David Bexte
Bow River, Alberta · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to table the Conservatives' dissenting report to the flood damage report. Canadians do not need another report telling them that floods, fires, droughts and storms are costly. They see it when basements flood, roads wash out and communities are forced to evacuate.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are less safe today than they were a decade ago. Violent crime has risen by 55% since 2015. Liberal weak-on-crime policies have left Canadians feeling less secure. Police need effective tools to stop dangerous criminals. With proper judicial authorization, lawful access is key to investigating serious crimes.”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister avoided the answer. Veterinarians and animal health technicians play a critical role in the Canadian agriculture system, and they are in short supply. Neither vets nor animal health techs are covered under the Canada student loan forgiveness program, unlike other professionals.”
“The Liberals promised to listen and make changes. Instead, they are ramming a contentious bill through Parliament. The Liberals are ignoring legitimate concerns raised by experts and Canadians. They should be embarrassed.”
“If finding a surety is difficult, the answer cannot be lowering the standards. The amendment focuses almost entirely on the circumstances of the accused, but what about victims, families and communities? The threads of the fabric of our communities are at risk.”
“I need to mention that after years of Liberal judicial appointments, the Liberals have established a culture in the judiciary to defer to the perpetrator. This is maybe not deliberate by every judge.”
The complete record
Every one of 222 lines we hold for David Bexte, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 5.
“Mr. Speaker, I am standing here today because the people of Alberta expect me to stand up when something is wrong. They expect us to fix it. As members of this House, we are guardians of the Canada Elections Act. This law is one of the foundations of our democracy. It is the contract that ensures power stays where it belongs, in the hands of the Canadian people. Our duty is to ensure that when a citizen marks their ballot, the process is fair, the choice is clear, and the results are beyond reproach. Over the last decade, confidence in Canadian elections has decayed. The very foundations are beginning to crack. Bill C-25 is supposed to patch this up. When a foundation starts to crack, we do not ignore it or paper over it. We shore it up before the whole structure crumbles.”
“While the Liberals complain about two-tier health care, they keep defending the $275 million spent on health care benefits for fake asylum claimants, benefits that Canadians do not have access to. This is Liberal logic. Finally, I hope, as the week is not over, the Liberals are turning a gravel pit into a money pit, with $200 million spent for Liberal insiders to get rich, and they say that they are just getting started.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' recently manufactured majority is starting to settle in. All of a sudden, they can move fast when it comes to grabbing control of committees to prevent scrutiny of their behaviour. The ethics, public accounts, and operations and estimates committees are important to ensure the public can trust that power is not being abused, and they are at risk of being taken over by the Liberals. We never seem to have to look very far for glaring examples of why oversight is so important. There was the software scandal with almost $300 million wasted on failed e-prescribing. The program did not work. This latest boondoggle makes the ArriveCAN scandal look like a warm-up act.”
“Mr. Speaker, this week I introduced Bill C-273 , the FARM act, to cut red tape and get farmers faster access to proven tools already deemed safe and approved by trusted jurisdictions. The bill reflects recommendations made by the ag committee on regulatory reform in response to industry concerns about costly delays and lack of access that leave our farmers at a disadvantage. It is a practical, no-cost solution that maintains oversight by delivering results. Will the Liberals support this common-sense legislation, listen to the recommendations from committee and industry, and get farmers faster access to the tools they need?”
“Three more graduates signed NHL contracts this past week, providing further proof of the world-class development program the Bandits have built. We look forward to their potential NHL debuts. Hockey is thriving in Bow River, and these stories make us all proud. Go, Taber, and go, Bandits!”
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate two outstanding hockey stories from Bow River. First, I congratulate the community of Taber on being named the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville national champions. Through adversity, and with remarkable fortitude, the people of Taber came together and earned this well-deserved victory. It stands as the latest chapter in the proud culture of hockey excellence that the people of Bow River continue to build. Taber's win provides $250,000 to rebuild its arena after it was destroyed, along with the exciting opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game next fall. I look forward to attending this much-anticipated game. Second, I would like to give a huge shout-out to the Brooks Bandits.”
