Sitting 8 — June 4, 2025

The eighth sitting opened with members' statements covering a range of constituency and national issues, including Canada Post's future, Portuguese Heritage Month, the imprisonment of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, and rising food and housing costs. Oral questions were dominated by the ongoing U.S. trade dispute, with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer challenging Prime Minister Mark Carney on steel and aluminum tariffs that had escalated to 50%. The Prime Minister maintained that retaliatory tariffs on over $90 billion of American goods were having maximum impact, while the Bloc Québécois argued that three months of tariffs had yielded no support for affected Quebec aluminum and steel workers. The opposition also pressed on the Prime Minister's requirement for "consensus" before approving new pipeline projects, with Conservative MPs noting that the NDP premier of British Columbia had already ruled out new pipelines.

The government faced sustained pressure over its decision to seek approval for $486 billion in spending without tabling a budget. Conservative MPs cited rising food prices and a Conservative motion passed the previous evening demanding a budget be presented this spring. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne deflected by highlighting the pending middle-class tax cut, while Health Minister Patty Hajdu pointed to the Canada child benefit and national school food program as evidence of the government's support for families. The housing crisis drew sharp exchanges, with new CMHC data showing 63% of first-time homebuyers worried about defaulting on mortgage payments; Minister Gregor Robertson countered that the GST cut on new homes would deliver up to $50,000 in savings.

Legislative business included the introduction of Bill C-203, establishing Ukrainian Heritage Month, and Bill C-204, a volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit proposed by NDP MP Gord Johns. Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman rose to request an emergency debate on steel and aluminum tariffs. The sitting concluded with resumed debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, where Conservative MP Rhonda Kirkland and others criticized the government for a throne speech heavy on rhetoric but light on measurable actions, while government members defended the "Canada Strong" plan's focus on economic growth, housing, and affordability.