed. At the same time, the increase in substance use and addiction has transformed our public spaces. Parks, playgrounds and beaches, once places of relaxation and community, are increasingly marked by erratic and unsafe behaviour. Unfortunately, Penticton now has one of the highest crime rates per capita in all of British Columbia. Prolific offenders and drug dealers continually cycle through the justice system with little consequence, putting vulnerable residents at risk and eroding public safety. A more effective and accountable judicial approach is urgently needed. In fact, the only prison in the entire riding is only 20% full, even though our crime rate is so high. In response to the crime, Penticton has had to increase its bylaw enforcement staff from five officers in 2015 to over 25 in 2025. The fire department devotes 90% of its calls to overdose and life-saving-related incidents. The financial strain on all our communities throughout our riding is unsustainable. The Liberal government's decision to make British Columbia a pilot project for drug decriminalization has had devastating consequences. This policy has not been accompanied by the investment in treatment and recovery services that is so desperately needed. My question to the Minister of Health is this: Why would the government single out one province to experiment with, and why would it continue with an experiment that is truly failing? Conservatives called for desperately needed investment in treatment and recovery services to address this public health crisis, but we were ignored. We cannot decriminalize drugs without first ensuring that there are adequate supports in place. There are currently no detox beds available anywhere in our riding. When someone makes the courageous decision to seek help, they are met with a wait time of up to two years. If they do get assigned to a detox bed, it is in a distant community far from their support networks. We are losing sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, lives that could be saved if the right services were in place. We must act now. The government must invest in treatment, recovery and prevention in small and rural communities. We must restore safety, dignity and hope for all Canadians. I saw none of this investment in the Speech from the Throne. To put off the budget until the fall is completely irresponsible. How many people will die from overdose before the fall? I invite the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and the Minister of Health to come to our rural riding. I would give them a tour of the homeless encampments and the RVs on the forestry roads and Crown lands, and they could speak with those addicts who live in our riding and are unable to get any of the help they need. This is why I ran for Parliament. I live in what I believe is the most beautiful place in the world in the best country in the world, but beauty alone cannot shield us from the consequences of bad policy. I am here to fight for meaningful change and for federal policies that respond to the real needs of our communities. I will continue to advocate for the people of Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay and for a safer, healthier and more equitable Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague about the importance of tackling the housing shortage head-on. I, too, represent a rural riding with significant housing needs. However, I would like to point out that, during the last Parliament, Pierre Poilievre unilaterally demanded that his members stop supporting the cities in their region that wanted their share of the housing accelerator fund. While my colleagues were working with their communities to help them get housing built faster, the opposition leader was preventing his members from supporting their communities. Can my colleague tell us whether, this time, the Conservatives will really work together to speed up housing construction, including in rural areas?

Mr. Speaker, I was, for over a decade, in local politics. The City of Penticton applied for the accelerator fund, as did multiple cities across the country. A very small percentage of them actually received any money. The government is creating a competition among all the cities in the country for a small amount of money. It is as if they were all jumping after one little bone for snips and snaps, and then the government says it has given them money, so they should be happy. Communities spend money to apply for the grants. The City of Penticton spent quite a bit of money and used many staff in applying, but never received money from the accelerator fund. No, I do not think that is a proper way to build housing in our country.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague and I share the same concern about homelessness and addiction in rural areas. There is a problem in my riding of Shefford. There is a federal program that helps people experiencing homelessness called reaching home. Although Granby is a rather large municipality, it is still considered a rural community and not a designated community. As a result, it is not getting all the funding it should be getting to work on this important issue. Is it not time to broaden and review this definition and acknowledge that people experiencing homelessness are no longer just in big cities, but that they are on the move and that the face of homelessness has changed?

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree that the government needs to revamp how it looks at supporting people and supporting small and rural communities that need just as much help as the major urban centres with the addiction crisis. I will bring up the situation in British Columbia, where there is a pilot project going on concerning the decriminalization of drugs. No other province in this country is stepping forward to say it wants to do that too, because we know it is a failure. The longer it lasts, the more people will die. There is no need for that. People need resources and help. Drugs should not be distributed in our communities, but if they are, we need to have resources and detox beds to help these people.

Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis is affecting communities all across Canada, but in particular it is hitting rural communities very hard because the health care services and response times are not there to help the people struggling with it. We are also seeing the disproportionate impact it is having on rural communities. I am wondering whether the member has any thoughts on how rural communities are being left behind by the government as well.

Mr. Speaker, rural communities are being left out and ignored in this situation, and it is becoming a crisis. The Liberal government needs to focus on it. It has gotten worse and worse in this lost decade, and it is something that needs to be focused on immediately. As we speak, people are dying.

Mr. Speaker, as this new Parliament begins, this is my first opportunity to address the House since the election, and with that I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who have sent me here to advocate on their behalf. They are, of course, the great constituents of Lethbridge. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to my wonderful husband and my beautiful baby girl. They are an incredible support to me, as is my phenomenal campaign team, so I extend my gratitude to them. During this election, I had the privilege of knocking on tens of thousands of doors and, of course, collecting people's stories. There is one that has stuck with me, and I have often reflected on it. It was toward the end of the campaign when I knocked on the door of a young woman. She came to the door, looked at the button I was wearing, and very quickly had a smile on her face. She said, “You know, I am 32 years old. This is the first election I am voting in, and you have my full support.” She explained that what we represented for her was hope for a great future. She went on to explain that she was someone who was struggling to make ends meet, although she was working very hard, and she was also living in constant fear. Having fled domestic violence, and with her partner still lurking on the streets, she was constantly looking over her shoulder. She was not at all confident that she was safe. These are the real challenges that Canadians face. Her story, of course, is unique, but it could be told by tens of thousands of others. The motivation for her voting was hope, hope for affordability, for security of person, for safety and for a vibrant future. Not a day goes by that I do not recall this story and its elements. The Speech from the Throne should have chartered a clear path forward that gave Canadians hope for affordability, hope for security and hope for a future, but instead, Canadians were left with a series of slogans, photo ops and promises that turn a blind eye to the real problems Canadians face. The government has made lofty claims, but words are not enough. Canadians need real concrete action, not theatre. They need a plan, not a performance. After nearly a decade of mismanagement under the Liberal government, nothing has changed. Sure, there is a new leader, but there are the same old policies, the same tired talking points and the same theatricals. Unfortunately, the throne speech was not at all a road map for a vibrant future, but rather a piece of theatre. It was entertaining, but without substance. Let us begin with one of the government's stated ambitions, which is to make Canada “the world's leading energy superpower”. On its face, this is something that Conservatives can agree with. We believe in the energy sector. We believe that Canada should be the greatest supplier of energy in the entire world. Our abundant natural resources are not a problem to be managed, but rather a gift to be shared. This is what we believe. They are our key to prosperity, our global influence and our national unity, but ambition alone does not build pipelines, and it does not get product to market. Good intentions do not attract private capital, which is much needed, and press releases do not get projects done. What was missing from the throne speech was in fact a credible plan. The government spoke vaguely of fast-tracking nation-building projects, but it offered few concrete answers to questions like these: Will the government repeal the broken Impact Assessment Act? Will it lift the tanker ban that still blocks exports from northern British Columbia? Will it scrap the arbitrary emissions cap on oil and gas, which is a cap that was never about emissions but purely about ideology? These are the concrete steps that would be required should the government be truly interested in energy development. We heard from the energy minister that Ottawa is looking for “quick wins”. Well, the energy sector is not looking for that. It is looking for constancy, consistency, dependability and reliability. Albertans are asking for something very clear and very simple: a pipeline to the northwest coast. It is shorter and more efficient, and it is largely engineered already. That is the real test of the government's commitment. If the government can get that project done, we will take it seriously, but to turn a blind eye to that project, one that would be so easily completed, is to say that the government is truly interested in only lip service. While the throne speech tried to sound like an invitation to build, it was delivered by a government that has spent the last weeks bypassing Parliament, faking authority and eroding public trust. Let me outline what I am talking about here. I am talking about a Prime Minister who signed fake documents, pretending that they held real power. I am talking about a Prime Minister who is functioning in a way that is actually contradictory to Canada's constitution. Canada is not a presidential republic. We are, in fact, a parliamentary democracy. In this place, we have elected officials who have been sent here on behalf of their constituents to represent them. In this place, we engage in rigorous debate and then come to a decision. Once that decision is reached, it is signed off on, and of course enacted into law. For the Prime Minister to sit there, take a piece of paper, put it into a fancy red folder, sign it and say he is issuing a decree is laughable. It lacks true authority. It is unbecoming of the Prime Minister. Altogether, it is a sneaky, misleading action toward the Canadian public. It is wrong. The thirst for show over substance has real consequences. Look no further than the main estimates. They were released alongside the speech. After promising restraint and after denouncing the previous government's waste, let us look at what we see. In summary, spending is up by more than 8%. There is a 14% increase in planned appropriations. There is $26 billion committed to consultants. That is $26 billion, with a “b”. That is not a government committed to fiscal restraint. In fact, if that is fiscal restraint, I would hate to see the government on a spending spree. That is a scary thought. The current administration is not reducing the cost of government but rather ballooning it. Ultimately, it is the Canadian people who will have to pay for the government's misjudgment. The Prime Minister claims that he will balance the budget in three years, yet his first real numbers show exactly the opposite. There are 75 departments that received an increase in funding. Only 14 were cut back a bit. This is not a government that is saying to do more with less; this is a government that says to continue to spend at will. As a reminder, it is the Canadian people who are providing the money that is being spent. Even more troubling is the fact this key spending is actually being reclassified. The government is blurring the lines between capital investments and operating expenditures. Why would the Prime Minister wish to do this? He wants to pretend that he has made the books better. He wants to actually hide the true size of debt but have the appearance of being a better manager. In fact, that is not the case. The terms are simply being changed. It is sneaky, it is dishonest and it will generate ill will with the Canadian public. This is a government that consistently says the right things but does the wrong ones, a government that governs by theatre, not by principle. My Conservative colleagues and I offer an alternative. We believe that cutting taxes means making hard choices. We believe that building pipelines, not building narratives, should be made the priority. We believe in keeping Canadians safe, not appeasing criminals. Above all, we are committed to fighting for hope: hope that a family can afford groceries again, hope that a young couple can buy their first home, hope that our streets can in fact once again be safe, and hope that every single Canadian, no matter where they live or what they do, can reach greater heights, go further and build a life of dignity and purpose. In this session, my Conservative colleagues and I will be fighting for these things, because we believe in the Canadian people.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate all my new colleagues in the House on their election. I am a proud Acadian and a proud francophone. When I read through the Speech from the Throne, I read this: Canada is a country that respects and celebrates its official languages.... The Government is determined to protect the institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, like CBC/Radio-Canada. Will my colleague, like her leader, continue to call for the dismantling of CBC/Radio-Canada? Will she continue to ask francophone members to answer her and speak to her in English?

Mr. Speaker, in this country we have two official languages, French and English. I respect that. I believe that our country should continue with that, but to equate the existence of the CBC with the existence of a bilingual nation seems a little odd. We do not need the CBC in order to remain a respected bilingual country. We can have two respected languages, two official languages, in this country, and we can respect speakers of both languages. We do not need the CBC. The vast majority of Canadians would agree.

Mr. Speaker, in her speech, the member talked a lot about hope. Apparently one constituent voted for her in the hope that things would change. I am the mother of three young women who have young children, babies. They need hope too. They wonder what kind of world their children are going to live in. They wonder what kind of planet we are going to leave them. I gather from the member's speech that she is in favour of building pipelines, which promote a fossil fuel industry that has lasting impacts on our environment. What would she tell my three children, who say they need a better world, a healthier planet and climate change adaptation measures? I imagine she would not go so far as to deny that we are experiencing climate change.

Mr. Speaker, quite simply, I would say to the member's children that if they want a planet that is sustainable into the future, they should get behind Canada's energy sector and its development, because no other place on this planet does it better. In the way we have installed environmental protections, in the way we pay workers and respect them and in the way we produce this commodity and get it to market, nobody does it in a more responsible manner. In fact, we would have an opportunity to make a real difference if we could get our commodities to places such as China, India, South Korea and Japan. We have an opportunity to be the supplier in those markets, thereby taking away demand from places such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, which do it very poorly, both in terms of the environment and of course in terms of respect for human rights.

Mr. Speaker, I am looking at the Speech from the Throne, and it highlights several areas that talk about creating an energy superpower by removing barriers, yet the government refuses to eliminate the job-killing Bill C-69 or the production cap. It talks about homes, yet the housing minister says housing prices should not fall. It talks about building “a safer and more secure Canada”, but for 10 years the government has done nothing about the fentanyl crisis. It talks about hiring 1,000 RCMP officers, but for a decade the government has refused to buy heavy body armour for the RCMP. It goes on to talk about cost issues, but the government went ahead and handed over $26 billion to friends like McKinsey. Is this, as the government calls it, “Building Canada Strong”, or is it just building another empty PR program for this tired and stale government?

Mr. Speaker, as I outlined in my speech, that is exactly it. The government makes lofty promises and is really great at its talking points, but when it comes to actions of substance, when it comes down to actually making a meaningful difference for Canadians, unfortunately the government has not delivered in 10 years. Unfortunately, I do not believe it will deliver in this session either.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise here in this place, this being the first time I have had the opportunity to address Parliament since my re-election into this place, and this marks the third time I have had the good privilege of being able to maintain the confidence of the good people of Kings—Hants. I want to start by recognizing the Deputy Speaker's nomination to that chair, and certainly I would like to recognize that I am going to be sharing my time with my learned colleague from Mississauga—Lakeshore today. All members of Parliament, when they come to this place, have a support system that allows them to be able to take on the work and to put their name forward as a candidate. I have been very fortunate to have a tremendous and supportive family that has allowed me to be a member of Parliament for almost six years now. It is amazing how quickly time goes by. I want to thank my entire family. I want to thank my lovely wife at home, Kimberly, for all her support. We spend a lot of time away from our significant others and from our loved ones. I love my wife and thank her for her support. I thank all the volunteers on my campaign for the work they put in. I have the privilege of being here, but it is their work that allows us to all sit here. This includes my campaign chair, Maura Ryan. She is a rock star. She led the team and deserves recognition in the House, so I thank her. I am looking forward to getting started, but I needed to make sure that was stated at the onset of my speech. We are here today to reply to the Speech from the Throne, and of course, it was a momentous and historic day on Parliament Hill on Tuesday with King Charles III reading the Speech from the Throne on behalf of the government. I do want to take a moment to recognize that moment in our Canadian history. It is only the third time that the sovereign has read the Speech from the Throne here in Canada, with Queen Elizabeth opening Parliament in 1957 and 1977. I think all members of Parliament need to take a moment and think about the fact that this is significant, and it reinforces Canada's constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom and with the royal family. I think the Prime Minister, before the writ, was smart to highlight Canada's deep connection to the United Kingdom, to France, of course, and also to our indigenous people. When I think about the legal foundations and even our Westminster tradition, it is that historic history that makes Canada different. It makes Canada what it is, and it allows us to be a country we ought to be very proud of in terms of our governing traditions. I do want to highlight a brief interaction I had with the sovereign. I want this to show on the record, in Hansard. I am very proud of those constitutional roots, as I mentioned. The sovereign was particularly interested in Nova Scotia and in Nova Scotia's tartan, and I do want the record to show that, so that 50 years from now, someone can remember that it happened. I do want to get into the key elements of what the government presented in terms of priorities, because that ultimately is what is most important to my constituents and to Canadians across the country. First of all is Canada and the United States, and trying to redefine what that relationship looks like. I think, objectively, we are living in a different world. Regardless of how we view our politics, the U.S. administration under President Trump is certainly doing things differently. Gone are the days of the American approach to multilateralism, in terms of what I am seeing as a member of Parliament, and we are way back to more of a bilateral relationship, in terms of how the U.S. is trying to engage. I think our Prime Minister and our government were smart to make an early trip to Washington. I think, by all accounts, beyond partisanship, our Prime Minister handled himself well in the Oval Office. It seems as though those relationships have started, and we need to continue to try to define what the pathway forward is. There are some very open questions about how Canada should move in an uncertain world. That is this place, and Parliament is the place where those debates should happen. However, I want to highlight the fact that I think it is important for us as parliamentarians to try to find a way to land the plane, so to speak, on what that relationship looks like, between Canada and the U.S. Of what this country produces, 77% goes to the United States. Should we diversify our economic relationships around the world? We absolutely should, and the Prime Minister and the government have committed to doing that, but we also have to be very open-eyed and wide-eyed to the fact that we do need to maintain that continental relationship on an economic basis. I think about companies in my riding, such as Michelin. I think about our agriculture sector, particularly our fruit growers in the Annapolis Valley, all of whom rely heavily on the U.S. market. We can also talk about our forestry sector. I want to hear more about our forestry sector in the current Parliament. That is the responsibility not only of the government; it is also the responsibility of members of Parliament to raise issues of forestry, because it matters all across this country, and particularly in the riding of Kings—Hants and in Hants County, where I think about our sawmills: Elmsdale Lumber and Ledwidge Lumber. We have an opportunity to build the homes Canadians need at a price they can afford and to use Canadian materials to make that a reality. I want to see more of that in the days ahead. The government is committing to an affordability agenda with a middle-income tax cut of up to $840 a year for two-income families. This going to benefit a lot of people in Kings—Hants. The government's intention is to introduce that by July 1. I would be very interested to see the member of Parliament who would stand up on any side of the House to reject a tax cut at this moment when affordability is absolutely crucial. I am hoping the members opposite will see the value in this to make sure that we can provide that affordability for 22 million Canadians. There is also a plan to remove the GST on all new home purchases by first-time homebuyers, up to $1 million. If we remove the GST, that is $50,000. For the average home in Kings—Hants for first-time homebuyers, that is going to represent thousands of dollars in savings, particularly for young people. I am in my mid-thirties, and I know that for a lot of people in my age demographic, this is an important element. However, we do not get there if we do not build the supply. It is great to put the tax incentives on board, and the Conservatives talked about this being a measure they supported as well, but there was no actual supply side to build the homes people would be able to afford once the tax was removed. It is great if we just do that, but if we were to gut our supply side programs, which was being proposed in the Conservative platform, there would be real challenges. I like the fact that the government has put in a tax cut and kept the supply side for what we have to build. I did not know what screw piles were, but after meeting with Shaw Resources in my riding, I now know that they are a requirement for modular housing to affix a property to the ground. My goal is to get rid of them, and I want the record to show that. Hopefully, I can do that in this Parliament because it adds about $15,000 to the cost of every single home in this country. It has very little to do with any type of security or safety, so it is something we need to change in the law to allow the Canadian building code to reflect that. It is an ancient principle based on the idea of mobile trailers and homes. It is not needed. I will be working with the Minister of Housing to try to address that concern because I think it is important. I want to highlight a few more things here in the time I have left. One is the reform on financing from CMHC on rural housing. Again, this is something for any rural member of the House. They may have heard this from their stakeholders, but CMHC needs to reform the way it supports projects in rural Canada so we can be able to build more homes. The first of the last two pieces that I think are extremely important, and they are things I am fully in support of, is building big projects more quickly. We have talked about this in the House. I think the last government had some merit in the social programs it talked about. We had the second highest overall cumulative economic growth, notwithstanding the fact that we have a competitiveness issue. The government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, is committed to building big nation-building projects. This should be good news to every parliamentarian in this country. We have to get the review process down to two years, which the government is committing to. The government is committed to natural resources, to forestry, to conventional energy and to renewable energy. We are committed to working to make sure we can drive the economy to build projects in western Canada, Atlantic Canada and all across this great country. The last piece is federal barriers to trade. I know the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade is focused on this. This represents 2% to 4% of economic GDP we are leaving on the table every single year, which is $200 billion. I fully support the government's intention. We do need to be careful on a couple of little pieces, including meat inspection. I am a little worried as 97% of the meat processing in this country is of a federal standard. We are chasing the 3%, which is important, particularly for small abattoirs, but we need to make sure we do this in line with our international trade agreements so we are not hurting a $10-billion industry. I am coming to the end of my time, so I will simply say I am glad the government has an ambitious agenda. I look forward to supporting it in the days ahead, and I look forward to taking questions from my hon. colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I guess there was a lot of talk about promises and commitments from the government in regard to the Speech from the Throne. My question for my hon. colleague is, without a budget in place, what advice does he have for Canadians to guarantee that every single commitment in the Speech from the Throne, and there are so many that he pointed out, will actually get done?

Mr. Speaker, ultimately, the government is tabling estimates. That is why we have heard numbers being quoted from this side of the House today in terms of the overall aggregate. They are talking about half a trillion dollars, or a $500-billion budget, but at the end of the day, if we actually look at where the government had taken things on revenue and on spending versus the revenue collected, essentially the government is passing over the estimates. The budget will come with a more defined element. We have a few big things that are outstanding, such as the Canada-U.S. relationship. The Prime Minister has committed to, perhaps, an engagement with the Europeans on July 1 in terms of the defence relationship. The government wants to spend more on defence and housing. These are things that have to be further defined. The government is being transparent about where we are. In terms of accountability, it is the job of every member in the House to hold the government to account. Of course, ultimately, we are all held to account come the next election.

Mr. Speaker, in his speech, my colleague touched on two related issues that are extremely important to the riding of Shefford. He talked about international trade and agriculture in the context of negotiations. This morning, the Bloc Québécois reintroduced a bill to fully protect supply management. My colleague's leader expressed his willingness during the debates to protect supply management. Is my colleague also prepared to vote in favour of the Bloc Québécois bill?

Mr. Speaker, I served as minister of agriculture and agri-food and rural economic development for a short time before Parliament was dissolved. Like my colleague, I represent a riding that is home to many supply-managed farms. In fact, my riding has the largest concentration of supply-managed farms east of Quebec. Therefore, I fully support the supply management system. The importance of any given bill is debatable. What is crucial right now is political commitment. Bills can always be amended. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, my Liberal colleagues and I, hopefully with the help of my Bloc Québécois colleagues, will protect supply management and support our supply-managed farmers.

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. We worked together well in the Atlantic caucus. I want to thank him again for all the great work he did in our caucus. According to my sources, my colleague and I received a number of project proposals under the housing accelerator fund in collaboration with municipalities. Members will recall that Pierre Poilievre said the fund was ineffective, and he even asked his MPs not to push our government to help municipalities interested in moving ahead with some of those projects. I would like my colleague to tell me whether he thinks his riding benefited from the fund. Does he think our new “build Canada homes” initiative will help build more housing in rural regions like ours in Atlantic Canada?

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague from Acadie—Bathurst is a champion of rural communities, here in Parliament and of course in New Brunswick. As far as housing is concerned, it is very important to lower taxes, as the government mentioned in the Speech from the Throne when it talked about eliminating the GST. That being said, we must also build the necessary infrastructure. Our programs for the municipalities, like Bathurst or East Hants in my riding, are absolutely crucial. The Conservatives and Mr. Poilievre keep talking about the importance of lowering and eliminating taxes. However, they have no plan to increase supply in the market. Some targeted measures are necessary for lowering taxes, but we also need measures for building housing, especially in the rural communities. It is crucial. I will work on that with my hon. colleague and with the minister responsible for housing.

Mr. Speaker, first, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the people of Mississauga—Lakeshore for entrusting me with the honour of representing them here in Parliament. My wife, Zenny, and I are very grateful for their trust. Our community reflects the best of Canada: diverse, innovative, hard-working and compassionate. I am proud to be the voice of our community members in this chamber, and I want to thank all of them, including a wonderful team of volunteers who were there during the campaign. It is with humility and a profound sense of duty that I rise in the House to speak about our priorities for Canada in response to the Speech from the Throne by His Royal Highness King Charles III. The speech sets out an ambitious and hopeful vision for Canada that reflects the values we share and the future we want to build together. It is a vision that aligns closely with the priorities I have consistently championed and wish to reaffirm today. They include a strong economy, robust social programs, national unity and a respected voice for Canada on the global stage. Since 2007, when I was first elected as a member of provincial Parliament, I have stood for these Canadian values. We overcome challenges when we work together. I delivered six comprehensive budgets that brought our province from the depths of the recession to a balanced book, and we achieved 1.1 million net new jobs and raised our province's credit rating. We built prosperity by working together with industry, small business and all levels of government. These achievements were grounded in clear principles: to borrow wisely at low rates to promote capital and investment, to promote prosperity and not to borrow to cover day-to-day operating expenses. Growing up in Kensington Market, I learned this first-hand from my father, a merchant who became Canada's first Portuguese Canadian business owner. He taught me to borrow strategically to make money, to spend less than we make to live and to keep back some for retirement. These values of fiscal discipline, smart investment and long-term planning are essential not only for personal financial health but also for responsible government. We should borrow to invest in infrastructure and not to pay for operating expenses; we should invest more and spend less. These values are reflected in the Prime Minister's approach to fiscal prudence. By investing and attracting foreign direct investments, we grow our economy with a purpose: to sustain the social programs that matter to most Canadians, such as universal health care, retirement security and public education; and to protect our environment as an economic imperative. During my previous mandate in the Ontario legislature, we navigated through global uncertainty and delicate relations with foreign trading partners with prudence and purpose. Our steady hand ensured that Canada emerged from the global financial crisis into one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7. We also helped to expand the Canada pension plan to ensure that future generations of retirees can live with dignity. I saw first-hand how internal trade barriers undermine success. With our commitment to creating one Canadian economy from 13, we would help unlock Canada's full economic potential and build a stronger country. This would enable us to move forward with national child care, dental care and pharmacare, strengthening our health care and making landmark investments in housing and affordability. All of this is underpinned by an unshakable belief in the Canadian values of compassion, fairness, fiscal responsibility and opportunity for all. The Speech from the Throne outlined a renewed and forward-looking agenda. It speaks to building a fairer and more resilient economy in which everyone can succeed. I am encouraged to see this new government embrace a vision grounded in putting more money back in Canadians' pockets so that they can invest more in their communities, in protecting the environment through market-driven solutions and in reinforcing our position on the world stage as a principled, engaged nation. The Speech from the Throne reinforced that the government is laser-focused on lowering costs and will continue to present serious solutions to ensure that Canadians are better off. By cutting taxes for hard-working Canadians, eliminating the GST on first-time homebuyers and removing consumer carbon pricing, we are making life more affordable for every generation. The emphasis on long-term planning beyond election cycles is the blueprint to building a country that serves everyone. As we eliminate consumer carbon pricing, I reflect on being part of a government that introduced cap and trade to Ontario, exempting that province from the federal carbon pricing backstop at the time. We implemented incentive-based measures to drive behavioural change, including grants for electric vehicles, home energy retrofits and other green initiatives. We took bold steps to decarbonize, including with the closure of the Lakeview coal generating plant, known as the Four Sisters in my riding of Mississauga—Lakeshore. It transformed this site into a revitalized waterfront and created new public spaces. What was once the nation's largest polluter, contributing to over 36 smog days a year, is now a symbol of conservation, clean energy and community renewal. The work was not just environmental; it was economic. By advancing clean technologies, the site is now home to sustainable district energy systems, at the forefront in the Great Lakes and a leader in climate innovation. More can be done. Unlocking the potential of our critical minerals and clean energy resources is essential, not only to drive the Canadian economy, but to protect our sovereignty in an ever-changing geopolitical situation. We must not allow others to divide us or exploit the wealth that lies beneath our land. Instead, we must lead with purpose, unity and vision. As we look to the future, we look to nation building. I was proud to have played a role in advancing the co-operative capital markets securities regulation, modernizing our fragmented security system from 10 jurisdictions to one. That was nation building. More needs to be done to strengthen our national competitiveness while embracing the unique strengths in each region, from the small cap in British Columbia to natural resources in Alberta to fisheries in the Maritimes to energy in Quebec. In the north, we must ensure that the development of mineral rights is grounded in meaningful consultations and true partnership with indigenous communities. The world is also looking to Canada as peacekeepers and defenders of justice, where the rule of law prevails. My parents came to Canada from postwar Europe, fleeing fascist regimes and an oppressive dictatorship. They quite literally sought freedom and opportunity. Canada embodies those values. What we heard in the throne speech reiterated why my parents immigrated to this country so many years ago: Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects. It is our duty to protect a just society and a free democracy, one where peaceful protest is possible and individual rights are upheld. This commitment includes standing with our allies, like NATO, to ensure peace and security at home and abroad. We must always remain vigilant in protecting our country and the principles that we stand for. To conclude, the path forward is not without challenges, but the direction is clear. The throne speech charts a new course that is ambitious and achievable. We know that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. The bold plan outlined will build the strongest economy in the G7. As His Majesty said, we will ensure that we do not just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever. Canadians can be assured that this new government will protect our social programs, strengthen Canadian culture and identity, create better jobs and make life more affordable for them. To my constituents in Mississauga—Lakeshore, I will continue to work every day to advance their interests and uphold the values we hold dear. Together, we will build a stronger, fairer and more united Canada.