“Canadian reviews still happen, safety remains paramount and the minister will retain the authority to step in if there are concerns. This bill gives ranchers in Strathmore the medications they need to keep their herds healthy. It gives potato farmers in P.E.I. the inputs they need to produce more food. There is no new bureaucracy and no new spending, just common sense. It was written by a farmer for my colleagues in the field. It means stronger yields, lower costs, more food produced right here at home and stronger rural communities. It means some relief for Canadians who are tired of watching their grocery bills climb higher. Canadian farmers are the best in the world. They need the government to get out of the way so they can grow food for families. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
“For years, our farmers have been buried under layers of red tape, rules that do not make sense, delays that cost them money and barriers that keep them from using the same safe, proven tools their competitors already rely on in the United States, the EU, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, our farmers are told to wait: to wait for approvals, to wait for reviews and to wait while their costs climb and their yields fall. That is not protecting Canadians. That is holding them back. When farmers fall behind, Canadians feel it at the grocery store. The FARM act would change that. It would create a trusted system where products are already approved by at least two of our closest allies and can be made available to Canadian farmers within 90 days. That is not years but days.”
“Bill C-273. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-273 , an act to amend the Feeds Act, the Fertilizers Act, the Seeds Act, the Pest Control Products Act, and the Food and Drugs Act. He said: Mr. Speaker, the people of Alberta did not send me here to sit quietly while farms are run out of business by bureaucrats in Ottawa. Farmers sent me here to fix what is broken. Today, I am introducing the FARM act, a simple and practical way to make life better for Canadian farmers and more affordable for every family that depends on them.”
“Winning Kraft Hockeyville is a testament to community spirit, and Taber has shown exactly that in the face of adversity. I wish the community of Taber the very best in the finals, along with the community of Tumbler Ridge, and I congratulate it on a truly deserving community-led effort.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the community of Taber in my riding for being named a finalist in this year's Kraft Hockeyville competition and for being selected as Alberta's provincial winner, earning $50,000 for arena upgrades, along with a chance to compete for the $250,000 grand prize and the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game. This recognition comes at a critical time for Taber. In December of last year, an explosion seriously damaged the town's arena and forced its closure, disrupting the local community, minor hockey and other community events. Taber has a proud hockey tradition. It is the hometown of former NHL star Devin Setoguchi, and its rink has long hosted youth camps led by Calgary Flames alumnus Kris Versteeg, bringing the next generation of athletes together.”
“Mr. Speaker, that was a great speech, and I think it causes us to have a lot of thought. I wonder if my colleague could comment on the really insidious nature of what we are facing here right now related to the likelihood of self-censorship that would happen if this bill is implemented.”
“Mr. Speaker, indeed, the chilling impact of self-censoring goes directly to what the problem is with all of this. The entire population could be subject at different times to exactly that, and that is frightening.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the member from across the way, the Liberal heritage minister , that the Liberals would feel restrained in any way at all. This would simply embolden them to silence dissent, silence opinions that are opposed to theirs and further divide Canadian society. I appreciate the question from my colleague.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question. It attempts to drive at some clarity as to motivation, but the Bloc is the sponsor of that amendment. It would have, and would continue to have, a chilling effect on these faith groups across the country. The government does not have a good record with respect to restraining itself from overreach as its ideologues and ideologies evolve through time according to the whims of the current polls. The current government will find the temptation irreversible to encroach upon the limits of the constitutionality of this legislation.”
“Mr. Speaker, I suppose I appreciate the question from the member opposite, but such as it is, I do not know of any organizations that I affiliate with that are advocating for hate speech and trying hate speech. The religious organizations I have spoken to, including the United Church, the Catholic bishops and many other pastors and congregations in my riding are absolutely chilled. They are absolutely chilled by the prospect of where this can go, considering the history of the failure to execute by the government on so many different files.”
“It is about covering up failures: failures to enforce existing laws, failures to lead and failures to act when it actually matters. Instead of fixing these failures, the government is trying to mask them with sweeping new legislation that goes too far. Hate speech is wrong, but Canada already has the tools to deal with it. What we do not need is a law that risks punishing the very freedoms that define us. I will stand with the Canadians who have written to me. I will stand with faith communities across the country, and Conservatives will stand for the fundamental freedoms that Canadians expect us to defend. For those reasons, I cannot and I will not support Bill C-9 .”
“However, the Liberals rejected this and took the easy way out, bundling the good with the bad and forcing it through, teaming up with the Bloc to undermine freedom of expression and religious freedom. The justice minister has also confirmed that the bill would apply to online content, which raises serious concerns about the direction Canada is heading. We have already seen attempts by the government to regulate online speech through legislation like the former online harms act. Now we see another step in that same direction, toward a system where Canadians may begin to self-censor out of fear. That is chilling, not because they intend harm but because they are unsure where the line is. This bill is not about filling gaps in the law.”
