Monday, October 23, 2023 · sitting No. 237

House advances Canada-Ukraine free trade bill to committee after second reading debate

The House spent half the day on second reading of Bill C-57, the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement implementation act. Trade Minister Mary Ng moved the bill and said it would support Ukrainian reconstruction while maintaining the highest environmental standards and excluding supply-managed sectors. Conservative MP Kyle Seeback and Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron questioned provisions on coal transition and investor-state dispute settlement.

Question period focused on housing costs and small business pressures. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on doubled housing costs and rising alternative lending. Liberal ministers Diane Lebouthillier and Sean Fraser defended spending measures and pointed to recent Brampton housing funding.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe called for a Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian truce. Liberal MP Ahmed Hussen said Canada had provided $60 million in aid and urged respect for international humanitarian law.

Decided that day

• Bill C-50 passed second reading

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard