Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, come October, Trevor, from my hometown of Carstairs, will be out of a job. Trevor has worked for Kaytec for 26 years. He was recently given a layoff notice because this siding company is closing shop. Slow housing starts and tariffs mean that the work simply is not there, and Trevor is not alone. I am hearing from Canadians from coast to coast to coast who are worried about how they will pay their bills, put food on the table and fill up their tanks. Our economy is struggling, our construction sector is hurting and Canadians are paying the price. The Liberals are out of touch, and after more than a decade of promises to build homes, Canadians are still facing housing shortages while builders are facing mounting Liberal red tape. The Liberals must stop making excuses and start acting. When will the Liberals step aside, adopt our Conservative plan and give Canadians the relief they need?

Mr. Speaker, I am a little confused by the NDP member's comments about rounding the math. I do not want to criticize him for going off topic so much, because I will probably do a bit of that in three hours when I have to speak, but in some of his comments, he said that taking this tax off would somehow subsidize the oil companies. I do not see how he can say that when it is going to help take taxes off the consumer at the pump. Could he explain how he rounds that math?

Mr. Speaker, could my hon. colleague comment on whether he thinks that if we actually followed the Conservative plan and reduced all of the taxes it would actually benefit the citizens of Canada far more than the 25¢ a litre, so they could afford to get out, go to work and buy their groceries? Does the member think that would be better for the overall economy than this half-measure that the government is proposing?

Mr. Speaker, I did not catch all of the member opposite's comments, but he talked about a lot of the programs the Liberals were spending money on. Would he not agree that it is better for the individual taxpayer, the consumer out there, to actually take less from the consumer and not tax them like the government does with this excise tax? Would it not be better to just not have the money taken away from them to move it around versus spending the money on all the other programs the Liberals have?

Mr. Speaker, if we look at the timing of things, I do not know about the riding in B.C. but I know that in my riding in Yellowhead, quite often gas prices are at their absolute lowest in January. They then start rising again in the spring. Every time it hits me. That is when the prices actually get to their highest. Do you think that the timing of their removal and then the putting of them back on is actually going to help Canadians going forward?

Mr. Speaker, I asked a question to our colleague earlier today and I will ask it again. I am just wondering if the member opposite feels that it is better to continue to not take tax off to give relief to Canadians, versus bringing back a tax to offset the cost, which is taking from one pocket and putting it into another pocket for Canadians. Would it not be better to just not take the tax and extend this fuel excise tax holiday forever?

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the member opposite's comments. I am sure she read the bill, as it is only a few lines long. She said that it would help all these different programs across government and supply all these things, yet when we look at what it would do, it would just not take more tax from Canadians. Can the member opposite tell me how not taking more tax would actually support building more businesses, help people get back to work and support all the social programs she mentioned? I cannot quite follow the logic when we have all this extra spending, yet we are just taking less tax and are helping people not spend as much at the pumps.

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's wonderful speech, and I would like her to expand a bit on something. She said that a lot of what government does is control what it can control, which has a big effect. The Liberals have a $78-billion deficit and had an extra $6-billion-plus in spending after they came out with the budget, so they have controlled a lot of what they are going to spend. Meanwhile, they are kind of ignoring the extra GST and the extra oil revenues from the high prices of gas and oil, which they are consuming. This could go a lot further if they intended. Can you expand on how the Liberals' choices are affecting our citizens?

Mr. Speaker, I have to comment on the member opposite's speech. I felt as though I was listening to a radio. He has a great radio voice. I actually was captivated by some of his comments. In one of them, he said he has just returned from overseas. I would like to ask whether any of the countries he visited were actually oil-producing countries that were taxing their citizens on the fuel they have, compared to importing it. These other countries, I am assuming, were actually importing all their oil and not benefiting from oil they have in their own country. Does any other country you visited actually have a fuel excise tax for its citizens?

