Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, we should look at the comments from the Premier of Alberta. We should look at the comments from the Premier of Ontario. What we are seeing is a number of Conservative premiers who are very excited about our goals to make Canada an energy superpower, in both conventional and renewable energy. Regarding the workers at Imperial, my heart goes out to them. The reality of the situation is that it is always a bad idea to bet against Canadian workers and the Canadian workforce. We are going to be there for them and to help them.

Mr. Speaker, globally, in the last 10 years, oil and gas production has increased by 6%. In Canada, it has increased by 34%. At the same time, we have reduced our emissions by 15%. The policies that the member opposite references have allowed our product to be competitive on the global market and open up new markets. This is how we make ourselves an energy superpower in both the conventional and renewable sense.

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber are absolutely unjustified, and we are working at every level to resolve the softwood lumber dispute. To date, we have announced more than $50 million in income supports for more workers, $700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million in capital investments to make the industry more competitive and to retool it for the future, including by building more Canadian homes. We will buy Canadian, we are ready to build and we are changing federal procurement processes to require companies contracting with the federal government to procure Canadian lumber. This is how we build the strongest economy in the G7. That is how we win a trade war. It is one we did not ask for but one we will not back down from.

Madam Speaker, yes, we will be looking to use more Canadian steel and more Canadian materials in general as the Minister of Industry has said. Yes, the government will support pipelines that are in the national interest and meet environmental and social standards, as well as those that meet the bedrock requirement for meaningful indigenous engagement. ln fact, Ksi Lisims LNG, recently approved, will see Canadian natural gas produced and liquefied at the highest environmental standards, and this will travel by pipeline to access new markets. I want to take this opportunity to talk about business more broadly, and the One Canadian Economy Act. I think it is pertinent to the overall thrust of the query. With the support of members opposite, our government has created a clear pathway for projects of national interest. Practical changes mean approvals are faster and simpler, and proponents are provided more certainty while standards are upheld. The member opposite may not know this, but l have done work for many energy companies and worked on many major pipeline projects in my career, such as northern gateway, energy east and TMX, to name the most notable. If we are moving oil and gas, pipelines are the safest, most economical and most environmentally friendly way to do so, and they require a lot of steel. The energy industry will be healthy if we continue to develop our resources to high environmental and social standards, as our trading partners increasingly demand and as Canadians expect. Courts have also demanded, and rightly so, that we meet our moral and treaty obligations to first nations, and the Prime Minister has been clear that this will be an expectation for all major projects. I want to caution, though, that a blanket “yes all pipelines, all the time, without a thought to the specifics” approach is not what Canadians call for or what the courts will allow, and that would not serve Canada's energy sector or Canadian workers, whether in steel or in other sectors. Projects must be reviewed on their merits: economic, social, environmental and legal. A balanced Canadian approach is called for, such as the one laid out in our new One Canadian Economy Act. Results are already showing; this is the positive. Investment and investor interest are being drawn to Canada. Projects are being advanced all the time. These projects mean jobs. I already mentioned Ksi Lisims LNG, but we also have LNG Canada phase 2 and Cedar LNG as concrete examples. Pathways plus, a strategy with the Major Projects Office, would increase global competitiveness for the oil and gas industry and support market diversification by positioning Canadian energy as the cleanest barrel of oil on the world market. Talking of ripping up environmental assessments is a move that would only drive investment away and increase risk for Canadian workers. It is not accurate to say that no pipelines were built by the last Liberal government, as was in the original query. The most economically consequential pipeline in decades, TMX, was built, but it is true that pipeline projects have faced challenges. An honest assessment will include that the Harper government fought too much with provinces and courts. They put too little attention into the duty to consult, treating it superficially, as well as too little care into the environment and due process. As a result, not one pipeline to tidewater was built in that time. Let us calibrate on a balanced Canadian approach. We must respect provinces and indigenous rights holders. We must have clear timelines and certainty, and we must go faster. We must do the things that are now possible under Bill C-5 and the new Liberal government. Our new approach means workers in Regina producing the steel, indigenous communities partnering as owners and Canadian innovators providing to the world the innovations we will compete and win on. I think that is something we can all support.

Madam Speaker, I will have to leave to my colleagues in industry and internal trade the specifics of the hon. member's question, but I note that my comments were about getting pipelines to tidewater and pipelines to new markets. Certainly, there were no pipelines of that nature made during that time. There are many examples, though, of how innovation and investment are coming back to Canada as a result. Just this morning, at the natural resources committee, we heard from witnesses who talked about global capital being very enthusiastic about Bill C-5, major projects and the ability to pull things back. I want to wrap up by saying that this helps secure our economic sovereignty and helps build the future right here at home, as the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and the Minister of Industry have said. To that end, when the time comes to consider major new projects, whether pipelines, housing or infrastructure, our government will champion Canadian workers, Canadian innovation and the responsible use of—

