Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, community organizations are warning that the rush changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program are putting hundreds of projects at risk. Many volunteers are seniors who already struggle with technology. With only weeks to register for a CRA business number and navigate a complex online portal, these changes are overwhelming and many fear they will be disqualified. Will the Liberals fix these unnecessary barriers or will they have to create another program to help seniors apply for a current one?

Mr. Speaker, the secretary of state claims that registering for a CRA business number and using the online portal is simple, but senior organizations are telling a different story. In my community of King—Vaughan, where 18 senior groups have been supporting over 6,000 senior volunteers, organizations have been frantically calling my office, scared of missing out on critical funding. These changes will leave the most vulnerable organizations behind. Why are the Liberals trying to bury seniors in even more red tape?

Mr. Speaker, Italian culture is a rich tapestry of history, art, cuisine, family tradition and the values of respect for each other. Family is extremely important in the Italian culture. My grandfather arrived in Canada in 1950, where he had the opportunity to work and provide a home for his family. I had the privilege of growing up with my nonna who taught me the beauty of the Italian cuisine, which is enjoyed in my community in King—Vaughan and across Canada. Her recipes and teachings of tolerance, compassion and love will always be treasured. [Member spoke in Italian] [English] As chair of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group, I am proud to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Italy. Let us all reflect on the friendships that Canada and Italy share, and let us continue the traditions. May we celebrate and continue to flourish together. Viva Canada! Viva Italia!

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. I spoke with Rosa from Vaughan, a single senior who cannot afford a place of her own and rents a room in her 86-year-old cousin's home due to the affordability crisis under the Liberal government. After a lifetime of hard work, Rosa is on the housing waiting list, but it will be a decade before a unit is available. Will the Liberals explain to Rosa the difference between a recession and a technical recession?

Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Seniors Month in Ontario as well as Seniors' Week in Alberta and in British Columbia, it is important that we not only celebrate seniors but also highlight and confront the challenges too many of them are still facing today. Too many single seniors, often older women, face high living costs while receiving fewer financial supports than couples do. A single senior can pay almost 10 times more in taxes than a couple with the same income, despite facing many of the same household expenses. At a time when affordability remains a serious challenge, many are struggling simply to keep up with housing, grocery and everyday costs. Single seniors should not be penalized by our tax system simply because they live alone.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for bringing this to the forefront because I have been speaking to seniors. They are not retiring at 65 and they are not retiring at 75 because they cannot afford the cost of living that the Liberal government has placed on them. Even though I will be supporting this bill, which I will be speaking to shortly, we need to do better. The people who built this country deserve to retire in dignity and, right now, that is not happening. Does my hon. colleague think that maybe we should even increase the exemption for GIS to $10,000?

Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the residents of King—Vaughan. Today, I am pleased to speak to Bill C-261, an act to amend the Old Age Security Act. I would like to thank my Bloc colleague for bringing forward this important piece of legislation and for contributing to the discussions on supporting seniors across the country. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the seniors who built this country. As many members know, I was fortunate enough to be raised by my grandmother and my great-grandmother. They taught me some of life's most valuable lessons. They taught me the importance of helping neighbours, living within one's means, saving for a rainy day and leaving things better than we found them. Like so many grandparents across the country, they led by example. Seniors built the community that we live in. They raised families, started businesses, volunteered countless hours and contributed to the prosperity we enjoy as Canadians. After a lifetime of hard work, they deserve to retire with dignity and financial security, yet, for too many seniors today, that promise is increasingly out of reach. Canada is in the midst of an affordability crisis that is placing real pressure on fixed incomes. Housing costs have risen sharply. Grocery prices remain elevated and everyday essentials from utilities to transportation continue to strain household budgets. For seniors, there is no flexibility to simply earn more so that they can keep more. When prices rise, their purchasing power falls. This is the reality facing seniors across King—Vaughan and across this country. That is why Bill C-261 is so important. In 2021, the government increased old age security by 10% for seniors over the age of 75. What that decision did was create two classes of seniors. A senior who is 74 years old receives one level of support, while a senior who is 75 receives another. The question many seniors have asked me is simple. Why? Why is one senior considered more deserving than another? Why does affordability suddenly become a problem at age 75 but not at age 74? The reality is that inflation does not care how old someone is. The cost of groceries is the same. The cost of heating a home is the same. The cost of filling a prescription is the same. Many seniors between the ages of 65 and 74 are facing exactly the same challenges as seniors over the age of 75. They are living on fixed incomes and watching the cost of everyday necessities continue to rise. Over the past several years, I have spoken with seniors across the country. I have heard from people who are cutting back on groceries. I have heard from seniors who are delaying medical appointments, postponing home repairs and worried about whether their retirement savings will last. What concerns me the most is that many of the seniors facing the greatest financial pressures are those living alone. A single senior does not pay half the rent because they are one person. They do not pay half the hydro bill or half the property taxes. A single senior often faces higher costs relative to their income because there is only one with whom to share those expenses. Many of these seniors are widows. Many are women who spent decades raising families, caring for loved ones, and contributing to the communities. A 68-year-old widow living alone can face the same affordability challenges as someone who is 76 years old. The bill would also increase the guaranteed income supplement earnings exemption. This is another important measure. Many seniors choose to continue working. Some do so because they enjoy staying active. Others do so because they want to supplement their retirement income due to the affordability crisis the Liberal government has caused. Conservatives believe work should be rewarded, not punished. Seniors who are able to, want to and choose to work should be able to earn and keep more of their money without the clawbacks. At a time when many sectors continue to face labour shortages, experienced seniors bring tremendous value to workplaces through mentorship, training and leadership. We should be encouraging their contributions, not discouraging them. Recent data reinforces just how widespread the impact of the cost of living crisis on these seniors has become due to the Liberals. According to Food Banks Canada's 2025 HungerCount report, seniors now account for 8.3% of all food bank clients, up from 6.8% in 2019. At the same time, food banks are seeing more than 2.2 million visits in a single month, breaking all records. The National Institute on Aging has also warned that financial vulnerability among older adults is increasingly driven by structural factors, such as housing costs, inflation and living alone. In particular, single seniors, especially older women, face a significantly higher risk of economic insecurity due to fixed incomes and the rising cost of essentials. Together, these findings show that affordability pressures are not limited to a narrow age group but are affecting seniors broadly across Canada, regardless of whether they are 65, 75 or 85 years old. I recognize that this bill faces challenges. Like its predecessor, Bill C-319, this bill will likely require a royal recommendation because it involves new public spending. I hope that my Liberal colleagues in government will recognize this session that affordability challenges do not begin at the age of 75. Seniors deserve fairness, and that means ensuring that support is available to all seniors who are struggling with the rising cost of living due to Liberal mismanagement. Conservatives have consistently stood up for seniors. Conservatives believe they should be able to afford groceries, medication and housing. Conservatives believe that if they choose to continue working, they should be rewarded rather than penalized by the government. Conservatives believe that after a lifetime of hard work, they deserve a government that respects their contributions and understands their challenges. As Parliament considers this bill, I hope members remember the senior who often falls through the cracks, the widow living alone, the senior renting on a fixed income, and the older Canadian who has done everything right but is struggling to keep up with the rising costs due to the affordability crisis that the Liberal government has created. Bill C-261 would not solve every challenge facing seniors, but it would help restore fairness to a system that currently treats some seniors differently simply because of their age. For those reasons, I will support Bill C-261, and I encourage all members of this House to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the beginning of Seniors Month in Ontario, as well as the beginning of Seniors' Week in Alberta and British Columbia. As the Conservative shadow minister for seniors, I want to take this opportunity to recognize the seniors who built this country. They are seniors who worked hard, paid their dues, raised families and helped shape the communities we all rely on today. As we commemorate this month of recognition, rising costs continue to surpass seniors with limited incomes. Many seniors are worried about the cost of housing, groceries and being able to live independently in their own home. Seniors deserve real action that restores affordability and respect for the contributions they have made. I also want to acknowledge the caregivers, volunteers and community organizations across the country that continue to step up. To the seniors from coast to coast to coast, we honour and thank them for all of their contributions to our country.

Mr. Speaker, seniors built this country, yet every Liberal budget dismisses seniors and leaves them further behind. After 11 years of wasteful Liberal spending on luxuries for ministers and higher taxes, seniors are paying more for everything: more taxes, more debt, more on the national credit card and more of the same from the Liberals. The National Institute on Ageing found that one in five Canadians over 50 cannot afford basic needs such as groceries, heating or transportation. How out of touch does the Prime Minister have to be to ignore seniors who are struggling—

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that seniors cannot afford the essentials, such as groceries, rent and utilities. They cannot afford the gas or transit needed to even get to programs. The Liberal grocery rebate gimmick was pennies in a bucket. Food bank usage among seniors continues to rise. Over 8% of food bank users are seniors. Statistics tell us that more single seniors are now living below the poverty line. How much more do seniors have to struggle before the Prime Minister finally delivers real relief for their daily expenses?