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-38 and to the very real issue at the heart of this legislation, which is affordability. For more than a generation, tax policy has been designed to effect social policy. Taxes have been designed to curb our citizens' behaviour, not to benefit taxpayers. Tax policy has not been developed for what is best for the long-term future of Canadians. When taxes interfere with people's way of life, making it cost more to buy food, get to work or go to medical appointments, there is something wrong with our tax system. For families in Alberta and right across Canada, affordability is not an abstract economic concept. It is the price at the gas pump. It is the grocery store bill, the cost of getting to work, the cost of moving a truckload of farm products. It is the cost of building a home. For many Albertans, it is simply a question of whether they can afford to drive the distances that life in a large, rural and resource-producing province requires. That is why the government's decision to extend the federal fuel excise tax suspension matters. However, it is also why we have to look carefully at how we got here and what happens next. Conservatives have been raising this issue for months in the House. During question period back in April, actually on my birthday, I asked the question as to whether the government would extend the suspension of the excise tax until the end of the year. The Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience refused to commit to any relief for Canadians beyond September 7. If the Liberals had dealt with the issue back in the spring, we would not be here today having the same conversation. Are we going to have to do this again next January, when the government realizes the suspension is not enough again? I think all members would appreciate not having to repeat the same debate a third time and would ask the Liberals to consider extending this suspension until Canada Day. We pushed the Liberals to cut the tax. Then we pushed them to stop taking that relief away, but it needs to go further. Mind you, our proposal in April went beyond just the excise tax. We also called for the suspension of the GST on gasoline and diesel, the removal of costs associated with the clean fuel regulations, and the elimination of the industrial carbon tax. The government, however, chose a much narrower measure, by suspending only the federal excise tax. Its own figures estimate that this measure would provide more than $2.4 billion in relief. Now, after that temporary measure was scheduled to expire, the government is looking to extend it. Bill C-38 would keep the federal excise tax suspended through to January 2027, and in February and March the tax would return at half the regular rate. On April 1, April Fool's Day next year, the regular federal excise tax rate would return. It is not a joke. That means about 10¢ per litre on gasoline and 4¢ on diesel. If lowering the fuel tax provides significant relief today, why should Canadians automatically face the full tax again on April 1? Why does the government continue to ignore Canadians who are in desperate need of help? As we debate Bill C-38, I want to take this opportunity to speak about the issue that touches every Canadian, every working family and every business in this country. As the only chartered professional accountant with tax experience in the House of Commons, I understand both the importance and the complexity of the different layers Canadians have to deal with in tax. Canada's tax system has become far too complicated. For too many Canadians, understanding their tax obligation requires navigating a maze of rules, exemptions, credits, deductions and administrative requirements. That complexity comes at a cost. It consumes valuable time and resources for families and businesses. It creates uncertainty for those trying to invest in and plan for the future, and it makes it harder for Canadians to understand how much they are actually paying in tax. A reform of our tax system is not simply about changing the tax rate. It is about building a system that is simpler, more transparent and more fair, one that Canadians can understand and businesses can navigate with confidence. Canadian workers and businesses deserve a tax system that rewards hard work rather than making it harder to get ahead. Small businesses, in particular, need a system that allows them to spend less time dealing with paperwork and more time creating jobs, investing in their communities and growing their businesses. Our tax system should work for Canadians, not the other way around. What is most frustrating with the bill is that the government originally described it as temporary relief. Now it is extending that relief, and I would not be surprised if next year we are back, having to extend it again. The original suspension was supposed to end two weeks ago. Instead, the government is now rushing to extend it through the end of next January and will then phase the tax back in the following two months. That change reflects the economic circumstances Canadians are currently facing. It also reflects the fact that the affordability problem did not disappear when the temporary measure was scheduled to expire, two weeks ago. The government has recognized that, and I think Canadians will thank them for it. The question now is whether the extension is sufficient. For many Canadians, particularly those who drive long distances or operate businesses dependent on transportation, the answer will depend on what happens after March 31, because the reality of fuel costs in Canada will not suddenly disappear on April 1. We also need to recognize the role fuel plays in Canada's competitiveness. Transportation is not an optional part of our economy. It is fundamental to it. When the costs of moving goods rise, businesses face higher operating costs. When transportation costs rise, competitiveness suffers. Regardless of the current political climate, we are still very much competing with the United States, which does not have the layers of taxes and bureaucracy that we do here at home. This is just one more chip away at our global competitiveness, and Canadian businesses are suffering as a result. Another idea we may want to consider is permanently removing the excise tax on Canadian petroleum products to benefit Canadian companies. That is why fuel tax policy is about more than what someone sees at the gas pump. It is also about the cost of moving the Canadian economy. The House should not stop asking questions simply because the government has taken one step. We should be asking what happens next. We should be asking what relief will continue. We should ask how federal tax policies affect the cost of transportation. We should ask how those costs move through the supply chains, and we should ask whether Canadians can realistically afford this tax's return in April 2027. Conservatives have been raising these issues for months. The government has now extended a measure that it originally described as temporary, and that is why Bill C-38 matters, but this debate should not end with the passage of the temporary extension. The bill is needed. No one is doubting that. Canadians need this relief at the pumps, but there is more we can do. There is more we need to do. We need to continue pushing to remove all federal taxes on gas and diesel until at least Canada Day next year; we need to permanently scrap the clean fuel regulations, and we need to remove the industrial carbon tax, so Canadians can save approximately 25¢ per litre. On this side of the House, we are committed to continuing this fight, and we hope to continue making measurable progress. At the end of the day, the bill would be good for Canadians, and for that reason, I will be supporting it. Canadians deserve an economy where working, producing, transporting and building are affordable.