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Poland on the Protection of Classified Information”, done at Warsaw on January 16, 2025, and the treaty entitled “Agreement between Canada and the Portuguese Republic on the Protection of Classified Information”, done at Lisbon on September 16, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. Once again, the Conservatives have brought forward a motion designed not to help Canadians but to divide them. Today's motion proposing an end to the oil and gas emissions cap, a regulation that has not even been finalized, is an example of this. I would like to be crystal clear as we begin debate on this motion: The government does not make policy decisions based on opposition motions. We are focused on results, not Conservative games. Canadians elected the Liberals to make this country an energy superpower, one that leads the world in both clean and conventional energy, and one that grows our exports and reduces our emissions at the same time. That is exactly what we are doing. We are retooling Canada's economy by advancing nation-building projects, LNG terminals with indigenous partnership, carbon capture and storage, and transformative clean energy. Just last week, we approved the Ksi Lisims LNG project in British Columbia, led by the Nisga'a Nation, which will be paired with a natural gas pipeline owned by first nations. It is the second-largest private investment in Canadian history, and it will export the cleanest LNG in the world. That is how we build an energy superpower. It is with low-cost, low-risk and low-carbon projects that get Canadian energy to market, cut emissions and create jobs from coast to coast to coast. In Alberta, representatives from industry also agree that building a responsible, competitive oil and gas industry means advancing projects, such as Pathways. That is the core of the grand bargain, pairing transformative emissions reduction with new infrastructure that diversifies our exports. Let me remind my colleagues that we do not get these things done by negotiating in public. Serious governments work with provinces, industry and indigenous partners. Conservatives want to blow up those discussions for their own partisan gain. It is worth asking the question, why are Conservatives so frustrated? I think the answer is that their own allies in Alberta have found common ground with the Prime Minister. Premier Smith said, “I found more common ground with the prime minister when I met with him yesterday than I have in any meeting with a prime minister.” She encouraged Albertans to “not lose faith in the process”. I agree with the notion that we should work together on nation-building projects because we are all stronger when we work together. Premier Smith also said, “I am more optimistic than ever that the concerns of Albertans are FINALLY BEING HEARD.” That is why the Conservatives are angry. Their whole playbook involves rage farming and division. When the Prime Minister is working productively with provinces such as Alberta, it leaves the Leader of the Opposition asking what his purpose is. The truth is that Conservatives cannot stand the progress that is being made that they could not have made if they had won the last election. They have talked about Bill C-69, and they are now talking about the emissions cap, as being barriers to pipelines being built. I do not think there is an environmental regulation they do not think would kill the pipeline industry in Canada, but it is stronger than they think, and the Chicken Little routine is getting a little bit tiresome. The Conservatives are desperate to derail sensitive discussions by negotiating in public, but Canadians know better. They know that co-operation is how we build projects of national interest, not through performative motions in the House. Let us be clear about what is missing in this Conservative motion. If the Conservatives want to repeal the emissions cap, then Canadians deserve to know what the plan is to reduce emissions in the oil and gas sector. Building the strongest economy in the G7 means unlocking us as a conventional and renewable energy superpower with high environmental standards. Members opposite need to stop treating that as a conflict. In the last 10 years, we increased oil and gas production as a country by 34% compared to it being up globally by 6%. The population grew 15%, yet total GHG emissions declined 6.5%. Strong environmental protections and indigenous support are increasingly becoming table stakes for our trading partners. Where are the Conservatives' ideas to ensure we remain competitive in a world that is demanding cleaner energy? Will they support Canada's enhanced methane regulations, which are some of the most economically efficient emissions reductions possible in the oil and gas sector? Will they support Canada's industrial carbon pricing system, which has already attracted more than $57 billion in investments and is a key reason our allies see us as a responsible supplier? Is their plan simply to do nothing, to walk away from progress, and to make Canada less competitive? The silence from the other side is telling. The Conservatives rail against the Liberals' plan, but they have nothing to replace it with. They have no creditable path to reduce emissions, no plan to attract investment and no strategy to strengthen Canada's energy sector in a world where climate competitiveness matters more every day. Let us also place this debate in its global context. The evolving geopolitical landscape is directly impacting Canada's economic and climate ambitions. We are in the midst of an unprompted trade war. Investors are weighing Canada against our peers and asking whether we will remain attractive compared to other markets. The reality is that the world is moving fast. We need to meet the federal government's goal of attracting $500 billion of private capital into clean and conventional energy to build the projects that will secure our future. That is why the Prime Minister has made it clear that our government is working on a climate competitiveness strategy. It is about results, not rhetoric. We are strengthening our economy while reducing emissions, securing investment and ensuring Canada wins in the global race for energy competitiveness. Rage farming just does not work anymore. Canadians want solutions. The House leader on the other side talked about selling oil and gas at a discount. The last I checked, the WTI-WCS differential was $14, which is actually pretty low when we consider the quality differences and the fact that the spot price and transportation costs are involved. I am curious what the member thinks an appropriate differential would be. He talked about Canadian oil and gas being sold to the U.S. and then to Europe. The Conservatives act as though they have never heard of a swap market before. The fact is that this is a very integrated economy, just as the auto sector is. Let me close with this: Our government is delivering real results. We are increasing exports of Canadian LNG off the west coast, approving transformative projects like Ksi Lisims LNG and advancing the Pathways project as part of a grand bargain that cuts emissions and grows jobs. By developing a climate competitiveness strategy that will allow us to attract $500 billion in investment, we will make Canada the strongest, most competitive economy in the G7. We offer a plan to build Canada into an energy superpower while reducing emissions and fighting climate change. That is a test the Conservatives failed to meet during the last election and a test this motion fails to meet. It would do nothing to advance Canada's interests and fails to acknowledge the fact that Canada is in a trade war. For these reasons and more, I do not believe I will be supporting this motion, which seems unserious.

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite underestimates the ingenuity of our oil and gas sector. Certainly, we have seen that it has done an exceptionally good job of reducing emissions intensity over the years. That said, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and I think this is a pragmatic government that is keen to talk to partners about how we can best meet our global climate ambitions while still developing the strongest economy in the G7.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my remarks, oil and gas production in Canada is up 34% in the last 10 years. As well, emissions went down 6.5%. Therefore, we have found that it is possible to decouple these two. To create a conversation as though there is a conflict inherent in these is not accurate. Certainly, we can all agree that we are in a very different world and a very different situation than we were recently with this ongoing trade war with the United States, so it will certainly require us to look at things a bit differently going forward, but our climate ambition has not changed.

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree that the world is changing, markets are changing and climate action is essential. This is a big, multi-year change and it sets our goals. However, we are in the middle of a shock change with this trade war and more erratic world, and that does have to set our strategies and tactics. I believe we share the same environmental goals. I truly do. I am wondering if the member could expand on other ways to tackle climate change, either in addition to or by replacing some of the actions that have been proposed.

