Anna Gainey
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ensuring that the New Horizons for Seniors program reaches community organizations led by seniors who are improving Canadians' quality of life. These changes are important to keep the program accessible while also complying with the standards of integrity that Canadians expect.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Parents are asking us to help protect their children from being harmed by social media and we are listening.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government has a plan to transform the foundation of our economy and make it more resilient. We are creating tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in Darlington and Contrecoeur. We are investing in hospitals, community centres, public transit and affordable housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are focused on economic growth and we are working hard to achieve it. Our plan is working. The youth unemployment rate has fallen by nearly 1%. That means 22,000 jobs for our young people. What is more, we are investing $6 billion in the skilled trades to recruit, hire and train 100,000 young people.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Terrebonne for her question. Our government invested $10 billion in Quebec, and young people are going to reap the benefits. We are going to build modern school campuses, hospitals and emergency rooms. We are going to improve public transit to take people to school and to work.”
“Mr. Speaker, we continue to be there for Canadian families. We are investing in a school food program to help families with the cost of groceries. That represents over $800 for a family that is benefiting from this program. We also have a dental care program that is helping families and Canadians with the cost of living.”
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“[ English ] In response to this development, the Canadian Teachers Federation said, “Fantastic News! The National School Food Program is here to stay”. The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Breakfast Club of Canada also applauded this commitment to making the school food program permanent. I have also met with provincial and territorial counterparts, such as Minister Cleveland from the Northwest Territories and Minister Hindley from Saskatchewan. They emphasize the positive impact that federal investments in school food are having on ensuring more children get nutritious meals at school. [ Translation ] As a result of these discussions, we learned that we are not the only ones who can see that the program is easing the pressure on families.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to address colleagues on a key measure in budget 2025, the national school food program and the government's intention to enact legislation to make the program permanent. The national school food program act, which would be enacted through Bill C-15 , would set out the Government of Canada's long-term vision for the program, guided by the national school food policy. [ Translation ] This bill reinforces the government's efforts to ensure long-term funding for the program. We are working with the provinces and territories as well as indigenous partners to implement an initiative that enhances and expands school food programs across Canada. It is not very often that a government measure is enthusiastically received by all provinces and territories, as well as indigenous partners and stakeholders.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we understand that any parent struggling to feed their child is one parent too many. My colleague opposite knows that Canada has historically relied on imports of baby formula, which means Canadians have been impacted by external pressures. As a country, we do have to move from reliance to resilience, and I would also point out that the Canada child benefit, which members opposite continue to vote against in budget after budget, puts up to $8,000 tax-free in the pockets of parents. This will help with the cost of baby formula.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we have taken and are taking action to fight food insecurity. This is why, among other measures, we are making the national school food program permanent to ensure more children have access to healthy meals at school. This also represents over $800 in savings on families' grocery bills. We introduced a middle-class tax cut. We introduced dental care. We have early learning and child care arrangements with provinces across the country, bringing costs down by thousands of dollars. We are there for families. I would encourage the members opposite to support these measures as well.”
“Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 responds to the needs of the time. We are investing in building strong families and communities across Canada. The investments will create jobs and careers for young people and protect the support measures that help families and enable them to get ahead. Our budget has a plan for building, protecting and strengthening Canada. It is a shame that the members across the way voted against it.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Mont-Saint-Bruno—L'Acadie is an excellent example of how the Canada summer jobs program helps young people succeed. The Canada summer jobs program supports quality jobs for young people to help them develop skills and gain experience in the job market. With the 2025 budget, we will support approximately 100,000 jobs through this program. That is 24,000 more jobs than last summer. We are also supporting the youth employment and skills strategy and the student work placement program, which together will support more than 75,000 jobs. We are here for young people as we build a strong Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are investing to build strong families and communities. The budget investments will create good jobs and careers for young people. It will protect the supports that help families get ahead. Our new government is delivering a budget that will build, protect and strengthen Canada. I encourage the members opposite to vote for the budget this afternoon.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have taken action to fight food insecurity. Part of the solution is working with our provincial, territorial and indigenous partners to ensure that 400,000 more children get nutritious meals at school every year. That is why this budget will make the national school food program permanent. In Canada, no child should wonder at school where their next meal is coming from. When members opposite talk about food insecurity, they should start by voting for the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is a budget that will invest in Canada, invest in young Canadians and invest in Canadian families from coast to coast to coast. We are supporting youth by giving them opportunities to help them build skills in trades and access high-paying careers and jobs across projects, building homes and building out major national projects. We are investing in training and supports for 20,000 youth facing employment barriers, and in 24,000 additional Canada summer jobs opportunities, co-ops, internships and apprenticeships across the country. We hope the members opposite will support young people and these opportunities for jobs.”
