Patty Hajdu
Thunder Bay—Superior North, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, what an insult to the hard-working tradespeople and building unions across this country who have been standing with this government, fighting to build Canada strong, fighting to train their members and make sure more young people have great skilled jobs that pay fabulous wages, something I thought those guys were for but vote…”
“Mr. Speaker, the real question is this: When will the Conservatives stop voting against the very constituents they claim to stand up for and support?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank that member for his constant advocacy for opportunities for youth. We are proud on this side of the bench to have so many young representatives here in the government benches. We are very eager to work with them to ensure that youth have the best opportunities to succeed.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled that in my riding, Lakehead University is opening a new vet school in partnership with Guelph. It is very exciting news for the many people in my riding who are waiting to access veterinarian care. We will continue to work with provinces and territories on making sure that education is affordable.”
“Mr. Speaker, we work diligently to make sure that Canadians get the benefits to which they are entitled. Indeed, the focus of the department is to ensure that Canadians have access to those benefits and supports when they are challenged in applying for those benefits.”
“Mr. Speaker, if we check Hansard, we will find that member on record saying that parents do not want help. In fact, what I hear from Canadians, including Albertans, who write to me as the minister of jobs and families, is that we should stand up for each other, that we should make sure not one kid goes hungry, no matter if their parent is…”
The complete record
Every one of 302 lines we hold for Patty Hajdu, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 7.
“Mr. Speaker, this morning, I was at Extendicare with a number of personal support workers as we announced a measure of support for the very workers who care for our loved ones. Kelly, one of the support workers, said that people talk all the time about the importance of the work, but this was the first time they had ever felt like someone was doing something for them. I am so thrilled to say that we will be supporting personal support workers with a refundable tax credit of $1,100 a year. What is more is that we will make sure that these workers are not just feeling supported but are supported in the workplace.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I announced another $75 million for skilled-trades training, in partnership with unions across this country. Why? It is because Red Seal trades are great-paying jobs, and we need individuals all across this country to build homes and to build the projects that build infrastructure. We know that unions can get the job done. These great-paying jobs are what youth have to look forward to as we build Canada strong together.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we have covered quite a bit in this question period, but let me remind the opposition that, today, I was with the SEIU, which represents personal support workers across this country, and for these incredible, hard-working people who support our family members and our seniors every day, budget 2025 proposes that they will receive a non-refundable tax credit worth $1,100 a year. The union fought for this; they asked for this. It is a promise made, promise kept. I will end with this: This is money in the pockets of these workers. I sure hope the Conservatives are going to support the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, which is it? They are either about empowering Canadians through good-paying jobs or empowering Canadians through programs such as the school food program. We believe in both, because we are betting on Canadians. We are betting on both their resiliency and their ability to get those great-paying jobs as we create those projects across the country. The member opposite does not want to invest in Canadians, either to support them now or to help them have better features. Which is it? Which is it that he is asking for, to cut services for Canadians or invest in them? We are going do both. We are going to make sure—”
“Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister said it is time for Canada to bet big, he meant bet big on Canadians. This is something these guys do not understand. They refuse to invest in Canadians. Today I announced that, in budget 2025, $75 million will go to building trade unions to make sure kids and young people can get great jobs in the skilled trades. These are good-paying jobs. This is what it looks like to bet on Canadians. This is what it looks like to have the backs of Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I assume the member of Parliament opposite was listening to my colleague when she was quoting Food Banks Canada about what needs to happen next, which is making the school nutrition program permanent, investing in affordable housing and ensuring people have the supports they need to live a comfortable life, including affordable child care and dental care. That is what we are going to do, and we sure hope the Conservatives do not vote against Canadians again.”
“Mr. Speaker, I take it from the question from the leader of the official opposition that he will support budget 2025, where we make the school food program permanent, where we double down on jobs for young Canadians and where we invest in skills training for the skilled trades professionals of the future. I just announced that, in the budget, personal support workers will receive a tax credit of $1,100 a year. We are putting money and support in the hands of Canadians. That is why they trust us.”
“Mr. Speaker, here we go again with the imaginary taxes. They do not show up on receipts because they are not actually there. Canadians know that. They know how to read a receipt, but picking up on the previous question, I just want to remind people about how much good this school nutrition program is doing all across Canada, including, as my colleague mentioned, by providing dignity to families all across this country so that kids can get good nutrition in school and by feeding healthy brains. It is saving families about $800 a year. As a former lunchroom monitor, there is nothing more painful than watching a child who does not have a lunch, whether they—”
“Mr. Speaker, the youth in my riding are dreaming, and not only that; they are working and are entering the workforce in extraordinary ways. Let me talk about the young welder I met at Thunder Bay Hydraulics just a few weeks ago. She approached me the other day and said that because of the programs that the province and the federal government worked together on to ensure that she had work-integrated learning, she was now a welder with that company. We are investing in jobs. We are investing in youth. Every time we look across the aisle, the Conservatives are voting against the interests of youth. It is very rich for them to talk about this.”
