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, that is an extraordinary question that goes to the heart of this issue. We hear about democracy in the chamber. We just had the ultimate democratic test. Do members know what we heard? All of us, everyone in this chamber, heard this: Get moving. Get this country moving. We need a response to the threats coming from down south. We have a plan, a Liberal plan, to put before the people and pass before July 1. That is what we are doing.”
“Mr. Speaker, by definition, everything that takes place here is democratic. The member across the aisle is denouncing our bill. I suggest that he speak to the Quebec government and stakeholders in the matter, including economic stakeholders, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, the FTQ and the rest of the union movement. These people are united. They stand behind the opportunity to launch major projects, adopt a broad vision, create good jobs and contribute to Quebec's prosperity.”
“Mr. Speaker, that question betrays the member's absolute lack of consultation with working people in Alberta and across this country. Of course workers in this country want to be in on renewable technologies and the new economy. This is what sustainable jobs are about, but we also want to create new openings, new possibilities, new infrastructure and, yes, new resource development in this country, in Alberta and elsewhere. The member knows that, and that question betrays a profound lack of knowledge of the—”
“Mr. Speaker, I think the member was not listening to our leader when he mentioned the need to proceed with the adoption of this bill so it could obtain royal assent before Canada Day. My esteemed colleague will have a second reason to celebrate this Canada Day. We will open up investment opportunities in our country, while lowering barriers between Quebec and the other provinces. This will create wealth and opportunities for Quebeckers. The Bloc Québécois were against this measure during the election. Now we are 44 Liberals on this side of the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member well knows that the way we get things done in this country is by working together with indigenous peoples, with provinces, with cities, with unions and with private sector investment. That is the way we are going to move forward. We are going to move forward with consensus, getting investment decisions made while having good, strong, well-paying jobs involved in the construction and operation of these major projects. Consensus is at the heart of this very bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, section 35 rights are constitutionally protected in Canada, and UNDRIP, as we know, has the principle of free, prior and informed consent. It is about working together in an atmosphere of partnership and respect. We are, of course, seeking meaningful participation and partnership from indigenous peoples, and I would remind the member that this includes indigenous peoples who are advocating for major projects to be accelerated in their regions to foster high-paying jobs and prosperity for their people.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. We know that internal trade barriers have a cost. They come at a great cost to our economy and to the personal, individual wealth of all Canadians. The member makes an extraordinarily good point. They also come at a cost to working men and women in the skilled trades and in private sector unions right across this country. Men and women want a chance to move across the country with their credentials to work on these major projects. That is why we see, as with Canada's Building Trades Unions and IBEW, endorsements across the board from Canada's union movement. Go check it out.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member has obviously not read the Liberal Party of Canada's election platform. We debated the document at length during the campaign. It says, “It's time to unite this country and invest in nation-building infrastructure on a scale not seen in generations. Major nation-building projects will connect Canada and grow the economy in ways that last for generations”. Quebeckers and Canadians expect every member of the House to act quickly.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would point the member to the support of Canada's Building Trades Unions just this morning and the 13 premiers of the provinces and territories. That says nothing of an election campaign where we extensively debated the very issues the member is purporting to support. This is the government's response to those. We have outlined a process for accelerating major projects into the future. This bill is an important first step.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the member to be a very studious and constructive member of Parliament, and as he well knows, this is a major step toward accelerating the kinds of projects the member himself purports to support.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will give in French the same answer I just gave in English to my esteemed Conservative colleague. We just had an election. The first page of the election platform of the party currently in power states that we need to act quickly in the interest of the Canadian economy, first, to create one economy out of 13 and enrich every individual Canadian, and second, to quickly implement major projects from coast to coast.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would point the member to page 1 of the Liberal platform. We just had an election, as the member probably recalls, where we solicited a mandate to move very quickly on two important fronts: first, to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, which cost us billions of dollars and points on our gross domestic product, therefore making Canada poorer; and second, to accelerate the construction of major projects in the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, I believe once again that the Bloc Québécois does not fully grasp the current situation. We are facing an economic crisis, caused in part by our neighbours to the south, and the symptoms are obvious: Quebec's credit rating has been downgraded, and the aluminum sector is anxious. What has happened in the past when Quebeckers have faced crises? We rolled up our sleeves and did great things, undertook great projects together. If we had listened to the Bloc Québécois at the time, there would be no aluminum industry. There would be no Montreal metro, nor would Expo 67 have come to be. Robert Bourassa would not have been able to carry out his project in James Bay. There is a similar crisis today. There are similar challenges—”
“Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, I think that the leader of the Bloc Québécois is misreading the situation. There was an election campaign, and we debated at length. We even wrote on the first page of our platform that we would pass such a bill before Canada Day. That is what we are doing. Quebec and Quebeckers are facing an economic crisis of unexpected magnitude. The signs are there. The province's credit rating has been downgraded. Aluminum workers are certainly experiencing a crisis. Our supply chains and ports are struggling. Quebeckers have asked us to take action, and that is what we are doing. Does the leader of the Bloc Québécois not share—”
“Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, with respect to consideration of Government Business No. 1, at the next sitting of the House, a minister of the Crown shall move, pursuant to Standing Order 57, that debate be not further adjourned.”