Mr. Speaker, I have made that mistake many a time tonight, I know, and eventually I will break that habit, I am sure. The Conservatives will continue to scrutinize measures and continue to raise the concerns we have heard from Albertans and Canadians, who continue to ask the government where their temporary reliefs are. Comparing ourselves to many of the other countries is quite difficult when we compare our tax system, especially when we look at, as the member opposite brought up, Norway. Norway may have an excise tax that it has changed, but Norway has a completely different system, in which their personal individual tax and their corporate taxes are much higher than what we have in Canada. Their system is going to be looking at quite a difference in terms of what they actually spend on. However, this goes back to our choices, which is what we are debating here in the House. It is about the choices that we are going to make, going forward, on what we are spending and how we are taxing our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, as Conservatives, we are proud of the role we played in securing this win. I feel like this is a win on the Conservative side. We have never stopped fighting, and we will not stop fighting, for more affordability measures. We pushed for this at the beginning, and we actually achieved what we wanted back in April. That part of it has been very beneficial. Yes, the Liberals are plagiarizing our playbook, as the member said.

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are definitely in favour of any tax relief. However, because it is going to come back in April, given the way it is proposed, it does not really help with long-term certainty. Knowing what is going on for the next six months will help with some planning, but people need to plan far beyond six months for their future, whether it is for work or for what they are going to be doing for the next year. It is very important that the measures are extended past April.

Mr. Speaker, after spending the summer in Yellowhead, the most beautiful part of Canada, I am pleased to return to Ottawa to continue representing Alberta in the House. Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to speak with small businesses, farmers and community leaders. One message I consistently heard was that Canadians are working hard, but the tax system they are being asked to navigate is far too complicated. That is why tax reform is a major focus for me. As the only CPA with tax experience in the House of Commons, I take this responsibility seriously. I have met with shadow ministers, members from a range of backgrounds, fellow CPAs and tax experts. I look forward to engaging with more stakeholders. Canada's tax code has become inefficient, and the CRA is not working as intended. Canadians deserve a simpler, fairer tax system that is understandable and predictable, and helps grow the economy.

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G20 country with a prime minister to take the nation into recession. Full-time workers are living in RVs and trailers because they cannot afford homes. Families are spending more on food and rent than they are earning. People are making impossible choices just to survive. At the same time, every single day we learn about another instance of wasteful spending by the Prime Minister that exceeds even Justin Trudeau's record. Will the Prime Minister finally reverse the costly Liberal policies that caused the recession?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is the only G20 leader to take his nation into recession, and Canadians are paying the price. The average family now works 160 days a year just to pay taxes. It means people will work until this week just to pay the government before they can actually start earning for themselves. At a time when families are struggling, the Liberals keep spending, borrowing and wasting more taxpayer dollars. Why do the Liberals refuse to admit that their costly policies have driven Canada into recession and are failing Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member brought up riding size as an issue. He said that his riding is about 20,000 square kilometres. Mine is 83,600 square kilometres, so I feel that it is an even worse situation. The hon. member said he wanted all the votes to be equal. Would he endeavour to have the review a little more often? I know that in Alberta, we each represent 115,000 people on average, far more than members in some of the other provinces do. Would the Liberals consider shortening the time for the review rather than having it every 10 years?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sorrow for a community in Yellowhead. Two men and two children lost their lives on O'Chiese Road last Friday. While the RCMP investigation is ongoing, local leaders have warned for years that a tragedy like this would happen on that road. In March, I met with the O'Chiese First Nation council to learn about the long history of trying to get this road fixed. I drove the road myself, and it was atrocious. The nation repeatedly sought assistance from the Liberal government, but its requests were ignored by multiple ministers, so the nation asked me to deliver a binder documenting the safety concerns and requests for action, which I did in March in the House. Months later, there is still no action. Today, a community is grieving an unimaginable loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the families, their loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy. There can be no more procrastination. I call on the Liberal government to work with Clearwater County and the Province of Alberta to finally provide its share of the funding needed for O'Chiese Road to be made safe.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition today on behalf of fellow chartered professional accountants and other tax preparers who are concerned about how the Canada Revenue Agency authorizes its tax representatives. The petitioners point out that the CRA has moved to an online-only system, through “My Account”, creating real barriers for Canadians. Seniors, those with disabilities and those who have unreliable Internet and digital skills are left behind. It is unfair. Many of these individuals rely on trusted tax preparers to help them meet their obligations. Under the previous system, only a year ago, certified e-filers could securely and efficiently process authorizations on behalf of their clients. That process worked up until a year ago, but now it has become difficult to get the representatives authorized. The petitioners acknowledge the importance of preventing fraud. However, they believe the current system unfairly penalizes the vast majority of honest taxpayers and tax professionals because of the actions of a small number of bad actors. They are calling on the government to direct the CRA to restore the accessible authorization methods for approved tax preparers and to ensure that fraud prevention efforts are targeted only at those who are bad actors.