“Mr. Speaker, the speech yesterday from the Prime Minister really freaked the Conservatives out, because they heard the ambition in that speech. Not only did they hear it in that speech, but today, as the Prime Minister stood with the premier, investing in new nuclear to ensure the jobs of today and of the future, they know that the—”
“Mr. Speaker, that speech really freaked out the Conservatives because it was all about ambition. It was about investing in ourselves. It was about building major projects. It was about the project that Prime Minister Carney announced with Premier Ford— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member that the Ring of Fire is an extremely important deposit in northern Ontario. We have been working with the Province of Ontario for years to ensure that we have a plan to move forward, and we have been working with the affected first nations in that riding, which is mine. We will continue to focus on the opportunity the Ring of Fire presents for not just northern Ontario but all of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Madawaska—Restigouche for highlighting the exceptional work of early childhood educators across the country. Our government has invested more than $1 billion to recruit, train and retain more educators. We are working with the provinces and territories to improve salaries and training. When we support educators, we support families and the future of our economy.”
“Mr. Speaker, again, I am really heartened to hear about the support the member has for early learning and child care. It is a real switch, given that she voted against it time and again. I will say this. I have a meeting with my counterpart this afternoon, the minister from Alberta, to talk about exactly that: how we take the next steps, together, because, as the member would know, jurisdiction over child care lives in provinces and territories. We have funded the system to such an extent that the average family is paying $16.50 a day. What a saving this is for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is the height of irony that a Conservative MP who voted against child care is now criticizing child care that exists across this country. What the Auditor General said is that provinces and territories have to do a better job in terms of reporting. We are working with provinces and territories to make sure that we grow the number of spaces. Let me leave members with this: $16.50 a day is the average price families are paying for child care. That is a huge saving for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on making the investments that are going to help Canadians get ahead. Whether it is investing in major projects, in affordable housing or in early learning and child care so people can make the best wages possible, our government is focused on one thing, and that is Canadians' success. Canadians know that too. They do not trust those guys to protect their interests. They do not trust those guys for the long-term thinking that results in better outcomes for their families and their children. That is why we are on this side of the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, what is not imaginary is that Canadians know who they can trust. In fact, time and again, they have seen these Conservatives across the aisle vote against their very interests, whether it is things like the school nutrition program or the early learning and child care. By the way, the average cost of child care is down to $16 a day. These are real savings for real Canadian families. The only thing that is imaginary is their own perception.”
“Mr. Speaker, again, we see the member and, indeed, the entire Conservative Party pretending there is a tax on food. Canadians are smarter than that. They know, when they go to the grocery store, that food is not taxed. Instead of imaginary problems, we are coming up with real solutions on this side, whether it is for families, seniors or workers. We are here for Canadians, in both the good times and the bad. I will just add that I hope this concern is going to translate into support for the budget that will be tabled later on.”
“Mr. Speaker, time and again, we see the Conservatives fighting against policies that Canadians are not only benefiting from but also asking that we make permanent. This includes things like the school food program, which many advocates and, indeed, families have praised. In fact, in my own riding, I heard just yesterday from a food partner who is working with high schools to make sure kids not only get access to fresh food but also learn how to prepare it themselves. These are the kinds of things helping Canadian families. Every step of the way, those guys fight against it.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am surprised the member did not ask about Kap Paper; in fact, Ontario and Canada have worked together to give Kap Paper the breathing room to bring back its employees and keep those employees hired while the mill looks for new business opportunities. This is great news for members of his riding and people all across northern Ontario. We are going to be there for industries that are hard hit, including pulp and paper, and including mining. We have the great honour of working on behalf of constituents.”
“Mr. Speaker, when we visit food banks, one of the things they ask is to make the school food program permanent, and we have listened. That is what responsible governments do. We work with partners to make sure we have programs across the country that reach hungry bellies, and that is what we are doing, saving Canadians families, on average, $800 a year. The Conservatives vote against families time and time again. They literally take food out of kids' mouths.”
“Mr. Speaker, every time there is a chance to stand up for Canadian families, the Conservatives vote against their interests. Whether it is increases to seniors' benefits or whether it is ensuring that food costs remain low for Canadians, they voted against it. Canadians expect governments to work on their behalf, and they know they cannot trust the Conservatives.”
