Sitting 79 — February 4, 2026

The sitting was dominated by third reading debate on Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act, which would provide up to $1,800 in quarterly payments to low- and modest-income families to help with food and essential goods costs. Liberal members framed the measure as a direct response to affordability pressures, citing endorsements from Food Banks Canada, while Conservatives supported the bill's passage but argued the one-time rebate would not address underlying drivers of food inflation, which they attributed to federal industrial carbon pricing and clean fuel regulations. The Bloc Québécois also backed the bill, though members questioned why payments were quarterly rather than monthly and expressed concern that the measure was a temporary fix for a permanent problem.

Question Period was largely consumed by exchanges on the economy and food prices, with Conservative MPs repeatedly noting that Canada leads the G7 in food inflation and citing specific price increases for staples such as lettuce, coffee, beef, and baby formula. Government ministers countered by highlighting job creation figures, wage growth, and other affordability measures including $10-a-day child care and the national school food program. A separate line of questioning from the Bloc Québécois focused on problems with the Cúram software system, which had delayed old age security payments for some seniors by up to nine months—an issue the government acknowledged while insisting over 98% of applicants received benefits on time.

The sitting also featured debate on Bill S-233, a private member's bill to create a specific Criminal Code offence for assault against health care workers and first responders. Questions were raised about agricultural research centre closures, with Conservatives accusing the government of cutting scientific capacity while the Agriculture Minister maintained that research would continue in every province. Other topics included a potential Canada-Taiwan trade agreement, bail reform legislation (Bill C-14), and the government's firearms compensation program.