Ryan Turnbull
Whitby, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, before I get started, I will just let you know that I will be sharing my time with the member for Beauport—Limoilou . I am pleased to rise today to debate Bill C-30 , which is an act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28.”
“This would provide a savings of 10¢ per litre on gasoline and four cents per litre on diesel from April 20, 2026, through to Labour Day. The bill would also extend the suspension of the excise tax to aviation fuel over the same period to help mitigate the very high costs of jet fuel.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is good to be here in the very last moments before the House rises for the summer. I know that there are a large number of farms in the member opposite's riding. There are farm succession plans all across this country, and farmers do struggle with succession, so I understand the issue the member is speaking about.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would just say that it has become apparent in the House, through question period and many of the proceedings, that the Conservatives claim that they are about protecting and supporting vulnerable people, but in fact, they just seem to use those people's hardship for political gain.”
“It includes suspending the excise tax on fuel and extending that to aviation fuel. It includes a cap on the excise tax for alcohol, wine, spirits and beer. Craft brewers have been asking for this. Obviously, it would be capped at 2% of the escalator on the excise tax on alcohol.”
“It is a measure I have supported from day one because it offers owners of businesses that are small- to medium-sized, or they could be larger, the opportunity, when they want to sell the business, to protect those businesses and also to hand them down to workers.”
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“The spring economic update 2026 proposes to extend the grace period during which homeowners are not required to start repaying their withdrawals, from two years to five years for participants making a first withdrawal between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2028. This would build on the extended grace period that already applies to withdrawals made between 2022 and 2025, providing cash flow relief of up to $4,000 per individual per year for the three years over which they are not required to repay the amount into their RRSP. Once again, Bill C-30 would make this support a reality. Our government also recognizes that supporting Canadian workers means protecting them from the economic impacts of an uncertain world.”
“We also would be extending the RRSP homebuyers' plan in Bill C-30 . To further support workers and their families, the legislation before us would also deliver cash flow support to make it more manageable for Canadians to finance home ownership. The homebuyers' plan would allow first-time homebuyers to withdraw up to $60,000 from their registered retirement savings plan to buy or build a qualifying home, or $120,000 per couple. Under the plan, withdrawals would not be included in income when withdrawn. Instead, they must be repaid to the RRSP over a period of no more than 15 years, starting in the second year following the year in which the withdrawal was made. I know that sounds complicated, but this is good news for anybody who is able to take money out of their RRSP to help purchase a first home.”
“This support also benefits employers and regional economies by ensuring that experienced workers return each season, which helps industries operate efficiently and supports economic activity in many rural and coastal regions across Canada. To better address gaps in EI support between seasons in specific regions, temporary rules were introduced in 2018 to provide up to five additional weeks of EI regular benefits, for a maximum of 45 weeks, to eligible seasonal workers in 13 economic regions. (1010) While this support was set to expire in October 2026, the spring update announced our government's intention to extend this support in the 13 targeted regions until October 2028. Bill C-30 would make this extension a reality, delivering an estimated additional $356 million in support for seasonal workers over the next five years.”
“I am pleased to say that Bill C-30 would make this increased support for Canadian workers a reality, making it more economical for them to bring their skills to where the work is and to build Canada strong. However, helping workers move to where the jobs are is just one way through which Bill C-30 would support Canadian workers. We know, for example, that many sectors in Canada, including agriculture, the fishing industry, forestry and tourism, rely heavily on seasonal workers due to weather, natural cycles and fluctuating demand. Employment insurance currently provides temporary income to support these workers during off-season periods, when their seasonal work is unavailable, helping them maintain financial stability and remain in their community.”
“To recognize these costs, the labour mobility deduction for tradespeople currently provides tax recognition on up to $4,000 per year in eligible temporary relocation expenses for tradespeople and apprentices who relocate to temporary lodging that is at least 150 kilometres closer to a job site where they are performing construction activities. To recognize additional costs, the spring economic update proposes to increase the annual limit on expenses that can be deducted, from $4,000 to $10,000, indexed annually to inflation, and to modify the minimum distance threshold for relocations, from 150 kilometres to 120 kilometres. Those changes would be effective for 2026 and subsequent taxation years.”