“Mr. Speaker, most Canadians know, or ought to know, that there is not tax on food, and that in fact these are imaginary taxes. What is not imaginary is the $8,000 in Canadian families' bank accounts for children under six years old that will be deposited today, something the Conservatives have voted against time and time again. When they have an opportunity to make life more affordable for Canadians, they vote against the interests of Canadian families time after time.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is good news for Canadians. Last week, the Prime Minister announced that we are making the school food program permanent, so I take from the question of the member opposite. That means Canadian kids all across the country are getting good-quality food at school, saving families about $800 a year at the grocery store, but I hope from the nature of the question that we can count on the party opposite to support the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have significantly strengthened the rights of organized labour in this country, which started in 2015, when the Liberal government repealed union-busting legislation that was presented and passed by the Conservatives, which was another untrustworthy move. We strengthened the Canada Labour Code, making scab labour illegal and investing in union-based training. We will continue to work with labour organizations and businesses to make sure the relationship remains balanced and productive.”
“There is a reason, Mr. Speaker, that Canadians do not trust the Conservatives. It is because they do not trust the words coming out of their mouths. Over and over, they hear misinformation. In fact, Stats Canada shows that our economy grew in Q1 of 2025. Of course there are changes to our economy and of course we have sectors that are struggling, but do members know what Canadians know? They know we have their backs. While the Conservatives laugh at supports for workers who have lost their job, like the extra 20 weeks, my son and other people who are at—”
“Mr. Speaker, do members know why Canadians do not trust Conservatives? It is because they lie to them over and over again. They can themselves look up Canada's economy and see that it is actually— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, this is a great time for me to highlight the incredible work of FedNor, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, which works with organizations across northern Ontario, and has for years, to make sure that as industries change, as times change and as products change, companies have what they need to grow and adapt. We have invested millions of dollars in the softwood lumber industry and the lumber industry in general. We will be there for workers. We will be there for companies. Canadians know they can trust us, unlike those folks.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am no stranger to communities that struggle when industries are struck. I am from northern Ontario as well. The difference between those in our government and the members opposite is that we step up for workers when they are struggling, whether it is through EI reforms, investment in companies so they could actually transition or work sharing to get a company through a tough time so that it can see a brighter future. This is some of the work we do on this side with companies every single day.”
“Mr. Speaker, youth would be disappointed to know that that member voted against their interests time and time again, whether it was for skills training, whether it was Canada summer jobs or whether it was for investments in research and innovation. I sure hope the nature of that question means he will vote for this budget, because we are going to invest in Canadians, and Canadians know that.”
“Mr. Speaker, that member is new to the chamber, so maybe he does not know the record of the party he sits with. The Conservatives have voted consistently against the interests of Canadians. Not only that, but they fought against Canadians' rights. Whether it is labour rights, the right to retire at a decent age, or the right to raise our children with the resources we need, these Conservatives have voted against Canadians, and that is why Canadians do not trust them. On this side, they trust the Prime Minister to get the job done.”
“Mr. Speaker, for decades, Canadians have watched as Conservatives fought against their interests. They have not just voted against Canadians' interests, but actively worked to fight against their families' prosperity. Whether it is beating back unionization, whether it is voting against school nutrition programs or whether it is fighting against the Canada child benefit, Canadians know who has their back, and it sure is not the Conservative Party.”
“Mr. Speaker, talking about incompetence, for a member opposite not to understand why CUSMA gives us the best deal in the world is sheer incompetence in Canadian politics. I will say that this government is solely focused on the success of Canadians, whether it is investing in the kinds of projects that will create great jobs, making sure people have the skills to be able to take those jobs or supporting Canadians in good times and in bad. Canadians know that the Liberal government has their back, and they are really not very sure about those guys.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians were under no illusion that this would be easy. What they wanted was a leader who would be truthful with them, who would stand up for them and who would make sure that the government they selected would have their back in difficult times. That is exactly what we are doing, whether it is investing in our steel industry, supporting skilled trades or building major projects, this government has the back of Canadian workers, something I do not think they could say about the opposite party.”
“Mr. Speaker, out government knows that truck drivers move our economy forward and deserve all the protections provided by the Canada Labour Code. That is why we have created a specialized inspection team that has already conducted more than 100,000 inspections and awareness-raising activities in the sector. We will rigorously enforce the law by working with the Canada Revenue Agency and the provinces to combat misclassification and ensure that drivers receive the rights and benefits to which they are entitled.”
“Mr. Speaker, this government has supported organized labour in a number of ways, including, most recently, by standing with Canada’s Building Trades Unions as we announced five major projects with their full support. We have invested in union training. We have invested in union supports. We have reversed harmful Conservative union-busting legislation. Union members know we are there for them. As the minister of labour, I will work hard to make sure we get the balance right.”