Madam Speaker, I know that my hon. colleague was at one point a visitor to the public accounts committee when some of the military generals were there. I specifically asked this question then, and I am wondering if he can comment about it. The Liberals said they want the F-35, but it has changed multiple times, and now they are delaying again. If the procurement process is so bad that it is going to take 15 years, when are we expecting to actually spend the money?

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, I have sent various reports and updates to households and businesses across the 35 communities of my beautiful riding. Yellowhead, this last election, has significantly changed boundaries, incorporating areas from five previous ridings. One of the mailers was a tax guide to help individuals, families and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Many have found this mailer very helpful. However, hundreds, if not thousands, of my constituents did not receive it due to a lack of coordination between Canada Post, Elections Canada and the House of Commons printing services. I encourage those watching to visit my website and review my monthly updates, but please know that my team and I are actively working with all parties involved to resolve these delivery issues so that they receive the information they expect from their member of Parliament. People have the right to hear from their elected officials. Taxpayers are paying for the service, and it is unacceptable that my constituents are not receiving it. As the only CPA with public practice experience in the House, every day I hear from law-abiding Canadians and professional accountants. People are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex tax system. Individuals with limited Internet and those lacking computer skills are being discriminated against when dealing with CRA and their access. A recent report out of British Columbia is deeply concerning. A Canada Revenue Agency employee has been charged after allegedly compromising sensitive tax information and is now facing charges including breach of trust, identity theft and fraud following a multi-year investigation. While honest taxpayers are being burdened, cases like this raise questions. Canadians expect the CRA to protect their sensitive financial information. Instead, we see situations where bad actors within the system are able to access, misuse and abuse the data for years before being caught. Tax fairness is not just about how much people pay. It is about ensuring that the system treats everyone equally. That means going after the wrongdoers while respecting and supporting the millions of Canadians who follow the rules. In April, in response to my question regarding removal of all gas taxes, the Liberal minister said that “Albertans are looking for the government to provide solutions” and claimed that her government is “delivering”. What is true is that Albertans are looking for change. What is lacking is any proof that the government is actually delivering. Real action would mean scrapping all federal gas and diesel taxes for the rest of the year, not pausing a third of the taxes for a third of the year. That is not delivery; that is a headline. Statistics Canada has confirmed that Canada continues to have the worst food inflation in the G7. Even with the temporary pause of the excise tax, Canadians are still paying nearly 15% more at the pump than Americans, due to the higher taxes and our weaker dollar. Families feel this every day. Higher fuel costs drive up prices across the board, forcing Canadians to choose between filling their tank and filling their grocery cart. Therefore, I will ask again: If the government knows that energy costs drive everything else, why will it not remove all federal fuel taxes and deliver real relief?

