Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, while I sympathize with families like Daniel's, I want the member opposite to realize that the government is focused specifically on families like Daniel's. We have introduced the groceries and essentials benefit, for example, and over 17,000 families in that member's riding are going to be receiving their next cheque on October 5. That is meaningful support, up to approximately $1,800 for a family in his riding this year. If the Conservatives want to talk about affordability, they should come on board to our plan, which is focused on making sure that Canadians have money in their pockets to pay the cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, there is a plan on the table that is working for Canadians, and it is the Liberal plan. It includes doing things like making sure that families such as Daniel's have affordable child care, which is saving families in Ontario over $10,000 per year right now. It is ensuring that families in the member's riding have access to the Canada child benefit or to a national school food program so that Daniel's kids can go to school and actually have food in their stomachs. It is a program that the Conservative leader called bureaucracy yesterday. If the Conservatives want to stand here and fight for families, then they should come on board and stand—

Mr. Speaker, we are living through a moment of enormous change. Global markets are shifting, our trading relationships are changing and Canada has to be ready to meet the moment. That means focusing on what we can control and building here at home. We can make Canada a place where businesses want to invest, where projects actually get built, where Canadian goods can reach new markets and where those investments create good jobs for Canadian workers. That is what the building Canada strong act is about. It would bring greater speed, certainty and predictability to major project reviews. It would strengthen the trade corridors and ports that connect Canadian businesses to the world, and it would create the conditions to attract investment, put Canadian capital to work and build a more resilient and independent economy, because certainty matters. Certainty means investment. Investment means building. Building means jobs. All of that makes our economy stronger and more resilient in a world that is becoming less predictable. However, we cannot do any of that without a strong labour relations framework. The people who will build these projects, operate our ports and railways, move our goods and keep our economy running are Canadian workers. The strongest workplaces are workplaces where workers are treated fairly, where employers and unions have productive relationships and where people can sit down together and solve problems. That is why the labour measures in Bill C-39 matter. Free and fair collective bargaining is at the heart of our labour relations system. Let me be very clear: We are absolutely committed to workers' constitutional right to strike. The best deal is the deal reached by parties themselves at the table. In fact, our system works remarkably well. Approximately 95% of federally regulated labour disputes supported by the federal mediation and conciliation service are resolved without a work stoppage, but we also know that some of the bargaining relationships become difficult long before anyone reaches a picket line. This bill is about getting in earlier. It would provide greater support for first collective agreements, including bringing in the federal mediation and conciliation service from the beginning. It would provide earlier support in difficult bargaining relationships and relationship building after a dispute, because anyone who has worked in a workplace knows that a bitter dispute does not magically disappear when a collective agreement is signed. It would also invest in the institutions that make collective bargaining work, including the Canada Industrial Relations Board and the federal mediation and conciliation service, so that problems can be addressed earlier and workers are not left waiting because of backlogs. I also want to address section 107 directly, because I know that we have heard concern about it here in this House. Section 107 has existed in the Canada Labour Code for nearly 50 years. This bill does not create a new power. What it does is put new restrictions, guardrails and transparency around how that power can be used. Before a minister could direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board to end or suspend an ongoing work stoppage and impose a binding dispute resolution, two new conditions would have to be met. First, a special mediator would work intensively with the parties and provide a report to the minister that would be made public, a key factor for ensuring accountability for both parties and for ensuring that both parties are bargaining in good faith. The appointment of that mediator would not take away the right to strike or lock out. Their job would be to help the parties do what we want them to do in the first place, which is to reach an agreement themselves. Second, there would have to be a national impact assessment examining whether the dispute is or may be adversely affecting the national interest, including the consideration of free collective bargaining and the protected right to strike. These are real guardrails, and the principle behind them is straightforward: Collective bargaining remains the primary way labour disputes should be resolved. We have heard that recognition from labour. Canada's Building Trades Unions has been clear that it wants strong guardrails around government intervention and wants the right to strike protected, but the CBTU has also recognized the value of improving the process between bargaining and government intervention. As Sean Strickland has put it, “you've gone through some really substantive steps here to try to get parties to make a deal”. That is exactly the objective, to have more opportunity to negotiate, more opportunity to mediate and more opportunity for parties themselves to find the way forward. That is only one part of the labour reforms in this bill. Bill C-39 would strengthen protections for the workers we are asking to help build this country. It would crack down on wage theft and worker misclassification. It would strengthen workplace health and safety, including through more inspections and a greater focus on workers' health and safety, and it would protect workers in air transportation when contracts change hands, so they can keep their union representation and collective agreement. These things matter. A worker should get the wages they earned. They should be safe when they go to work and safe when they come home. When something does go wrong, they should have a labour system capable of responding quickly and fairly. I want to recognize what the Building Trades of Alberta has said about this bill. There are 19 unions in Alberta. I visited them only last week. These are ironworkers, carpenters, machinists and bricklayers. They have said that they welcome the Canadian government's Bill C-39, which will expedite project approvals and help our job-ready workforce build Canada strong. I want to finish where I started. We are living in a more uncertain world, but we can control what we build here at home. We can build the projects this country needs. We can move Canadian goods to markets. We can attract investment, create good jobs and make sure Canadian workers share in the prosperity that they create, and we can do it with a labour relations system that protects workers, respects collective bargaining and gives employers and unions the tools to solve problems together, because this moment demands more than resilience from Canada; it demands ambition. Canadians want to build. We want to invest in ourselves. We want to compete, and we want to give ourselves more of what no country, no trade dispute and no decision made beyond our borders can take away, which is the capacity to build for ourselves, the confidence to bet on ourselves and the ability to determine our own economic future. That is what this bill would help Canada to do, and it is why I call on all members of the House to support the legislation. Let us get to work, and let us build Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is the product of two rounds of public consultations with employers and unions. As well, it follows nearly half a year's worth of conversation and consultation with the tripartite council that we established in order to do the hard work and the heavy lifting to build this bill. I take issue with the members' framing of this. The government is actually hard at work pushing projects to approval, including the port of Montreal, the Matawinie mine and BHP's potash project. There is the OPG Pickering refurbishment that the Minister of Natural Resources announced earlier this week. These are all examples of projects that are moving forward, but we have to do more, and this bill would get us to one project, one decision, one year.

