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, obviously, seniors need their pensions, and we are working hard to provide pensions to some 7.4 million people in Canada. The two ministers repeat this every day to reassure the public, but the opposition comes back with the same lines every day. If members of Parliament have information, they have already been invited to provide it, and we will help these people. People can also contact Service Canada. The minister has also offered to brief the members opposite. I invite them to attend the briefing and learn more about the Cúram system.”
“We expect that further updates will be provided from the RCMP as information becomes available and as its investigation progresses. Finally, at the invitation of the mayor of Tumbler Ridge, the Prime Minister will be travelling to the community on Friday to attend a vigil in memory of the victims of this week's tragic shootings. He has invited the leaders of all parties to accompany him to the community. This has been a dark week in the history of our country, and I know that by working together, we will all get through this. We continue to send our heartfelt best wishes and sympathies to the people of Tumbler Ridge.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will answer my colleague's question by saying this: [ English ] The entire nation has obviously been grieving since the horrific events of Tuesday, and nowhere is that grief more deeply felt than in the community of Tumbler Ridge itself. The residents have come together to support each other in this time of indescribable pain, and, obviously, we want to assure them they are not alone. The Minister of Public Safety is in Tumbler Ridge, working with colleagues, including the member of Parliament and provincial and municipal partners, to hear directly from the community, and coordinating with those levels of government. Service Canada officials are planning to be present very soon on the ground as well.”
“C.; (b) the Prime Minister, a member of the official opposition, a member of the Bloc Québécois, a member of the New Democratic Party and the member of the Green Party each be permitted to make a statement; and (c) following the statements, the House shall adjourn until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1), provided that: (i) the recorded divisions currently deferred to the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions today be deemed further deferred to the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions at the next sitting of the House, (ii) any standing, standing joint, special and special joint committees, as well as their subcommittees, shall not be empowered to sit today.”
“Motion 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) immediately after the adoption of this motion, the House observe a moment of silence for the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge, B.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois seems to have a problem with misquoting people today. Obviously, we take every case seriously. To reassure Quebeckers, Canadians and everyone who receives old age security, I want to reaffirm that we have modernized the computer system. If there are mistakes, we will correct them, and obviously, we invite our colleagues from all parties to give us the names of the people and the cases we should look at to resolve the situation.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to tell Ms. Bolduc, who is obviously listening to us, and to the constituents of all the MPs here, that one case is indeed too many. We are going to resolve every last one. Ms. Bolduc and everyone else will receive every cent of the benefits to which they are entitled. However, that is beside the point. We have modernized government technology infrastructure that will serve Canadians well and provide both better service and faster access to OAS.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for Beauport—Limoilou has done more for the tramway in his nine months here and in the House than anything the member has done in his 10 years in the House. I can assure him of that. Unlike that member, our government has been supporting the tramway project since 2018. To date, the federal commitment, as my colleague just said, amounts to nearly $1.4 billion, which clearly shows how important this public transit project for the Quebec City region is to us. Obviously, we are still in discussions with Quebec concerning the Canada public transit fund and funds available under the Canada community-building fund.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada Post obviously works with many trucking companies across the country. The CEO of Canada Post assures us that the company in question had no ties with the Driver Inc. model. A statement of expectations, a code of conduct and the consequences of non-compliance are clearly spelled out for all suppliers under contract. As a government, we obviously expect Canada Post to meet those standards.”
“Mr. Speaker, there are seven million Canadians receiving OAS. The computer systems used to administer this program have been modernized. This improvement and modernization of government systems will enable seniors to register online instead of waiting at a Service Canada office or on the phone, for example. Those 85,000 people are still 85,000 too many, we agree, but the errors are being corrected and people will be—”
“Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State just provided an update of the situation. This government modernization will allow seniors to register for OAS so that they can receive their benefits promptly and accurately. Obviously, if there are cases—and I think that if there were, members of the House would have heard about them—our colleagues are invited to share those with us. However, I can assure the member that the few errors that have been made are being—”
“Motion Finally, 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, at the conclusion of Oral Questions on Friday, February 6, 2026, the House observe a moment of silence for the late Honourable Kirsty Duncan, and that afterwards, a member of each of the recognized parties, a member of the New Democratic Party and the member of the Green Party each be permitted to make a statement for no more than five minutes to pay tribute, and that the time taken for these proceedings shall be added to the time provided for Government Orders.”
