Steven MacKinnon

In response to a question from Rhonda Kirkland

“The member votes against child care, lower fuel taxes, dental care, and job training for young people. I want her and her leader to stop voting against help for Canadians.”

“It is good news, actually. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, when we put things before this House that actually provide relief for Canadians, the member, at the absolute demand of her leader, stands up and votes against them. She votes against child care. She votes against a reduction in fuel taxes. She votes against dental care. She votes against training and opportunities for young people. When will that member convince her leader to stop voting against help for Canadians?”

“I want to limit debate on this budget bill to one more day so we can vote on it.”

“moved: That, in relation to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration at second reading stage of the bill; and That, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders on the day allotted to the consideration at second reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.”

In response to a question from Andrew Scheer

“Here is the House schedule for the rest of this week and when we return after the two-week break. Tomorrow, we will finish debate on the military justice bill. When we return on Monday, May 25, we will debate the economic update bill. Tuesday and Thursday will be opposition days. On Wednesday, we will debate the second budget bill. We will also review spending plans for the finance department on Tuesday evening and the immigration department on Thursday evening.”

“Mr. Speaker, we are approaching the two constituency work weeks that my hon. friend described. Every good season must end with a cliffhanger. That is why the member will have to come back, to stay tuned, and we will have legislative plans on a number of things that will respond urgently to the needs and desires of Canadians as we conclude the spring session of Parliament. For the time being, here is the schedule. Tomorrow, we will move on to the third reading of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. When the House resumes on Monday, May 25, we will continue second reading debate on Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act. Tuesday and Thursday will be allotted days. On Wednesday, we will start second reading debate of Bill C-31, the budget 2025 implementation act, no. 2, which was introduced yesterday. Finally, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4)(a), I would like to designate Tuesday, May 26, for consideration in a committee of the whole of the main estimates for the Department of Finance. Furthermore, debate on the main estimates for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration will take place on the evening of Thursday, May 28.”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“We are looking at ways to make air travel better, safer, and easier to use. We want to make sure tickets stay affordable so Canadians can travel across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is exploring all possibilities, but one thing we will not compromise on is that we want to actually improve the travel experience and keep air travel in this vast and beautiful land accessible to all. We want to make sure that pricing continues to favour Canadians’ ability to move around the country. We want to explore all possibilities in terms of safety, accessibility and making travel a responsive, comfortable, good and positive experience for all Canadians.”

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In response to a question from Cathay Wagantall

“We will keep our pilots safe. The Conservatives spent very little on the military when they were in power, so we will not take their advice on defence and veterans.”

“Mr. Speaker, the minister has spoken very eloquently about our need to be the adults, to be responsible and keep our pilots safe, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do. However, it is the temerity, the gall of the Conservatives to stand in this House, the 0.99% of GDP crew here, giving lectures. We will take no lessons on defence spending, on defence investments, on investments in our veterans, on investments in our armed forces and equipping our men and women in uniform. Those Conservatives— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”

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In response to a question from Patrick Bonin

“Transportation causes 20 percent of our greenhouse gases. We want to build a high-speed train from Quebec City to Toronto to help with this, but the Bloc Québécois opposes it. Why do they oppose a project that helps the environment?”

“Mr. Speaker, we know that transportation accounts for a large share of our greenhouse gas emissions, at 20%. However, the government is proposing a high-speed rail project that will cross Quebec. The train will travel 1,000 km in four hours, from Quebec City to Toronto. The Bloc Québécois is opposed to this project. They are opposed to this major environmental project. Why is the Bloc against one of the best things we can do for the environment and for helping Quebeckers get around? Why is the Bloc Québécois so stubbornly against the environment?”

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“We are helping young people get good jobs in skilled trades. The Conservatives oppose our major projects that create these jobs, like high-speed rail, airplane manufacturing, and port expansion in Quebec.”

“Mr. Speaker, my colleague just talked about training initiatives to ensure that our youth in skilled trades have access to really good jobs. Nevertheless, the Conservatives, including the member, are against all these major projects. They are against the the Alto high-speed train we will be building in Quebec, which will create 51,000 jobs. They are against yesterday’s announcement about the sale of 18 billion dollars’ worth of aircraft made in Mirabel, designed and built in Quebec. They are against expanding the Port of Montreal in Contrecoeur. The Conservatives should—”

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In response to a question from Carol Anstey

“We cut the gas tax by 28 cents. I want the Conservatives to say which government spending they think causes inflation. People in Newfoundland and Labrador want to know.”

