Steven MacKinnon
Gatineau, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“[ Translation ] We have come here to Ottawa with different solutions to the challenges we currently face, but let us be very clear: We are united in this chamber by our love for the Parliament of Canada and for Canada itself.”
“Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to adjourn for the summer, I would like to express my gratitude to a few people. [ English ] I want to extend my personal thanks to everyone here on Parliament Hill.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are at the end of a session, and I wish the Leader of the Opposition, his colleagues and obviously his family a restful summer, as I wish for all my colleagues on this side of the House. I want to point out that we are finishing one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent history.”
“[ English ] I want to thank my colleagues, the 174 proud and committed Canadians who serve their people proudly every day. [ Translation ] I do not want to overlook the contribution made by the other parties.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about generations and generational investments. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Quebec's and Canada's French-speaking culture. That is something that the Bloc Québécois did not even ask for in its budget requests.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have been having an interesting conversation this week in this very forum. The Conservatives pretend to stand up for and care for vulnerable people in this country, yet every time we propose a program, a tax reduction or a hand-up to people, they vote against it.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I know Theatre New Brunswick is probably auditioning for some key roles. I think the member should sign up. He has missed his calling. Let me give him some results. We have put forward 21 pieces of legislation, every single one of them to help Canada move ahead, which helps us become the number one growing country in the G7, makes our communities safer and gets rid of violence on our streets. What else? Every single one of them, the member voted against. There are results over here and over there is dead air.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have been having an interesting conversation this week in this very forum. The Conservatives pretend to stand up for and care for vulnerable people in this country, yet every time we propose a program, a tax reduction or a hand-up to people, they vote against it. When we talk about the unjustified trade war being perpetrated on this country, what do they do? They say that we are having a hissy fit. When we try to build this country up, build housing, build major projects like high-speed rail, build critical minerals, what do they do? They criticize that. What, for the love of all that is good, is the leader for?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the number six just came up, because when that member was the minister responsible for the CMHC, do members know how many units of affordable housing he built during his entire tenure? One, two, three, four, five, six units of housing were built under this person's tenure. We are going to build hundreds of thousands of homes for young Canadians. We are going to give them a reduction in GST. We are going to put builders to work. We are going to put housing in every place in this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member mentions housing, and what I want to say is congratulations to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure , who will be announcing today in British Columbia, with the Prime Minister , a historic agreement with the Government of British Columbia. That follows agreements with provinces across this country. We are going to keep building homes. Rents are coming down. Housing has become more affordable. We have taken the GST off homes for first-time homebuyers, for homes under $1 million. We are just getting started. We are going to have a revolution in housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about generations and generational investments. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Quebec's and Canada's French-speaking culture. That is something that the Bloc Québécois did not even ask for in its budget requests. We, in the Liberal Party of Canada, are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in francophone culture and in the survival of the French language. When it comes to the environment, why is the Bloc Québécois turning its back on the high-speed train, the greenest transportation project in Canadian history? The Bloc Québécois is now opposed to that project. This is an environmental revolution.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are at the end of a session, and I wish the Leader of the Opposition, his colleagues and obviously his family a restful summer, as I wish for all my colleagues on this side of the House. I want to point out that we are finishing one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent history. Twenty-one bills have become law through this chamber. We have passed the largest criminal justice reform in the history of Canada. Liberals are the law and order party now. We have put in place a series of measures to make life easier and more affordable for Canadians. We are not stopping there. We are going to continue the work. We are going to build Canada strong, and we are going to make this country proud.”
“Mr. Speaker, since we are wrapping up a very productive session, I would like to wish the Leader of the Opposition and his entire family a wonderful summer. May he enjoy it just as we will all enjoy the time we spend with our families. We introduced 21 bills during this 15-week parliamentary session. We carried out the most extensive criminal justice reform in Canadian history. We have helped lower the cost of living for millions of Canadians, and we will continue to work hard to keep making progress.”
“[ Translation ] It is a small community here in the Canadian Parliament. Many of us come from the right side of the river—the Quebec side—and we are very proud to serve our country in this way. It is both a pleasure and an honour to come to work every day and be greeted by a resident of Gatineau. [ English ] May everyone have a restful time over the summer. I look forward to seeing everyone in the fall. I thank all of my colleagues. [ Translation ] I would like to thank everyone for the great work we have just completed.”
