Kathy Borrelli
Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a dissenting report to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology's report on the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canada's metallurgical and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
“That is why our dissenting report calls for urgent negotiations to secure a trade agreement, stronger protections for our manufacturing base, support for domestic production and action to preserve the jobs and industrial capacity that are vital to Canada. The industry asked for a quick response to secure its future.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians strength and stability, but under his watch, Canada became the only G20 country in a recession. That is the result of Liberal inflationary spending, red tape and anti-development policies that have crushed workers, businesses and families.”
“Parliament has already taken steps in that direction through targeted right to repair legislation. In recent years, members from different parties have worked to address practical barriers that prevent Canadians from repairing the products they own.”
“Every single one of us gets frustrated when products break too soon, when repairs are difficult or when replacing an item seems easier than fixing it. Those concerns are real. Canadians should be able to repair the products they own, access reasonable repair options and receive clear information about the products they buy.”
“That framework would include measures related to minimum useful life, labelling, access to parts, tools and repair information, replacement parts, technical documentation, software support and the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors.”
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“A family cannot budget around a one-time rebate, a senior cannot plan groceries around a temporary cheque and a student cannot rely on a rebranded, failed rebate instead of real affordability. Bill C-226 argues that unit pricing frameworks would help consumers compare prices, but even the Competition Bureau, in its grocery sector studies, has made it clear that price transparency does not lower prices when competition is weak and costs are high. In fact mandatory labelling frameworks increase costs, especially for small grocers, independent retailers and rural and regional stores. These costs include shelf relabelling, signage redesign, staff training and compliance monitoring.”
“In the face of this crisis, the Liberal government's response is a rebranded rebate, a one-time cheque. It is a blatant attempt at vote buying that the government is now calling the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. Let us be honest with Canadians: This is the same GST credit renamed and temporarily inflated ahead of an election. One thing the government will not tell Canadians is that the scheme will cost taxpayers $11.7 billion over six years. Liberals love to point fingers when groceries get more expensive, but they refuse to look in the mirror. They cannot tax, regulate and spend their way into affordability. The government is forcing Canadians to pay the price for that denial.”
“Students are skipping meals and stretching canned food across multiple days, while parents are buying cheaper, unhealthy options because that is all they can afford. According to Food Banks Canada, nearly 2.2 million Canadians visited a food bank in a single month last year, the highest number ever recorded. The Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab estimates that it will now cost $17,600 to feed a family of four, and that is an increase of $1,000 in just one year. Nearly 30% of students report skipping meals because they cannot afford to eat. A quarter of Canadian households are now considered food insecure. (1735) This is the result of the Liberal government's lost decade. Its empty promises, failed regulation and being so out of touch with Canadians have resulted in one of the costliest times to live in Canada.”
“When grocery chains face higher compliance costs, they do not absorb them; they pass them on to Canadian families, Canadian seniors and Canadian students, all of us. Instead of taking responsibility for the cost of living crisis they created, the Liberals spend their time pointing fingers, blaming grocers, blaming global forces and blaming everyone except themselves. Canadians know better. Government policy drives prices up, and the government keeps driving them up. Food insecurity is rising, and the bill would do nothing to solve this crisis. This is no longer just about prices. Canadians are struggling under the government. Canadians are having to choose if they should eat or heat their homes.”
“My community is a working-class, manufacturing-driven region. It is home to thousands of auto workers, parts suppliers, truck drivers and food processing workers, whose livelihoods depend on affordable energy, transportation and stable supply chains. According to Stats Canada labour and income data, Windsor-Essex consistently has lower median household incomes than the Ontario average, which means food inflation hits families harder and faster. When Ottawa raises fuel costs, carbon taxes on industry, packaging compliance costs and transportation costs, those increases are magnified in regions such as Windsor, where families already spend a higher share of their incomes on necessities. Let me be clear: The bill before us would only create a finger-pointing report, which is something the Liberals are good at doing.”
“One member of my community emailed my office stating, “I'm deeply concerned about the rising cost of groceries in our community. Even with careful budgeting and deal-hunting, families are struggling to keep essentials on the table.” Another said, “During a recent shopping trip to pick up a few items for dinner, my wife and I were shocked by the total at the checkout. One example that stood out was a bag of just five potatoes, which cost us $8. With the added expenses of caring for a newborn, we've found ourselves relying more on lower-cost frozen meals just to make ends meet, often at the expense of healthier choices. Eating well should not be a luxury.” Could members across the aisle please take a moment to think about those words and truly ask themselves if the government is doing enough? Eating should not be a luxury.”
