The sitting was dominated by a Conservative opposition motion calling for the repeal of the oil and gas emissions cap, which the Conservatives argued is effectively a production cap that blocks new pipelines and drives investment out of Canada. The central political argument pitted Conservative claims that the cap kills jobs and chases capital to the United States against Liberal assertions that Canada can grow its energy sector while reducing emissions, and against Bloc Québécois and Green criticism that the government is backtracking on climate commitments.
The main Government Orders business was the opposition motion moved by Andrew Scheer (CPC), which called on the Prime Minister to immediately repeal the oil and gas emissions cap. Conservatives argued the cap is a de facto production cap that prevents any new pipeline from being built, citing TC Energy’s decision to invest $8.5 billion in the United States rather than Canada, and pointing to a Parliamentary Budget Officer estimate that the cap would reduce GDP by $20.5 billion annually and eliminate 54,000 jobs by 2032. They also argued that Canadian natural gas could displace coal-fired power abroad, lowering global emissions. Liberals countered that emissions have fallen 7% below 2005 levels while oil and gas production rose 34%, that the government is working with provinces and industry on a “grand bargain” of emissions reductions paired with new infrastructure, and that the Prime Minister’s Major Projects Office is fast-tracking projects such as LNG Canada phase 2 and the Pathways carbon capture network. Bloc Québécois speakers accused both major parties of climate backtracking, noting the Canadian Climate Institute’s finding that Canada will miss its 2030 target, and argued the cap is the only tool to force the oil and gas sector—whose emissions have risen 83% since 1990—to reduce. The Green Party leader said fracked LNG has the same carbon footprint as coal and called the cap essential. The NDP criticized the motion as a push to pollute more. The motion was debated for most of the day; a recorded vote was requested but not held before adjournment.
Oral Questions focused on two main themes: the government’s firearms buyback program and the state of the economy. On firearms, the Conservatives repeatedly cited a leaked audio recording in which the Minister of Public Safety was heard saying the buyback “will not work” and would go over budget, and they accused the government of wasting $742 million on targeting law-abiding gun owners while violent gun crime had risen 130%. The minister acknowledged his comments were “misguided” but defended the program as responsible gun control, and other Liberal ministers noted the government is also preparing bail and sentencing reforms. On the economy, Conservatives highlighted rising food prices, food bank usage and a 40% increase in food costs over 10 years, demanding a budget that lowers prices. Liberal ministers replied that the government is cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, investing in major projects and housing, and that Conservatives voted against measures such as the school food program and dental care. Other question periods covered immigration system integrity, with the minister citing Bill C-2 as a tool to combat fraud, and the government’s Supreme Court intervention on Quebec’s secularism law, which the Bloc argued attacks provincial sovereignty.