Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act

Bill C-30, Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act · Time allocation motion · now law Where it stands

The House debated a motion to limit further debate on Bill C-30, the Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act, to one more sitting day before a second reading vote. The bill contains tax and affordability measures: a temporary pause of the federal excise tax on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel from April 20 to September 7, 2026, a bigger labour mobility deduction for tradespeople, a permanent capital gains exemption for sales to employee ownership trusts, an extended EI benefit period for seasonal workers, a two-year extension of the alcohol excise cap, and other changes including pesticide registration rules. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne urged all parties to support the bill, citing affordability, the seasonal worker extension, the alcohol cap and the fuel pause, and said the deficit projection is $11 billion lower than forecast. Conservatives opposed the time allocation, arguing three hours of debate was too little for a bill they said adds tens of billions to the debt and fuels inflation. Bloc Québécois members also objected to cutting off debate and pressed for EI reform, and Green MP Elizabeth May asked that the pesticide-related provisions be removed and studied separately.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

37 statements

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We are spending money on housing, defence, and building projects. We need young workers to do this work. Our plan creates jobs and opportunities for 80,000 to 100,000 young people.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. It is an important one because what we are saying is that we are making generational investments in infrastructure, housing, competitiveness, innovation and defence. It is true that we are going to need these young workers to build the country together. That is why we included exceptional, even generational, measures in the spring economic statement to provide opportunities for approximately 80,000 to 100,000 young people who will help us build this great country. This is a generational opportunity, and we are responding to the demand for workers who will help us build this great country.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Kelly Block

Conservative
“The Liberals claim to be different, but they are still spending too much and shutting down debate. They should serve Canadians instead of themselves.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, time and time again, Liberal members stand across the way and try to convince Canadians that they are a new government. Canadians need to look no further than the government’s actions today to confirm that they are the same old government, spending more and limiting debate with time allocation. When will this minister and the Liberal government realize they are here to serve Canadians, not themselves?

View on ourcommons.ca View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to vote for this bill. It pauses the gas tax and helps Canadians with the cost of living.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, serving Canadians is in fact acting on behalf of Canadians. The thing that Canadians care about is affordability. The member should be standing in this House and saying, “Yes, I will support the government.” Why? There are measures that support Canadians on affordability, important measures around the gas tax and the suspension we announced. The member should be standing here and saying that this government understands the needs of Canadians and that Conservatives will leave partisanship aside, leave these quotes and these clips, and do what is right for Canadians. What is right for Canadians is to act for affordability right now.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Bloc Québécois
“Canada needs 690,000 new homes, but the government's plan only builds 26,000. I want the finance minister to explain how this solves the housing crisis when it only covers a tiny part of the problem.”

  • A repeated line

    “We are in the midst of a housing crisis.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 25.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister mentioned affordability. Let us talk about that. We are in the midst of a housing crisis. The Liberal government, which has been in office for a whopping 10 years, launched a national housing strategy in 2017 that never dealt with the crisis. Now, the government has come up with a new gimmick to lull us into complacency: Build Canada Homes. Build Canada Homes provides for the construction of 26,000 new housing units. How many are actually needed? According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, we need 690,000, so either the government cannot do math or this is not a priority. I would like the finance minister to tell us whether he is really going to resolve the housing affordability crisis when he is addressing only 5% of the problem, if that.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Affordable housing is a key part of making life cheaper, and this bill helps build more homes and lower costs. I want the Bloc Québécois to support it to help people who are struggling right now.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we all know that one of the pillars of affordability is, indeed, affordable housing. That is why we announced extraordinary measures to ramp up construction, increase innovation and help people find affordable housing. It is because we are very aware that this is one of the pillars of affordability. Affordability is at the heart of Bill C‑30. I therefore expect my Bloc Québécois colleagues, who have the interests of Quebeckers and all Canadians at heart, to rise and say that, yes, they will support Quebeckers, yes, they will support affordability, yes, they will explain to their constituents why it is so important to act now so we can help them and give them a hand when they are facing unprecedented pressures, and yes, they will support affordability.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Pat Kelly

Conservative
“The government wants to end debate on this budget bill after only three hours. I want the minister to answer if he thinks three hours is enough time to debate it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are debating a motion to cut off debate on a budget bill after only three hours. The minister has been asked repeatedly but has not answered the question. Does he think that three hours is a sufficient debate for the bill?

