The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, and by Conservative attacks on the government’s record on procurement, housing and defence, following the release of the Auditor General’s reports. The central political argument was whether the Liberal government, which the Conservatives called a continuation of the Trudeau era, could be trusted to deliver value for taxpayers.
Bill C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, would cut the lowest personal income tax rate to 14%, eliminate the GST on new homes for first-time buyers up to $1 million, and repeal the consumer carbon price in phases. The Liberals said the bill would deliver immediate relief to 22 million Canadians. The Conservatives supported the tax cut and carbon price repeal but argued the measures were too weak—a 1% income tax cut versus their proposed 2.25% cut—and that the GST rebate would help only a tiny fraction of buyers. The Bloc Québécois and NDP offered conditional support at second reading, with the NDP warning the tax cut would reduce the value of non-refundable credits for vulnerable people. The Green Party objected to the inclusion of Canada Elections Act amendments in an affordability bill, noting one clause would retroactively come into force 25 years ago. The government moved to deem the second reading debate concluded and force a recorded vote.
Oral Questions focused on three themes: the Auditor General’s findings on the ArriveCAN contractor GC Strategies, which received $64 million; the F-35 fighter jet program, which the Conservatives said was 50% over budget and behind schedule; and the federal lands housing initiative, which had built only 309 of 4,000 promised units. The Bloc Québécois also pressed the government on why the Canada Carbon Rebate was paid to eight provinces but not Quebec, calling it a $814-million injustice. The government’s answers consistently stressed that it was a “new government” focused on “best-in-class procurement” and that it accepted the Auditor General’s recommendations. The Bloc Québécois later raised a question of privilege alleging the Minister of Finance deliberately misled the House in committee of the whole about whether the rebate was funded by carbon tax revenue; the government asked to respond at a later time.
In Routine Proceedings, the House gave first reading to Bill C-208, the National Livestock Brand of Canada Act, a private member’s bill to recognize the livestock brand as a national symbol. Several Conservative members presented petitions opposing recommendations 429 and 430 from the finance committee’s pre-budget report, which would remove the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose. All questions on the Order Paper and notices of motions for papers were allowed to stand. The House also adopted, by unanimous consent, a motion to add a fifth day of committee-of-the-whole consideration of the main estimates, with the House to adjourn immediately afterward.