“Mr. Speaker, our budget delivers historic investments to build Canada strong. This means strong families and strong communities from coast to coast to coast. That includes supports for youth in building skills to help them find and access high-paying careers. We are investing in training and supports for 20,000 youth facing employment barriers. We are investing in an additional 24,000 Canada summer jobs opportunities this coming year, co-ops, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities for over 55,000 post-secondary students. Canada's new government has a plan to invest in youth. I encourage the members opposite to support this plan and vote for the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, today's budget will deliver historic investments to build Canada strong. This means strong families and strong communities from coast to coast to coast, and investments that will create good-quality jobs and careers for young Canadians, that will build infrastructure, that will put more affordable homes within reach for young Canadians and that will protect the supports that help families get ahead. Our new government is putting forward a budget to build, protect and empower Canadians and Canada. I hope the members opposite will join us and support the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, the affordable budget includes historic investments to strengthen Canada, strengthen families and help Canadians across the country. These investments will create quality jobs and careers for young people, build more affordable housing for young Canadians and protect the supports that help families get ahead. Our government will present a budget that aims to build, protect and strengthen Canada. I expect the members opposite to support this budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, once again, we find members opposite worried about imaginary taxes while, on this side of the House, we are focused on solutions. The budget will make permanent the national school food program, which represents $800 in savings for families each year. This is one of the many investments we are making on this side of the House to ensure that kids have the best start in life and that families can get ahead. We hope they will join us and support the budget.”
“Madam Speaker, I think it is important to once again underline the fact that the report the member opposite cited also lists the Canada disability benefit, the Canadian dental plan, early learning and child care, the national school food program and the national housing strategy among the many tools and investments that support alleviating poverty in this country, all of which have been voted against or opposed by the members opposite. We will have a budget next week that will continue to invest in Canadians, young Canadians and families. We trust that the members opposite will join us, vote for the budget and avoid a Christmas election.”
“Madam Speaker, it is fortunate that next week we will have an affordable budget for Canadians. We hope the members opposite will join us in supporting that budget. It will include many ways to invest in young people, in young families, in making homes more affordable, in making food available at schools and in making dental care available, with a number of other things that will support Canadian families. I trust the Conservatives will support us and avoid a Christmas election.”
“Madam Speaker, we understand the pressures that Canadians are facing, but at the same time, the Conservative Party offers nothing new. Our government is empowering young Canadians to build lifelong careers. This is one of the reasons we are fast-tracking the Build Canada Homes program to get homes built and fast-tracking major projects to create tens of thousands of high-paying careers across this country. Those careers are available to young people, and we know they are at the heart of building Canada strong and building the strongest economy in the G7. We encourage members opposite to support the budget and avoid a Christmas election.”
“Madam Speaker, the members opposite claim to be there for youth, or to be concerned about youth, and yet at every opportunity, when there is a chance to vote for investments and supports for our young people and families, they vote against them. They will have another opportunity, in this budget, to support the tax cut for first-time homebuyers, to support the permanence of the national school food program and to support continued investments in early learning and child care. I hope they will join us in avoiding a Christmas election by supporting the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, once again, members across the way are talking about imaginary taxes. Today, I spoke with people from the Breakfast Club, an organization that helps nearly 900,000 children access the school nutrition program. They told me that making the national school food program permanent is an important turning point for children's health, learning, and well being, as well as for Canada's social and economic resilience. I hope my colleagues across the way will support this budget and making this program permanent.”
“Mr. Speaker, the members opposite remain fixated on imaginary taxes. On this side of the House, we remain focused on supports for Canadian families to help them fight food insecurity. We do this with, for example, the national school food program, which we are making permanent, the disability benefit, dental care, child care and the national housing strategy. Time and time again, we are there for Canadian families, and members opposite vote against these investments in our communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we provide $65 million in funding to support the province's school food program, reaching more than 500,000 students and 2,200 schools. In addition, our support helps families save $800 a year in groceries. This program is not garbage. We are delivering this program for the well-being of children across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, Conservative MPs really ought to listen to the folks on the ground fighting food insecurity, such as the Breakfast Club of Canada, the Coalition for Healthy School Food and the Canadian Teachers' Federation, which have all called for the making of the national school food program to be permanent because of the positive impact it has on children. With federal funding, 9.8 million more meals will be served to children across Ontario alone, representing $800 in savings on groceries for families. We will protect and strengthen the supports that help ensure children have the best start in life right across this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives opposite should listen to Canadians who are on the front lines and who are working in favour of making the school food program permanent. The Coalition for Healthy School Food called the program “a generationally important decision that...will...change the future of Canadian society and the health and well-being of children”. Children First Canada said, “This isn't just about food—it's about dignity, learning, and equity.” The Ontario Public School Boards' Association said it will “strengthen student well-being and success”. These Canadian organizations are on the front lines, fighting food insecurity in our communities. I would encourage us all to support the budget, which will make the national school food program permanent.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives cannot have it both ways. They say Canadians are facing challenges, yet they dismiss the ways of helping them to get through these challenges. The same Food Banks Canada report they cite mentions the Canada disability benefit, the Canadian dental care plan, the national school food program and the national housing strategy as steps taken to address the underlying conditions that contribute to poverty. When it came time to step up, what did the Conservatives opposite do? They voted against these supports. They will have another opportunity to change their tune and support the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a national school food program for children. It seeks to help Canadians cope with the challenges they are facing these days. What I am trying to say is that the members across the way will have the opportunity to support this program and the budget for this program. I encourage them all to support Canada’s national school food program.”