Mr. Speaker, the government's Cúram system is causing delays for hundreds of seniors who depend on OAS and GIS to pay their expenses. These services are vital to seniors on fixed incomes. Four cost overruns were reported by the Auditor General in 2025. Similar incidents persist in every software program they attempt to execute. When will the Liberal government accept accountability for another software system that has failed, costing taxpayers $5 billion?

Mr. Speaker, the system meant to help our seniors has become another expensive disaster. The government continues to hire incompetent consultants that massively overrun their budgets, in this case by $5 billion. The president of the public service criticized the government and said, “If the system had been designed by public servants...it would have been easier to maintain and understand, as the experts would have been in-house.” Why does the government not trust our public servants to do a better job than the rich consultants?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government was forewarned in 2023 that its new system, intended to enhance OAS and GIS payments, was already going over budget. This project has ballooned to $6.6 billion. The taxpayer is now responsible for the failure of a system that was supposed to guarantee better access for our seniors. At a time when seniors are struggling to make ends meet, how does the government justify billions of wasteful spending on a broken system?

Mr. Speaker, that is just another excuse from the Liberal government. Seniors are already struggling with the cost of living, and delayed payments are causing seniors to fall behind on rent, skip groceries and worry about how they will pay for their medication. It is unacceptable that this project went from $1.7 billion to $6.6 billion. Who is accountable for this massive cost overrun? Who will be fired, and when will the government take responsibility for another overpriced, failed system?

Mr. Speaker, seniors built this country, and now they must make the tough decisions between buying groceries or medication. They cannot absorb these costs, and they cannot afford to skip meals. Three years ago the finance minister promised to stabilize food prices, which is another broken promise. Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. The Conservatives have the solution: Cut the industrial carbon tax, cut the fuel standard tax and give the supermarkets genuine competition. Will the Liberals adopt our proposals and demonstrate empathy for our seniors so they can live in dignity?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' recycled rebate does not address the high cost of groceries. Some seniors would receive only $10 a week, which is less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day, which is up 33.6%. The $10 savings is like receiving another coupon. The rebate is an admission of the failed policies of the Liberal government, and it would not change much for our seniors. Again I will ask the government, will it take our proposal and use it to ensure that our seniors can live in dignity?

Mr. Speaker, seniors are choosing between medication and groceries. Food Banks Canada has reported 2.2 million visits in a single month, and 8.3% are seniors, up from 6.8%. Food inflation is the highest in the G7. Canadians need our help. Conservatives have proposed real solutions: eliminate the industrial carbon tax, eliminate the fuel standard tax and cut red tape for farmers. Will the Prime Minister show compassion for Canadians and work with us to provide real relief, yes or no?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told Canadians he should be judged by the prices at the grocery store. Under his watch, the weekly grocery bill has doubled and the food price report of 2026 says it will get even worse. Families in my community cannot even afford a healthy meal, not even a modest Italian dish like pasta e fagioli, yet the government keeps stirring the pot with higher spending, the industrial carbon tax and the new fuel tax. What is the matter for you?