“With generational wealth transfers set to occur over the coming decades, EOTs, employee ownership trusts, would enable workers to participate directly and to benefit from the companies they make stronger. That is exciting news for workers all across this country. We have seen examples in the U.K. and the U.S. of true success with employee ownership trusts' exhibiting a collective ownership model that truly shows how successful those businesses can be. Our government is also enhancing the labour mobility deduction, which recognizes that investing in transportation infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada's economy. Among other things, it allows our workers to go where the work is, because we recognize that some workers in the construction trades incur high expenses to travel for temporary jobs.”
“We are expanding training capacity to deliver results at scale, modernizing apprenticeship grants to meet the needs of the current labour force market while working with labourers, employers and provincial and territorial partners to shorten timelines and improve labour outcomes. We are also moving forward with something that is close to my heart: employee ownership trusts. Because Canadian workers are going to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, purpose-built for the 21st century, they should share in the success of the businesses they are helping to build. That is why we are making the employee ownership trust tax exemption permanent. Building and buying Canadian is a core mission of our government, and employee ownerships trusts empower Canadian workers to buy into the businesses they help create and build.”
“Madam Speaker, with our plan, we would build a Canada that is not just strong but good, and not just prosperous but fair, a Canada that is not just for some people most of the time but for all people at all times. It is a plan to build Canada strong for all, and with Bill C-30 , we are moving forward with that plan ambitiously. We know that workers are at the centre of that plan. They are the ones who will help us build the strongest economy in the G7. That is why the spring economic update is making historic investments in the Canadian workforce. In order to create new opportunities for young Canadians, we would launch the team Canada strong initiative to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal skilled trades workers by 2030-31, aligned to Canada's housing, infrastructure and defence needs.”
“We have a plan to help grow a strong and resilient economy, but it is Canadian workers who are ultimately going to help build the strongest economy in the G7—”
“It advances our progress of building more affordable homes and the major infrastructure that transforms and connects our economy, while bringing down costs to help Canadians get ahead. It also provides a clear and transparent account of how Canada's economy is performing in an increasingly uncertain world. This transparency is critical in order to lift the fog of uncertainty, help businesses seize new opportunities and give families the confidence to plan for their future. With our plan, we are building a Canada that is not just strong but good, and not just prosperous but fair, a Canada that is not just for some people most of the time but for all people at all times. It is a plan to build Canada strong for all, and with Bill C-30 , we are moving forward with that plan.”
“Today's highly integrated global economy is built on tight supply chains and just-in-time deliveries. While these arrangements have created tremendous benefits and efficiencies over the years, they also come with vulnerabilities. This means that when the system is disrupted anywhere, people are affected everywhere. That includes here in Canada. In response, Canada's new government continues to focus on what we can control here at home: building a strong Canadian economy, diversifying our trade partners abroad, delivering responsible fiscal management and supporting Canadians who are under pressure from everyday expenses, with a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow. With the spring economic update 2026, “Canada Strong for All”, we are proposing the next steps in this plan.”
“Through it, and through the legislation, we are offering targeted relief to make life more affordable, support workers and accelerate the construction of homes and major infrastructure across the country. We are strengthening Canada’s competitiveness and economic growth, while investing in strong, safe communities across the country. We are doing all this at a time when Canadians are navigating a rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented world, one that is more complex, more volatile and, for many people, more costly and unpredictable. Every day, we seem to awaken to news of trade conflicts and wars that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. These are developments that Canada had no role in precipitating, yet they are developments from which we are not immune.”
“Madam Speaker, it is good to see you in the chair today. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, I have the honour and privilege of beginning debate on Bill C-30 , an act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026. Earlier this week, the Minister of Finance delivered a riveting 2026 spring economic update, which builds upon the momentum of budget 2025 by announcing the next steps in our ambitious plan to build Canada strong for all. The spring economic update provided a clear update on the strength of Canada's economy, giving Canadians confidence in our plan.”
“Mr. Speaker, what is great about this fund is that we are leveraging our strong fiscal position in Canada. Again, the IMF said Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We just reported $11 billion less in the deficit. We have cut operating spending and increases. We are moving down from 8%, on average, to 2%. We are doing that, all while supporting Canadians with affordability measures and building a stronger economy. We want to ensure that Canadians can benefit from the generational wealth we are building.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member can be assured that this will be independent, because it will be set up as a separate Crown corporation with an independent board and CEO, and it will operate under commercial terms. It will invest money in order to get returns for Canadians. We will see that fund grow over time and continue to invest in large projects that have good financial returns and will pay dividends to everyday Canadians. It is a great concept. I know that members opposite have every right to debate this. That is what the House of Commons is for. What I take issue with is the overall pessimism they have about a sovereign wealth fund. There are many examples around the world of how this can really help achieve national and generational wealth.”
