Sitting 77 — February 2, 2026

The sitting opened with debate on Bill C-245, a Bloc Québécois private member's bill seeking to exempt Quebec from the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, allowing the province to implement its own intercultural integration model. The debate revealed deep philosophical divisions between federalist parties and the Bloc, with Liberal and Conservative members defending multiculturalism as a core Canadian value while Bloc members argued that Quebec's distinct approach to immigrant integration should be recognized in law. The House then moved to Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, a comprehensive Criminal Code amendment addressing child protection, gender-based violence, mandatory minimum penalties, and court delays—a bill that drew support across party lines but also criticism from Conservatives who argued its judicial discretion provisions would weaken the impact of restored mandatory minimums.

The centrepiece of government business was the second reading of Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act, introduced by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The bill would provide quarterly payments to approximately 12 million Canadians, with a family of four receiving up to $1,890 annually. Champagne framed the measure alongside other recent announcements—a $500 million strategic response fund for structural measures, immediate expensing for greenhouses, and accelerated capital cost allowance—as part of a comprehensive affordability package. Conservative finance critic Jasraj Hallan challenged the minister on whether the benefit would actually lower grocery prices, calling it a recycled Trudeau-era policy, while the Bloc supported the measure but questioned why it appeared outside the regular budget process.

Question Period centered on food inflation and economic growth, with Conservatives citing November GDP figures showing flat growth and the Bank of Canada's forecast of only 1.1% growth. The government highlighted job creation figures and maintained that Canada would have the second-fastest-growing G7 economy. A Speaker's ruling addressed voting procedure irregularities from a previous sitting, and another ruling concerned the requirement of a royal recommendation for a private member's bill on employment insurance. The day concluded with adjournment proceedings on international trade, agriculture (industrial carbon pricing's impact on farmers), and justice (bail reform and Bill C-9).