“Mr. Speaker, the message we received from Quebeckers is reflected in the confidence they placed in 44 of our Liberal colleagues here in the House who speak up on behalf of Quebec every single day. They understand the urgency of the situation with regard to our economy and the importance of prioritizing job-creating projects across Quebec and Canada in order to build one economy, not 13. Long live Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and you will find that there is unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 28 or any other usual practice of the House, the following proposed calendar for the year 2026, referred to as Option G, be tabled and that the House adopt this calendar. Motion”
“(1525) [ Translation ] I would also like to inform the House that Tuesday will be the last designated day of this financial cycle. On Wednesday, we will resume second reading of Bill C‑2 respecting the security of the border between Canada and the United States. On Thursday, we will begin second reading debate on Bill C‑3 , which amends the Citizenship Act.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my hon. colleague that there will be a government budget in the fall, which is something that all Canadians except the Conservatives seem to know. It will be an excellent budget that will invest in the Canadian economy and create opportunities from coast to coast to coast. [ English ] This afternoon, we will continue the debate on the Conservative Party's opposition day motion. In accordance with the order adopted by the House yesterday, we will have a fifth and final committee of the whole debate on the estimates later this evening for two hours. Tomorrow morning, we will start the debate on Government Business No. 1, which establishes a process to adopt Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act . We will continue with this debate on Monday.”
“Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers elected 44 Liberal MPs, the largest number of Liberal MPs from Quebec since 1980. These members all ran on a Liberal platform that talked about the need to act quickly to accelerate our country's growth, remove barriers between provinces and create one Canadian economy starting on page one. We are acting democratically.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians, including Quebeckers, have spoken loud and clear about the need to transform our economy. This is partly because of the tariff war illegally triggered by our friends and neighbours to the south, but it is also because we are here to pivot to a modern economy, to help our country grow, and to provide good jobs for Quebeckers and Canadians across the country. This bill is necessary, and we are moving forward.”
“Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑5 is a response to an economic and trade crisis caused by our neighbours to the south. We sought a mandate during the election campaign, and this is how our government is responding to the tariff war, creating opportunities here at home and doing what we can to help our economy and protect jobs in Quebec, including jobs in the forestry, aluminum and steel sectors. This is our response to the economic crisis.”
“Madam Speaker, we welcome our new colleague to the House. He is lucky because today he will have the opportunity to support a bill that will lower taxes for the woman in Victoriaville he is talking about. He will also have the opportunity to support a bill, supported by his former boss, Mr. Legault, that will create and build major projects, create opportunities, create economic activity and even create opportunities for the woman in his riding.”
“Madam Speaker, that member, just like all of his colleagues, is going to have a golden opportunity. Presented later today, there will be a bill with a plan, a plan to build this country with wood, steel and aluminum; with companies; with unions; with workers, men and women from right across this country, to build the economy of tomorrow. That member will have a golden opportunity to support this government's plan. Will he do it?”