“We did it during the war and at any time in history when our sovereignty was tested. This is the perfect time, in my view, to help make it attractive to Canadians and give them the opportunity to participate in the process.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know why the member opposite has such an opposition to the thought that everyday Canadians should be able to do this. When I was a kid, I had a paper route. I saved money every month, and my parents encouraged me to buy Canada savings bonds. This is essentially doing a similar thing. The Government of Canada is saying that it is going to help attract investment and build a stronger economy in Canada, and it wants to create retail opportunities so that everyday Canadians, around their kitchen table, can say, “Hey, we want to participate in the prosperity that we are building.” I know the members opposite do not like it when I talk about the paper route I had as a kid, for some reason, but buying those government savings bonds was a great tool to build wealth. My parents encouraged me to do that when I was young.”
“We moved forward with major deductions and immediate expensing for businesses across Canada so they can invest in new machinery and equipment, research and development, protecting their intellectual property and much more. These things help attract investment in this country. That is exactly what we are doing, and the sovereign wealth fund is an example of how we ensure that Canadians can benefit from that.”
“Mr. Speaker, that question is one that I feel very passionate about answering, because there are many things we are doing on many fronts. The Major Projects Office obviously addresses challenges that this country has faced, in terms of streamlining projects and getting approvals where investment has not been strong enough in Canada. That is exactly the intent of the Major Projects Office, to remove a lot of the barriers for investment to come into Canada and to streamline that process so we can build big things again in this country. That is great news, but it is only part of the picture. In our budget, we moved forward with new investment tax credits and strengthening those, the clean economy investment tax credits.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know there is much we can learn from other entities around the world that are similar to the Canada sovereign wealth fund. We can draw lessons from Quebec's generations fund and from Alberta's heritage savings trust fund. We can draw learnings from Norway and Singapore. Many of these large income-generating national wealth funds have been built over decades. The idea for Canada to be setting one of these up now has the perfect timing, in my view. In fact, I would suggest that we should have done this probably 30 years ago, but it is really great that we are going to do this now to be able to have a nest egg that builds wealth in this country and distributes it to everyday Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite and I share many differences, but the one thing we can agree on is that Canada is the greatest country in the world and has the greatest potential to be even stronger and more prosperous than it is today. This is exactly what the sovereign wealth fund intends to do. Again, it is to help all Canadians be able to participate in the prosperity that we are building and those major projects, which are going to have high returns. I know members opposite believe in many of those projects that run through their parts of the country, which are going to benefit their communities with work opportunities and with new tax revenue for other levels of government, including the federal government. The sovereign wealth fund is going to help us give Canadians the opportunity to participate in that prosperity.”
“It is that sense of solidarity all Canadians have, that sense of pride in our country, that sense of the strength we have in all of us, that grit we have as Canadians: that we want to build a better future, that we want to do it together, that we are a part of the same mission and vision as a country, and that we all should participate and benefit from the prosperity we are building together. I am happy to take questions.”
“It is about building an economy that is resilient in the face of global change and the many challenges and headwinds we face, inclusive in its outcomes and strong enough to support future generations. We want to make sure the Canada we are building will create generational wealth for Canadians. It is about making thoughtful choices today that set Canada up not just to grow, but to lead for the future. The Canada Strong fund is a great example of how we will do this, turning today's resources into tomorrow's opportunities and investing for long-term prosperity, resilience and a shared sense of national success.”
“Not only are we going to get a boost in productivity from these major infrastructure projects, as many of them support us getting more goods to foreign markets so we can help diversify the economy, but they are also going to have significant returns. We want to make sure that Canadians can participate in that. The spring economic update outlined a clear plan to build a strong and resilient Canada, built by Canadians with Canadian materials for Canadians. (1045) Ultimately, the goal is very straightforward. It is about ensuring that Canada can compete globally, attract the investment we need and create opportunity here at home for all Canadians.”
