Tom Osborne
Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, ensuring the safety and security of Canadians is a top priority for our government. Indeed, it is a top priority that is shared by all members of the House.”
“Under Bill C-232 , we would, in effect, be less safe because individuals would go directly from maximum security to release into the community without any chance of rehabilitation. Furthermore, limiting access to the programs that offenders require to address their criminality would ultimately make our institutions less safe.”
“Furthermore, the bill would create significant charter concerns because of its application to current inmates and its ability to negatively impact their prospects for conditional release. (1745) An offender's classification must be a dynamic process, not a static label that is assigned at the time of their sentencing.”
“The vast majority of offenders re-enter society after serving their sentences. The goal is to ensure that they do so as law-abiding, productive members of our communities. Punishment alone does not make our communities safer. We must also focus on rehabilitation.”
“By keeping offenders in maximum security longer than necessary, we are preventing offenders with determinate sentences from getting the treatment and skills training they need to re-enter society safely upon their release.”
“Bill C-232 would undermine the expertise of our corrections professionals and tie the hands of those responsible for managing these offenders. Maximum-security institutions are, by necessity, highly restrictive environments focused primarily on containment.”
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“Our province is already heavily dependent on export markets, but concentration brings risk. If we rely too much on just one or two regions, any disruption can have outsized effects on our businesses and workers. The U.K.'s participation offers the enhancement of a critical pathway to spread and manage that risk. It would provide an improved channel to markets. It would reduce our vulnerability and open new doors for collaboration, investment and expansion. To put it in practical terms, for a Newfoundland crab or shrimp processor who already sells to the U.S. and Japan, with the U.K. now part of this agreement, the same business would gain another avenue to the U.K. market along with our bilateral trade continuity agreement and potentially, through the U.K., supply chains to even more markets.”
“This dual market strategy increases opportunity while decreasing dependency on any single trade corridor. The second advantage is strengthening the rules-based system. The inclusion of the U.K. boosts the prestige, credibility and reach of this agreement. When major economies commit to a high-standard agreement, it strengthens the foundation on which all member countries operate. This is especially important for my province and the seafood exporters who rely on transparent, consistent and fair trade rules, not just to compete but to flourish in a market in which sudden tariff shifts or other barriers can have impacts. With the U.K. involved, we would not just expand the agreement's scope; we would reinforce its core values of sustainability, fairness and openness. The third major advantage is diversification of export risk.”
“is not a stranger to us. It is a country with which we share deep historical, cultural and economic ties. Many of our exporters already have long-standing relationships with the U.K. Formalizing the U.K.'s place in this agreement would offer us three major strategic advantages. The first advantage is expanded market access and opportunity. With the U.K. becoming part of this agreement, businesses from the U.K. would now operate under the same high-standard trade rules as their Asia-Pacific counterparts. This means that Canadian exporters, including those in Newfoundland and Labrador, would gain dual access. On one side, we have Asia-Pacific markets, such as Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia; on the other side, we have enhanced access to a major European economy that links directly into the broader global economy.”
“This agreement provides that. It offers a rules-based system, with care obligations and fewer surprises when it comes to tariffs, regulations and market access. By operating under this agreement, our seafood exporters face less risk and enjoy greater certainty, allowing them to make better investment decisions, plan ahead and become more deeply integrated into a global supply chain. (1150) This is about more than balance sheets. It is about the future and the future prosperity of coastal communities in my province: sustainability, the stability of small business owners and the well-being of workers and families whose livelihood depends on the sea. I will turn to why the United Kingdom's accession into this agreement makes this already valuable agreement even stronger for Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as for Canada. The U.K.”
“Our economy depends on access to reliable, fair and open markets. This speaks directly to our government's broader commitment to expand and diversify Canada's trade footprint. The Prime Minister has made clear that our future prosperity depends on looking beyond traditional markets, and Canada must work to double our non-U.S. exports over the next decade. For our province, this means ensuring that products like crab, shrimp and halibut have a clear path to new consumers across Asia and Europe. The CPTPP is not an abstract policy or an academic exercise. For the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is a concrete, actionable opportunity to support sustainable industries, protect jobs and build long-term prosperity. In today's uncertain global environment, our exporters and fishers need more predictable trade conditions.”