Mr. Speaker, three years ago, before the crisis got worse, Conservatives called upon the Liberals to suspend gas taxes for the summer so that Canadians could afford a simple road trip. The Liberals voted no. Now, after years of inflation, with higher grocery costs and during an international energy crisis, we are calling for a stronger measure: to remove all federal fuel taxes for the rest of the year. Once again, the Liberals refuse to act. Instead, the Prime Minister offered a half measure, cutting a third of the taxes for a third of the year. This might have helped back in 2023, but not now. Canadians are struggling. The cheapest gas around is reaching two dollars a litre. People cannot afford a government that is constantly behind. When will the government stop pretending to help and actually deliver real relief?

Mr. Speaker, it would be amusing if the truth and the reality were not so sad. I would like to get my hon. colleague's comments on what the previous speaker said about how Canadians want to have the opportunity to invest. In this situation, does he believe people will not be voluntarily contributing money? It is the government taking from our tax dollars to do it, and that is a completely different perspective from what the Liberals are proposing.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my B.C. colleague for giving us a bit of an Alberta history lesson. Part of it was almost entertaining. When I look at this, I am a little concerned. One of the issues here is that the Liberals want to compare Norway to Alberta, whereas Alberta has had, over the last 50 years, $600 billion in transfer funds go out of the province to the rest of the country. If that was actually in the Alberta heritage fund, we would probably be exceeding Norway at this time. My concern is with the lack of structure. Who is going to be in control of this? How are they going to be appointed? Is the member concerned that this is just going to be another slush fund for the Prime Minister to dictate to his buddies to invest in what the government is concerned about?

Mr. Speaker, when gas and diesel prices rise, they drive up the cost of everything. Farmers, truckers and grocery stores all feel it, while families pay for it. No wonder Canada's food inflation is the highest in the G7 for the fourth month in a row. Conservatives called upon the Liberals to remove all gas taxes, but the Prime Minister played politics, cutting a third of the tax for a third of the year. When will the Liberals remove the remaining gas taxes for the rest of the year and deliver real relief to struggling Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, prior to my election in 2025, I was a financial agent for multiple members during elections and for further EDAs. I just want the member to clarify that the whole intent of this is to restrict the financial agents within one particular EDA, one particular riding, to not have competition. However, if a financial agent is able to help out in three different ridings that are not competing, that is not really what this is getting at. This is actually just getting at somebody doing multiple ones in one particular election or by-election.

Mr. Speaker, at a time of global conflict and energy insecurity, Canada should be part of the solution by providing ourselves and our allies a secure and reliable source of energy. Instead, the Prime Minister continues to block Canadian energy development while our allies search elsewhere for supply, leaving us vulnerable to Trump's unjustified tariffs. Today, none of Canada's oil reaches Europe because Liberal laws have made it nearly impossible to build pipelines or the export facilities that are needed to get it there. The consequences are serious. Amid the conflict in the Middle East, the Trump administration continues easing sanctions on Russian oil. Every barrel that Russia sells means more revenue to Putin's war machine. Instead of supporting Canadians, that money is funding a dictatorship that continues to terrorize Ukrainian civilians. Canada cannot control global conflicts, but we can control whether our resources reach the world market. It is time for the government to remove the barriers holding Canadian energy back. There has been photo op after photo op, with dozens of police officers as a backdrop, to announce empty promises. The Liberal Prime Minister and public safety minister pledged to improve safety with 1,000 new RCMP officers. The Auditor General delivered a damning report recently that said the RCMP is now short 3,400 officers. Recruitment is failing. With only 1,500 spots available, the training positions are still not being fulfilled. After a year-long wait to get processed, only 6% of applicants are making it through the process. The RCMP is failing to recruit, train and retain the officers we need to protect our communities, and the government continues to turn a blind eye to the problem. In rural communities, like the ones I represent in Yellowhead, police are stretched to a breaking point. They cannot keep up with the wave of crime while the Liberals delay real bail reform. Even with the announcements, there have been enough photo ops. It is time to stop the illusions, put real boots on the ground and actually protect Canadians. The Auditor General has made it clear that after nearly a decade, billions of dollars and countless promises, the Liberal government has no credible plan to fix the Phoenix pay system. Over 133,000 public employees remain trapped in a backlog of pay errors, with many afraid to retire because they do not trust that they are actually going to get their correct pay. The government is now preparing to move forward with a replacement system while the underlying problems remain unresolved. The Auditor General warned that without fixing the existing data and the backlog, the same errors will simply be transformed into the new system. What has all this cost? The Phoenix system cost $4 billion, and now the government is planning to spend another $3.5 billion on a replacement system that risks repeating the same mistakes. Public servants have been overpaid, underpaid or not paid at all. It is no wonder the bureaucrats in Ottawa and across the country do not trust the Liberal government, let alone Canadians who lost confidence years ago. I ask the government this. Why is it prioritizing a rushed transition to a new pay system instead of fixing the existing backlog, cleaning up the data and ensuring that the same costly mistakes are not being repeated?