“It is the natural consequence of vague and unclear legislation that will ultimately lead to a chilling of free speech and expression like we have seen in nations such as the United Kingdom. The government says this bill will protect Canadians, but even the so-called safeguards it proposes are weak. The Liberals inserted language claiming the bill would not infringe on charter rights, yet when Conservatives proposed real, concrete protections, they rejected them. At the same time, they used procedural tactics to shut down debate. They cut off discussion. They limited scrutiny. In doing so, they shut out the voices of Canadians, including those most directly affected and concerned by this bill. Conservatives offered a reasonable solution and a clear path forward: Split the bill and swiftly pass the uncontentious sections.”
“(1550) They would make it easier for individuals to be investigated, charged and prosecuted, not for inciting violence but for expressing views that others may find controversial. This concern is not hypothetical. We heard at committee from a former Liberal justice committee chair, who stated that there is “clear hatred” in parts of religious texts like the Bible and the Torah, specifically referencing books such as Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Romans. He even doubled down and went further, saying these passages “should not be used [as] a defence” and that prosecutors should be able to proceed with charges. Let us think about that for a moment: sacred texts held by millions of Canadians being cited as potential grounds for criminal prosecution. This is not a fringe concern.”
“That bill also sought to remove sections 319(3)(b) and 319(3.1)(b), the very provisions that protect Canadians expressing religious views in good faith, yet from that time, I cannot find a single record of a Liberal MP standing up to champion it. There was not one. What changed? Did the Liberals suddenly discover principle, or are they now so desperate to pass something, anything, that they are willing to abandon their own cautions and push through a bill that would divide Canadians? Bill C-9 would do more than remove protections. It would lower the threshold for prosecution, it would introduce a new, vague definition of hate, it would remove the requirement for Attorney General consent before charges are laid, and it would eliminate the religious defence. Taken together, these changes would create uncertainty where we need clarity.”
“In fact, the Supreme Court of Canada has explicitly recognized that this religious defence is necessary to keep Canada's hate speech laws constitutional because of how fundamental freedom of expression and freedom of religion are in a free and democratic society. Let me repeat that. These protections do not exist by accident, but because, without them, the law itself risks violating the charter and the fundamental rights and freedoms we enjoy as Canadians. However, the government, working hand in hand with the Bloc, has chosen to strip them away. Let me ask a simple question. If this was such a good idea, and if this is such necessary legislation, why did the Liberals not support it in 2023, when the Bloc Québécois introduced nearly identical legislation in Bill C-367 ?”
“Instead of fixing enforcement, the government is doing what it always does. It is layering on more laws, more bureaucracy and more confusion, all while pretending to take action. Bill C-9 would go far beyond what is necessary. In doing so, it would put at risk two of the most fundamental freedoms we have as Canadians: freedom of expression and freedom of religion. One of the most concerning elements of the bill is the Liberal-Bloc amendment that would remove long-standing protections for religious speech. These protections are not loopholes. They are not technicalities. They are constitutional guardrails.”
“These cover the public and wilful incitement of hatred and the advocacy of genocide against identifiable groups, and include specific provisions addressing the wilful promotion of Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism. Canada already has the legal tools to deal with hate speech. We already have the means to prosecute those who incite violence and promote hatred. This is not a failure of legislation; it is a failure of enforcement. Since last year, we have seen this failure first-hand. A man in Toronto was charged with an array of offences, including advocating genocide. After an eight-month anti-Semitic crime spree, he was released on bail even though he was found with multiple loaded firearms. However, the Liberals in December voted down a motion 18 times to study their own Bill C-14 , which would have addressed these issues around bail.”
“Organizations such as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the United Church of Canada, the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, among dozens of others, have raised serious concerns. In December, 23 of these organizations issued a joint statement outlining their objections to Bill C-9 . Let us be clear about something. Hate is real, it is wrong and it must be confronted, but here is the truth this government does not want to admit: Hate has festered in this country on its watch, not because we lack laws but because it has failed to enforce the laws we already have. The Criminal Code of Canada already contains clear hate speech provisions in sections 318 and 320.”
“Mr. Speaker, since I took office, my office has not received more letters, emails, phone calls or petitions on any single issue than on Bill C-9 . Every day, dozens of residents in my riding call my office about the bill, and if the Liberals were honest, they would admit they are hearing the same. These families, religious leaders and ordinary Canadians are not confused. They are not misinformed. They are, however, afraid. They are afraid that the bill would chill free speech, they are afraid that it would erode religious freedom, and they are afraid that their own government is no longer listening to them. We have seen a strong, unified voice from religious leaders of all faiths, as well as from civil liberties groups from across Canada, condemning the overreach of the bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the contribution to this discussion from the hon. member, my colleague. I wonder if he could comment a bit on the lack of consultation with agents like those from the United Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada, and with Orthodox rabbis. There has been no serious consultation on this particular contentious part of the bill, and that feedback would be most informative. There has been none, not at committee or anywhere else, much against what Liberal colleagues and others have said about this.”