“This is why trade agreements like the CPTPP and strategic decisions like the U.K.'s accession matter so deeply to my province. Let us talk about what the agreement does in practical, tangible terms for seafood producers and the sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the agreement, tariffs on key seafood exports are either immediately eliminated or significantly reduced. These tariff changes are not small adjustments, but real competitive gains for our producers. They translate to lower costs, better margins and stronger competitiveness. They help our businesses grow, hire and reinvest. They ensure that our seafood products can enter high-demand markets on an equal footing with global competitors. This is critical, because over 80% of Newfoundland and Labrador's seafood production is destined for export.”
“Our relationship with the ocean is not just transactional, but foundational. For generations, our fishers, processors and exporters have built a reputation of delivering world-class seafood, from crab and shrimp to halibut and beyond, harvested from the cold, clean waters of the North Atlantic. These products are not just goods on a ledger; they represent the life work of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. They support families, drive small business and sustain coastal communities that rely on fishing-related activities to survive and thrive. In 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador was Canada's third-largest fish and seafood-exporting province, with exports valued at $1.4 billion, representing 117,000 tonnes of high-quality seafood.”
“Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the accession of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the CPTPP, to include the United Kingdom. This is not a matter of just adjusting a trade framework or fine-tuning an international treaty; this is a decision with direct impacts on the people, businesses and communities of Canada, particularly in my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In supporting this agreement, I want to highlight what it truly means for my province, in particular the seafood sector, which forms the backbone of many coastal communities, the economy in those communities and our crucial identity. Newfoundland and Labrador has long drawn its strength economically, culturally and historically from the sea.”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the member's speech, and I have one question for her. The member said that first responders deserve a government that stands behind them. Has she called on her leader to apologize to the RCMP, as he called into question its integrity and reputation, and said it did not do their job, or does she stand behind him?”
“Mr. Speaker, today marks the seventh annual Canadian Beer Day, a day to celebrate Canadian beer and our world-class brewers, large and small, that brew from coast to coast to coast. Celebrated each year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Canadian Beer Day brings Canadians together to celebrate the economic, social and cultural contributions of brewing across this country. Canadian beer is more than just a refreshing beverage; it is part of who we are as Canadians. This day is a toast to the family farmers growing the finest barley in western Canada, to the proud breweries of my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador and to the maltsters, warehouse workers, truck drivers, retailers and bartenders who bring it from field to glass. Our brewers are at the heart of our communities, large and small, urban and rural.”
“We see inflation and the cost of living going up in several countries around the world. I have not been there since last year, but last year I was in Florida, and the price of groceries in Florida, for example, has gone up exponentially. I say to give the Prime Minister a chance. The budget is coming on November 4. Let us see what is in there.”
“Madam Speaker, first of all, let me commend the member opposite. I actually enjoyed his comments. There are fewer than 350 of us here. When I was in the provincial legislature in Newfoundland and Labrador, I always said, as minister, if somebody asked me a real question, they would get a real answer, and if they asked me a political question, they would get a political answer. The member's speech was a real speech. The member talked about the issues. We may agree or not agree regarding the issues, but the member spoke to the issues and he spoke with heart. I wanted to commend the member on his speech. In fairness to the Prime Minister , we have to give him time. We have been here as a government for under six months. The motion of the wave of what is happening is not only happening in Canada. It is happening in other countries as well.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will remind the member it is Newfoundland and Labrador. As I said in my previous statement, we have hit the ground running and we are not wasting a single moment in delivering for Canadians. We have cut taxes for the middle class. We have launched bold measures for first-time homebuyers. We have passed main estimates. We have passed supplementary estimates. Now, we are well on our way with the one Canadian economy act, legislation that would build a stronger, more unified economy from coast to coast to coast. Numbers speak for themselves. The Prime Minister is 65% in the polls. The only thing that has not changed in this Parliament is the petty politics of the opposition.”