Madam Speaker, Canadians have always come together to seize new opportunities and set paths for future generations, and in this moment of challenge, we will see the same. Canadians can find consensus even when it seemed previously unattainable. Our government has said repeatedly that it is prepared to work towards building new energy infrastructure in many forms. That includes interprovincial electricity transmission, and it extends to pipeline projects if consensus exists and if proponents come forward. However, there is an important principle guiding this openness: Clean technology must also be put in place so that we can meaningfully reduce associated emissions. Our ambition as a country is nothing short of being a clean and conventional energy superpower. Increasingly, our customers are demanding oil and gas developed to high social and environmental standards. As mentioned, steel, for example, is built to those high environmental standards. In a changing climate and in an uncertain world, it is a sentiment Canadians share. We are committed to a future in which Canadian energy projects lead in both economic value for our workers and communities and in climate responsibility and innovation. It is the better way, and doing better is going to take all of us. That is why we work with the provinces, stakeholders from across sectors and interests and always with indigenous rights holders. This is why we established the major projects office, an initiative that acts as a single point of contact to prioritize and help streamline transformative major projects in Canada that, under the Building Canada Act, are intended to strengthen Canada's autonomy, resilience and security; provide economic or other benefits to Canada; have a high likelihood of being successfully executed; advance the interests of indigenous peoples; and contribute to clean growth in meeting Canada's climate change objectives. Through this office, we support proposals that meet the environmental standards Canadians demand, embrace the latest technological innovations and respond to the needs of indigenous peoples, local communities and Canadian businesses. On that list, as it was announced recently, some needed a nudge, some a big lift, but all will benefit from the help and all needed assistance getting over the finish line. Projects such as LNG Canada phase 2 and pathways plus, in which the “plus” is a pipeline or other type of egress, now under consideration by the office, demonstrate that resolve. To be built, many projects will require Canadian steel. As mentioned, it is the cleanest, most environmentally friendly steel. Without any hesitation, I can say today that our government will stand firmly behind Canadian workers and the use of Canadian materials, including Canadian steel, for infrastructure projects that move forward. Our commitment to Canadian steel workers is resolute, as was affirmed by the Prime Minister when he announced new measures to protect and strengthen Canada's steel industry and the communities that rely on it for goods and good, sustainable jobs. As the Prime Minister announced in July, we will ensure that Canadian steel and other Canadian materials are prioritized in construction. We are also changing federal procurement processes so that companies contracting with the federal government are required to source their steel from Canadian companies. This is more than just economic policy; it is an expression of support for the many families who depend on the steel industry for income and an expression of firm belief in Canada. This spirit can also be found in the new “build Canada homes” initiative. Through it, the government is executing large-scale procurement from Canadian sources to accelerate the adoption of modern methods of construction. By focusing on Canadian workers and materials for these developments on public lands, “build Canada homes” is helping to fill critical market gaps. In all of this, our government remains pragmatic and forward-looking. We are driven by the conviction that the future belongs to those who innovate, co-operate and build with purpose. By working together across governments, industries, communities and even, dare I hope, across the aisle, we can and will build Canada strong.

Madam Speaker, there is not a major pipeline project in the last 15 years in which I was not involved in some way, shape or form. While these seem like easy, quick solutions, “just make it easier to build things,” what we know in Canadian history is quite different. It actually makes it more difficult and puts these projects at risk. We find all of a sudden that the courts are weighing in and saying that duty was not done. Certainly, with indigenous rights holders, we have seen that happen time and again. As we wrap up debate, I want to share a quote from my hon. colleague, the Minister of Industry and the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. She said, “Protecting Canada’s steel industry means defending Canadian jobs, securing our economic sovereignty, and building the future right here at home. Canada’s steelworkers are critical to building a strong Canadian economy; protecting their jobs is protecting Canada’s economic future.” Another way we protect Canada's economic future is through strong regulatory environments that can sustain core challenges and that work with indigenous peoples to make sure that the benefit is broadly shared.

Mr. Speaker, we are putting “one project, one review” into action. B.C. and the federal government have jointly approved the new Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal, led by the Nisga’a Nation and built with the first nation's own pipeline. This project will be the second-largest private investment in Canada's history and will export low-carbon LNG powered by renewable electricity. We have doubled the indigenous loan guarantee program, and we are working with our G7 partners to establish a critical minerals production alliance. These measures and more are what will enable Canada to become an energy superpower and win this trade war.