Mr. Speaker, let me welcome my new colleague to the House of Commons. It is always great to have one's first speech the first time one is in the House of Commons. I apologize; I did not recognize the member. I thought it was the twin brother of the member who held that seat before him, who said exactly the opposite things in the previous Parliament, which ran this country up to a $1.3-trillion debt, with $56 billion per year in interest payments on debt alone. One would think that something changed overnight in the thinking of those in the bench on the other side. My question for the member is very pointed. In this new accounting system his Prime Minister has come up with about putting in a different silo for infrastructure and capital assets and a different silo for operating expenses, how much more or less in debt and how much more or less in debt interest payments will the Government of Canada be paying?

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. We are trying to ensure that we balance the operating budget. We have done that. I did that for six budgets during my time when I was the minister of finance for the Province of Ontario. We balanced the books. We took advantage of low-cost interest to invest in infrastructure projects. We incited foreign direct investment and partnerships with the private sector, to enable some of those infrastructure programs to occur and grow the economy. That is how we were able not only to receive more funding and more receipts and more revenue, but also to control spending effectively by being more competitive as we went forward. That is how we balanced it, and I believe that is exactly how we should move forward in this Parliament as well.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is talking about the economy. Yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion reminding Via Rail that regional routes are at the heart of its mandate, that the Matapédia to Gaspé link is absolutely essential and calling on Via Rail to restore passenger rail service as soon as the railway is operational in the coming weeks. In the throne speech, this government talked about creating the best economy in the G7. It seems to me that would start with adequate passenger rail service to the Gaspé Peninsula. Can my colleague tell me when the Liberal government will listen to Quebec and the Gaspé Peninsula and pressure Via Rail to start passenger rail service as soon as possible?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is essential to invest in infrastructure, be it infrastructure in Via Rail or in high-speed rail throughout the corridor that is being proposed, through Windsor all the way to Quebec City, to ensure that we foster ways to be competitive. I think what we are highlighting is also the fact that the way it stands now is ineffective and is not sustainable. That is why we need to attract greater investments and enable the three Ps, to ensure that we can find feasibility in those investments, to be competitive and to serve the needs of the community, including those in Gaspé.

Mr. Speaker, I have an immense amount of respect for the member, in the sense that he brings to the table a great deal of head knowledge with respect to the province of Ontario. I believe he has an appreciation of the degree to which the federal government needs to work with provinces, territories and indigenous communities in order to further advance economic strength for one Canada, where all regions will benefit from it. I am wondering if he could expand on his thoughts with regard to the whole sense of co-operation and people working together in a team Canada approach and the economic benefits of doing so.

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that partnerships exist in anything we go forward with, on the economic front and on the social front. Those partnerships with industry, with other levels of government and with indigenous communities are essential, because that co-operation is what enables us to succeed. We were able to do some of that, some of those nation-building exercises. More importantly, there is an incentive and a desire from Canadians that we do so. The trade barriers that exist provincially have to come down. We have to enable and take advantage of the mineral deposits that exist so that we can prosper. Partnership is necessary, and they want to do it too.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the wonderful member for Shefford. Before I begin my reply to the Speech from the Throne, I would like to warmly and sincerely thank the voters of Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon for their renewed trust. I am beginning my fifth term with the same enthusiasm, the same desire to serve my constituents and, I would say, the same strength to defend the interests of my riding, but also those of Quebec. I cannot conclude my acknowledgments without mentioning that, during an election, there is a big team of volunteers beavering away. I would therefore like to thank all of my volunteers, whose unwavering commitment made April 28 a victory for the Bloc Québécois. I myself received a fifth mandate, and I would like to thank my volunteers from the bottom of my heart. The Speech from the Throne covers many topics in a rather vague and non-specific way, but I would like to talk about what is not in it. My background as a social worker may be evident as I discuss the people who were overlooked in the Speech from the Throne. At the top of my list are seniors. The throne speech makes no mention of seniors and their purchasing power, which is getting worse and worse. There is no mention whatsoever of tax incentives to enable them to work and improve their living conditions. There is no mention of the discrimination against seniors aged 65 to 74 with regard to old age security. There is no mention of ending the discrimination and the two-tier system of seniors created by the previous government. There is nothing at all for our seniors, not even for the most vulnerable seniors who did not have the privilege of contributing to a private pension plan, who did not have the opportunity to save, but who worked hard all their lives, until the age of 65. Today, they are struggling to make ends meet. As we speak, with the rising cost of groceries and housing, there are seniors living in very precarious situations. However, the throne speech makes no mention of seniors. There is nothing about them. There is also no mention of employment insurance. Since 2015, the Liberals have been promising a major reform to EI, which is an outdated program that needs to be modernized because it does not fit the new realities of the labour market. The program discriminates against pregnant women. Women on maternity leave who lose their jobs during or after their maternity leave are not entitled to EI benefits because they have not accumulated enough hours of work. This baffling discrimination is well known and well documented, but there is nothing about it in the throne speech. There is also nothing for sick workers. Workers with colorectal cancer, for example, know that it will take about 37 weeks to be treated for cancer and recover. There is nothing for them, since EI sickness benefits are being maintained at only 26 weeks. How many workers who have worked their entire lives and never cashed a single EI cheque, but who, unfortunately, have a serious illness and have to take time off to take care of themselves, will have to go into debt for the rest of their leave? They do not have RRSPs or savings, but they still have to pay their rent and buy groceries. These older workers who have worked their entire lives feel abandoned. The throne speech clearly shows that the Liberal government has no intention of improving EI by implementing specific measures to help workers who are struggling or who could be adversely affected by the hostile economic policy of the United States. There is not a word about the workers whose lives will be affected by the tariff crisis we are experiencing with the United States. They were overlooked. There is also very little about housing. I will share some information that is specific to Quebec. Quebec has the Société d'habitation du Québec, the SHQ. The SHQ is responsible for delivering housing programs and services to the public. The SHQ has developed expertise. It is a Crown corporation whose mission is to help pay the rent and support the renovation and adaptation of homes. It creates programs to help people access home ownership. The SHQ partners with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the CMHC. The CMHC and the SHQ have a financial agreement that enables the SHQ to enhance its programs and partner with municipalities to develop a housing supply that suits Quebec's reality. For example, Quebec has a particular housing model called co-op housing. We have non-profit organizations that buy buildings, often to house clients with special needs. We have low-income housing, which includes social housing and affordable housing. In my riding, for example, every regional county municipality, or RCM, has set up a non-profit organization to create affordable housing, either by purchasing apartment buildings, which takes them off the speculative market, or by building affordable housing. Simply put, it works. I want to congratulate Toit d'Abord Habitations abordable Vaudreuil-Soulanges, a recently created organization that is going to develop housing for 12 families. This is a new construction project containing nine two-bedroom units, which are intended for low-income families that are spending over 30% of their income on housing. I mention these details because the throne speech seems to suggest that the government is unaware that Quebec has its own model. We have our own approach. We have solutions, and we are already taking action to make housing more affordable. The last thing we want is for the government to start acting like a developer and encroaching on jurisdictions that rightly belong to Quebec and the municipalities by insinuating itself into areas like land-use planning or urban development. We think that the federal government's job is to figure out a way to transfer the necessary funds to Quebec so that Quebec can administer programs that meet its needs and the needs of Quebeckers. We do not think the “build Canada homes” organization mentioned in the throne speech is a good idea. We believe the time has come to improve and optimize existing programs, drop the bureaucracy and trust the provinces and municipalities to develop housing stock that meets their needs. Obviously, there is a lot more to say. As the critic for public safety and emergency preparedness, I want to say that I was deeply disappointed when I read that there was no money promised for hiring border services officers. We know that border security is important. The former government promised that it would allocate enough money to hire 1,000 border services officers, though it knew we needed 3,000. Now the promise has suddenly evaporated. If resources are limited, if we do not hire enough border services officers, can we at least give them the power to intercept migrants crossing the border illegally, to arrest them and to call the RCMP? That is currently not possible. The Bloc Québécois wants to make it possible, given the limited resources and the importance of border security. In closing, I want to say that a Speech from the Throne sets out broad principles and broad ideas, but the devil is in the details. We really look forward to seeing those details.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon on her re-election. I would like to remind her that the Liberal government demonstrated its commitment to seniors by increasing old age security for those aged 75 and up, investing in home care and helping make medication more affordable. Our government also rolled out the dental care plan for all seniors and now for all Canadians. Perhaps if my colleague had listened to the throne speech, she would see that affordability is a priority. Will my colleague back the government's initiatives to help seniors and improve affordability?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind my colleague that this is my fifth term. I think there is a lesson to be learned from that about being careful when asking questions. Arrogance is never welcome. That said, I am in touch with the people of my riding. Seniors aged 65 to 74 did not get an increase. True, they might have access to dental care now, but that does not pay the rent or buy groceries. In my riding, where 20% of constituents are 65 or older, I get stopped on the street every day by people asking me how they are supposed to live on nothing but old age security and the Quebec pension plan. They might be able to get their teeth cleaned or a cavity filled, but who is going to pay their rent or buy their medications? They needed this increase, but it did not come, so they feel discriminated against as seniors.

Mr. Speaker, earlier today I mentioned the Prime Minister's comments about the throne speech and how I believe that it ultimately sends a very positive message to Canadians, a message of hope. There are plenty of opportunities that we are exploring in terms of how we are going to be able to build a stronger, healthier nation. That means working with all the different entities in Canada: provincial governments, territorial governments and indigenous communities. Can the member provide her thoughts on how, as a nation, we can all benefit if there is a higher sense of co-operation with respect to all the different stakeholders? Is that not good for all people?

Mr. Speaker, that is a good question. Personally, I truly believe in co-operation, but who we are must be respected. Co-operation does not mean saying that I have a good idea and that anyone who disagrees is not co-operating. Co-operation is about discussion, negotiation and respect. When I look at the throne speech, I do not get the impression or the sense that a wave of co-operation is on the horizon. Rather, I get the feeling that the government is trying to impose things on me that do not reflect who I am.

Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight something my colleague talked about, and that is seniors. We know how vulnerable seniors are right now, from so many different directions, especially the cost of living. One thing I heard on the doorstep in this election and over the last year that I have never heard before is the amount of fraud that is taking place. A constituent of mine shared with me that he lost $150,000 to bank fraud. The gentleman had to go back to work; he came out of retirement. Another person, whom I met at the pool, lost $20,000. My colleague knows there has been a report tabled at the public safety committee, on which there is still no action, to hold financial institutions to account and to ensure that the CRTC and communication companies are doing their job in their role. This may be a non-partisan opportunity for us to come together and defend our constituents. Does my colleague agree that the government needs to take urgent action to protect seniors especially, who are vulnerable to fraud? Does she too see fraud escalating in her community and her riding?

Mr. Speaker, yes, seniors in Quebec and other Canadian provinces are increasingly falling victim to financial scams, as well as romance scams. It should be noted that there seems to be a bit of a vacuum, in that no one feels responsible for going after those who are scamming seniors. Like my colleague, I believe that we need to talk about this and do more to address it. I think the government has a great opportunity to do something about this.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon and I clearly read each other's minds. People can probably tell that we work together on certain issues. This is my first speech since the election, so I would like to begin by thanking the voters of Shefford for renewing their trust in me and giving me a third term, which I undertake with great humility. After a short election campaign, this new Parliament was up and running in no time and is off to a roaring start. I would like to thank the volunteers who worked on my election campaign, as well as the team that helped me get back to the House quickly. We had to roll up our sleeves and get to work the day after the election. The throne speech was read on Tuesday, May 27, by the King of England. We can discuss the form and substance of the speech, but I would also like to take a moment to point out what is missing from it. I will unpack all of that in the next few minutes. First, regarding the form, having Charles III read the Speech from the Throne was a deplorable choice, to say the least. It triggered bad memories for Quebec, which never signed the Constitution, I would point out. Furthermore, the monarchy is a fraught symbol for Acadians and indigenous people. In any case, I do not need to elaborate on the form, since the motion adopted unanimously at the National Assembly of Quebec speaks for itself. The elected members of the National Assembly reject the monarchy. During the royal visit, they even unanimously adopted a motion to sever all ties between the Government of Quebec and the British monarchy. The elected members of the National Assembly of Quebec sent a very clear message to King Charles III with a vote of 106 to zero. That was the form. Let us now look at the substance. They say that writings remain, but we will have to see how this new government turns words into action. First, without tabling a budget, how can it explain its plan to limit the operating budget to growth below 2% while maintaining federal transfers? How is it going to balance the operating budget over the next three years while cutting taxes for what it calls the middle class? How can it respect Quebec's jurisdictions when it is talking about striking agreements with provinces interested in realizing the goal of “one project, one review” and creating the major federal project office? These are the things we are wondering about. I would now like to take a moment to address the issues that I am responsible for as the critic. Apart from a brief mention of revoking gun licenses for those convicted of intimate partner violence, there are no plans to improve women's safety in either the public or private sphere, or to curb the scourge of domestic violence and coercive control. There is nothing about the rise of hate speech and masculinist and homophobic rhetoric. For our part, in response to the demands heard by women's groups in committee, we want to regulate the use of the Jordan ruling. The Speech from the Throne completely sidesteps the urgent issues related to women's safety, and, even more troubling, the government remains completely silent on the worrying rise of intolerance promoted by certain masculinist and homophobic movements. While this hate speech is becoming increasingly widespread online and in public spaces, no measures have been announced to counter this radicalization. This silence has serious consequences. It normalizes hatred and further exposes women and LGBTQ+ people to violence, bullying and exclusion. It demonstrates, once again, that social justice and safety for all are not real priorities for the government. The Bloc Québécois refuses to stand idly by in the face of such inaction, and we demand concrete and immediate measures because women and marginalized communities are waiting. They are not waiting for words, they are waiting for action. The Bloc Québécois therefore wants to speak out loudly on their behalf, because ignoring violence means we are contributing to it. Another issue that the Bloc Québécois has been working on for many years is seniors' purchasing power. The declining purchasing power of seniors was not mentioned in the throne speech, as my colleague pointed out. We can conclude that the government has no plans to act on this in the short or medium term. This is a clear demonstration of how disconnected the Liberals are from the realities facing seniors and people in Quebec's regions. Once again, Ottawa is ignoring critical issues that directly affect our communities. While the declining purchasing power of seniors remains a pressing issue, organizations such as FADOQ and AQDR reminded me of this before, during and even after the election campaign. It is worth noting that this pressing issue was not even mentioned in the Speech from the Throne. We can easily deduce that the government has no plans to take action on this in the short or medium term, leaving all seniors struggling to make ends meet in a precarious situation. The Bloc Québécois rejects this inaction and is trying to increase old age security by 10% for seniors aged 65 to 74 in order to eliminate the discrimination caused by the unjustified division of the two classes of seniors. As we saw during the election campaign in Victoriaville, the government decided to ignore the stark housing needs of seniors, especially in outlying areas, with residences of fewer than 50 units ineligible for CMHC mortgage insurance. Programs need to be adapted to regional realities and investment needs to be channelled into home renovations so that seniors can age with dignity in their home and in their community. This throne speech could also have given the federal government an opportunity to show that it understands the needs of Quebeckers. Instead, we were treated to a parade of vague promises, devoid of any vision or concrete action for seniors. The Bloc Québécois wants to keep promoting these issues forcefully, with determination, because seniors deserve a lot more than a speech. They deserve genuine, courageous action. Returning to the economy, as my colleague said, this Liberal government like the previous one has no plans to enhance EI to help struggling workers or workers adversely affected by the hostile economic policies of the United States. This is striking because the U.S. President's economic threats monopolized attention during the election campaign. The law is also anti-feminist and needs to be reformed, among other things. The speech has nothing new to offer on immigration. This government is continuing along the same lines as its predecessor, which, inspired by the Century Initiative's plan to grow Canada's population to 100 million by 2100, ravaged the immigration system. Then the government decided to cap temporary and permanent immigration by applying the same measures across the country. In so doing, the federal government hurt our regional economies and jeopardized some Shefford businesses. Just today, I got a letter about that from one of our local businesses, Cordé Électrique. I forwarded the letter to our critic for this file. The Bloc Québécois notes that restrictions on temporary foreign workers are unsuitable, particularly for farmers and agri-food industries. This is crucial. My riding, Shefford, has several such industries, and the 20% cap for these sectors is a threat to our food sovereignty. It is also a threat to our regional economies. The Government of Canada must open talks with the Government of Quebec to ensure that these reductions do not harm regional industries and universities. The housing plan is a priority for Granby. I will try to go over this quickly. The creation of “build Canada homes” is a centralizing power grab, an attempt to impose a pan-Canadian vision of housing, disregarding the expertise and autonomy of Quebec and the municipalities when it comes to land-use planning, zoning and urban development. We can see that the Liberals are also taking a page out of the Conservative playbook by imposing standards on the municipalities and the governments of Quebec and the provinces for matters that do not fall under federal jurisdiction. I might say that the government is trying to create one housing strategy, one housing market, out of 13. When they talk about creating one economy out of 13, that shows how little they know about Quebec and the provinces. The National Assembly adopted another motion denouncing the “one economy” concept, seeing as Quebec has its system of SMEs. It is Quebec's own system, and it is demanding the right to defend it. We have to let the cities do their job. They know what they need when it comes to zoning and housing. The current situation is really important to them. In terms of Quebec values, the government wants to protect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to all Canadians by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. What does it want to do here? It wants to continue opposing Bill 21 on secularism and Bill 96 on language. That rhetoric also runs counter to Quebec values. In terms of the environment, the speech states that removing barriers will make it possible to build an industrial strategy, make Canada an energy superpower and fight climate change at the same time. We wonder what will happen. How will the major federal project office's role relate to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada's role? Does this mean that its mission will now be to approve projects rather than conduct scientific assessments? Oil sands use is growing, and Canada is the world's fourth-largest producer of gas. Canada is already an energy superpower. What more does it want? This week, Ottawa attempted to reaffirm Canada's sovereignty by bringing in a foreign sovereign, at great expense, to remind us that we are not sovereign in our own country. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador is saying that there will be no 51st state after all. At the end of the day, this has all just been a missed opportunity and a manufactured crisis. The federal government evidently sees any crisis as an opportunity to trample on jurisdictions and try to bring Quebec and the provinces to their knees. We on this side of the House will stand firm. That is why the Bloc Québécois decided to deliver on one of its election promises this morning. I would like to emphasize that the Bloc Québécois introduced a bill to fully protect supply management. This is another issue that is vitally important to the farmers in my region.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague raised several points in connection with the Speech from the Throne. I want to assure her that the speech does lay out a clear vision and establish clear priorities. I heard my colleague saying that the details of this action plan need to be clarified. I want to assure her that we are already getting to work. Our commitments on the issue of affordability are important for our constituents. I heard her. Our seniors' concerns are being considered. Our government wants to strengthen a united Canadian economy without interprovincial trade barriers. I want to emphasize that, because the OECD's economic surveys of Canada very clearly show that we must get rid of our internal barriers and create domestic synergy. Isolating ourselves is no way to create productivity or growth. In this context, I do not understand why some members are focusing on isolation when—

I must allow enough time for the member to respond to the comments that have been made. The member for Shefford.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of barriers between provinces, there are certain issues, labour being one, that fall under Quebec's jurisdiction. What we are saying is that certain issues will be less straightforward, because the government will have to reach an agreement with Quebec and the provinces. Those barriers aside, I want to conclude by saying that I am not the one criticizing the idea of one economy, one system; it is the National Assembly. I wanted to mention that because its members have that right. They tabled a motion unanimously. Quebec has its own economic system, with our small and medium-sized businesses. We want to continue to defend it.

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech, as we all know, is a blueprint of the direction the government would like to take moving forward, but there is follow-up to that. Oversight by Parliament is an opportunity for everyone in this place, on both sides of the House, to review how the government plans to move forward with its agenda. One of those very important things is a budget. I think it is incumbent on a sitting government to be transparent as to what it plans to do. Presenting a budget six months down the road, after we have already spent six months' worth of the money, does not make sense. I wonder if the member can comment on how she feels about not having the opportunity to review a budget before we recess for vacation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question, which allows me to return to an issue I mentioned briefly at the beginning of my speech. From the outset, I asked how the government could promise tax cuts without presenting a budget. How can the government make announcements without tabling a budget? At a debate during the election campaign, our leader, the member for Beloeil—Chambly, talked about a Harry Potter budget. The Liberals are making up numbers and making announcements without presenting a budget, even though they are holding themselves up as economic experts who will be able to rein in government spending and balance all the budgets. They do not sound serious. This is a Harry Potter budget. We need to get the figures quickly so we can come up with a game plan.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Shefford for her speech. It embodied her dedication to social justice. I would like to give my colleague a bit of time to explain why protecting supply management is so important for Quebec's agriculture sector. In her riding and mine, there are dairy farmers operating family farms. It is a system that works well, because the entire agricultural sector is currently in crisis. Revenues are down. The ones faring best are the ones that stayed in the old system, the supply management system. I invite my colleague to tell us why it is so important in her riding.

Mr. Speaker, I am not the only one saying that. The Union des producteurs agricoles, including the UPA-Estrie, is saying it too. Over the years, the government has given itself a lot of credit for protecting supply management, but it let quota go. Dairy farmers know what I am talking about. Various negotiations have resulted in the loss of 18% of our quota. Not wanting to lose more quota on top of that, the UPA-Estrie called for a bill to fully protect supply management.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound honour that I rise for the first time in the 45th Parliament to speak to my colleagues about the Speech from the Throne. Let me start by congratulating every single member on having been elected to Canada's Parliament. It is a momentous occasion for all of us in our personal journeys and our journeys on behalf of our families and our community. My profound congratulations go especially to all the new members who have joined. What a remarkable opportunity to serve our community and, most importantly, to serve our country. I would be remiss if I did not first say some thank yous while standing here in front of all members. I will start with my family. I want to thank my partner, Andrea Dicks, for her remarkable support and endorsement. Like many spouses, as everyone knows, she is somebody who was always there, looking after the kids so that we could be out there for five, six weeks, day in and day out, knocking on doors and meeting constituents. We would not be able to do the work we do without supportive families and, in my case, Andrea. I want to thank my two children. Rafi just turned 13 a day before the election, on April 27. He was worried about whether he would have his birthday dinner or not. We made sure that happened after I took him canvassing with me. He was great during this election. He knocked on a lot of doors and brought some of his friends as well. My daughter, Elliana, who is nine years old, also came canvassing with me quite a few times. This was a bit of an interesting experience, because my kids are old enough now to participate. It was fun. I was able to spend time with them. Of course, I want to thank my parents, my father, who I call daddy, and my mother, Ammi, for all their support and for always being there for me. I am grateful to them for the opportunities they have given to me. Campaigns are nothing without volunteers. All of us know that, and my campaign was no exception. Hundreds of volunteers came out to support me in our campaign. These people are neighbours, friends, colleagues and community folks who came in, day in and day out, because they were excited to build a strong Canada. They really saw the Liberal Party and the Prime Minister, the member for Nepean, as the leader who can really lead our country in the next chapter of our growth to make sure that our country and our economy are strong, but most importantly, that we are an independent country. I will speak more to that a little later. I want to thank the staff in my office, who worked extremely hard in anticipation of the election and between elections, for the good work they did. I want to thank them for having faith in me and for working alongside me in serving our constituents here in Ottawa Centre. My most important thank you is to my constituents in Ottawa Centre, who have trusted me yet again and given me the opportunity to serve our community. They came out in the thousands to vote for me. They allowed me the opportunity and the time at their doorsteps to have very thoughtful, mindful conversations about the issues of the day and the direction our country needs to take. I have always gained so much from my constituents since 2007, when I ran for the first time provincially. This was my sixth election and it is the fifth time that I have had an opportunity to serve my community of Ottawa Centre. I am absolutely humbled by their trust, their wisdom and their desire to give me an opportunity to be their voice. I will honour that every single day. This election, in my view, was different from every other election I have been part of, whether as a volunteer or as a candidate. This election was really about the future of our country and about the direction we want to go in to build a country that is strong and independent, both politically, when it comes to our sovereignty, but also in terms of our economy, the kind of economy we will build. Those were the conversations I had. It was a very historic moment, having our sovereign, the King, present the speech himself. I was lucky, like many of my colleagues, to be in the Senate by the bar to listen to the speech. There were two passages that really jumped out at me in the speech, that spoke to me directly with regard to the conversations I had with my constituents during the election campaign. The first one was at the beginning of the speech. It is this: “Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.” Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are the values we will all agree defines who we are as Canadians. The reason this passage jumped out at me is that it took me back to my origin story, about how I came to Canada. I was not born here. Some members have heard this. I was a teenager, 15 years old, when I came here. Both of my parents were lawyers, but they were not able to practise for a single day in Canada, because their credentials were not recognized. Like many immigrant families, they bought a small business, a motel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. A recession hit and we lost everything. My family of five moved into a small two-bedroom apartment. My mom and dad got one room, my sister got the other room and the boys got the living room. My brother, being older than me, slept on the couch. I slept on the floor. My family worked extremely hard every day. We had our community, and we were proud to be part of this new society, this new country. The opportunities that were given to us, even though we were not Canadians at that time, allowed us to be successful. However, what is most important is the reason we came to Canada. Both of my parents were involved in the pro-democracy movement in the country I was born in. In fact, my father led a pro-democracy march and was imprisoned. He was sentenced to nine months as a political prisoner. I was 10 years old at the time. It is part of my memory and has defined who I am today. Therefore, when I see words like “democracy”, “pluralism”, “rule of law”, “self-determination” and “freedom”, that is what this country has given to me. My story is not unique. That is the story of so many Canadians from different generations who chose to be part of this country and are working hard to contribute. These are the values that define us and that we honour. I was excited and thrilled to see those words mentioned in the speech. The second passage was toward the end of the throne speech, and I think everybody noticed. It was when the King said, “As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!”