Mr. Speaker, our unionized workers are the backbone of a strong Canadian economy. This bill takes into account the recommendations made by unions, employers and management representatives during two rounds of public consultations. It seeks to strengthen good-faith bargaining and get better results for workers, employers and Canadians. As workplaces continue to evolve, labour laws in Canada must evolve with them to ensure that these workplaces remain fair, safe and productive.

Mr. Speaker, it is exactly Canadians like Romeo and Romeo's family who are top of mind for us in our agenda and in the work that we are doing to support Canadians at this time. I hope Romeo has access to some of the initiatives we have brought forward, like the groceries and essentials benefit. Perhaps his family has access to affordable child care or to a Canada dental plan, or perhaps Romeo's kids have access to the national school food program, which helps bring down the cost of groceries for families to the tune of about $800 a year. These are supports we have put in place that we ae going to continue to support, and I would ask the member opposite to help us in that.

Mr. Speaker, as I would hope my colleague across the way would know, we have actually done some work to try to build houses in Ontario. We have reduced development fees to encourage homebuilding in Ontario, saving families up to $200,000 on the cost of a home. We are doing that while investing unprecedented amounts in building Canadian homes, because we know we need to increase the supply of homes, and that is exactly what we are doing. For my colleague and for Romeo, I hope he knows that we are a government that has his back, and whether it is his home, his family or the job that he is looking for—

Mr. Speaker, let me be crystal clear. We will always protect the rights of workers, and we will always support workers' constitutional right to strike. As the member opposite knows, when we are talking about section 107, we always believe that this should only be used in exceptional circumstances. The legislation that we have brought forward establishes clear guardrails and new transparency for its use, and it helps us make sure that bargaining is actually more successful. We cannot build the Canada we need without workers. They are at the core of our agenda, and we support them wholeheartedly.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Winnipeg Centre for her commitment to Canadian workers. We are firmly committed to protecting workers' rights and ensuring a free and fair collective bargaining process. Workers must have real bargaining power. The right to strike is protected in Canada because it is an essential element of free and balanced negotiations. Our government has taken concrete measures to protect that right. Bill C-58 was a major milestone in the fight for fairness at the bargaining table. Prohibiting the use of replacement workers protects a meaningful right to strike and makes employers and unions work together and find solutions. Collective bargaining works. Over the last five years, 95% of disputes that the federal mediation and conciliation service supported were resolved without work stoppages. This shows the system works well when the right support tools are available. However, negotiation is not a simple process, and we are at a pivotal moment. Trade rules are rapidly changing, and our economy faces unprecedented attacks. This is having damaging consequences. At the same time, Canada is working to build major infrastructure, strengthen trade corridors and supply chains, and create good jobs across the country through measures such as Bill C-39. Some labour disputes can therefore have serious economic repercussions, but we cannot build a strong economy without respecting the workers who keep it running every day. That is why Bill C-39 proposes measures to modernize the federal labour framework, strengthen protections for workers in federally regulated industries and help parties address issues earlier, while fully protecting the right to strike. We all have a stake in ensuring an economy can withstand shocks and remain competitive. In some situations, the economic and social impacts are substantive. There can be extraordinary times where the government must retain the ability to intervene, but there should be a clear framework in place to explain that decision to Canadians transparently. I want to be very clear: Our government believes that extraordinary interventions in a labour dispute should always be a last resort. Canadians appreciate this. They know that prolonged disputes can have a massive impact on Canadian families, Canadian jobs and our entire economy. Canadians understand that we must do two things at once: We must protect workers and strengthen economic resilience. They know that when there are strong, supported relationships between employers and workers, where workers are fairly paid and their concerns are addressed, that is the best way to create stability, and that stability drives investment and economic growth, which Canada needs today more than ever. The members opposite need to remember that Canadians chose a government that they knew would keep the state of labour relations strong. Our approach must be pragmatic. We continue to work together with unions and employers to maintain trust in the system and ensure fairness in the workplace. Our collective objective is clear. It is to strengthen good-faith bargaining, protect workers' rights and ensure a strong labour relations framework that helps achieve better outcomes for workers, for employers and for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-39 has many objectives. At its heart, it would strengthen collective bargaining by helping parties address issues earlier, reach negotiated agreements and resolve disputes while fully protecting the right to strike. I hope the member opposite takes this to heart. By acknowledging Canada's economic realities and promoting free and fair bargaining, we enable Canada to remain strong, stable and competitive. Ultimately, that protects workers. However, I would hope that all parties in this House agree over the coming days as we debate this important legislation that workers know and should know that their rights are protected and respected. Employers need to know that there is a clear, fair and effective process for resolving disputes. When negotiations go well, everyone wins, and that is the best way for us to create a strong, stable and growing economy for all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, what did 13 provincial premiers and territorial premiers agree to this week? They agreed to a permanent doubling of the national school food program that will be brought into 10,000 schools across the country. Thirteen provinces and territories agreed, but this opposition cannot get on board to feed kids in our schools. If they are going to stand up and talk about affordability for Canadians, they should do something about it. They should get on board with the school food program that we need for our kids.

