Sitting 87 — February 23, 2026
45-1 · 304 speeches · 66,290 words · most frequent word: “affordable”
Build Canada Homes Act·Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship·PensionsTopic cloud
Summary
The day featured debate on Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes Act, with the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure moving second reading and arguing that the legislation would establish Canada as an affordable housing builder through a new Crown corporation. Conservative members opposed the bill as an unnecessary fourth federal housing bureaucracy, noting that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation already exists, and argued that government taxes and regulatory costs now account for nearly one-third of new home costs. The Bloc Québécois raised jurisdictional concerns, while the NDP urged stronger non-market housing targets. Earlier, the House debated Bill C-237, a private member's bill to amend the Fisheries Act relating to Atlantic groundfish fisheries, with members from all Atlantic parties weighing in on the balance between recreational and commercial fishing interests.
Question period saw intense exchanges on the IFHP and immigration, with Conservatives pressing the Minister of Immigration on the program's projected $1.5-billion annual cost and linking it to the strain on provincial health care systems. The Cúram pension software crisis continued to draw fire, with the Bloc and Conservatives highlighting the nearly $5-billion cost overrun and the 85,000 affected seniors. The Minister of Jobs and Families defended the modernization as a necessary upgrade of a 60-year-old system. Opposition members also raised Canada's food inflation rate—at 7.3 per cent the highest in the G7—and criticized agricultural research centre closures. The government highlighted the recently launched defence industrial strategy and Canada's second-fastest growth in the G7.
AI-generated summary (claude-sonnet-4-5 (via coding harness subagent, 2026-07-17)) — may contain errors; verify against the official Hansard.
Topics
- Private Members' Business
- Fisheries Act9 speeches
- Government Orders
- Build Canada Homes Act161 speeches
- Statements by Members
- Tribute to a Father1 speech
- The Power of Words1 speech
- Quantum Technologies1 speech
- Recognition of a Home Builder1 speech
- Black History Month1 speech
- Coldest Night of the Year Walk1 speech
- Michael Kieran1 speech
- Mexico1 speech
- Situation in Mexico1 speech
- Ontario Student Assistance Program1 speech
- Parole1 speech
- Scout Week 20261 speech
- Food Affordability1 speech
- Arnold Sylliboy1 speech
- Health Services for Asylum Claimants1 speech
- Recognition of Bravery1 speech
- Oral Questions
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship34 speeches
- Pensions24 speeches
- Agriculture and Agri-Food14 speeches
- National Defence4 speeches
- The Economy2 speeches
- Housing2 speeches
- Justice2 speeches
- Pharmacare5 speeches
- Government Orders
- Business of Supply6 speeches
- Routine Proceedings
- Committees of the House1 speech
- Commissioner of Official Languages1 speech
- Ukraine1 speech
- Petitions11 speeches
- Questions on the Order Paper2 speeches
- Government Orders
- Points of Order1 speech
- Adjournment Proceedings
- Automotive Industry4 speeches
- The Economy4 speeches
Bills debated
- C-20Build Canada Homes Act27 mentions
- C-12Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act9 mentions
- C-237An Act to amend the Fisheries Act (Atlantic groundfish fisheries)6 mentions
- C-227National Strategy on Housing for Young Canadians Act3 mentions
- C-218An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)3 mentions
- C-9Combatting Hate Act2 mentions
- C-15Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 11 mention
- C-2Strong Borders Act1 mention
- C-13An Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership1 mention
- C-4Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act1 mention
Top speakers
| Member | Party | Speeches | Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Lamoureux | Liberal | 19 | 4,991 |
| Gabriel Ste-Marie | Bloc | 6 | 4,236 |
| Scott Aitchison | Conservative | 11 | 3,620 |
| Carol Anstey | Conservative | 6 | 3,405 |
| Arielle Kayabaga | Liberal | 11 | 3,388 |
| Gregor Robertson | Liberal | 6 | 3,209 |
| Jonathan Rowe | Conservative | 9 | 2,694 |
| Eric Duncan | Conservative | 4 | 2,495 |
| Brad Redekopp | Conservative | 6 | 2,414 |
| Chris Bittle | Liberal | 11 | 1,909 |