Oh, oh!

Mr. Speaker, I love hearing my friends opposite heckle, because they do that all the time. Yes, indeed, the True North will always be strong and free. Those were the most important conversations I had with my constituents in the election campaign. I can say that almost 90% of the conversations were around the anxiety and fear that people are facing as to the future of our country. I wanted them to know that we will do everything in our capacity in Parliament to stand up for Canada. We will make sure that Canada remains a strong, independent country and that we collectively take steps, working with each other, to make sure that Canada remains a beacon of hope, a country that will always cherish the values of democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom. Those were the conversations, and I will never forget those conversations. I am sure all members have examples, and I will give a quick one right now. When I was talking to a couple close to my age at a door, the man I was talking to just broke down and started crying. His fear and anxiety were so palpable, and I had to give him a hug. I made a commitment to him that I will, on his behalf, always stand up for our country. That is the work we are—

It being 6:15 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the subamendment now before the House. The question is on the subamendment. If a member participating in person wishes that the amendment to the amendment be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded division.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment to the amendment, which was agreed to on the following division:) Vote #1

I declare the amendment to the amendment carried. Before we adjourn, on behalf of all members, I want to congratulate principal clerk Suzie Cadieux, because this was the first vote of the 45th Parliament. I am sure all members will join me in congratulating her on running a great first vote. The motion that the House do now adjourn is deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1). (The House adjourned at 7:02 p.m.)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment first to congratulate you on your first sitting; that is wonderful. Before I begin, I would also like to take a moment to say thanks. It is hard to put into words how grateful I am to the people of Cloverdale—Langley City. They worked so hard to help me return to Ottawa. The volunteers gave up evenings and weekends to knock on doors, make phone calls and deliver signs. Someone even made apple pie for the team. Every single one of them played a very important role in making this possible. I give a special shout-out to my husband. He just never stopped: rain or shine, early mornings and late nights. His head-down-and-work-hard attitude is inspirational. Those fluffy pancakes and perfect chai tea he was making every Saturday at the campaign office are now legendary. I am so blessed to have such an amazing better half. Some members may know I campaigned in the December by-election and won the riding with over 65% of the vote, only to be sent right back into full campaign mode before I even had a chance to warm up a seat in the House. It has been quite a whirlwind, but let us just say I have worn out more than one pair of shoes this year and probably a few volunteers as well. There are so many amazing people I could name, but we would need another hour, so they should just know that their work mattered, their dedication mattered and I carry their voices with me every time I stand in the House. I will move now to my main speech. This week, Canadians were treated to all the pomp and ceremony of a throne speech, delivered by His Majesty King Charles himself, but as we know, it was written by the Prime Minister. Tucked into all the lofty words and grand gestures was this promise: The government would be guided by what it called “a new fiscal discipline: spend less so Canadians can invest more.” However, when the ways and means motion was tabled this week, rather than reducing the annual increase in spending to below 2% as the Liberals promised, there was a whopping 8.4% in increased federal spending. When we put all those numbers together, the Prime Minister will be spending 71% more than the Trudeau government projected in its fall estimates. Is it really a good idea to pull the wool over Canadians' eyes with fancy accounting tricks to make the books look good? The whole idea of spending less so Canadians can invest more sounds great until we think about it for five seconds. It is kind of like someone telling their kids, “we are saving money this month” while standing in the checkout line with a brand new flat-screen TV. They are not saving; they are spending, and someone is going to have to pay for it. Meanwhile, families are buckling under the weight of rising prices. I talked to people at the door, in church and at the grocery store, and they are cutting back on groceries, not just gadgets. They are cancelling their family summer plans just to keep up with mortgage payments, yet the government is talking about the largest transformation of Canada's economy since the Second World War. That does not come cheap; it will need to be paid for. Canadians want a proper budget so we can see what this transformation will actually cost. It is time to stop the overspending, stop creating inflation and give Canadians a real chance to catch their breath, because this is not just about today's prices. When governments overspend, the cost hits every one of us through higher interest rates, cuts to services and broken promises. When the bill comes due, it does not land on the Prime Minister's desk; it lands in the lap of our children and grandchildren. If we do not act now, we will not just lose our standard of living; we will also be handing our children and grandchildren a country we cannot afford to fix. Speaking of things young Canadians cannot afford, let us talk about housing. While I was out door knocking during the campaign, I met a young man standing outside his townhouse. It was a small place, and he was a nice guy who was probably in his early thirties. He told me he had a good job, saved hard and, even with help from his parents, just barely scraped together enough for a down payment. With interest rates now high for him and costs climbing, he looked me in the eye and said, “I always hoped that one day I could move into a place with enough room to raise a family, but with the way things are going, that dream is slipping away.” This stuck with me. Imagine my shock when I found out that the new housing minister, the government's so-called solution to the housing crisis, is the former mayor of Vancouver, the same guy who saw housing prices explode under his watch. Vancouver did not just become expensive; it became one of the most unaffordable cities on the planet. If that is the government's idea of help, we should all be very worried. The Liberals say they are going to double housing starts, but honestly, none of that matters if they do not fix the real problems: red tape, broken permitting systems and crushing taxes on building. The numbers do not lie. Costs are up, and young Canadians are giving up on ever owning a home. A country where the next generation cannot afford to put down roots is a country in trouble. We need a plan that gets homes built, not headlines written. Let me read the government's solution straight from the Liberals' platform: They are going to “get the federal government back into the business of [home] building”. Another new agency the government is creating, “build Canada homes”, will act as a developer, using our money to build housing on public land. The Liberals are planning to pour billions of dollars into prefab houses and low-cost financing to government-approved developers. The thing is that the Liberals do not want to help Canadians build their own future; they want to build it for Canadians using taxpayer money, and the government owns the keys. Housing is supposed to be about ownership, roots, stability and a future people can build, but under this plan, that dream is slipping farther and farther out of reach. The government is creating a system where more and more Canadians will rent homes from the government, built with our tax dollars on our public land, with no chance to own. I am thinking of young couples working two jobs, trying to save while prices keep rising; the new Canadian who came here for a better life, only to find that ownership is out of reach; and seniors watching their children and grandchildren struggle to afford what they took for granted. The truth is that this is not just a housing crisis; it is a hope crisis. A whole generation is being locked out, and we owe it to them to do better. We do not need more government landlords; we need a government that respects people's dream to own a home and fights to make that possible. Housing should not be a luxury that few can afford, and neither should public safety. It is a basic promise and one the Liberals have broken time and time again, almost as if it were by design. They have been slow to jail repeat violent criminals but quick to treat law-abiding Canadians like criminals through Liberal handgun bans. They go easy on gang members and carjackers but come down hard on licensed, trained sport shooters and collectors who have done nothing wrong except follow the rules. That is the Liberals' approach to justice: Punish the innocent, excuse the guilty and put the rights of criminals first and the rights of victims last. Let me share a heartbreaking case from my province of B.C. Last June, 40-year-old Adam Mann was charged with second-degree murder in the death of a young woman named Tori Dunn in Surrey. At the time of her death, he was out on bail, despite a violent history that included 22 prior convictions and a 12-year sentence for a home invasion. A pre-sentencing report had even described him as an “unmanageable risk”, yet he was walking free. Tori's family did not just lose their daughter; they lost her to a system that failed them. It is a system that prioritized the rights of a repeat violent offender over the right of an innocent woman to live her life in peace. That is not justice, it is not safety and it certainly is not compassion. Canadians deserve a justice system that protects the public, not one that gambles with their life. We need real bail reform, laws that protect victims not offenders, and a government that stands up for safe communities. If we do not get serious now, we are not just risking more crime; we are also risking the public's faith in the entire system. Canadians have heard enough empty words. What they need now is a plan, an actual budget in black and white. Is there just too much red ink for the new Prime Minister to be honest with Canadians? He ran on his résumé. He promised competence, credibility and discipline, but so far we have seen none of it. There is no real fiscal restraint, no plan to fix housing and no action on crime. There is just more borrowed money, more bureaucratic programs and more empty headlines. If the Prime Minister truly wants to lead, he needs to deliver a budget that stops the bleeding, one that reigns in the reckless spending, restores affordability and gives Canadians back the hope that they are losing. Is this what competence looks like? Is this the stellar economic prowess the Prime Minister promised millions of voters? I sure hope not, because Canadians deserve better.

The House resumed from May 29 consideration of the motion for an address to His Majesty the King in reply to his speech at the opening of the session, and of the amendment as amended.

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of her speech, my colleague talked a lot about government spending. A by-election is about to be called in a Conservative Party riding, which will cost taxpayers over $1.5 million. Does the member think that is a necessary expense or not?

Mr. Speaker, we can debate distractions all day. My job is to stand up here for families that are falling further behind while the government delays in delivering a real plan, and that starts with a real budget, a responsible budget. It is plain and simple: We cannot fix affordability without fixing the books. Every day that the government delays tabling a responsible budget, inflation keeps hurting families, interest rates stay high, small businesses cannot plan and retirees cannot budget. The longer we wait for a clear plan, the more expensive the crisis becomes. It is time for leadership. It is time to stop the bleeding and to bring forward a budget that shows discipline and respect for the people footing the bill: Canadian taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of Parliament representing a riding that borders the United States, I have an interest in border security. The throne speech mentions the hiring of additional RCMP officers, but there is not a word about the government's intention to add human resources to the Canada Border Services Agency. Does my colleague not find it odd, even abnormal, that the previous government's commitment to hire 1,000 border services officers was not included in the throne speech?

Mr. Speaker, the real question Canadians are asking right now is whether the Prime Minister will deliver a budget that finally shows he understands the cost of living crisis. What Canadians are desperate for is a budget, not another glossy brochure of recycled promises. While the government pushes press conferences and platitudes, families are maxing out their grocery budget and skipping summer plans just to cover the mortgage. We do not need more words; we need a real fiscal plan, one that reins in the reckless spending, respects taxpayer dollars and gives our economy a chance to breathe. Without it, we are not just talking about a failure to lead; we are talking about a failure to govern.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member on her back-to-back re-elections. She mentioned the lack of a plan from the Prime Minister, and I am wondering whether she has stories from her two campaigns of how Canadians view their own budget and the decisions they have to make in their own household, and whether any of those resemble what we are getting from the government. I thought she might have some insights from her conversations with voters.

Mr. Speaker, it is not just from my voters; it is actually also from my own experience as a businesswoman. Never, ever, did we work without a budget. The reason we need a budget is so we can see whether we are on track. If we are not on track, we will never know. Things will go off the rails very quickly. Even the bank requires that we be disciplined by having a budget, following the budget and making sure we are staying within our expenses.

Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree in the House that a tragedy is playing out in Saskatchewan and Manitoba due to the wildfire exacerbated by climate change. I think we can all say that we share in sending our condolences and prayers to the people on the ground who are being impacted, and certainly the first responders. One thing we heard in the election campaign in April is that the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs issued two calls to action for election candidates. One of them was calling for “a National Fire Administration intended to help Canada address and coordinate issues related to wildfire, explosives, housing policy, construction, tariffs, federal response to emergencies, green technologies, marine transportation, clean energy, defense”, and the list goes on. A national fire administration would serve as the nucleus of any future emergency management, responsible in terms of response to wildfires and an emergency such as the one that is playing out right now. Does my colleague agree with the call to action by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and how that would help right now?

Mr. Speaker, we absolutely need to make sure that we are working to ensure that this tragedy is taken care of, and we will be providing as much support as we can.

Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to thank the residents of Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke for the trust they have placed in me for a ninth time. It is their hard work and their determination to build communities in the Ottawa Valley that inspire me to work just as hard for them. I would also like to thank His Majesty King Charles III for visiting Canada and delivering the throne speech. One of the first acts of the last prime minister was to pull down a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, so it was encouraging when the member for Nepean, as one of his first acts, invited His Majesty. It was encouraging right up until the moment the speech was delivered, which was when we were all reminded that this is the same old Liberal Party, just dressed up in banker socks. This is the same party that seeks to seize hunting rifles from lawful citizens. It is the same party that promised the world it would expropriate 30% of Canada's developed lands and impose strict new environmental rules across the country. This is the same Liberal Party that has no economic plan other than to tax and spend and then borrow some more. There is one difference between the Trudeau Liberals of six months ago and these repainted Liberals today. Whereas the last Liberals had a childish, obstinate mindset that treated any Conservative suggestion as radioactive, these light-fingered Liberals are ready to lift any idea out of our back pockets. Make no mistake: This is not a complaint. We want the Liberals to copy us, yet somehow, despite his university experience, the Prime Minister is bad at plagiarism. What I mean is that, while they might steal our policy slogan, they will then twist it into a traditional Liberal policy. Take our policy to remove the GST on new homes. The elegance of our policy is in the ease of execution. It is easy for home builders to plan. It is easy for the CRA to implement, yet in the hands of the Liberals, the policy gets twisted into something else. The Liberals said words like “remove GST” and “homes” and “new”, but they were not in the same order. The Liberals promised to remove the GST on sales of new homes to new buyers. Their policy creates uncertainty. Home builders will have to guess at how many new homes they will build for the first-time buyers. Their policies require the CRA to hire more bureaucrats to make sure the buyer is really buying their first home. Making something more complicated than it needs to be, growing the public service and having the government pick winners and losers is peak Liberal policy. The speech did not mention the Liberal campaign promise to seize the property of lawful firearms owners within the next four months. It was encouraging for His Majesty to say that the rights of lawful firearms owners would be protected. As the former public safety minister said last December, phase two of the great Liberal gun grab will involve sending the police to the home of every single licensed firearms owner to conduct searches for newly prohibited firearms. Those two statements are hard to square. Was the omission of the gun grab in the throne speech a quiet acknowledgement by our economist Prime Minister that spending over a billion dollars to destroy privately owned property is a form of investment destruction? We can only guess, since the Prime Minister campaigned on a slogan to eat less and gain weight. My hunch is that, despite how wasteful a gun grab would be, the Prime Minister will cave to the pressure from within his cabinet. The cabinet members will claim that the gun grab is an investment in saving lives. They will say this while they divert the police from stopping crime to searching the homes of 2.3 million law-abiding Canadians. They will say this despite the complete lack of evidence. They will say that they are saving lives while record numbers of teenagers are being shot. That is because the Liberals will always privilege the fears of their affluent voters over the lives of poor kids. Only time will tell if the Liberals' plan to make buying homes more complicated will lower prices. Only time will tell if the Liberals will move ahead with their half-decade-old promise to grab up all the guns that look scary. What Canadians do not need time to figure out is that the Liberal promise to implement the 30 by 30 treaty is an epic fantasy tale. While this story is hardly The Lord of the Rings, a red dragon does make a cameo appearance. In the throne speech, His Majesty told the story of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Negotiations for this international agreement were led by the Communists who control China, and the Liberal minister who stood in the House, this temple to liberal democracy, and declared himself to be a proud socialist. The fact that a self-declared, proud socialist has been elevated to the position of Minister of Canadian Identity should send a chill down the spine of every small-l liberal in the country. Putting a proud socialist and environmental radical in the same room as the Communist dragon crushing the people of China should have been a feeding frenzy for the legacy media, yet, to read any coverage of the treaty in the Liberal-funded media, one would think this treaty is a green miracle of international co-operation. Most news reports only mention the treaty's target to conserve 30% of our land and water by 2030. The media and the Liberals do not like to mention the other two targets in the treaty. They only want to talk about the third target. That is understandable. Conserving our natural habitat is widely supported. What Canadians do not support is a government lying to the world in their name. The promise to reach 30% by 2030 was dishonest. Canadians do not have to take my word for this. They can go online to google Canada's conserved areas. From there, they will be able to find the government's report on its conservation efforts. The government might delete these web pages shortly, but I made sure to download a copy of the report for when it tries to put its track record into a memory hole. Here is what the report says: Over the last 10 years of Trudeau Liberal rule, Canada conserved an additional 3.5% of its natural habitat. That is about the same amount that had been conserved under Stephen Harper, which means, over the last 20 years, Canada has conserved about 7.5% of its land. That brings the total conserved area to around 15%, but that steady progress was not flashy enough for the Trudeau Liberals. Despite having no plan to make it a reality, the Liberals committed us to conserving another 15% of Canada's wildlife and lands in five years. That pattern of over-promising and under-delivering was typical of the Trudeau Liberals, so it was a bit of a surprise to see the man from Brookfield stand before Canadians to make the exact same promise. Even more surprising was the ridiculous claim the Prime Minister made during his announcement. The man who claimed he writes his own talking points told Canadians that, over the last 10 years, the Trudeau Liberals had conserved 15% of Canada's land. He actually said that Trudeau Liberals had taken us from 1% to 15%. I know the Prime Minister has lived much of his life outside Canada, but surely even he knew that we had national parks before Trudeau. Conservatives support conserving more of Canada's natural habitat. We just think we should be honest with other countries on what is possible. What my constituents cannot support is the Liberals committing Canada to targets 1 and 2. Target 1 would require massive new environmental regulations to be imposed on every Canadian. Anyone who has lived on property that falls under a conservation authority knows what this will mean. The Prime Minister's slogan, “build, baby, build”, will be taken out quietly and smothered. Nothing will be built. However, target 2 is the real shocker. The Liberals have committed us to restoring 30% of developed lands back to nature. The same Liberals want to pave over an area 400 times the size of Toronto to build windmills and solar farms. That a proud socialist could hold contradictory policies is not surprising. What is surprising is the estimate of what it would cost the taxpayers of Canada to expropriate 30% of developed lands and restore them to their natural state. One estimate of the value of all the property in Canada puts it at $19 trillion. To buy 30% of that would cost almost $6 trillion. That is what I mean by fantastical. The only way this could ever happen would be for the Liberals to toss property rights overboard, claim the idea of property itself as a colonial legacy and give Canada a proud socialist identity. The throne speech really does reveal that the Trudeau Liberals are alive and well. Let us just hope the new socks they are wearing were not made in China.

Mr. Speaker, in her speech, my colleague attacked the media and questioned its credibility. This is not surprising, coming from a party that wants to slash funding to the CBC without any consideration for the impact that could have on the quality of information available in the regions and available in francophone communities outside Quebec. We are living in an era when so much disinformation is being shared online, and this can erode trust in our institutions. Instead, we should be making greater efforts to support a strong, independent press in order to ensure access to quality information. I would like to know why our colleague wants to go after the CBC. Why does she want to go after a strong and independent press, when we should be doing just the opposite?

Mr. Speaker, I did not insult or attack the CBC. If we do not want to have a paid-off legacy media, we can just stop paying it off.

Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing, to a certain degree, that the member opposite continues to want to deny reality. We had an election where a government was elected with more votes than in any other federal election, and we had a very clear mandate that talks about building a stronger, healthier Canada. It is a mandate to enhance trade opportunities, as an example, yet we see an opposition member who continues to want to do nothing to provide a constructive critique of the budget while commenting on what she believes would be a healthy alternative. Does she have any intention of voting for the throne speech? If not, can she indicate what, if anything, she believes is good within the throne speech?

Mr. Speaker, my biggest fan on that side of the aisle mentioned the budget. I did not see the budget or any dollar signs attached to anything in the throne speech. Once I have the numbers to demonstrate what each of the initiatives in the throne speech is going to cost, then I would be able to say something positive.

Mr. Speaker, my question will be very brief. We are at the beginning of a new Parliament. I would like to know what my colleague thinks of a government that was elected on an economic platform, but is proposing rather extraordinary and exponential spending without presenting a budget. Does my colleague think that is responsible?

Mr. Speaker, no, I do not think that is responsible.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad I was able to catch your eye. I would like to express my congratulations to you. I wonder if the member for Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke could comment further on the extent to which the Liberal Party campaigned on its purported plan, yet it has tabled a Speech from the Throne that contains no concrete plan whatsoever and no budget.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister himself said that a slogan is not a plan. Plans involve precise measures and the amount each measure is going to cost. Therefore, when he said he had a plan, his only plan was to pick the pockets of our policies, which we are happy about. However, he should make sure that he puts the full policy we proposed in, because that would be a responsible response for the government to go forward.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Mont-Saint-Bruno—L'Acadie. It is with a great deal of emotion and a great sense of responsibility that I rise in this honourable chamber as the member for Bourassa. I want to start by thanking my family.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, the translation was not coming through in English.

We have interpretation now. The problem has been fixed, so the member for Bourassa can restart his speech.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of emotion and a great sense of responsibility that I rise in the House as the member for Bourassa. I would like to begin by thanking my family, my friends and the volunteers who worked with me on the campaign. Their patience, dedication and confidence made it possible for me to be here today. This victory belongs to all the people with shared convictions who pounded the pavement and listened to voters. I congratulate the right hon. Prime Minister on his appointment and applaud the Speech from the Throne read by His Majesty King Charles III. This speech maps out a decidedly forward-looking path guided by a vision for a stronger, more equitable and more innovative Canada. For this vision to work, it has to encompass the full range of realities, including the reality in Bourassa. I am from Bourassa, a vibrant, diverse and proud riding. Bourassa is a welcoming place, steeped in history. Sadly, it is also one of the most poverty-stricken ridings in Canada. Nearly 48% of its households live below the low income cut-off. It has a lot of single-parent families and is in desperate need of affordable housing, access to employment and psychological support. These challenges do not define us, but they are of concern. It would be nice if our government would take these factors into account. We need more investments in social housing, more recurrent funding for community organizations, funding that is as permanent as possible, and we we need to pay special attention to education, the success of our young people and mental health. I will now address the three issues of greatest concern to me. The first is public safety. The Speech from the Throne talks about stricter enforcement of violent crime laws, and with good reason. I am fully on board with this desire to strengthen the rule of law, but we must not stop there, because every act of violence and every crime is preceded by multiple indicators and warning signs that are, more often than not, ignored. Let us talk about those indicators and warning signs. We cannot have a serious conversation about public safety without talking about chronic poverty, the shortage of sports, cultural and educational infrastructure for our young people, and the lack of safe green spaces. Some neighbourhoods are in dire need of these things. We also need to talk about the underfunding of community organizations, which often play a lead role in prevention. As I have said, we need to take a balanced approach to prevention and address the concerns expressed by members on the other side of the House. These are the indicators and warning signs I talked about earlier. If we do not invest in intervention and prevention, we will continue to pay the human, social and economic price for failing to step up today. We must strike a balance between deterrence and prevention. We must be firm in enforcing the law, but we also have to give young people reasons to believe in the law. The second issue that resonates with me is artificial intelligence. I am an IT specialist. From a young age, I became actively interested in AI and was a believer in it long before it was used by most members of the House for the most basic of tasks. In my opinion, AI can speed up access to government programs. It can cut red tape for our organizations and industries, as well as for our citizens. It can also provide faster and more personalized services to citizens. It can improve infrastructure planning, emergency management and public facility maintenance in a much more proactive way. In today's world, there are many examples of this, which I will go into later. I would like to see our government align itself with this vision. This technology must, of course, remain a tool for serving people and putting them front and centre. It must never replace compassion and must never create new forms of social exclusion. We must build AI that is ethical, inclusive, transparent and accessible to vulnerable regions such as Bourassa. The third issue that concerns us all and that several of my colleagues have spoken about is support for seniors. I cannot conclude my first speech without talking about an important segment of our society and population: our seniors. In Bourassa, many of them built our community through their hard work, commitment and wisdom. Today, many of them live alone. They may be isolated and living on very limited incomes. They have been very clear about two things. The first is that they want a home support program. They want to stay in their own home and their own neighbourhood for as long as possible. To do that, they need more accessible home support programs, home care services, psychosocial support, paratransit and accessibility upgrades. These are very urgent needs. The second is that they have financial anxiety. Seniors want their incomes to be protected against inflation. They want their pensions to be indexed to the actual cost of living. We must listen to them. Supporting our seniors is not just a social measure. It is a moral duty. It is a societal choice for the future. In closing, being a member of Parliament means speaking on behalf of the people who elected us to sit here and who put their trust in us. It means speaking for young people, families, newcomers and especially our seniors. I am here to represent Bourassa with pride, dignity and, above all, determination. I am committed to standing up for my community's interests, sharing its realities and working with everyone to build a fairer, safer and more innovative Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome the hon. member to this House. We have seen mixed messages from the Prime Minister and from the government when it comes to getting resource projects and pipelines built. During the election campaign, the Prime Minister's mantra was “build, baby, build”. He even invoked using emergency powers to get pipelines built, but then backtracked by endorsing the “no pipelines” bill, Bill C-69, as well as the production cap. We have seen the Minister of Natural Resources repeatedly say that the government would now support getting pipelines built only where there is a so-called consensus. Could the hon. member elaborate on what that might look like?

Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question is a little outside the scope of my speech. I would just like to tell him and the entire official opposition that, in my view, working together is essential to truly moving forward and building a stronger Canada. Offering up potentially meaningless criticism is not the way to move Canada forward and guarantee our country's future. I think that your question strays a bit from what I said. However, I would say once again that our government is open to discussion and collaboration. I am sure the same is true on your side. That will make for a stronger Canada with more involvement and inclusion for everyone.

Before we continue with questions and comments, I would like to remind the hon. member that he must address his comments to the Chair and not directly to other members. I am hearing some members say “you”, but I have no opinion on the issues being discussed. The hon. member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj.

Mr. Speaker, for the past 10 years, I worked as a lawyer at the New Richmond legal aid office in the Baie-des-Chaleurs region. I served the most vulnerable members of society and saw poverty first-hand. When my colleague talks about the link between poverty and crime, I find that quite interesting. I would like him to explain why, in the Speech from the Throne, his government did not commit to reforming employment insurance to get rid of the “spring gap” problem, to ensure that the EI system is generous enough to keep people from falling under the poverty line.

Mr. Speaker, that is a very relevant question. To find correlations between crime indicators, we need to look for the strongest correlations. The member asked a question about a specific government program that I did not really talk about. However, I can say again that we need to take a systemic approach. We cannot just look at one program. We need to take a systemic approach that includes funding for organizations, infrastructure for our youth, and more permanent and ongoing funding for our organizations. That could help. I agree with my colleague. Again, I want to take a systemic and more holistic approach so that we can move forward in a more useful way.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his first speech in the House and on getting elected in the riding of Bourassa. My question is very simple. I represent a rural riding. It is a bit different from the more urban ridings. My colleague focused a lot on AI. How can AI be used in a region like mine or in other rural and remote regions of Canada?

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, it is extremely important that artificial intelligence be used in an ethical and inclusive way. The last thing we need is to create an even bigger digital divide. Can AI play a role in rural settings? The answer is a definite yes. AI makes information more easily understandable and simplifies processes. It could be put in place. I have said it before and I will say it again: The difference between our two ridings is an aging population that may not necessarily have access to digital technology. Using artificial intelligence, however, we can explain things in understandable terms to make it more accessible. I believe that. Here is a simple example. We could try to identify infrastructures in our ridings to proactively determine which of them need to be kept or improved.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great humility and gratitude that I rise today to speak for the first time in the House as the member for the new riding of Mont‑Saint‑Bruno—L'Acadie. First, I would like to warmly thank the citizens of Mont‑Saint‑Bruno—L'Acadie who elected me and placed their trust in me to be their voice here in Ottawa. They have entrusted me with their voice and the responsibility to raise our concerns, defend our needs and make the realities of our community heard right here in this fine institution. Their voices will accompany me to Ottawa every day. I would also like to acknowledge Ludovic Grisé, mayor of Saint‑Bruno‑de‑Montarville, who is here with us today. He has brought a breath of fresh air to the community ever since he was elected, first as a city councillor in 2019 and then as mayor in 2021. His youth, unwavering dedication and sincere love for his city make him an inspiring, accessible elected official who is deeply invested in our community's development. I look forward to working with him to advance our joint goals in a spirit of mutual respect, dialogue and lasting partnership. As a father of four, I am especially proud to be a member of Parliament at a time when our government is taking concrete action to provide relief to Canadian families. For instance, the recently announced tax cut plan will provide real, significant tax relief to the middle class. People will see concrete results right away. Starting in 2026, a two-income family will save up to $840 a year. In all, some 22 million Canadians will benefit from this tax cut. As of July 1, 2025, the lowest marginal tax rate will drop from 15% to 14%. Over a five-year period, tax cuts will put more than $27 billion back in taxpayers' pockets. This is a major step forward for our country. I strongly believe that well-thought-out policy results in measures that make a real difference in people's everyday lives by providing relief, lifting us up and uniting us all. With that, I would like to draw everyone's attention to an important event called Afrique en lumière, a celebration in honour of Africa Day, organized by Lève‑toi et brille in partnership with the Fédération Africaine et Associations du Canada. As the first Canadian MP of Congolese origin, this moment really resonated with me. It reminded me of where I come from and of what we can build together when we come from a place of respect and solidarity. Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the House of Commons employees for their warm welcome, their support and their exemplary professionalism since I arrived here. I would also like to thank my fellow members for their kindness, their advice and the spirit of co-operation I sense in this institution. I am beginning my mandate with respect, determination and hope. I am here to serve. I am here to build. I am here to speak on behalf of Mont-Saint-Bruno—L'Acadie and on behalf of a strong Quebec in a strong Canada that is in charge of its economy.

Before moving on to questions and comments, I want to remind new members that references to people in the public gallery must always be made through the Chair. Only the Chair may acknowledge the presence of people here with us in the galleries. The hon. member for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan.

Mr. Speaker, I too was a municipal politician, and the recent concern I heard from municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals was that the carbon tax was being downloaded onto organizations and that the federal government never gave them back their returns. Members always talked about how eight out of 10 families were getting more money back, but these organizations were being overlooked. Will the federal government commit to returning the carbon tax funds that have been taken from these organizations?

Mr. Speaker, our government decided to lower the tax rate from 15% to 14% for all Canadians. This is an important measure that will help move our economy forward and make Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and welcome him to the House. Earlier, we talked about EI. That was a key promise made by the Liberal Party in 2015. It is 2025, and still nothing is happening. I would like to know why the government is not keeping its promises about EI. Why is it that, in regions like mine, many people find themselves in the spring gap, with no income for a huge part of the year? These people are the backbone of key industries such as fishing, forestry and mining. Why do they have to deal with the government's responsibilities? Does he believe that reform is coming soon and that the government will honour the commitments it made to my constituents?

Mr. Speaker, earlier I talked about a major step forward for our country. I will say it again: Starting in 2026, half of all families will see annual savings of up to $840. The measure will affect nearly 22 million Canadians. We have made important decisions for the benefit of Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I truly appreciate the member's comments. I was quite pleased to hear that he is the first person of Congo heritage to be a member of Parliament. I applaud him on that and look forward to hearing him tell us a bit more from his perspective. I noticed the hon. member emphasized that the very first action the Prime Minister took was to give a tax break. Could he amplify why that was so important to him? He made reference to having some children.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, I have four children. I am generally familiar with the needs of Canadians, having spent part of my formative years in the Congo and part here, in Canada. When we presented this measure during the campaign, as I knocked on doors in Mont-Saint-Bruno—L'Acadie, a lot of people told me it was important for Canadian families.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to welcome the member opposite to this chamber. He gave a terrific speech. I am so excited that the member is also excited about tax cuts. My major question for the member is this: If going from 15% to 14%, a 1% reduction, is so great, why do the Liberals not double it?

Mr. Speaker, I think that tax cuts should always be gradual and organized. Our government's decision to cut tax rates from 15% to 14% is a responsible one. As I said, this tax relief will ease the tax burden on Canadians in general by about $27 billion over the next five years. I think a gradual approach is important for the sake of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the constituents in my riding of Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill for allowing me the opportunity to be their voice in this historic place. I am truly humbled by the honour they have bestowed on me to represent them and our community in the home of democracy for Canada and all Canadians. I know that the chair I sit in belongs to them. This is an honour and a privilege that I cherish, and I pledge to work tirelessly on their behalf to prove worthy of the trust they have placed in me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank my hard-working campaign team and the hundreds of volunteers who devoted so much of their precious time to help me spread a message of hope in these trying times. It was in the third week of May in 1956 when my mother Panagiota, a young woman in her mid-twenties, boarded the Queen Frederica for a transatlantic trip to Canada from her native country of Greece. Born in the 1930s in the midst of the Great Depression in a small village in the Spartan region of southern Greece to a poor family, opportunities were virtually non-existent. The inevitable hardship that followed as the country was embroiled in the Second World War was only compounded by the civil war that ensued in 1948. Like so many of her generation, my mother was deprived of an education. By the 1950s, it became evident to her that she did not have a future in her poor village in her own country. It was then that a friend told her about a country called Canada. At the time, the Government of Canada had an immigration stream for domestics. Today, we call it the live-in caregiver program. She applied and was one of 75 young women who courageously boarded the ship for Canada to work as a maid in a home. The Queen Frederica embarked on a 15-day journey, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax on June 6. My mom walked off the ship with no money, carrying a small suitcase containing just a few clothing items and not knowing a word of the English or French language. In truth, though, she carried a lot more than that. She brought with her the dream that in this new country she had chosen, she would be welcomed, she would succeed with hard work and her dreams would be fulfilled. She dreamed that she would meet someone, get married, have children and grow a family in a country that promised every opportunity to educate her children, contribute to society and prosper. My father John also chose Canada as his home and landed at the same pier with the same dream one year later. They met in Montreal, and the following year they were married. Born in Montreal, my brothers and I grew up in a loving home guided by our Christian faith and the values taught to us by our parents. It was in those early formative years that I learned the importance of civic engagement and realized that in addition to my personal career path, I wanted to be of public service. For the past 35 years, I have volunteered in my community, and this ultimately led me to seeking elected office. My election to Canada's Parliament in 2011 and again in 2025 would not have been possible if my parents had not instilled in me a deep love for our great country. Canada is, indeed, a country where everything is possible, even for two poor people who came here, like so many others have, seeking a better life. For my family, my election was in part a fulfillment of a Canadian dream. After 10 years of the tired Liberal government, Canada's promise that with hard work anyone from anywhere can achieve anything has been broken. Taxes are higher, interest rates are up, grocery prices have skyrocketed, home prices are up and Canadians have been left helpless, as the Liberal government has lost its way. Unfortunately, the Speech from the Throne did very little to give people hope and inspire optimism for better days ahead. While there are some measures outlined that can be seen as steps in the right direction—

I regret to interrupt the member. It is now time for Statements by Members. The member will have about five minutes after question period is done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time in the 45th Parliament with gratitude and humility. I am the first member of the Liberal Party to win my riding in 70 years. I thank the people of South Surrey—White Rock for placing their trust in me. It is an honour to serve as their representative. To my family, the incredible volunteers and supporters, I thank them very much for their time, energy and unwavering dedication. I could not have done this without them. My work in the House has already begun. My priorities for South Surrey—White Rock include protecting our border community, addressing the urgent pressures on housing and affordability, and building safer and more secure neighbourhoods. I would like to recognize this week as being National AccessAbility Week, which is a time to celebrate the contributions of persons with disabilities and build more inclusive and accessible communities. I wish to thank Stephanie Cadieux, my dear friend and Canada's first-ever chief accessibility officer, for her continued leadership and—

The member for Richmond Centre—Marpole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to sound the alarm on a national emergency that is devastating families across the country: the drug crisis. I listened carefully to the Speech from the Throne. I was disappointed and, frankly, alarmed that this crisis was barely acknowledged. Just 18 words were offered on a tragedy that has claimed 50,000 Canadian lives in the past decade. Fifty thousand Canadians have died from overdoses since 2015, which is more than all the Canadian soldiers who died in the Second World War, yet the government continues to downplay it. The Prime Minister even said on the campaign trail that Canada is facing a “challenge”, not a crisis. He is dead wrong. In British Columbia, overdose is now the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18. In February, a 14-year-old girl died alone at home in Surrey. In July 2024, a 13-year-old girl in Prince George lost her life to overdose. When will this Liberal government put an end to its reckless drug policy and failed decriminalization experiment?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the residents of Orléans for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the House of Commons. I consider it a tremendous honour and privilege, and I am grateful for their trust. I also want to thank my campaign team and the hundreds of volunteers who took the time, day after day, to come out and help us spread our message. The people of Orléans shared their concerns with me during the election campaign. They gave me a clear mandate. Already, we are addressing their concerns by lowering taxes, eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers and reducing federal barriers to internal trade. As far as our country's sovereignty goes, like our national anthem says and like King Charles III reiterated in the Speech from the Throne, Canada's true north is indeed strong and free, and I expect it to stay that way forever.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by acknowledging members of community councils from Long Range Mountains who are here with us today. I am immensely grateful for the work they do for our communities, and it is an honour to have them here in the capital. I would also like to take a moment to commemorate the Islaview Foundation, a foundation built on hope, kindness and love in honour and memory of Isla Short. The Islaview Foundation raises funds to help families who battle the challenges that come with having a child with a life-threatening condition. Once a year, and this year on May 23, the community of Deer Lake comes together to fundraise and celebrate Islaview Day, a celebration of Isla's life. There is a carnival, cupcakes, ice cream and lots of jokes, all symbols of childhood joy. To Sarah and Michael, Isla's parents, and all the incredible volunteers and donors who make this day possible, I thank them for transforming heartbreak into hope and showing the country what it means to care for one another.

Mr. Speaker, the Ordre du mérite Bleu et Or is a distinguished honour awarded by the Université de Moncton to graduates with outstanding academic performance, community engagement and participation in student life. I would like to congratulate two young people from my riding, Jennifer Lepage‑Robidoux of Balmoral, who earned a Bachelor of Education degree, and Simon Thériault of Drummond, who earned a Bachelor of Social Science degree, on being awarded this high honour in recognition of their commitment to excellence throughout their university studies. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 322 people who received degrees and certificates during the Université de Moncton's 73rd convocation at the Edmundston campus. This is a major milestone in their lives, and I hope that many of them will choose to stay in our region. Madawaska—Restigouche has an abundance of talented people, and it is a tremendous privilege to represent this wonderful riding here in Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, past and present, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Jim Gouk, a former member of Parliament who passed away on May 27 after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. Jim was first elected in 1993 as a Reform Party MP for Kootenay West—Revelstoke. He served for 12 years and four elections, later representing British Columbia Southern Interior with the Conservative Party. Before politics, Jim worked as an air traffic controller. His deep knowledge of Canada's transportation sector earned respect across party lines. A dedicated parliamentarian, he served on many committees and always focused on providing sound, informed advice to government. In his maiden speech, he said, “Those who are from there [the Kootenays] know how incredible it is. Those who are from other places are mistaken in believing that theirs equal it.” Upon retiring in 2005, Jim said it was time to enjoy life with his wife, Ann, and practise the three Gs: gardening, golf and grandchildren. Jim leaves a legacy of service, integrity and dedication. We extend our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time as the member of Parliament for the great riding of Bay of Quinte. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and optimism as I look out at this 45th Parliament and all the new and returning faces I will be working alongside as we build a better Canada. I want to thank my wife, Sandi, and my daughters, Nicole and Rachelle. I also want to thank the tireless volunteers who helped secure this victory for the Bay of Quinte. I would not be here without them. I want to recognize that June is the start of Pride Season here in Canada, a time to celebrate the vibrancy and contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities we have in my riding of Bay of Quinte and across Canada. It is also a time to recommit ourselves to the work that still needs to be done to ensure we have true equality and opportunity in our society. This Sunday, Pride week starts in the Bay of Quinte, with events taking place all over—

The member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis.

Mr. Speaker, after a throne speech that seemed to draw inspiration from the fiscal prudence advocated by the Conservative Party, the actions taken by the new Prime Minister quickly dashed any hopes. He promised restraint in the morning and went on a spending spree in the afternoon. They are handing out another $6 billion for consultants while families in Lévis have to line up for food hampers. For a moment, we thought the Prime Minister had finally understood the Conservative logic: Reduce the tax burden by reducing the size of government. He only partially understood. The government cannot cut taxes while increasing spending. That is not responsibility, that is inflation. Uncontrolled Liberal inflation has doubled the number of food bank users in some organizations in my riding in just three years. The Prime Minister appears to be continuing in the same direction as Justin Trudeau. Canadians deserve better. The House deserves answers. Above all, it deserves a budget this spring.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to draw the House's attention to the fact that Rimouski is hosting the Memorial Cup for the second time since 2009. This is a very important Canadian junior hockey event. Since the start of the tournament, our region has shown that we think big outside the major cities. This event is already a great success. Every so often, the Lower St. Lawrence becomes a land of champions. At the heart of this success is the Océanic de Rimouski, the team of an entire region that the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League once again entrusted to host this prestigious event. Thank you to the Tanguay family, the organizing committee led by Sébastien Noël, the volunteers and residents for all of their hard work. I also want to commend the young players for their talent and sportsmanship. Together, they proved that regions can successfully host the largest events with pride, passion and determination. Good luck to the finalists and happy Memorial Cup.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of Ottawa Centre. It is a true honour to serve my community, and a responsibility I carry with deep humility and commitment. Throughout the campaign, I heard a clear call for leadership that listens and delivers. That is what I am here to do. I will keep working hard to expand access to dental care, build more affordable housing on public lands and advance a seniors' health and housing hub at Confederation Heights. Revitalizing our downtown is also a top priority, from transforming Dow's Lake and the Arboretum into year-round community destinations to improving bike paths and supporting local businesses. I am excited to keep pushing to bring the Ottawa Senators to LeBreton Flats, part of a bold, community-led vision that includes affordable housing, indigenous culture and French-language education. I will always stand up for Ottawa Centre and for a stronger, more inclusive Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this is what it looks like when a country is flying blind: no budget, no plan and millions of families left in the dark. Parliament was shut down for half a year, and then came the snap election. Now, the new Prime Minister wants to spend half a trillion dollars but is refusing to deliver a budget. There are no answers, just smoke and mirrors, while real people are struggling to stay afloat. I know a young couple in the GTA who are doing everything right. They are working hard and saving every dollar, yet they still cannot afford a home. Pre-construction sales are down over 70%, and experts say a housing shortage is just around the corner. The dream of home ownership is slipping away. For families who already own, mortgage payments are falling behind, groceries and gas are eating up what is left of the paycheque, and our young people, kids just starting out, are drowning in credit card debt. No business would ever let a new CEO get away with this. The board would demand a budget, and Canadians deserve the same.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the honour of being sworn in once again as the member of Parliament for Kanata. Standing with my family, friends and dedicated volunteers who helped make this journey possible was deeply moving and a moment I will never forget. Public service is a privilege, and I am incredibly grateful for the trust that the residents of Kanata have placed in me once again. I am ready to work hard every day to be their voice here in Parliament and to champion the issues that matter most in our community. It is an honour to serve on behalf of the residents of Kanata, Bells Corners, Stittsville and Carp. This seat belongs to all of them.

Mr. Speaker, it turns out that the Prime Minister was telling the truth when he said he was different from Justin Trudeau; he is actually worse. This week, the Prime Minister introduced his first spending bill, called the main estimates, for the coming year. It is a half-a-trillion-dollar spending bill with no budget. He promised to cap spending increases to 2% but then, one hour later, stuck Canadians with an 8% spending hike, nearly three times larger than inflation and population growth combined. Single moms, seniors and small business owners have to budget before they spend. Why is it that the Prime Minister does not? This is all from the guy who said he was the man with the plan and would be a strong fiscal manager. The Prime Minister will claim these are “investments” that will make Canadians better off, but the only ones getting richer are government consultants, who will get a record-breaking $26.1 billion this year. That is 36% more than even what Trudeau gave them. That is $1,400 from every Canadian household going to federal government consultants. Brookfield shareholders would never have stood for this, so why should Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, recently I had the honour, for the fourth time, to be sworn in as a member of Parliament, now representing the constituency of London Centre. Naturally, I thank my colleagues and look forward to working with everyone in this House. I thank my family, my beautiful wife Katy, our daughter Ava, and all the volunteers who put aside so much time to put in signs, to knock on doors and, yes, to write cheques so the campaign could happen in the first place, all of those things. I know that every member in this House feels equally about those volunteers. Nothing happens in democracy without them. The work begins. We are prioritizing matters like trade. I am from London, Ontario. London is situated in southwestern Ontario, an area of the country that is disproportionately impacted by the Trump tariffs. With regard to housing issues, I have spoken about housing and homelessness many times in previous Parliaments. That will continue. That work is absolutely vital. Of course, affordability issues are paramount for all of us. Let us work together to get it done.

Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago this week, ink hardly dry on my University of Alberta business degree, I started selling season tickets for the Edmonton Oilers hockey club. Those were difficult years, post-dynasty in a tough Canadian economy, and our small Edmonton market was in imminent danger of losing our NHL team to a wealthy U.S. buyer, but then something magical happened. Edmontonians stepped up in spectacular fashion, cobbling together complicated season ticket-sharing schemes with their friends, family and neighbours to, in mere months, double our season ticket base to save the Oilers from the American threat. Over my 10 years there, and for 20 more years since, the Oilers fan base has never wavered in its support. In recent years, Oilers fans have been rewarded with one of the most exciting teams in the history of our great game. Today, the Oilers stand once again on the edge of glory, an entire nation cheering them on. I know that all members of this House, rarely united on anything, can unite behind this remarkable Oilers team. At this one critical moment in history, it is undoubtedly Canada's team. Bring it home, boys.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the constituents of Hamilton Mountain for electing me for a second term, and I thank all of the amazing volunteers who brought such passion and hard work to help make it happen. I would like to remind colleagues and Canadians that this weekend marks the start of National Indigenous History Month. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a Red Dress Day ceremony at the Native Women's Centre in my riding, and the tears were flowing all around the room as we lit candles to illuminate the names of dozens upon dozens of local missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. I wore the red dress pin that I beaded myself under the tutelage of a master beader at an earlier event at the centre. I clearly do not have my teacher's talent, but the process of beading was painful and intensely meaningful. Let us all take time this June to reflect on the history of indigenous peoples and how we can advance reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister spent weeks parading around the country and promising Canadians he would “spend less”. However, the guy who was supposed to give us fiscal restraint dropped an 8% spending hike after promising he would cap government spending at 2%, a big broken promise and a half-a-trillion-dollar spending bill without an actual budget. He called himself an Ottawa outsider, but he is picking up pretty quickly on the ways of old Liberal Ottawa. Businesses and households across the country spend their money and live within their means. Why can the Prime Minister not do the same?

Mr. Speaker, we have more good news for Canadians. Statistics Canada just announced this morning that the Canadian economy grew by 2.2% in the first quarter. This is a plan that is working. This is a plan about building the strongest economy in the G7. This is about transforming our economy. This is about an ambitious, confident and prosperous Canada. We will deliver for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, leave it to the Liberals to tell Canadians that a half-a-trillion-dollar blank cheque and an 8% spending hike, after promising to cap it at 2%, mean good news for Canadians. A request for a half-a-trillion-dollar blank cheque is not a plan; it is the exact opposite. So far, the plan is that the government wants to spend $1,400 per Canadian family for government consultants. The Prime Minister said the Liberals would cut it by $7 billion; instead, they increased it by $6 billion. If the Prime Minister is the man with the plan whom people want to hire in a crisis, why does he need to hire so many—

The Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting question, but here is the real question this morning: By how much did the Canadian economy grow in the last quarter? The answer is 2.2%. That exceeds economists' expectations. It is clear that we have a plan to grow the Canadian economy, to make Canada's economy the strongest in the G7, to transform our economy and to create an ambitious and prosperous country. That is what Canadians asked us to do, and that is exactly what we are doing.

Mr. Speaker, if the government had a plan, it would have tabled a budget yesterday and told Canadians exactly how their money is being spent. Of course, nothing says affordability like hiring the architect of the housing crisis to fix the problem here. The new housing minister let Vancouver home prices rise by 179% when he was in office. I have a very simple question. Can the minister tell us, with the government's inflationary spending, how much each Canadian mortgage will go up as a result?

Mr. Speaker, I like the question period this Friday because we have so much good news for Canadians. It is an interesting question, but the real question is that we have a plan, and our plan is working, with 2.2% in terms of growth in the last quarter. This is what Canada is about. It is about investing in our people. It is about investing in our industry. It is about investing in Canada. Not only do we have growth, but we always have a AAA credit rating, one of two countries in the G7. Imagine, Mr. Speaker. That is a confident Canada. That is an ambitious Canada. That is the Canada we will build together.

Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, all those folks were elected after promising Canadians that they would control spending. On Tuesday, the King even mentioned a new fiscal discipline with spending increases capped at 2%. That was Tuesday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, the Liberals introduced their first bill. What was in that bill? It includes an 8% increase in spending. Who would have thought that this internationally renowned, brilliant banker would do worse than the drama teacher? My one, simple comment to the finance minister is that he should get Justin Trudeau out of his head.

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. He is a very experienced member. However, I do not understand why he wants to distract Canadians from today's good news. For once, the Conservatives should be happy on a Friday morning. Canada's GDP grew by 2.2%, which is higher than what economists were expecting. We have a plan to grow the Canadian economy. We have a plan to build the economy of tomorrow. We have a plan for a strong Canada. That is exactly what we are doing.

The hon. minister.

Mr. Speaker, what is really increasing by 36% is Liberal government spending on consultants. Last year it spent $20 billion on consultants, which was preposterous, and now that figure has gone up to $26 billion. That shows a complete lack of control over spending. Canadians want a government that will control spending. Why is the Minister of Finance refusing to table a budget? He was even criticized by his leader last week. Will the finance minister commit to tabling a budget this spring to—

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. He spoke about drama, and I must say that he is also being rather dramatic. We see his rather frequent theatrics every day in question period. The truth is that, during the election campaign, the Conservative Party presented a plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. It was a fully costed platform that was ridiculed by everyone in the country who knows how to count. On this side of the House, we were elected with a very clear mandate to make government more efficient, reduce our reliance on outside consultants and give our public servants the means to accomplish our ambitious agenda.

Mr. Speaker, this is not theatre; these are facts. During the election campaign, he himself said that he was going to cut back on consulting contracts. In fact, the exact opposite is true: there are 36% more contracts. I want the people watching at home to know that these consultants are going to cost them $1,400 per family. That is par for the course for this government. Could the minister remedy the situation and tell the Minister of Finance that spending more on consultants yet again is a bad move?