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are losing confidence in the fairness of our immigration system. The Auditor General found over 153,000 suspected cases of international student visa fraud, yet only a fraction are being investigated. At the same time, the Ethics Commissioner found that a deputy minister who was in immigration at the time broke the Conflict of Interest Act by fast-tracking a friend into an $80,000-a-year role at immigration, despite their having no French, no government experience, no basic systems knowledge and no expertise in federal laws. With the system in its worst shape in years, fraud goes unchecked, the minister avoids accountability and insiders get special treatment. Decisions like this, alongside other online failures such as the pay system, undermine the work of dedicated public servants and demotivate those who actually follow the rules. Canadian taxpayers expect qualified people in charge. How can they trust the government when their connections matter more than their competency?

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition on behalf of fellow professional chartered accountants and others who are raising concerns about how the Canada Revenue Agency has authorized its tax representatives. Petitioners point out that the CRA has moved to an online system, “My Account”, creating real barriers for many Canadians. Seniors, persons with disabilities, those without reliable Internet and those without digital skills are being left behind. Many individuals rely on trusted tax preparers to meet their obligations. To get the appropriate authorization has become unreliable, and there is bureaucratic red tape to get through in order to be authorized. That process worked only a year ago but now has become quite difficult. Therefore, if the government would go back to the previous tax system, it would correct the unfair penalizing of taxpayers who are trying to get a new tax preparer. The petitioners state that they are calling for the government to restore accessible authorization methods for approved tax preparers and to ensure that fraud prevention efforts are targeted only at those who actually break the rules.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Grand Cache, in my wonderful riding of Yellowhead. People are calling on the government to do one thing: restore fairness to the community. It is a remote and isolated town where everything costs more. While these are exactly the kinds of challenges the northern residents deduction is meant to address, a line on the map that was drawn by a bureaucrat in Ottawa has excluded Grand Cache from the program. My constituents are simply asking for fair treatment. If Grand Cache were reclassified, a typical family with children would save about $1,200, which should be left in its pocket. Exceptions have been made in the past for other remote communities, including, recently, Haida Gwaii in British Columbia. The petitioners therefore call on the government to include Grand Cache in the northern residents deduction program. I support their call and will continue to advocate on their behalf in the House.

Mr. Speaker, “I'll always be worried [the government will] come looking for something...I can never trust the information l get from them”. These are the words of a public servant who is afraid to retire because of a broken pay system the Liberal government refuses to fix. There are 133,000 employees in the same situation. The Auditor General has confirmed that billions have been spent with no clear plan to fix the backlog, meaning that the new system would start with the same flawed data. How can Canadians trust the government to fix the mess it has had a decade to address?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the member opposite on how bureaucracy does not build any homes and how the government has to have a mechanism to do that. However, he said that the process was going to allow us to use unused lands in the different parts of the departments. Could he tell me where in the bill there are any limits, goals or numbers for departments to say what is possible for vacant lands? My understanding is the departments themselves determine what is vacant, and they may never actually come up with any available lands unless they are given goals and requirements.