“Mr. Speaker, of course, we have cut the gas tax by 28¢, but the member from Newfoundland and Labrador gets up, and maybe we will ask her, because we have not really had success of late getting that list of things that they consider to be inflationary spending on the table. We have no idea what the Conservatives consider to be inflationary spending. Is it the child benefit? Is it employment insurance? Is it small craft harbours? Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to know.”

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“We want to create a national fund to help build a new Canadian economy. It will create jobs and wealth for Canadians.”

“Mr. Speaker, just as we are doing with other programs like the Canada growth fund, indigenous participation in our projects and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, we want the sovereign wealth fund to provide the tools needed to move forward, to build and develop a new economy here in Canada. We want it to be an economy that provides job opportunities as well as opportunities to create wealth here in Canada, for Canadians. That is what we are doing with the sovereign wealth fund for Canada.”

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In response to a question from Rhonda Kirkland

“Oil prices are up because of conflict in the Middle East, which took one fifth of the world's oil off the market. Meanwhile, Canada cut fuel taxes by 28 cents over the past year to lower prices.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives appear to have omitted the basic fact of why oil prices have spiked, and that is that we have a conflict in the Middle East, in Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is presently closed, taking 20% of global oil capacity off of the market. Canada, for its part, has reduced the price of fuel by reducing taxes by 28¢ over the last year.”

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In response to a question from Christine Normandin

“We gave $1.5 billion in help, along with other support for forestry and other industries. The Bloc Québécois should congratulate us and Airbus on a new plane order. They should also support the Alto train project, which will help businesses across Quebec.”

“Mr. Speaker, a one-time boost of $1.5 billion is not insignificant. It also comes on top of the one-time assistance we have provided to the forestry industry and other industries in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois’s silence in response to the aircraft order. The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and congratulate this government and Airbus on that order. The second thing they should be doing is support Alto, which will help industries and SMEs across Quebec.”

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In response to a question from Dominique Vien

“The Prime Minister is announcing Canada's largest airplane order ever today. This is good for Quebec workers and the Canadian economy.”

“Mr. Speaker, speaking of airplanes, the Prime Minister is in Mirabel this afternoon to announce the largest order in our country’s history for airplanes designed, built and delivered by Canada. This is excellent news for Quebec. It is excellent news for the workers in Mirabel. It is a strong vote of confidence in the strength and vitality of the Canadian economy.”

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In response to a question from Andrew Lawton

“I want the Conservatives to stop using slogans and list the spending they would cut.”

“Mr. Speaker, we have a new winner: most empty slogans in one single question, which was just won by the member across. The thing the Conservatives could deliver, the thing I think Canadians would appreciate, the thing that would add to the substance of this debate, is whether he will cut the empty slogans and table that list of things that they think are inflationary spending and that they would cut and deprive Canadians of.”

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In response to a question from Sandra Cobena

“I want the Conservatives to say which government programs they want to cut. They call this spending inflationary, but they will not say if they mean pensions, child benefits, or school food programs.”

“Mr. Speaker, it has been several days, if not weeks, since we asked the Conservatives to table a list of programs they would like to cut, things that they label “inflationary spending”. The possibilities are old age security, the Canada child benefit, the school food program, support to our workers, building the country, building major projects and building it strong. Which of these things are inflationary spending in the eyes of the Conservative Party?”

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In response to a question from Joël Godin

“We are investing money in job training in Quebec. It will create 51,000 jobs, mainly for young people, to help build a high-speed train.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will continue along the same lines. My colleague, the Minister of Jobs and Families, just spoke about the workforce training program. We will obviously invest the same amount of money on a pro rata basis in Quebec. That means 51,000 jobs, mainly for young people, people in the fields of engineering and construction, and all kinds of people who will help us achieve this great ambition of building a high-speed train in Canada. It is called Alto, and it will be built with our young people. It will truly give them hope.”

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In response to a question from Jean-Denis Garon

“Workers are preparing the land for a high-speed train between Quebec City and Toronto. We will include farmers and other groups in the planning. People want this train, but the Bloc Québécois is trying to block it.”

“Mr. Speaker, the member is all up in arms because workers are surveying the land and doing all the work that needs to be done for a 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail line between Quebec City and Toronto that people dream of. Stakeholders, including in the agriculture sector, will be involved. People dream of having that great technology here in Canada, and they are taking note of the opposition and demagoguery from the Bloc Québécois.”