“Bill C-226 would require the Minister of Industry to create a national framework on grocery price transparency and unit pricing. Canadians do not want their tax dollars going to a federal report to tell them that food costs too much. They already know that every time they swipe their credit card. What Canadians need is relief from the taxes, deficits and regulatory costs that are driving up prices. The bill before us would not increase food supply or lower input costs, but in the same Liberal fashion, it would add another layer of bureaucracy. In an email, a member of my community said that she finds herself disgusted and angry. Let us be clear: Food prices are out of control. I want to speak directly about Windsor because this debate is not theoretical.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are being crushed by the cost of food, and the solution from the Liberal government is more red tape, more bureaucracy and more empty promises. Just months ago, the Prime Minister told Canadians that he should be judged by the cost of groceries. Well, the verdict is in. According to Statistics Canada, food inflation rose 6.2% year over year, with groceries up 5% and restaurant meals up 8.5%. Canada now has the highest food inflation in the G7, and it has increased more than double than that of the United States. It is not a global problem. This is a made-in-Ottawa Liberal failure. Let me be even clearer: Bill C-226 would do nothing to lower food prices. Instead, it would add red tape and federal overreach at the worst possible time.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us be clear about this new trade deal with China. All we see is that Canada gives and China gets. The Prime Minister is calling this a strategic partnership, but for Windsor workers it looks like a raw deal. He is opening the door to nearly 50,000 Chinese electric vehicles and flooding our market while getting nothing concrete in return for our auto sector. There is no permanent tariff relief for Windsor and zero protection for Canadian auto jobs. Windsor is the backbone of Canada's auto industry. Thousands of families depend on these jobs, yet this deal undercuts the very companies investing in Windsor. Even Canada's auto sector is warning us that this creates uncertainty and threatens long-term stability. Canada deserves trade deals that protect our auto workers, not deals that sell them out.”
“Mr. Speaker, at industry committee again yesterday, the finance minister falsely claimed there were the strongest protections for auto jobs at Stellantis. Well, we all know the outcome of that: 3,000 job losses in Brampton and $13 billion of investment by Stellantis in the United States. The contract was so badly written that the job numbers were only cloaked, aspirational, with no penalties. How can the Liberals claim they are supporting auto workers when there are zero job guarantees in the contract?”
“Mr. Speaker, plain and simple, this budget would do absolutely nothing for people who live on fixed incomes. These people are starving. They are worried about the roofs over their heads. Some are leaning toward homelessness and might end up being homeless. This is unreasonable. This is not sustainable. We need better supports for people on limited incomes.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many residents. I have talked to a lot of residents, especially in the past several days and over the weekend. So many are complaining that, even more than a few months ago in the summertime, prices have increased. They have had to cut more of the foods they want and need from their grocery budget. This is totally unacceptable. We need our communities and we need our people to have quality foods and to be able to access them at a reasonable price.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but I do not agree with the member opposite. Windsor—Tecumseh has not seen benefits from anything that the government has done recently. There is definite uncertainty when it comes to auto jobs. We do not know what is going to happen with tariffs. We do not know what is going to happen with our automotive plants. When we talk about this new budget, we have a lot of small and medium-sized enterprises that support the auto workers' industry. Guess what. They cannot get any benefits from this new budget. They cannot get write-offs like the great big corporations can. If there have been added jobs, and I agree with the member that our employment numbers have improved slightly recently, they are all part-time jobs and they are all temporary.”
“I looked at the faces of my constituents and could tell they were looking to me to provide them with some hope for the future. I can tell the House that I do not see the hope Windsorites need in the budget.”
“There is a lot of pasta, meatless meals and Kraft Dinner going on. People living with disabilities and who must live on a fixed income as well are having difficulty coping and with accessing the basic needs of food and shelter. The long-term effects of food insecurity and poor nutrition are characterized by eventual heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, hypertension and vision loss. Poor nutrition impacts one's physical and mental health. It causes inflammation and insulin resistance, and early-life malnutrition affects poor growth of organ development. These total effects reduce economic productivity and quality of life, and they make managing other health concerns harder. Poor nutrition decreases physical and cognitive capacity for work and shortens life spans. This weekend I was in the Santa Claus parade.”
“Children living in poverty in Windsor represent 23.2% of all children in the city, which is the highest in Ontario, and 10.8% of Windsor's population lives in poverty; this means that over 25,000 people in my community are “unable to afford a set list of basic [needs].” Stats Canada has named Windsor the province's southwestern “poverty capital”. Again, people affected, our seniors on fixed income, cannot make ends meet. Many seniors are deciding to cut food use in order to pay rent and utilities. Some seniors are giving up and are now counted amongst the homeless. Families with young children that are living in poverty are watering down formula and milk. They are opting to feed their children food that is less nutritious and is lacking in protein, healthy fats and vitamins.”