“[ Translation ] We have come here to Ottawa with different solutions to the challenges we currently face, but let us be very clear: We are united in this chamber by our love for the Parliament of Canada and for Canada itself. [ English ] We are in love with our country, in love with our democracy and with this Parliament, and we are united on that. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you. [ Translation ] I would like to thank you, fellow Quebecker. I hope you will forgive us for not always making life easy for you, but you have served, and will continue to serve, as Speaker with distinction and dignity. [ English ] We want to also thank all of the Table officers, the clerks, the pages, the Parliament Protective Service and obviously all of the people who work very hard, whether it be the cafeteria staff or the Clerk's staff.”
“[ English ] I want to thank my colleagues, the 174 proud and committed Canadians who serve their people proudly every day. [ Translation ] I do not want to overlook the contribution made by the other parties. [ English ] They will not admit it, but we have a very healthy and productive working relationship with the House leadership teams of the Conservative Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democrats and the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands in the Green Party. Behind the scenes, we certainly do not agree all the time on substance, but we can agree to be agreeable, and that is what we do almost all of the time. I want to thank my colleagues in all corners of the House for their co-operation.”
“Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to adjourn for the summer, I would like to express my gratitude to a few people. [ English ] I want to extend my personal thanks to everyone here on Parliament Hill. Let me start with the amazing House leadership team who work with me every day on the multitude of details that must be addressed hour by hour to make this place work: the deputy House leader , the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader , the whip , the deputy whip and all of our staff, who are incredible public servants who deserve our thanks. [ Translation ] I would also like to thank each and every one of my colleagues in the Liberal Party of Canada caucus who have backed me and offered me their support throughout this parliamentary session.”
“Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: Motion That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House: (a) the motion respecting the Senate Amendment to Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts, standing on the Notice Paper in the name of the Minister of National Defence, be deemed adopted on division; (b) Bill C-22, An Act respecting lawful access, as amended, be deemed concurred in at report stage on division and be deemed read a third time and passed on division; (c) Bill C-27, An Act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be deemed concurred in at report stage on division and be deemed read a third time and passed on division; (d) Bill C-29, An Act to establish the Financial Crimes Agency and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts and regulations, be deemed read a second time on division and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights; (e) Bill S-227, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month, be deemed read a third time and passed; (f) the written questions dated June 17, 2026, standing on the Notice Paper, be deemed to have been transferred to the Order Paper on Thursday, June 18, 2026, for the purpose of Standing Order 39; (g) the House shall not sit the week on September 28, 2026; (h) commencing on Monday, November 30, 2026, and concluding on Friday, December 4, 2026, the House shall continue to sit until midnight, except on Friday, when the House shall continue to sit until 8 p.m.; (i) at the conclusion of oral questions today, proceedings pursuant Standing Order 38 shall take place immediately; and (j) following proceedings pursuant to Standing Order 38, the House shall stand adjourned until Monday, September 21, 2026, provided that, for the purpose of Standing Order 28, it shall be deemed to have sat on Friday, June 19, 2026.”
“Mr. Speaker, growing up, I chose the Liberal Party for a whole host of good reasons, but when I was growing up, the Conservative Party used to stand for one very clear thing. It stood with the forces in blue. It stood for law and order and for crime prevention in this country. Right now, the other side has taken over. The conspiracy theories, the rabbit holes and the tinfoil hats are all out. Where are the law and order Conservatives? Will they stand with us Liberals and take on crime in this country?”
“Mr. Speaker, the health minister has answered that question several dozen times over the course of this session. This is a perfect example for the Canadians watching at home, as the Conservatives yell at me from across the aisle, of the obstruction and the waiting and the pointless talking. Anything they can possibly do to halt the work of Canadians that gets done in this place is what Conservatives do. They use this tactic— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, the summer adjournment is almost here, but one mystery remains unsolved. What exactly counts as inflationary spending? Does health care count? Does dental care count? Does the Canada child benefit count? Does the national school food program count? The Conservatives keep going on and on about inflationary spending, but they cannot pinpoint which of these items constitutes inflationary spending.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would reiterate that the government has taken action and has stepped up, as confirmed by trucking associations across the country, including in Quebec. This is a shared responsibility. We do not employ highway inspectors. The Sûreté du Québec must continue to do its job. We need inspections. We must ensure that drivers' certifications are valid and up to date. These are examples of shared responsibility, but the federal government, the Government of Canada, has stepped up to the plate.”
