Madeleine Chenette

In response to a question from Gord Johns

“Seniors are struggling with the cost of living, and they deserve affordable housing. I want to work with other members to help them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my opposition colleague for raising the issue of seniors. We talk to seniors every week because we know that many of them are struggling with the cost of living. We need to find solutions to give them the support they need to get through these tough times. After a lifetime of contributing to our society, they are entitled to affordable housing. I am happy to work with my colleagues to find solutions.”

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In response to a question from Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba

“People and groups I meet with say they see our projects being built. They say our government works well with them and they are happy with our progress.”

“Mr. Speaker, I meet with a lot of organizational representatives and individuals. They talk to me about the impact they are seeing on the ground. They see projects taking root and getting built. They also see that we in government have the wherewithal to work effectively with them and with all stakeholders to help find solutions and implement the right programs. To conclude, I would like to say that they all tell me how happy they are with Prime Minister Carney and our cabinet right now when it comes to making progress.”

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In response to a question from Andréanne Larouche

“MPs need to talk to their local mayors to find land and opportunities for affordable housing. They should work with our housing program so we can build homes faster.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to point out to my colleague that it is up to regional MPs to reach out to local mayors to talk about Build Canada Homes and learn about opportunities to secure affordable housing and land in the region. These members need to work with us to round out the information on Build Canada Homes and accelerate project implementation. It is up to members to do the work on the ground and put our regions in contact with Build Canada Homes.”

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In response to a question from Ziad Aboultaif

“Our housing plan is working across the country, including 70 projects in my riding. We are also helping the construction industry build greener, cheaper homes.”

“Mr. Speaker, I must admit that I am surprised by the question because in my speech, I presented all the projects currently on the table. I am very proud that we already have 70 of them in my riding, and there is affordable housing throughout Canada. We are working to drive innovation in the construction sector to make it more environmentally friendly and more affordable. We have achieved concrete results in every region of Canada.”

