Leslie Church
Toronto—St. Paul's, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, what did 13 provincial premiers and territorial premiers agree to this week? They agreed to a permanent doubling of the national school food program that will be brought into 10,000 schools across the country. Thirteen provinces and territories agreed, but this opposition cannot get on board to feed kids in our schools.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite. We have worked hand in hand with organizations to ensure that these changes to this program are welcomed. We know that this program delivers important services for seniors in every single riding of every member in this House. That is something that we are going to continue.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are incredibly proud of this program. Last year alone, it supported over 2,600 projects right across Canada, helping seniors stay active and engaged and fight isolation. This year, we are increasing the value of the grants and we are making some changes to strengthen the integrity of the program.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and subsection 39(3) of the Accessible Canada Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Accessibility Commissioner of Canada for the 2025-26 fiscal year.”
“Madam Speaker, this is a government that is hard at work for all Canadians. We have a plan to build Canada strong, and on days like today we are seeing real progress with 88,000 net new jobs. The largest increase in those jobs is in construction. Youth unemployment fell by nearly a point.”
“The government knows that young Canadians deserve more opportunities. By keeping debt under control and investing in growth, we are protecting their future. The 2026 spring economic update shows a government that is meeting today's challenges while protecting tomorrow's prosperity.”
The complete record
Every one of 326 lines we hold for Leslie Church, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 7.
“Mr. Speaker, the other side of the House does not want to listen to the facts and to the stakeholders that work in these areas, so let us come back to the Conservatives' record. Let us talk about the measures this House has put in place to make life more affordable for Canadians. That side of the House says child care does not create spaces and dental care is a duplication. They say pharmacare is radical. They say school food programs are “garbage”. They say the Canada child benefit is redistribution. These are the very programs that help Canadian families have a more affordable life. They vote against them. This House stands for them.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me add to what my colleague just said to the House. The Canadian Climate Institute yesterday said, “Industrial carbon pricing has essentially no impact on the price of food and the agricultural sector.” Farmers do not pay the industrial price. The air is a little thin on that side of the House today, and I would like to remind those members that they voted against making the national school food program permanent, they voted against the Canada child benefit, which went to families yesterday, and they voted against a tax cut for 22 million Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 has two fiscal anchors: a debt-to-GDP ratio baseline and balancing operating expenditures over the next three years. Our former Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, recently stated that he is comfortable with budget deficits of about 2.5% of the GDP given the current economic context. Canada is ahead of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and France, and that includes the significant investments that we are making in this budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about how Canada is one of only a handful of countries around the world that maintain a AAA credit rating. That stamp of approval means that we have not just a strong fiscal position but also an enviable one. The head of the IMF has said that Canada is acting decisively to use its fiscal space to make the investments that are going to boost our productivity and growth. We are on the right track. Canada lost its AAA credit rating in the early 1990s, after the party opposite was in power with reckless deficits and ballooning debt.”
““Strong labour conditions are the proven path to good jobs and world-class infrastructure, and as Canada enters a new era of nation-building projects, skilled trades workers will be at the forefront of this transformative time.” I think we can take it from actual members of Canadian trades that the measures we are putting into this budget, measures we drive as a government, are going to help tradespeople and young Canadians pursue the skilled trades in the years to come.”
“Mr. Speaker, do not take it from me; take it from Sean Strickland from Canada's Building Trades Unions, who commented on our budget. He stated, “The 2025 federal budget contains strong commitments to unionized labour and skilled tradespeople. “It goes to show it’s possible to create policies that are mutually beneficial when industry and government come to the table together....”
“A worker authorized in one jurisdiction can quickly and easily work in another. The job of this government is to help create the workforce Canada needs to safeguard a strong economy. We are making sure that Canadian workers have the skills they need to succeed. We are taking action to make sure Canada comes out of this with a very deep pool of talent that will unlock a prosperous economic future for Canada that all Canadians, but particularly young Canadians, can benefit from.”
“Since the government is committed to doubling the pace of housing construction, Canada will need to hire thousands of new skilled tradespeople who can build these homes. Automotive service technicians, power line technicians, millwrights, horticulturalists, and truck and transport mechanics are also key to Canada's road to a prosperous future. We are actively encouraging young people to consider developing trade careers that will help them and help the country. Each year, nearly $1 billion goes toward apprenticeship supports and projects to help address challenges faced by apprentices as they pursue their Red Seal trade certification. Once they are trained, the just-passed One Canadian Economy Act will remove federal barriers to labour mobility, making it easier for skilled workers to do their job across Canada.”