“The Liberals' industrial carbon tax is driving investment out of Canada, and to make matters worse, they are raising the tax. Canadian Natural recently paused an $8.25-billion project in Alberta because of destructive Liberal policies. Canada should be powering our economy and supplying energy to our allies, so why will the Liberals not get out of the way and scrap the anti-development laws?”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot control what happens overseas, but we can control the policies here at home that are making life less affordable. Right now, higher oil prices should be a huge opportunity for Canada. We are blessed with the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world, and our allies are asking for reliable energy. Instead of Canadians' getting resources to market, the Liberals keep putting up roadblocks and excuses. They have not approved a single new pipeline to tidewater, and the much-touted Major Projects Office, which was supposed to speed things up, has not approved a single project. Maybe if a pipeline had Liberal insiders connected to it, like a certain wind farm in Nova Scotia, or even Brookfield, the government would actually care about getting it built.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of constituents of the riding of Bow River and, in fact, constituents across the country to present a petition from Canadians who are concerned that the Liberal-Bloc amendments to Bill C-9 could be used to criminalize passages from the Bible, the Koran, the Torah and other sacred texts. The state has no place in the religious texts or teachings of a faith community, and freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. Therefore, the petitioners call on the Government of Canada to protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share sacred texts and prevent government overreach into matters of faith.”
“They serve their communities and take pride in a job well done. 4-H prepares young people for whatever path they choose. I encourage all members of the House to recognize and celebrate the tremendous work of 4-H and the volunteers who make it possible in Alberta, Canada and around the world.”
“Mr. Speaker, head, heart, health and hands is the 4-H pledge. On March 14, I will be attending the 4-H south region's annual communications event in Alberta, which will host approximately 100 young speakers. I joined 4-H when I was nine years old, and it was there that I learned to stand on my own two feet, speak with confidence and work hard for my neighbours. It was there that I first lived the motto that still guides me today: Learn to do by doing. 4-H provides youth with a structured, hands-on environment where character is built the old-fashioned way. Young people roll up their sleeves and take on real responsibility. Each year, they develop a project that may focus on life skills or raising livestock. They develop skills in the trades, public speaking, leadership, teamwork, parliamentary procedure and community service.”
“Mr. Speaker, prairie farmers have warned that uncontrolled Richardson's ground squirrel populations have surged since the loss of strychnine, causing millions of dollars in losses. For decades, farmers used strychnine safely and effectively. Today's alternatives are far less effective. On multiple occasions, the Liberals committed to supporting emergency-use approval. That promise has now been broken, perhaps by the health minister. Alberta and Saskatchewan have called for urgent action and proposed reasonable risk mitigation measures, measures the Liberals have rejected. When will the Liberals approve emergency access to strychnine for provinces that request it?”
“With the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimating that $5.4 billion more is needed, where is the money going to come from?”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know where to start. There are so many elements to what the hon. member across the way has discussed. I would like to just begin with the preamble that he recognizes again that I am right, and in fact probably far right, and more right than him. I would ask the member opposite, if the government is so interested in collaborating and so interested in collaborative results and progress at speed, that its members actually consider talking to us ahead of time, before they start the drafting process, to get prior approval. They are fully in charge of the legislative agenda and the calendar. If they wanted to get more done, they could have had more sitting days. I implore them to recognize that they are the guardians of the public purse.”
“Madam Speaker, I appreciate the member's statement and thoughtful words. Could the member comment on the notion that, just like the magic of compound interest, we have what seems to be compound bureaucracy, where we get bureaucracy upon bureaucracy that just gums up the works and makes matters worse? Could the member also comment on how the system could become more efficient to reduce the bureaucratic, administrative and regulatory loads to get homes built faster and more affordably for Canadians?”
“I wonder if he could comment on how the government intends to eliminate or bring down the cost of housing with respect to municipal fees, taxes, delays, the time it takes to acquire a permit and all the stuff related to building new construction. I do not see any of those benefits in this legislation. I just see additional bureaucracy.”
“Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for introducing the bill. I really appreciate it. I have spent a lot of time since I came to Parliament visiting my riding and speaking with constituents about their circumstances. The cost of living is palpable across the country, and not just in my home province. A big part of the cost of living crisis is related to the affordability of homes. I do not hear much in the bill's introduction related to affordability, except for the title. There is little substance, other than maybe the monopolization of entry-level housing construction across the country. I understand this is transformation with intent, as the member has spoken to directly.”