Mr. Speaker, we are incredibly proud of this program. Last year alone, it supported over 2,600 projects right across Canada, helping seniors stay active and engaged and fight isolation. This year, we are increasing the value of the grants and we are making some changes to strengthen the integrity of the program. Service Canada is there to assist any organization with questions on how to apply and we are going to make sure that this program remains accessible for seniors and organizations, and meets the standards of integrity that Canadians expect.

Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite. We have worked hand in hand with organizations to ensure that these changes to this program are welcomed. We know that this program delivers important services for seniors in every single riding of every member in this House. That is something that we are going to continue. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives in our support for seniors, while they continue to vote against programs like the dental care plan and the groceries and essentials benefit that benefit single seniors right across the country.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and subsection 39(3) of the Accessible Canada Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Accessibility Commissioner of Canada for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), the report should be referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Madam Speaker, this is a government that is hard at work for all Canadians. We have a plan to build Canada strong, and on days like today we are seeing real progress with 88,000 net new jobs. The largest increase in those jobs is in construction. Youth unemployment fell by nearly a point. In the member's home province alone there are 14,000 new jobs. Our plan is working. We are hard at work. We are going to keep working for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I hopefully have good news for the constituents of that member's riding. Tomorrow, over 27,000 members of that member's constituency are going to receive the groceries and essentials benefit. That is tax-free. That is automatic. That is $530 in the pockets of a family with two children or $267 for someone who is single. That is real help to make life more affordable for Canadians in that member's own riding.

Mr. Speaker, let us think about the consequences of Conservative policy on those very Canadians that member is talking about. They would be families without child care. They would be families without dental care. They would be families without a national school food program. They would be families that would not benefit from a cut to middle-class taxes. These are the policies that our government is putting forward because we are actually on the side of Canadians.

Madam Speaker, I am very glad to have the opportunity to respond this evening. While the member opposite and many of his Conservative colleagues have drawn up elaborate theories about PrescribeIT and Canada Health Infoway, their position does not make any sense. The member opposite has been making absurd claims about a program launched by the previous government, but here are the facts. Our government ended funding for the program because it was not sustainable. Not only that, but the CEO of the organization that launched the program was fired. On top of that, in the House yesterday during question period, the Minister of Health said that she is reviewing funding for the organization in question, Canada Health Infoway. She is looking at its mandate and said that it is not getting any money unless we are sure that its work aligns with its mandate. It does not get more clear-cut than that, except the Conservatives have decided to spread misinformation about the program, all in the name of social media clicks. It is hard to take the outrage on this seriously, especially when we see the Conservatives' behaviour at the health committee, where they have been filibustering since May 7. For the last four meetings, they have used every tool at their disposal to stop the health committee from even voting on a study of the HIV crisis. Every so often they have asked who could possibly be asking for such a study, calling it useless. I think most Canadians in the House would agree that, particularly in Pride Month of all months, that is an untenable and unfathomable position. Does the House know who cares about doing this study? It is some of Canada's leading activists and organizations working in the field of HIV and AIDS who are calling for it. Who else cares about this study? It is the tens of thousands of Canadians living with HIV, not to mention their families and loved ones. When the Conservatives pretend to care about health care in this country, let us look at their actions: spreading false narratives about health care projects and preventing important health care studies from taking place.