Mr. Speaker, from 2015 to 2023, global oil and gas production grew 5%. Over the same time period, Canadian oil and gas production grew 29%. Of course, we welcome constructive suggestions for improvement, and we will be working with partners, provinces and proponents because better is always possible, but a total retreat from that which made development possible and markets accessible is not better. Demand for Canadian oil and gas grows because we develop our resources to high environmental and social standards, with indigenous partners and with an eye toward a robust, sustainable industry. Canada is at a pivotal moment, and we are taking a historically important step to establish ourselves as an energy superpower. That is why the government has introduced the one Canadian economy act: to remove federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility and to advance projects of national interest. We expect that if the one Canadian economy act passes in the next few days, it will reassure investors that Canada and our energy sector are open for business. I am pleased to say that the voting record on the one Canadian economy act so far shows that the official opposition supports our work to lead the world in energy production and transmission. The government's vision is clear. We are focused on expanding our global energy reach beyond those who share our borders to those who share our values. Canadian conventional energy, LNG and hydrogen produced to the highest environmental and labour standards can displace more-polluting sources abroad, reduce global emissions and enhance energy security for our allies. While this work is being done, our government will keep investing in carbon capture, methane reduction and other technologies that help bring down emissions in the conventional energy sector. I would also like to point out the TMX project. A Liberal government invested in TMX to expand the access to Canada's conventional energy producers so they have global market access. Greater access to international markets has improved the overall value of Canadian oil, generating significant benefits for the entire country. We will also support clean energy and protect the environment because it is the right thing to do. It is a strong Canadian value. We will get more energy to market while fighting climate change through strategic investments in carbon capture, methane reduction and clean technologies. As the Prime Minister has said before, the government will get projects built. Of course, we will work with provinces, private sector proponents and indigenous communities. Indigenous rights will not be an afterthought; they are the bedrock of our nation. The protections in section 35 are enshrined in our Constitution, and the government stands steadfastly in support of them and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We need to work together. We are focused on growing our economy, carrying out our duty to our partners and supporting our energy producers. We must focus on delivery. The government will build more, build faster and build with confidence, confidence that will provide certainty to investors and confidence that will give Canadians a better, more prosperous future.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, we saw 29% growth in industry from 2015 to 2023, compared to a global average of 5%. An agenda that includes social and environmental protections is pro-development. The government is focused on rapidly advancing major projects so potential projects that meet all requirements can be approved faster, shortening five-year approval timelines to two years. It is part of a broader effort, highlighted in the Prime Minister's mandate letter, that supports more infrastructure built “at speeds not seen in generations.” The major projects of national interest and the one Canadian economy act are going to be essential to growing Canada's economy and creating good-paying jobs. We will expand and diversify trade, invest in infrastructure like ports, roads, trade corridors and railways and responsibly develop our energy and natural resources. Our government will increase Canada's resilience, security and prosperity for Canadians today and for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard arguments like “simply no alternatives”, “prohibitive costs” or “no reason to prohibit”. Those were actually arguments against phasing out tetraethyl lead, leaded gasoline. We have also heard arguments about stealing freedom and about people's need to have the right to choose for themself; those are arguments against seat belt laws that were used back in the day. Yes, government should govern judiciously. Creating new rules should not be the instinct immediately, but I think we can agree that we have a role in setting the floor. My question for the member is this: What should that floor be? Does the member have a counterproposal, short of doing nothing?

Madam Speaker, I live in Calgary, which also gets fairly cold in the winter, I think we might agree. Certainly, it is true that first-generation EVs did struggle with heat in the cold because, of course, they used electric heaters. That was all that was required in California markets. However, second-generation EVs and further are much more sophisticated. They use heat pumps and the like, which are very good for Canadian winters. Considering this and considering the uniqueness of the Canadian market, can you speak to the benefit of a Canadian-made supply chain that reflects the values of Canada?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the hon. member's comments. I particularly appreciated the list of suggested improvements. It certainly deserved more than 30 seconds in a 22-hour speech. The member made the comment that facts do not always fit the narrative and that that was very concerning for her, so I just want to put a few facts on the table that she omitted in her speech. From 2015 to 2023, global oil and gas production grew 5%. Over the same time, Canadian production grew 29%. That does not really sound like Canada falling behind the world; it sounds like Canada being a leader in the world. From 2006 to 2015, the time of the last government, not a single pipeline was built. That is another fact that I think needs to be on the record. Let us not talk about the past, because Bill C-5 is about building the future. It is about building the strongest economy in the G7. Even in a world that uses less oil, demand for Canadian oil will continue to grow, because we and our partners work in an environmentally and socially responsible way. My home province of Alberta understands this. That is why we were the first to introduce an industrial carbon tax in 2008—

Mr. Chair, when we talk about wildfires in this House, we are not talking about distant headlines in some far off place, we are not speaking in hypotheticals and we are not debating future possibilities. We are talking about the lived, tangible experiences tragically experienced by Canadians across this great country over the last several years. Canadians have woken up to orange skies and smoky air thousands of kilometres from the nearest fire. Canadians have had to flee their homes, neighbourhoods and communities. Canadians have risked their lives as first responders to extinguish flames. We are talking about children in my home province of Alberta who cannot play outside because the air is orange, including my own. We are talking about entire towns in northern Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that have had to evacuate with just minutes to spare, homes left behind, schools closed, family pets crated in back seats and highways jammed with uncertainty. We are talking about flames sweeping across forests and grasslands from Jasper to Gaspé, consuming not just trees and brush but also memories, livelihoods and entire communities. Just two years ago, wildfires shattered every known Canadian record. Fifteen million hectares of land burned, an area larger than England and roughly the size of Tunisia. Over 230,000 Canadians were forced from their homes. Nearly 11,000 domestic and international firefighters were deployed, and eight Canadian firefighters tragically lost their lives. Annual national costs for fighting those fires totalled over $1 billion, which represents a 60% increase to the annual average from 1980 to 2009. Just last year, in my home province of Alberta, the Jasper wildfire burned approximately 32,700 hectares, making it the largest blaze in the park in over a century. It devastated about one-third of the town's structures, tragically killed one firefighter and forced a mass evacuation of 25,000 residents. Now, in 2025, earlier than expected and in regions we once thought immune, it is beginning again. Canada is facing two interconnected crises, twin challenges that strike at the heart of our communities and identity. The first is the climate crisis. A warming planet is no longer just a projection and a report; it is our lived reality. Our fire seasons now start sooner and end later. They burn hotter, move faster and stretch deeper into once-untouched regions. What were once once-in-a-century fires are now annual events. What was once predictable is now erratic. The second is a crisis of sovereignty, where global volatility, unjustified trade actions and fragile supply chains test our ability to remain self-reliant and strong. When wildfires shut down transportation corridors, we all feel it. When pulp and paper mills close because forests are scorched or inaccessible, towns lose both jobs and community. When foreign tariffs hit our resource exports, it weakens not just industry but our national independence. We cannot afford to treat these as separate problems. We must face both, together and head-on. That is why the 2025-26 main estimates are not just an administrative exercise. They are not just columns on a spreadsheet. They are a blueprint for resilience, a statement of values and a declaration of action. They represent the government's resolve to protect Canadians, not just from the fires of today but from the risks of tomorrow. Through these estimates, we are investing where it counts: in people, in preparedness and in prevention. We are supporting the brave firefighters who suit up when everyone else is running the other way by funding modern gear and expanding training. We are empowering indigenous fire stewardship, recognizing that traditional knowledge and land-based practices are not just cultural heritage but critical science. We are investing in data, early warning systems, predictive modelling and real-time mapping, because when seconds count, so does every bite of information. We are also supporting communities before fire ever strikes, with education, FireSmart retrofits and land-management strategies to stop sparks from becoming infernos. These are not abstract commitments. They are line items in this year's estimates: $52.53 million for the wildfire resilient futures initiative, funding proactive strategies to manage risk and build national preparedness; $81.65 million for fighting and managing wildfires in a changing climate, training frontline firefighters in partnerships with provinces and indigenous governments; $1 million for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, coordinating vital information and equipment sharing between jurisdictions; $2 million for wildland fire resilience, focusing on building community and landscape resilience to wildfires with prevention, mitigation and preparedness efforts; and $10.5 million for the spruce budworm early intervention strategy, addressing pest outbreaks, more likely because of climate change, that turn forests into tinderboxes, particularly in Quebec and the Atlantic. Together, these investments total over $147 million, but their value cannot be measured by dollars alone. They are a recognition that resilience must be built before disaster strikes and that the price of inaction is far greater than the cost of preparation. I want to speak for a moment not just about programs and policy, but about people: about the firefighter in British Columbia who worked 28 straight days sleeping in a tent and eating from ration packs to keep the fire line from breaching a town; about the indigenous elder in northern Quebec who taught community members how controlled burns used to protect their land and how they can again; about the Red Cross volunteers who set up cots, sorted blankets and offered hugs to evacuees; and about the business owner in Manitoba who, without being asked, kept their café open to feed weary fire crews and displaced neighbours. This is who Canadians are, and if they show up time and again, then so can we, as a government, as parliamentarians and as a country. Let us also be honest about the stakes. In 2024, insured losses from extreme weather events in Canada reached an all-time high of $8.5 billion. That is not just infrastructure. That is homes, memories and generational wealth. Natural Resources Canada projects that if we do not adapt, wildfire suppression costs could double by 2040, surpassing $2 billion annually. While we face fires at home, our global competitiveness is being tested. Canada's forestry sector, a cornerstone of many rural and indigenous economies, continues to be targeted by unjustified American tariffs. We are not only fighting fires; we are fighting for our place in the world, for our workers, for our industry and for our sovereignty. That is why these estimates also support Canada's long-term strength. We are creating new careers in emergency response, fire science, forestry and clean energy. We are coordinating across provincial and territorial borders so that when one jurisdiction needs help, others can answer. We are centring reconciliation, funding indigenous-led stewardship and governance that reflect deep-rooted wisdom and shared leadership. We are also investing in infrastructure to rebuild with resilience and modernize how goods, people and ideas move across this country. This is what 21st-century sovereignty looks like: not just military strength or economic might, but the ability to protect land, people and our future. I do not rise today just as a parliamentary secretary. I rise as someone who represents communities that have seen the sky turn grey at noon. I rise as an Albertan whose province knows intimately the ties between the forests and our future. I rise as a Canadian who believes deeply in this country's ability to lead, not in spite of our challenges, but because of them. I will close with this. We cannot change the winds, but we can adjust our sails, and that is what this government is doing. We are steering toward a more resilient Canada, a safer Canada and a stronger Canada. Let us move forward not as individuals or parties, but as one country united in purpose and ready to meet these twin crises with clarity, compassion and courage. I urge all members to vote in favour of the 2025-26 main estimates so we can fight wildfires, fight climate change and protect the sovereignty of this great nation we all serve. I would like to ask the minister about wildfires. This season's wildfires have already been devastating, and it is only June. This is the third year in a row that the severity and intensity of wildfires are clear. There is no doubt the frequency and intensity of these fires are a result of climate change. We need to urgently fight climate change to protect the Canadian way of life, but we must also protect ourselves from the impacts that are already being felt. Will the minister tell this House about what is included in the main estimates that would help Canada fight wildfires? What will the minister do moving forward to protect Canadians?

Mr. Chair, the increasing severity of wildfires has not just destroyed communities, but also impacted supply chains, Canadian industries and our forestry sector. Many communities across Canada, including communities in my home province of Alberta, rely on our forests to make a living and to feed their families. These wildfires have taken away these economic opportunities that generations of Canadians have relied upon. They have put a strain on our important forestry sector at the worst time possible. Simultaneously, Canada's softwood lumber industry is under attack from the United States' unjustified and unacceptable tariffs. This industry has been put under siege from American economic policies for years, and it is ramping up significantly under the current President of the United States. Can the minister share with Canadians who are worried about the future of our forest industry what is included in these estimates and how we can help them move forward?