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“Life is expensive right now, but our government is already helping Canadians with the cost of living. We lowered income taxes on the lowest bracket and expanded dental care. We boosted the benefit that helps families pay for groceries, gave drivers a break on fuel taxes, and cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We are also spending billions to build more affordable homes and better local infrastructure.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Kings—Hants. I think we can all recognize the importance of the issue raised by the motion before us today. Canadians are living through a period of economic uncertainty marked by global instability and the rising cost of living. In this context, our government is focusing on what it can control: building a strong Canadian economy, developing our infrastructure, diversifying our trade partners, ensuring responsible financial management and supporting Canadians who are feeling the pressures of everyday expenses. In Thérèse‑De Blainville, affordability comes down to a very simple question. What is left over in a family’s budget once groceries, transportation, health care and housing are paid for? That is what families, seniors and young people have been talking to me about. Across the country, people are worried about the cost of essentials. In Thérèse-De Blainville, I regularly meet with the outstanding leaders of a wide range of organizations who talk to me about this issue and also propose solutions. I share these practical solutions with our ministers and our Prime Minister to draw inspiration from them. That is why our government understands these concerns and is taking meaningful and responsible measures to ease the burden on households while maintaining economic stability for the long term. Since 2025, we have done many things to respond to these realities. We reduced the federal tax rate on the first income bracket and expanded access to the Canadian dental care plan for eligible adults aged 18 to 64. This year, we also increased the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This new benefit, which replaces the GST credit, provides more generous support to more than 12 million Canadians. Since July 2026, benefits have been increased by 25% for a period of five years. In addition, eligible Canadians received a one-time top-up payment in June. For an eligible family with two adults and two children, with a net income of $40,000, the increase and the top-up amount to $805 in additional support. This measure was actually announced in my riding at La Moisson health food store in Sainte-Thérèse. In total, including the one-time top-up, a family of four can receive up to $1,890 for this benefit year, while a single person can receive up to $950. We have also provided temporary relief from the federal excise tax on gas and diesel to support Canadians facing rising transportation costs. We are also investing in our communities. In Thérèse-De Blainville, our investments in projects like Manoir Blainville II are helping to directly address housing needs. This project will provide 70 social and affordable housing units for independent seniors in Blainville. These are concrete investments that will increase the housing supply in our community. I speak regularly with the five mayors in my riding and surrounding areas to identify new sites and opportunities for affordable housing and new multi-generational housing concepts. I look forward to continuing these discussions with our new MNAs on this matter. By working together, we can act more quickly to find solutions with our constituents. Now, I would like to focus on housing affordability, which remains a challenge for many Canadians, especially those looking to buy their first home. Thanks to our government’s industrial strategies, economic development is and will be strong in our Lower Laurentians region. Business leaders are stressing the need for access to local labour. This means increasing the housing supply. That is also why it is important for our government in Thérèse-De Blainville and the Lower Laurentians to quickly make housing more affordable for renters, buyers and homeowners who are paying down a mortgage. That is why we launched the Build Canada Homes program to accelerate the construction of affordable housing at scale across the country. That is also why we are investing in the infrastructure needed to build homes and in measures to lower development charges. We are also ushering in tax changes to make new homes more affordable. Last May, we eliminated the GST on eligible newly built homes valued at up to $1 million for eligible first-time homebuyers. This measure can save homebuyers up to $50,000 on the purchase of a new home. The rebate is gradually phased out for homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million. For example, a home that costs $1.25 million could qualify for 50% of the maximum rebate, meaning a savings of up to $25,000. This measure is expected to save Canadians $3.9 billion in taxes over the first five years, helping to lower the upfront cost of purchasing a home while encouraging the construction of new homes. To be eligible, first-time homebuyers must meet a number of criteria. For example, they must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, be at least 18 years old and not have lived, during the current calendar year or any of the previous four calendar years, in a home owned by themselves, their spouse or their common-law partner. In addition, we have extended the repayment grace period under the home buyers’ plan from two years to five years for those making their first withdrawal. This gives new homeowners more time to manage the significant expenses that arise during the first few years of home ownership. I would like to return to Build Canada Homes, which was launched in September 2025 to boost housing supply across the country, with a particular focus on affordable housing. It is designed to accelerate the construction of primarily affordable and off-market housing across Canada by bringing together four essential components: public land, flexible financing, expertise in property development and innovative construction methods. While I am on the topic of innovative construction, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the innovation of the company Isothermic in Bois‑des‑Filion, in my riding. This company understands that affordability and energy needs are two important issues in our society. This company is innovating and creating buildings that are more energy efficient, able to withstand wind and water and able to resist the climate of tomorrow. Since its launch, Build Canada Homes has advanced six direct housing development projects and established significant partnerships with provinces, territories, municipalities and indigenous partners. These efforts represent more than 11,000 new homes that are currently being built or are scheduled to be built soon. In addition, there is the build communities strong fund, our government’s key infrastructure program. This fund provides $51 billion over 10 years, including $3 billion a year in ongoing funding to build and renew infrastructure. After talking with the mayors in my region, I am also identifying opportunities through this fund to improve sports and cultural infrastructure. Being able to access and participate in culture and sports activities contributes to the quality of life of Canadians and to their physical and mental health and relational well-being. A significant portion of these investments will be used to increase the housing supply and make housing more affordable in our region and across Canada. For example, the investments announced this year in Iqaluit are expected to support the construction of 2,000 to 2,500 housing units by 2031. In Headingley, Manitoba, investments are expected to support the construction of an additional 1,771 housing units. The expansion of water infrastructure in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, will make it possible to build 1,055 new housing units. Other drinking water and waste water treatment infrastructure projects will support residential development projects in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, and Halifax and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Affordability is not an abstract concept. For the people of Thérèse-De Blainville, it means the ability to cover their basic expenses with a little leftover at the end of the month. The measures that I presented—including the groceries and essentials benefit, tax relief, dental care, access to sports and cultural infrastructure, help with transportation costs and investments in affordable housing—help alleviate pressures on household budgets. These measures do not make all of the problems go away, but they do provide real assistance with several major expenses in the family budget, while also helping to address the more long-term challenge of housing supply. Canadians expect their government to respond to the rising cost of living with tangible solutions. That is exactly what we are doing. Our approach combines immediate assistance, targeted support for those who need it most, an increase in the housing supply, investments in our communities, and responsible management of public finances. As Canada continues to build a stronger, more resilient and more self-reliant economy, we are taking steps to bring costs down today while investing in our long-term prosperity. Affordability requires consistency and responsible choices.”

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In response to a question from Brad Vis

“I want the House to pass this bill to extend fuel tax cuts until early 2027. It saves people and small businesses money on gas and diesel while global energy prices are uncertain. Canada has a strong economy, so we can afford this help.”

