The sitting was dominated by debate on Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act, which would create a regulatory framework for commercial space launches from Canada. The central political argument was between the government, which presented the bill as essential for economic growth, sovereignty, and national security, and the Conservatives, who argued it gives the minister excessive discretionary power with insufficient parliamentary oversight and no statutory national security safeguards.
Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act, would amend the Aeronautics Act to establish a framework for licensing and regulating space launches and re-entries from Canadian soil. The government argued it is needed because Canada is the only G7 country without sovereign launch capability, and that the bill would attract billions in investment and create thousands of jobs, with an ambitious goal of a launch by 2028. The Conservatives opposed the bill at second reading, arguing it lacks key definitions, leaves critical rules to future regulations, and concentrates power in the minister’s hands without requiring national security screening of payloads or independent review. Conservative MP Dan Albas noted the bill contains no statutory duty to consult CSIS or DND, and that the minister could grant indemnification on arbitrary terms, distorting the market. Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval said the Bloc is open to the bill but concerned about ministerial discretion and the lack of definitions in the legislation itself. The NDP did not speak on the bill. No amendments were moved during this debate.
Oral Questions focused overwhelmingly on the spring economic update, tabled later in the sitting. Conservatives repeatedly accused the Prime Minister of “costly credit card budgeting,” claiming he doubled the deficit left by Justin Trudeau and that spending is driving the worst grocery inflation and household debt in the G7. The government replied that the deficit is actually $11 billion lower than projected, that Canada has the second-fastest GDP growth in the G7, and that it has delivered tax cuts, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, and dental care. A secondary theme was ethics: Conservatives pressed the Prime Minister to divest from Brookfield, citing an ethics committee report, while the government replied that the Prime Minister’s assets are in a blind trust and that the accusations are baseless.
In Routine Proceedings, the government tabled the spring economic update and a notice of ways and means motion. The finance minister then delivered a lengthy statement on the update, highlighting a lower deficit, a new Canada Strong sovereign wealth fund, and investments in skilled trades and housing. The Leader of the Opposition replied, calling the update “more debt, more costs, more taxes.” The NDP and Bloc also criticized the update for lacking measures on surveillance pricing, pharmacare, and support for businesses hit by U.S. tariffs. The Green Party leader said the update was “remarkably sanguine” given global instability. Several petitions were presented, including on MAID coercion, dental care paperwork, and guaranteed income for persons with disabilities. The Deputy Speaker delivered a ruling on the participation of the member for Terrebonne in Private Members’ Business, stating that because she had already sponsored Bill C-241, she would not be added to the draw for new members, but would continue as sponsor of that bill. Bill C-275, Melanie’s law, was introduced and read the first time.