Mr. Speaker, we have reduced the use of consultants, but we were also elected to office with a very firm and strong mandate to improve government efficiency, particularly with the use of new technologies. When my colleague talks about Canadian families, bear in mind that we tabled legislation in the House this week that aims to cut taxes for every Canadian family by an average of $840. Will the Conservatives be supporting that? It is common sense, after all.

Mr. Speaker, elected officials should never blindly spend Quebeckers' money. However, that is exactly what the Liberals are proposing today. They are asking the House to adopt measures worth more than $200 billion without presenting a budget. There is no budget, not even an economic update. This is literally a spending spree. If the new government wants to break with the frivolous image of the Trudeau years, it is off to a bad start. Will it come clean and disclose the true state of public finances to Quebeckers?

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my new colleague in the House, but we are off to a good start. The first thing we did was offer tax cuts to 22 million Canadians, including people in his riding, who will be happy to hear that today. There are 22 million Canadians who will pay less in taxes. This is a flagship measure. During the election campaign, we said that we would be here to make life more affordable for Canadians. We promised, and we delivered. My colleague should be happy to support this government motion.

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to improvise with Quebeckers' money. They would have us believe that they can both raise spending and lower revenues without increasing the debt or cutting services. Quebeckers can see that this does not hold water. However, by not presenting a budget plan, the Liberals are asking Quebeckers to take them at their word. The Liberals have proved time and time again that they do not deserve Quebeckers' blind trust when it comes to public finances. When will we see a budget?

Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear: Quebeckers put their trust in us by electing 44 incredible members of the Liberal Party, which, of course, forms the government. That is twice as many as the Bloc Québécois, which has 22 members. Quebeckers know that we are in a tough situation right now. There is a tariff war that is directly affecting our workers and our economy. We are here as Quebec MPs and ministers to defend the interests of Quebec, and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I have a reminder for the Liberals. Quebeckers elected a minority government, and so they expect the parties to co-operate. They expect transparency. Most of all, they expect restraint. Tabling over $200 billion in new spending without a budget explaining where the funds are coming from is a blatant violation of the Liberals' mandate in every sense. We asked the government to co-operate, to show transparency and restraint. Are the Liberals going to live up to Quebeckers' expectations and present a budget plan?

Mr. Speaker, the government and the Liberal Party always live up to the expectations of Quebeckers. That is why we earned Quebeckers' trust again this year. We just passed this test during the election. That is why we are now 44 members strong, a record for our party, and very proud of it. I want to thank all my colleagues for their hard work and congratulate them. Naturally, we are going to co-operate with the Bloc Québécois at times. However, the reality is that we are going to defend Canada's sovereignty, whereas the Bloc Québécois is more interested in Quebec's sovereignty. We are going to be there to create jobs and protect our economy. That is our priority.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's first bill has shattered his spending promises. He was elected on a promise of financial transparency, accountability and responsibility, and only one month later, he has already torn down that facade, treating taxpayer dollars like some seedy, secretive corporate bank account instead of the purse strings of this nation. In what world can the Prime Minister justify spending half a trillion in taxpayer dollars without a budget?

Mr. Speaker, this new government is making sure that spending is being carefully managed and focused on our most pressing priorities. We will continue to review our spending to make sure we are being efficient, effective and focused on meeting the challenges and opportunities Canada faces.

Mr. Speaker, the government's dismissive rhetoric does not stand up to scrutiny. It promised to cap spending at 2%, but hours later increased it by 8%, with no fiscal anchor and no fiscal guardrails. We are in a fiscal free fall and working-class Canadians are paying the bill, including nearly $1,400 per household spent on the Prime Minister's corporate consultant cronies. It is insulting to Canadians. How is the Liberal government asking to spend half a trillion dollars without a budget?

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the investments in the main estimates. They include important funding to support the Canadian Forces, health services for first nations, dental care, border services and immigration, veterans' benefits and housing. The new government is investing in Canadians to build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberals, it is the same spending, same ministers and same painful consequences for Canadians, except now, we do not know the government's full plan because it refused to table a budget, something quite new to Canada. Budgets have been presented during wars, economic downturns and, yes, even following elections. We do know the government has increased spending on consultants by 36%, meaning every Canadian household must pay $1,400 to get gimmicks instead of results. How is the Liberal government asking to spend half a trillion dollars without even a budget?

Mr. Speaker, it is the same old Conservatives but with new slogans. We have been just a week in the House and they are coming back with slogans. On this side of the House, Canadians watching at home know they can trust us, because we promise and we deliver. We promised to be there for Canadians, and the first thing we delivered was a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. There are people in the member's riding watching today, and they are going to thank this new Liberal government for making their lives more affordable. We have even more good news: We are removing the GST on new homes for first-time homebuyers, up to a million dollars. This is a great—

The member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think asking for a budget on behalf of Canadians is a slogan, and, actually, something that Canada has always had is a budget. The government has spent $330,000 just on consultants to rebrand a Crown corporation. The goal of that name change is to get people really excited about high-speed rail from Toronto to Quebec City. People in my area have grown quite tired of waiting decades for this project to become a reality. When will the government actually get shovels in the ground instead of padding the pockets of well-connected Liberal consultants?

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to have the Conservatives finally talking about supporting big nation-building projects. At a time when our economy is being battered by U.S. tariffs, that is exactly what we need. Now is the time to get shovels in the ground. Now is the time to build high-speed rail. Now is the time to build Canada. That is what the Prime Minister will be talking about with premiers in Saskatoon. That is what is in the bill we will be presenting in this session, and we are going to count on the Conservatives to support it.

Mr. Speaker, the new Liberal Prime Minister is keeping the wasteful spending of Justin Trudeau. In fact, the government is increasing spending on building bureaucracy and on well-connected consultants. The Prime Minister promised to cap spending at 2% and instead is increasing it by 8%. This is without even tabling a budget to give the House a full picture of our public finances. How is the Liberal government asking to spend half a trillion dollars without a budget plan?

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member that a lot of the funds in the main estimates are transfer payments to provinces and territories. That means billions in federal support for the member's province and constituents. I challenge the member to join us in supporting these investments so that we can deliver services to Canadians and build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, this week's throne speech confirms that Canadians are in for more of the same recklessness with the Liberal government. They promised to cap spending at 2%. They have broken their promise again, spending half a trillion dollars, almost 8% more than Justin Trudeau did. It is the same limitless spending and the same mistakes that got Canada into this mess. Canada cannot trust the Liberals gambling with their futures. When will the Prime Minister stop hiding the state of our finances and release a budget?

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have been elected with this government on a strong mandate to reduce bureaucracy and make government more efficient. We are working on it. The goal is to spend less so we can invest more, and that is exactly what we are doing with a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, which is going to save, on average, $840 per Canadian family. I am hoping Conservatives will rally behind this common-sense idea.

Mr. Speaker, over the last 10 years, the Liberal government's debt and deficits have been out of control. The Prime Minister said that his government had a plan to cap its spending increase at 2% and to cut expensive government consultants, but now the Liberals want to quadruple that spending increase and spend 36% more on consultants, all without any accountability. Why are the Liberals spending half a trillion dollars with no budget?

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy for the question by the member. What he is failing to tell Canadians watching today is that Canada has one of the best balance sheets in the G7. Not only do we have a AAA credit rating, but we have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio. That is an enviable position. I presided over the G7 finance ministers' meeting in Banff recently. The world is watching what Canada has to offer and wants what Canada has to offer. In this sense, we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7. We are going to make this country resilient and ambitious for all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals came to power 10 years ago, they promised to reform the employment insurance system. Year after year, they assured workers that they were almost ready to go, that they would be doing something in a couple of months at most. Ten years later, EI reform is conspicuously absent from the throne speech, despite the fact that we are in the middle of a trade dispute with the United States and key industries like aluminum are being hit with tariffs. Does the government understand that this is the worst time to abandon our workers?

Mr. Speaker, we have already taken actions to strengthen EI and to remove some of the challenges that workers who are facing unemployment have in accessing EI. We know that we need to respond adeptly as these tariffs threaten our workers across Canada, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister has asked me and my colleagues to do. We will continue to be there for workers. We will continue to have an employment insurance system that works for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, there is not one word about EI reform in the throne speech. Stepping back from EI reform in the midst of a tariff crisis is tantamount to betraying workers, period. The Liberals have been promising reform for 10 years. Every possible study has been done, every consultation held. The Liberals have talked enough. It is time to act. Will the government tell us exactly when it plans to introduce EI reform, or will it admit to workers that it is turning its back on them?

Mr. Speaker, we know that, in this time of uncertainty around tariffs and trade with the United States, protecting our workers is critical. That is why we made EI easier to access. We eliminated the one-week waiting period for employment insurance. Also, severance and vacation pay and so on are no longer taken into account, thereby ensuring that workers can benefit from the employment insurance system that protects all our workers.

Mr. Speaker, on day one of his new job, the Prime Minister's housing minister told Canadians that home prices do not need to come down. After 10 years, the Liberals have doubled housing prices, down payments, mortgage payments and rent. Now the housing minister is doubling down to keep home costs high. Can the Minister of Housing tell Canadians how many more families must fall behind before the government takes action and finally tables a budget?

Mr. Speaker, the government is taking action to put more money in Canadians' pockets by cutting their taxes right now. We expect the support of the members opposite to ensure that Canadians can afford more housing options because they have more money in their pockets. It is simple math that may be difficult for the Conservatives across the aisle to comprehend, but cutting taxes on GST for first-time homebuyers and income tax delivers more affordability.

Mr. Speaker, the Ontario land registry office, Teranet, reports that the average age of a first-time homebuyer in Ontario last year was 40 years old, up from 34 a decade earlier. New data also shows that GTA home sales are the worst since the market crash of the 1990s. At home, the Niagara Home Builders' Association has said housing starts in Niagara are at a 10-year low. This is the Liberal government's 10-year record. Can the Prime Minister tell us why Canadians should trust him and his government to fix the problems they created?

Mr. Speaker, I served for 10 years as mayor of Vancouver on the front lines of a housing crisis. Cities, as many mayors and councillors here in Ottawa this week know, do not have the tools, the finances or the jurisdiction to solve a housing crisis. That is why I am here now: so the federal government can implement changes to make housing more affordable at a scale not seen in generations.

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years, the Liberals have doubled housing prices. The new minister's housing record shows that the government is more of the same. As the mayor of Vancouver, he oversaw rent increasing 50%, house prices increasing 179% and homelessness increasing 40%, yet we know we must build more homes to meet demand. The City of Langford is actually discussing slowing down the development of homes, stating, “there is no award for overachieving”. How many more Canadians must struggle to find a home before the government finally tables a budget?

Mr. Speaker, getting affordable homes built in Canada means partnership and collaboration across all levels of government: the federal government, provinces and territories, cities and indigenous communities, to face the challenges we have on the ground in communities. For seven of my 10 years as mayor, it was a Conservative government that did nothing for affordable housing across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, on his first day in office, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure told Canadians that housing prices do not need to come down. He claims that the housing market is stable. However, in Beauce, the vacancy rate is less than 2% in a number of towns and cities. Rent for a new two-bedroom apartment has jumped by more than 50% just since 2021. The measures announced by the current government are not enough. Young Canadians deserve to buy their own homes. When will the government cut the red tape and come up with real solutions to the housing crisis?

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious issue. That is why we have a plan and a great minister who has the skills to deal with the issue. In the meantime, we will work together. Why? Because not only do we need to ensure that we build more housing and ensure that construction is more affordable, but we have a tremendous opportunity to help workers who are affected by Donald Trump's tariff war. In the current circumstances, we are going to create a construction industry to help workers in the softwood lumber, steel and aluminum sectors. I look forward to working with my colleague on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, their programs are simply not enough. Many young Canadians have lost the dream of owning their own home. After 10 years in power, the Liberals have made rents, housing prices, down payments and mortgage payments double. People are suffocating. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average house price rose 9.2% in the last year in Quebec. Does the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure believe that housing prices should come down in Quebec so that our young people can realize their dream, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, what Quebeckers and Canadians want to know is how we are going to help them through this housing and affordability crisis. The minister has been clear and our government has been clear: We are lowering taxes. We are making sure that we lower taxes on the middle class. We also want to eliminate the goods and services tax for first-time homebuyers. We abolished the carbon tax too. We are getting the job done on affordability. In the meantime, we are also going to create jobs in the construction, steel and aluminum sectors and, of course—

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by sincerely thanking my constituents in the wonderful riding of St. Boniface—St. Vital for placing their trust in me to represent them here in the House of Commons. I would like to ask my colleague, the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs a question. The Prairies are affected by drought and warmer than normal temperatures for a third straight season. The conditions are fuelling the severity of wildfires and posing significant risks to our communities. We are not yet in June, and thousands of Canadians across the Prairies have been forced out of their homes, including thousands of—

The Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs has the floor.

Mr. Speaker, my heart is with everyone across the country who is affected by the devastating wildfires, especially the people of my riding, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski. The fear and uncertainty are overwhelming, but the people are not alone. I remain in constant contact with my federal colleagues and provincial, local and indigenous leaders, including Councillor Debbie Dumas, to ensure that every person gets the support that they need. The federal government and the Canadian Armed Forces are fully mobilized, people are being evacuated, and we stand united in this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Liberal government, many Canadians no longer feel safe in their own communities. Violent crime is up 50%. Gang homicides are up 78%. Gun crime is up 116%. This is the direct result of the revolving-door Liberal justice system, or injustice system as I should say, and weak Liberal laws that serve the interests of criminals and not Canadians. If this really is a new government, will the Prime Minister repeal Trudeau's old soft-on-crime policies, including Bill C-5 and Bill C-75?

Mr. Speaker, our plan to keep communities safe will keep drugs, guns and criminals off our streets. We are committed to hiring 1,000 more CBSA officers and 1,000 more RCMP officers to secure our border and help keep our streets safe. We are partnering with police services across the country to fight organized crime. We will make it tougher for violent criminals to get bail and will impose stricter sentences for repeat violent offenders. We will always be there to protect Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, the now Minister of Public Safety said during the campaign that there was nothing wrong with the bail system in Canada. He even said it was “quite sound”. This was despite the deadly spree of murders and other violent attacks committed by people out on bail, and frontline officers across the country demanding immediate reform. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Minister of Public Safety that there is no problem with the bail laws in Canada, or agree with the frontline officers who are demanding real action now?

Mr. Speaker, it is always heartening to hear the opposition clip something that is completely out of context, and unfortunately, the Conservative candidate in my riding did not even show up for the debate. Let me just be clear: Our government was elected on April 28 with a mandate of ensuring that our communities are safe. That is exactly what we will do. We will work with law enforcement. This morning, I had the opportunity to meet, along with the Secretary of State for labour, members of the CPA, the Canadian Police Association, and I look forward to working with law enforcement across this country to make our communities safer.

Mr. Speaker, knocking on thousands of doors in my community this past spring, I heard the same concern: People are worried about the rise in crime. In Winnipeg, violent crimes like assaults, threats and extortion are increasing. Homicide Canada reported that in 2024, Winnipeg had over 40 homicides for the sixth year in a row. Because of Liberal bills, Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, repeat violent offenders are treated with kid gloves and get released. When will the Liberals finally put the rights of victims and law-abiding Canadians ahead of their soft-on-crime, hug-a-thug agenda?

Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to thank my constituents for returning me to the House of Commons for the fourth time. I am rising for the first time as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. When I was talking to people during the campaign back home, they said when dangerous people commit serious crimes and pose a threat to public safety, they should face serious consequences. We have listened to them and are moving forward with stronger bail provisions for auto theft, for home invasions and for drug trafficking. We are also going to advance stronger sentences for serious crimes and for repeat offenders. We are going to do what it takes to ensure that Canadians can feel safe in their communities and be safe in their communities.

Mr. Speaker, since 2016, 50,000 Canadians have died due to drug overdoses, mostly from fentanyl. Mass fentanyl production is mass murder. Conservatives are proposing life sentences for those producing or distributing over 40 milligrams of fentanyl. How many more Canadians must die before the Prime Minister will treat mass production of fentanyl as mass murder and support life sentences for drug kingpins?

Mr. Speaker, the fentanyl crisis has impacted every community, not just in Canada but in all of North America and in many communities around the world. We are accelerating our work to crack down on and dismantle the fentanyl trade and 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 rings. We will always be there to protect Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, like most Canadians, I do not stash my assets in offshore tax havens in Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, and like them, I believe in shining a little sunlight on the people who govern us. The Prime Minister claims that his assets are in a blind trust, but Canadians are the ones completely in the dark. He absolutely knows what his assets were before he placed them into a blind trust. I will ask a simple question that deserves a simple answer: Does the Prime Minister knowingly or blindly have any financial interest in any offshore tax havens, yes or no?

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are so proud to have a new Prime Minister with a clear vision of the country and with a plan to rebuild our economy, a plan to take on the tariff challenges with the United States, a plan to give prosperity to all Canadians and, of course, a plan to comply stringently with the code of ethics for all parliamentarians, which is among the most stringent in the world. The Prime Minister will be complying. The member will be complying. We will all be complying, and Canadians should feel very reassured about that.

Mr. Speaker, I do not feel reassured. I certainly did not hear a “no” in there. What we do know is that the Prime Minister was implicated in setting up offshore tax havens to avoid paying Canadian taxes. We know that he is sitting on stocks from Brookfield Asset Management, which is riddled with conflicts of interest and which benefits handsomely from government contracts. We know that he is perfectly fine to promote companies Brookfield owns on the debate stage, so what will he do to help himself behind the closed doors of government? Canadians deserve to know if he will financially benefit from any current or future contracts Brookfield gets with his government. When will the Prime Minister come clean and tell Canadians what assets he personally holds?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been the governor of two central banks. He has had a successful career, which I am sure he is very proud of, in the private sector, and he has come to public service once again. This is another tour of public service for our Prime Minister, with a clear plan to get Canada's economy back on track. That is what the Prime Minister is up to. What the Prime Minister is also up to is stringent compliance with the code of ethics that Parliament has imposed upon itself, one of the most serious and stringent in the world. Canadians should feel very reassured.

Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister has a plan, we would sure love to hear it here in Parliament. On the eve of the election in which he was trying to get elected, the Prime Minister went on an Oilers radio show in Edmonton and was asked about oil. He said, “There's a massive opportunity...if you look at out east, [particularly in] Quebec, they import about 365,000 barrels a day.... Seventy per cent of that is coming from the U.S., so we've got an opportunity to displace there.” The Prime Minister has a Quebec minister who is now looking at me in complete disagreement with those statements, but even the Prime Minister has said, “as much as half of oil reserves, proven oil reserves, need to stay in the ground”. Which of the Prime Minister's positions should we believe?

Mr. Speaker, to win this trade war, we will build on Canada's terms to deliver the strongest, most resilient economy in the G7. Canada's new government will cut red tape, fast-track projects of national interest and guarantee decisions within two years. We are not building just for speed; we are building for purpose to have a strong negotiating hand that unlocks the next generation of Canadian prosperity. We will get projects built to make Canada an energy superpower.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister went on to say, “we've got this resource. At a minimum, we should be using it all the time ourselves, because we're going to use what I call conventional oil and gas for the rest of my life and beyond.” He said that in Edmonton when he was trying to get elected, but he has a history of saying that we should leave oil and gas in the ground. When will the government finally repeal Bill C-69 to create the conditions that will actually allow us to take advantage of this massive opportunity so it is realized?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give a shout-out to the Edmonton Oilers, who won last night. My goal is to get things built where we have proponents. We will make Canada strong and protect ourselves from American tariffs. I encourage my Conservative colleagues to join us in building the strongest economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, Canada's energy sector and economy continue to be held back by Liberal anti-energy laws, like the industrial carbon tax and Bill C-69, which blocks all new energy infrastructure. This is compounded by Justin Trudeau's energy production cap, which will kill 54,000 jobs and gut $20 billion from the Canadian economy. The new Prime Minister likes to market himself as the anti-Trudeau. Well, it is time for him to prove it. Will the Prime Minister repeal the industrial carbon tax, repeal Bill C-69 and repeal the oil and gas production cap, or is he just another Trudeau clone willing to let our energy sector die?

Mr. Speaker, today, Canadians are facing threats to our way of life from both climate change and American tariffs. We are tackling these problems head-on by building clean energy projects that will fight climate change and make Canada the strongest economy in the G7. The industrial carbon price attracts new investment, creates jobs and grows our economy. With innovation in carbon capture, we will build a low-cost, low-risk and low-carbon superpower. I encourage my colleagues to join us in building a stronger Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Sudbury, like Canada, has everything it takes to be an economic powerhouse: a skilled workforce, abundant natural resources and world-class research institutions. Throughout the campaign, I heard from researchers, innovators and business leaders who wanted to know how the federal government could help them through this period of uncertainty. Can the Minister of Industry tell the House how we will fight to protect and build a prosperous Canadian economy?

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her hard work and congratulate her on her election in Sudbury. She is right. The tariff war launched by the Americans is having a direct impact on our workers and creating a lot of uncertainty across the country. That is why we are going to invest heavily in creating jobs across the country, including in her riding of Sudbury and in northern Ontario. We will attract investment from around the world. We will reduce our dependence on the Americans. Canada is not for sale. We are ready to do business.

Mr. Speaker, just hours before the May long weekend, Parks Canada blindsided my region by banning motorized boats on Clear Lake after confirming access a week earlier. There was no consultation or warning. Locals care deeply about the lake, which is why the agency's “one boat, one lake” policy had broad support. When asked what suddenly changed, Parks Canada refused to justify its damning decision, which caused whiplash in the region. Will the minister reinstate the “one boat, one lake” policy that Parks Canada supported just weeks ago?

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, in that lake and that region, we are facing a zebra mussel invasion on which we must intervene to control. Otherwise, it could spread in the region to other water basins around that area. That is why, with Parks Canada, with local partners and with indigenous partners who support what Parks Canada has been doing, we are trying to tackle this issue as rapidly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, that answer is unacceptable. The mismanagement by Parks Canada of Riding Mountain National Park is not new, and neither is the minister's refusal to act. He has been warned time and again of Parks Canada's ongoing failures, with no communication, no engagement and no accountability. Every time Canadians raise the alarm, the minister insists things will improve, but nothing ever changes. Will the minister finally take responsibility and replace the superintendent of Riding Mountain National Park to restore trust and confidence?

Mr. Speaker, what the member opposite is saying is simply not true. We have, in fact, been working with local authorities. Parks Canada provided funding to compensate for some of the loss in revenues last year because of the closure as we are trying to tackle this very important crisis. It is totally irresponsible for the member to somehow suggest that we should just let the zebra mussels spread all around Manitoba. Imagine the impacts for local drinking water, for commerce and for businesses all across the province. This is totally irresponsible.

Mr. Speaker, as fires burn across the Prairies, I know I speak for everyone in the House when I say that our hearts are with all of those who have been impacted and those who are working tirelessly to protect our communities. In the wake of the Jasper fire, we learned about the devastating consequences of the poor forest management that failed to clear swaths of dead forest. Experts are now sounding the alarm that communities in national parks like Banff will face similar threats this summer. Can the government tell us what preparations, if any, have been undertaken by Parks Canada to protect communities from wildfire?

Mr. Speaker, I am monitoring the wildfire situation around the clock, and I am in close communication with my provincial counterparts. The Canadian Armed Forces is evacuating first nations and others who are affected by the wildfires. Leaving a home under these circumstances is incredibly difficult, and our government will continue to support and protect all those who are affected by wildfires. There is nothing more important than keeping Canadians safe.

Mr. Speaker, at the doors in Don Valley North, I heard from many constituents that access to affordable housing is one of their top concerns. I, like every member on this side, feel proud to stand with a government that has put forward the most ambitious housing plan this country has seen since the Second World War. Can the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure tell my constituents what they can look forward to seeing from this plan?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the voters in Don Valley North for electing my colleague to this House. We will get hundreds of thousands of new homes built, with more affordable homes across Canada, and double the share of non-market affordable housing in this country by starting up “build Canada homes”, a new entity that will build affordable homes at scale across Canada utilizing public land and even existing structures. We will be cutting municipal development charges, working with municipalities to bring down those costs as well, and much more.

Mr. Speaker, on July 6, 2013, the town of Lac-Mégantic experienced the worst rail disaster in Canadian history, and 47 people lost their lives. Four thousand, three hundred and forty-four days later, despite political commitments and several motions adopted unanimously in the House, the people of Lac-Mégantic are still waiting for the work to begin on the rail bypass to get trains out of the downtown core. “We are going to do it,” Justin Trudeau told the people of Lac-Mégantic on May 11, 2018. When will the new and fifth Liberal transport minister come to Lac-Mégantic to tell people the truth and explain why trains are still passing through the downtown core?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This is a very serious issue. As the new Minister of Transport, I would first like to express my deepest condolences to the people of Lac-Mégantic, who have suffered so much. This issue is truly a priority for our government. It must be a priority for our government, and I think it must be a priority for all members. We are going to do it.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I tabled the first private member's bill in this Parliament, Bill C-201, which aims to bring mental health, addictions and substance use services into our universal public health care system. The last Liberal government promised to ensure that mental health was treated as a full and equal part of Canada's public health care system, but it failed to deliver. Untreated mental illness has enormous costs for families, communities and our economy. Will the new government recognize that investing in mental health is good for all Canadians and support my bill?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the people of Papineau, who gave me the privilege of sitting in this House for the first time. I would also like to thank the opposition member for his question. I can assure him that mental health is a priority for me. I want Canadians who need mental health services to know that their federal government will work closely with the provinces and territories to ensure that they can access these services.

Mr. Speaker, as Saskatchewan and Manitoba burn, there is precious little content in the Speech from the Throne on how the government plans to approach the climate crisis. There is not a single reference to the Paris Agreement and our legally binding targets to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030. On November 2024, we were at only 7% below 2005 levels. When will the government present a plan? So far all it has done is cut the one measure that was working.

Mr. Speaker, as the member mentioned, there are wildfires raging across our country. It brings to heart just how important climate change is and fighting climate change is for a strong, secure future for our country. I am absolutely committed to working with provinces, territories and indigenous peoples to make sure that we reduce our emissions, fight climate change and keep Canadians safe.