Mr. Chair, Canada has been the closest friend and ally of the United States for over 100 years. This relationship has delivered unmatched prosperity on both sides of the border and strengthened people-to-people ties as much as it has our economies. Unfortunately, this old relationship we once had with the United States is over. It has launched an unjustified and devastating trade war against us, targeting its closest friend first by imposing tariffs on almost all of Canada's economy. Canadians are feeling the impact of these tariffs already, with many of our industries, communities and livelihoods under threat. We today find ourselves in a more uncertain and dangerous world. We cannot rely on the United States for our defence or our economic security any longer. This requires Canada to build now, to protect our economy and our sovereignty. Can the minister tell this chamber how Canada will build the strongest economy in the G7?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 2025 graduating class from the University of Calgary. The last of this convocation's 7,000 graduates cross the stage today. Graduates like Austin Friesen, who just received his M.B.A., come from across degree programs and disciplines. Graduating from university is an enormous accomplishment. Grads are fortunate to have attended Canada's entrepreneurial university, one of our city's gems. The education and friendships they made along the way will serve them well. Sometimes young universities struggle to have their reputation keep up with their accomplishments, so I would like to inform the House about just a few. Today, in dollar terms, the hard-working students, faculty and staff at the U of C do about as much research as Queen's, Western and TMU combined, all great universities in their own right. The university has among the highest student satisfaction scores. Its stroke protocol saves lives globally, and more start-ups have come out of the U of C over the past five years than any other Canadian university. I congratulate all the graduates. Their community is proud of them. They did it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone on the ground who has been working to fight this terrible tragedy and make right what has been made wrong by nature. I appreciate the speed with which everybody has worked, including the ministers. I know how hard these situations are to manage, and I give my sincere thanks to all involved for keeping people safe. The one thing I want to ask the member about is the long-term effect of this. Could he give his thoughts on that? I worked for the Government of Alberta, and we found that one of the challenges with an event like this is that it is often much longer lasting than people imagine. There is an event the world is watching, and the country is there in very big ways for people. Then they go home and their house is rebuilt if it has been lost, and life is supposed to go on. However, a year later is when some of the real mental health challenges can occur, and the country is not there. I am wondering if you could react to that or give comments on what you think should happen long term for mental health supports for your community.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. My heart goes out to people in the west dealing with wildfires and displacement. While this is a debate rightly focused on wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, like other members, I did want to acknowledge that wildfires are also impacting the people of Alberta, with thousands of evacuees from Swan Hills, Dene Tha' and other communities across the province. We have seen many wildfires of late in my home province of Alberta alone: in Slave Lake and Richardson in 2011, Fort McMurray in May 2016, High Level in 2019 and millions of hectares in 2023 that forced thousands of evacuations. Of course, last year in Jasper, 25,000 people were evacuated and hundreds of homes were destroyed. Sadly, that is a pretty incomplete list of all of the fires. We know wildfire seasons are getting longer, more intense and harder to predict across the nation, and more extreme weather, like wildfires and floods, are now our reality. It is tragic. We need to live the mantra of prepare, adapt and recover. We need to do what we can, as a government, as a Parliament and as a nation, to assist the affected people across the west through this troubling time. These events are concentrated moments in a chain of events. Looking backwards, leading to this are decisions we have made as societies across the globe that have increased extreme weather events. We cannot wave away climate change. It is not a future threat; it is a present one. It takes a somewhat wilful blindness to ignore the increasing frequency of so-called 100-year floods and once-in-a-generation forest fires. It takes a denial that borders on malice to ignore the increase in hurricanes, droughts and heat waves that climate change has brought, which have cost the lives of thousands across the globe. If members are not familiar with what a wet-bulb temperature is, I am sorry to say they likely will be in the future. It is a temperature and humidity at which sweating no longer cools people down. When that temperature is over 35 degrees for long enough, death without air conditioning is a given. Climate change is driving wet-bulb temperatures to be more frequent and of longer duration. It is, one might say, a five-alarm wake-up call. We need to prepare, adapt and recover. The changes to our climate brought on by climate change are already here. We need to prepare for more extreme weather events, adapt to our changing climate and recover when the events happen. We do need to be fire smart, which includes ignition-resistant homes, firebreaks and land use planning, keeping yards clean and forest management. Prescribed burns are done by the provinces, and Parks Canada does some, but we have to acknowledge it is a smaller window for prescribed burns, and there is resource competition with all of the wildfires that are occurring because of climate change. Yes, I agree with members opposite that a national firefighting force has promise, and I am glad it is something being explored. I am glad that, as the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience has said, nothing is off the table. We also need to incentivize residents and businesses to prepare for and adapt to this changing climate. We need to minimize the damage. We need to take steps now, working with global partners, to reduce the damage that climate change is bringing us. My friends, this is not as bad as it gets. I said fires are part of a chain. We have looked backwards, but now it is time to look forward from this event. These crises are often less time-bound and geography-bound than we imagine. In a past life, I worked for the Government of Alberta, in a province that has seen too many major wildfires. I joined just after Fort McMurray was evacuated and burned, as it was being rebuilt. I was there in 2019 when wildfires forced the evacuation of High Level. Unfortunately, one of the things we learned is that the effects of wildfires last far longer than the moment of crisis. There is an event, a fire; people are evacuated and the community is with them. The country is with them. Volunteers and donations come in from everywhere, from across the globe. A year later, life is supposed to be normal again. The fire is gone; people are back. Maybe their homes are rebuilt. That is often when mental health problems begin. By then, that national and international focus and that national and international support are gone. As the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands said, it is a long, hard road to recovery. The events are also less geography-bound, and the hazy skies over Ottawa today remind us of that. Calgarians know this very well. From 1981 to 2015, there were an average of 18 smoke hours per year in the city of Calgary. No year had over 100. Now we see hundreds of smoke hours routinely: 315 in 2017, 450 in 2018, 439 in 2021, 512 in 2023, and 2024 was only 200. Again, I will say that is compared to a 1981-to-2015 average that was far lower. Such smoke presents serious risks. The concentrated air pollution that forest fires create can, on the mild end, cause headaches and coughs and inconvenience for the healthy. On the more serious end, it moves from asthma attacks and irregular heartbeats to heart attacks, strokes and birth defects. Again, as we look to the effects across geography and time, we must prepare, adapt and recover. We need air filtration, both home and personal, for communities far from hot spots; mental health supports for the affected; and insurance, longer-term funding and support to rebuild when we lose communities and homes, as we tragically have and tragically will. I want to close by saying that none of this can be done at the expense of responding to the moment of crisis we find ourselves in. For those affected, their governments, communities and first responders are with them. We will move heaven and earth to respond to this moment. Not all will be perfect, as nothing is in these moments, but these are the moments when we set aside all partisan thought and have no thought but for their safety. However, I ask that as this moment of crisis recedes, the House not lose sight of the chain, forward and backward, that it is part of: the imperative to address climate change, the imperative to think broadly about this challenge and the imperative to be there for people when the news cycle moves on. My children have had too many smoke-filled days. Our country has seen too many evacuees flee their homes, unsure if they will ever return. Communities have seen too many lives unravelled by the long-term consequences. We have in our hands, as a Parliament, the power and responsibility to help our country prepare, adapt and recover. I hope we take that responsibility very seriously.