“Madam Speaker, sometimes the member talks about concrete actions. For one rare occasion, she gets to not just simply criticise, but gets to stand up for workers, stand up for the Government of Alberta, stand up for all the premiers and all the territories in this country and stand up for workers, unions, businesses and people who want to build this country and want to create opportunity in this country to do major projects and build Canada strong. Will the member stand up and do something for once?”
“Madam Speaker, the good news is that this member will get not just one but two chances to support the creation of new opportunities and jobs for all Canadians. Today, we are going to debate the affordability bill, which lowers taxes for 22 million Canadians. Later on, we are going to introduce a bill backed by stakeholders in Quebec and the Government of Quebec to create opportunities and launch major projects in Canada. Will the member support those bills?”
“Madam Speaker, the member asks about budgets. She should ask her colleagues in her own caucus about past budgets, budgets that have helped the very people of whom she speaks: the people who are looking for school nutrition programs, who benefit monthly from the indexed Canada child benefit or who take their kids and drop them off at federally subsidized child care— Some hon. members : Oh, oh!”
“Madam Speaker, the hon. member, whom I welcome to the House, was obviously not here, but perhaps she should talk to her colleagues, who systematically opposed every affordability measure proposed by the government: child care, the Canada child benefit, school nutrition programs, dental care and pharmacare. The party she ran under has systematically resisted and voted against every single affordability measure that would help the very people she claims to represent.”
“Madam Speaker, like the Conservative Party caucus, the Bloc Québécois will have a golden opportunity to support the Government of Quebec and all the provincial and territorial governments in Canada, industry stakeholders, the business community, unions and, most importantly, people who are looking for good opportunities, because we intend to build the country through projects of national significance. We intend to respond to Mr. Trump and the Americans by building and developing major projects in Canada. Later this afternoon, the Bloc Québécois will have the opportunity to support a real plan to do that.”
“Madam Speaker, indeed this government has a plan. This plan will be tabled later today in the form of legislation, which the member and his colleagues will have a chance to support. It is a plan to build this country; a plan to collaborate with every premier in this country, who have endorsed this plan; a plan to build major projects; a plan to get our economy on track; and a plan to create opportunity for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Will that member stand up and support our plan?”
“Yet, if anyone asked him a question about what it was like in space, his eyes would light up, and you would see a man who was proud to have seen the Earth from outer space with his Canadian eyes and proud to have brought the hopes of young men and women with him. Marc Garneau was far too young to die. He had so many other stories and wonders to tell us and so much more to give. We will miss him. Canada will miss Marc Garneau. Here in the House, we greatly mourn his passing. He was a great man, a great Liberal and, above all, a great Canadian. Thank you, Marc.”
“He took time not only to meet with young people and schoolchildren, but also to do the hard work of rebuilding the Liberal Party of Canada at that time. This is the tribute that I would like to pay to him. The person I was happiest to see being sworn in at Rideau Hall on that magnificent day in 2015 was Marc Garneau. A lifetime of achievement brought him there: a life of public service, military service, and service in space. Marc Garneau also served as the chancellor of Carleton University. He served as president of the Canadian Space Agency. A journey filled with such humble public service is remarkable. He was one in a million. I have no doubt there are members in the House who had the opportunity to talk with Marc Garneau. He was quite reserved, even shy.”
“I am talking about crowds that no other politician in the House could ever dream of attracting. When you come to a town with a leader and the candidate draws thousands of people, young and old, you know that things are going to go well. He was such a hero that even people who would vote against him wanted to come out and talk to this man, to see him and touch him. Of course, Marc later managed to get a seat in this House. He took the work very seriously. As we all know, Marc Garneau was a committed Liberal. He was someone who was willing to travel across Canada to help candidates and supporters. He talked about himself and shared his experiences with Liberal supporters, but also with communities as a whole. He always combined his visits to Abbotsford, Vancouver, Calgary and St. John's, Newfoundland, with trips to the far north.”
