Jean-Yves Duclos

“I want the House to pass this bill to protect young people online. Social media crosses borders, so the federal government must work with others to make it safe.”

“Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank our colleague for her speech. I thank her for supporting the measures proposed by the Canadian government to protect young people and for recognizing that this is a shared responsibility. The Canadian government has a responsibility, including because social media has no borders. It is an excellent recognition of the role of the Canadian government, which must act in collaboration with other players, of course.”

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In response to a question from Marianne Dandurand

“Our dental care plan is working well. About 98% of dentists now take part in it. It helps thousands of young people and seniors who cannot afford dental care and do not have insurance. Without it, their tooth problems would get worse and send them to emergency rooms. We need to keep supporting this plan and telling people about it.”

“I thank my colleague, whose generosity, kindness and insight are always on full display, for raising the Canadian dental care plan. The reason it is not talked about that much is that it is doing so well. Contrary to the expectations of some members on the other side of the House, roughly 98% of dentists are now participating in the plan. When we meet with dentists, as my colleague does all the time, they tell us that they see the importance of oral health every day for the thousands of people who would not otherwise come to see them. These people could suffer from infections or other oral health problems that could spread throughout their body and send them to the emergency room or a family doctor who could do nothing for them. Thousands of people, not just seniors, but also young people, do not have access to dental insurance and cannot afford oral health care either. They are people we must continue to support. We must also continue our efforts to reach them and ensure they are aware of the assistance available to them.”

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In response to a question from Mario Beaulieu

“I agree that we must support our artists, craftspeople, and media groups. Our 2025 budget invests a record amount of money to help them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for his steadfast commitment to culture in Quebec and across Canada. He is absolutely right to underscore the importance of continued federal support for our artists, artisans and media organizations, including in my own constituency, which has a very rich cultural and artistic scene. I would encourage him to take note of the record investments included in the 2025 budget and of the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting our artists and artisans.”

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In response to a question from Ned Kuruc

“The Prime Minister and his ministers are always willing to come to committee, and the member has had many chances to question them. What matters more is that we work together to support the investments our government is making for Canadians.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the member listened to my attempt to briefly describe what we are doing for Canadians. He has had lots of opportunities, including with his leader, to ask questions to the Prime Minister and his ministers, who are always willing and able to come to committee. What matters even more is that we work together to sustain and support those investments that I highlighted in my short speech.”

In response to a question from Marilène Gill

“Canada's finances are strong despite world uncertainty. We have the lowest net debt to GDP ratio in the G7 and top credit ratings. We are balancing our day-to-day spending a year early so we can invest in building the economy. We are also giving big tax breaks to businesses to invest here. I want the House to support our economic plan.”

“Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me an opportunity to say a few words about the motion. I think that most members of the House, if not all, are aware that we are living in a world that is changing quickly and in unpredictable ways. In the face of economic uncertainty and international trade tensions, Canada must focus on what it can control. That means strengthening our economy here at home, diversifying our trade relationships abroad and making strategic investments to build an even stronger, more independent and fairer economy for everyone. The cornerstone of this approach is having a sound financial position. Indeed, a sound financial position gives us the means to act. It allows us to protect Canadians when circumstances require it. It also gives us the tools to respond to economic shocks and, more importantly, to invest in the future. Canada is well positioned to weather this period of uncertainty. I am not alone in saying so. According to the latest projections from the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, Canada is expected to have the second-lowest deficit in the G7 this year as a share of its economy. The IMF also forecasts a continued decline in that deficit over the coming years. It is expected to fall from 2.5% of GDP in 2026 to 2.4% in 2027, before falling to 1.7% by 2031. We also have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio of any G7 country. Canada is one of only two G7 countries, alongside Germany, to hold a AAA credit rating from all major credit rating agencies. This top-tier rating reflects the confidence that global investors have in Canada’s public finances. It is a significant strength, helping to keep borrowing costs as low as possible while ensuring that we have the capacity to act. Furthermore, we are the world’s most connected economy, with free trade agreements covering countries that represent 1.5 billion consumers. We also offer the most competitive tax system in the G7 for new business investment. Last month, Canada hosted the very first Canada investment summit. The goal was clear: to bring together some of the world’s largest investors and show them what Canada has to offer. The summit laid the groundwork for substantial new investments and strategic partnerships, with nearly $500 billion in new funding and investment commitments in Canada. It is important to attract investors to Canada, but that is not enough. We also need to create the conditions that make them want to invest here. That is why our government announced the new productivity mega deduction. We made that announcement recently, at the investment summit in fact. The productivity mega deduction is a major tax investment. This measure makes Canada the most competitive G7 country for new business investment. It provides businesses with immediate expensing for a broad-based range of depreciable property on a permanent basis. It increases the proportion of assets eligible for immediate expensing from about 15% to over 65%. It will support Canadian businesses of all sizes, small, medium and large, by encouraging them to invest more in their workforce, thereby stimulating long-term growth in Canada. Canada has a financial advantage, and we are determined to protect it. Budget 2025 also marked a shift in the government’s strategy for managing public finances. As the Prime Minister announced recently, the government is on track to balance operating expenditures and revenues in 2027-28, one year earlier than expected. By reducing the government’s operating expenditures, we can invest more in the assets and infrastructure that strengthen our economy. In other words, we are devoting fewer resources to the day-to-day operations of government, but allocating more on building Canada’s economic capacity for decades to come. We must protect that capacity, which is why the government has set clear objectives to guide its budget decisions. First, we must balance operating expenditures with revenues. Second, we must keep the deficit on a downward track relative to the size of our economy. That is how we will preserve Canada’s fiscal advantage in the years ahead. In closing, we have one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7, the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and a AAA credit rating. Our responsibility is twofold: to preserve those strengths and put them to work in support of growth and prosperity for Canadians. That means investing in infrastructure and major projects that strengthen our economy. That means attracting more private capital to Canada and encouraging investment. That means giving our businesses the means to invest and grow. That means diversifying our international trade and helping our businesses access new markets. That means maintaining careful management of our public finances. That is exactly what we are doing and what we will continue to do.”

In response to a question from Jim Bélanger

“Our government gave nearly $2 billion to Quebec to create 150,000 child care spaces. I want to ask my colleague what she thinks of this investment.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving such a clear and accurate account of everything the government is doing to help families, but I think she forgot one thing. Perhaps I just missed it. I am thinking of the record investments in child care services for families and children in Quebec. The Canadian government allocated nearly $2 billion to the Quebec government to create the equivalent of 150,000 child care spaces in Quebec alone. As a mother, as a woman, but also as someone who believes in fairness and in the importance of children achieving their full potential, what does my colleague think of that investment in child care in Quebec?”

“The Breakfast Club feeds thousands of children in the member's riding. His leader called this kind of school food work bureaucratic. I want to know if the member agrees with his leader.”

“Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to hear our colleague talk about the importance of volunteering in his riding. Many organizations in his riding, including the Breakfast Club, provide meals to thousands of children. The problem is that his leader described the work of the Breakfast Club as bureaucratic. He has said that helping to ensure that kids go to school with full bellies is bureaucratic. I would like to know if the member agrees with his leader.”

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In response to a question from John Barlow

“I agree that pilot projects are useful. They help us test ideas locally and learn from them. If they work well, we can expand them across the country. I want to see what we can learn from this project so we can keep using it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I completely agree on the importance and value of pilot projects. That is not always the case, but this is often how lessons are learned locally for well-targeted projects. Then, if it is worthwhile and appropriate, these pilot projects are expanded over time and across the country. My colleague is more of an expert on this issue than I am, but like him, I would like to see how the lessons learned from this pilot project could be used to extend the pilot project in question over time and across the country.”

