Sitting 99 — March 25, 2026
45-1 · 185 speeches · 27,146 words · most frequent word: “hate”
Combatting Hate Act·The Economy·PetitionsTopic cloud
Summary
The sitting was dominated by the fallout from the Auditor General's report exposing widespread fraud in the international student program, with the Leader of the Opposition pressing the Prime Minister on the failure to investigate 150,000 suspected cases of fraud and the promotion of the ministers responsible for the file. The Prime Minister defended his cabinet's record, pointing to a one-third reduction in asylum claims and a 70 per cent drop in international student numbers. The exchange set the tone for a question period that also featured sharp clashes over Canada's economic performance, with the Conservatives citing the loss of over 100,000 jobs in early 2026, the highest food price inflation in the G7, and a shrinking economy, while Liberal ministers countered with reference to job creation since the summer, the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, and investments in defence and infrastructure.
The House also debated Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, at length, with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice defending the legislation as essential to protecting Canadians from hate-motivated crimes, while Conservative members argued that the removal of the religious defence from the Criminal Code would threaten freedom of religion and expression. The debate grew heated as Conservative members presented petitions opposing the bill and accused the government of spreading misinformation about their position, while Liberal members accused the Conservatives of fearmongering and fundraising off the issue. The sitting concluded with adjournment proceedings on public safety, revisiting the use of the Emergencies Act during the 2022 convoy protests.
AI-generated summary (claude-sonnet-4-5 (via coding harness subagent, 2026-07-17)) — may contain errors; verify against the official Hansard.
Topics
- Statements by Members
- Yukon-Made Children's Web Series1 speech
- Wild Bird Conservation1 speech
- Canada Games Hall of Honour1 speech
- Firearms1 speech
- 50th Anniversary of Autisme Québec1 speech
- Greek Independence Day2 speeches
- Consular Affairs1 speech
- Community Organizations in Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis1 speech
- Francophonie Month1 speech
- B.C. Trades1 speech
- Automotive Industry1 speech
- International Day of La Francophonie1 speech
- The Economy1 speech
- Organizations in Honoré-Mercier1 speech
- Affordability1 speech
- Oral Questions
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship4 speeches
- The Economy28 speeches
- Taxation12 speeches
- Justice13 speeches
- Public Services and Procurement4 speeches
- Regional Economic Development2 speeches
- Employment2 speeches
- Government Accountability6 speeches
- Housing2 speeches
- Public Safety2 speeches
- National Defence2 speeches
- Fisheries and Oceans2 speeches
- Foreign Affairs2 speeches
- Presence in Gallery3 speeches
- Points of Order4 speeches
- Private Members' Business
- Points of Order1 speech
- Routine Proceedings
- Government Response to Petitions1 speech
- Committees of the House1 speech
- Petitions14 speeches
- Questions Passed as Orders for Return4 speeches
- Motions for Papers2 speeches
- Government Orders
- Combatting Hate Act54 speeches
- Adjournment Proceedings
- Public Safety4 speeches
Bills debated
- C-9Combatting Hate Act27 mentions
- C-246An Act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentences for sexual offences)2 mentions
- C-220An Act to amend the Criminal Code (immigration status in sentencing)2 mentions
- C-242Jail Not Bail Act2 mentions
- C-243An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (parole review)1 mention
- C-8An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts1 mention
- C-234Living Donor Recognition Medal Act1 mention
- C-14Bail and Sentencing Reform Act1 mention
- C-5One Canadian Economy Act1 mention
Top speakers
| Member | Party | Speeches | Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Lawton | Conservative | 10 | 2,970 |
| Patricia Lattanzio | Liberal | 8 | 2,278 |
| Anthony Housefather | Liberal | 4 | 1,695 |
| Jenny Kwan | NDP | 4 | 1,685 |
| Larry Brock | Conservative | 4 | 1,651 |
| Ziad Aboultaif | Conservative | 6 | 1,514 |
| Mark Carney | Liberal | 10 | 650 |
| Pierre Poilievre | Conservative | 6 | 638 |
| Kevin Lamoureux | Liberal | 9 | 562 |
| Sean Fraser | Liberal | 4 | 475 |