“Mr. Speaker, road safety is, of course, a shared responsibility. I am proud to say that the federal government has stepped up to be part of the solution. We have eliminated the possibility of special treatment from the Canada Revenue Agency. We have worked to ensure that these companies cannot operate and are deemed illegitimate. We are also deploying inspectors to ensure compliance with the Labour Code. Now it is up to the provinces and police to keep the roads safe.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois should know that Quebeckers are just as concerned about crime, especially crimes involving coercion and child pornography. For a long time now, law enforcement agencies, police officers and municipal police forces in Quebec have been asking us to provide them with the tools they need to apprehend criminals and prevent this type of crime. The Bloc Québécois opposes these measures, but the government is determined. We will fight crime both in Quebec and everywhere else.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the G7 wraps up in France, I know Canadians are very proud to be represented by the Prime Minister on the world stage and will be very proud to learn, as he returns, that he returns with 13 new agreements that will generate over $5 billion of investments in our country, new contracts for critical minerals, new contracts for Canadian defence firms as part of the SAFE arrangement and new partnerships to build a stronger, more self-reliant Canada in a troubled world.”
“Mr. Speaker, well, it is pretty obvious that the Leader of the Opposition has an issue on his backbench. After all, the colleague sat down at a small desk in a cabin somewhere and wrote out the biography of the leader of the opposition, longhand, and look where he got. I can tell the House that the Prime Minister , from the G7, from representing us proudly on the world stage, has confidence in the entire team of 174 MPs— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, Garaga is an iconic brand in Canada. I have Garaga garage doors myself. I will continue to support this Quebec-based company, just as I do all Quebec-based companies. If Garaga has an issue it needs to raise with the government, then it should do so, and I can assure the hon. member that we will act very quickly.”
“Mr. Speaker, we intend to continue working with the Premier of Manitoba, with whom we have an extremely productive relationship. Indeed, the port of Churchill holds much promise. We will be studying all the options and will be working very hard to complete that and many other nation-building projects in western Canada and right across this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, we make no apology for working tirelessly on Canadians' priorities, on affordability, on delivering major projects and, yes, on major, unifying projects of national interest such as high-speed rail, which the Bloc MPs oppose, despite having supported it prior to the last election. What are they telling their constituents? The Bloc members made a solemn promise to support high-speed rail, but after receiving instructions from Mr. Plamondon, they are now against it. They need to explain their about-face.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the Bloc Québécois needs to change the subject, but unfortunately, we have to talk about the Bloc Québécois leader's decision to obey his political masters in Quebec City and oppose Alto, oppose its 51,000 jobs and oppose the largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a single infrastructure project in Canadian history. The Bloc Québécois is reneging on its election promise to support Alto, in obedience to the Parti Québécois.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians watching are somewhat confused, because every time we propose a measure to help vulnerable Canadians, like the groceries and essentials benefit, dental care or the Canada child benefit, the Conservatives vote against it. When we are attacked with an unjustified, illegal trade war, what do Conservatives say? They say we are throwing a hissy fit. When we put more measures in place and when the Prime Minister goes abroad to bring back jobs and investment, the Conservatives are against them. I ask again, what are the Conservatives for?”
“Mr. Speaker, when we propose programs like dental care or the groceries and essentials benefit, anything that could help vulnerable Canadians, these Conservatives are against. When our closest ally launches an unjustified trade war, what do Conservatives do? They say we are having a “hissy fit”. When the Prime Minister goes and brings back tens of billions of dollars of jobs and investment to this country and proposes major projects, what do the Conservatives do? They vote against that. What, for the love of all that is good, are the Conservatives for?”
“Mr. Speaker, why is the Bloc Québécois attacking the Quebec factories, Quebec SMEs and Quebec workers that would be involved in building this vast infrastructure project, the high-speed train? I am talking about SMEs in Louiseville, workshops in Old Montreal, businesses in Gatineau and marketing companies in Quebec City. This is a revolutionary project that will create 51,000 jobs and add $35 billion to our GDP. It is a transportation revolution. Why is the Bloc Québécois, led by the member for Repentigny , giving up?”
“Mr. Speaker, Europe has something else that is trendy: high-speed rail. It has been adopted by just about every country in Europe, and now by the Kingdom of Morocco as well. Canada wants to develop this technology. It is an environmentally responsible solution, a transportation revolution and a piece of infrastructure capable of moving millions of Quebeckers and Canadians every year and making a difference in how we get around. Why has the Bloc Québécois changed its mind on high-speed rail?”
