The sitting was dominated by debate on the Speech from the Throne, with the central political argument revolving around the government's plan—or lack thereof, according to opposition parties—to address the U.S. tariff threat, affordability, and crime. The government defended its throne speech as a bold plan for economic growth, while the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois criticized it as lacking detail, particularly the absence of a spring budget.
The main item of Government Orders business was the resumption of debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. The throne speech outlined the government's priorities: cutting taxes for the middle class, removing the GST on new homes for first-time buyers, eliminating the consumer carbon price, and legislating a single Canadian economy by removing federal interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day. The Conservatives, led by Andrew Scheer, argued the speech was heavy on slogans but light on detail, accusing the Prime Minister of a conflict of interest over his past private-sector investments and of secretly dropping retaliatory U.S. tariffs during the election, creating a $20-billion shortfall. The Bloc Québécois, through Yves-François Blanchet, condemned the speech as centralizing and disrespectful of Quebec's jurisdictions, noting it ignored the tariff crisis that had justified the election. The NDP did not deliver a full speech in the debate but later sought an emergency debate on Indigenous child welfare. The government, through members like Kevin Lamoureux and Chris Bittle, argued that Canadians had given a clear mandate for unity and that the budget would come in the fall, with immediate action on tax cuts and trade barriers.
Oral Questions focused on five recurring themes: the absence of a spring budget, the government's energy and pipeline policy, crime and public safety, the Prime Minister's ethics and financial holdings, and housing affordability. The Conservatives pressed the Prime Minister repeatedly on why no budget would be tabled until the fall, accusing him of hiding a fiscal hole after secretly reducing retaliatory tariffs. The government replied that it had a plan and was acting immediately on tax cuts and nation-building projects. On energy, Conservatives demanded the repeal of Bill C-69 and the oil and gas production cap, arguing they killed jobs and made Canada dependent on the U.S.; the government said it would support new pipelines where there is consensus and fast-track projects. On crime, Conservatives called for the repeal of Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, citing rising violent crime; the government pointed to recent decreases in Toronto auto thefts and shootings and said it would tighten bail and sentences for repeat offenders. On ethics, Conservatives questioned whether the Prime Minister's blind trust shielded investments previously held in offshore tax havens; the government said he had met and exceeded all ethics rules. On housing, Conservatives criticized the housing minister for saying prices should not come down; the government highlighted the GST cut for first-time buyers and the middle-class tax cut.