“Mr. Speaker, commerce resuming does not mean tariffs are coming off. Beijing has postponed its decision on whether it will reduce tariffs on Canadian canola just weeks before seeding begins. Decisions need to be made now by farmers. Last year many farmers, including me, chose not to seed canola because of those tariffs and the price collapse. Yet the Prime Minister stood before Canadians and said that tariffs would fall to 15% by March 1. The Liberals promised action. All they have delivered is dust. Did the Prime Minister mislead Canadian farmers?”
“The Liberals can blame global factors all they want, but the reality is that their fuel standard adds 7¢ a litre today and 17¢ tomorrow, and that hits farmers, truckers and the cost of food for every family. We would think Liberals would stop obstructing common-sense solutions and actually cut the cost of food for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, three years ago, the finance minister met with major grocers, promising to stabilize food prices. Since then, Canada now leads the G7 in food inflation. Now he is rolling out another temporary rebate of about five dollars a week for a $300 grocery bill. We will take it, but it barely makes a dent. Meanwhile, according to Food Banks Canada, almost 20% of food bank clients are employed full time. Food inflation is now hitting working Canadians hard. Food inflation is now twice as high as when the Prime Minister took office. Local food banks in my riding are feeling it too. The Wheatland County Food Bank reported record demand in 2025, with the highest numbers it has ever seen.”
“Mr. Speaker, I find it a bit rich that the member is more than willing to demonize one source as biased yet claim the Canadian Climate Institute as gospel and as a reliable source, since it is funded solely by the government. Could the member comment on the relationship between the cost of energy and poverty, globally? It has been demonstrated by innumerable sources that higher costs of energy in every form are directly related to increased poverty and the cost of living.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada used to be a nation of builders. We used to stand on our own two feet. Instead, Liberals are standing in our way when Canada should be strong, united and ready to build. Conservatives worked with the government to pass Bill C-5 , handing it powers to approve major projects faster, but the PM's rhetoric has not matched reality. Not a single new project was approved, and not a single barrier was removed. That is why today the Conservatives introduced a Canadian sovereignty act to repeal federal measures that block and punish development; reward provinces, workers and businesses that build and invest in Canada; and protect Canadian innovation—”
“The reality is that other climate policies, such as the consumer carbon tax and the emissions cap, have failed, and now they have put their EV mandates on ice. They are struggling to come up with a way to bolster their climate credentials in a policy area that most Canadians will not see but that have an impact on the economy. I would request a comprehensive response to this report from the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to present today a dissenting report from the environment committee. This report, born amid global and domestic upheavals, threatens to shackle Canadian companies with expensive regulations that shove ideology down the throat of reality. It is another top-down decree from ivory towers, fattening consultants while choking off capital to those who have built this nation's prosperity. These are the engines of untold wealth and jobs, whose success underpins millions of pensions and everyday investments. While Liberal members on the committee will not publicly admit that their aim is to make it more expensive for companies, particularly those in the energy sector, to access capital, we are not afraid to call it as we see it.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to rise to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who are concerned about the Liberal-Bloc amendments to Bill C-9 . These amendments are looking to criminalize speaking and teaching texts from the Bible and other sacred texts. This has no place in our society, which is protected by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These are fundamental rights. The freedom of expression and the freedom of religion must be preserved.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is quite inspiring to see an opposition party or a party in the House that has absolute conviction and no equivocation of its principles. I applaud the member for that, and I really think it is a very important feature. This is unlike our Liberal colleagues, who are trying to play both sides of the fence, and I wonder how good that picket fence is feeling right now. I wonder if the member could comment a little on that inconsistency and the uncertainty in the political and economic environment caused by the government's position.”
“Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. Likewise, being an Alberta beef producer, I have some difference in opinion as to where the best beef in the world comes from. This is not an opportunity for a schism in the caucus, but it is a great discussion. Policy matters. That is what I was trying to get at in the gist of my speech, that it is about the people, their life and their attachment to the land, and the fabric that that composes of our country. When it impacts negatively even small portions of our population, it has a ripple effect and impact. Policy has to be done right. Policy has to be thoughtful. It has to be fair, and it has to be executed. We need delivery on results.”
“Madam Speaker, I have come to learn that a very common feature of questions in the House is for members to ask them repeatedly and still not get an answer. I apologize that I do not have a clear opinion. I am just not well versed in the circumstance of the previous reality. It seems reasonable, but I do not know for sure.”
“has been obstructing Canadian participation in their market for a very long time, for very flimsy reasons, and its desire to have access to the trans-Pacific partnership is the perfect opportunity to apply the appropriate amount of pressure to get our beef into the U.K.”