“By favouring productivity and fiscal restraint over people's basic needs, and by offering tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit higher earners, budget 2025 risks deepening inequality and entrenching hunger in one of the world's wealthiest countries. The promised tax cut would provide lower- and middle-class income earners savings of up to $840 for a family, but according to Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab, the average family will pay nearly $1,000 more for groceries in 2026. That leaves everyone impacted, even the people who get the maximum tax rebate. The tax break would not even cover the increased cost of food. The budget lacks meaningful measures to reduce food insecurity for seniors, children who live in poverty, and persons with disabilities. In my community, seniors represent 19% of the population.”
“The evidence is glaring as we go to the grocery store to buy essential goods or to a restaurant to enjoy a simple meal. (1345) Budget 2025 leaves millions of people behind. It comes at a time when millions are being forced to choose between rent, heat and food. What is missing from the budget is a plan to ensure that everyone in Canada can eat properly. The budget offers no national target to reduce food insecurity. It offers no meaningful increase to income support for low-wage workers or for people with disabilities. Food insecurity is not simply a symptom of rising costs; it is a predictable result of inadequate incomes and policy changes.”
“A primary criticism is the significant deficit, projected to be around $78.3 billion for the current fiscal year, which is beyond reckless. The cumulative national debt is projected to climb significantly, leading to high public debt charges that are expected to exceed health transfers to provinces. I guess the waiting lines at the ER and hospitals will continue to get longer. I have experienced this myself recently. The budget is not going far enough with spending cuts. It is relying too much on new taxes and higher-than-expected revenue to fund its initiatives, rather than on fiscal discipline. It is in essence a continuation of backdoor taxes on the average worker and members of the middle class, who are having great difficulty obtaining a wage that can keep up with a reasonable living standard.”
“Business groups and economists have warned this would discourage private sector investment, potentially drive capital and talent out of Canada and worsen the country's existing productivity problem. There is also criticism that the budget overlooks crucial areas like domestic skills development for major infrastructure projects, relying instead on international talent recruitment. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has raised concerns that the government's fiscal targets may not be met, noting there is a low chance the deficit-to-GDP ratio will decline as projected. The PBO also questioned the government's use of a new capital budgeting framework, which critics see as a deceptive budgeting technique to separate operating and capital expenditures.”
“The Prime Minister is chasing other markets while distancing and alienating Canada from the biggest and strongest market in the world: the United States. Yes, we need to make deals with the United States and not disengage, although we need to pursue new markets and trade deals such as the eurozone, South America and Mexico as a necessary diplomatic objective. The growing national debt and associated interest costs negatively impact productivity and business investment. A perceived lack of sufficient action on core issues like affordability and health care has placed Canadians in a vulnerable state. The increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50 to 66% for corporations, and individual gains over $250,000, is a major point of contention.”
“The Liberals have successfully transformed our once-great nation into a credit card nation and high mortgage leverage nation by borrowing from the future, by printing money, by devaluating the dollar and by ignoring investment in innovation and productive resources. In the last 10 years, Canada has chosen asset inflation over productivity growth. Is this what our kids and our kids' kids want or deserve? The Liberals have had 10 years to fix our declining international competitiveness and to increase our real GDP, but what we received is fake GDP growth based on non-productive real estate inflation. As this has happened, the Liberals have successfully chased away international investment by imposing cost-prohibitive carbon taxes and unreasonable regulations.”
“Madam Speaker, the budget continues a regimen of massive borrowing that would burden our generations to come. Canada is experiencing an economic structural problem that will need severe action to mitigate further decline of its status among the G7 nations. The severity of our situation is evident by realizing that Canadians' debt-to-disposable-income ratio is now at $1.75 to $1; for every dollar of disposable income, Canadians have $1.75 of debt. This is not good by any measure. This, by the way, is the highest ratio in the entire G7. Canada has over-leveraged itself, and the budget unfortunately continues the path in the hope of an economic miracle. The severity of the situation will become more acute in 2026, when 60% of mortgages will face renewal, which will create pressure on the entire ballooned real estate market.”
“Mr. Speaker, this budget proves one thing: The Liberals do not understand how real Canadians live. Every dollar the government spends comes straight out of Canadians' pockets, and under the Prime Minister , everything costs more. After years of inflation and higher taxes, the Liberals have chosen to raise the industrial carbon tax. This means higher prices at the checkout line. Why is the Prime Minister increasing the industrial carbon tax and making food more expensive?”
