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Thursday, September 25, 2025 · sitting No. 29

Conservatives press supply motion to end carbon tax on food amid deficit clash

The House devoted most of its sitting to a Conservative opposition motion that calls on the government to eliminate the industrial carbon tax on fertilizer and farm equipment, the inflation tax through deficits, and carbon tax two, citing food inflation 70 per cent above the Bank of Canada target and a 142 per cent rise in food bank use since 2015. Conservative MP John Barlow moved the motion and argued that 73 per cent of households earning under $50,000 fear they cannot afford groceries. Liberal MP Carlos Leitão asked about Canada's net debt-to-GDP ratio while Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron said the motion raised a real problem but ended in carbon tax slogans.

In Question Period the main clashes centred on public safety and the economy. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked when the Prime Minister would fire the public safety minister over 600 lost foreign criminals and a failed border guard promise, and Liberal MP François-Philippe Champagne replied that the government would present a generational plan to build Canada. Poilievre also cited a Parliamentary Budget Officer report showing the deficit two-thirds higher than under Justin Trudeau and asked the Prime Minister to end all taxes on groceries; Liberal MP Patty Hajdu said Poilievre had voted against the school nutrition program.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – September 25, 2025. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2025-09-25

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 43%, opposition 57% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:10Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
45Bills creep ahead amid evasive repliesThe House spent most of its time on supply and economic debate while advancing two bills through early stages. Question period produced few direct answers and no votes were held.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this

AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this

Other moments

Canada Post

Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin asked whether seniors and people with disabilities outside major cities would keep home mail delivery after reforms, and Liberal MP Joël Lightbound said an accommodation program would ensure access.

Read the exchange

Firearms

Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman said the public safety minister admitted on a leaked recording that the gun buyback is a politically motivated scam that will not work, and Liberal MP Gary Anandasangaree replied that the program launched this week in Cape Breton to remove AR-15s.

Read the exchange

Justice

Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Éloi Fortin said Quebec must act because Ottawa refuses to ban Hells Angels colours under the Criminal Code, and Liberal MP Sean Fraser said Bill C-9 targets symbols of terrorist organizations but not criminal groups.

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National Defence

Liberal MP Tim Watchorn asked about enhancing military presence after a generational investment, and Defence Minister David McGuinty said a new agreement with Indonesia will increase Canadian Armed Forces exercises in the Indo-Pacific.

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Employment

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice said 66,000 jobs were lost in August and youth unemployment nears 15 per cent, and Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said a forthcoming generational budget will create opportunities and green jobs.

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Question Period, exchange by exchange

AI-rated Each answer’s rating (answered, partly answered, deflected, answered something else) is a model’s reading of the exchange. How the AI rates this