Mr. Speaker, although this petition is dated, it is timely. The petitioners say that they are personally moved by the heartbreaking violence that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in Gaza and Palestine due to the Israel-Hamas war between October 23 and December 24, 2024. They say that across Gaza, more than 40,000 souls were lost, with approximately 70% of those being women and children. In the same period, 1,706 Israelis were reported dead. They claim that the conflict has not spared the occupied West Bank either, where the war has claimed the lives of 479 Palestinians, including 116 children and nine Israelis. We know these numbers are dated, but the petitioners ask that Canada take significant measures to, as it has in the past, impose a two-way embargo on arms between Canada and Israel; investigate whether Canadian weapons or weapon components have been used against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, including during the current war on Gaza; review all military and security co-operation between Canada and Israel; and, finally, close loopholes that allow the unregulated and unreported transfer of military goods to Israel through the United States.

Mr. Speaker, while there are some measures outlined in the throne speech that can be seen as steps in the right direction, the government's agenda is clearly lacking and short on measurable actions that could produce meaningful and positive outcomes for Canadians. Moreover, the throne speech is a blueprint intended to signal the direction and focus of an incoming government. It is up to this place, the House of Commons, and all of us elected parliamentarians to review government programming with the objective of ensuring transparency and economic viability. Let us start with the need for a budget. Households have budgets. Small businesses have budgets. Corporations have budgets. Charities have budgets. People routinely create a yearly budget as a prudent standard practice. The Liberal government's decision to not table the budget at this critical juncture for our country can best be described as irresponsible. The Prime Minister touted his banking and business background as qualifying attributes for the office that he now holds. Can anyone imagine the response a Canadian would get if he or she were to approach their financial institution and apply for a loan with a caveat that they would provide their financial records and a budget six months after they receive the money? I would argue that the Prime Minister, his cabinet and the Liberal caucus would do well to respect Parliament and present a budget before they leave on vacation. They should not be afraid of vigorous, insightful and inspiring debate. I want to touch on some issues that are important to my community and that were shared with me while I was campaigning. Nestled in the heart of the GTA, the beautiful municipalities of Aurora and Richmond Hill have been fraught with crime. There have been a record number of auto thefts and home invasions, and violent smash-and-grab robberies are far too prevalent. The Liberal catch-and-release agenda has frustrated law enforcement agencies across the country. Even more glaring is the omission of investing further in the Canada Border Services Agency to provide it with the tools to catch and stop the influx of illegal drugs and guns into our country. Again, law enforcement agencies from coast to coast to coast have repeatedly told us that the majority of the confiscated weapons used in violent crimes in our communities have entered into our country illegally. The Liberal government needs to get serious about the crime and drugs ravaging our communities. Repealing Bill C-75, which gave high priority to releasing repeat violent offenders back into our communities and avoiding jail time, would be a good start. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. Sadly, the Liberal government is showing us once again that it will continue to take half measures that are weak on crime. Speaking of half measures, the Liberals have now tabled a ways and means motion proposing three modest tax measures, but the motion does not go nearly far enough. The income tax cut, if one can even call it that, in practice, would not even cover a cup of coffee a week. The industrial carbon tax would continue to make life more expensive for businesses and consumers, and that would remain. Residents in Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill deserve better. We need a bigger tax cut that would make a real difference for their families. The entire carbon tax must be repealed so industry can excel and residents can afford to live. One of the saddest conversations I had at the doorsteps was with a lady who confided the following: “Sir, I am not a political person. I am a widow in my eighties. My husband and I bought this home, a modest bungalow, and grew our family here. I worked all of my life, paid my taxes and am now on a modest fixed pension, but unfortunately I cannot afford to eat the same way I was eating three years ago, so I am eating less, and different things, because I want to continue living in my home.” I would ask that members of the House reflect on the gravity of that statement. Young people are being saddled with an ever-growing national debt. Youth unemployment is once again on the rise. Liberal policies have left them with little hope for their future, and the idea of achieving home ownership is but a dream. In closing, there is much work to do. We can all do better. The current government can start by doing a lot better than the Liberals have been doing over the last 10 years. I would like to thank my wife Gail, my pillar of strength for the past 45 years, as well as my children, Michael and Alicia, and my extended family, for their love and support. Being here in Canada's Parliament is indeed a huge honour and one that I will cherish every day as I walk into this historic chamber.

The House resumed consideration of the motion for an address to His Majesty the King in reply to his speech at the opening of the session, and of the amendment as amended.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 49.8(5) of the Parliament of Canada Act, I rise to discharge my obligations as the chair of the Conservative caucus and to inform you of the recorded votes of the first Conservative caucus meeting, which took place on May 6, 2025. Division C.1 of the act requires that four votes be taken at the first meeting of every recognized caucus following a general election. The first vote establishes whether, for the remainder of that Parliament, members may only be expelled from the caucus by means of a majority vote among their colleagues. At its May 6 meeting, the Conservative caucus voted in favour of adopting this provision. The second vote establishes whether a caucus will elect its own chair and retain the right to replace that chair with another, also by majority vote. The Conservative caucus voted in favour of this as well. The third vote establishes whether a caucus will give itself the authority to conduct a leadership review vote, a power that the Liberals in the 44th Parliament may perhaps have regretted not adopting. At its May 6 meeting, the Conservative caucus voted in favour of this one also. The fourth vote establishes whether a caucus will, in preparation for the eventuality that an interim leader will be needed, give itself the authority to elect that interim leader. The Conservative caucus also voted to adopt this authority. Subsection 49.8(5) of the act specifies: As soon as feasible after the conduct of the votes, the chair of the caucus shall inform the Speaker of the House of Commons of the outcome of each vote. I have now discharged this obligation. I encourage the chairs of the two other recognized caucuses to rise in the House, as I have done, and, in their respective reports to the Speaker, make clear whether or not separate votes were held in each question, as subsection 49.8(2) of the law explicitly requires.

I thank the member for discharging his duties as the national caucus chair for the Conservatives.

Agreed.

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to present a petition initiated by the parents of a young man who was unfortunately killed by a drunk driver. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to amend the Jordan rule to address critical gaps that risk undermining the principles of justice and fairness for victims of crime. The petitioners strongly ask that serious crimes, particularly those involving death, be excluded from the constraints of the Jordan rule. These are the most severe violations of human rights injustices in cases involving a loss of life, and they must not be compromised by arbitrary time limits. Furthermore, in particular, the petitioners ask for an amendment in cases where the accused is not being deprived of liberty by being in custody.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition from constituents as well as Canadians from coast to coast. It is certainly an issue that came up on the doorsteps when I was campaigning. The petitioners ask that the government takes seriously its commitments under the Paris Agreement to avoid the dangerous and even catastrophic levels of climate change and global warming that will occur if we exceed the 1.5°C global average temperature increase. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to take many steps. I will summarize them by saying that they want the government to cut emissions dramatically to ensure that we avoid the levels of climate crisis that will put human civilization itself in jeopardy.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure you will permit me one burst of enthusiasm to congratulate the people of Edmonton. All Canadians join them in saying, “Go, Oilers, go.” I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Is that agreed?

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my friend across the way. Pierre Poilievre was the parliamentary secretary to Stephen Harper at one time. When Stephen Harper was elected prime minister, it was back on February 6, 2006. Members would not believe how long it took him to present a budget. It was not presented until May of that year. We just had a prime minister elected, and Conservatives are taking the direction from their leader, saying that we need to have a budget. In fact, the current Prime Minister has been the Prime Minister since the election on April 28. Stephen Harper was given far more grace than the current Prime Minister, yet look at what we have to overcome. Does the member believe it might be a bit of a double standard that is being applied?

Mr. Speaker, the current Prime Minister has touted his background as a businessman and a banker as credentials for the office he currently holds. He would never loan money to somebody if they did not present their financial picture. He would never loan money to a business if it did not present a budget. It is 2025, I would remind the hon. member opposite. The Prime Minister is now asking Parliament to give him a blank cheque for $500 billion today, and then he will tell us what he has done with that money six months down the road. It is not our money, but taxpayer money. It is my responsibility as a parliamentarian, and that of all parliamentarians, to have an opportunity to review that budget and every dollar that is spent so that we can have a say, we can have input and we can—

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give my colleague the opportunity to tell the House what he thinks the Liberal government's reasons are for not tabling a budget at such an important time in our history.

Mr. Speaker, I wish I knew the answer as to why. One can surmise only that there are things the Liberals do not want us to know. Transparency is an attribute that one cannot attach to the Liberal government. We have seen over the last 10 years, and in fact just in the last Parliament, that Parliament was shut down for a number of months because the Liberals refused to provide information that parliamentarians and Canadians were entitled to. Therefore, by not producing a budget, they are raising a big question mark as to the integrity of what they are intending to do with Canadians' money.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome back the member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill. It is nice to see him. I note with pleasure that the member for Winnipeg North is also reminiscing about his time served in the House during the Harper government. I recognize that the member who just gave his speech also served during that time. Could he share with us some of his fond reminiscences from that time?

Mr. Speaker, certainly I was extremely proud to be a part of the Harper government in this time. It was a time in which we were completely transparent. Ministers presented their bills, budgets were presented on time and there was accountability. In fact, I am proud to say that our prime minister, Stephen Harper, was never called onto the carpet by the Ethics Commissioner, something that the former Liberal prime minister was quite challenged with. If I am not mistaken, it was two or three times that he had to present himself and was found guilty by the Ethics Commissioner of violations of the rules and regulations of this country. Therefore, I am proud to say that I served in the House with, in my opinion, one of the best prime ministers to have ever served this Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, my predecessor helped several municipalities in my riding apply for funding to build housing. In contrast, the Conservative leader, Mr. Poilievre, did not let his MPs help their own communities access these funds. Will the Conservative leader continue to obstruct the efforts of municipalities represented by his MPs to build housing?

Mr. Speaker, I see that the member is young. It is unfortunate that the government has created a situation in which home ownership is very difficult for young people. Certainly, paying $56 billion a year in interest is not going to provide an—

Resuming debate, the hon. member for York—Durham.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House for my maiden speech, and I wish to begin by saying I rise with equal parts pride, equal parts trepidation and a little bit of childlike wonder. I hope all three of those continue in my career here in Parliament. I want to begin by thanking several people who have been instrumental in getting me to this place. First, I want to start with my beautiful wife, Megan. Unfortunately, she is not here with me today, because she is serving a shift in the palliative care unit at St. Mike's Hospital right now, watching from the screens there. Without her help and support and her love and guidance, I would not be in this seat. I think all parliamentarians know this is a team sport, and their spouse is the number one fan on their team and number one contributor. I like to say there is only one person who knocked on more doors than I did during the campaign, and that is my wife. In this campaign especially, she had to work extra hard doing that because she is pregnant right now. I have been learning as a new member that we have parliamentary privilege and immunities for what we say in the House. I was thinking about disclosing the gender of our future baby, but I think even those parliamentary privileges will not protect me if I do that without her permission. I also want to thank my parents, David and Nan Mantle, who are watching at home this afternoon. They have taught me everything I know and instilled in me many, many things, but the most important thing they have instilled in me is to do the right thing, to do the fair thing, to do the just thing, to do the honest thing, even if it is going to cost me. This is my commitment to the House, to the members opposite and to my colleagues here in the Conservative Party, that I will do that. I also want to thank all the communities of York—Durham for putting their trust in me: the people of Brock township; the people of Uxbridge, my hometown, whom I served on council with about 15 years ago; the people of Port Perry in Scugog township, where I spent summers in Caesarea on Lake Scugog learning how to wakeboard and ski; the people of Georgina, who welcomed me with open arms; and the people of Whitchurch-Stouffville, the parts that I know very well, playing baseball against Ballantrae and Vandorf. Of course, I also want to thank two proud first nations in my communities: the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, whose chief I have not had a chance to meet yet, but I look forward to doing that soon; and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, who welcomed me to visit Georgina Island during the campaign. I want to share a bit of that experience. As the member for New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury will know, as he has visited often, one cannot get there; one has to take a boat, a ferry. That ferry does not run on hopes and dreams; it does not run on unicorns or rainbows. It runs on diesel fuel, which was made more expensive by the carbon tax for years by the Liberal government. I join other hon. members here in demanding that the government refund that carbon tax to the first nation. The people and the communities I mentioned are how I got here, but they are not the full answer for why I fought to be here and why the people of York—Durham have sent me here. I think there are at least three reasons. First, homes: The people sent me here because there is a sense among my generation that they will never get ahead, that no matter how hard they work, how much they save or how diligently they budget, they will never own a home. I will just say that again for my colleagues on the other side: no matter how diligently they budget. We are still waiting for that from the other side. The dream of home ownership slipping away is creating depression and dejection among my generation. I want to share two stories about that. The first is from a working couple in Uxbridge whose door I knocked on. Both had well-paying jobs, and they had a young family. They said they were doing okay, but they are just scraping by. They did not know what else they could be doing. They both work full jobs and try to manage their family. Second, I received a message just earlier this week from a fellow millennial who lives in Keswick. She is being evicted from her home and lamented to me that she has nowhere to go. She said to me that she should not have to leave the town she grew up in because we cannot get enough affordable homes built for someone like her, who earns a good salary. I agree. The government's throne speech talks about building homes. It says that a new government agency will save us, that prefabricated and modular homes are the answer. I refuse to live in a shipping container. I refuse to live in a communist-style tenement built by Brookfield Homes. I demand, for my generation, the same opportunities that my parents had before me. The second reason that I think people sent me here is crime, crime on our streets and in our neighbourhoods. People feel unsafe. My residents do not want to have to be told to park their car in the garage or purchase military-style bollards so that their car does not get stolen. My residents want drugs and gangs off their streets. Just this week in Georgina, the York Regional Police busted a drug ring through Project Madruga. I want to thank the York Regional Police for their diligent work there in getting fentanyl, cocaine, meth, opioids and illegal firearms off the streets. The Speech from the Throne says that the government will bring forward a renewed focus on this issue by making bail harder to get. I hope it does, and we will be watching. Third, the people sent me here because Canada is in economic decline. They are worried about our relationship with the United States and Canada's place in the world. The data on this is not really in dispute. Growth is anemic. Purchasing power is down. Canadians are poorer than they were before. The antidote, at least in my estimation, is pretty straightforward: It is to remove taxes, remove the laws and remove the regulations that stand in the way of Canadians making a better life for themselves. On trade, this is something I hope to contribute to positively. It is something I know pretty well, having spent nearly 10 years practising international trade with some of the best in the business. On that note, I would like to thank my former partners, Matthew Kronby and Jesse Goldman at Osler, for teaching me everything I know. My offer to the government is this: I will be a resource. If government members want to know what we are thinking on these issues, let us talk. Canada's place in the world has been diminished because our armed forces lack the tools they need. The government says that it will rebuild and rearm the Canadian forces, and I hope that is true, but we will see. My family has a proud military tradition. My grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, attached to the RAF as a navigator during the Second World War, including on D-Day. That tradition has been continued by my brother, who is a current serving member. I want to share my experience visiting him on a public event at his base. Unfortunately, while all the people on that base were excellent professionals and well trained, the government has failed to equip them properly. As I walked into the hangar, water fell from the ceiling into a garbage can because the roof was leaking. As we waited for rides in a military aircraft, we had to wait longer because it broke down. Although the military was prepared, even the spare broke down. Lastly, rides in the military vehicle had to stop because it blew a gasket and spread oil all over the parking lot. The state of the tools that we give our men and women in the armed forces is unacceptable, and that is something I will continue to raise in the House. I point these things out not just because we are in opposition but because we want things to get better. Our message is fundamentally hopeful. I am here because I am hopeful about Canada's future, and if the government moves to address these and other issues, they will have my support. I will end by asking for wisdom from heaven for this place and for all members in the House, because it is wisdom from heaven that is, first of all, pure, then peace-loving, confident, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. We are servants of the people, and no servant is greater than their master. No messenger is greater than the one who sent them. I pray that all members remember that in the House. God bless each member in the House, and God bless Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I really took an interest when the member started to talk about the issue of crime and automobile theft. In the province of Manitoba, back in and around the era of 2005, 2006 and 2007, we had the highest automobile theft in the country by far. No province even came close to Manitoba on a per capita basis. In fact, we could virtually double the number of vehicles that were being stolen. What resolved the problem was not just Ottawa. It was Manitoba Public Insurance, it was the provincial government, and it was other stakeholders that actually came together, much like what happened recently, last year in Ontario. We have seen numbers go down. Would the member not recognize that, on that particular issue, it is not just the federal government? In fact, many would argue, in the province of Manitoba, that it was the provincial government and MPI that made the difference, that it is not just one level of government that resolves that particular problem. Would he not agree?

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member brought up co-operation. We are in a minority Parliament, and I hope the government will co-operate with us on issues that matter to Canadians. Crime is one of them. I hope that on that issue, we can collaborate on bail reform, because we know that the people stealing cars, trafficking drugs and trafficking firearms are going through a revolving door of bail. The member talked about co-operation. The Province of Ontario has demanded bail reform, and the government has refused to give it. Where is the co-operation?

Mr. Speaker, during the previous Parliament, parliamentarians passed Bill C-21, legislation aimed at increasing gun control. However, since the bill passed, we have been waiting for the regulations that the government was supposed to introduce. Does my colleague, who is concerned about safety, find it unusual that the regulations for such an important bill have not yet been introduced?

Mr. Speaker, I apologize that I must answer in English, but I commit to the House to learning as much French as I can as quickly as I can. On this issue, I am concerned about the government's lack of priorities. It is focused on attacking law-abiding firearms owners instead of going after criminals and the criminal trafficking of guns across the border. I hope the government focuses on that priority rather than law-abiding firearms owners.

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his being elected to this august chamber. Second, I would like to thank him for his family's service in the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly his brother, who is still serving. My question is about housing. I am just wondering if the member has heard from any of the affordable housing organizations in his riding. I just got emails from a community living project that was getting funding from CMHC. It is now being told, despite Parliament having been prorogued and then dissolved so we can have a new Parliament, that apparently all the money has been spent already. Despite the government announcing billions of dollars of more deficit spending, organizations are being told, “Sorry, wait it out.” If housing is such a priority, I am wondering if the member is hearing the same concerns about affordable housing projects in his community.

Mr. Speaker, I am hearing the same thing. I think it is important to recognize that my riding is both urban and rural. Sometimes people think that homelessness and a lack of housing are not rural issues, but they are. There are homeless people in rural ridings, and they have even fewer places to go. I hope the government is being truthful and will do something about it. I hope it will give people their dream of home ownership, not a dream that cannot be attained.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on his election. He talked about his family. We on this side of the House are taking concrete action to make life more affordable for our families. This includes our tax cut. We also want to maintain programs such as pharmacare, the Canadian dental care plan and affordable child care spaces. The Conservatives voted against these programs. Will my colleague—

The hon. member for York—Durham.

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will always support tax cuts, even if they do not go far enough and do not give enough relief. I invite the member to come to my riding, walk down the streets with me and see how tough it is. I applaud the Liberals for the tax cut. Let us see more of it.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Don Valley North . In response to the Speech from the Throne, allow me to begin with a few words about the messenger. On September 5, 1755, in Nova Scotia, the King of England's instructions were read aloud by Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow, in English, to 418 men and boys called to the Saint-Charles-des-Mines church in Grand-Pré. The royal proclamation of Acadian deportation ordered that all of their lands, homes, livestock and herds of all kinds be confiscated on behalf of the Crown, along with other goods, not including money and personal items, and that they be expelled from the province. The King's imperial orders led to the deportation of all French inhabitants of these districts. The soldiers then gathered up the terrified population, expelled them from their lands, and burned their homes and crops to the ground. Acadian families were deported on 16 ships, mostly to lands in New England, France, Louisiana and England. Of a population amounting to about 13,500 Acadians, an estimated 12,600 or more were deported. Others managed to escape to Quebec and Acadia, that remained French. On the Gaspé peninsula, where I live today, and on Île Royale and Île Saint‑Jean, exiled Acadians established a number of villages. Historians estimate that more than half of the 12,600 deported Acadians perished from disease, epidemics, hardship, malnutrition or shipwreck. On February 15, 1839, at 9 a.m., five patriots climbed the scaffold to be hanged at the Pied-du-Courant prison in Montreal. Of the 99 patriots who were sentenced to death, a total of 12 were hanged. The rest were sentenced to hard labour in Australia. The Patriotes movement was a push for democracy. The patriots demanded that decisions be made by their elected representatives, not the governor general, who was controlled by the King of England. This fair and legitimate demand for responsible government was harshly suppressed by the British Crown. Quebeckers had their rights and freedoms suspended for four years during the unrest surrounding the Patriotes rebellion. Perhaps these historical reminders will help the House better understand why having King Charles III visit and deliver the Speech from the Throne did not generate much enthusiasm from me and many of my fellow Quebeckers. Some will say that these events happened a long time ago. I would respond that yes, they did, but as we say in Quebec, je me souviens—never forget. Perhaps the fact that Quebeckers never forget is also the reason that 87% of respondents to a Leger poll this week said they felt no attachment to the British monarchy. Perhaps this is also why a majority of Quebeckers, 52%, would vote to end the monarchy and create a republic. Perhaps this is also why the Quebec National Assembly unanimously passed a motion this week to sever all ties with the monarchy. In short, in Quebec, we have a problem with the messenger, the person who delivered the Speech from the Throne. The Bloc Québécois has a plan for independence for the Quebec nation, a plan that will enable Quebeckers to adopt their own meaningful symbols and enjoy the freedom to shape their own future. In the meantime, the Bloc Québécois will introduce a bill during this session to allow elected members of this House to opt out of swearing an oath to the King. Our proposal is to make the oath to the King optional and allow elected officials to take an oath of office instead. This would be a step forward and would show some respect for the freedom of conscience of elected officials. I invite my colleagues to reflect on our motivations and recognize that this bill is legitimate and deserves their support. Enough about the messenger. Now I want to talk about the message. I will start with something positive and then move on to the things that disappointed me. On a positive note, I was pleased that the government mentioned that it wants to protect supply management. This is important for Quebec's farmers, our dairy, egg and poultry farmers. In my riding, the farmers under the supply management system are faring the best in the income crisis facing the agricultural sector right now, because supply management provides them with a stable income. We know that when CUSMA is renegotiated, the Americans will again try to get a bigger share of the dairy, egg and poultry markets. That is why the leader of the Bloc Québécois introduced a bill yesterday that would prohibit Canadian negotiators from making any concessions on supply management. The Liberal government's response has been fairly positive. I invite the Liberals to support our bill in order to provide our farmers with protective legislation as quickly as possible. As for the things that disappointed me, for starters, the throne speech seems light on detail about the government's plan to build the best economy in the G7. The focus is more on eliminating federal barriers to trade and less on diversifying the economy. There is not one word in the speech about fisheries, for example. More than 80% of the seafood produced in the Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands is exported to the United States. The past few months have driven home the importance of diversifying our export markets. We need to reduce our dependence on the U.S. market because it is so unstable right now. I was surprised to learn that there is no federal funding allocated to trade missions for Quebec's fisheries sector. The federal government must support the fisheries sector with multi-year funding so it can find new markets. That is crucial to building a strong economy. The fact that the forestry sector has been overlooked is another disappointment. I would like to remind the government that the U.S. Department of Commerce announced in March that it planned to nearly triple the duties on Canadian softwood lumber, bringing total levies to nearly 27%. Let us not forget that the Canadian softwood lumber industry is already subject to a 14.4% levy on its exports to the United States. The additional tariffs could come into effect as early as August. If they are implemented, they will have a significant negative impact on Quebec's forestry industry, because 50% of Quebec's softwood lumber is exported to the United States. We need to support our forestry companies, and I made a commitment during the last election campaign to guide them through the coming crisis and to call for assistance programs that are adapted to the reality of the Gaspé and Quebec. The forestry industry must also diversify its export markets and focus on developing the domestic market. In that regard, the Bloc Québécois's proposal to promote local purchasing in federal government contracts could increase market opportunities for Quebec softwood lumber. That brings me to my final point. Where are the infrastructure investments we were promised? Building a strong economy requires adequate infrastructure, and I am going to try to fill the gap in the Speech from the Throne with two suggestions that would strengthen my region's economy. First, if the Liberal government wants to build the best economy in the G7, it seems to me that this requires an adequate rail transportation system across the country. The Gaspé rail line will be operational to New Carlisle by September 2025. However, VIA Rail refuses to resume service from Matapédia to New Carlisle, even though regional connections are at the heart of its mandate. Through their tax dollars, the people of the Gaspé contributed more than $400 million in federal funding to VIA Rail in 2024 so that it could provide service in the regions. It should also be noted that when VIA Rail suspended service in 2013, it was because the rail line was no longer safe. I therefore call on the Liberal government to intervene with VIA Rail and compel it to reverse its decision and commit to resuming passenger rail service in the coming weeks. It is an essential service that allows people in my region to travel to other regions. This is a legitimate demand and would help strengthen our economy by improving people's productivity. My final suggestion is this. If we want adequate infrastructure, the runway at the Magdalen Islands airport needs to be extended.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the hon. member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj. His riding has quite a bit in common with my riding and many ridings in Newfoundland and Labrador. With regard to the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to 30% by 30. Right now, 14% of Canada's oceans are considered protected areas. Iceland has 2% protected and Norway has 1% protected, with no plans to go further with that, but the Prime Minister's lofty intentions are to increase marine protected areas to 30% of the ocean. I wonder what my hon. colleague thinks of that and what impact it could have on the fishing economy in his riding.

Mr. Speaker, what worries the Bloc Québécois about fisheries is the oil drilling that the Liberal government is prepared to green-light. It will definitely disturb marine wildlife, and that worries us. As for inshore fishing, we want to promote a model where fishing is done by family businesses that are handed down from father to son, with inshore fishers taking just enough from the sea to make a living, without going to extremes, like the factory ships have too often done in recent history.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj. He is actually my neighbour. There is only the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence between us. Our two ridings have a lot in common. He talked about fisheries and forestry. I would add that we also have tourism in common. He mentioned the glaring oversight in the throne speech regarding infrastructure and the extensive investments that would be needed to get us to roughly the same level as the big cities. It is fair to ask for this in order to help our communities grow and keep residents from moving away. I would have liked to hear him talk not only about market diversification, but also about economic diversification. In his opinion, was this also overlooked in the throne speech?

