Sitting 44 — October 27, 2025

The sitting opened with private members' debate on Bill C-245, a Bloc Québécois bill to exempt Quebec from the application of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. The sponsor argued that multiculturalism as a federal policy failed to recognize the distinct nature of the Quebec nation and its model of interculturalism, while Liberal and Conservative members from francophone communities outside Quebec defended multiculturalism as compatible with French-language minority rights. The debate on Bill C-3, the Citizenship Act, continued at third reading with the Minister of Immigration defending the legislation against Conservative criticisms that it would extend citizenship to an estimated 150,000 individuals without adequate safeguards, and Bloc concerns about the absence of French-language requirements.

The day's dominant issue was the release of Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2025 report showing a 100% increase in food bank visits since 2019, with 2.2 million visits in a single month. Opposition Leader Poilievre opened question period with a series of exchanges on this report, contrasting the government's claims of progress with the lived experience of Canadians lining up at food banks. The government responded by citing the report's own recommendations for strengthening social supports and accusing Conservatives of voting against every affordability measure. Conservative members from across the country shared constituency-level stories of food bank usage and housing unaffordability, while the government highlighted its school food program—announced as becoming permanent—and other supports.

A significant portion of the day was consumed by debate on a concurrence motion in a report from the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, concerning the Prime Minister's financial disclosures and the operations of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Conservative members used the debate to raise allegations about the Prime Minister's former company Brookfield and its offshore structures, while government members defended the ethics regime and questioned the motivation behind the debate. The sitting also included a Liberal member's statement on the government's decision to restrict public access to certain Armed Forces commemorative events, which drew Conservative criticism, and adjournment proceedings on the economy and labour relations, including the ongoing CUPW dispute.