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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-05-26 Sitting 122 Showing 1–4 of 4

A late night debate where a Conservative asked the government about high food prices, and the Liberal responded by talking about various unrelated government programs. The Conservative called this 'obfuscation', the Liberal disagreed.

Official Hansard ↗

Grant Jackson

Conservative 6:40 p.m.

“You didn't answer me about food production before. More food means lower prices. What is your department actually doing to make food cost less?”

Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this topic will not be a stranger to you. I think I was asking about it the last time you were in the chair. I had the privilege of asking a question of the minister responsible for food production. We have an affordability crisis. People are struggling to pay their bills, particularly at the grocery store and at the checkout. Here is what the Minister of Women and Gender Equality replied: Mr. Speaker, Canadians need real relief right now, and we are delivering. I have great news. The very first Canada groceries and essentials benefit is going to Canadians right across the country this June.... From grocery support to child care and dental care, we are there. Of course, members already heard today that we are lowering the cost at the pumps by 28¢ per litre. There is nothing in there about food production. I was asking about the need to produce more food in this country to bring down costs. More supply would mean lower costs for Canadian consumers at the grocery store. This is after I had asked a question of the agriculture minister, and one question was enough for him. His response to my question about what his department, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is doing to increase food production in this country was this: Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the hon. member disagrees with child care, dental care, the Canada child benefit, the national school food program, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, an increase in health transfers, the OAS, eliminating the carbon tax, a tax break for 22 million Canadians.... He then went on to say, “there is no more” and sat down as his own cabinet members were heckling him. Again, there was nothing about food production, so I would like to give the agriculture minister one more chance. Given that it is his responsibility as the minister responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, could he please inform my constituents in western Manitoba, and all Canadians, what the government is doing to increase domestic food production so Canadians can have cheaper produce and goods at the grocery store?

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Hon. Ali Ehsassi

Liberal 6:40 p.m.

“We know people have trouble paying for food. We will send some money to many Canadians. A family of four will get $1,890 this year. A single person will get $950 this year. We will also give money to programs that give food to children and families who need it. Our government is watching food prices.”

Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, affordability is at the forefront of the government's attention. That includes, of course, food affordability, so I am very happy to provide a response. As I suggested to the previous member, the global landscape is rapidly changing, leaving economies, businesses and workers under a cloud of uncertainty. In response, our new government has focused on what we can control, such as building a stronger economy to make life more affordable for Canadians. We understand that many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet and need immediate support. We can all definitely understand this situation. This is why we launched the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which will provide support for more than 12 million Canadians. This new benefit will replace the current GST credit, but it will be much more generous, as I am sure the member can agree. This will start with a one-time top-up next week on June 5. We will also increase the value of the GST credit by 25% for five years starting in July of this year. This will make a real difference for Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet. Combined, this means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years. A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years. This new benefit will be indexed to inflation. This means that the amounts paid to Canadians will increase each year in line with the rising cost of living. We have also made the national school food program permanent. This will provide up to 400,000 children with meals at school each year, helping families save an average of $800 annually. These two measures represent real and immediate help. We are also working on solutions for the long term. The government has announced a series of measures to help bring down costs for Canadians. We have set aside $500 million from the strategic response fund to help businesses address the cost of supply chain disruptions. We are creating a $150-million food security fund under the existing regional tariff response initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises. Our plan also includes immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings to lower the cost of food production. In addition, we are providing $20 million to the local food infrastructure fund to support food banks and other national, regional and local organizations to deliver more nutritious food to families in need. We are also going to develop a national food security strategy that would strengthen domestic food production and improve access to affordable food, including measures to encourage unit price labelling and support for the work of the Competition Bureau. Our government remains focused on empowering Canadians by lowering costs, making groceries and other essentials more affordable and expanding opportunity. We have announced a series of new measures to help Canadians make ends meet, and we will continue to remain focused on affordability measures.

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Grant Jackson

Conservative 6:45 p.m.

“The government talks a lot but doesn't focus enough on growing more food in Canada. They should help farmers more. More food means lower prices. The government should act faster.”

Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, that was a lesson in obfuscation that would give even the Manitoba provincial NDP a run for their money, and that is saying something. My colleague from Winnipeg North will know what I am talking about. The member did eventually get to domestic food production at about minute three in that response, but the vast majority of what he talked about was grocery benefits that will not help farmers and producers grow more food domestically. That needs to be more than just a footnote at the very end of the government's responses. It needs to be the primary focus. More supply means cheaper groceries and produce at the store. If there were a small greenhouse benefit, there may be some merit to that, but there needs to be far more done by the government to increase domestic food production. We see it happening when government acts appropriately. The previous PC government in Manitoba provided the right tax incentives to Vermillion Growers in Dauphin. It has set up a massive tomato greenhouse in rural Manitoba in the Parkland region, which is growing year-round, providing fresh produce to Manitobans and those in eastern Saskatchewan. These things can be done if they are done appropriately. How much longer does the government want to take?

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Hon. Ali Ehsassi

Liberal 6:45 p.m.

“He says I'm not helping but he doesn't support my big spending plans either.”

Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I am not quite sure what he means when he talks about obfuscating. I listed a number of measures that have been introduced by government. If the member chooses to ignore them, then I cannot possibly be charged with obfuscating. It is interesting that the member claims to care about food, but he does not seem to find it within himself to support any of those programs that I listed for him, whether it is the Canada child benefit or cutting taxes for Canadians and providing timely and meaningful supports. He has also, I would say, voted against the national school food program to feed hungry children. Of course, he does not think much of that program. With many people feeling the strain of rising everyday expenses, our government will continue to take responsible and pragmatic approaches. While conservatives will focus on slogans and social media clips, we are tackling long-term structural challenges. We are acting now to support all Canadians.

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