“Madam Speaker, each month in Canada, there are over 2.2 million visits to food banks. We talk about these numbers every day, and we watch them increase every month. These are not just numbers, colleagues; these are the people we serve. Many of them are workers whose paycheques have not gone up the way grocery prices have. The Liberal government, however, thinks Canadians should sacrifice even more. When will the Prime Minister give Canadians an affordable budget for an affordable life?”
“Mr. Speaker, after Stellantis was handed $15 billion for an EV battery plant in Windsor, it has now sent 3,000 jobs from Brampton to the United States. In my community, workers are now worried about their own jobs, how they are going to pay their mortgages and how they are going to feed their families. Canadians deserve transparency about the multi-billion dollar contracts they paid so much for. Can the Liberals even confirm that their contract included a Canada-wide jobs guarantee for workers, or will they continue to cover up for their incompetence?”
“Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Liberal housing chaos, buyers cannot buy, sellers cannot sell and builders cannot build. My community has an unemployment rate of over 11%. It is the highest in Canada, and now we have one of the highest markets in which to buy a home. A new report states that ownership is only for the very wealthy in Windsor. When will the Prime Minister stop his empty promises? When will he stop building bureaucracy and start building homes?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on behalf of the people of Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore. I would like to thank my community for putting their trust in me. I promise I will always work very hard to deserve it. Today I would like to acknowledge my friend and the mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens. Mayor Dilkens is currently recovering from a recent surgery for prostate cancer. I admire him for his character, strength and leadership, and for candidly sharing his story and advocating for early detection. I am inspired to bring his message to Ottawa. September is the national Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer can be a silent killer but a simple blood test can save lives. My message to all men is for themselves, for their children and for their friends and family. I ask them to please get tested.”
“Mr. Speaker, Windsor has an unemployment rate of 11.1%, the highest in Canada. The Prime Minister came home empty-handed after tariff negotiations, causing people to tighten their purse strings because of the economic uncertainty that the Liberal government has caused. The women's unemployment rate has increased by 12%, and now more people cannot afford rent, gas and food. Everyone worries about being the next person to get a pink slip. Which of my colleagues from across the aisle will bring their silver spoons to Windsor to—”
“Mr. Speaker, a new report says that the U.S. tariffs on Canada's auto sector could kill 50,000 jobs. The Prime Minister promised elbows up with the U.S., but it has been elbows down. He said he was the man with the plan, but he has been unable to get a deal, directly threatening the jobs of Canadian auto workers. We need real solutions for Canadians. Can the Liberal government tell us how many jobs will be lost in the auto sector because of its failure to get a deal?”
“Mr. Speaker, time after time, the Liberal government must be held to account for its mismanagement of Canadian dollars. Now we have even more damning evidence showing that the Liberals have lost control over their spending on consultants. GC Strategies, which is linked to the arrive scam, got 106 contracts, worth $93 million. The Auditor General has said that Liberals frequently disregarded procurement rules that promoted fairness, transparency and value for Canadians. There were consultants who did not have experience. There were massive security clearance failures, and there was proof that little to no work was ever done. It is clear that the Liberals are out of touch with Canadians. They cannot be trusted with tax dollars, so how can anyone trust them to be in a position of power?”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a new Prime Minister , but nothing has changed. He is proposing the same spending that will cause the same painful consequences for Canadians. People in the auto industry in Windsor, Ontario, are worried about losing their home if they are laid off. The results of Liberal spending are missed mortgage payments and skyrocketing job losses. Why is the Liberal government asking to spend half a trillion dollars, causing further inflation, without a budget plan?”
“We need to work together and do everything we can to protect our jobs. By keeping the industrial carbon tax on steel, aluminum and other manufacturing, the government is forcing our workers to fight with one elbow tied behind their back. Will the government unshackle our workers and cancel the whole carbon tax on everything for everyone?”
“Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to stand in the House on behalf of the people of Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore. Windsor workers are rightly worried. They are worried about threats from the United States toward their jobs. They are worried about their shifts being cut. They are worried about paying their mortgage and putting food on the table. In Windsor, we can literally see the car manufacturers and industries across the river in Detroit, Michigan. American workers at these plants do not need to worry about a costly, job-killing carbon tax. They know that their jobs are more secure without an industrial carbon tax. That is not the case on this side of the border. The Liberal government is making our industry and our manufacturers less competitive by keeping in place the costly industrial carbon tax.”