Madam Speaker, once again, let us focus on the facts. The minister has been very forthcoming in terms of her presence on this matter and before committee. The previous government helped launch PrescribeIT. Our government announced it was ending. We have already seen that Quebec has signed a contract to launch PrescribeIT in that province. The Conservatives would rather play parliamentary games than focus on issues that matter to Canadians. As we are seeing at the health committee, that means blocking studies on important health topics like HIV. Our government will always focus on what matters to Canadians. It would be very nice if the Conservatives would do the same.

Madam Speaker, allow me to focus on the positive measures the government is continuing to pursue as we work to mitigate the impact of these uncertain times. As the Prime Minister has said, as we cope with economic uncertainty, our most powerful recourse, our most powerful tool is to control what is within our power to control, and that is what we are doing. Let me focus on the government's uncompromising commitment to build a stronger, more inclusive economy. Nothing represents the power of that commitment more than our labour market development agreements and workforce development agreements. These agreements forged between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments are engines of opportunity, resilience and growth. They provide $2.9 billion annually in training and employment assistance services delivered through provincial and territorial employment assistance offices. This approach empowers Canadians with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing labour market. They offer targeted training programs. They offer career services. They offer all manner of employment supports. They are boosting the employment opportunities of Canadian workers, whether they are new graduates, mid-career professionals, or individuals facing barriers to employment. Through these programs, Canadian workers can adapt and thrive. The results speak for themselves. Each year, more Canadians are able to access skills training that leads directly to a career in a field where workers are needed. Job seekers are not only finding work faster but also securing more stable and higher-quality jobs. However, there are no jobs without employers, and this is why we are ensuring that employers also benefit. They get a more skilled and job-ready workforce and an ability to hire more quickly. Both of these advantages foster a boost in productivity. This alignment between worker skills and employers is crucial. It has the power to strengthen entire industries. A well-trained workforce drives innovation, attracts investment and enhances Canada's global competitiveness. This is why our government's workforce tariff response, for example, is providing a further $570 million until 2027-28 under the labour market development agreements. This is funding that will support tariff-impacted employers and workers in the steel and softwood lumber sectors and in other tariff-impacted industries. Global economies have shifted, and tariff tensions are high, but as Canadians, we do not stand idly by. We build, and our skilled trades workers are the ones who will build our future, but we are facing a serious shortage in the trades. This is why we have made a historic five-year, $6-billion investment to help workers and young people gain the skills, experience and support they need in order to thrive. This is where team Canada strong comes in. It is the basis of our spring economic update, and it is our plan to train, recruit and hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers to meet the demand. It is a plan that will help apprentices learn and train, and to access meaningful and well-paid careers. I can assure the House that the Government of Canada will always have the back of our workers and their families. With respect to the importance of the skilled trades and apprenticeships, I have to note that I would encourage the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan to support our new plan for the trades, and I ask him why he voted against it in our spring economic update.

Madam Speaker, Canada's labour market development agreements and workforce development agreements demonstrate what is possible when governments collaborate with a common goal in mind. The economic impact is equally significant. As more Canadians enter and remain in the workforce, consumer spending rises, communities prosper and public revenues grow. This is why workforce development is more than a social policy. It is a cornerstone of economic strength. These agreements invest in people, respond to real labour market needs and deliver measurable benefits for workers and employers alike. They are not just supporting jobs. They are helping to develop a more prosperous and inclusive future for all Canadians. I thank my colleague opposite for answering my question and confirming the fact that he voted against the spring economic update and the $6-billion program we have to reinvigorate skilled trades in Canada and recruit 100,000 new tradespeople and apprentices.

