Sitting 41 — October 22, 2025

The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-12, the government’s border and immigration bill, and a private members’ motion on international development assistance. The central political argument pitted the government and Conservatives over the cost of living, with the opposition blaming Liberal deficits for rising grocery and housing costs, while the government pointed to tax cuts and inflation within target.

Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, would bar asylum claims made more than one year after arrival or 14 days after an irregular entry, and give cabinet power to suspend or cancel immigration applications in the “public interest.” The Liberals argued it would modernize the system and uphold refugee protections through pre-removal risk assessments. Conservatives supported the bill’s aims but warned it still contained warrantless data-access provisions from its predecessor, Bill C-2, and said it did nothing to fix bail laws or stop fentanyl trafficking. The NDP opposed the bill outright, calling it a violation of international law and charter rights, and joined over 300 civil-society groups in demanding its withdrawal. The Bloc Québécois raised concerns about understaffing at the Canada Border Services Agency.

Motion No. 14, moved by Liberal MP Ahmed Hussen, called for new policies to ensure Canadian international development assistance creates reciprocal economic benefits, a dedicated Economic Partnerships Window for projects in clean energy, agriculture, digital technology and education, and an annual report to Parliament on outcomes. The government and Conservatives supported the motion, with Conservatives stressing accountability and value for money. The Bloc Québécois moved an amendment to ensure small non-profit organizations and international co-operation centres outside major urban areas have equal access to funding, which Hussen accepted. The NDP opposed the motion, arguing it made aid transactional and risked abandoning poverty reduction.

Oral Questions focused on the cost of living, with the Conservative leader repeatedly accusing the Prime Minister of driving inflation through deficit spending and hidden taxes on food. The government replied that inflation was within the Bank of Canada’s target range, that taxes had been cut for 22 million Canadians, and that the upcoming budget would balance operational spending while making historic investments. A second major theme was job losses in the auto sector, with Conservatives blaming the government’s trade negotiations and EV mandate for layoffs at Paccar, Stellantis and GM; ministers said they were fighting for workers and negotiating with the U.S. and with automakers. Other recurring topics included a scathing Auditor General’s report on Canada Revenue Agency call-centre failures, child-care space shortages, and military recruitment and housing shortfalls.