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 6 of 7.
“Mr. Speaker, if there is a silver lining, it is that I see some promise in perhaps the member's supporting the budget that will be tabled very shortly this fall, where we will propose ambitious investments in Canadians, in Canadian families, in Canadian workplaces, in Canadian unions, in major projects and in our national defence system. I can only hope that Conservatives have seen the light. They should stop voting against Canadian interests.”
“Mr. Speaker, they might not applaud so loudly after I read through the list of things these folks have voted against year after year: the school food program, child care, tax cuts, support for training, support for union investments and Canada summer jobs. Canadians wanted a government that believes in them and invests in them, and they have that with this government.”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the privilege and honour, along with Secretary of State for Labour , to meet with the Canadian building trades unions that are standing strongly with our government as we plan to build the strongest economy in the G7. We talked about the major projects that are going to provide great jobs for unionized tradespeople across this country and the importance of having unionization in this country to protect a strong middle class. I will tell members that this government will always act quickly to support labour rights and industrial peace.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the question is in all of that, but what I can say is this government was elected to focus on Canadians, to be pragmatic, to stand up for Canada, to make sure people have great jobs and to make sure that Canadians can count on their government when things are tough. That is exactly what we are doing day in and day out. We are focused on what Canadians need and what they are telling us they want to invest in. We have an ambitious plan and we are acting on it.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are intelligent and knew better than to place their vote with the opposition, the Conservatives, who were threatening and indeed voting against everything that was making their lives more affordable. Whether it was the school food nutrition program, the Canada dental care plan, investments in seniors, increasing supports for seniors or investments in infrastructure, time and again, Conservatives voted against these measures. Canadians saw with their eyes that they could not count on Conservatives to protect them.”
“Mr. Speaker, when Canadians are facing a hard time, they want a government that will invest in them. Today, the Canada's Building Trades Unions visit us in Ottawa, celebrating the investments in major projects that are going to create great Canadian jobs for tradespeople all across this country, with a government that is focused on making sure that we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are making sure that Canadians have what they need. Canadians chose well, and they chose this government.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadian workers are ready to build. Over 100,000 workers have been trained through the union training and innovation program. We are facilitating national recognition of their credentials. This government is committed to building back better, and so are Canadian workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am congratulating Canadians because Canadians chose a government that knew that when things were tough, the government would protect them. What did we do even before the election and enhance after the election? We made sure that if a Canadian's job was threatened through unfair tariff action, they would be protected. They knew Conservatives would not take care of them in these economically challenging times. They knew they could not count on Conservatives. Why? It is because every time Conservatives had a chance to stand up for Canadians, they voted against them.”
“Mr. Speaker, take it from a Conservative to try to torque the words that I clearly did not say. In fact, what I said was that Canadians chose a government that would invest in them and that would adjust EI measures to reflect a changing economy so that people could access EI where previously they could not, so that people could keep more of their earnings if they were separated from their job and so that people would have more weeks in case of a collapse of their industry. We know there are sectors struggling through increased tariff action, and we have not stopped. We have not stopped protecting Canadian families. That is what they voted for—”
“Mr. Speaker, four months ago, Canadians chose to invest in themselves. They chose a government that sees the promise and potential in creating great jobs across this country, in investing in major projects and infrastructure and in ensuring that people have the skills they need as our economies change and technology changes jobs. They knew that, on this side, a Liberal government would protect them and their families now and into the future. They knew they risked all of that with the cuts the Conservatives proposed.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a great question. As the Conservatives laugh over there, it is clear that many of them have never met a labourer who actually has barriers to crossing the country to get to good jobs. In fact, we have worked diligently with the provinces and territories to make sure that, no matter where the work is, if there is a worker who wants to do it, they can get there and take that job. The Conservatives can laugh all they want, but we are doing the hard work over here.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives propose cuts, but we are building over on this side and they should get on board with that. Every time they have a chance to stand with Canadians, whether it is to vote for child care, whether it is to support food programs or whether it is to make sure that families get what they need to thrive and survive, including the investment in skilled trades, the investment in unions and the investment in actual Canadian work, they fail because they have no vision. Their vision is to cut, cut, cut.”