“Mr. Speaker, the global economy is undergoing a rupture. Geopolitical threats are mounting, and countries around the world are grappling with severe trade disruptions and significant economic risks. This includes the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which continues to disrupt global energy supplies, drive up energy prices and increase uncertainty worldwide. Canada, as we all know, is not immune to this turbulence. That is why we tabled Bill C-38 to extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax. As members of the House will remember, last spring our government temporarily reduced federal fuel excise tax rates to zero cents per litre. While that measure was set to expire on Labour Day, Bill C-38 proposes to extend it until January 31, 2027. Fifty per cent of the regular excise tax rate would then apply from February 1 to March 31, 2027. This means that Canadians would continue to benefit from lower taxes, saving 10¢ per litre on gasoline and four cents per litre on diesel, helping households and businesses manage transportation and operating costs. For many small businesses, transportation and fuel costs remain a significant expense. Extending this relief measure will help businesses manage their costs while continuing to invest and create jobs. However, supporting Canadians through the current challenges is not just about providing immediate relief. It is also about ensuring that our economy remains strong, competitive and resilient in an uncertain world. While new U.S. tariffs add uncertainty for Canadian businesses and workers, Canada is starting from a position of strength. With a robust economy and a clear growth strategy focused on driving investment, increasing productivity, strengthening domestic industries and expanding access to global markets, Canada is well placed to respond to external pressures. Domestic activity has remained strong and our continental supply chains have been more resilient than expected, thanks to the adaptability of Canadian businesses and the fact that CUSMA protections shielded approximately 85% of Canadian merchandise exports from recent U.S. actions. The business climate in Canada has recovered, and companies are diversifying both their suppliers and their markets. The figures show that Canada has what the world is looking for. Canada leads the G7 in terms of per capita foreign direct investment inflows. Overall, real GDP grew by 1.9% in 2025, despite persistent global uncertainty. The outlook for the future remains encouraging. A Statistics Canada survey shows that businesses plan to increase their capital expenditures this year, while the International Monetary Fund forecasts that Canada will post the second-fastest growth in the G7 in 2026 and 2027. Since the start of 2025, Canada has created more than twice as many jobs per capita as the United States, with the majority of these jobs in the private sector. Things have really taken off since the start of 2025. At the same time, inflation averaged 2.1% in 2025, while wages have risen faster than prices over the last five years. Overall, these results show that the Canadian economy continues to grow, attract investment and create jobs despite a highly uncertain global environment. These results are no accident. They are truly the result of work that enables us to strengthen the economy and prioritize affordability—”

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“Our government is giving Canadians real financial help when they need it. We can afford this because our economy is strong. We are investing in big projects and helping businesses grow so our economy stays strong.”

“Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that our government is delivering timely, tangible and fiscally sustainable relief for Canadians at a time when they need it, and we are doing so from a position of economic strength, not decline. In a more uncertain world, the government is focused on what it can control, advancing nation-building projects, removing barriers to growth, unlocking private capital and making investments to build the strongest economy in the G7. That is how we will ensure that Canada not only avoids the worst-case scenarios predicted by many at the outset of the U.S. trade actions last year but also emerges stronger, with a boost today and a bridge to a better tomorrow.”

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In response to a question from Cheryl Gallant

“Canada is not in a recession, and our economy is growing. We are keeping taxes down and helping families with costs. I want the House to pass this bill to keep pausing the federal tax on fuel.”

“Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I really like about adjournment proceedings is that it does allow us the chance to publicly correct the record. Conservatives were very quick to say that Canada was in a technical recession. We now know that is not the case. In August, Statistics Canada confirmed that the Canadian economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.3% in the second quarter, and also revised its Q1 figures to show that the economy grew in those months as well. It would be nice if the Conservative Party were as quick to celebrate these achievements as they are to tell us that Canada is broken. However, sticking to the facts does not make for good social media clips or help with fundraising emails. The world is changing rapidly. The U.S. is imposing new tariffs on Canada that are designed to hurt and divide us. At the same time, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East are driving up prices the world over. Despite these challenges, however, Canada continues to show resilience. While the new U.S. tariffs are creating headwinds, the Canadian economy is holding to a position of relative strength. We certainly recognize that some workers, families and small businesses continue to be under pressure. That is why it is important to look at the facts, as well as the Canadian economy’s overall performance. Canada’s economic strength is recognized internationally. The International Monetary Fund predicts that Canada will be one of the fastest-growing economies in the G7 this year and next. Economic growth rebounded strongly in the second quarter, with real gross domestic product up 3.3%, as I mentioned. Canada had the strongest quarterly growth in the G7 and posted a second consecutive increase in real gross domestic product per capita. In addition, our net debt-to-GDP ratio sits at just 10.2%, far below the G7 average of 101.8%. In fact, Canada’s net debt burden is far lower than any other G7 nation. These facts show that Canada’s economy is built to withstand global uncertainty and to continue to grow. This resilience is a direct result of the targeted measures our government has taken to support Canadians, such as making fuel more affordable for Canadians. That is why the government introduced Bill C-38, which extends the temporary suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel until January 31, 2027, after which 50% of the usual excise tax rate will apply from February 1 to March 31, 2027. By reducing fuel and transportation costs, this measure will provide targeted relief to workers, families, farmers and businesses across the country, including in sectors that rely heavily on transportation and construction. The government is also taking broader steps to make life more affordable, including through the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, income tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, the cancellation of the consumer carbon tax, and the GST relief for first-time homebuyers of new homes. Taken together, these measures will allow Canadians to keep more of their hard-earned money. Each one reflects a consistent principle that our government upholds, specifically that federal support must be timely, targeted and fiscally sustainable.”