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, and I want to send a shout-out to the cattle farmers facing today's challenges. Attendees learned about the issues of the day, but it was not all doom and gloom. One inspiring session was presented by James Lawrence, an Alberta boy, born and raised in Calgary, known as the “Iron Cowboy”. He ran Ironman triathlons, breaking many Guinness world records. In 2021, he completed 101 Ironman races in 101 days. That is 3.8 kilometres of swimming, 180 kilometres on a bike and then 42 kilometres running every day. His perseverance is a testament to how the human spirit can push through to accomplish anything. For one of those races, he pulled and pushed Dayton, a boy with cerebral palsy, through the race to make the boy's dream to be an Ironman come true. A lesson I can take from this is that, no matter how bad the Liberal government has been over the last 10 years, there is hope. If we keep the faith, we can get through this.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when Canadians are feeling economic pressure, it is more important than ever that all levels of government work together. Municipalities are under growing strain. The cost of building and maintaining infrastructure continues to rise, while local councils are still expected to deliver essential services and support the growth of their communities at the levels residents deserve. It is my pleasure to work with the mayors and councillors of 18 municipalities across my riding of Yellowhead. It takes nearly eight hours to travel from north to south, and while it is not always possible to be everywhere on every occasion, I remain in constant contact with my municipal and provincial counterparts. I want to thank my municipal leaders for their dedication, hard work and commitment to their communities. Their leadership makes a real difference in the lives of residents every day. By working together, we can move projects forward and ensure that our communities continue to grow and succeed. As tax season is under way, families across the country are gathering documents to comply with our voluntary self-reporting tax system. Meanwhile, my fellow CPAs and accountants are working long hours helping Canadians navigate an increasingly complex system. My colleagues in the profession are doing a great job. To them, I say stay strong; May is coming soon. However, there is an elephant in the room. While hard-working people are doing the right thing, I continue to hear that the CRA creates confusion and unnecessary errors. Too often, a single parent who made a mistake faces a lengthy and difficult process to correct it, while large corporations can see millions in tax debt forgiven with no transparency. As the only CPA with public practice experience in the House, I proactively engage with the accountants in Yellowhead and across Canada to bring forward their concerns and their ideas for change, specifically with respect to authorizations. Together, we will restore common sense, accountability and fairness to the CRA. I recently asked the Liberals to remove the taxes and red tape holding Canadians back. I asked a simple question: What are they waiting for? Sadly, what Canadians heard was an attempt by the government to blame everyone else for problems it had created. Yes, global uncertainty and trade tensions matter, but Canada's economic weakness did not start yesterday. For years, businesses across the country have been warning about rising taxes, endless regulatory delays and inflation fuelled by the Prime Minister's $78-billion deficit. Those decisions are made here in Ottawa. The facts speak for themselves. Canada now has the weakest economic growth in the G7, and GDP per capita has shown negative growth. Investment is leaving the country, productivity is failing, and too many businesses are choosing to expand elsewhere instead of here. Instead of dismissing the legitimate concerns of hard-working Canadians as a “hissy fit”, as the Liberal parliamentary secretary did in response to my question, the government should listen to these workers, entrepreneurs and families who are living with the consequences of its policies every day. If the government truly wants to create good-paying jobs, it must restore confidence in Canada as a place to invest, build and grow. When will the government finally take responsibility and remove the barriers holding back Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, as a follow-up, I would like to ask the parliamentary secretary if he could tell me if he has any information or any statistics on this mythical unicorn of a first-time homebuyer who is spending $1 million to get $50,000 off their taxes. I have never actually seen a first-time homebuyer buy a brand new home. This GST that you are supposedly giving back to them is only for their very first home, on a brand new home. People in my riding cannot afford a $1-million home the first time they are buying a home. They are never going to get this $50,000, which you said was an average but have said before is actually the maximum. I am just wondering if you have any actual statistics to show that there are people buying new homes as their first home.

Mr. Speaker, last weekend I attended Rocky Mountain House's Denim and Diamonds chamber event, where Alberta's own Paul Brandt shared the powerful story behind the #NotInMyCity organization and its mission to combat human trafficking in Canada. Founded in 2017, #NotInMyCity has grown into a national movement that raises awareness, connects law enforcement and community partners, and equips Canadians to recognize the signs of exploitation. Today, more than 20,000 people have completed its training, and its team works with over 40 airports across Canada to help identify trafficking, which is often described as modern-day slavery. It is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world, targeting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Awareness saves lives. I encourage Canadians to visit the website, take the training, learn to recognize the warning signs and join the efforts to protect people at risk. Together we can end human trafficking in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Yellowhead residents. Natural health products are used by millions of Canadians. They include vitamins, probiotics, herbal remedies, protein powders, body care products and many other items. People rely on these products to prevent or address illness and maintain well-being. Regulatory changes by Health Canada have increased their cost and restricted accessibility. Canadians want the freedom to make choices about their own health and the products they use. They also expect natural health practitioners and retailers to be able to provide guidance without facing excessive penalties. Therefore, the residents of Yellowhead and people across the country are calling on the government to guarantee the right of every Canadian to access and use natural health products, ensure costs are not increased, safeguard the ability to share information and support Bill C-224.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Instead, he has delivered the weakest. Today, Statistics Canada reports that Canada is the only country in the G7 with negative growth. How did this happen? It is because of years of inflationary deficits, high taxes and an exploding bureaucracy. Business has stalled. Capital is leaving. The GDP per capita is flat. It is time for the Liberals to remove the taxes and red tape holding Canadians back. What are they waiting for?

Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of two young ladies, Danica Hills and Kayla Peacock, following a fatal collision near Jasper, in my riding of Yellowhead. These two Harry Collinge High School students were dedicated hockey players with the Jasper Bearcats and were driving home after practice. Their passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of their families and friends in the wider Hinton and Jasper communities. We are mourning the loss of these two beloved daughters, sisters, classmates and teammates. My deepest condolences are with their loved ones. No parent should ever have to lose a child. No community should have to bear such a loss. As a parent of two daughters, my thoughts are with them. In moments like this, being there for one another matters more than ever. May their memory be eternal. May their loved ones find strength in the days ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question regarding whether my colleague thinks it is incompetence or actually skullduggery in the Liberals' trying to get the money without actually coming up with the ideas and the transparency of where the numbers are. The Liberals want to keep producing the GST break for first-time homebuyers, but there are no statistics out there. It looks like they are coming up with a program that exists for nobody, so maybe sometimes they are just guessing at what they want for money because they do not really know what they actually have, as opposed to something that might be a plan that we do not understand.

Mr. Speaker, tax policies do not exist in a vacuum. They only work if the system actually works for the people who rely on it. As a chartered professional accountant, I have spent 26 years in public service. I have filed thousands of tax returns. For decades, friends and clients relied on me to navigate our complex tax system. Canada's tax system is based on voluntary self-reporting, and that translates into ordinary Canadians being penalized if they do not get it exactly right. The role of CRA should be to help people comply on time and accurately. That means clear answers, knowledgeable staff and accessible service. However, most Canadians have a bad experience with CRA. They struggle to get through on the phone, and they receive inconsistent answers. Some agents are excellent professionals. Others simply read from a script, offer confusion instead of clarity or are simply wrong. That is not good service. Good service requires proper training, accountability and staffing models that allow agents to access the tools they need to help taxpayers. The CRA touches millions of Canadians every year. It does not have to be this painful. If the Liberal government is serious about respect for taxpayers, it should focus less on extracting every last dollar and more on helping Canadians comply with confidence, dignity and accuracy. For months, Canadians have been told by the government that there is no tax on food. In December, when I asked the Prime Minister about hidden taxes on food, one of his parliamentary secretaries claimed that the taxes have zero impact on food prices. However, Canadians cannot buy groceries with Liberal talking points. They pay with their hard-earned dollars. When government policies drive up the cost of fuel, energy, packaging and production, that is a tax on food, even if we do not see it listed on our grocery bill. The clean fuel standard alone adds real costs to gasoline and diesel. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed this increases fuel prices now and they will keep rising. That affects farmers running equipment, truckers hauling food, processors packaging it and stores keeping the lights on. These costs do not disappear. They are passed on to families at the grocery store. The same is true for the industrial carbon tax. Taxing industries that grow, process, transport and refrigerate food means higher prices for everything we eat. Experts have warned that these policies are making Canadian food producers less competitive, especially compared to the United States, and the gap is growing. Then there is inflation driven by the reckless spending and the Prime Minister's recent $78-billion deficit. Inflation is the most painful hidden tax of all because it erodes the value of every paycheque. On top of that, the government piled on new costs through its food packaging rules, hitting restaurants and takeout providers already facing serious financial strain. Thousands of restaurants have closed and more are expected to follow. These policies all add costs to food. Conservatives call it what it is, a tax. If the Prime Minister is serious about affordability, would he eliminate the fuel standard and bring his deficit under control to stop taxing the food supply chain?

Mr. Speaker, in December, I raised Grande Cache as an example of a remote area that is bearing the brunt of rising grocery costs. Residents of Grande Cache have been fighting for years to have their community recognized under the northern residents deduction, a program designed to acknowledge the higher costs of living in remote areas. Grande Cache is remote. Everything costs more, including travel, access to services and groceries, but an arbitrary line on a map drawn by a bureaucrat has excluded it. That is why residents came together to launch a petition simply asking for fair treatment. If Grande Cache were to be included, some families would save more than $1,200 annually. Real money would go back into household budgets and groceries. This is a request similar to that made by Haida Gwaii in B.C., which was reclassified just last year, in 2025. Would the government reclassify Grande Cache into zone B under this program?