“High costs hit marginalized and Indigenous people especially hard. Can the parliamentary secretary explain how our government's programs help Indigenous communities in his riding and across the country?”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his speech. I know he is very involved in advocating for indigenous communities. He is the chair of our national Liberal indigenous caucus, and I have learned a lot from him. We know that when there are pressures with respect to affordability, marginalized communities often feel them more acutely than others. I wonder if my colleague could speak to the different programs and benefits our government has introduced and how they specifically affect the indigenous communities in his riding and across the country.”

“When I was elected, 75 percent of the children in my community lived in poverty. Now, our government feeds them breakfast at school. We must keep supporting communities in need.”

“Mr. Speaker, when I became a member of Parliament in my community of Eskasoni, child poverty rates there were at 75%. If my son was going to school, that would be the majority of his classmates. One of the reasons I have been so proud is that our government, since 2024, has put a national school food program in place, and today I can say those children receive a healthy breakfast when they go to school in our communities. It is one of the things I am most proud of. We need to help Canadians. We need to continue to support marginalized communities. I am really proud of the efforts of our government to ensure that all of the families who need help in my community and many others across Canada are able to benefit.”

“Cutting the gas tax was needed, but it is only one part of what we do. We also help people who need it most with cheaper child care, dental care, food at school, and monthly money for families.”

“Mr. Speaker, I can agree that our government’s response in ensuring that we remove the federal fuel excise tax was a necessary step, but I would also talk about all of the programs we have that add to that. Removing gas taxes is one part of it, but we also have to ensure that the most marginalized and the most disadvantaged are being supported. We can talk about the Canada child benefit, affordable day care, the national food program and dental care. We can talk about a lot of programs that our government, over the past number of years, has put in place to help and to target those who need it the most.”

“We must protect the environment while we help people with the cost of living. My Mi'kmaw culture teaches us that we have a duty to both our communities and nature. Helping the people who need it most is better than just cutting gas prices.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would agree entirely with my colleague over there that we have to continue to ensure that we are taking care of our environment. As a Mi’kmaw person, I was taught from a very young age about netukulimk, our responsibilities not only to our families and our communities but to our ecosystem. This has to be a driving force. When we look at the economy, we have to ensure that we are able to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time by having a plan for the environment as a part of a plan for the economy. That is why I believe these targeted supports are important, not just reducing the prices of gas, which is often what the Conservatives go to first instead of looking at the most vulnerable people who actually need the supports across our country.”

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“I want everyone to agree to end this debate early so we can move to private members' hour.”

“Mr. Speaker, I expect if you were to canvass the House, you would find unanimous consent at this time to call it 5:42 p.m. so we can get on to private members’ hour.”