“Mr. Speaker, in the last election, only six months ago, Canadians chose a Liberal government. They chose a Liberal government because they know they need investment. They need investment in the big projects that are going to drive great jobs all across the country. They need investment in the skills training that helps evolve the next generation of workers. They need investment in food for kids, in dental care for adults and in the many ways that our government can support Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are trying to strike a balance in the relationship with labour unions. [ English ] It is very important that the government work with both parties, unions and employers, to find a balance to make sure that we uphold the collective rights for labour action, but that we also maintain industrial peace. Canadians expect us to get this balance right, and that is exactly what we have done.”
“Mr. Speaker, finally, a place where I can agree with the member opposite. In fact, Canadian families are relying on the government to ensure that their children get a nutritious school lunch. That is why, in partnership with provinces and territories, we have a brand new school food program. It is a program and an approach that the Conservatives voted against. These Conservatives, every time they have a chance to help Canadian families, vote against it.”
“Mr. Speaker, on that side, what Conservatives want to do is cut the things that Canadians rely on, but on this side, we are cutting taxes. We have cut taxes for the middle class. There are 22 million Canadians who are benefiting. We cut the carbon tax, reducing the cost of gasoline and other oils for Canadians. We are investing in the creation of jobs and skills training, and ensuring Canadians and their children have the best chance at success. The Conservatives across the aisle voted against all of that work.”
“Mr. Speaker, just a short while ago, Canadians had a choice. They could choose Conservatives, who were promising to cut their way to growth, something that Canadians know is impossible, but instead, they chose a Prime Minister who would invest in them, invest in their families and invest in the growth that Canada and Canadians deserve. That was the result of the election. The Conservatives know that they have stood against families every time they have had a chance to support them.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians clearly understand the difference between investment and cuts. That is why they chose us in the last election. They know we are going to create the jobs that are going to ensure that they and their children have the bright futures that all Canadians deserve. The Canada child benefit delivers over $7,700 per child into Canadians' bank accounts every year. This is a game-changer for families, and Canadians knew that these kinds of things were at risk with Conservatives, who cut, cut, cut.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is important that Canadians can rely on the services that the federal government has put into place to make life more affordable with things like a national dental care program. I have heard from so many people in my riding about how programs that the federal government has put into place to make life more affordable are changing their lives. These are the kinds of things Conservatives would cut if they had the chance. We will not stand for that.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians chose in the last election a Prime Minister who could drive forward an agenda to grow the strongest economy in the G7, and that is exactly what we are doing, but let us take a look at the past. The Conservatives, every time they have the chance, vote against families. The national school food program, for example, puts food in the bellies of children so that they can learn and grow, and by the way, it saves Canadian families $800 a year. Conservatives voted against it. What kind of help for families is that?”
“Mr. Speaker, every time the Conservatives have a chance to help make it easier for families, they vote against these measures. For example, the national school food program, which is actually putting food in children's bellies and helping families with alleviating the cost of feeding their families. These Conservatives voted against that, too. Every time they have a chance to help bring down costs for Canadian families, like supporting the national child care program, they vote against it. They should look hard in the mirror about who is standing up for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, last week was a very proud moment for me to stand with the Prime Minister and Canada's Building Trades Unions, which is training young people all across the country for great-paying union jobs that are going to build the things that will make us the strongest economy in the G7. The government has a fantastic plan for youth. We are investing in skills training. We are investing in the provinces and territories, so they can do this work with us. We will make sure no young person gets left behind.”
“Mr. Speaker, temporary foreign workers make up less than 1% of our total workforce. In fact, this is a program where employers must demonstrate that they vigorously and actively looked for Canadian workers because Canadian workers come first. If an employer is found to have violated this program, there are severe penalties. There is also a tip line so that if any Canadian or any member of Parliament feels there has been an abuse, this can be reported to officials and it will be investigated.”