Madam Speaker, despite global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical instability, Canada's fiscal position remains strong. The 2026 spring economic update confirms that our fiscal outlook has improved, not deteriorated. Deficits are declining over the medium term, and the government remains firmly committed to a declining federal deficit-to-GDP ratio. As a whole, Canada also continues to have one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7, with the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio and the second lowest deficit-to-GDP ratio. That strong position is not accidental. It is the result of a government that is committed to making responsible, disciplined choices. That means spending less on government operations, cutting waste and ensuring public funds are used where they can deliver the greatest impact. By managing costs carefully, we are creating the fiscal room to invest more in the things that truly matter, such as supporting workers, helping businesses grow and building the nation-building infrastructure our economy depends on. Fiscal responsibility also means not fuelling inflation. Inflation has remained within the target range for 28 consecutive months, and we want to maintain the right conditions to keep it there. That is why the government is focused on improving supply, especially housing supply, and providing real targeted affordability relief without compromising economic stability. Even under more challenging global conditions, our fiscal position remains stable under our responsible fiscal plan. Let us talk about fairness, because fiscal responsibility is ultimately about intergenerational fairness. The government knows that young Canadians deserve more opportunities. By keeping debt under control and investing in growth, we are protecting their future. The 2026 spring economic update shows a government that is meeting today's challenges while protecting tomorrow's prosperity. I have to highlight for my colleague, given her interest in young Canadians and creating opportunities for them, the transformational $6-billion initiative in the spring economic update to invest in recruiting, training and hiring up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers right across the country. Canada's finances are improving, our fiscal anchors are intact, our debt remains sustainable, and our economy is being strengthened, not undermined by responsible public investment. That is fiscal responsibility. That is what the government is delivering. I hope that my colleague opposite gets on board.

Madam Speaker, the spring economic update shows that the projected deficit is actually $11.5 billion lower in 2025-26 than forecast in budget 2025. This improvement is possible because of stronger-than-expected economic performance and higher revenues. We are concentrating on what we can control, such as maintaining fiscal sustainability while making targeted, high-impact investments for Canadians right across the country. This means eliminating the operating deficit over time, ensuring a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio and ensuring that every dollar spent on behalf of Canadians supports growth and resilience and improves the well-being of Canadians. That is what a fiscally responsible government looks like, and that is how we are building Canada strong for all. By making these adjustments now, we are making it possible to make generational investments that protect and transform Canada's industries, strengthen our economy and empower Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-261 and to highlight the supports that the Government of Canada provides to seniors across the country. After a lifetime of hard work, of investing in and building our country, Canadians unquestionably deserve to retire free from the anxiety of struggling to make ends meet. This became even more pressing in recent years. Canada and the rest of the world witnessed a rupture of unprecedented scale: a global pandemic, disrupted supply chains, overseas wars and an unstable international order. These events have all contributed to the rising cost of living, with seniors often among the most affected. That is why the federal government is taking measures to make retirement even more affordable for Canadians. We have implemented targeted measures, such as the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which will be deposited into Canadians' bank accounts starting Friday. This benefit will provide additional support to approximately three-quarters of seniors living alone. At the same time, Canada has one of the most reliable public pension systems in the world. This system includes old age security, which is available to all Canadians aged 65 and older, as well as the guaranteed income supplement, which provides additional support to low-income seniors who receive an OAS pension. However, we know that as people age, their income tends to decrease, while certain expenses may increase, particularly health care costs. This situation is made all the more difficult by dint of the fact that seniors have fewer opportunities to increase their income through work. Many are therefore at risk of depleting their savings over time. That is why, in 2022, the Government of Canada introduced a 10% increase in OAS for seniors aged 75 and older. We are directing support to the seniors who need it most, while recognizing that the oldest Canadians often face distinct socio-economic challenges and greater financial vulnerability. This decision was based on data and helps avoid lumping all older adults into the same category. Evidence tells us that seniors over the age of 75 are more likely to be in vulnerable financial circumstances and more likely to need support. The decision to increase OAS by 10% was in recognition of the more precarious life circumstances that happen more often at age 75 and upwards. Let us crunch the numbers to get a more detailed view. In 2020, more seniors aged 75 and over received the guaranteed income supplement compared to those aged 65 to 74. There are also more seniors with a disability in that age group. According to the Canadian Survey on Disability, in 2017, 47% of seniors aged 75 and over had a disability compared to 32% of seniors under 75. That is quite a jump, and one that is often associated with additional costs and financial burdens. This policy has already helped more than 3.3 million seniors. They received more than $800 extra over the first year of the increase. The benefit, of course, is indexed, and so that will continue to go up. What is more, this measure lifted almost 21,000 seniors out of poverty in 2021, and over 31,300 in 2022, the majority of whom were women. This was the right decision at the right time. It is measured, targeted and responsible. It is just as important for payments to be reliable and timely, especially for seniors who depend on them to meet their basic daily needs. By dedicating the necessary time and resources, we ensure that essential benefits continue to be paid on time, as Canadians have come to expect. This work ensures that all Canadians receive all the benefits they are entitled to, reliably and without interruption. We are strengthening programs such as old age security while ensuring that they are administered reliably and effectively, particularly for those who need them most. By 2059, seniors are expected to represent almost 25% of Canada's population. They are the fastest-growing age group, and we need to know how best to provide support. This support has never been more important. Aside from the direct financial benefits, think about a program like New Horizons for Seniors. It makes a huge positive difference in people's lives. It allows local community groups to provide programming to enrich the lives of seniors in their neighbourhood. It helps seniors stay connected to each other and to their community. It is about creating spaces where every senior belongs. It is about supporting projects for seniors led by seniors that help them stay active, engaged and connected. I can say that in my own riding of Toronto—St. Paul's, we have many organizations that benefit from the New Horizons for Seniors grant, including one of my favourites, the Yonge Eglinton Community Centre, that offers a tremendous range of programs for seniors, to make sure that they are local, engaged, active, meeting with one another and ultimately healthy as they age. Since this program started in 2004, the program has funded over 45,000 projects in more than 400 communities. It reaches more than 900,000 seniors each year. Investments in the program now exceed $1 billion, and the work continues. This year, we invested $54 million to help bring more than 2,600 of those community-based projects to life. In Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, the riding of the member who sponsored this bill, our government has funded 12 projects, representing a total investment of $238,000 going to seniors in her community. I am also pleased to inform the House that the latest intake cycle for the New Horizons for Seniors program opened yesterday. Organizations across Canada can now apply for grants of up to $50,000. That is double the previous maximum of $25,000 to support projects that improve the well-being of seniors and strengthen their communities. I think that, as every member of this House knows from the operation of this program in their ridings right across the country, this is exactly the type of program that is making a difference in the lives of seniors. Countless seniors talk about how the programming that comes from these grants changes their lives, has made them healthier and has made them more active in the community. It is certainly something that we continue to support wholeheartedly. Supporting older Canadians has always been a priority for this government. It will always be a priority for this government.