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In response to a question from Elizabeth May

“We must protect Canadian workers, including in oil and gas. We also need to keep the profits and control of our big industries in Canada. This helps Canada control its own energy and economy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, who is unfortunately a little further away from me physically than she was before. I have always had excellent conversations with this member, whose experience and expertise inspire many other less experienced members in the House. I would like to say that there are indeed two issues. The first is obviously to protect Canadian workers, including those in the oil and gas sector. The second is to ensure that the profits and control associated with that industry remain in Canada as much as possible. This is part of a broader approach by the Canadian government to ensure sovereignty, not only in terms of energy, but also in terms of the economy, particularly when it comes to controlling large properties and major industries.”

“I support our bill to pause the federal fuel tax until 2027. It saves people about five dollars every time they fill up their gas tank. Our government is also helping families with food, dental care, and child care costs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies. I am fortunate to rise today to speak to an important concern for the good and well-being of my constituents. I am obviously talking about the high cost of living. However, before I do that, I would like to highlight the election of three important MLAs who will play a major role for my constituents in the coming years: Patrick Paquet, Étienne Grandmont and Julie White. These are three members from different provincial parties with whom I very much look forward to working to invest in our community and support middle-class families and those who need it most. I would also like to express my great esteem for two members who have left office, either because they retired from politics or because they were defeated last night: Mario Asselin and Pascal Paradis. Mr. Asselin and Mr. Paradis did a tremendous amount of work for the well-being of their constituents, and I wanted to acknowledge that. Of course, I would also like to acknowledge the work of the volunteers on all the election campaign teams and mention how much is going to change for the riding teams of former members of Parliament. I wish those members and all the teams that supported them all the best, good health, happiness and success in the future. Let us come back to the cost of living. We recognize that many Canadians, including many in my riding, are struggling to make ends meet. Many are struggling to pay for groceries, gas, rent, which is also very expensive, and other expenses. We also understand that the very high price of diesel is causing problems for many Quebeckers and Canadians. This is something that is happening around the world, and we need to understand, as everyone does already, that many factors are beyond the control of Canada and the Canadian government. That said, I want to point out that diesel prices here in Canada remain lower than in most of the other G7 countries. The cost of living remains a significant concern for the Government of Canada. We have already introduced many measures to help Canadians in these hard times, and we will continue to do so. For example, we cut taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians, and we eliminated the federal consumer carbon tax. The Government of Canada also removed or reduced the GST on eligible new homes for first-time home buyers. Just a few months ago, we introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit to provide direct support to households that need it most. I will come back to that in a moment. We also introduced Bill C-38, the Canadian fuel affordability act, to help with the cost of living. Bill C-38 will extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax until January 31, 2027. In practical terms, that means that Canadians will continue to save about $5 every time they fill up their gas tank. As members have surely noticed, when this measure was implemented in April, it had an immediate effect. The price at the pump immediately dropped by an average of approximately 11¢ a litre across Canada. By extending this rebate through to January, we will be able to continue to support Canadians and businesses that are suffering because of high fuel prices in general. The excise tax will be gradually reinstated. Following the current temporary suspension, the excise tax will be applied at only 50% of the regular rate for two months, which means savings of approximately five cents a litre on gas and two cents a litre on diesel in February and March 2027. The motion we are debating today focuses mainly on energy prices, but we obviously need to analyze all of this in a broader context, namely, affordability for Canadians. We have already introduced many measures to help Canadians make ends meet. A good example, as mentioned earlier, is the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit. It is a significantly enhanced version of what was previously known as the GST credit. The big difference is that, with this enhancement, Canadians will receive 25% more money this year and over the next four years of benefits. These tax-free payments are helping more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians, including tens of thousands of people in my own riding. If we look at the one-time top-up to the benefit that was paid this summer, a family of four will receive up to $1,900 this year and about $1,400 in each of the next four years. Eligible Canadian families received a payment just yesterday, on October 5, and the next payment will be made in three months. I will end with a very quick summary of four very significant affordability measures for people in my riding. First, there is the Canada child benefit, which reduces poverty by 50%, especially in neighbourhoods in my riding where families are struggling to make ends meet. Nine out of 10 families receive this benefit. Second, there is the Canadian dental care plan, where 88% of participants, including tens of thousands of people in my riding, say they are very satisfied. Six million people are enrolled in the Canadian dental care plan, including a very large number in Quebec. It also reduces pressure on Quebec’s health care system, which really needs it, and it improves not only oral health, but overall health. Third, there is Canada’s national school food program, which helps 100,000 children in Quebec alone go to school on a full stomach. Le Pignon Bleu, in my riding, is doing incredible work partnering with this important program. It is not just any food; it is healthy, locally produced and consumed, and contributes to children’s overall development. Fourth is the national child care program. Some 900,000 children in Canada benefit from it. Eight provinces have reduced child care costs to $10 a day across the country, and the remaining provinces and territories have reduced child care costs by more than 50%. In Quebec, that amounts to $2 billion in federal transfers to the provincial government, which is equivalent to funding 150,000 child care spaces in Quebec alone. In closing, I know that there is still much work to be done, but we will always be there to help Canadians, particularly those who need it most.”