“Mr. Speaker, temporary foreign worker use is down by 70% in this country. Less than 1% of our workforce is temporary foreign workers. In fact, in Canada, Canadians come first for any available jobs, which is why the department has rigid rules for employers who are looking to fill vacancies with workers from other countries. If employers abuse the program, they receive serious penalties, including being banned from the use of this program.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is an important question, and I have great news: Bill C-58 comes into force this Friday. Using replacement workers compromises the fundamental right to strike. It can tip the scales, derail good-faith bargaining and heighten tensions in the workplace. Bill C-58 bans replacement workers, something that the Canadian labour movement, for a long time, has been asking for. The government got it done, together with labour, and we are very happy for this work with Canadian workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a bit rich for the opposition members to be talking about leaders who do not buy groceries while they have a leader who is in subsidized housing and not buying groceries. However, I will say that this government is laser-focused on making sure Canadians have what they need. As we know, poverty rates have been going down since 2015. That is because of our investments in Canadians through programs like dental care, affordable child care and the Canada child benefit. We will build the strongest economy in the G7.”
“Mr. Speaker, in the last elections, Canadians chose to place their vote with a party that knows Canada is strong when we take care of each other. As of May 29, 2025, all eligible Canadians can now apply for the Canadian dental care plan, and to date, four million Canadians have been approved for coverage and over two million have received care, including people in my community of Thunder Bay—Superior North. For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the proud mother of an operating engineer who is working on projects of national interest as we speak, I want to ask the minister if he can tell us a bit about the reception of this bill by organized labour.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is good news for Canadian youth this summer. In addition to the 70,000 Canada summer jobs, we are adding 6,000 more all across the country. We know that this is an emergency valve for youth unemployment, which is indeed rising. However, what will not help is voting against the measures that Canadians are looking for this summer. What we know is that Canadians vote every single time there is an opportunity to help the constituents in their riding. We will not do that; we will stand up for Canadian families.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is good news for Canadians: Over 22 million Canadians are going to receive a tax cut thanks to the work of this Parliament. Further good news is that, in the last election, Canadians coast to coast to coast said that the kinds of measures that are helping them are affordable child care; the Canada child benefit, which is indexed to inflation; the national food program; and the Canada disability benefit, which will be available next month. These are the kinds of things that are making a difference for Canadians. We just hope that the Conservatives will stop voting against them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have great news for youth this summer: over 6,000 more jobs through Canada summer jobs. That is great news for all our constituents. Canada summer jobs is an important program to help young people get the skills and experience they need for the next steps in their career. That is over 76,000 jobs this summer, and we certainly look forward to hearing about the youth experience all across our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have worked to make sure that Canadians' costs go down and Canadians have more powerful paycheques, something the Conservatives have said time and again, and they have actually voted against it. Whether it is things like reducing the cost of child care, ensuring school food programs or increasing the Canada child benefit, which, by the way, is pegged to inflation so that families have what they need as they are raising their children, the Conservatives have voted against it. They should put their money where their mouth is and support a comprehensive policy that supports families.”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I just want to say that over 22 million Canadians are receiving a tax credit as we speak, and I certainly hope that the Conservative member over there realizes that this is exactly what Canadians called for in the election: targeted support that will help them in these times. I will also point out that the kind of spending the Conservatives are talking about is on the things they have been advocating for years. They should be happy that we are investing in our armed forces, for example. Are the Conservatives saying that the Canadian Armed Forces do not deserve a raise?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have travelled all across this country. It is a huge privilege of this job. I have visited families in every riding and from every walk of life. I can say that modular housing, which provides a housing solution for so many families, is not a shipping container. To speak with such a demeaning tone about families that are living in a variety of different kinds of housing really indicates the kind of disrespect that the Conservative Party of Canada has for low-income Canadians and middle-income Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, a tax cut for 22 million Canadians is exactly the kind of relief that Canadians are looking for on top of all the programs and supports for Canadians, whether they have children, are seniors or are low-income. We expect with all of this concern that we will see support from the Conservative Party for things like our one Canadian economy bill, which is going to further enhance opportunities for Canadians to have well-paying jobs all across the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, a tax cut for 22 million Canadians is exactly the kind of support that Canadians are asking for, and that is why they elected us. They know that when things are difficult for Canadians, they can count on the Liberal government to be there for them, whether it is to help raise healthy children, make sure their kids get a good breakfast in the morning or make sure that they too can afford child care so that they can continue to grow and earn great livings across this country. We will be there for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, child poverty is down 38% since 2015, and overall, 26% in the general population for ages 18 to 65. The party opposite could help by not voting against things that make it better for Canadians, things like the Canada child benefit, dental care, the school food program or supports for apprentices. Every step of the way, the Conservative Party stands in the way of families.”
