The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, with the central political argument revolving around whether the government’s proposed tax cuts and carbon tax repeal would meaningfully address the cost-of-living crisis, or whether they were inadequate half-measures that failed to tackle rising unemployment and the absence of a federal budget.
Bill C-4, introduced by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, would reduce the lowest marginal personal income tax rate from 15% to 14% effective July 1, 2025, saving two-income families up to $840 a year by 2026; eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million, with savings up to $50,000; and legislate the removal of the consumer carbon price from law. The Liberals argued the bill delivers on an election mandate and would help 22 million Canadians. The Conservatives criticized the tax cut as too small—roughly a cup of coffee per week—and noted the industrial carbon tax remains, which they said would continue to raise costs. The Bloc Québécois supported the tax cut in principle but objected that the government had not tabled a budget, making it impossible to know how the $26-billion cost over five years would be funded or whether health transfers would be cut. The NDP questioned why the bill also included amendments to the Elections Act, which appeared unrelated to affordability. No party moved a formal amendment to the bill during this debate.
Oral Questions focused on the day’s Statistics Canada report showing unemployment had risen to 7%, the highest outside the COVID period since 2016, with youth unemployment at 14.2% and student unemployment above 20%. Conservatives repeatedly pressed the government to table a spring budget, arguing that Liberal policies—including the industrial carbon tax, regulatory barriers and high immigration—were driving job losses. The government responded by pointing to the legislation being debated, saying it would cut taxes and build a plan for one Canadian economy, and accused the Conservatives of having voted against past affordability measures such as child care and dental care. Other recurring themes included food price inflation, with Conservatives citing specific increases in beef, apples and infant formula since January, and housing affordability, where the government defended its GST rebate for first-time homebuyers while Conservatives argued it would not help seniors or those moving up the property ladder.
In Routine Proceedings, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture tabled an audiovisual co-production treaty with South Africa. Two petitions were presented: one from the NDP calling for adequate long-term funding for Indigenous language programming in British Columbia, and one from the Conservatives opposing recommendations that would strip charitable status from organizations based on political or religious values. All questions on the Order Paper were allowed to stand. No procedural motions or votes on the bills themselves occurred during this sitting.