“Tomorrow, we will have the debate on the Standing Orders and procedure pursuant to Standing Order 51, a very hotly awaited moment in the parliamentary calendar. On Monday of next week, we will call Bill C-10 , an act respecting the commissioner for modern treaty implementation, at second reading. I would also like to inform all hon. members that next Tuesday and Thursday shall be allotted days. [ Translation ] On Wednesday, we will begin second reading of Bill C-20 , an act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes, tabled earlier this morning by my hon. colleague, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada .”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a lot to digest. I think all Canadians will appreciate this metaphor at this time of year. If I hear the faint sound of the ice cracking in the wall of Conservative obstruction that this Parliament has encountered, the obstruction of our criminal law legislation, the obstruction of the Prime Minister 's economic plan to bring $1 trillion of investment and to build Canada strong, if what I hear is the faint sound of that dam cracking, that means that spring might be on its way and the opposition may put down their tools of obstruction and join us in building our country strong. In the meantime, this afternoon we will continue with debate on the opposition motion brought forward by the Bloc Québécois.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know that what constitutes good news for Canadians does not always constitute good news for Conservatives. However, let me give them another piece of good news. The first major national project breaks ground this spring, the Contrecoeur port terminal expansion project, which is an expansion of our east coast container port capacity. We are going to build more stuff. We are going to put more stuff on boats. We are going to send more things to more places around the world, expand our trade, put people to work and build Canada strong.”
“Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister is doing is creating investment in Canada, investment that has made it such that Canada created more jobs than the United States, not more per capita but more jobs. I hope the Prime Minister keeps travelling and bringing home those jobs.”
“Mr. Speaker, the real question is why will the Conservatives not vote for the Prime Minister 's economic plan? The plan gets projects built quickly; puts a trillion dollars of investment into our economy; uses Canadian lumber, Canadian steel and Canadian ingenuity; and uses the great union work of our Canadian brothers and sisters to build our country strong. I just want a date from the hon. member. When will the Conservatives pass the budget implementation act, the Prime Minister 's plan to build Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Trois‑Rivières who, like her predecessor, fully supports this project. We need these non-partisan voices in the House. The project is going to benefit all regions of Quebec. I listened to my friend from the Lower St. Lawrence earlier. I listened to my friend from Lévis—Lotbinière and my colleague from Trois‑Rivières. We can just imagine the impact that this project will have on a person or a farmer who will be able to board the high-speed train to go to conventions or do business in Quebec City or Montreal. Imagine a student being able to board that train—”
“Mr. Speaker, I cannot, nor can anyone in this House, fix the mistakes that were made in the past, in any project. We have to do the best we can, and the best we can do today is the process outlined in Bill C-15 , the process that Canadians voted for, a process that gets big projects built quickly but respects our history, respects the lessons we have learned and respects the processes we have put in place, including assessing these projects for their impact on communities and on our environment.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has a decision to make. We are not done. We have a plan to propose mechanisms allowing us to increasingly ramp up the development of transportation, infrastructure and energy projects in Canada. Almost all Quebeckers support this project. All Quebeckers want it to happen. The problem is that they have given up believing in it because the planning process is taking too long. We want to shrink the planning phase from eight years to four years. The Bloc Québécois has a big decision to make about high-speed rail and its support for Alto.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is of the utmost importance to me that this project benefit the people of Quebec City and the people of Trois‑Rivières. This project will enable Quebec City to continue its commercial development. It will enable educational institutions in Quebec City, such as Université Laval, to keep growing. Yes, other people may have come up with projects that ruled out the possibility of going beyond Montreal to Quebec City. That is not our intention. As the mayor of Quebec City said and as my colleague often says, “Quebec wants in”. Well, Quebec is in.”
“Mr. Speaker, the answer is as few as possible. I think I just said in my speech that public rights of way, such as highways and energy corridors, will be prioritized. Where it is impossible to avoid farmland, we will do everything we can to avoid splitting up land, to ensure that farmers can take full advantage of their lands, their fields and their entire operations. We are going to proceed on a case-by-case basis, carefully, but with the determination to advance this major project that is so coveted by all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, trust will be built on the ground. What are we going to do? We are going to go out and speak with the landowners, not necessarily everyone within a radius of 90,000 hectares or acres, but certainly those within a 60-metre-wide corridor connecting communities across Canada. I would like to reiterate, for the people of Mirabel, that this process will be nothing like the processes of the past and nothing like what they went through. Time and time again, under both the Conservatives and the Liberals, the Government of Canada has acknowledged past wrongs, and remedies have been offered wherever possible. We will not make the same mistakes.”