“Mr. Speaker, maybe the member opposite missed the announcement where the government already took action to change EI to make it easier for workers that are impacted by unfair and illegal tariffs to access EI, including waiving the one-week period, keeping their earnings and making sure that people can access EI in areas where unemployment is growing. We will continue to work on EI and make sure that it serves the needs of workers, who are deeply impacted in these difficult times.”
“Mr. Speaker, how is it acceptable that, when a government offers the Canada child benefit, which lifts almost 500,000 children out of poverty, the opposition votes against it, and that they muse about cutting that program if they were ever to gain office? It is no wonder that Canadians chose us in the last election. They know who has their backs. They know who is fighting for them. These kinds of narratives do not match the reality they see from Conservatives.”
“Mr. Speaker, either they cannot hear or this is willful ignorance of their own past behaviour. What we see repeatedly is the Conservative Party voting again and again against families. Whether it is the Canada child benefit, the national school food program or dental care, which are providing support to families all across the country while alleviating costs and improving the health of Canadians, they vote against it. They are voting against families every single time.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have talked about the reduction in child poverty, but for adults between 18 and 65, it has gone down by 26% since 2015. That is in large part because of the programs that we have put in place to help families. We want to talk about reducing costs of food. The Canada school food program reduces costs of groceries on average by $800 a year for every family. Let us see if the Conservatives can get on board with programs that really help families.”
“Mr. Speaker, competency would be not voting against legislation, bills and programs that actually put food in the stomachs of kids, such as the Canada school nutrition program, which is feeding over 400,000 children this year, in partnership with provinces and territories. Every time there is a measure put forward by the government to ensure that kids have food, parents have child care or parents have the money they need to raise their kids, the opposition party has voted against it. Let us be honest, the opposition party is not there for families.”
“Mr. Speaker, since 2015, child poverty is down by 38%. That is because of programs such as the Canada child benefit. That is because of programs such as affordable child care, which is available all across the country. We are working with families. We are working with youth and children, and we will continue to do that work together. We hope the opposition gets on board.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for having such compassion for the constituents in her riding, as we do all across the country. People who are living with disabilities have the right to be fully included in community. They have the right to live a decent life, just like the rest of us. That is why the government is proceeding with the Canada disability credit. That is why we are also working with provinces and territories, including, most recently, Ontario, to commit to ensuring that the money will not be clawed back from other benefits.”
“Mr. Speaker, since 2015, we have seen a significant decrease not only in child poverty but also in youth poverty and seniors' poverty, which means that the measures we are putting into place to support Canadians, whether it is the Canada child benefit, dental care or affordable child care across this country, are working for Canadian families. Of course we need to do more, and of course we need to stand up to the United States, and we will do that, as my colleagues have outlined, but the Conservatives need to get on board and be part of the solution.”
“Mr. Speaker, nobody should go hungry in this country, and that is why we have taken extraordinary measures to support families just like the constituents the member spoke about. Since 2015, child poverty is down by 38%. We have a ways to go, but we have to continue working together to get the full benefits of this work.”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, we do thank the postal workers who, every single day, service our communities. I will say this: The best deal is the deal that the parties arrive at themselves. Federal mediators continue to work with the parties on a solution, and we know that Canadians are relying on them to get this right.”
“Mr. Speaker, the government is focused on making sure that employers have the quality, skill and talent they need to grow their small and medium-sized businesses and ensure that corporations across the country have the kind of innovation and talent they are asking for. I would recommend that the member listen to and check in with the employers in his riding who are talking about the need for more talent. We will be there for every Canadian who wants to ensure that they, too, can get a great job.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have already taken actions to strengthen EI and to remove some of the challenges that workers who are facing unemployment have in accessing EI. We know that we need to respond adeptly as these tariffs threaten our workers across Canada, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister has asked me and my colleagues to do. We will continue to be there for workers. We will continue to have an employment insurance system that works for everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, we hear the member opposite talking out of both sides of his mouth. On one side, he is talking about the need to do something: to do something about unemployment and do something about youth having excellent experiences in the workforce. On the other side, he is talking about the need to reduce spending. We know that we can do big things together. That is what employers want across the country. They want skilled workers all across this country in every sector. We will be there with the provinces and territories to make sure that we have the fastest-growing economy in the G7.”