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians, including this government, are hoping for an end to the volatility that we have seen across the world that affects us in our local communities. I hope that member takes a moment to consider why he voted against the groceries and essentials benefit, which is being delivered to Canadians this Friday. Over 40,000 constituents in his riding are going to receive that benefit. These are important supports, and the Conservatives continuously vote against the very measures that are there to deliver a more affordable life for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize an extraordinary milestone, the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, a national organization headquartered in my riding of Toronto—St. Paul's. For half a century, CCRW has championed the idea that a stronger Canada is one where everyone can fully participate in the workforce. Its work has connected Canadians with disabilities to employment, supported inclusive workplaces and helped employers understand that accessibility and economic growth go hand in hand. Across our country, businesses succeed when they can draw on the full range of Canadian talent, workers succeed when barriers are removed, and communities succeed when all Canadians can contribute their skills, experience, hard work and ambition to the project of building Canada. The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work has spent 50 fantastic years breaking barriers and helping make that vision a reality. I thank everyone who is a part of that important work for their leadership and commitment. Here is to more years building an inclusive Canada.

Mr. Speaker, in that member's own riding, next Friday over 36,000 of her constituents are going to receive the groceries and essentials benefit. That is up to a $530 payment for a couple in her riding. That is part of this government's plan to make life more affordable for Canadians, part of a plan that includes efforts not only to make life more affordable but to grow our economy as well. I hope she asks some of those 36,000 constituents whether they appreciate receiving the groceries and essentials benefit.

Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich for that member to stand up and talk about supports for parents and families, when he does not support affordable early learning and child care in his very province. It is a program that is delivering for thousands of children right across the province and saving families in Alberta over $10,000 on the cost of their child care in a given year. On this side of the House, we have enhanced maternity and paternity benefits. We have brought in paid sick days. We have increased pay equity for women and for families. That member has stood against all of those measures.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for his question. It provides another opportunity to remind Canadians of our government's commitment to renew the nation's workforce with targeted, dynamic investments in our young people. We are building big, we are building bold, and we are building now. We are building at a scale not seen in this country since the end of the Second World War. We are building 500,000 homes and developing major projects in the national interest, all with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian workers. We are not just building homes and infrastructure; we are training the workforce of the future that will build it. I do not have time to speak in detail about all the programs, but knowing the interest that the member opposite has shown in youth employment, let me focus on some of the highlights. Team Canada strong, a new measure announced in the spring economic update, is a $6-billion nationwide effort to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next five years. This is a plan to address the concerns we heard directly from unions, employers, industry and youth themselves. We are launching the build Canada apprenticeship service to provide up to $10,000 for an apprentice's first-year salary. This will help employers recruit new apprentices and allow us to help match apprentices to job opportunities. We are boosting training capacity and expediting certification in the Red Seal trades. We are helping hire new apprentices by providing a $400 per week top-up while apprentices attend mandatory in-class training and by offering a one-time $5,000 apprenticeship completion bonus to incentivize apprentices to finish their programs. This represents up to $16,000 in support for each apprentice, from recruitment through to training and hiring. It will help workers, whether they are transitioning to this new career or just getting started in the workforce. Similarly, Employment and Social Development Canada's youth employment program is helping more than 25,000 youth with tailored employment supports for the period of 2024-28. An assessment of this program found that nearly 76% of participants who received skills training and employment supports were still employed the following year. That is an impressive success rate and a sign that our investments as a government are targeted and effective. Equally impressive is the success we are seeing with the student work placement program. It is not only helping post-secondary students develop work-ready skills, but also giving employers the means to recruit and develop talent through paid, work-integrated learning opportunities. Again, the statistics tell us that this program is making a difference. In 2024-25, the program placed 51,000 post-secondary students with employers. That makes more than 300,000 opportunities since 2017. The beauty of this program is that it prepares young Canadians for their careers with employers in many sectors right across the economy. As we build this future workforce, private sector employers play a crucial role. It is why we have also introduced new measures to support strategic sectors of the economy and advance major projects. We are creating good, well-paying jobs and our government is continuing to announce significant measures to help employers do just that. Let me assure the member opposite that we take youth employment extremely seriously and we are working with all of our partners to make sure that they are equipped with the skills and opportunities that they need to thrive. This is work that we are going to continue to do and work that was set out so prominently in the spring economic statement as part of a massive new investment to help our young people have the skills they need for the future.