“It reminds us that great statesmen can still exist, unassuming, yes, but essential. Marc Garneau leaves behind an inspiring legacy. His journey continues to show everyone that it is possible to dream big, to serve with dignity and to help raise a nation. [ English ] Marc was also a late-blooming but very effective partisan, as I am sure all my colleagues in this House will agree. In his first election, he was not successful, which is amazing to consider. [ Translation ] Marc Garneau ran in Vaudreuil—Soulanges alongside Paul Martin, our former prime minister. I remember campaigning with Mr. Martin and Mr. Garneau in Coteau‑du‑Lac. We went to an outdoor rink, but it was spring so there was no ice. Schoolchildren and all kinds of people had come out.”
“A bilingual, former naval officer raised from humble origins who got into the atmosphere, Marc Garneau took the dreams, hopes and prayers of little boys and girls everywhere with him into space. Then right after making this history, he gave his next decades to building a better Canada right here at home. [ Translation ] As transport minister and later as foreign affairs minister, he showed thoughtfulness, discipline and quiet strength in every one of his decisions. He was a man of science, but also a man committed to the principles of democracy and diplomacy. Marc was a colleague to many of us in the House. To a lot of Canadians, he was a national hero. Most of all, Marc was a kind, grounded and caring man. His passing affects everyone who still believes in a society built on knowledge, ethics and accountability.”
“He inspired a nation in 1984 when he made it into space aboard the Challenger . He reminded us that Canadians could dream big and that we could aim for the stars, quite literally. I was a young person then, and we forget how big an event and moment Marc Garneau's heading into space representing us all really was. When he returned to earth, safely thankfully, he did a splendid, incredible tour across this great country. When he would arrive in communities, throngs would be out to greet him, and Marc, who it must be said was a shy, humble and reserved man, would, we could tell, be bewildered, mystified and in total awe of the outpouring of emotion for him. However, I think he understood then, as he certainly understood later, that he became a powerful symbol of the achievements and accomplishments of this great country of ours.”
“Mr. Speaker, today in the House and across the country, we are mourning the loss of a great Canadian and honouring his memory. This man dedicated his life to serving his country, and his legacy will echo far beyond these walls. Canada has lost one of its most accomplished citizens. From his early days as an officer in the navy and his pioneering journey as the first Canadian in space to his many years of service to Canadians as a member of Parliament and minister, Marc Garneau's life was marked by unforgettable moments and defined by one constant: service. (1515) [ English ] Whether wearing the uniform of the Royal Canadian Navy, the flight suit of an astronaut that bore the flag of our nation or the suit and tie of a parliamentarian, Marc Garneau served with honour, with humility and with heart.”
“[ Translation ] Pursuant to the order made by the House last week, we will debate the estimates in committee of the whole later this evening, as well as next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as I said in my previous Thursday statement. Tomorrow morning, we will begin debate on the bill introduced earlier today regarding affordability measures for Canadians. Lastly, next Monday and Tuesday will be allotted days.”
“Mr. Speaker, it must be said that rarely is the sequel better than the original, but the member will have an opportunity to prove the opposite. We are particularly grateful to the opposition and, through my hon. colleague, his caucus. I thank them for adopting a great throne speech that sketches out a very clear and bold agenda for fixing the Canadian economy and taking on the tariffs. It must be said that steel and aluminum producers are far more concerned about tariffs, and the Prime Minister is singularly committed to addressing the tariff challenge the United States has put to us. We will have tributes today to a former colleague, friend and member of this House. After the round of tributes, we will resume debate at second reading of Bill C-2 , which contains measures relating to border security between Canada and the United States.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague is a person of integrity who has been involved in public service on many levels and who has opted to serve her constituents and the public in this way. She is committed to healthy workplaces, she is committed to respect, she is committed to compassion and she will be working hard to deliver results for her constituents, the people of Manitoba and indeed all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague is obviously committed to fostering a healthy work environment for everyone in the workplace, characterized by collegiality and mutual respect, and that is what we have to say on the matter.”
“on Friday, June 6, 2025, to prepare and report lists of members to compose the standing and standing joint committees of the House, provided that, (i) the Clerk of the House shall convene a meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs no later than Tuesday, June 10, 2025, (ii) immediately upon the presentation of the report referred to in paragraph (b), it shall be deemed concurred in; and (c) on any day, at midnight or thereafter, if the House has not completed a series of recorded divisions related to the business of supply or on any bill, a minister of the Crown may move, at any time, the suspension of the sitting of the House, which shall be deemed adopted, and the sitting of the House shall be suspended until 9:00 a.m., later that calendar day.”