“As well, ESDC's student work placement program has supported over 51,000 placements, so post-secondary students can develop work-ready skills. Three out of four employers reported a willingness to hire the students following their work placement. Additionally, we have announced significant enhancements to Canada's job bank, which will more easily and quickly match Canadian workers, including youth, with available jobs. Our government takes youth employment seriously, because youth are the drivers of future economic growth. These programs are very successful at helping youth acquire in-demand skills and improve their employment prospects. Above all, we believe Canada's future success depends on our trades workforce.”
“We are funding more jobs because the CSJ program has a proven track record of creating positive outcomes. It really does set young Canadians up for a lifetime of success in the job market. Last year, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada confirmed this by reporting that CSJ participants benefit in having better long-term earnings than non-participants do. Since 2019, CSJ has provided more than 530,000 young people with work, but that is just one program. Budget 2025 also proposes over $1.5 billion for the student work placement program and youth employment and skills strategy, which includes Canada summer jobs. This investment will support about 175,000 opportunities for youth in 2026-27 alone. That is next year.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is concerned about the issue of employment, and indeed, the Canadian labour market is going through a period of disruption. A massive retirement wave is leading to a critical labour shortage. In fact, 300,000 skilled workers are expected to retire by 2033. This is a difficult situation, but the Government of Canada is committed to preparing the workforce for the future. (1845) [ English ] That is why budget 2025 has placed such an important emphasis on ensuring that young people have a future they can be proud of, a future and a career that they can rely on. Budget 2025 is proposing increased funding for the Canada summer jobs program to support 100,000 jobs across Canada in 2026.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it depends on the types of books a member might want to read. Let us talk about books. This week in the House, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations has been on the Hill representing students from across the land. Here is what Abdul Abbasi, the Chair of CASA and a student from the University of Alberta, had to say about the budget: “Students are pleased to see that the government has met CASA’s call for tens of thousands of student jobs in growing economic sectors.” This budget is for students, so if the member opposite wants to talk about how education builds—”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about two of the main areas of costs for families; let us talk about taxes and let us talk about housing. The budget cuts taxes for 22 million Canadians, bringing the basic tax rate down from 15% to 14%. This is a major tax cut. It is about $5 billion a year in tax relief for Canadians, and 85% goes to the lowest income tax brackets alone. With regard to housing, we are making the biggest investment in housing in Canadian history. We are building up the supply of homes, bringing down—”
“Mr. Speaker, let me keep going. Let me talk about the youth in Toronto—St. Paul's, because this side of the House knows that our economic future depends on them. That is why we are saying that whatever ambition means to Canada's youth, whether it is to shape the future of AI, whether it is to join the climate corps, whether it is to make a great Canadian film, whether it is to study higher education or whether it is to work in the skilled trades, this budget is helping young Canadians from their first summer job all the way through the career-starting, lifelong job they are going to have. Let us not take my word for it; let us talk about the YMCA, which says that paid skills training in this budget is going to strengthen resilience in our—”
“Mr. Speaker, let me talk about the people in my riding, like seniors, who are benefiting from the budget. When I talk to them, I hear about dental care and their saving $800 a year. I hear about our new horizons program for seniors, supporting projects that affect seniors' quality of life. I hear about $5 billion in the budget going to health care and hospital infrastructure. Most importantly, I hear about a health heroes tax credit benefiting PSWs, who are the heart and soul of care in our communities. Do not take my word for it; SEIU Healthcare union president, Tyler Downey, says, “Putting more money directly into the pockets of PSWs will support retention and help strengthen care for Canada's seniors.””
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives think they know best, but they are actually ignoring the experts. They are ignoring the Coalition for Healthy School Food, which calls this budget a “great step forward to support children and youth in Canada.” They are ignoring the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Breakfast Club of Canada, which also applaud our commitment to making the national school food program permanent. The Conservatives need to listen to the experts, listen to Children First Canada, about why this program makes a difference and why half a million families across the country would benefit from it.”
“Mr. Speaker, what is remarkable about this budget is that it builds for the future but helps people today. This is a budget that cuts taxes for 22 million Canadians, saving families up to $800 a year. It makes the national school food program permanent, helping over half a million kids. It delivers automatic federal tax filing for five and a half million Canadians. It invests in housing, it invests in infrastructure and it lowers barriers to make the Canada disability benefit more accessible. If the member opposite truly cares about affordability for families in Canada, he will come on over and vote for this budget.”