“The sovereign wealth fund, the first ever in Canada, which I have long thought would be a good idea, enables Canadians to show their solidarity by putting in small amounts they are able to invest in Canada's future and then benefiting from the proceeds and the prosperity we are building together. That, to me, is a great sign of solidarity. Canadians can help build this country in many different ways. They can become skilled tradespersons, but they are also able to invest in major infrastructure projects and very large projects. This is a way they can come alongside. The sovereign wealth fund will come alongside institutional investors from both around the world and here in Canada to ensure that Canadians benefit in many ways from these projects.”
“In addition to the Canada Strong fund, our government is securing a more prosperous, competitive and sovereign future through initiatives like the buy Canadian policy and the Major Projects Office. I want to take a moment and talk about solidarity. The Prime Minister , in his famous speech at Davos, talked about solidarity. I think that, now more than ever, Canadians want to be a part of the Canada Strong plan. They want to be a part of building the strongest, most prosperous country in the G7. They are inspired by that vision. I think they see the potential.”
“The Canada Strong fund takes one step further, making sure that all Canadians are the beneficiaries of the financial returns that these projects will generate. Not only are we making it easier for those projects to get off the ground through the Major Projects Office, but we are also ensuring that our indigenous partners are able to participate through the loan guarantee program that our government has capitalized. We also want to make sure that all Canadians can participate in the proceeds that will come from the strong returns from many of these large infrastructure projects. This is how we ensure that Canadians have a direct stake in our nation's long-term prosperity. It is one of the many things our government is doing to build Canada strong.”
“Canadian companies and investors are coming forward to build Canada's future, and investors from around the world are choosing to invest in that future. We have seen many examples of this, with foreign direct investment in Canada reaching an almost 20‑year high, $97 billion of inflows. This is significant progress over the last 20 years. We see this as being a high point. We have heard from RBC, our largest bank, and from our largest pension plan, the Canada pension plan, that Canada is garnering the attention of many global investors. This is really strong evidence or signs that our plan is working. Transformational projects and companies that will help build and create a stronger, more independent and more resilient economy for Canada will stand to benefit from the sovereign wealth fund.”
“To ensure that Canadians have the option to invest in the growth of our nation and share in the returns, the government will launch a retail investment product, which will be principal-protected. This will give Canadians a direct stake in our nation's long-term prosperity and help build long-term national wealth. The Canada Strong fund will operate at arm's length from government. We will create a new Crown corporation, and its work will be guided by a CEO and a qualified, independent board of directors. This model will ensure that both in the near term and in the long term the fund remains focused on its mission: supporting the transformation of the economy and creating wealth for Canadians.”
“It will help more Canadians be able to participate in the generational wealth building that we are achieving together. Through an initial federal contribution of $25 billion, the fund will strategically invest, alongside the private sector and based on commercial terms, in Canadian projects and companies driving our economic transformation. (1040) This includes projects in clean and conventional energy, critical minerals, agriculture and the infrastructure that we need in this country. The returns will be reinvested to grow the Canada Strong fund, so it will be compound growth, strengthening its capacity over time. As that fund grows, it will direct capital toward investments with the highest potential return for Canada and Canadians.”
“I know Conservatives do not like to hear that, but it is good news for Canada and certainly a sign that we are building prosperity from a position of strength. One of the measures announced in the spring economic update was the creation of the Canada Strong fund, Canada's first sovereign wealth fund. Sovereign wealth funds are not just financial tools but nation-building investments in the future of a country. They represent a country's belief in its own future. They take today's revenues, often generated from hard-won economic strength, and invest them with purpose, discipline and a long-term view. Instead of spending everything in the moment, sovereign wealth funds build enduring assets that can support generations to come. This is the intention of the Canada Strong fund. It will do exactly that.”
“These are very important initiatives. We are also investing in strong communities. We see sports, from playground to podium. We see small craft harbours, mostly in Atlantic Canada but recognizing that they are all across our coastal communities and very important to building strong communities. The government is making these key investments while maintaining Canada's strong fiscal stewardship, which has positioned Canada, according to the International Monetary Fund, to have the second-fastest projected growth in the G7 and the strongest fiscal position in the G7. Let me repeat that. We have the strongest fiscal position in the G7, according to the International Monetary Fund. That is good news.”