  1. deflected
    Public SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the demand to fire the minister and shifts to unrelated government plans.Yes, the Prime Minister is travelling around the world building bridges.
  2. deflected
    Public SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the demand to fire the minister and shifts to unrelated government plans.it is another day, but it is the same old Conservatives.
  3. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker for a past vote instead of addressing grocery taxes.I wish the member opposite's mother a happy birthday, but I am also very sad to tell her that her son voted against the school nutrition program.
  4. deflected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the deficit criticism and pivots to tax cuts and birthday wishes.I have good news for his mother: We cut taxes for her, along with 22 million Canadians.
  5. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the opposition for a past vote instead of addressing deficit spending.It was particularly disappointing to see the members opposite, many of whom I know are mothers, vote against the school nutrition program
  6. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker for past votes instead of addressing deficit spending.if the opposition leader's mother is watching, I would not want to tell her that the Leader of the Opposition voted against the child care program
  7. partly answered
    Canada PostChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses home delivery concerns by referencing an accommodation program but does not fully guarantee it.Canada Post has a service in place, an accommodation program, to ensure that Canadians who are older or who have a disability can access their mail.
  8. answered
    Canada PostChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly confirms services will continue in rural areas and explains the policy scope.
  9. answered
    Canada PostMarie-Hélène Gaudreau (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer opens with an explicit yes and directly addresses mobility access and regional service continuity.yes. I would like to remind my colleague that, right now in Canada, 77% of Canadians receive their mail through community mailboxes.
  10. deflected
    FirearmsMelissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the leaked admission and firing demand, instead attacking the opposition and promoting the buyback.the people playing politics are in the party opposite.
  11. deflected
    FirearmsMelissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government plans but never addresses the minister's job security or the leaked admission.we have a comprehensive plan to address guns.
  12. deflected
    FirearmsBlaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the firing question and the minister's recorded comments, pivoting to program details.law-abiding citizens abide by the law.
  13. misdirected
    Public SafetyJames Bezan (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to removal statistics and thanks officers instead of addressing the minister's competence or lost deportees.last year, the CBSA removed over 18,000 individuals who were ineligible to be in Canada.
  14. misdirected
    Public SafetyJeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the lost criminals and firing demand, turning instead to an attack on Conservative firearm policy.The one thing that has distinguished this party and that party over the course of all these tragedies is our willingness to put measures in place to limit assault weapons
  15. misdirected
    Public SafetyPierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to assault weapons and past tragedies rather than addressing organized crime at the port or the minister's fitness.With regard to assault-style firearms, Canadians have been clear.
  16. deflected
    Public SafetyPierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer cites car-theft statistics and investments but never engages the specific question about firing the minister over port crime.it is very clear that the number of car thefts is down significantly across Canada.
  17. deflected
    JusticeRhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to hate symbols and terrorist lists rather than criminal groups like Hells Angels.This piece of legislation includes the criminalization of the wilful promotion of hatred using specific hate symbols.
  18. deflected
    JusticeRhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats focus on hate and terrorism symbols and suggests sending bill to committee instead of addressing criminal patches.It is essential that the decisions as to which organizations are treated as terrorist organizations in this country are made independently by the national security apparatus.
  19. misdirected
    The EconomyJasraj Hallan (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores deficit and grocery inflation to promote unrelated Liberal programs.the school nutrition program is saving Canadian families, on average, $800 a year in food costs.
  20. misdirected
    The EconomyJasraj Hallan (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer quotes a child about school food instead of addressing deficit-driven inflation.A grade-7 kid actually said this: "An investment in healthy school food is a good idea because the healthier the kids, the healthier the society.
  21. misdirected
    The EconomyGrant Jackson (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative position on bureaucracy and refuses the motion without addressing inflation causes.To the member, no, we will not vote for their motion.
  22. misdirected
    The EconomyEric Lefebvre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes school food programs and invites member to visit instead of addressing deficit and grocery prices.It is an excellent organization that goes into the schools and provides oranges, yogourt, eggs and waffles.
  23. misdirected
    The EconomyEric Lefebvre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to praising a future budget and school programs while attacking the member's whip.If he cares about school food programs, I invite the member to rise and defy his whip, someone he has probably not yet met
  24. misdirected
    The EconomyCarol Anstey (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative leader's budget experience and refuses to address the deficit question.The Conservative leader and the party opposite have fought against every affordable measure we put forward.
  25. deflected
    The EconomyCarol Anstey (Conservative) asked Joanne Thompson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer celebrates fishery success instead of addressing food insecurity or deficits.I want to thank my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador for the opportunity to celebrate a very successful fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador: northern cod with increased quotas.
  26. misdirected
    The EconomySandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' voting record rather than addressing deficits or food bank usage.Why did the Conservatives, when they had the chance to vote for healthy school food, vote against it?
  27. deflected
    The EconomyRachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Anna Gainey (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists existing programs without addressing carbon taxes or the motion to scrap them.We have a national food program. We have a national dental care program. We have the Canada child benefit.
  28. partly answered
    The EconomyRachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Anna Gainey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists family support programs in response to the personal story of hardship.we have a number of supports for children and for families, including a national school food program, including a dental program, including the Canada child care benefit.
  29. deflected
    The EconomyWarren Steinley (Conservative) asked Buckley Belanger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights housing and lunch programs instead of addressing carbon or packaging taxes.We have the lunch program, as indicated, and all the supports of different types for families across this great country.
  30. misdirected
    The EconomyWarren Steinley (Conservative) asked Ruby Sahota (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the gun buyback program instead of addressing food bank usage or taxes.I want to thank the responsible gun owners who have stored these guns safely and now are waiting for a plan.
  31. deflected
    The EconomyNed Kuruc (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes tax cuts and housing instead of addressing exploding deficits or food prices.We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We cut the GST for first-time homebuyers.
  32. deflected
    The EconomyNed Kuruc (Conservative) asked Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights a trade agreement instead of addressing deficits, food prices or the motion on taxes.We just signed a generational trade agreement with Indonesia, the fourth-largest country in the world, with over 275 million potential consumers
  33. deflected
    The EconomyTako Van Popta (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). loaded question.The response highlights government initiatives for seniors but sidesteps the question on spending and deficits.On this side of the House, we have a great record. On that side of the House, they have a record of pushing the retirement age higher, cutting benefits and leaving seniors behind.
  34. misdirected
    The EconomyKelly DeRidder (Conservative) asked Rebecca Chartrand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to unrelated northern indigenous food initiatives without addressing grocery prices or deficits.Our new government has focused on empowering northern and Arctic communities with indigenous-led solutions that work in the north.
  35. misdirected
    The EconomyGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Heath MacDonald (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses biofuel production instead of responding to concerns about grocery prices and regulations.It is one company in Canada working toward reducing GHG emissions and utilizing our own canola seed to present something back to Canada, to our citizens, that is really effective in reducing GHG emissions in this country.
  36. deflected
    The EconomyJagsharan Singh Mahal (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.The response outlines future plans without committing to the specific motion or addressing food taxes.We believe in affordability; the party opposite does not. I ask its members to cut the rhetoric, get on board and join with us.
  37. partly answered
    EmploymentAlexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions a budget and renewable investments but does not directly tackle the reported job losses.With regard to youth unemployment, we will be introducing a generational budget.
  38. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesAlexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.The response discusses provincial collaborations for home renovations without confirming renewal of the specific program.I want to take this opportunity to talk about how well we are working with the provinces to give resources to Canadians who want to renovate their homes and reduce their carbon footprint.
  39. answered
    Business of the HouseAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms plans for bail legislation and outlines the upcoming House business as requested.As the member well knows, we have made a strong and firm commitment to bring in legislation this session to reform bail.