“A business person from Laval could realistically get to Toronto to do business in record time and come home the same day. This is a linear project. Not a single metre can be missing. It is a project that does not like curves. The high-speed train is a promising project that will be built in a 60-metre-wide corridor. I want to reassure the people of Mirabel and everyone who lives along the line. First, we will use public rights-of-way. Second, if we do need to acquire land, we will do so with as little disruption as possible. (1055) Third, people will be fully compensated, down to the last penny, for the market value of their land. Three cheers for Alto, Canada and major projects. Let us make this happen.”
“Canadians spoke loud and clear in last April's election: It is time to build Canada strong. It is high time we get nation-building projects off the ground. It is time to stop beating around the bush and make major investments that will improve the lives of our young people and grow our economic capacity. The part of our economic capacity that hinges on trade with the United States will decrease. Imagine a student living in Ottawa who wants to enrol in a program at the Université du Québec à Trois‑Rivières. That student could go to class and come back the same day or go there three days a week. Imagine a worker in Peterborough, a small town, who could go to work in downtown Toronto and thus contribute to the Canadian economy while enjoying life in a small town. It is the same thing in Trois‑Rivières.”
“This project meets a real need. We need to reduce congestion on our roads and get people moving faster and more efficiently. There is this phenomenon in Canada that does not work in our favour. If all we are doing is adding another process, new wording in a law, another step or something else that does not really improve what we already have, what are we adding? We are adding delays. Canadians are being deprived of the opportunity to use one type of infrastructure or another. We are adding costs. In this case, it will cost about $5 billion more per year. Therefore, reducing the high-speed rail planning stage from eight to four years, which is what we are proposing, will save Canadians $20 billion. That is a rough estimate, but an estimate nonetheless. Delays cost money.”
“(1050) When a project of such major economic and national significance is being considered, it should be subjected to rigorous review. It should be subjected to thorough analysis. Everything should be done properly in the planning stages and on the ground. The expropriation of the Mirabel airport lands showed us what happens when we take the wrong approach to building. That is absolutely not what will happen with the Alto high-speed train. Anyone who says otherwise is not being upfront. It will be located where millions of Canadians live and work, in Canada's most densely populated corridor. As the mayor of Quebec City, Bruno Marchand, said, this project will have a major impact on getting people, including workers, from point A to point B more efficiently. This is a major project for Trois‑Rivières, Montreal, Laval and Quebec City.”
“In April 2019, the then minister of transport, the late Marc Garneau, who is in our thoughts every day, announced that Ottawa had made a big mistake 50 years earlier. It is quite clear, obvious even, that he was right. He apologized to the people of Mirabel and to the families who had fallen victim to these expropriations. This kind of recognition is important. It conveys a fundamental truth: Governments must be able to acknowledge and learn from past mistakes instead of pretending they never happened. I can assure the people of Mirabel, Quebeckers, Ontarians and all Canadians that the Government of Canada is fully aware of these lessons. I would even go so far as to say that both levels of government are fully aware of them.”
“The Mirabel airport project is one of the most frequently cited examples in Canadian history of what happens when large infrastructure projects are built without taking into account local populations and the reality of communities. It is important to note that this reality has been recognized not only by critics, but also by governments themselves, as the member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill just mentioned. In April 2019, Transport Canada announced that it was restarting the process to sell or return 748 acres of land expropriated in 1969 to the previous owners. As my colleague noted, by that time, the Government of Canada had already returned nearly 90,000 acres of land to Mirabel-area residents through two separate programs in 1985 and 2008.”
“The high-speed rail project remains fully subject to the Impact Assessment Act. Yes, certain measures are designed to avoid duplication between federal processes, but this is a matter of making the process more efficient, not weakening it. The project will be thoroughly assessed in terms of environmental impacts, climate impacts, effects on communities, indigenous rights and, of course, long-term sustainability. Nothing in this robust assessment will weaken the project. On the contrary, it will strengthen it. Anyone who says or claims that there is no environmental impact is not being upfront. Now, I want to address the people of Mirabel directly. This is important.”