Mr. Speaker, the challenge is not only to diversify our export markets, but to also diversify our economic activities. The fishing industry in particular needs to diversify the types of products it markets. It is working on diversifying and marketing redfish, but its progress is too slow and it needs support. The same is true for seal hunting, which is gaining ground too slowly even though the resource is available. The Bloc Québécois wants to support these sectors so they can diversify both their export sectors and their economic activities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague on his election. His riding neighbours mine, actually. Let me reassure my colleague. The Speech from the Throne underscores our commitment to protecting the people who provide us with fresh, healthy food, like our farmers. We have an ambitious plan to protect Canadian agri-food workers. We are also committed to protecting our supply management system. I understand how important the supply management system is. It is extremely important to my riding's economy as well. I wanted to use my time to reassure my colleague. We have a plan, and I can assure everyone that we will work to ensure food security.

Mr. Speaker, we have given the Liberal government the perfect opportunity to put its money where its mouth is. All it has to do is support our bill. It is one thing for the government to say that it wants to protect supply management, but it is another to then give up market share during negotiations, as was done during the last negotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, with compensation for producers that took a long time to arrive. If the Liberal government is sincere, it should support our bill. Together, we will prevent the next round of negotiations from targeting this crucial sector of Quebec's economy.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to stand in the House today, and I would like to join colleagues who have gone before me in congratulating you. I look forward to your guidance in the House. I also want to congratulate all of my colleagues on their elections and re-elections. I look forward to working hard with all members on all sides of the House to do good for Canadians. I am humbled and honoured to serve here. I want to thank the people of Don Valley North for trusting me to be their representative in the House of Commons. I will never take it for granted. I will continue to listen to the views of my constituents and bring their ideas into the decision-making in the House as we confront the great problems that challenge us today. Don Valley North is one of seven federal ridings of the former city of North York, now part of the city of Toronto. We are known as the city with heart, but this riding holds a winding heart: The East Don River carves its way through quiet ravines where deer cross paths with morning joggers and where the chorus of birdsong competes with the hum of a subway line. Don Valley North has world-class medical professionals, successful businesses and a wonderful population with a great sense of humour. My riding is a vibrant and welcoming community. The people are innovative and hard-working and understand that if our neighbours do well, we all do well. That is why I am proud of the commitment in the throne speech to making life more affordable for Canadians by cutting taxes and to building the strongest economy in the G7. I am by nature an optimistic person. I am, after all, a Maple Leafs fan. I am optimistic that we will listen to Canadians to improve our country so that everyone who seeks a better tomorrow for themselves and for their communities can use their skills and contribute fully to our economy. Young people from all over Canada come here on class trips to watch question period and are told that this is politics, but politics for me is what happens when we come to a consensus and make decisions. Collectively, we shape the rules, and we have an opportunity to improve things and find new and better ways of responding to the needs of our electorate. We all have a shared responsibility to show Canadians that politics can be an instrument of good. The people of Don Valley North are proud Canadians who want to keep Canada strong and free. They know it is a privilege to be a Canadian, not only because we look after each other with universal social programs and produce the world's best lobsters, but also because it is a good place to achieve our ambitions. My standing here proves the strength of Canadian values. However, while I think Canada is paradise and there is no better place in the world to live, we know we can do better. The people of Don Valley North and Canadians across the country strive for excellence, and we build on our past successes to reach even greater heights. As members know, elections are only a small part of what brings us to this place. I want to thank my family. My parents have always stood by my side, and I acknowledge my mom and dad, who gave up everything to start from scratch in a new country. I admire their grit for making a go of it. They have always encouraged me to dream bigger, and I would not be here without their sacrifice and belief in me. To my dear partner, who could have imagined all those years ago at city hall that this is where we would end up? He has walked every step of this journey with me, always lifting me up and reminding me of what is possible. His love and encouragement have meant the world to me. I thank my campaign team, who did the hard yards day in and day out; the EDA; and all my friends and volunteers for their tenacity, good humour and kindness. Without them, I would not be standing here representing one of the finest ridings in Canada for the Liberal Party. For as long as I have the privilege of serving here, I will work every day to leave the place better than I found it.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate our hon. colleague on her maiden speech. Twenty-five hundred words make up the entirety of the Speech from the Throne, yet it made no mention of the over 50,000 Canadians who have died by overdose since 2016. It made no mention of the fact that our country is gripped by an overdose and opioid crisis. It made no mention that in my province of British Columbia, the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18 is overdose. There was not one mention of the opioid crisis. I would ask our hon. colleague to comment on that.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important topic. Our new government, with the new Prime Minister, is committed to working across the country to tackle this important issue, and I look forward to working together with others as well.

Mr. Speaker, I can sympathize with regard to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Winnipeg Jets did well this year; they were number one in the NHL, but they fell a little short for the Stanley Cup. I think there are a lot of people who continue the dream with the Toronto Maple Leafs. My question is in regard to the Prime Minister. One of the very first initiatives the Prime Minister took was to give Canadians a tax break. I know that understanding and taking action to deal with the issue of affordability are important no matter where we look in Canada. I wonder if my friend and colleague could provide her thoughts on the importance of giving that initial tax break to Canadians, in the hopes that we will get unanimous support for it.

Mr. Speaker, this was absolutely one of the top issues I heard on the campaign trail. Young people and young families are concerned. They are concerned about affordable housing and the affordability of their everyday lives, but they are hopeful. After seeing our government's plan for cutting taxes for middle-class families, building more affordable housing and eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers, they are hopeful and see that we are one of the only parties putting forward a concrete plan to help families across Canada and help young people have access to affordable housing. At the same time, we are also strengthening our economy. We are building one of the strongest economies in the G7. I look forward to working with my hon. colleague and everybody in the House to make sure that happens. We are starting on day one.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. I have a question for her about the budget. She talked about plans, spending and the future. Meanwhile, we have no clue whatsoever about the budget or what it will include. The government is making plans and spending money without even knowing how much it has at its disposal. In my personal life, it does not work like that. I imagine that it does not work that way for her either. Could she explain how her government can spend money without knowing how much it actually has?

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with a government with a concrete plan. Throughout the campaign, people were excited to see a concrete plan to cut taxes for the middle class, to eliminate GST for first-time homebuyers and to break down interprovincial trade barriers. We got to work on day one. We have had conversations with provinces and have had conversations across the table with stakeholders, and I am confident that we can deliver for Canadians.

Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate you on your role as Deputy Speaker and I congratulate the member on her election. As the MP for Nunavut, I hear on a daily basis about the issues of the cost of living. As an example, a package of four corn on the cob is $15 in the community of Pangnirtung. That is how drastic and unaffordable it is. I wonder if the member agrees that to address the cost of living crisis, there needs to be an increase in investments like airports and marine ports in Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member on her election as well. I very much share the concern about the cost of living and affordability. Throughout the campaign, many folks shared their stories and concerns about affordability issues. The tariffs from America do not help with that, and we need to tackle that head-on. Our government has—

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Richmond Centre—Marpole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the chamber for the first time, with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility. It is an honour beyond words to represent the people of Richmond Centre—Marpole, a community I have called home for over three decades, a place that has given me opportunity, belonging and purpose. First, I thank the residents of my riding for placing their trust in me. They have given me the privilege of being their voice in the Parliament of Canada, and I will carry that responsibility with integrity, determination and a strong commitment to their values. To my campaign team, Alice Tang, Luhan Yao, Zenbia Chan, Thomas Leung, Kenny Chiu, Erica Ng, Terrence Lam, Bethia Yuen, Alice YF Wong, May Zhu and many others, I thank them for their tireless work, their belief in our cause and the sacrifices they made. They are the reason I am standing here today. To my dear wife, Christine, I thank her for her unwavering support. We have walked this journey together, from uncertainty to service. To our son, Micah, a Richmond firefighter and army cadet officer, I thank him for his strength, values and service to the community. Let me share a little about myself. I came to Canada in 1988 from Hong Kong as a first-generation immigrant, with no family here and little more than determination. Canada welcomed me and gave my wife and me a chance to build a life through hard work, resilience and community. To give back, I served in local government for over 25 years as a school trustee and then as a city councillor. That experience taught me that leadership starts at the grassroots by listening, solving problems and staying grounded in service. Today, I enter federal office with the same mindset: to ensure Canada remains a land of opportunity, not just for people like me but for future generations and for new immigrants arriving with dreams like mine. Let me tell members about Richmond, one of Canada's most dynamic cities and a true jewel of the west coast. It is the fastest-growing city in British Columbia and a vital gateway to the Indo-Pacific. It is home to the Vancouver International Airport, the second-busiest in Canada, as well as to a major deep-sea port and the largest commercial fishing harbour in the country. Richmond is not just a local hub; it is a centre of global trade, innovation and investment. We are also the most culturally diverse city in Canada. Over 60% of its residents were born outside the country, and more than 120 languages are spoken. Richmond is a mosaic of the world, yet a community deeply united by shared values. It has 1.4 jobs for every working-age resident and the longest life expectancy in Canada. It has been named the most active city in B.C. Richmond is a Canadian success story, and we are proud of it. However, I stand here today not only to speak about our success. I rise to sound the alarm on a national emergency that is devastating families across the country: the drug crisis. I listened carefully to the Speech from the Throne. I was disappointed and, frankly, alarmed that this crisis was barely acknowledged. Just 18 words were offered on a tragedy that has claimed 50,000 lives in the past decade. Let me say that again: 50,000 Canadians dead from overdoses since 2015. This is more than all the Canadian soldiers who died in the Second World War, yet the government continues to downplay it. The Prime Minister even said on the campaign trail that Canada is facing a “challenge”, not a crisis. He is dead wrong. This is not just a public health issue. It is a national emergency, and it is deepening. For the past decade, we have seen a steady expansion of failed policies, from supervised consumption sites to taxpayer-funded safe supply and, most recently, drug decriminalization in British Columbia. These were presented as compassionate solutions. In reality, they have led to more deaths, more chaos and more despair. A 2025 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, offered by researchers from Memorial University, the University of Manitoba, and Johns Hopkins, found that opioid overdose hospitalizations increased significantly in areas where safe supply and decriminalization were introduced. The conclusion was clear: More drugs do not mean less harm. This is a dangerous myth, and our young people are paying the price. In British Columbia, overdose is now the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18 years. In April, a 15-year-old boy died in Campbell River. In February, a 14-year-old girl died alone at home in Surrey. In July 2024, a 13-year-old girl in Prince George lost her life to overdose. These were not just tragic headlines. These are children. These are dreams lost, families shattered and futures stolen, yet the government clings to the policies that normalized addiction. Terms like “safe consumption” and “recreational use” are misleading. There is nothing safe or recreational about consuming poison. We must shift the conversation from enabling addiction to promoting recovery. That means investing in prevention, education, mental health, treatment and enforcement. I ask again, when will the government put an end to its reckless drug policy and failed decriminalization experiments? Let us look at Richmond. In 2023, Richmond recorded 27 overdose deaths, only 1% of the provincial total. That was not by accident. We have no cannabis retail stores. In February 2024, our community came together to oppose the installation of a supervised injection site, and we succeeded. Residents stood up for their families, and I stood with them. We believe in real solutions, not slogans. We support recovery, not surrender. We focus on education, community services, law enforcement and mental health. That is the approach I will continue to champion in Parliament. I came to Canada with a suitcase and a heart full of hope. I was given a chance, and I want to ensure that others have the same opportunity to build, not be broken by the very systems meant to protect them. The crisis is not about ideologies. It is about saving lives. Let us stand together across party lines to act with urgency and seriousness. The future of our youth, our families and our communities depends on it. I again thank my constituents in Richmond Centre—Marpole for their trust. I will work every day to be worthy of it.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the last gesture the member opposite put on the record in wanting to work co-operatively. Canadians in all regions of the country would acknowledge that one of the biggest concerns that came out of the election has to be President Donald Trump with tariffs and trade. We are very much concerned about it. The Conservative Party can play a positive role on that. We are going to see a number of initiatives in the coming weeks that are going to be of critical importance to Canadians, whether it is the tax break or the building of one economy. I am wondering if the member would commit to recognizing that and supporting legislative measures that will make Canada stronger and healthier while delivering tax dollars to his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member compared tariffs to the drug crisis. The drug crisis was not created by Trump or the tariffs. It was created by the wrong policies, which were adopted by the Liberal government over the past decade. It has nothing to do with Trump. The wrong approach was adopted by the Liberal government in the past decade.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my hon. colleague, the member for Richmond Centre—Marpole, on his election. I was very familiar with his work as a city councillor, which I reported on in my former career as a journalist. I want to thank him for his advocacy on putting forward what was a very unpopular position with the Liberals but a very popular position among ordinary Canadians. The Liberals have said that the answer to the drug crisis is to give people more drugs, to give free drugs. I am wondering whether the member could speak to the experiences in his own community and about what that has done to people who are actually struggling with addiction and to the communities around them.

Mr. Speaker, the costly experiment on human lives that was initiated by the Liberal government in providing safe supply was a failure. In huge contrast to that regimen, our neighbouring cities, as I mentioned earlier, had only 1% of overdose deaths last year. That was because we took a very proactive approach to preventing drugs from coming into communities and offered people counselling. We also helped educate the younger population to understand the harm that drugs can cause them. I think the Liberal government adopted the wrong approach in the past decade, which led us to our present state of despair.

Mr. Speaker, although decriminalization might be put into question, even in the east of the country, where it does not exist, we see the same trends. The problem is a complex one and cannot simply be limited to decriminalization. Over the last 10 years, the government has spent over $1 billion in emergency treatment and in mental health funds, as well as in other initiatives. I look to the member to work more on progress and to try to see whether we can do more.

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that this is a very complex question. We have to work together to find ways to address it. However, I also want to point out that repeating the same old approaches used in the past will not bring a different result. Doing the same thing again and again while expecting a different result is foolish, so I would urge the Liberal government to change its failed policies and use a different approach that includes prevention, enforcement, treatment and education. Yes, let us work together. This is a national crisis and we have to work on it, but first of all the government has to change its path.

Mr. Speaker, it is great to see you in the Speaker's seat. As I said to you off camera, it has been a long time coming. First and foremost, I want to send a huge thanks to the hard-working people of Cariboo—Prince George for once again placing their trust in me to represent them, now for the fourth time. My time is short today, so I rise not only to respond to the Speech from the Throne but also to address and confront a national tragedy that is shattering lives and communities, Canada's opioid crisis. Since 2016, over 51,000 Canadians have died from opioid overdose. These are not just numbers; they are our loved ones who were stolen by a crisis fuelled by the proliferation of fentanyl, coupled with horrendous policies by both federal and provincial governments. In British Columbia, overdose is now the leading cause of death for youths aged 10 to 18. This is unacceptable, yet in the Liberal Speech from the Throne there was not a single mention of this catastrophe. In 2,500 words, there was not a single reference to the opioid crisis killing thousands of Canadians every year. On average, 17 Canadians lose their life every day due to overdose, and those are just the numbers we know. Perhaps that is by design. After all, during his recent leadership race, our new Prime Minister stood before Canadians and said publicly that the overdose issue was a challenge, but not a crisis. As a matter of fact, he repeated it. The opioid crisis has been exacerbated by the Liberal government's misguided drug policies and catch-and-release criminal justice reforms. These policies must be ended immediately. They have left our streets less safe and our communities more vulnerable. They are not saving any lives; they are just perpetuating addiction, with no end in sight. The opioid epidemic is a public safety disaster. British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario account for 83% of all opioid deaths, but no community is spared, large or small. The opioid crisis knows no social boundaries. In fact, just this week, in my hometown of Williams Lake, the city council passed a motion to explore declaring a state of emergency in response to the rising incidents of vandalism, open drug use, fires in front of businesses, theft, public indecency, defecation and more. City councillor Scott Nelson said the following with respect to the crisis: “Things have gotten so crazy, [so bad,] so out of control. Our resources [as a community] are depleted in terms of what’s taken place”. In the last two days, there have been on average 10 to 20, possibly even 30, overdoses each day. That is astonishing. It is not Vancouver or Toronto but a small community of 10,000 people. Look at what it is experiencing and what it has been forced to do after 10 years of failed Liberal policies. Addiction fuels crime, homelessness and social disorder, yet the Liberals have prioritized harm reduction at the expense of prevention and recovery. The Liberal government's failure to address the opioid crisis in its Speech from the Throne, despite very briefly mentioning border security and fentanyl trafficking in an attempt to appease President Trump, ignores the economic and human toll of the opioid crisis and sends a clear signal to Canadians struggling with addiction that their new federal government could not care less about them. Over the last 10 years, the Liberal government's failed drug policies have done nothing to curb deaths. British Columbia's 2023 decriminalization experiment, fully supported by the Liberal government, allows possession and public use of hard drugs like heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Despite decriminalization's being marketed as a solution, B.C.'s overdose death rate is the highest in Canada. Public drug use has surged, straining communities and first responders. We hear reports of needles scattered around parks, playgrounds and sidewalks. Kids playing soccer in the Lower Mainland have to dodge contaminated needles on the field. Safe consumption sites are allowed to operate right beside high schools, and in doing so are promoting open drug use to young and vulnerable Canadians and falsely marketing it as safe. So-called safe supply programs are an absolute, abject disaster. Diversion of these drugs into the black market fuels the illegal drug trade, many experts have admitted, but the Liberal government has tried to cover it up for years, demeaning anyone for speaking their uncomfortable truths. In November 2024, retired Prince George RCMP superintendent Shaun Wright testified on the opioid crisis at our parliamentary health committee. Mr. Wright, who has decades of experience in frontline policing, has said that the decriminalization experiment was “the most horrific failure of public policy” in the history of B.C. This is the side of the decriminalization experiment that the Liberal politicians in the Ottawa bubble will not see, do not see and do not want us to understand or see. Our communities are unsafe, and our constituents feel unwelcome in their own neighbourhoods. The government must commit to not expanding the failed decriminalization experiment to anywhere else in Canada and to halting all attempts to bring forward legalization of deadly hard drugs, as some Liberals have suggested. Furthermore, the $1 billion spent by the Liberals, as mentioned earlier by one of our colleagues, has solved nothing. What do we have to show for it? We have more deaths, more families torn apart, more communities on the brink of extinction and no hope in sight. I ask the member to take a look around their community. Does it look the same way as it did 10 years ago, before the first Liberal reign in 2015? It does not. Treatment access remains severely limited, and supervised consumption sites simply do not address addiction's root causes. The throne speech was silent on the crisis. It missed a critical opportunity to prioritize treatment and recovery. This baffles me a little, because we have had a plan to fight for recovery. In our Conservative platform, we highlighted how we would create 50,000 new beds for recovery to honour the 50,000 Canadians who have died from the crisis. The Liberals stole so many ideas from our plan: the GST cut on housing, income tax cuts, etc. I strongly encourage them to steal this plan as well and to get to work creating those 50,000 beds. There is another side to the drug crisis as well. The Liberal government's criminal justice reforms, most notably Bill C-5, have made things many times worse. By eliminating mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug-related offences, Bill C-5 is a catch-and-release policy that lets traffickers off with nothing but a slap on the wrist. In our communities, 98% of crime is committed by five or six prolific offenders in one of my communities, and by 30 in my largest community, Prince George. When they are in jail, the crime rate goes down. When they are out of jail, the crime rate goes up. As a matter of fact, when one of my constituents, Bob Hubbard, returned home last fall, he found his house being looted by a group of drug addicts. He tried to stop them. While he was in the process, they ran him over with his own vehicle and left him for dead on the road. The perpetrators were caught the very same day, but within 24 hours after leaving Mr. Hubbard for dead on the road, they were out committing more crimes in our community. That is the reality we live in. Businesses have also been broken into. Their windows are smashed and their doorways are set on fire so many times that owners cannot get the necessary insurance to operate their business, so they choose not to report these incidents or they close shop altogether, leaving the downtown core a ghost town. That is the reality after 10 years of Liberal government. If the Speaker will indulge me, I have to leave with this. Canada's opioid crisis, with over 50,000 lives lost since 2016, is a tragedy ignored by the government's Speech from the Throne. In B.C., drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 18. This is a tragedy that hits home when I think of 13-year-old Brianna MacDonald, who died alone from an overdose in a homeless encampment in Abbotsford late last August. Her story is a stark reminder of our failure to protect the most vulnerable. As leaders, we must do better and be better. This is not just a challenge; it is a crisis. It demands urgent action, not silence. The Prime Minister's policies have failed Canadians, and Canadians demand a system that supports recovery, punishes traffickers and restores safety. Let us honour Brianna and the thousands lost in this city by fighting for a future where no more lives are lost.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians sent a clear message last month. They want us to build an economy that works for everyone. We have an ambitious plan to reduce the cost of living and build a strong economy, the most competitive in the G7. The message sent by voters, particularly in the riding of Carleton, was a call for real change, and we are committed to delivering on that call. Will my Conservative colleagues respect Canadians' choice and support our efforts to strengthen and unify the Canadian economy, or will they continue to obstruct, as they did during the previous Parliament?

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, how does our hon. colleague stand up? I just mentioned that there have been over 51,000 lives lost since 2016 to the opioid crisis. I spoke of the horrific crisis that our country is gripped with, and he recites speaking notes. That is unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on his fourth election to the House. I am sure that he has observed over the years, as I have, that if we are not moving forward, we are moving backward. He mentioned a few things in his speech, and earlier I talked about employment insurance. What does he think of the government's broken promises, if not its wilful blindness, especially when it comes to EI?

Mr. Speaker, our colleagues on the Liberal bench say it is a new government, it is a new day and let us just forget about the last 10 years. They will stand and say they have been elected with a strong mandate. Yes, but the mandate was built on a lie. The new Prime Minister was elected because he told Canadians he had a plan. What we have seen ever since his first day of being elected is that he does not have a plan. There is no budget. He cannot tell us what the strong road map to economic prosperity is. It is a wonder that those on the front bench are standing and using the silly talking points from the past.

I would ask members to be judicious in their choice of words. The hon. member for Kitchener South—Hespeler has the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member from Cariboo—Prince George for putting more light on this horrendous situation, which is only getting worse. Every member of the House sees it in the downtown of the communities they come from. I have not heard anyone on the other side actually defend any of these problems. When Liberals do rise to speak, they speak about change. Does the member take this as a tacit acknowledgement that indeed their drug decriminalization and safe supply experiment has failed? Beyond acknowledgement, does the member think it is time for an apology, and beyond that, what changes should be made immediately?

That is a great question, Mr. Speaker, but can you afford me another 10 minutes to answer it? The new Liberal member for Victoria stood and said that for the first time in however many years, the people there elected a Liberal candidate. That is shameful. A story just came out in The Globe and Mail that said that whole areas of Victoria have turned into absolute ghettos and war zones. First nations communities and communities all across our nation have been drug-addled and crime-riddled and are absolute war zones. People are living like zombies, and that is not compassion. We have perpetuated their addictions. I absolutely believe that the Prime Minister should stand up on behalf of the Liberal Party and caucus he represents and apologize to Canadians for their abject failure over the last 10 years.

Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his re-election. I always appreciate his speeches. The opioid crisis has unfortunately reached my riding of Nunavut as well, which is surprising because all the communities are fly-in communities. I wonder whether the member agrees that a way to address that in my riding is to have better screening facilities both at mailing ports and at airports as well?

Mr. Speaker, the health committee talked about better screening in areas such as airports and mailrooms, and also about traceability for the safe supply that is being diverted. At every step of the way, the Liberals said no to it. It is a big issue, and it falls squarely at the feet of the Prime Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I want to share my time with my colleague from Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to speak to the Speech from the Throne delivered on Tuesday by His Majesty King Charles III. This speech will mark the beginning of a new parliamentary session. It charts a course to a fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous future for all Canadians. Today, I would like to highlight certain aspects of this speech that resonate particularly well with the realities of the people of Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation. My primarily rural riding is home to a mosaic of small, vibrant, tight-knit communities surrounding two urban hubs. I am talking about the people of Lachute and part of Gatineau, including Buckingham and Masson-Angers. Throughout my riding, residents have the same aspiration: to live with dignity in affordable, well-serviced, accessible, sustainable communities. What we see in the throne speech is a renewed commitment to quality of life, security and affordability. Building housing is a priority for us. Housing is not a luxury; it is an urgent need. Many families have moved to my riding in recent years, putting enormous pressure on the housing supply. Young people who want to set up house are knocking on the same doors as seniors who want to stay in their communities and newcomers who are searching for a home. We need to build, and we need to build fast, but we also need to build smart. Our government understands that. The government will undertake a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating an entirely new housing industry using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and Canadian lumber. The government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating "build Canada homes". This mission-driven organization will act to accelerate the development of new affordable housing. It will invest in the growth of the prefabricated and modular housing industry, and it will provide significant financing to affordable home builders. That also means supporting our municipalities, which typically do not have the infrastructure or the human resources to properly accommodate this growth, as noted in the throne speech. The government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down. One sentence in particular from the Speech from the Throne stuck with me: “The Government is guided by its conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone.” This is especially true for us in Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, as in other remote rural municipalities. These communities are the beating heart of our country. They feed our cities. They preserve our traditions. They often innovate behind the scenes, but they face unique challenges. Our municipalities are vulnerable. Like many people across our country, certain Canadians, some younger, some older, are struggling to reach their full potential. Our government understands that. It is taking meaningful measures to make life more affordable for middle-class Canadians, including cutting taxes to save dual-earning families up to $840 a year and eliminating the GST for first-time home buyers on homes valued up to $1 million, which will save them up to $50,000. Our government will protect the programs that will save young people and families thousands of dollars every year, including the Canadian dental care plan, which will soon be available to about eight million Canadians. Throughout the election campaign, one thing that kept coming up in our discussions on the ground was the importance of access to dental care. When I was out knocking on doors, visiting markets and seniors' residences, people, especially seniors, talked to me about the Canadian dental care plan. This is more than just one issue among many. It is a question of dignity, health and social justice. This makes me think of Gisèle and Bruno, a couple in my riding who stopped me this week with smiles on their faces. I can picture them now. They told me that they had begun the process of getting dental care under this new plan. Gisèle told me that for the first time in years, she and her husband will be able to see a dentist without worrying about cutting out other expenses. It was only a two-minute conversation, but the message was loud and clear: This program is changing lives in my riding. People like them are the reason we introduced this plan. People should not have to suffer in silence or avoid smiling just because they cannot afford dental care. This program was set up thanks to hard work, political will and openness to hearing what Canadians tell us day after day. I also want to highlight the importance of working together as a nation to create one economy out of 13. This will allow labour mobility between provinces. I would like to share the story of a welder without borders and the story of a trade and a country that need to be harmonized. For 21 years, I put on my leather apron, adjusted my welding helmet and turned on my torch. I was a welder, but I was also a teacher at a vocational school specializing in the building trades. Every day, I shared my knowledge with students of all ages, all motivated by a desire to build the Canada of the future, one steel wall or one building at a time. However, there was always one thing that neither the heat of a workshop nor the passion for a profession could overcome, and that was provincial boundaries. Living and working in a border region means living with a certain amount of nonsense. On one side of the road, students could hope to find a job as soon as they graduated. On the other side of the road, despite having the same skills, students faced an invisible obstacle: provincial credential recognition. Each province wants to define its own criteria and create its own certifications. At the heart of this administrative maze, the workforce remains stuck, immobilized, unable to meet pressing needs elsewhere. This paradox is all the more frustrating given that the country needs these skilled workers who are ready to weld, construct and build. The housing crisis is raging and construction sites are waiting, but workers remain idle, not because of a lack of will, but because of a lack of standardization. What I have learned over the years is that expertise knows no borders. A quality weld is a quality weld, whether it is done in Quebec, Ontario or on pipelines in Alberta. It is time for our system to recognize this as well. Prefabrication is a solid solution. I firmly believe that prefabrication is one of the ways of the future. The steel sector has been using this approach for a long time, manufacturing components in a factory and then installing them. By harmonizing skills across the country, we can set up regional prefabrication centres to produce housing and infrastructure modules that are ready to assemble wherever there is an urgent need. I would like to talk about a strong Canada united by the trades. Yes, the building trades ecosystem is complex, but that is not an insurmountable obstacle. To build a more resilient and united Canada, we need to train more workers, harmonize certifications and open domestic borders. I know for sure that trades play a critical role because, at the end of the day, welders are not merely building things out of steel. They are building bridges between provinces, between generations, between needs and know-how. In the Quebec riding of Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, the majestic Ottawa River is also the border with Ontario. Communities on both sides of the river are closely connected, as are our economies. Barriers to internal trade and labour mobility have impeded economic growth in my riding. I am sure my colleagues will understand why I am so pleased with our government's desire to eliminate all other federal obstacles. To wrap up, the vision of the Prime Minister and our government to build a strong, united Canada that works closely with the provinces will finally lead to a real free trade system across the country. This will enable Canada to reach its full economic potential and, above all, create opportunities for economic development and prosperity across the country. I am determined to work with all my colleagues to ensure that the voices of the regions and the people of Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation continue to be heard, listened to and, above all, respected.

