The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-3, the government’s legislation to amend the Citizenship Act, and by the tabling of the 2025 federal budget. The central political argument pitted the government and the NDP against the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois over the value of Canadian citizenship, the treatment of court rulings, and the fiscal direction of the country.
Bill C-3, which would allow Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship to children born abroad if the parent has spent at least 1,095 cumulative days in Canada, was the main Government Orders item. The government and the NDP argued the bill was necessary to comply with an Ontario Superior Court ruling that struck down the first-generation limit as unconstitutional, with a deadline of November 20. The Conservatives and the Bloc opposed the bill in its current form, arguing it devalued citizenship by removing language, knowledge, and security requirements for adult applicants, and by not requiring the 1,095 days to fall within a five-year period. At committee, the Conservatives and Bloc had passed amendments adding those requirements and a reporting obligation, but the government, with NDP support, reversed those amendments at report stage. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said the bill created “citizens of convenience” and eroded national identity, while Bloc MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval called the government’s rejection of committee work “unreasonable.” Liberal parliamentary secretary Kevin Lamoureux defended the cumulative model as fairer for Canadians whose lives span borders, and said the bill was about ensuring grandchildren of Canadians could be citizens.
Oral Questions focused overwhelmingly on the economy and affordability, with the Conservatives repeatedly accusing the government of driving up food prices through an “industrial carbon tax” and a “food packaging tax,” which ministers denied existed, calling them “imaginary taxes.” The Conservatives also pressed on youth unemployment, housing costs, and the size of the deficit, while the government defended its record and promised a historic investment budget. A second major theme was justice: Conservatives criticized the government for not using the notwithstanding clause to override a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material, and pressed for passage of Bill S-233 to protect first responders. Ministers pointed to Bill C-14 as their response on bail and sentencing.
In Routine Proceedings, the government tabled amendments to the African Development Fund agreement. During Statements by Members, several MPs paid tribute to the late Andrew Moor, a banking executive, and others marked the poppy campaign, municipal elections in Quebec, and the need to protect children from exploitation. A point of order was raised by Conservative MP Jacob Mantle, asking the Speaker to rule on whether a Liberal member’s earlier question accusing a Conservative of being a “Russian asset” was unparliamentary; the Speaker had taken the matter under advisement in September and had not yet ruled. The House later agreed to suspend until 4 p.m. for the budget speech. The Minister of Finance then delivered the budget address, proposing $115 billion in new investments over five years, a $30-billion defence increase, and a deficit of nearly $80 billion. The Leader of the Opposition moved to adjourn the debate, which was agreed to, meaning the budget debate was paused.