“The basic rules regarding notice, objection, compensation, assessment, reimbursement of reasonable costs and access to the courts remain unchanged and continue to be governed by the Expropriation Act. Anyone who says otherwise is not being upfront. I would also like to address a concern raised recently, namely the idea that land can be appropriated by email. Let us be very clear: This is not how expropriation works in Canada, and it will certainly not be the case for Alto, the high-speed rail project. Email cannot be used for expropriation. It is only an optional communication tool used after discussions have begun, and only—I repeat, only—if the owner voluntarily chooses that means of communication. Registered mail remains the norm and it is still fully available, even in the law. Anyone who says otherwise is not being upfront.”
“Furthermore, Alto and the Government of Canada are committed to building and maintaining respectful relationships with indigenous communities along the corridor. Engagement with indigenous communities began several years ago and continues today through a targeted consultation process. Bill C‑15 clearly recognizes the importance of indigenous knowledge and provides for its protection. This is how we build modern, linear infrastructure with and for communities. (1045) I would also like to set the record straight in the House: Informing people that land may be required for a project does not automatically mean the land will be expropriated. If expropriation is necessary, it would be carried out in accordance with the expropriation regime in force, with the adjustments provided for in Bill C‑15 .”
“These consultations will discuss, in particular, route options, station locations, environmental mitigation measures, noise, vibrations, as well as land use and protection. These consultations include virtual sessions, an online information platform and open houses in several communities between Toronto and Quebec City. There will be more. I encourage Canadians who have not yet participated to make their voices heard. I want to be very clear. These are not meetings where decisions have already been made. On the contrary. If someone asks, “Where will the station be?”, the answer will not be, “Here is where it will be.” The answer will be, “Where do you think it should be, in your opinion?” That is what real and meaningful consultation looks like.”
“This is an essential upgrade to a congested transportation network at the heart of Canada's most populous corridor. If Canada wants to remain competitive in an ever-changing global economy, this is exactly the kind of infrastructure we need. However, it is also clear to us that this project cannot succeed without the support of Canadians. That is why we are doing a lot of consulting and a lot of listening. Since January, Alto and the Government of Canada have been carrying out extensive public consultations, which we announced in December, to help Canadians prepare, ask questions and fully understand the extensive rail line being proposed. In addition to the many studies already completed, Alto has launched an in-depth public consultation process.”
“It will provide a reliable, modern, low-emission transportation option on dedicated tracks. It will enhance workforce mobility and unlock billions of dollars in economic productivity. The project will also help increase the housing supply. It will create more than 50,000 jobs over 10 years and lower Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tonnes. This is not just a transportation project. It is an economic transformation. It is an investment in Canada's future. This is all the more important in the current economic climate, especially with what we are experiencing with our neighbours to the south. High-speed rail will boost long-term productivity by expanding labour markets, attracting private investment, and supporting housing growth in the country's most densely populated communities.”
“(1040) However, when we look at the entire transportation corridor between Quebec City and Toronto, we must face a harsh reality. Our transportation system is on its last legs. One only has to take a drive down Highway 20 or the 401, or try to get around Quebec City, Ottawa or Gatineau during rush hour. We simply have to make major investments in our highways and in our rail system. We are dealing with clogged highways, overcrowded airports and a rail system where freight trains take precedence over passenger trains. It is high time we took action. It is time to reduce the pressure on this corridor, which is critical to our economy and to Canadians' quality of life. High-speed rail will change that reality. It will significantly reduce travel times.”
“Mirabel's aerospace cluster is known all over Canada. I have been to the region myself on several occasions. The member for Mirabel is right to say that his constituents are welcoming, but above all, they are forward-looking. Like all Canadians, they are concerned about their children's future. They want to see development in their region and investment in the institutions and capabilities that will enable continued growth. Together with the member for Thérèse-De Blainville , the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and the member for Les Pays-d'en-Haut , we form a core team strong enough to continuously ensure a bright economic future and offer ideas and opportunities to the people of Mirabel. We are proud of that.”
“As Laval's mayor, Stéphane Boyer, said when the announcement was made in December, this is a project that will transform our country and bring Canada fully into the 21st century. The enthusiasm goes far beyond partisan lines. The former Bloc member for Trois‑Rivières, René Villemure, who was the Bloc Québécois transport critic, no less, said he was relieved and delighted when the high-speed rail project was announced. We all agree that this is a transformative, major project. The corridor that will be served by high-speed rail is home to more than half of Canada's population. It includes our major financial centres, important manufacturing hubs, world-class universities, and innovation clusters. In Mirabel, for example, the aerospace and aeronautics sector is a strong, strategic and valuable pillar of the economy. It is clearly renowned.”