Madam Speaker, I was in the home province of the member opposite just last week. I was meeting with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, talking about the amazing work that is being done there to graduate young people into the trades. It is work that we continue to build on. Just yesterday, I met with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. They called our investments in the spring economic statement a project that made them feel heard. They said that their concerns about how we increase the number of apprentices and increase the number of skilled trade workers across the country are being focused on, and that these are incredible concrete initiatives to improve the recruitment, retention and training of our skilled workers in Canada. We are making these investments precisely because we know that the future of our country's economy, the future of our workforce and the future of so many young Canadians looking to build careers in good-paying jobs depend on our ability to have a skilled trades workforce that meets our needs. That is exactly what we are going to continue to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of a dear friend and remarkable Canadian, Eric Roher. A leader in the field of education and labour law, Eric was at the heart of our community in Toronto—St. Paul's. He was infinitely generous and warm. He loved every inch of Canada so deeply, whether paddling up north or zipping along St. Clair on his Vespa. It was his love of community that drove him to serve as the president of Holy Blossom Temple, where five generations of his family continue to gather, but it was his infinite optimism that prompted him to open the door of his community and his home to my family and so many others. Eric knew that by bringing people together, by finding joy in each other, we could make the world a better place. This is tikkun olam, the Jewish commandment to leave this world better than we found it. In that, Eric, I can proudly say, was successful. To Eric’s beloved family, his wife, Beth, and daughters, Jessica, Rebecca and Sophie, my heartfelt condolences are with them. May Eric’s memory be a blessing to us all.

Madam Speaker, let us take a look at the record of those across the aisle and of all the programs that the Conservatives continue to vote against. They are voting against a national school food program. They are voting against dental care for Canadians. They are voting against the groceries and essentials benefit that, in five weeks' time, on June 5, is going to be putting dollars into the pockets of families right across Canada. These Conservatives vote against affordable child care. They vote against the Canada child benefit. If the member wants to stand up to talk about making life more affordable for Canadians, she should come over here, get on board and vote for the programs that are supporting Canadians.

Madam Speaker, fighting for Canadians means delivering a responsible economic plan, which is exactly what we did on Tuesday by delivering a copy to every member in the House. Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We have the lowest debt burden. We have the second-strongest GDP growth right now. We have the highest labour force participation in the G7. We have the highest per capita investment in the G7, more than double what is happening in the United States. Why does this matter for Canadian families? When we grow our economy, we create prosperity and we create jobs that are going to support Canadians now and into the—

Madam Speaker, we have been very open and clear about this project. I will be clear. On a total budget of $4.8 billion, $1.8 billion has been invested. In fact, the modernization of old age security was delivered under budget. Of the $674 million allocated for this phase, only $633 million was required, reflecting strong project oversight and effective cost management. As the project evolves, so does the budget, reflecting the scale and complexity of modernizing a 60‑year‑old, obsolete system. This has been transparently communicated—

Madam Speaker, here are a few facts for my colleague across the way. The deficit is down. GDP growth is up. Non-U.S. exports are up by almost a whopping 40%. Investment is at a 20-year high. Wage growth is up and two times stronger in Canada than in the United States. Home prices are coming down. Rents are down. We have a plan to put 100,000 apprentices to work. Those are going to be the steamfitters, the electricians, the carpenters and the mechanics in my colleague's riding and mine. That is a plan to build Canada strong.

Madam Speaker, we believe firmly that section 107 is used only in extreme cases when other options have been exhausted. Just last year, for example, a federal mediator supported over 200 collective bargaining negotiations, and 97% of labour disputes are resolved without a major work stoppage. We have a consultation right now on the future of the federal Labour Code. I would invite the member, her colleagues and her constituents to please go online and participate in that as we look ahead down the road.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make sure the member opposite knows that our temporary foreign worker program use is down 50% in 2025 and makes up less than 1% of our workforce. In terms of ensuring that our EI program tackles the needs of all communities across the country, that is something that our government remains committed to, especially at a time when our EI program is so essential to Canadian workers right across the country.