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“I want my colleague to tell us which of the government's programs help families in his riding the most.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for providing a compelling overview of the many measures the Canadian government is implementing to support families, particularly middle-class families and those who need it most. I would like to invite my relatively new colleague, who is already doing a great job in the House and in his riding, to tell us which of these measures he believes are most important to the people in his riding.”

In response to a question from Mario Simard

“Our government is already helping seniors. We raised pension payments for people over 75 because they have lower incomes and higher costs. We created a dental plan that saves seniors hundreds of dollars a year, and the member should tell his voters to use it. We are also filing taxes automatically for millions of people so seniors get the benefits owed to them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful for such an excellent question. I want to briefly mention three points. First, as my colleague is aware, OAS has been increased for people over the age of 75 in light of the very clear evidence that seniors over the age of 75 not only have greater needs, but also lower incomes, and that older women, among others, live in more precarious circumstances for a variety of reasons that are well understood. Second, I want to mention the Canadian dental care plan, which helps approximately 25,000 people in his riding, including several thousand seniors. This represents savings of about $800 a year. I encourage my colleague—whose leader, unfortunately, opposes the Canadian dental care plan—to talk about it at length with the seniors in his riding when he sees them. I am sure he meets with them regularly. The third point is automatic benefits. As I was saying, there are nearly 5.5 million Canadians whose tax returns will be processed automatically, which will maximize the chances for these seniors, for the most part, to receive the benefits they need.”

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In response to a question from William Stevenson

“We cut income taxes for 22 million Canadians, but the Conservatives opposed it. We are also helping people who struggle the most, like feeding more than 10,000 students in my area so they can learn.”

“Mr. Speaker, in fact, we are doing two things. First, we reduced income tax for 22 million Canadians, which is quite a large number. It has been, unfortunately, opposed by the Conservatives. The second thing we are doing is helping those who struggle more than richer Canadians. The member has heard my list of measures. For example, the national school food program is helping thousands, in fact more than 10,000 children in my region, who otherwise would struggle to go to school with a full belly and therefore would also struggle to learn what they need to learn to become good citizens.”