“Mr. Speaker, let me tell the member and her entire bench what success looks like. Success looks like creating twice as many jobs per capita as the United States. Success looks like diversifying our trade. Success looks like Contrecœur. Success looks like high‑speed rail in Ontario and Quebec, which her party is against. Success looks like an MOU with the Province of Alberta. Success looks like economic development from one coast to another. We are going to keep getting success, notwithstanding the opposition of these guys.”
“Mr. Speaker, every time we propose something to help the very people the member speaks of, she rises on her leader 's orders and votes against it, such as the groceries and essentials benefit, the Canada child benefit, aid for seniors and aid for dental care. We will not apologize for the Prime Minister 's going to other countries, signing trade deals, bringing back billions in investment and creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”
“Mr. Speaker, perhaps my hon. friend did not hear my earlier answer to his colleague when I spoke of the great collaboration. I want to end where I began, by thanking colleagues from all corners of the House of Commons for coming together on this very important bill, which I am sure will get a very important number of votes as we go through third reading.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is very satisfying to work on ensuring trust in our democratic institutions. We need to remain vigilant. I need not explain all of the reasons why and how society, social media and other things have influenced and impacted our democracy. As many stakeholder groups have pointed out, we need to be watching and on guard for things like misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes, and need to continue to be vigilant so that Canadians can always make an informed choice based on truth and facts. That is our goal. I am sure that is the goal of all members of the House. We are going to continue working through Elections Canada to make sure that fair elections are a defining characteristic of our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question, but first I want to come back to my colleague's previous question about music. I want to recommend that he listen to Le Diable à Cinq, a group that has done La Petite Nation proud. This band just released a new album and I would invite my colleague to get a copy and listen to it all summer long. As for the issue of proportional representation or democratic reform, we tried to bring about democratic reform here and it became quite clear that there was a lack of consensus, both among parliamentarians and among Canadians. We have a great democracy. In my opinion, we have one of the best democratic systems in the world. It is not perfect, but that is why we are making a few changes today. We can be proud of our democracy.”
“We do that together with all parties, and we agree on the rules of the game. That is the very basis of achieving trust in our democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are working. In fact, we are trying, in the face of Conservative obstruction, to pass a very sweeping set of criminal justice measures and affordability measures. The Conservatives are filibustering two of them right now, the spring economic statement bill and the lawful access bill, that we are very much hoping to accomplish for Canadians. I do want to suggest that the member's question might be a little off tone. I have worked very closely with his colleague from St. Albert—Sturgeon River and parliamentarians from all sides of this House so that we can do just that: ensure trust in our democratic institutions. Elections Canada is the pride of this country. It runs efficient and fair elections. No one ever questions its methods. It suggests many ways, after elections, that we can reform, tweak or change some of the rules.”
“We are always ready to explore ways to protect our sovereignty and our institutions through various measures, including legislative ones.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a great question, and I am not claiming we have solved everything, but I can say one thing. We held a public inquiry into foreign interference, and although some instances of interference were identified and named, the commissioner concluded that, on the whole, Canadian democracy is in good shape and that it is Canadians who determine the outcomes of elections. That said, when it comes to digital sovereignty, it is true that we must protect our institutions. This bill contains specific provisions on security and cybersecurity, and we will continue to implement them. Elections Canada has become very effective in this area. I would be happy to continue this discussion with my colleague.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, after every election, the Chief Electoral Officer, the commissioner of Canada elections and, in this instance, the inquiry into foreign interference all presented recommendations, as our election officials do after every election. They present their views. Because of the last Parliament's minority status, we are actually catching up on the recommendations from the prior election. We are very happy to have worked with our friends across the aisle on those very recommendations to find a consensus on making the fixes, doing the tweaks and making the reforms necessary to make sure our elections administration stays as it currently is: among the finest, most reputed and reputable in the world.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians need to know that we have one of the most successful and most rigorously managed election contribution systems in the world. It is completely transparent and strictly limited with respect to donation amounts, and it is one that does not permit corporations, unions or others to participate directly in the financing of political parties or of candidates. Cryptocurrency, and its rise, has obviously presented, in the context of those very efficient and well-run systems, as in other areas such as money laundering and the like, ways of getting around the laws. We have taken measures in the bill to make sure that cryptocurrency would play no part in the funding of our political process or of candidates.”
“Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to invite Mr. Branchaud to come to Gatineau to entertain us at one of our many festivals this summer, including the hot air balloon festival. I want to wish Mr. Branchaud a happy anniversary. I would love to hear him play someday. Music is an essential part of my life. Whether we are talking about Québécois music, francophone music or music in general, I am a big fan of music, and I would be happy to talk about it with the Bloc Québécois whip at some point.”