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is talking about what is false. Let me tell her what is true. This Monday, a federal break on the excise tax on fuel comes into effect, which is going to save Canadians 10¢ at the pump. That is true. That is on Monday. Canadians are going to feel that when they pull into the gas station. The Conservatives can stand up and they can rail against the programs that we are legitimately putting in place to help Canadians, but they stand up in opposition to them every single time.

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite should know, the combined effect of what the Liberals have done is that we have actually saved Canadians 28¢ at the pump when we cancelled the carbon tax and now, as of Monday, with an additional 10¢ that we are taking off because of the removal of the federal excise tax. Being in government gives us the privilege and the honour of serving Canadians to make a real difference in their lives. These are real policies that are going to hit Canadians' wallets at a time when we know they are concerned about affordability.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are going to get a real break on Monday, when they see the prices drop at the gas pump by 10¢ a litre with the federal excise tax on fuel coming off. It is not just about families. For the member opposite, let me also remind him that by removing this excise tax we are also helping businesses. We are helping businesses in food production, in agriculture, in construction and in transport. Those businesses now can confidently hire. They can confidently build. That helps Canadians too.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that Canadians have had a tough go of it, and that is one of the reasons why, over the past year, our new government has been absolutely focused on bringing down the cost of living for Canadians. They are going to feel that this Monday when they see prices drop at the gas pumps because we are removing the federal excise tax on fuel. That is a big deal. We also know that Canadians are looking forward to the new groceries and essentials benefit that we are providing. That benefit is going to help families with over $1,800 this spring. This is a complex challenge but—

Mr. Speaker, it is more than a bit rich to hear the member opposite talk about kids going hungry when that party will not vote in favour of a national school food program to save their lives. We are the last country in the G7 to have a permanent national school food program, which will help nearly half a million kids in this country not go to school hungry. If the member is truly concerned about the plight of kids in our country being hungry, why will he not make sure that they have a healthy meal when they go to school in the morning?

Mr. Speaker, since our government took office, we have been squarely focused on the issues that my colleague opposite raises. In fact, members can start to see the proof in the pudding here. Wages for Canadians right now are up 4.7% in the past year, while inflation is at about 1.8%. That is making a difference in the affordability in the lives of Canadians. Right now, at this time of year, Canadians are focused on tax season, and they are focused on affordability. That is why we have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and introduced a groceries benefit that is going to help a lot of the seniors in that member's riding when it comes into effect this spring.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to recognize the leadership of the Carpenters' Regional Council, Tom Cardinal and the entire leadership team here in Ottawa today, who proudly represent more than 60,000 members across the country. Canada is a nation of builders, and carpenters are at the heart of that story. My own grandfather Malcolm MacLeod was a proud member of Carpenters' Regional Council Local 1325 in Edmonton. I remember growing up with the smell of fresh sawdust and running along the 2 x 4s as a project came together. Our government is building Canada strong, from community projects and new homes to the defining nation-building projects of our time. None of this happens without the men and women who show up every day, tools in hand, with their expertise. These are the folks who build careers, train apprentices, strengthen communities and support families across the country. Working together and standing on the shoulders of generations of carpenters before them, we will ensure that Canada is strong, united and ready to build.

Mr. Speaker, this Wednesday, April 15, Canadians across the country will come together for National Canadian Film Day, a celebration of who we are and the stories we tell about ourselves. From classrooms to community centres, from libraries to living rooms, people will gather to watch Canadian films sitting side by side. More than 2,000 free screenings will take place across the country with over 200 films and millions more tuning in from home for stories that reflect our communities, stories that challenge us and stories that remind us who we are and what we share. I am especially proud of Sharon Corder and Jack Blum from Toronto—St. Paul's who co-founded Reel Canada, the organization behind National Canadian Film Day. Their vision has grown into something truly special: a celebration of Canada right across the country and the globe. Tomorrow and in the days to come, I hope Canadians take 90 minutes, give or take, to find a film, gather with others and celebrate the stories, the artists, the directors and the visionaries who bring us together.

Mr. Speaker, I have respect for my colleague opposite, but I would remind him that TFWs are less than 1% of the workforce and that temporary foreign workers use is down by 70% in Canada. In fact, this is a government that stands behind youth. We are creating jobs for youth. One of the things we are doing right now is investing in our union, training and innovation programs, supporting 1,800 trades jobs in the B.C. construction industry, 350 new Red Seal bricklayers at the Ontario Masonry Training Centre and 2,000 sheet metal apprentices and journeypersons through Canada's Building Trades Unions. These are the kinds of serious actions that we are taking as part of our plan to get youth working.