The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-15, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1, which consumed the vast majority of Government Orders. The central political argument pitted the Liberal government’s claim that the budget makes necessary “generational investments” in infrastructure, housing, defence, and trade diversification against Conservative and Bloc Québécois accusations that it is a reckless, record-deficit budget that loads debt onto future generations while failing to address affordability, the media crisis, and climate commitments.
Bill C-15, the budget implementation bill, would enact measures from the November 4 budget, including a productivity superdeduction for business investment, $11.5 billion for a new Build Canada Homes housing agency, $51 billion over ten years for a “build communities strong” infrastructure fund, cancellation of the consumer carbon price, a cut to the first income tax bracket, and major defence spending to reach the NATO 2% target. The Liberals argued the bill is essential to diversify trade away from the U.S., build major projects like high-speed rail, and protect social programs. The Conservatives opposed the bill, arguing it contains a $78-billion deficit, broken promises on fiscal anchors, and hidden taxes that drive up the cost of living; they moved an amendment, which was debated but not voted on in this sitting. The Bloc Québécois opposed the bill, criticizing the deficit, the extension of oil and gas tax credits to 2040, the abandonment of the digital services tax, and the lack of support for private broadcasters and regional media. The NDP did not deliver a major speech on the bill during this sitting. Notable objections included Bloc members’ criticism of clause 208, which they said would allow a minister to exempt companies from federal laws for three years without a vote.
Oral Questions repeatedly returned to the themes of the Prime Minister’s foreign travel, the government’s trade record, and the cost of living. Conservatives accused the Prime Minister of taking 28 trips with no tangible tariff reductions to show for them, while tariffs on Canadian goods from the U.S., China, and India have increased. The government responded by citing new investment agreements with the UAE, the launch of trade negotiations, and a commitment to double non-U.S. exports. A second major theme was the budget deficit and fiscal credibility, with Conservatives citing the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s criticism of the government’s accounting and Fitch Ratings’ warnings. The government defended its fiscal position by noting Canada’s AAA credit rating and lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Other recurring topics included extortion and crime, where the government urged passage of its bail reform and lawful-access bills (C-2, C-14), and the Canada Revenue Agency’s service problems, which the government said a 100-day plan was improving.