Mr. Speaker, the member highlighted the Liberal government's latest housing crisis solution as building more prefab homes. In metro Vancouver, where my riding is, we built 20-storey and 30-storey high-rise towers close to transit stations. The hard part in urban development is land assembly, rezoning applications and putting in the civil services. How is prefab housing going to solve that problem?

Mr. Speaker, I am a big fan of prefab construction because I represent a rural riding. However, I am also familiar with urban centres. Urban centres thrive with a government willing to fully co-operate with provincial, territorial and municipal governments so that we can work together to further develop and facilitate the environmental and urbanization process across municipalities. Together, we will work better and build better.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation for his speech, and I congratulate him on his re-election. I, too, would like to ask him a question about housing. In the throne speech, the government said it was going to double the rate of home building. Considering the current shortage of 100,000 housing units in Quebec, not to mention the housing shortage for first nations, I would like to know how many housing units the government plans to build per year and when the situation will be rectified for Quebec and Canada. Can my colleague give us more details?

Mr. Speaker, a throne speech is meant to be broad. The issues it covers serve as our guidelines. There is work to be done. That is why we were elected as members of Parliament. For my part, as a member of Parliament, I am committed to ensuring that housing is built as quickly as possible in my riding and across Quebec. I also want to help my colleagues across Canada make it easier to build housing. I think a positive step has already been taken by reducing the price of first-time home purchases, not to mention investing in municipalities for infrastructure. I sincerely believe that starting up partnerships with municipalities will make it easier to build.

Mr. Speaker, since this is the first time I am rising in the House, I would like to thank the people of Les Pays-d'en-Haut for sending me to the House of Commons. It is an honour to represent them. My colleague emphasized the importance of supporting municipalities with infrastructure. I am a civil engineer. I was the mayor of the municipality of Morin Heights for 16 years. I am very familiar with infrastructure issues. I would like the member for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation to tell us more about how the government will help municipalities get the funding needed to carry out these projects.

Mr. Speaker, we have had the opportunity to work with engineers who understand the existing market well. The Quebec municipalities we worked with all told us about the infrastructure deficit. There can be no building without drinking water and waste water infrastructure. That is why, in the Speech from the Throne, we promised to help developers with up to 50% of the development charges associated with large-scale housing projects in both rural and urban areas. We will support businesses that want to build. The more homes we build, the more affordable rents will be.

Uqaqtittiji, I would like to thank very much the member for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation for sharing his time with me. I hope that this is the first of many collaborations to come. First, I thank Nunavummiut for electing me to represent and amplify their voices in this place. I thank my volunteers, contributors and staff for energizing my campaign. I thank my family, and a very special thanks to my husband Allan for supporting my work. I acknowledge that we are on unceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory. The throne speech was quite similar to the last one I heard. Again, there were major gaps. We heard nothing on health care, non-profit and indigenous housing, the TRC calls to action and the MMIWG calls for justice. There was nothing on addressing the high cost of groceries and nutrition north, and nothing on making the rich pay what they owe. First, with respect to health care, Nunavummiut do not have proper access to basic health care. The non-insured health benefits program relies heavily on medical travel. All 25 hamlets in Nunavut are fly-in communities. When a constituent needs medical attention, they are flown to Iqaluit, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Yellowknife or Edmonton because of the lack of access to doctors. I represent the largest electoral district in the world. Nunavut is more than two million square kilometres. It is eight times larger than the United Kingdom, and there is only one hospital. As a result, Nunavummiut must travel to southern locations for medical attention. Instead of building capacity for health care within Nunavut, the federal government has decided to subsidize the airlines, which are making huge profits from medical travel. Elders are unable to age at home. As we age, we often require more medical attention. Too many times, elderly Nunavummiut are exiled to institutions in the south. They are taken from their familiar surroundings and diet, and forced to live without culturally appropriate care. This is a horrible way to live out the last years of their lives, especially for elders who have already experienced genocidal policies like residential schools, dog slaughters and forced relocations. We must do more to support elders to remain in Nunavut communities by investing in each hamlet to build an elders' qammaq and to have access to transportation and medical care. The federal government is responsible for funding the non-insured health benefits program, but the Liberal government continues to fail to transfer the funds in a timely manner. The Government of Nunavut is forced to use its own meagre funds to ensure that medical care continues. It cannot prioritize building schools, long-term care facilities or more homes, because it is subsidizing the federal government. The Nunavut Minister of Health is frustrated by the shortfall in federal funding and by the federal government's refusal to negotiate in good faith. Without a proper negotiated agreement, the territorial government cannot prioritize its own agenda. Chronic underfunding of investments in Nunavut and Inuit was the reality before Nunavut was created in 1999 and remains as such today. The throne speech said that transfers to territories would be maintained. This is completely unacceptable. Maintaining transfers to the territorial government means no increases, even when the cost of everything is on the rise. The cost of living is exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure for airports and marine ports. A recent example is how much longer it took for my validation. My validation was delayed by two weeks because flights were cancelled or delayed. Often, flights are cancelled due to weather, rather than being delayed to a later part of the day when the weather improves. The Cambridge Bay Airport runway is not paved. This causes mechanical challenges for airplanes and impacts the flight schedules. How can the government talk about Arctic security and defence when it will not even invest in paving airport runways? The lack of transportation infrastructure impacts the cost of living. Grocery prices are so high in Nunavut that my constituents regularly tell me they go hungry. For example, in Pangnirtung, a package of four corn on the cob is $15. Not only are groceries super expensive, but the produce is often spoiled and rotten before it reaches the store shelves in Nunavut. I was in Grise Fiord in March of this year, and the potatoes for sale had already begun to sprout and the lettuce was brown. There are solutions to these problems. The Arctic Research Foundation built a greenhouse from a sea can in Gjoa Haven. They now have access to fresh lettuce and fresh produce. This one project has done so much for food security in Gjoa Haven. Similar projects in every community can help. From community freezers to food processing plants and greenhouses, the federal government must invest in similar projects led by Inuit if it is serious about Arctic security. Nunavut has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada at 42%, compared to the national rate of 18.1%. Nunavut has the highest rate of food insecurity of any province or territory. These statistics do not seem to matter to the federal government, as it cancelled the Inuit child first initiative's hamlet food voucher program. No reason was given. Over 15,000 Inuit children were served by this program. Finally, children were going to school having had breakfast. Without it, Inuit children and families are experiencing starvation every day. This is unacceptable. The Liberals cancelled the successful food voucher program but kept the failing nutrition north program. Every Nunavummiut knows the nutrition north program does not work. Instead of revamping it, the Liberals appointed an Inuk to review the program. While I have a lot of respect for Aluki Kotierk, I question whether this review was necessary, especially when it is so blatantly clear that nutrition north is allowing companies like the The North West Company to make record profits. The government is ignoring Nunavummiut and the government is ignoring indigenous peoples. As the member of Parliament for Nunavut, I will continue to raise the voices of Inuit and Nunavummiut in this place to address the chronic underfunding of the territory, to protect Inuit children and families, and to build the infrastructure and housing that is so desperately needed in Nunavut. At this time, I am moving a subamendment as follows: That the Conservative amendment be subamended by adding “as well as Indigenous peoples”. The seconder for the motion is the member for Winnipeg Centre.

I regret to inform the hon. member for Nunavut that the seconder has to be in the chamber or present online. Since that is not the case, the subamendment cannot be moved.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, could you check to see if the member for Courtenay—Alberni is online?

I do not see the member for Courtenay—Alberni online, so he is not in a position to second the subamendment. Questions and comments, the hon. member for Winnipeg North.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would not want to give the false impression that the previous government ignored in any way the needs of northern Canada and indigenous people in general. To demonstrate that, I would challenge the member opposite to indicate a government that has contributed more financial resources to the north than the previous government did. Having said that, I anticipate that we will have a very busy next few weeks and will be looking for co-operation, realizing that after coming through the last election, there are priority issues dealing with the construction of major national builds, if I can put it that way, that have co-operation from provinces and territories. We have other forms of legislation, such as the tax break for 22 million Canadians. I believe that is the number. Are these initiatives that the member opposite will be supporting?

Uqaqtittiji, I will first address the member's preamble. For decades, every Liberal and Conservative government has underinvested in Nunavut and in indigenous peoples, which is why we have significant gaps in infrastructure, in the billions of dollars. Highlighting that the previous Liberal government has spent more than other governments is still not enough. Regarding projects that you have mentioned, I think that pushing through the Prime Minister's agenda for one project, one review, for example, will ignore UNDRIP. Indigenous rights must not be violated in this policy. Developments on indigenous territories must adhere to constitutionally protected rights before projects begin. If this happened, then we could see indigenous peoples benefiting from—

I will just remind colleagues to address their comments through the Chair. The hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound has the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member on her re-election. She mentioned in her speech the lack of infrastructure in the north, in Nunavut, for our military. I would like her to share her opinion on the economic benefits, not just to the military but to the community in the north, when the federal government invests in military infrastructure.

Uqaqtittiji , as much as I appreciate that there are focuses towards national defence, I really do hope that the focus on Arctic security and Arctic sovereignty helps Nunavummiut to be engaged in it. At this point, if the military is just flown in with a cookie-cutter approach, more social issues will arise. However, if we lift barriers so that Nunavummiut can be engaged in Arctic security and Arctic sovereignty, like investing in Canadian Rangers, I could see the benefits going both ways.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her comprehensive explanation of the variety of major challenges that Nunavut is facing. Nunavik in Quebec is also facing significant challenges. Recent events have led us to consider what we can do to improve drinking water and sewer infrastructure, particularly for the community of Puvirnituq. Can my colleague enlighten the House on how Nunavut is responding to this type of challenge?

Uqaqtittiji , I congratulate the member on his first term. We have had a quick conversation, and I think we will be able to work really well together. I think one way to make sure we can increase investments in the north is to help use NATO spending. If we are going to reach our 2% target, a way to reach it is to say that northerners need to be engaged in Arctic sovereignty and Arctic security. Investing in infrastructure in the north could mean reaching those targets. It could mean northerners' participating in the security of the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate members of the House who have successfully won their ridings after an election. It is an exhausting experience. To those who were elected for the first time, I say congratulations. To those who were re-elected, I welcome them back. It is an honour for anyone to serve in this place. In my case, it is for a community of over 100,000 people. I am here with the tremendous responsibility and weight of being their voice in Canada's Parliament. The people of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, like all Canadians, want to have a government, a Parliament and a country that works for them. While we have differing views across the aisle and throughout the House on the best way Canada can serve its citizens and the role we play in the world, I believe that everyone shares in the belief that this is the greatest country in the world and that our best days are ahead of us. I look forward to finding opportunities where we can work together to achieve the things that are so important for members in all of our communities: affordability, homes that are within reach for young people, safety and security in the streets, and shorter lines at food banks. When I have met with the good people who work at food banks in my community, I always tell them that I admire their work and their passion so much. There are very few people who want to work in a field in which they will be put out of a job, but the people who help those who have the least among us, who need a hand up, are always committed to doing that so they will see a community where their services are no longer needed. I thank them. I know we all want to help the folks who are using those services, help the folks who cannot afford a home, help grow the power of paycheques in Canada and help unleash our potential on the world stage. I would not be here following my fourth election victory without support from the most important people in my life: my wife Amanda, and my children, Luke, Ama, Michaela, James and Nathan. When I started this journey in 2018, James was a very new addition to the Barrett household. We could not have dreamed or prayed for Nathan to join us, but by the second time I was returned here, Nathan was with us. I appreciate their love and support so much. It has been a long time. We have been working long and hard over these last few years. This is the first election during which my wife did not have a baby on her hip and was able to come knocking on doors with me to meet the people in our community to hear what the issues are, what the challenges are, and what the dreams and hopes are for the people in our community. They are just like what our family wants. They want that hope. They know that we cannot turn things around on a dime, but we have to have a plan. That is what Canadians are expecting. During the election, the right hon. Prime Minister was elected on a promise to be the man with the plan and not the man with slogans. He did offer slogans. We got those, but we have yet to see his plan. We had a Speech from the Throne delivered by His Majesty. It was a great day. I think it is so important to remind Canadians of the enduring connection between Parliament and the Crown, the strength of our democracy, the foundations of it and the history of our system. It was great to have our Parliament opened that way. I had the opportunity to meet His Majesty. In an exchange, he expressed his hope that we would return to Centre Block. He hoped that it would not be terribly delayed. In what I am sure would be a break from protocol, I invited His Majesty to return to open Parliament when we return to Centre Block. He liked that idea very much. I look forward very much to that day. We are here in the people's House, and they do want to see that plan. The Speech from the Throne delivered by the King contained many of the elements in the platform that was offered by the Prime Minister during the election. Following that, we expected to see the framework. What does it look like? How are the Liberals going to pay for their promises? What specific measures are they going to take? How will they pay for building homes that Canadians can afford or reducing the burden on Canadians who are paying taxes? How are the Liberals going to pay for the increased supports that our Canadian Armed Forces need, the kit that the brave men and women who serve our country need? We need new troops, more troops, and to take care of the ones we have. Of course, how are we going to take care of those who have served? How are we going to take care of our veterans? What does that look like in a budget? We need new CBSA officers to protect our borders and to protect Canadians from threats on the other side of our borders. We need frontline police officers. How are the Liberals going to fund those programs? What are they going to do to keep Canadians safe in their communities by keeping repeat violent offenders off the streets? We need to see those details in a budget. The Conservatives have put forward an amendment, and that amendment is absolute common sense. It states: ...we urge Your Majesty’s advisors to include a firm commitment to present to Parliament an economic update or budget this spring, before the House adjourns for the summer, that incorporates measures aimed at unleashing Canada’s economic potential, including full accountability of Canada’s finances, with respect for the areas of jurisdiction and the institutions of Quebec and the provinces. That is what Canadians are expecting. That is not a new amendment, but this is what Conservatives are expecting. We want to work in collaboration to get these things done for Canadians. We want to cut taxes. We want to build homes. We want safer streets. We want to eliminate those lines at the food banks. We want Canadians to have spending power. When they are working one and two jobs, they are building our country up. We want them to have that spending power and to have the freedom that is the result of the hard work that they have put into building our country. It is an awesome responsibility that we have, but we, as a Parliament, need to demonstrate that there is a plan. Our role, as His Majesty's loyal opposition, is to hold the government accountable. What we want from the government is a plan so we can scrutinize it and give the best results possible to Canadians. It is why I take the time away from my family. It is why I want to serve my community. I would be remiss if I did not mention someone. He was not able to join for my swearing-in this time, because of his health. My 96-and-a-half-year-old grandfather, Francis Barrett, is a proud Canadian. He served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and he loves this country. He has taught me so much about why it is important to deliver for future generations, just as his generation did for us. I love this country. I am so proud to be back representing the people of my community. I am going to work incredibly hard for them, just as I know members will in this place. We are looking forward to seeing a plan from the government and are calling on them to deliver that today. I thank all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague that Canada is the greatest country in the world. These turbulent times have shown that Canadians have what it takes to unite around a plan to strengthen and unify our economy. However, if my colleague believes, as I do, that Canada is the greatest country in the world, I have a hard time understanding how he can stand behind a leader who has been badmouthing our country for years and telling everybody, quite wrongly, that Canada is broken.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the member and congratulate him on his election victory. It is important that there be accountability. What we saw over the last 10 years, as is evidenced by the change in direction by the leader of the member's party, is a complete reversal or commitment to reverse on many of the very things that his colleagues and his party perpetrated on Canada over the last 10 years. What they broke needs to be fixed, and there needs to be accountability for that. The best way for the member to contribute, and for all members to contribute, is to make sure that there is a sound plan. However, half a trillion dollars in spending, which has been chucked on the table this week looking for a rubber stamp from parliamentarians, is not a plan. It risks the same kind of economic vandalism that we saw over the last 10 years. We need not repeat it. Let us see a budget.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my hon. colleague on his re-election. As members of the House may be aware, in the previous Parliament, he served as the shadow minister for ethics, which with the previous government was, I believe, three and a half full-time jobs. He was kept so busy with the litany of scandals and ethics lapses from Justin Trudeau and many of his cabinet ministers, and now there is a supposedly new government and a Prime Minister who will not even disclose potential conflicts of interest. I am wondering whether the hon. member is willing to take on what could be a repeat of the last Parliament in terms of the volume of ethics breaches for which he will have to hold the government accountable.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my hon. colleague to this place. He was obviously a keen observer of what went on over the last 10 years, and it was not an encouraging time for Canadians. The serial ethics law-breaking that we saw with Justin Trudeau was an example that was set, and unfortunately followed by other members of his cabinet. Hope springs eternal, and I am very optimistic that we will see a change in tack from the new Prime Minister, and there is an opportunity. However, there are unresolved issues, including the Prime Minister's yet having to declare to Canadians on a few important issues, including whether his investments were held in offshore tax havens and not paying his share of taxes for the important services that Canadians need. There is still an opportunity for the Prime Minister to set a new tone. I remain very optimistic but ready to do the hard work to hold him accountable either way.

Mr. Speaker, I reflect on the fact that Pierre Poilievre never did get the security clearance, which is something that was actually brought up at the door, as Canadians were concerned as to why the leader of the Conservative Party chose not to get the security clearance. It was a legitimate question before the election and during the election, and I believe it is a good question today. I am wondering whether the member, who is the ethics critic, would maybe suggest it to his leader, given that every other leader decided on the merit of getting a security clearance. Does he not believe that maybe his leader should get the security clearance?

Mr. Speaker, in spite of some of that performance, I welcome my hon. colleague back to the House. He knows it better than most, as he spends an awful lot of time in the chamber, and he is here to serve his constituents as well. It is important that the leader of the opposition be able to do his job. As past opposition leaders have said, the framework set up by the Trudeau government was one that would have disadvantaged the leader of the opposition in his ability to hold the government to account, and he has a constitutional obligation to do that. For our part, we are going to continue holding the government to account.

Mr. Speaker, let me say congratulations on your new role in the Speaker's chair. I know that is something you have been wanting to do for quite some time, and I am very confident that you will do very well in your new role. As this is my first speech in the 45th Parliament, I would like to take a minute to thank the voters of Regina—Wascana for electing me for a third time to represent their interests here in the House of Commons. They have my solemn promise that I will do my very best to fulfill this role each and every day. Of course, I would like to thank the many campaign volunteers who worked so tirelessly on the election campaign by knocking on doors, putting up lawn signs and giving people rides to the polls on election day. Certainly, I would like to thank my family for supporting me throughout every step of this long journey, including all the way to Parliament Hill for my swearing-in ceremony last week. Speaking of long journeys, it was certainly a pleasure to welcome King Charles to Ottawa for the Speech from the Throne. Given that this is a new Parliament and Canadians have said that they want politicians to work together, I will start by highlighting some of the positive things in the throne speech. The income tax cut and the GST cut on new homes are initiatives that Conservatives have been calling for for quite some time. The Liberals did not go quite as far as we would have liked, but if they want to steal Conservative ideas, we are certainly not going to complain. For the most part, while the King's speech contained many positive words, it was certainly lacking in details in terms of how its goals would be achieved. This is concerning, especially since Parliament has not sat since Christmas and will not sit again until the fall. Nevertheless, there was one brief reference in the throne speech about making Canada “the world's leading energy superpower”. Given such a passing reference, I do not think the current government fully appreciates just how important the natural resource sector is to our future prosperity, especially for Saskatchewan. In any given year, between 10% and 15% of the provincial government's budget comes from natural resource royalties. That means that 10% to 15% of the budget of every hospital, school and provincial social service comes from getting Saskatchewan resources to market, and 10% to 15% of the salary of every doctor, nurse, teacher and social worker depends on the natural resource sector. However, if we cannot get Saskatchewan resources to market, if we cannot get oil, gas, potash and uranium to their customers, then it becomes that much more difficult to build hospitals and schools, and to hire more nurses and teachers. As a result, government services and quality of life deteriorate. This raises an obvious question: What is the best way for a landlocked province like Saskatchewan to get its resources to markets, both in Canada and around the world? For oil and gas, the obvious answer is pipelines. We need to get pipelines built in order for the quality of life of Canadians to improve, so it is certainly concerning that the throne speech contained so little about developing our natural resource sector. There was the mention of creating a new major federal project office, which one would hope would approve and speed up pipeline projects. Unfortunately, in his first question period on Wednesday, the Prime Minister refused to answer whether new pipelines would be approved. He left it to his Minister of Energy and Natural Resources to clarify: “we will support new pipelines if there is consensus in Canada for them.” The Prime Minister cannot even come to a consensus within his own cabinet about getting pipelines built, so how is he going to come to a consensus all across the country? I would suggest that as long as the former minister of the environment, the orange jumpsuit-wearing, CN Tower-climbing member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, is still sitting around the cabinet table, new pipeline projects will never see the light of day in this country. During the election campaign, when I was doing door-to-door canvassing in Regina—Wascana, just about every day someone on the doorstep shared with me a story about long waiting lists to see a medical specialist, long nights in a hospital waiting room just to see a doctor, overcrowded classrooms, and overworked and underpaid nurses and teachers. These are the direct results of a provincial budget stretched too thin, because for the past 10 years, the Liberal government has refused to let us build pipelines in this country. However, the benefits of the resource sector to the Saskatchewan economy are not limited to provincial government coffers. Let us not forget about the actual workers who work in the mines and on the oil rigs. There used to be plenty of jobs in this sector so that people could earn a decent living and raise a family. Unfortunately, the resource sector in southern Saskatchewan has shed thousands of jobs over the last 10 years because of the policies of the Liberal government to keep resources in the ground. Let us not forget one of Regina's largest employers, Evraz North America, which makes pipelines. The members of United Steelworkers 5890, the union that represents Evraz employees, used to have stable, predictable employment as long as pipelines were being built and as long as there were new pipeline projects on the horizon. However, they too have suffered from hundreds of layoffs because of the Liberal government's opposition to pipelines. Many other people in Regina directly benefit from the development of the natural resource sector, including the numerous oil and gas service companies and, of course, the workers at Regina's co-op refinery. In order to get more pipelines built, the Liberals must repeal Bill C-69, the “no more pipelines” law. This law, which was passed by the Liberals in 2019, has made it impossible for the private sector to build pipelines in this country. Once Bill C-69 is finally repealed and we can once again build pipelines across Canadian soil, the next step is to ship Canadian oil and gas across the ocean to other countries. This means the Liberals must also repeal Bill C-48, the west coast oil tanker ban. Take, for example, the northern gateway pipeline project. This pipeline, which was applied for and approved under the previous Conservative government, would have piped Canadian oil and gas to the coast of northern B.C. and then on to customers in Asia. Unfortunately, this pipeline project was stopped dead in its tracks when the Liberals announced that they would not allow oil tankers to transport the oil from the end of the pipeline to customers in Asia and around the world. The Liberal government can no longer overlook the contributions that our natural resource sector can make to international trade and to international peace and security. Our allies should not be buying oil and gas from dictators in Russia or the Middle East. They should be buying from Canada. This is exactly what has been asked of Canada by the Japanese Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, the Greek Prime Minister and many other countries as well. The House is scheduled to rise for the summer break on June 20. That means that, due to the Liberals' decision to prorogue Parliament and then call an early election, when the House returns in the fall, we will have sat for only 20 days since Christmas. Twenty days is apparently not enough time for the Liberals to table a budget, so I am not going to get my hopes up too high that they will enact legislation to repeal Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, or to fix the many other problems they have created over the last 10 years. If the Liberals do want to work together and steal even more Conservative ideas, especially ones related to pipelines and the natural resource sector, we are happy to co-operate.

It being 2:30 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1). (The House adjourned at 2:30 p.m.)