Mr. Speaker, I want to clear up an inaccuracy. I did not work for the NDP government. I was a public servant in Alberta. I worked for Premier Notley and Premier Kenney for an equal number of budgets, as I like to put it. I was there for two budgets for each of them. As for what the government can do to make us more fire smart and make sure that people do not need to evacuate their homes, that gets down to good fire management. That means keeping yards clean in fire risk areas. That means making sure there are appropriate firebreaks. That will make sure that people know exactly what they need to do and the risks they might be introducing into their lives if they do not follow some of that. There is much that can be done. There are much better experts to talk about the finer points than me on that. What is most important is that we, as a Parliament, work together on this to give a consistent message about safety and how we can increase safety from coast to coast to coast.

Mr. Speaker, I agree. We have a choice between acting and being paralyzed, and, unfortunately, being paralyzed is moving backward as the climate moves on, whether or not we care to admit it. The good news is that as Canadians, we have the power in our hands to start making positive change in this world on this very topic. We have the ingenuity, we have the expertise, and we have the commitment to create a better world that is so fundamental to Canadian-ness. I would encourage all Canadians to not think about this in a way that is either dispassionate or feeling as though they are overwhelmed by it, but to think that the tools exist, and we have it within our hands to solve this and be legends.

Mr. Speaker, in the face of repeated threats by the United States to our economic sovereignty, Canadians chose to give our government a strong mandate to build a strong Canada. As we have heard, today the Prime Minister and premiers are meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, one of the economic engines of this great country, and strengthening Canada's economy is on the agenda. Now, members opposite have imagined a lot of outcomes from a meeting they were not invited to. In an effort to get back to facts, can the Minister of Finance and National Revenue inform the House on details of this work and its importance to Canada?

Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I would also like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on being elected by the members of the House yesterday. We have conferred upon you great responsibilities as Speaker, and though I have known you only a brief time, I am confident you will serve this Parliament well. Today is a momentous day for this country and an unforgettable day for all of us in the chamber. I am personally honoured to rise in the House as a newly elected member of Parliament. I would like to thank my family for their love and support: my wife, Lori, and our children Annelies, Ben and Sam. I ran for office in no small part because I want them to have the opportunities Canada provided me and then some. I also want to thank my volunteers. Without them, none of this would have been possible. We all went through a vibrant election campaign just a few weeks ago. Canadians were given the chance to look at the options the candidates for office put before them and make their choice by casting their ballot. It is democracy at its best. The result of this election is such that every one of us here has been given the honour of serving our constituents. I know that we take this privilege to heart. I congratulate all of my MP colleagues. As this parliamentary session begins, I am committed to working collaboratively with everyone on behalf of the people who sent us here. I am deeply honoured that the people of Calgary Confederation have put their trust in me to be their representative in Parliament. As a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian, I stand here today in the chamber in genuine awe of the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon me, and all of us, at this important moment. This is a great nation, a nation of ten provinces and three territories, all working hand in hand with first nations, Inuit and Métis people, with whom we share our history. We are a nation of regions from coast to coast, but we are one nation. It is especially important, at this moment in our history, that we remember this. No matter where we come from in this wonderful country called Canada, we are called upon to work together as a united people. That is at the core of our government's agenda to build a better and stronger Canada. It is also at the core of the Speech from the Throne. Let us review some of the highlights. We are at a critical point in our nation's history with regard to our place in the world and the system of global trade. We are facing a turning point that we cannot shy away from. The trading system is changing, and we must understand that the relationship with our trading partners is evolving. It is a turning point that requires us all to accept what needs to be done and work together to accomplish it. In the throne speech, our government faces that reality. Canadians understand that, since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous or unstable, but amidst this instability, there is an incredible opportunity. Our government intends to lead a confident Canada into the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War. We will stay true to our values and build new alliances to strengthen our economy. As the throne speech reminds us all, “Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away” from us. As Canadians, we all know of the long-standing relationship our country has with the United States. It dates back many generations. We have friends there. We have family there. I am no exception. It is a relationship of two good neighbours built on mutual respect and a desire to strengthen each other's economies and national security. This year has brought a fresh perspective to that relationship, one which has awoken the patriotism of Canadians and sharpened our resolve to maintain our national identity. The Prime Minister has been clear about his own resolve. He has visited the President of the United States in Washington, D.C., and as the throne speech notes, he and the President have begun to define “a new economic and security relationship” between our countries. That relationship will remain “rooted in mutual respect” and founded on our common, yet sovereign, interests. As we move forward, we will work towards delivering transformational benefits to both countries. As we do this, our government is determined not to avert our attention away from the rest of the work ahead. Canada has much of what the world wants and needs, so our government will be strengthening Canada's relationship with reliable trading partners throughout the world. We will work towards building a coalition of nations that believes in co-operation and is ready to engage in the free exchange of goods, services and ideas. Canada can lead the way, and this will become even more apparent when we chair the G7 summit in my home province of Alberta next month. I would now like to turn my attention to something closer to home. Throughout the country, many Canadians are having difficulty paying their bills. The cost of living has become unaffordable for many people. They are struggling to keep up and to get ahead of the daily pressures. Our government will act to help Canadians get ahead. We will be reducing middle-class taxes as part of our economic agenda. This is a priority for us. Canadians can count on it. The tax cut will put money back into the pockets of Canadian families. It will save the average two-income family up to $840 a year. We will cut the GST for homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers. This will deliver savings of up to $50,000. We will also lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. As we do this, we will take concrete steps to double the rate of homebuilding in this country, using technology, skilled work and lumber that comes from Canada itself. We will take action to ensure the housing market works better, including cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The plan is clear. The government will drive the housing supply up to bring housing costs down. The bottom line is that our government knows Canadians need relief, and we are supplying it. We will ensure the future sustainability of programs that have already saved families thousands of dollars a year. This includes child care and pharmacare. It also encompasses the recent expansion of the Canadian dental care plan, which is now available to another 8 million Canadians, saving the average family more than $800 per visit. Our government has a fundamental goal with regard to the Canadian economy: It is our core mission to build the strongest economy in the G7. As we move towards that goal, it is imperative to recognize that we must create one Canadian economy out of 13 economies. For far too long, we have been held up by internal barriers to trade and labour mobility, and these barriers cost us as much as $200 billion per year. The throne speech made it clear that our government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day. We are moving quickly because the time for action is now. We cannot delay. The premiers of several provinces and territories have already taken steps to remove barriers. Our government is committed to working with all the others to continue moving in this direction. As we move this way, it is important that we, as Canadians, recognize that this is a time to not only build but also build big. We must now build major projects to further secure our national economy and create high-paying jobs that will last for generations. To assist in this, our government will create a new major federal projects office, through which the time needed to approve projects will be shortened from five years to two years, a goal that would make us among the best, if not the best, in the OECD. This will be done while upholding Canada's environmental standards and its constitutional obligation to indigenous peoples. Removing these obstacles will put Canada in a better position to withstand any trade war we might experience. The change will create jobs and make us stronger. As the throne speech says, it will enable us to become a superpower in both green and conventional energy. This is a message Canadians from all regions should hear. It is certainly music to Albertans' ears. The government recognizes that Canadians have legitimate concerns about the safety of their neighbourhoods and streets. We will introduce legislation to enhance security at our borders. We will introduce new tools for our law enforcement intelligence agencies to stop the flow of fentanyl. The criminal code will be toughened to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders convicted of crimes such as car theft, home invasion and human trafficking. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to crack down on the stolen car trade to prevent the transport of illegal products. To further protect our communities, the government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. We will take action to stem gun violence through changes to firearm licensing and through the use of scanners, drones and helicopters to stem the flow of drugs and guns across the border. Earlier, I spoke of how we live in a world of uncertainty and instability. Our government has the responsibility to protect Canada's sovereignty, and we will do that. The government will rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Forces. We will work with our European allies to strengthen transatlantic security, and we will invest in the Canadian north as part of our commitment to keep the country safe from existing and emerging threats. As an Albertan and the son of a Quebecker, I am proud to live in a country where the French language and the Quebec culture are embodied in our very national identity. The throne speech makes our government's values clear and respects the country's official and aboriginal languages. Moreover, it is a commitment to protecting the institutions that are a showcase for those cultures, like CBC or Radio-Canada. Our government is also deeply committed to upholding fundamental obligations to advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. We must and we will assist in the creation of sustainable prosperity for them. As part of that, we will increase funding for the indigenous loan guarantees program to help more indigenous communities own major projects. Also central to our identity is the pristine beauty of our land. Canadians are rightly proud of their natural habitat. Our government will protect this distinct feature of Canada by creating new national parks and marine protected areas. For many decades, Canadians have taken great pride in our immigration system. It has helped paint the portrait of the Canadian mosaic while also fuelling the engine of the economy. Maintaining public trust in the system is integral for the system itself to be sound. Our government will take steps to build trust and restore balance. We will place a limit on the number of temporary foreign workers and international students while taking steps to attract the best talent in the world to come here and join us in building our economy. Let me end with some remarks about the government's commitment to responsible fiscal management. Our government brings a new approach to this matter. The throne speech notes that the government's operating budget has been growing by 9% every year. That must change. It will change. Our government will bring in measures to reduce the growth of that budget to below 2%. Moreover, we will set a responsible target for deficit reduction. The government will balance its operating budget over the next three years through responsible and prudent fiscal management. Transfers to provinces, territories and Canadians themselves will be maintained. These are the actions of a new government determined to set concrete objectives to build Canada into a stronger and more prosperous nation for its people. Today's throne speech provides a road map for how we will get there. It is an ambitious agenda. It is an agenda that Canadians, working together, can achieve. I move, seconded by the hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville, that the following address be presented to His Majesty the King: TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY: MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN: We, Your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, I was with the Minister of Energy when he made that speech, and the vibe in the room was very different. We ended up hearing a very positive response from people who were looking forward to turning a page and having more productive conversations, something I would encourage all members to take to heart. It is not surprising the minister got a positive response, given that the Liberals received the highest percentage of votes that they have had in Calgary in generations, since 1968. This is a new government that will bring new balances to our energy and environment conversations, and those are needed. I will remind the members opposite that pipelines were going down to failure long before any of the bills they listed as possible reasons for it. In fact, northern gateway did not manage to pass court challenges, because the environmental reviews and the indigenous consultations were deemed too insufficient by the courts, a problem that this side of the House has cleaned up.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. member on her election. From coast to coast to coast, the throne speech speaks about economic opportunity. It talks about the ways we are going to build things, the ways we are going to grow things and, most importantly, the way we are going to do it quickly, because time is not our friend. There is a commitment within the throne speech to have a major projects office and to move the approval of projects from five years to two years. That would make us among the best, if not the best, in the OECD. Therefore, I am optimistic for the future. I hope the hon. member across the way will keep an open mind as we implement this agenda.