“Canadian innovation and Canadian ingenuity can help us navigate this moment and create a stronger and more resilient economy for all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this historic day, I rise to recognize the life and work of the late Andrew Moor, who served 18 years as CEO of EQ Bank and who was a long-time resident of Toronto—St. Paul's. We lost him suddenly this summer. Our thoughts are with his wife, Mags, and his three children, Dan, Cat and Sarah. Andrew was a true Canadian pioneer driven by an unwavering belief that banks should, above all else, serve their clients and serve Canadians. He was an innovator who advocated for greater competition in the financial industry in order to give Canadians more options and more control over their finances. At this moment of profound economic disruption and opportunity, let us follow the example Andrew set.”
“I want to assure her that the Government of Canada will continue to take the side of fairness, continue to support our workers and continue to support collective bargaining in every way we can. Canadians deserve no less.”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that Canada has been built on the strength of our labour movements. This government strongly supports labour in Canada. We have banned replacement workers. We have introduced 10 days of paid sick leave. Just today, the Minister of Jobs and Families announced a major reinvestment in the union training and innovation program to create tens of thousands of new jobs for skilled trades workers. These are union, labour, career-starting jobs. She also announced a hero tax credit, which is going to support personal support workers in our health care unions with up to $1,100 in a refundable tax credit, recognizing the incredible caregiving these workers provide to Canadians and our loved ones right across the country. I heard the member opposite.”
“Canadians depend on them to get this right. The government has been supporting the parties with their negotiations for almost two years. Federal mediators remain available to support the bargaining process, but both parties are encouraged to continue working toward a fair resolution. I am proud to be part of a government that respects and has faith in the collective bargaining process. It is good for unions, for employees, for employers and for all of Canada. Over the coming year, I look forward to working with this new government to ensure that Canada's workers, Canada's unions and Canada's labour force are strongly represented in major projects and in the building we are going to be doing right across Canada.”
“They have worked hard to support both parties in this dispute, but the parties still need to agree. When they are unable to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, it can threaten Canada's economic health. Canadians simply cannot afford this. Canada Post is one of Canada's largest employers, with more than 50,000 workers. It delivered 6.4 billion pieces of mail and parcels to 17.6 million locations across Canada in 2024. The instability caused by this dispute has been felt beyond the company's walls. It has put a strain on Canada's small businesses and communities. CUPW and Canada Post need to find the right balance that secures the future of the corporation and respects the workers who keep it running. Both parties have priorities they want recognized, and Canadians expect the parties to resolve this dispute fast.”
“The bill received unanimous support in Parliament. Replacement workers can destabilize the bargaining process and poison the workplace for years to come. Banning their use protects workers' right to strike and removes distractions from collective bargaining. This will bring greater stability to our economy, because a strong economy depends on stable labour relations. The responsibility of reaching negotiated deals rests solely with the parties, but the government can and does step in to help when needed. Last year, 97% of all disputes in federally regulated sectors were resolved without a work stoppage. That was thanks in large part to the outstanding work of the federal mediation and conciliation service, which has some of Canada's best mediators.”
“Mr. Speaker, our new government is proud to support a commitment to collective bargaining. Free and fair collective bargaining is at the heart of a stable labour relations regime. Tonight, I will provide an update on the ongoing labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. I will also highlight the work we are doing to to help the parties reach an agreement. First, I would like to touch on the importance of collective bargaining. The best deal is the deal that parties reach by themselves at the bargaining table. Collective bargaining is not easy, but it produces the strongest agreements, agreements that help stabilize our economy. That is why we banned replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces during strikes or lockouts. We celebrated this legislation's coming into force this year on June 20.”
“Mr. Speaker, the reason we are making generational investments in young people is that we believe they are the future. When we think about affordability today, it is also why we listen to groups like, for example, Right To Food, because it talks about the need to strengthen our social safety net, including affordable child care, dental care, the workers benefit and the child benefit. It is why we are introducing automatic tax filing for millions of Canadians. Our plan includes building homes young people can afford and building great jobs that are going to create opportunities for their future. This is how a responsible government tackles the challenge of building a great country.”
“Mr. Speaker, Conservative members pretend to care about food insecurity, but then they call feeding children “garbage”, which is completely unacceptable. Up to 400,000 more kids are getting healthy meals in their school. This is saving parents up to $800 a year on their grocery bills. That is meaningful change. How can Canadians take the party opposite seriously when it literally wants to take food off kids' tables and defund our food programs?”