View on ourcommons.ca View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I have answered this question many times. We are ready to debate and answer questions, but we also need to take action. Canadians want us to make life more affordable. I know the member supports parts of this bill, like help for seasonal workers and greenhouses. We should stop arguing and pass this bill.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 42 of 100

    None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have answered it a number of times. The Conservatives may not like my answer, but that is different. They may want to change the question. What I can say is, yes, we will debate it. Yes, we will be here to answer questions. Yes, we believe in accountability, but we believe in action as well. Canadians demand action from their government. They demand action from Parliament. They demand that we tackle affordability. This is top of mind. I know that the member is supportive of the measure to support seasonal workers. I know he is supportive of the immediate expenses for greenhouses. I know he is supportive of Bill C-30. Let us leave partisanship aside. Let us vote, and let us make sure we act for Canadians.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Jean-Denis Garon

Bloc Québécois
“The government is only allowing three hours of debate on this 34-page bill. That leaves about a minute and a half to talk about each part. I want the Minister of Finance to tell us if he really thinks that is enough debate for a democracy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask the Minister of Finance a question. I know he will not answer it because he is an expert at avoiding questions. We are debating a bill that is 34 pages long and contains 52 clauses. The minister says he likes to debate. However, by limiting the entire debate to three hours, he is leaving us with three minutes and 27 seconds of debating time per clause in the bill. If we deduct the time the Liberals will take reading the notes written by the minister or the Prime Minister’s Office in order to toe the party line, that leaves roughly one minute and 30 seconds for members of Parliament to present their comments on the bill. I hope the minister is looking at me. Does Canada’s Minister of Finance believe, yes or no, that one minute and 30 seconds per clause of a budget bill represents a healthy debate in a democracy, when his government tells us that its generational role in history is to defend democracy?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want us to send this bill to committee so we can work on it. People need help with high costs right now, and we must act quickly.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know that member well. He is a member of Parliament who likes to debate and do his part. He will have the opportunity to do so because this bill will be reviewed in committee. I know that my colleague excels at presenting his point of view in committee. I think that today, he should stand up and say that he is willing to work, that he wants the bill to be referred to committee and that he will do his part. As I have always done as a parliamentarian, I will be here to answer my colleagues’ questions, obviously, but there is also an urgent need to act. We see what is happening around the world and we know what we are able to control in terms of affordability. It is time to give Canadians a helping hand.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Auto workers in Oshawa have waited over a year for the government to help them, but the Prime Minister broke his promises. The finance minister is not answering our questions. Three hours is not enough time to debate this bill.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I find it remarkable to listen to the finance minister talk about how Canadians demand action, when auto workers in Oshawa have been asking for action from the government for well over a year. They believed the Prime Minister during the election campaign, when he said he was the guy to get a deal. They believed him when he said he would go to Washington and get a deal by July 21 last year. Why should they believe that the government wants action now? Is the minister listening to the Bloc, Conservative and Green members when they talk about the affront to democracy this is? Is he listening to the questions? He says he is answering them, but, frankly, he is not. The question that was posed to him several times is whether three hours is enough. That is just over three minutes per section. Is that enough time to be held accountable?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want this bill sent to committee. Our government has always supported auto workers and brought investments to the auto industry. This bill helps Canadians with the cost of living.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, one thing I will not take is lessons from the Conservatives on the work we are doing with respect to the auto sector. If the member goes to her constituents, she will see that, as the former industry minister, I always stood up, and the current government has always stood up, for the auto workers and the auto industry. We will always continue to do so. In fact, we have already put measures in the budget to support our auto workers. We have attracted investments in this country. We are going to support the industry. We are going to support our workers. When it comes time to debate, we are standing here to answer the questions. We are saying the bill should go to committee, because there is one thing Canadians in Oshawa and around the country understand: The world is going through unprecedented changes, and we should act on what we can control. One thing we can control is supporting Canadians with affordability measures when they need them, and that is what we are going to do.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Bloc Québécois
“The finance minister says he wants Canada to lead in innovation, but he is cutting millions of dollars from college research. I want him to explain how a country can lead in innovation while cutting funding for science.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in the last budget and economic update, the Minister of Finance boasted about wanting to make Canada a global leader in innovation. However, in his last budget, he cut $40 million from the college and community innovation program. We reminded him of that and pointed out the inconsistency. The Liberals say they want to be leaders, but then they turn around and make cuts. The minister ended up reversing course in the economic update. He announced funding that basically reduces the cuts, but the program’s budget is still being cut by $5 million. I would like the Minister of Finance to answer the following question. Does he know of any country in the world that wants to excel in innovation but that is cutting its investments in science and research?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our government has made huge investments in science and research. This helps make Canadian cities like Montreal world leaders in artificial intelligence. We will keep supporting top researchers and new technology here in Canada.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have made some of the largest investments in science and research. Canada is a world leader. Take artificial intelligence, for example. Since I was asked the question by a Bloc Québécois member, I would like to point out that Montreal, along with other cities in Canada, is recognized as a global hub for AI. This did not happen by chance. It happened because we have the ability to attract the best researchers and the top talent to our country and to support them, so that technological research and development happen here at home. We have always been there for research, development and innovation. We are going to continue being there today, as always.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