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of seniors in this country, both those from my community of King—Vaughan and the many seniors from coast to coast who have shared with me that they feel completely abandoned by the Liberal government's latest budget. These Canadians expected a plan that addressed affordability, housing, health care and dignity for older adults. Instead they received a document full of slogans, empty promises and more spending, creating a deficit for which our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be stuck with the bill. It contained no meaningful action for the people who dedicated their lives to supporting us and to building this country. The only time seniors are mentioned in the budget is through the new horizons for seniors program. I want to be clear: I support the new horizons program. It is a valuable program for community initiatives. In a time when seniors face increased isolation, stress and poor health outcomes, so many of the programs that new horizons funds help address some of these challenges. However, new horizons does not tackle the core issues that seniors struggle with today. It is not individualized support. It does not put food on the table. It does not reduce the cost of heat or rent. It does not help the widow living alone, the retired nurse rationing her medication or the senior forced to choose between heating and eating. I recently spoke to Carole Fawcett from the group Seniors Tin Cup, an organization that supports vulnerable older adults. Carole manages her food budget, but it excludes meat and other nutritious foods. The poverty line in Canada is $25,252, yet 28% of senior women live in poverty through no fault of their own. These are hard-working Canadians, older adults who paid taxes their entire life and contributed to their communities, yet now they struggle to survive, and still the Liberal government has done nothing for them. I also heard from Single Seniors for Tax Fairness, an advocacy group representing seniors who are widowed or divorced, or who never married. They submitted thoughtful recommendations to improve the tax system for single seniors, highlighting unfair penalties and disproportionate burdens on people living on their own, compared to coupled seniors. They called for reforms that would allow single seniors to maintain dignity and independence. These are reforms that were ignored by the Liberal government. Seniors across the country are facing financial penalties simply for trying to support themselves. Under the current system, older adults who want to work a few hours a week are punished by clawbacks to their guaranteed income supplement or their old age security. This is not just policy mismanagement; it is a moral failure. Seniors want to continue to contribute to their community, remain active, supplement their income and maintain independence. A Conservative government would allow low-income seniors to work without punitive clawbacks. It is the right thing to do, and it is long overdue. The financial strain is compounded by the Liberal government's failure to address the two-tier retirement system it created. I spoke with Mark Rant from Red Deer, Alberta, who has written many emails to the Secretary of State for Seniors but has yet to receive a response. We spoke about how seniors over age 75 may receive top-ups and enhanced benefits, while those between 65 and 74 years old, the group most vulnerable to rising costs, are left with nothing. Many seniors are unable to retire because of the high cost of living, yet they are financially penalized for continuing to work through clawbacks. Mark spoke about the increase for seniors aged 75 and older. This top-up has created a division among seniors in this country, and a two-tier pension system that is neither fair nor sustainable. The wait-list for affordable senior housing in King—Vaughan is now 10 to 12 years. A senior who applies may not receive housing they can afford until they are well into their eighties. The government's budget contains nothing to shorten that wait. There is no plan to increase senior-specific housing, no emergency support for those facing eviction and no acknowledgement of the daily struggles of seniors living alone on a fixed income. The Prime Minister once said he would be judged by the prices at the grocery store. In King—Vaughan, the consequences of government inaction are stark. Food bank volunteers reported that seniors are now the fastest-growing group relying on donated food. Sai Dham Food Bank services 3,600 seniors per month, a total of 44,000 per year. Vaughan Food Bank services 1,000 seniors per month, totalling 12,000 per year. This trend is echoed throughout the country, with Food Banks Canada reporting in its latest report that 8.3% of food bank users are seniors, which is up 22% from 2019. This summer I was on the ground talking to seniors across this country, including in Nova Scotia. I visited Yarmouth with the member for Acadie—Annapolis. I know he used to be on this side. I do not know what happened to him. It was before he sold out his constituents. The calls I have been getting from his constituents are unbelievable. I spoke with seniors groups throughout the member's riding, and I spoke with seniors groups in Bridgewater and in the riding of South Shore—St. Margarets. Can members guess what their biggest concern was? It was affordability. Seniors told me they could not afford to feed themselves, that they are forced to choose between heating and eating, and that energy prices are skyrocketing and food prices are soaring. The Prime Minister continually fails seniors. At every step of a senior's daily routine, they are consistently burdened with the high cost of living due to the reckless spending of the out-of-touch Liberal government. Only a Conservative government will cut taxes, rein in wasteful spending, tackle deficits that fuel inflation and bring down the cost of living, including for seniors. After 10 years, the government has made living as a senior in Canada harder, not easier. Seniors deserve better. They deserve dignity, security and independence. They deserve to be able to work without punishment, eat without fear and live in a home they can afford. They deserve a government that respects their contribution. Seniors built this country. They deserve more than a passing mention of a re-announcement in the budget. They deserve more than lines at the food bank or a decade-long wait for affordable housing. They deserve a government that puts them first. The budget failed them. The Conservatives appreciate the work seniors have done for our country, and we will always fight to ensure that they can retire in dignity and with respect.