“Mr. Speaker, we are protecting the trucking industry. We have taken steps to ensure that truck drivers have fair pay. We have taken steps to ensure that misclassification is made illegal; we are enforcing that more than ever. We continue to work with the provinces, especially with Quebec, on this issue. Our priority remains making sure that we are keeping our roads safe and that we are supporting our industries and our workers fairly.”
“Mr. Speaker, licensing is a provincial responsibility, so it is up to the provinces to take appropriate action. We will stand up for truckers who deserve to receive fair wages and to be protected under the law. More than 1,000 inspections have been carried out, and truckers can confidentially report offences. We are protecting those who speak up. Our priority is to keep our roads and drivers safe.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are making generational investments into Canada to build this country strong for the next generation. We are building housing. We are investing in skills. We are building major projects to create jobs. Our plan is working. We are making progress. We have more to do. On November 4, Conservatives have the ability to stand up and support us as we build this country to make it better for all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me take an opportunity to shed some light on the Conservative youth plan, which borrows heavily from the MAGA playbook. It includes restricting student financial aid to the programs the Conservatives like and defunding the ones they do not like. With their track record, we should be worried about basic science, arts, literature, culture, environmental studies, public health and early childhood education. Is the Conservatives' plan a path to defund those students? If so, what kind of future do they see for Canada's youth?”
“Mr. Speaker, in our budget, what people will see are the kinds of investments that are actually going to set young people on the right path forward, creating jobs, investing in skills and apprenticeships, investing in affordable homes and making it easier for young people to get into those homes. Those are the kinds of investments we are making. When members on the opposite side of the House stand up and call things like our national school food program “garbage”, when it actually helps young Canadians get the best early start in life, we have to wonder whether they really care about youth.”
“Mr. Speaker, when we talk about spending less to invest more, it is because we believe that we need to create prosperity for the younger generations of Canadians. When we look at our track record, we see that housing starts are up under the Prime Minister , construction investment is up and wages are up, and we have created over 100,000 full-time jobs in the past month alone. We have a responsible plan. We are just getting started. Young people are at the centre of the plan.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government has said that in the upcoming budget, it is going to be making generational investments. They will be generational because we know that youth are at the heart of Canada's future, and we have a plan to ensure that they succeed. It is why we are going to be creating tens of thousands of jobs thorough major projects that the Conservatives call “pathetic”. It is why we are going to be building Canada homes and creating new, affordable homes for young people, which the Conservatives call shacks, and why we continue to invest in things that support our young people, like our national school food program, which yesterday the Conservatives called “garbage”. When will the Conservatives actually stand up for Canada's youth?”
“Mr. Speaker, when we talk about making generational investments in our upcoming budget, it is because we believe, on this side of the House, youth and young people are the drivers of our future economic growth, and we have a responsible plan to ensure they have the skills and opportunities to succeed. We built on the work we are doing to support apprenticeships and Red Seal trades, co-ops and access to post-secondary education and training. Most importantly, we are creating thousands of new career-starting jobs, investing in major projects and making it more affordable for young people to buy a home. Housing starts, construction investment and wages are up. This is part of our plan. We have more to do.”
“Mr. Speaker, visiting Ottawa today are two incredible athletes, Ava Walsh and Gracie Ryckman, as well as coaches, staff and volunteers from Special Olympics Canada. For more than 50 years, the Special Olympics have shown us the power of inclusion, creating opportunities for Canadians with disabilities to build on their strengths, foster lifelong friendships and shine on and off the field. Across the country, and in my riding of Toronto—St. Paul's, where the beating heart of the organization has a home, I have seen how these programs bring communities together. They remind us that sport is not only about competition but also about belonging, confidence and joy. Gracie and Ava's determination and teamwork inspire us all. They embody what it means to lead with heart.”
“Mr. Speaker, today's job numbers are actually good for Canadians. They show that there are 60,000 net new jobs, 100,000 new jobs in full-time work and over 28,000 new jobs in manufacturing. The government is squarely focused on young people and making sure that we are going to have good, career-building jobs for the future. That is why we are making major investments right now in major projects right across the country, building homes at a scale we have not seen since World War II. These are the types of initiatives that are going to create tens of thousands of good jobs for Canadians going forward.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Prescott—Russell—Cumberland for the question. Good news: Our new government is making the national school food program permanent. This will provide access to the nutritious food that all students need to learn. It will also save families approximately $800 a year on their grocery bills. We are lowering costs for families so that children can thrive and parents can get ahead.”
“Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada, this morning, told Canadians that last month, this new government created over 100,000 new full-time jobs. That is progress. This government is committed to building a strong Canadian economy, the strongest one in the G7. That involves creating major projects and building affordable housing. These plans are going to help employ tens of thousands of people and create career-starting jobs for all Canadians. At the same time, we are investing in apprenticeships and we are investing in co-ops. Why will the members opposite not vote in favour of these plans?”
“Mr. Speaker, we know that income insecurity touches a lot of people in Canada. It is one of the reasons that today we announced that the national school food program, a program that is going to help feed nearly half a million kids, is being made permanent. That program is going to save families up to $800 a year. We are also making progress on another important driver of income insecurity, and that is housing. We are going to be building affordable housing at a scale not seen since World War II. If the members opposite care about affordability for families, they need to get on board and help us build housing, bring down rent and bring down costs. That will help—”
“Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, licensing is a provincial responsibility, so it is up to the provinces to take appropriate action. We will stand up for truckers who deserve fair wages and who deserve to be protected under the law. Misclassification in the trucking industry is illegal and we are ensuring that the law is enforced. More than 1,000 inspections and awareness activities have been carried out since 2023. Our top priority is keeping our roads and drivers safe.”
“Mr. Speaker, we continue to invest in our workers right across the board and in making EI easier to access. In addition, we are investing in all sorts of union training and skilled trades, building major projects and new homes, and creating tens of thousands of good jobs right across the country. Our government is going to continue to stand with workers, making sure they have access to the programs that are going to support them through these volatile times. I hope the members are on board with that.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are supporting the retirement security of health care and home care workers. We are investing in union training and in the skilled trades. We are building major projects and new homes. We are creating tens of thousands of quality jobs across the country for unionized workers. Our government will continue to support unions and unionized workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, the data does not lie. In September, we created over 100,000 new full-time jobs in this country. Those are good jobs for all Canadians. We are embarking on a plan that is not only going to build projects, but build homes and make those homes more affordable for young Canadians. We are bringing forward a budget next month that is going to make a generational investment in Canadian industry, Canadian workers and Canadian families. I really hope the members opposite can convince their whips to vote for it.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us deal in facts. These jobs numbers are for September. At the end of a summer, many youth are leaving jobs and going back to school or back to other work. Coming back to what the Liberal government is doing, we are investing a billion dollars, for example, in Red Seal trades for apprenticeships. We are investing in work-integrated learning. We are investing in co-ops. Most importantly, we are going to be building the houses and investing in the projects that are going to create tens of thousands of jobs for all Canadians right across the country, beginning with our young people.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about those jobs numbers today. Statistics Canada reported that employment has increased by 60,000 jobs. That includes 28,000 jobs in manufacturing, 14,000 new jobs in health care and 106,000 full-time jobs. We have a plan. We are making progress, and we are going to be there to create good-paying, career-starting jobs for all Canadians.”
“We are building one Canadian economy by removing interprovincial trade barriers. Through it all, we are adding additional supports for workers and families through what are undeniably volatile times. We have a plan to build Canada strong. We have a budget coming in November. I invite the member opposite and his party to vote for it.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are in the business of getting things done. The member opposite can claim that he supports whatever he wants, but when it comes to implementation, it is the government that has the responsibility of putting forward legislation and making sure that we deliver for Canadians, which is what we are doing. We are going to build major projects. We have set up the Major Projects Office. We are working with provinces, territories and indigenous communities to get shovels in the ground and get things moving. We have created Build Canada Homes. We are going to build tens of thousands of affordable houses across this country. Both of these things are going to create well-paying, career-starting union jobs and jobs for young people. We are securing our future in a global economy.”
“On top of that, the legislation removed federal barriers to labour mobility, which is vitally important for provinces and territories and the licences and certification processes that are right now barriers for labour to move across provinces. We have to work on bringing those barriers to worker mobility down. A worker authorized in one jurisdiction must quickly and easily be able to work in another. That would make it easier for skilled workers to do their jobs across Canada. As the Prime Minister has said, it is time to “build big, build bold, build now”. There is a consensus on this approach. It is time to focus on what we can do in Canada to shore up our economy and create jobs here at home.”
“One of those building blocks is child care for parents who are working and want to take on some of these jobs in the skilled trades. That comes from people working in the skilled trades and training in the skilled trades and from the employers who employ them. On June 6, the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy introduced legislation to unify the Canadian economy. Bill C-5 , the One Canadian Economy Act, provided the leadership to strengthen Canada's autonomy, resilience and security through economic integration. Building a stronger, more connected, more competitive Canada will drive business growth and set us on a path to create jobs from coast to coast to coast.”