“moved: Motion He said: Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House: (a) for the duration of the 45th Parliament, (i) Standing Order 104(2) be amended by adding, after the words “10 members,” the following: “which shall be composed of five members from the Liberal Party, four members from the Conservative Party and one member from the Bloc Québécois, except for the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, which shall consist of nine members and be composed of four members from the Liberal Party, four members from the Conservative Party and one member from the Bloc Québécois, (ii) Standing Orders 104(5), 104(6)(b), 114(2)(e) and 114(2)(f) be suspended, (iii) the Clerk of the House be authorized to make any required editorial and consequential alterations to the Standing Orders, including to the marginal notes; (b) the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be appointed by the whip of each recognized party depositing with the Clerk of the House a list of their party’s members of the said committee no later than 12 p.m.”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday was an incredible day for the country. Yesterday was the day 13 provinces and territories, plus the Prime Minister , got together to talk about significant national projects so that we can build this country, so that we can build it with the great men and women in our skilled trades, so that we can build it with great Canadian steel and so that we can build it with great Canadian aluminum. Build we will do. It is time to build.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The Prime Minister fully complied with the Conflict of Interest Act and even went above and beyond what was required. From the outset, he proactively disclosed all relevant information to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, demonstrating his commitment to the transparency and accountability that this role demands. Canada has some of the strictest ethics rules in the world, and Canadians can rest assured that those rules are being followed. For members on this side of the House, merely following the rules is not enough; we strive to go above and beyond. Some people may choose to engage in speculation or political theatre, but we remain focused on maintaining the trust of Canadians. Ethics and integrity are not negotiable, and that is a standard we are proud to uphold.”
“Not only did the Prime Minister fully comply with the rules, he went further by clearly demonstrating that he has nothing to hide. It also needs to be said that each new member is bound by the same code as all other members. I sincerely hope that all members of the House comply with their obligations just as diligently. On this side of the House, we have always followed the rules, not out of obligation but out of principle. To us, ethics is not a campaign slogan; it is an ongoing responsibility. Canadians can count on us to continue to be unequivocally transparent and diligent. On this side of the House, we take these responsibilities seriously, and Canadians can count on that.”
“It is a matter of anticipating them, doing more than the bare minimum and setting an example for all elected officials. Canadians expect their Prime Minister to act with integrity, and that is exactly what he did. Unfortunately, some members of the opposition are trying to sow doubt by raising unfounded concerns or even conspiracy theories. I firmly believe that this type of rhetoric does nothing to increase public confidence in the government or in the elected members of the opposition. On the contrary, they are undermining the credibility of all our institutions, for the sole purpose of trying to score cheap political points. I would remind the House that Canada has one of the most stringent ethics regimes in the world. Our system demands transparency, full disclosure and accountability of all public office holders.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House that compliance with the ethics rules is not optional in Canada. It is an obligation that all elected members of the House must comply with, regardless of their position. These rules are designed to guarantee the integrity of our institutions and to maintain the trust that Canadians place in us. The Prime Minister must obey the same rules as every other member of Parliament. However, it is important to note that the Prime Minister did more than just meet those requirements; he exceeded them. He proactively provided the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner with all the information required, and he did so pre-emptively. That is leadership. It is not simply a matter of following the rules when necessary.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have taken careful note. Of course, standing committees will be constituted in this House, as they always are. I wonder where that member was last fall, when his party spent three straight months refusing to hear one single government proposal with respect to improving the lives of Canadians, with respect to improving our environment and with respect to moving forward on projects. Where was that member? He should be ashamed of asking that question right now.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not understand this odd fixation with personnel decisions. What we have in this House are a number of public servants who are quite willing to answer questions about the public policies of this government and to be held accountable for those. We, obviously, celebrate when distinguished, capable and talented people join the Government of Canada. That is certainly the case, as we heard over the weekend. I suggest members move on to asking about the issues that Canadians are concerned about.”