“This means delivering generational infrastructure and nation-building projects, like the 21 projects listed, with $125 billion in new investment and over 60,000 jobs. It also means diversifying Canada's trade. We have seen 20 new trade and security agreements signed and a 38% increase in non-U.S. trade over the short term, or a time frame of just about eight months. We are also supporting workers and young people. In the spring economic update, we see an initiative to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 more skilled trade workers. On building more homes, we are accelerating $7 billion in low-cost financing for rental apartment construction. It also means protecting the safety and security of Canadians. We see the creation of the financial crimes agency, and security for places of worship, in the spring economic update.”
“Our government has been focused on what we can control. There are many things we cannot control, but there are many that we can. Building a strong, sustainable and inclusive economy is within our control, an economy that is backed by an ambitious plan to help enable $1 trillion in total investment across Canada over the next five years. That plan is well under way. We saw in the spring economic update quite a large number of signs of progress. As we build a stronger Canada, we must ensure that all Canadians can benefit, now and for generations to come. The spring economic update 2026 builds on the momentum of budget 2025 with strategic investments that support productivity, innovation, growth and competitiveness, and that position Canada for long-term prosperity.”
“Mr. Speaker, it will come as no surprise that I do not share the views and pessimism coming from the Conservative leader in the House. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today about the sovereign wealth fund that our Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced just before the spring economic update. There is no doubt that Canada's economy is at a very important moment, a hinge moment. Around the world, countries are competing for investment, talent and opportunity. Supply chains are shifting dramatically, global energy systems are evolving quickly, and technological change is accelerating, especially with the AI revolution. In this environment, economic strength does not happen by accident. It is built deliberately through smart policy, strong partnerships and a clear focus on long-term growth.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member opposite's speech, but obviously I do not share his pessimism about the sovereign wealth fund. Generations ago we had examples with victory bonds, with war bonds. We have had examples of Canadians stepping up, especially at times when Canada's sovereignty has been tested, throughout our history, when Canadians want to participate in investing in the future that they want to build for this country. Would the member not say that this is a welcome opportunity for Canadians to be able to participate in the prosperity and growth that the government is moving forward on?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is great to have the member ask the question again. What I have pointed out in my response is that, every time the Conservatives say they want to do more for Canadians, we actually propose to do more, and they vote against it, so I do not know how to take the comments of the member opposite in the House at face value. We offer opportunities, such as the groceries and essentials benefit, the national school food program and the Canada child benefit. There are so many supports the government has stepped up with. One that I am particularly fond of is the reductions in the cost of child care for families, which is saving families in my riding at least $1,200 a month. That is significant support, and the Conservatives voted against that. Here we are. We are at a moment where we have suspended the excise tax on fuel temporarily.”
“I know that this plan will provide benefits to Canadians in the future, so that is exciting. With all that said, we are also doing it well, managing the resources of the country in a responsible way. We have seen that the deficit, just in the spring economic update, is down by $11 billion. That is significant. We have brought operational spending back into check, with reducing day-to-day operational spending over the time horizon.”
“Mr. Speaker, the groceries and essentials benefit that we announced will put almost $1,900 into families' pockets this year, which is significant support. I would offer that this is significant direct support to 12 million Canadians. We also offered immediate expensing for greenhouses and an injection of funds to the local food infrastructure fund, as well as $500 million more in support through the strategic response fund geared toward supply chains in Canada. We are also developing a food security strategy. I have long advocated for the fact that the Government of Canada needs to have not only a national food policy, which we developed back in 2018, but an actual food security strategy for the country. It is great to see us having made that commitment. Consultations are under way.”
“When the member opposite is talking about food prices and is concerned about the cost of living, she has actually chosen not to support feeding 400,000 kids and not to take those kids out of food bank lineups. What is strange to me is that the hon. member can stand in the House and lecture Liberals. It seems a little bit hypocritical for the hon. member to say that she cares about people's expenses and their cost of living challenges when she would not take 400,000 kids out of poverty. We offered a package of supports with the groceries and essentials benefit— An hon. member: You do realize how ridiculous you sound. Ryan Turnbull: Mr. Speaker, I do not mind the crosstalk. It actually encourages me quite a bit to keep telling the truth in the House. I know it is hard for the Conservatives to accept the truth sometimes.”