“If we respect the will of Canadians, we will put petty politics aside and focus on getting things done for Canadians. Look at what we have accomplished in a matter of just a couple of months. We are not just talking, we are acting. We are not just promising, we are delivering. I will say this with confidence and conviction: we are only just getting started.”
“We did it with transparency and we did it efficiently. Now, we are moving forward with one Canadian economy, which is a transformative piece of legislation to strengthen our economic union. We are streamlining interprovincial trade so we can build a more productive, more competitive economy that works for every region of Canada. We are breaking down barriers so we can build up the Canadian economy. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this means better access to markets, more efficient regulations and a more unified approach to energy development, infrastructure and workforce mobility. We are building one economy for all Canadians. It is time to get to work; this is what the public wants us to do. This is what we as parliamentarians have been sent here to do.”
“Mr. Speaker, the people of my riding sent me here to get a job done. They sent our government here to get a job done. Let me be crystal clear: This government has been focused on getting the job done. We have delivered a middle-class tax cut that will support 22 million Canadians. Housing is another area where Canadians asked us to be decisive and act quickly, and this government delivered targeted, ambitious measures to support first-time homebuyers. We are supporting purpose-built rentals, unlocking public lands and cutting red tape to get shovels in the ground faster. When it comes to the business of Parliament, this government is showing what responsible leadership looks like. We have passed main estimates. We have passed supplementary estimates. We have funded what needed to be funded.”
“Madam Speaker, the hon. member is a great orator. I enjoy listening to him. I am going to learn French, and I commit to that so that I can listen to him without an interpreter. The Conservatives say we are not going far enough with oil and gas, and the Bloc is saying we are going too far with oil and gas. We are trying to build up the Canadian economy. The hon. member just said this is a tired, old government. We have a new Prime Minister , and we have been criticized in the House for going back and changing some of the decisions the previous administration made. Does the member agree with the new decisions and new direction this government is taking? Canadians voted for it.”
“Madam Speaker, I am not ashamed to admit when I do not have an answer to a question; we can get that answer for the hon. member in due course. What I will say is that the Liberals will provide opportunities for graduating students throughout the country by increasing employment, by building the economy and making it stronger, and by providing the opportunities to keep Canadians at home in Canada to help strengthen our Canadian economy and build our populations.”
“Madam Speaker, the tax cut would provide about $800 per working couple or family, making homes more affordable for first-time homebuyers, strengthening the economy and lowering the cost of products and services by breaking down barriers across the country and making products more accessible to Canadians. It would also create jobs because of Canadian-made and Canadian-supplied products being more accessible across the country, due to having one Canadian economy as opposed to 13.”
“Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and our government, during the election campaign, committed to build up to 500,000 homes a year, to make homes more affordable for Canadians across the country, to bring down prices because of supply and demand, and to ensure that homes become more affordable for Canadians. We have talked about premanufactured homes as part of that. I know the government has talked about using surplus government properties to create housing. There are a number of ways that we are able to approach making housing more accessible and more affordable for Canadians.”
“Madam Speaker, the $2.1 billion is part of a larger spending package, as I outlined in my remarks tonight, for the Canadian Armed Forces. There are a number of areas, which I outlined in my remarks tonight, where we are investing in the Canadian Armed Forces with increased spending to ensure that they have the equipment, that they have the respect and that we actually recruit people to the Canadian Armed Forces and they see it as a rewarding career. We want to ensure that we, as parliamentarians, as a government and as a country, ensure that it is a rewarding career, and that, after service, they have the supports that they require.”
“Madam Speaker, I think that is the best question so far tonight. We have an increase in health care spending. We have an increase in spending for seniors. There is the tax cut that the member talked about, making homes more affordable for first-time buyers and for Canadians. The one Canadian economy would tear down barriers and build up the economy across the country. We have almost 22 million Canadians who would see a benefit with the tax break. Not only are we making life more affordable, but we are creating the economic conditions to strengthen our economy.”