“That is, of course, a challenge for anyone who seeks to represent that incredible part of our country, but it is one we need to continue to address by following the Supreme Court's guidance that, while we should deviate a little bit, one vote in one place should equal what one vote in another place is worth.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the member may know, there is a law in place that establishes the number of seats, how they are distributed and so on. I think he said there are about 115,000 people in his riding, which is about the same number as in my own riding of Gatineau. For the most part, I think that with respect to ridings, other than the constitutional obligations we have at the founding of the country, we have achieved a very good balance and a very good way of dividing constituencies. That, of course, means that Yellowhead is a very large riding because of its vast, beautiful spaces, with people distributed all around the territory.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we voted during the last Parliament to protect the number of seats in Quebec and keep the number of Quebec electoral ridings at 78. Parliament has therefore taken concrete measures to ensure Quebec's representation. Unless I am mistaken, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act contains a formula that provides for increasing the number of seats after each census and after each redistribution. Obviously, we will need a day to debate whether a sufficient number of parliamentarians has been reached. Seats will then have to be redistributed, but that raises a good question and it will certainly have to be debated.”
“I think it is very important that Canadians see, at the very minimum, that parliamentarians, the House of Commons, can agree on the rules of the game.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is perhaps unaware of the very constructive, long hours, and Canadians should know that in this place, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes parties do not find it to their interest to let on that they are co-operating with other parties. I would put to the member that in the case of Bill C-25 , we have worked very hard, the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives. I want to commend once again his colleague from St. Albert—Sturgeon River for his very hard work on this and for his very constructive suggestions. The bill has been the subject of much co-operation and of long committee meetings. Indeed, we will come to, I suspect, a very strong majority of parliamentarians voting for the bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, as you know, we have a very ambitious agenda. You have been in the chair for much of it. We have a very wide-ranging series of crime bills, including the bill that my hon. friend just mentioned on protecting victims, protecting children and warning against child pornography. These are very important measures. To go back to the question from my friend from Bow River , all this work culminates at the end of a session. Of course the government wants to move forward on things that have been debated, and in fact obstructed, in many creative ways throughout the session. That is what we are doing currently. To have the opposition vote, three hours later, against its very solemn vote to prolong the hours of the House so we could work harder and get more done for Canadians was intriguing, to say the least.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a very important principle, particularly for those of us who like to be close to our constituents. It is clear that the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that I mentioned allows for some variation in the populations of ridings, as well as in terms of distances and riding size. However, in a democracy, we need to ensure that one vote carries roughly the same weight as another vote cast elsewhere. It is a matter of finding the right balance. I think the members of the Quebec National Assembly also recognize that they have merely identified a problem, not solved one. They reached a compromise. I do not have much to say about the action that the Quebec National Assembly is taking, other than to note that it is very important in a democracy for every vote to carry roughly the same weight.”
“Mr. Speaker, I can only imagine how beautiful the panorama of the Bow River is this time of year. The member has only been here for a year. I have been here 11 years and have witnessed the very imaginative ways the Conservatives conceive of to delay, stall and otherwise obstruct the passage of legislation, even, as the member points out, legislation as non-controversial and consensual as this bill is. I do want to take a moment to express my appreciation, in terms of the development of this bill, for the co-operation that I have received from all parts of this House. It is a signal testament to this country that, at the very minimum, we can all agree on the rules of the game and change the Elections Act without rancour.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat to the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj that he too must be looking forward to returning to his riding. He does indeed represent a very large riding. I admire all members, all elected officials, who drive long distances, often very late, and in all kinds of conditions, including winter conditions. It is obviously very challenging to represent people who are spread across a vast area and who, in his case, are separated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. I really commend my colleague for that. That said, in a democracy, we must do everything in our power to ensure that every vote carries equal weight, whether it is cast in Montreal or in Percé. We always try to respect that fundamental principle, one that is actually recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, l first want to say to my hon. friend, in the spirit of the season, that I can well understand why anyone with the very evocative riding name of Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies would be very anxious and excited to return to that place. It sounds like an amazing place, and I hope to visit the member someday. However, in the meantime, we are here to work. The member, perhaps, did not hear my earlier answer to his deputy House leader, where I expressed my real surprise. Yes, indeed, we are asking members of Parliament to work a little harder so that we can get the job done for Canadians, but that member voted to extend the hours until midnight. He was for that. Three hours later, he voted to adjourn the House. We did not quite understand that. That sounded like a contradiction.”