Sitting 15 — June 13, 2025

Government Business No. 1, the procedural framework for expediting Bill C-5 through the House, was introduced and debated extensively. Minister Dominic LeBlanc presented the bill as a response to the tariff crisis, emphasizing that the Liberal platform's first page committed to building one Canadian economy through accelerated major projects and reduced interprovincial trade barriers. Conservative members pressed for firm commitments on interprovincial free trade by Canada Day, while Bloc members raised alarms about ministerial discretion to designate projects of national interest by order in council, warning of democratic erosion and environmental rollbacks. The NDP's Heather McPherson questioned the extraordinary speed given the bill's complexity and its implications for indigenous rights.

The Auditor General's ArriveCAN report continued to reverberate through Question Period, with the opposition devoting extensive time to the $64 million paid to GC Strategies. Parliamentary Secretary Ryan Turnbull fielded repeated questions, maintaining that the government had terminated contracts, referred the matter to the RCMP, and implemented audit recommendations, though Conservative members demanded a lifetime ban on the company and the return of funds. The government's priorities also faced Bloc scrutiny over Bill C-5's closure motion, with members arguing the Prime Minister was seeking a blank cheque to govern by decree on energy projects. Foreign affairs questions touched on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Modi to the G7 and Israeli military action against Iran.

Statements by Members covered a range of community and policy topics, including the 50th anniversary of the Festival franco-ontarien, Italian Heritage Month, the steel industry layoffs in Hamilton resulting from U.S. tariffs, and the Canada Post labour dispute. Private members' business included the first report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, while the adjournment proceedings saw further debate on the one Canadian economy legislation, with Conservative member Shannon Stubbs delivering an extended critique of the bill's discretionary powers and environmental assessment implications.