“Madam Speaker, today we need decisive and deliberate action, and one Canadian economy is that action. The Prime Minister and our government are focused and have accomplished a great deal, since we formed government just a couple of months ago, to ensure that we tear down barriers and build up the Canadian economy. That is what is important here today.”
“Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and our government are committed to ensuring that our Canadian Forces, the men and women who serve in our Canadian Forces, are paid appropriately, that they have the health care and health insurance they require both during their service and post-service, and that they have the equipment to properly protect Canada.”
“As parliamentarians, our job of exercising oversight on Government of Canada spending is one of the most important roles we play on behalf of all Canadians. It is crucial to maintaining trust in government, the proper functioning of our government and the integrity of our parliamentary democracy. The Government of Canada is committed to delivering essential services to Canadians and to helping the country meet the challenges and the opportunities that lie before us. I encourage all members to authorize the spending outlined in these estimates and to help Canada move forward, strong and free. Before I accept questions from members, I will warn them my wife is in the gallery and my parents are watching.”
“In addition, the Department of National Defence is requesting $834 million for procurements such as defence equipment, personal gear, technology, infrastructure maintenance and essential services. This funding would also support modernization of range and training infrastructure and the expansion of ammunition infrastructure, as well as preventive and corrective maintenance on the department's real property portfolio. (1840) Finally, Communications Security Establishment Canada and National Defence are partnering on a request for $550 million. This would bolster Canada's cyber-capabilities, support greater interoperability with our allies, better equip Canada to counter the full spectrum of cyber-threats, and enhance network infrastructure, information management, connectivity and data storage.”
“Over 40% of the Canadian land mass lies within the Arctic, including 75% of our coastlines, but Canada can no longer rely on its geography and oceans for protection. Climate change is melting our glaciers, and competitors are building up their military and cyber-capabilities. Today's rapidly shifting and increasingly challenging geopolitical environment requires more lines of effort than ever before to defend Canada, more co-operation with allies and partners, and more focus on asserting our presence in the north. To that end, the Department of National Defence is seeking $1 billion to help support its strategic military capabilities, with a focus on the Arctic. Among the initiatives to be supported are joint support ships, an undersea monitoring and surveillance system, Arctic over-the-horizon radar and long-range artillery.”
“This would help move forward the government's efforts to strengthen Canada's defence industrial base, boost made-in-Canada production and drive new innovation in vital sectors. This means real benefits and new opportunities for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. To support these efforts, this investment would also be used to lay the groundwork for a defence industrial strategy. This is about more than just protecting our country. It is about creating good jobs, growing our economy and ensuring a secure and prosperous future for Canadians. Let me also mention the $2 billion being requested to support Canada's extended co-operation with our international partners. Global safety and security can only be possible by working together with our allies around the world. I would like to note the importance of the Arctic.”
“For example, for the Department of National Defence, there is $2.1 billion to allow it to accelerate the recruitment of new members in both the regular and reserve forces. This will make sure the Canadian Armed Forces has the personnel it needs to respond to threats at home while engaging meaningfully abroad. This would also allow it to increase its capacity to provide training, reinforce retention of existing members and improve health services to its members. The Department of National Defence is also requesting another $2.1 billion to improve partnership with industry. This means enhancing our Canadian industry's ability to provide critical support to the Canadian Armed Forces, focusing on both immediate needs and projects that can be advanced quickly.”
“(1835) Canada's defence begins with a clear vision: to be strong at home, secure in North America and engaged throughout the world. To that end, the government is moving quickly to ensure that our military has the tools to defend our country and continent, while remaining an engaged and reliable partner to our allies. The supplementary estimates (A) propose spending of $9 billion in incremental budgetary spending for two organizations: the Department of National Defence and Communications Security Establishment Canada. This spending would provide key investments in Canada's defence and security capabilities to enhance Canadian Forces retention, recruitment and training, and equipment. It would also support our international defence partnerships and obligations. I would now like to speak to some of the specific investments.”