“Mr. Speaker, unlike the member opposite, Canadians understand there are structural changes in the global economy. They are counting on a government that will put the investments into their lives, into their workforces, into their training and into their families to ensure they get through this tough time. That is what Canadians know. They know they need a government that believes in them and their capacity, and that empowers them to reach their full potential. That is why, in the last election, they chose the Liberal government.”
“Mr. Speaker, every time the Conservative Party has had a chance to vote with workers, they voted against them. Whether it is for skills training, investment in unions and union training, or investments in major projects, they vote against these things time and time again. The member's question is a little hollow, I would say. Conservative Party members know it too. We are sitting on this side of the House because Canadians believe in governments that invest in them. We will keep doing that.”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Health announced that five million Canadians are now getting affordable dental care in this country. I just want to tell the story of one individual I met in my own riding just before the last election. He had just had his teeth fixed after 20 years of not having a plan. This fully employed worker did not have benefits that could provide for him to have oral health. He said to me, “I sure hope you win again, so that I can get my lower teeth fixed.” That is exactly what we did for this man.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will rephrase it in a way that does not insult the member, since she feels so insulted. People who are grocery shoppers know that there is not GST on food in this country, so it is misleading for the member opposite to pose a question like that in a way that could confuse Canadians. What I can say is that we have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. I know that the bill is seeking the approval of the House, and I hope the Conservatives are not going to vote against the support that Canadians need at this time.”
“Mr. Speaker, one thing we agree on with members of the opposition is that it is time for all hands on deck. That is what this Prime Minister has been saying ever since the election and before. This is a time for Canadians to pull together. In fact, the provinces and territories recognize that. They are investing in Canadian workers, they are investing in training and they are investing in major projects. Who is standing against Canadians? It is only one group, and that is the Conservative Party of Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, I stood with the building trades unions and the Prime Minister as we announced the first five projects that will be managed by the Major Projects Office coalition. This is good news for Canadians, because we are laser-focused on creating jobs and supporting the training that Canadians need to seize those opportunities. What do Canadians get from Conservatives? They get fearmongering, they get hate and they get Conservatives voting against their own interests over and over. We on this side will take care of Canadians' interests.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation for his excellent question. National Seniors Day is an opportunity to thank our seniors for everything they have done for us and our country. Our government respects the seniors who want to age with dignity at home and in their community, where they feel comfortable. We have built more than 50,000 housing units for seniors and put $1.5 billion on the table through the Canada rental protection fund to provide affordable apartments to seniors. We—”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are well aware of who has their backs, and that is why they chose this Liberal government in the last election. Over the last 10 years, they have watched Conservatives vote against all of their interests. Whether it is programs for kids, programs for seniors, training for tradespeople or investments in agriculture, the Conservatives vote against. I hope by the nature of that question, though, that they will not vote against the tax cut for 22 million Canadians. That is how they help Canadians: by standing with them.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a plan in place so that citizens can get their passports. (1440) [ English ] Service Canada can quickly support people who have a situation with their passport stuck in the mail. We are available 24-7 to help Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us start with the voice of a child advocating for other children in this country. This is what that grade-7 Canadian young person said: “An investment in healthy school food is a good idea because the healthier the kids, the healthier the society. School food matters to me because kids should be healthy.” I am so proud of that empathetic grade-7 student who knows that young people in schools deserve the best chance at success. That is more than I can say for these Conservatives, who are actually laughing at the compassion of children in our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, if they will not believe us, maybe they will believe an actual kid. A grade-7 kid actually said this: “An investment in healthy school food is a good idea because the healthier the kids, the healthier the society. School food matters to me—” Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, the school nutrition program is saving Canadian families, on average, $800 a year in food costs. That is just one example of the work we have been doing to ensure that Canadians have an affordable quality of life. The dental care plan in my riding is changing the lives of small business owners and artists who have gone for many years without dental care and who, for the very first time, have been able to access affordable dental care. That is the kind of support that families expect, and that is what they get with a Liberal government.”
“Mr. Speaker, keeping with the theme of mothers, one thing I know about mothers is that every mother is certain that no child should go hungry. It was particularly disappointing to see the members opposite, many of whom I know are mothers, vote against the school nutrition program, which is making sure that no matter a kid's circumstances, they have the nutrition to learn and grow. We will always stand up for Canadian families on this side.”
“Mr. Speaker, I wish the member opposite's mother a happy birthday, but I am also very sad to tell her that her son voted against the school nutrition program. I think she would be really disappointed, because when I spoke to teachers and volunteers and met with students, they talked about how this healthy nutrition break for their students helped those students reach the goal of having careers as architects, teachers, engineers and tradespersons.”