Karim Bardeesy

Liberal
“I support this bill. I want the minister to explain how it will help workers own the businesses they work for.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, I want to commend the minister for making historic investments in science and research under budget 2024. I commend the bill we are debating today. I want to ask particularly about employee ownership trusts. I was at an event that celebrated the 25th anniversary of Social Capital Partners, a very important organization that led the charge for the movement to support employee ownership in Canada. I want to ask the minister about his role in furthering employee ownership in Canada and about how the bill would assist with that.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal

Linked statement

“I want the House to pass this bill. It makes a tax break permanent for people who sell their business to their workers. It supports Canadian workers and businesses.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. In fact, we are going to make the capital gains tax exemption permanent when it comes to employee ownership trust. This is a measure that is being applauded by a number of people across the country. It is the kind of thing we see in Bill C-30. It is why, in the questions from opposition members, apart from the parliamentary opposition that we would expect, they should look beyond that. This is a time when we need to do big things for the country and to support Canadians, industry and workers. That is exactly what Bill C-30 would do.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Steven Bonk

Conservative
“The government is hiding things from the public. I want to know why the government will not give us enough time to debate this bill.”

  • Question or comment in debate

    Signal 43 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that the current government is the least transparent government in Canadian history. We see what the Liberals have done with committees when they have shut down debate; they have gone off camera. Even yesterday, Bob Fife, whom we wish well in his retirement and thank for all the good work he has done, said that the government has done nothing but erode transparency since it was elected. What is the government so afraid of when it comes to debating the bill and giving it proper time so we can scrutinize it?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want to wish journalist Bob Fife a happy retirement. On the bill, members will have plenty of time to ask questions and study it in committee while we work to help Canadians.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague, I also want to wish Bob Fife a happy retirement. I had the chance to send him a note. He has done a great service to journalism in Canada and to our democracy, and we applaud his work. When it comes to transparency, the member should be happy that the bill is going to go to committee. I am sure he will take all the time he needs in committee to make sure his voice can be heard. We will be here to answer questions, but we will also act for Canadians in the time of need.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 121

All 59 items ·
  1. Private Members' Business Criminal Code 10 statements
  2. Private Members' Business Points of Order 2 statements
  3. Government Orders Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 37 statements
  4. Government Orders Government Orders 17 statements
  5. Oral Questions Taxation 6 statements
  6. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Relations 6 statements
  7. Oral Questions Employment 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Finance 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Taxation 4 statements
  10. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 6 statements
  11. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Foreign Investment 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 10 statements
  14. Oral Questions Justice 6 statements
  15. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions CBC/Radio-Canada 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions The Environment 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 7 statements
  19. Government Orders Privilege 4 statements
  20. Government Orders Military Justice System Modernization Act 2 statements
  21. Government Orders Government Orders 2 statements
  22. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS 2 statements
  23. Government Orders Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 61 statements
  24. Oral Questions The Environment 4 statements
  25. Oral Questions Aerospace Industry 2 statements
  26. Oral Questions Taxation 8 statements
  27. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  28. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  29. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  30. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  31. Government Orders Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 41 statements