Madam Speaker, the member across the way obviously did not listen to what seniors have expressed to me. Had he been listening, he would have understood that seniors are working beyond the age of 67 because they do not have a choice. I visited a factory in my riding and half of its employees are between the ages of 65 and 74. Tell me why they are still working. It is because of your failed government policies that have—

Madam Speaker, I understand and I agree with what my hon. colleague is saying, but we have to do more than that. We have to cut taxes. We have to stop spending. I come from a financial background and we were taught that we cannot spend more than we make. The Liberals do not understand that policy. Maybe they need to go back to school. They need to understand that if they expect balanced budgets every single day from Canadians and seniors, they have to lead by example. They are not doing that.

Madam Speaker, I recently visited my colleague from Cambridge's riding and we were shocked to find out that from 2015 to 2024, there was 50 million dollars' worth of scams toward our seniors. The government has done nothing to protect them. I received a note from an individual named Kathy. She said, “Thank you for being a voice for seniors as it is heartbreaking what seniors have to endure to survive! I am a PSW and I have watched seniors insisting I don't waste [spoiled] fruit or vegetables, they will find a way to eat it! I have seen them eating one egg, splitting a piece of toast”. I see my colleagues find this very funny, but they will not be laughing if they listen to the seniors who cannot afford to eat.

Madam Speaker, seniors call me because they are worried. They are worried about where they are going to get their next meal, how they are going to pay for their heat and how they are going to find the money to pay for their medications. The choices they have to make should not have to be that way. After all, they came to Canada for the promise and the opportunity to live a comfortable life. The Liberal government needs to open its eyes and ensure that seniors can continue in this life with dignity and respect.

Mr. Speaker, we are so happy to have the hon. member for Markham—Unionville on our team. I recently spoke to Carole from the Seniors Tin Cup and she quoted these numbers. She said that the poverty line in Canada is $25,252, and that 28% of senior women are living in poverty through no fault of their own. The government has nothing in the budget for seniors. Single seniors are struggling every single day. What comments do you have to give to the government, which does not respect the people who built this country?

Mr. Speaker, food bank usage is at a dangerously high level with over one million people using the food bank in Ontario. This past year, usage has skyrocketed 165%. Parents take pride in providing for their families. However, in the cost of living crisis, 29% of food bank users are children. When will the Liberal government stop playing games with their Brookfield buddies and stop the industrial carbon tax so Canadians can afford to feed their families?

Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago, a bricklayer arrived on Canadian shores from Italy seeking a better life, and 75 years later, the granddaughter of that bricklayer serves in Canada's Parliament. As a daughter of Italian immigrants, I am proud to represent my community of King—Vaughan. On Tuesday, I had the honour of being elected chair of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group. I look forward to working with all parliamentarians and with Ambassador Cattaneo to advance diplomatic relations between our two nations and explore new opportunities. Canada and Italy share a deep connection through over 1.6 million Canadians of Italian descent. Italian Canadians have left their mark on communities from coast to coast to coast. Canada's Conservatives stand united and ready to work with everyone in the best interest of Canada. Viva ltalia. Viva Canada.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague mentioned seniors. I recently had a conversation with Carole from Seniors Tin Cup, which is an organization that supports seniors. One of the things that really shocked me is that 11.5% of single seniors live below the poverty line, which is an increase of 6.3%. How can the member justify that this budget would support seniors when there is absolutely nothing in it for them?

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of visiting my hon. colleague from Middlesex—London to speak with some of her seniors. I have also heard from the seniors in my community and across this province. The number one thing they are concerned about is the fact that inflation is dipping into their fixed incomes. They cannot afford it. They cannot afford food. They cannot afford to heat their homes. They cannot afford their medication. This budget has absolutely nothing in it to help the most vulnerable and the seniors who built this country. Could my colleague please speak to that?