“Today, I want to talk about this major project, the enthusiasm it is generating across Canada and the profound changes it will make to our economy and to people's lives. I will then talk about Bill C‑15 , how vitally important it is to the project's success and the consultations we are carrying out to make sure it is done right. Lastly, I want to speak directly to the people of Mirabel. The high-speed rail project is inspiring people in Quebec, in Ontario and across Canada. There is huge public interest. We need only look at the people who are flocking to the open houses, the public consultations, to get a preview of this major project, which would be the first of its kind in North America. They are so proud.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to wish all my colleagues in the House a good morning. This is a wonderful opportunity for the government, for myself, for the government team and even for the opposition team to come together and support a promising project, a major project, a project that will benefit all Canadians, particularly those living along the corridor, as well as their children and grandchildren. The Alto high-speed rail project is a perfect example of what we need to accomplish together as a country. It is a perfect symbol of how united two of our largest provinces are when it comes to tackling climate change, improving congestion and efficiency in our transportation systems, and enhancing Canadians' quality of life in their day-to-day lives, whether they will be taking this train once, occasionally or every day.”
“Mr. Speaker, what the people in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, elsewhere in Quebec and across Canada really want is a plan: an economic plan, the Prime Minister 's plan, the plan they voted for, the plan that is before the House. The Conservatives are filibustering the Prime Minister's economic plan. We managed to get Bill C‑19 passed so we can help Canadians. Now I urge the Conservatives to pass the budget implementation act, Bill C‑15 , without amendment. That is the Prime Minister's plan to build Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is a plan in front of the House to create $1 trillion of investment in Canada. There is a plan before the House to continue to build the kind of infrastructure that my colleague just referred to. There is a plan before the House that would deregulate, that would free up, that would invest and that would make Canada the most attractive tax investment destination in the world. It is called the budget implementation act . If we bring that bill forward today, will that party support it, yes or no?”
“Mr. Speaker, today is a big day. Today is the day when, if all goes well, we will be passing historic assistance for Canadian families grappling with affordability issues with respect to food and essential goods. After much cajoling, the opposition finally decided to stop the games, stop the obstruction and allow this bill to move on to the Senate so we can get that aid to Canadian families now.”
“Mr. Speaker, today the House will likely decide to send a bill to the Senate that will provide up to $1,800 in support to Canadian families to help them cope with affordability issues, particularly with regard to food and essential goods. We urged the official opposition to support us on this. We are very pleased that they saw fit to do so. Today is a historic day for affordability in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know, but the math I have is that $1,800 divided by 52 is a lot more than $10 a week. The Leader of the Opposition knows very well that this is substantial assistance for Canadians who are experiencing affordability issues. That is why he bent over when we asked him to accelerate and pass Bill C-19 and make sure that we can get that aid to Canadians right away.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition knows full well that we have taken steps to help families. That is why he bowed to our demand to fast-track Bill C‑19 , which will provide no less than $1,800 to Canadian families to help them deal with food and affordability issues.”
“Mr. Speaker, why did the member not stand up to oppose Quebec's Act Respecting Expropriation, which made it possible to build and complete the Réseau express métropolitain? The bill is based on the exact wording of that Quebec act and Ontario's legislation, which also allows for the development of public transit projects. This is not new, and we are obviously going to negotiate directly with the property owners.”
“Mr. Speaker, in fact, consultations were held and there will be more. We are consulting all the mayors and community stakeholders in the Lower Laurentians, across the entire region, as well as in Quebec and Ontario. Guess what? Canadians are excited about this new technology, this progress. Come on. My colleague is comparing an international airport to a small corridor that is 60 metres wide. Give me a break.”
“Mr. Speaker, in Calgary the Conservatives heard more old hits than at the Elvis tribute show at the casino, and they came back and are repeating them just the way the leader writes it out for them in the back rooms: imaginary taxes and no plan for affordability. We have a bill before the House that would give up to $1,800 for families to afford the cost of groceries in this country. We know affordability is a challenge; this is why we have real policy, but the Conservatives just play the old hits.”
“On Wednesday, we will resume second reading of Bill C‑10 , an act respecting the commissioner for modern treaty implementation. Finally, next Friday is a day I know everyone is eagerly looking forward to, a day to be spent debating the Standing Orders and procedure pursuant to Standing Order 51.”