Sitting 10 — June 6, 2025

The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-4, the making life more affordable for Canadians act, which would implement the income tax cut from 15% to 14% on the lowest bracket and provide GST relief for first-time homebuyers on purchases up to $1 million. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne presented the bill as delivering on core election commitments, while Conservative members argued the measures were too modest and criticized the government for simultaneously increasing overall spending. The Bloc Québécois supported the bill in principle but raised concerns about Quebec's exclusion from carbon rebate payments and questioned the government's broader environmental record. The NDP focused on the inadequacy of tax cuts relative to the scale of the affordability crisis.

Newly released employment figures showing unemployment at 7%, with youth unemployment reaching 14.2% and student unemployment at 20.1%, shaped the day's Question Period exchanges. Conservatives attributed the figures to Liberal policies, while the government pointed to the trade war with the United States as the primary driver. The government announced it would table legislation later that day to advance projects of national interest and build "one Canadian economy," positioning the forthcoming Bill C-5 as a response to both the tariff crisis and the need for economic growth. Steel and aluminum tariffs having doubled to 50% generated urgent questions from Bloc members representing affected regions in Quebec, with Minister Dominic LeBlanc indicating the government was working on liquidity supports for the sector.

Question Period also addressed softwood lumber layoffs, the ongoing wildfire situation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, child poverty and food insecurity in Nunavut, and the government's legal challenge to Quebec's Bill 21 on secularism. Public safety questions focused on bail reform and repeat violent offenders, with the government committing to introduce bail legislation in the coming months. The sitting concluded with continued debate on Bill C-4, including maiden speeches from newly elected members and detailed questioning on productivity metrics, fiscal transparency, and the government's plan to cap spending growth at 2%.