Sitting 16 — June 16, 2025

Bill C-5, the one Canadian economy act, was the centrepiece of this sitting, with the government moving closure to limit debate on a bill it characterized as urgent in the face of U.S. tariff threats. House Leader Steven MacKinnon defended the accelerated timeline by pointing to the recent election mandate, support from premiers and building trades unions, and the need to rapidly advance projects of national interest. The Bloc Québécois objected strenuously to the gag order, arguing the bill would allow the federal government to impose energy projects on Quebec without consent and bypass 13 environmental laws. The NDP and Green Party similarly condemned the closure motion and raised concerns about indigenous consultation requirements under section 35 of the Constitution. Conservative members supported the bill's objectives while criticizing the government for not simultaneously repealing anti-energy legislation like Bill C-69 and Bill C-48.

Question Period was dominated by the GC Strategies procurement scandal, following an Auditor General report finding that the two-person firm received $64 million in contracts with little evidence of work performed. Conservative MPs pressed the government on why the responsible ministers had not been fired, while Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound emphasized that contracts had been terminated, security clearances revoked, and the matter referred to the RCMP. The opposition also grilled the Housing Minister over his personal real estate holdings after he stated that housing prices did not need to come down, a statement his colleagues later attempted to clarify. The government highlighted the launch of the Canada Strong Pass providing free national park admission for the summer season.

Additional floor time was devoted to a Conservative opposition motion demanding the return of funds paid to GC Strategies, which was voted down. The House also heard the introduction of Bill C-210, a Bloc Québécois proposal to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding the oath of office. The Minister of Finance rose to address the question of privilege concerning allegedly misleading statements in committee of the whole, while Question Period exchanges on indigenous affairs and northern food security underscored the tension between economic development priorities and constitutional obligations to indigenous peoples.