“Another vital issue is Canada's relationship with its indigenous peoples, where true reconciliation requires concrete action. That is why the proposed spending for the Department of Indigenous Services and the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs includes investments in capacity building to support self-determination, as well as on-the-ground support to improve health outcomes and to support children and their families and education. I would like to take a moment to speak about the supplementary estimates (A), 2025-26, which were tabled on June 9. Canada is at a pivotal moment in its history, and we need the resources to protect our country and citizens against foreign threats. Through these supplementary estimates (A), the government will do just that.”
“These transfer payments reflect increases in benefits for the elderly, the Canada health transfer and the Canada disability benefit. Approving the main estimates would allow the government to support programs, activities and services for Canadians and Canada, from national security, defence and border security to reconciliation, housing and veterans benefits. For example, $33.9 billion in voted funding is proposed for the Department of National Defence. This includes funding to support our women and men in uniform through military procurement, building sustainable bases, improved IT systems and infrastructure. It would also be put toward recruitment efforts to encourage more Canadians to find a rewarding career in the military, so we can actually make that career rewarding.”
“There are three supplementary estimates tabled in the House at different times throughout the year. The supplementary estimates (A) are tabled in the spring; the supplementary estimates (B) are tabled in the fall; and the supplementary estimates (C) are tabled in the winter, as required. I will turn to some of the highlights of the 2025-26 main estimates. In these main estimates, the government is seeking approval for key investments and priorities like the Canadian Armed Forces, health services for first nations, dental care, border services and immigration, veterans benefits and housing. In total, this year's main estimates present $486.9 billion in budgetary spending. Transfer payments to provinces and territories, other organizations and individuals account for over 60% of spending, equalling $294.8 billion.”
“These are a series of reports that provide details on how each department plans to spend public funds on programs and services. There are approximately 130 federal organizations that are required to undergo this process. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat gathers all of these planned expenditures into a document called the main estimates, which is tabled in the House of Commons at the start of the year by the President of the Treasury Board. When departments are in need of funds outside of the main estimates, they go through the supplementary estimates. Supplementary estimates might include funding for new programs or responses for urgent requests or an unforeseen situation, such as a natural disaster, or they could be items that were not fully developed in time to be included in the main estimates.”
“Madam Speaker, I am honoured to stand before this Parliament to outline the government's spending priorities for the fiscal year 2025-26. Today, I will speak to the 2025-26 main estimates and provide an overview of supplementary estimates (A), 2025-26. Together, these documents outline how government plans to invest in Canadians while meeting the challenges as well as the opportunities that lie ahead. Before getting into the details, I recognize that the process behind the government's financial reporting cycle may not be well known to all members in the chamber, especially so soon after the general election. Therefore, I will take a moment or two to provide some information to my hon. colleagues, as well as those watching at home. Each year, the government prepares detailed spending plans known as the estimates.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member spoke about some initiatives that are being put in place to ensure greater accountability and greater transparency in terms of the spending of taxpayers' money. I would like to ask her to elaborate a little more on that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have heard a number of people on the other side today talk about how it is the “same old government”. That is not, in fact, the case. This government was judged in the court of public opinion, and we got more seats. I would say it is the same old opposition. The Conservatives lost their leader as the choice of the Canadian public. What are you doing differently to earn the confidence of the general public of this country?”
“Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a significant milestone for North Atlantic, a proud Newfoundland and Labrador energy company, with its planned acquisition of established energy assets in France. North Atlantic has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire a controlling interest in Esso SAF and full ownership of ExxonMobil Chemical France, developing a green energy hub of low-carbon fuels and renewable power. This planned investment will strengthen our province's growing connections with Europe and enhance our energy security. North Atlantic's commitment to sustainable local growth is clear through its wind-to-hydrogen project, expansion of its transportation and retail operations, and plans for a green energy hub to export green energy to Europe. These initiatives will create opportunities for our people, our communities and our economy.”