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to speak to Bill C-14, an act that proposes a long-awaited reform to Canada's bail and sentencing framework. For too long, the system has focused more on the rights of offenders than on the safety of our communities. Together with police associations, provincial governments, victims and survivors, we have listened to our communities and advocated for stronger bail and sentencing regulations. However, it is important to remember that these reforms come after years of Liberal policy failures. It took Liberals years to even acknowledge the problems they caused with Bill C-75 and Bill C-5. Even now, under Bill C-14, they have not removed the principle of restraint, the rule that tells police and judges to focus on releasing accused people as quickly as possible under the least restrictive condition. The principle remains the heart of Canada's catch-and-release crisis. The numbers tell the story of rising crime in our communities. In my riding of King—Vaughan, between 2020 and 2024, assaults increased by 73%, robberies increased by 119% and homicides increased by 100%. In case we missed it, twice the number of people were murdered between 2020 and 2024. Breaking and entering increased by 69%; sexual violations increased by a staggering 194%, and thefts of a motor vehicle increased by 122%. Between 2019 and 2025, York Regional Police charged 19,522 individuals with criminal offences. Of those, 32.6% were charged again for breaching bail or other release conditions. These numbers show a system that too often fails to protect the public from repeat offenders. Recently, at a town hall in Vaughan, the community came together to hear the story of Darian Hailey Henderson-Bellman, a beautiful young woman of 25 years who was fatally shot on July 28, 2020. The accused killer, Darnell Reid, had been arrested four previous times for violating the condition of his bail, for contacting her. He was also arrested and charged in May 2020 for being in possession of an illegal firearm. The Liberal catch-and-release principles of restraint ensured that he only spent six days in custody before being released again. A mere three months later, he shot and murdered a young, beautiful soul with her whole life in front of her. Darian's parents, Mr. Paul Henderson and Mrs. Flo Bellman, told the community that courts must make public safety a priority and consider the rights of victims and survivors when deciding bail. Mr. Henderson said, “Right now, it's on the police officers, Crown attorney and victim to say why the offender should stay in custody, which doesn't make any sense.... What we're suggesting is that [this] needs to be flipped around.” He continued, “If he hadn't been released on bail again, Darian would be alive today.... The courts put faith in a surety to justify bail, even though the same surety had failed multiple times before with no consequences. That failure cost our daughter her life.” The pain for Mr. Henderson and Mrs. Bellman is unimaginable. They relive the tragedy every single day: the moment their daughter was shot, the grief of losing her and the knowledge that the system failed her. The sad story for Mr. Henderson and Mrs. Bellman is their having to relive the tragic death of their daughter and the brutal way in which she was killed. She was shot four times, including once in the eye. Her parents went on to say, “The system seems to prioritize the rights of offenders over the safety and well-being of victims and survivors.... The daily loss of life is unacceptable.... Violent offenders—keep them off the streets to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities.” According to an article, the Durham Regional Police's “Chief Peter Moreira said the number of people out on bail committing serious crimes is a ‘growing epidemic’ across Ontario.” He said, “without a strong deterrent, those people who have already demonstrated that they don't deserve to be in the public spaces, living among us, are out there reoffending and victimizing more and more people”. York Regional Police chief, Chief Jim MacSween, was clear that the Liberal policy on violent offenders needs to change. Chief MacSween stated, “Once again, we're seeing cases where individuals released on bail are involved in serious crimes within our communities. To ensure public safety and protect our officers, we need a bail system that effectively addresses repeat violent offenders while maintaining public confidence.” King—Vaughan has seen this first-hand. Months ago, a father of four, Abdul Aleem Farooqi, was shot and killed in front of his children during a home invasion in Vaughan. Just last week, York Regional Police announced arrests and charges. One of the suspects, Mohammad Abuhmaid, a 26-year-old from Mississauga, was out on bail at the time of the murder. He faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, breaking and entering with intent, robbery with a firearm, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and breach of probation. Police said, “There are four separate forms of release that he was out in the community on.... The offences vary in severity...but it is concerning when this type of event happens.” In addition, a 16-year-old remains at large, wanted for multiple offences, including first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. These tragedies are preventable. If bail laws had prioritized public safety instead of the Liberal principle of restraint policy, Mr. Farooqi might be alive today. His children would still have their father, but this family now has to live with unimaginable loss. Bill C-14 proposes some improvements, but it does not go far enough. It fails to remove the principle of restraint, the very clause added in Bill C-75 that tells judges and police to prioritize release. Mandatory minimums repealed by Bill C-5 have not been restored, leaving sentencing highly discretionary. The limits imposed on conditional sentences do not go far enough. Those sentenced for robbery, firearms and human trafficking offences can still access home arrest. A police detective recently told me a story about an individual he arrested who was in possession of an illegal firearm. When arrested, the individual laughed and said that he would be out before the paperwork was finished. He also told the detective that since the Liberals removed the mandatory minimum for illegal gun possession, he would not have to do a minimum of three years in jail. He would be out in no time. He was smiling from ear to ear. The Liberals have spent years ignoring the mess they created with Bill C-75 and Bill C-5. They finally admitted that changes were needed, but their so-called reforms still leave dangerous repeat offenders in the systems that prioritize their release over public safety.

