The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which the Liberal government moved to fast-track through a closure motion. The central political argument pitted the government’s claim of an urgent mandate to remove interprovincial trade barriers and accelerate major projects against opposition accusations that the bill would gut environmental protections, override Indigenous rights, and bypass parliamentary democracy.
Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, was the main item of Government Orders business. The bill has two parts: the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, which would allow goods and services meeting comparable provincial or territorial rules to be treated as meeting federal requirements for internal trade; and the Building Canada Act, which would create a process for cabinet to designate and fast-track “national interest” projects, with the power to exempt them from a list of federal laws and regulations. The Liberals argued the bill was a direct response to the election mandate and the threat of U.S. tariffs, and that it would add up to $200 billion to the economy. The Conservatives supported the bill and the closure motion, but criticized it as a “baby step” that did not go far enough, arguing the government should instead repeal its own anti-development laws such as Bill C-69 and Bill C-48. The Bloc Québécois opposed both the bill and the closure, calling it a “power grab” that would allow the Prime Minister to override environmental laws and provincial jurisdiction without proper study. The NDP and Green Party also opposed the closure, with the NDP citing concerns from Indigenous leaders that the bill would infringe on constitutional rights and the duty to consult. A Liberal backbencher, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, broke ranks to criticize the closure process and the bill’s “unfettered discretion” for cabinet, though he said he would support it at second reading subject to amendments. The motion that debate be not further adjourned was adopted on a recorded vote.
Oral Questions focused on two recurring themes. The first was the Liberal government’s record on energy and natural resources, with Conservatives repeatedly demanding the repeal of what they called “anti-energy laws” such as Bill C-69, Bill C-48, the oil and gas production cap, and the industrial carbon tax. The government’s answers consistently pointed to Bill C-5 as the solution, with ministers saying it would get major projects built and make Canada an “energy superpower” while respecting the environment. The second major theme was the Auditor General’s report on GC Strategies, with Conservatives pressing the government to support a motion to recover $64 million in taxpayer funds paid to the company with little proof of work. The Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement replied that the government had terminated contracts, revoked security clearances, referred cases to the RCMP, and taken legal action. Other questions touched on the housing minister’s personal real estate holdings, extortion and public safety, and northern food security.