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“I want the House to pass this bill. Wars around the world are driving up the cost of fuel and other goods. We cannot stop those wars, but we can lower costs for Canadians. This bill pauses the fuel tax through January 2027 and cuts it in half for two months after that to save people money at the pump.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to speak this evening to highlight the Government of Canada’s efforts to make life more affordable. This very important piece of legislation, Bill C-38, is part of those efforts. As we know, Canadians are having to cope with an increasingly complex and unpredictable world and, unfortunately, this world is also, in many respects, more dangerous and more expensive. In view of this, the Canadian government continues to focus on what it can control: building a stronger Canadian economy, diversifying our foreign trade, forging more alliances with countries that share our values, ensuring responsible fiscal management and supporting Canadians in managing the cost of living. Allow me to give a very concrete example. For several months now, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted. This has led to soaring oil prices, a sharp rise in gas prices and increased costs for other essential goods. Did the Canadian government, or Canada, start this war in Iran? Of course not. Has the Canadian government taken action, and should it take action, to reduce costs for Canadians? Of course it has, and it should. Global conflicts and the persistent, significant disruptions to these supply chains stemming from the Middle East or elsewhere, including the conflict in Ukraine, are not things the Government of Canada can stop or even control. However, what we can do here in Canada and in the House of Commons, and what we are already doing, is help Canadians who are bearing the brunt of these conflicts through no fault of their own. The federal fuel excise tax has been suspended since April 20. Earlier in September, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue announced that the Canadian government had decided to extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax until January 31, 2027, and then to apply a rate equal to 50% of the regular excise tax rate from February 1 to March 31, 2027. This will help reduce daily expenses for Canadians, particularly those related to road transportation and the food, agriculture, housing, construction, and delivery sectors. The suspension of this tax is expected to save Canadians up to about $5.75 on a 50-litre tank of gas. These are real savings for families. It also means lower costs for truckers and businesses. This measure is expected to provide more than $2.4 billion in relief to Canadians in 2026–27. By lowering the price of gas and diesel at the pump, the Government of Canada is taking real action to support all those who are currently facing very real challenges. I want to point out that this temporary suspension of the federal excise tax builds on other measures that have already been announced and put in place. I will give an example. Even before the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz began, economies, businesses and workers in many countries, including Canada, were thrown into uncertainty by a historic increase in tariffs. Is Canada responsible for the upheaval in global trade and the resulting rise in the cost of essential goods? Of course not. Should the Government of Canada take action and has it done so? Of course it should, and it has. To help Canadian families make ends meet, earlier this year, for example, we launched the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This new benefit is based on the GST tax credit and provides increased support to two million low- and modest-income Canadians. That is just the beginning. Starting in July of this year, middle- and lower-income Canadians received higher quarterly payments. The benefit will be increased by 25% for another five years and will add approximately $8.6 billion in additional support to families that are struggling to make ends meet, including middle-income and modest-income families. In total, a family of four could receive up to $1,890 this year and then about $1,400 a year for the next four years. A single person could receive up to $950 this year and then about $700 a year for the next four years. This is real support. It is concrete and tangible. It is helping people buy groceries, pay bills and cover essentials. That is not all. We also cut taxes for 22 million Canadians by lowering the tax rate for the first personal income tax bracket from 15% to 14%. In 2026, that reflects savings of $420 per person and $840 for a two-income family. We also eliminated the goods and services tax, or GST, for first-time homebuyers of new homes valued up to $1 million and reduced it for homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million. In addition, we made permanent Canada’s national school food program, which is helping 400,000 children and their families access high-quality meals at home and at school, saving the parents of two children an average of $800 a year on groceries. We have also taken very real action to improve the banking system’s fairness and affordability for Canadians, especially those struggling to make ends meet. Since March, for example, consumers can no longer be charged more than $10 if their personal bank account balance is too low to cover a payment. In addition, non-sufficient fund fees cannot be applied if the account overdraft is less than $10. This year, we are also going to begin automating the payment of federal benefits. This will help up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians get the benefits they need and are entitled to receive. In conclusion, the Government of Canada is focusing on the things it can control, like building a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy, while at the same time helping Canadians who struggle in their daily lives under cost-of-living pressures caused by the many severe global disruptions that we are familiar with. For all of these reasons, I sincerely ask all members of the House to vote in favour of the bill.”

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  “We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.”

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