Mr. Speaker, I want to let the hon. member for Vaughan—Woodbridge know that we need to protect our citizens. We currently have a citizen who came back to Canada today to testify in committee, and she has to leave because the law did not protect her. She has death threats every single day. We need to make sure that these individuals stay behind bars so that women and children can live in this country as we used to live, with the protection of the police.

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister keeps spending more and more on his inflationary budget, seniors on fixed incomes are being forced to choose between medication and food, with 8.3% of food bank users being seniors, up from 6.8% in 2019. Fitch Ratings, which gives the government its credit score, has warned that because the Liberals are ignoring their own fiscal limits, federal finances run a high risk of further deterioration. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has raised the same alarm. In 2024, the Liberal government committed to reducing the federal debt compared to the size of the economy, a key step in keeping borrowing costs low. That is another broken promise. As a former banker, I understand the fiscal responsibility of budget demands, a lesson the current Prime Minister, also a former banker, clearly has not learned. It is no wonder he wants to fire the budget watchdog for telling the truth.

Mr. Speaker, the very people who built this country and taught us the value of hard work while managing our budgets are having to line up at the food bank. Food Banks Canada reports that almost 10% of food bank users are seniors, which is up 22% from 2019. The Liberal government's reckless spending has driven up prices and left our seniors behind. When will the Liberal government respect our seniors and stop the inflationary spending so they can live their retirement years in dignity?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my new hon. colleague from Newmarket—Aurora. They voted her here today to represent her community. Seventy-six per cent of seniors are having to support their families today because of the Liberal government's affordability crisis. They do not understand budgets. My colleague does. She comes from the banking sector, so I would like to ask my colleague how she might be able to teach the Liberals to balance a budget.

Mr. Speaker, after a lifetime of hard work raising their families, seniors deserve to enjoy their retirement, but under the Liberal government, that dream is slipping away. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians in higher Liberals taxes and inflation. A new report shows that one in three grandparents is now supporting their adult children and grandchildren, and 76% say that it is cutting into their retirement savings. How much more inflation will the Prime Minister add with his plan to double the deficit?

Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed being on the status of women committee with the hon. member. As the critic for seniors, I have a question we need to address. According to Statistics Canada, there were 6.8 million seniors representing 18.5% of the population in 2021, and this will grow to 25% in 2036. In my riding, seniors have to look for work because they cannot afford their expenses and have to choose between heating and eating. I am concerned that, because of the high unemployment rate, they cannot find work to continue to survive. How can we address this if the current government continues to waste money and cause inflation to go up?

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity this past summer to visit Nova Scotia, and it is a beautiful province. I was in Acadie—Annapolis, where I met with a group that assists seniors. One of the stories I heard was very troubling to me, because this particular senior had to choose between heating her home and buying food. She could not afford both. Let us be honest. There has been a 68% increase in people accessing food banks in Nova Scotia, with 169,000 people doing so in the first half of 2024. How does the member explain to this senior, who cannot afford to pay all her bills, that she needs to choose whether she stays warm in the winter to survive or eat?

Madam Speaker, welcome back. According to CBC, 33% of food bank users in my colleague's province are children. There were over two million visits to food banks in March 2024. This is due to the high cost of living. The Liberals can talk about their wonderful plans. They can talk about how they are supporting children at schools, and their dental plans. Why is this number so ridiculously high with all the plans they have in place, which have not helped the population of New Brunswick?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would be judged by the cost at grocery stores, yet, in August, food inflation soared 70% higher than the overall inflation. Denise, a senior in Quebec, is now forced to skip meals to survive the crushing cost of living. This is another broken promise from a Prime Minister who has let our seniors down time and time again. Will the Prime Minister stop doubling the deficit in order to bring down inflation so that seniors do not have to skip their meals?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question, but I want first off to state something from the PBO. He estimates that oil and gas production caps will lower real gross domestic product in Canada by 0.39% by 2032, reducing nominal GDP by $20.5 billion. Here is the other part that concerns the people of Canada. The PBO estimates that achieving the legal upper bound will reduce economy-wide employment. The employment numbers, by 2032, in terms of full-time equivalency, will be down 54,400 jobs. How do we explain that to the Canadians who are relying on jobs in order to feed their family and support their home?