Sitting 19 — June 19, 2025

The sitting was anchored by second-reading debate on Bill C-3, the Citizenship Act amendment introduced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, which would create a framework for citizenship by descent in response to an Ontario Superior Court ruling that declared existing provisions unconstitutional. The minister framed the bill as making right a longstanding wrong for "lost Canadians," while Conservative MPs raised concerns about security screening and the unknown scope of newly eligible citizens. The Bloc Québécois and NDP indicated support for the bill, with the NDP urging co-operation to avoid the filibustering that stalled similar legislation in the previous Parliament. Two private members' bills were also introduced: Bill C-216, the Protection of Minors in the Digital Age Act sponsored by Conservative Michelle Rempel Garner, and Bill C-217, a post-secondary education accessibility measure for persons with disabilities from NDP member Don Davies.

Question Period centred on the government's fiscal record, with Conservatives pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney on a Parliamentary Budget Officer report showing the average tax cut would be far below the promised $825, falling closer to $90 per person. The Prime Minister defended the tax measure as benefiting 22 million Canadians, emphasizing that the maximum saving for a two-earner family reached $840. Opposition members also challenged the government on rising food prices, housing affordability, consulting expenditures reaching a record $26 billion, and the decision not to table a spring budget. The Bloc Québécois raised concerns about Bill C-5 fast-tracking energy projects without adequate environmental assessment or provincial consent, while the government maintained the bill was essential for building one Canadian economy in response to U.S. tariffs.

Public safety occupied significant attention, with Conservatives citing a 357% increase in extortion and violent crime statistics, while the government pointed to recent police operations including an 18-arrest extortion-ring takedown by Peel Regional Police. The Speaker delivered a ruling on questions of privilege concerning allegedly misleading ministerial statements made in committee of the whole. Adjournment proceedings saw further exchanges on housing construction shortfalls and natural resource development, with the parliamentary secretary defending the government's housing accelerator fund and energy policies against Conservative criticism of missed targets.