Sitting 18 — June 18, 2025

The dominant issue of this sitting was the electric vehicle mandate, with the Conservative opposition devoting their entire Question Period strategy to challenging what they characterized as a Liberal ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Conservative MPs cited job-loss projections of up to 50,000 positions in the auto sector, price increases of $20,000 per vehicle, and impracticality for rural and cold-weather regions. Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin repeatedly denied the ban characterization, stating regulations create a zero-emission vehicle availability standard rather than a prohibition, while Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon insisted Canadians would retain full choice. The Conservatives also raised the spectre of U.S. tariffs simultaneously threatening the auto industry, arguing the government's own policies compounded the damage.

Government Orders saw extensive debate on Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, with parliamentary secretary Kevin Lamoureux delivering extended remarks on border security measures including new inspection powers for border control officers and enhanced inter-agency information sharing. Conservative and NDP members raised concerns about warrantless access to personal information, while the Bloc Québécois questioned immigration policy coherence. A series of NDP private members' bills were introduced, including measures to establish a citizenship and immigration ombudsperson (C-212), repeal Conservative-era refugee cessation provisions (C-213), create a national renewable energy strategy (C-214), and address marine container-spill pollution (C-215).

Question Period also featured exchanges on the G7 summit in Kananaskis, housing construction data showing declines in major Ontario cities despite housing accelerator fund investments, justice issues including fentanyl trafficking and extortion, and a controversy over BC Ferries' decision to purchase vessels from a Chinese state-owned enterprise. The government highlighted the coming-into-force of anti-scab legislation (Bill C-58) and the Canadian dental care plan's expansion, while Conservatives focused on Auditor General findings concerning GC Strategies and the ArriveCAN procurement scandal.