“It is not as if the government is somehow blind to the fact that Canadians are experiencing challenges due to shocks in the economy and that the prices of almost all goods have been rising for quite some time, since the aftershocks of the global pandemic. There has been one shock after another. Again, we have offered the groceries and essentials benefit, which the members opposite did not support. They do not seem to want to put more money back in people's pockets. We offered a middle-class tax cut for 22 million Canadians. We also offered the Conservatives the opportunity, multiple times in the House, to support a national school food program, which feeds 400,000 kids per year.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is shocking to me to hear the hon. member talk as if somehow she believes we operate in a vacuum and apart from global forces beyond the government's control. Certainly, we do not control oil price shocks that are the direct result of the Strait of Hormuz being blocked. We did not start the war in Iran. It is not a conflict, unfortunately, that we can stop or control. What we have done, and the members opposite know this very well, is suspend the excise tax on fuel. We cut the consumer carbon tax. Those combined are 28¢ per litre. That is saving families money. What is concerning to me is that Conservatives do not stand up to support the very measures that we put in place to help families out with the cost of living challenges that the member rightly points out.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know it is a lot to ask, but the Conservatives could finally give up their infatuation with our former prime minister and just face reality for once. Canada is strong and resilient, and only getting more so under this government's leadership. The evidence is in, in the spring economic update: $11 billion less in deficit, and a fiscal track with a declining deficit-to-GDP. Operating expenses are being managed responsibly. Canada has triple the job creation and double the foreign direct investment per capita of U.S. counterparts. We have the most competitive tax rate in the G7 and the strongest fiscal position.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is more concerned with conspiracy theories than with the truth. This is the problem with the pessimistic politics of the Conservative Party; they do not correspond with the truth. The truth is that there are signs of progress. There are very clear signs that our plan to build a stronger economy is working. We see generational investments coming to fruition throughout our country, building industries and creating opportunities for workers. We see wages outpacing double the pace of inflation. We see Canada projected to have the second-strongest growth in the G7. We see foreign direct investment at levels that we have not seen in—”
“Mr. Speaker, one thing Canadians can count on is that the pessimism of the Conservative Party will never infect the members on this side of the House. Do members know why? It is because we will never apologize about being optimistic about Canada's future. That is why we are here. We are here in government to build Canada strong. Just shortly, in under an hour, the Minister of Finance will give a progress report on our plan to build a stronger economy. There are signs of progress. The International Monetary Fund says we have the strongest fiscal position in the G7. That does not happen by accident.”
“Mr. Speaker, certainly I believe in tradition. I believe in the Standing Orders, although I understand that they evolve over time. This is what I was trying to point to with the fact that the Conservatives, during the middle of a pandemic, filibustered in committee and made arguments that we should never change the traditions of the House. I see that there are moments within an emergency situation where we need to adapt and be able to do the work and function as a government. At the same time, I understand that in moments like these, the traditions of the House allow opposition parties to hold the government to account. It is so fundamental in terms of representing and mirroring the proportionality in the House in committee. That has to be preserved at all costs.”
“It is not as if filibusters were just invented yesterday. Extended debate happens in many committees. It is a tool that the Conservatives and the Bloc have used. It is a tool that will continue to be used, I am sure, in our parliamentary system.”
“Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the sentiments from my colleague, wanting to hold the government to account. As an opposition MP in the House, he is well aware that is his job. It is the same with the Conservative Party. How did we hold Stephen Harper to account when he had a majority in the House? How did the opposition hold our government accountable from 2015 to 2019? There are tools that are designed right into our parliamentary system to ensure that opposition parties, even when the government has a majority of seats in the House, can hold the government to account. That is how this place has functioned since Confederation. Conservatives, in the middle of the pandemic, filibustered for many, many weeks trying to prevent the Government of Canada from functioning to help Canadians, so they had a tool to hold us to account then.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's question, but how have opposition parties held majority governments to account since Confederation? It is by doing their job, and they can do that job at committee and in the House just as they have done throughout our entire history. It is just the case that the member takes issue with the fact that the motion proposes to reflect the majority of seats that the government holds in the House of Commons in committee, which is a tired and true tradition in the House. It has been tested over time. It has been a principle since Confederation, and I do not see why we would change that now.”
“As the member previously mentioned, committees have an important function of oversight and accountability, but what is clear is that they need to mirror the proportionality of seats in the House. That is exactly what Motion No. 9 proposes to do.”