Sitting 29 — September 25, 2025

The House devoted the bulk of this sitting to a Conservative opposition day motion condemning the government's record on food taxation and affordability. Conservative members led by John Barlow (Foothills) argued that food inflation had risen 70 per cent above the Bank of Canada's target and that food prices were up 40 per cent since the Liberals took office, blaming carbon pricing and excessive spending for the crisis. Liberal speakers, including Parliamentary Secretary Carlos Leitão and Secretary of State Adam van Koeverden, defended the government's record by pointing to the national school food program, the GST cut, and the forthcoming November 4 budget as evidence of a plan to address affordability. Bloc Québécois members Yves Perron and Andréanne Larouche expressed sympathy with the motion's focus on agricultural costs but pressed both sides on structural issues facing farmers. The debate at times became heated, with opposition members accusing the Liberals of a dismissive attitude toward struggling Canadians.

Question period continued the affordability theme, with Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre repeatedly challenging the government on the Parliamentary Budget Officer's finding of a ballooning deficit—now projected at up to $100 billion. Ministers François-Philippe Champagne and Patty Hajdu countered by emphasizing tax cuts for 22 million Canadians and investments in child care, dental care, and pharmacare. The sitting also featured significant exchanges on Canada Post reforms, where Bloc members Christine Normandin and Marie-Hélène Gaudreau challenged Minister Joël Lightbound over the lifting of the moratorium on rural post office closures and the conversion to community mailboxes. The firearms buyback program remained a flashpoint, with Conservatives accusing Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree of privately admitting the program would not improve public safety—a claim the minister firmly denied while launching the pilot program in Cape Breton.

Beyond the main debates, members observed the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag with multiple statements across party lines, and marked the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The adjournment proceedings saw continued exchanges on public safety, bail reform, and procurement accountability, with the parliamentary secretary defending the government's commitment to introducing new bail legislation.