“Mr. Speaker, no child in this country should go to school hungry. That is why our government brought forward the national school food program, and that is why this new government has committed to make this program permanent, introducing legislation to do so, as well as the funding necessary to ensure the program continues in perpetuity. This is an essential piece of tackling the challenges that Canadian families are facing. We are proud of this program.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are committed to growing the strongest economy in the G7, and protecting and strengthening the supports that help Canadian families. Of the report that is being highlighted here, I would say that the relief families get through the school food program, as well as through dental care and child care, are all things the report cites as being critical to addressing the challenges that Canadians are facing right now. The government will always stand with Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, Sarah from Central Newfoundland reached out to tell me about the national school program at their school after the member's comments last week. She said that it is wonderful. More students are getting healthy lunches, and the lunch lady went from working part time to working full time. Plus, they hired two nans to work part time. This is employment in this area. There are countless examples like this across Canada of kids getting meals thanks to the national school food program. We will always be there for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, this report clearly shows that we need to strengthen support measures for families to address these challenges. However, Conservative members have opposed each and every measure we put forward to help overcome the challenges outlined in this report. The Conservative member for Central Newfoundland said that the national school meal program is garbage, even though it is already feeding more than 4,000 children in his province. We are focused on solutions and on getting results for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, the report invoked also clearly states that to tackle these challenges, we need to strengthen supports for families. It specifically mentions delivering school food, dental care, child care and affordable housing at scale. Conservative MPs have voted against each of these measures. In fact, the Conservative MP for Central Newfoundland called the national school food program “garbage”, even though it is already feeding 4,000 kids in his home province. We are focused on solutions and on delivering for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada's largest food bank in Toronto, the Daily Bread Food Bank, is asking that the national school food program be made permanent through legislation. We are delivering this. It is asking because the program helps provide nutritious meals to 400,000 children at school. The Conservative Party voted against this. The members opposite will soon have an opportunity to do the right thing for their constituents and make school food permanent. We urge them to do so.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know that Canadians are facing challenges. That is why our government is investing in Canadian families to help them get ahead. This report underscores the help that families receive through the national school food program. We are making it permanent. We are easing the pressure on families through our investments in dental care, child care services and the Canada child benefit. According to this report, these measures are essential for taking the pressure off families.”
“Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House recognize that families need supports in meeting affordability questions. This is why we have supports in place and why time and time again we have stood for the national school food program; early learning and child care, making it affordable and accessible across the country; dental care; and the Canada child benefit. At each and every opportunity, the members opposite voted against these supports for families, for children and for Canadians from coast to coast.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Teachers' Federation says that the school food program is fantastic news. It said, "The National School Food Program is here to stay...Thank you to the federal government for making this a priority." We are there for families and children to help with the cost of living. This program puts more than $800 in parents' pockets by helping with food at home.”
“Mr. Speaker, the opposition is talking about imaginary taxes. What we are doing, on this side of the House, is delivering results for Canadian families. We implemented a national school food program for children across Canada, and our government will continue to be there to help families and children.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are determined to grow the strongest economy in the G7 and protect and strengthen the support measures that help Canadians. Our investments in child care services, dental care and school food programs are not only lowering the cost of living for families, but they are also strengthening Canada by promoting women's participation in the labour market, while giving children the best possible start in life. We are giving families the means to make ends meet.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a number of supports for children and for families, including a national school food program, including a dental program, including the Canada child care benefit. I would encourage the member to vote in favour, and support these programs that deliver meaningful supports to families, not only in her riding but in mine and in all of ours across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the government has consistently stood by and supported families. We know they need support; they have asked for it. The result of the previous election shows that the plan and the commitment to support families, particularly children, is a strong record and a strong plan that we are delivering on. We have a national food program. We have a national dental care program. We have the Canada child benefit. I would encourage members to support us in making that national school food program permanent.”
“Mr. Speaker, families clearly need support to tackle food insecurity. That is why we are ensuring that more children are getting nutritious meals at school, while saving parents hundreds of dollars with the national school food program. We are putting more money in parents' pockets, tax-free, every month. This is a program, may I remind my colleagues, that they all, on the opposite side of the House, voted against.”
“Mr. Speaker, with everything going on in the world, we understand the pressures that Canadians, particularly young Canadians, are facing. This new government is getting busy with nation-building projects, which will create quality jobs, quality careers and opportunities, in particular for youth, across this country, including 18,000 jobs during the construction of a new Darlington nuclear project in Ontario, for example, and hundreds of jobs in critical minerals and mining in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Building the strongest economy in the G7 means more opportunities for youth and for all Canadians across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rivière-des-Mille-Îles for her commitment, and I welcome her back to the House. To build a strong economy with the most robust workforce in the G7, we need our young people to gain valuable work experience. That is why your new government is going further by creating up to 6,000 additional summer jobs for young people this summer, for a total of 76,000 jobs. I encourage young Canadians to apply for these exciting job opportunities.”