Procurement and the Economy top Thursday's QP

Conservatives opened Question Period on Thursday by returning to immigration, pressing the government on the immigration minister’s record on asylum seekers, the approval process, and how Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) would affect citizenship rates. They also questioned the justice system’s treatment of non-citizens in the process of obtaining citizenship.

Conservatives then shifted to economic issues, revisiting earlier lines of questioning on inflation, the rising cost of living, and impacts on young Canadians, millennials, and seniors. MPs also pressed the government on the procurement process and escalating costs of the new OAS payment software.

Additional Conservative questions focused on the emergency use of strychnine for Prairie farmers, with MPs warning that crop losses could reach up to 20 per cent without it. They also raised concerns about access to the recreational food cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador and about a request by Brookfield Renewable Partners to export hydroelectricity to the United States.

Bloc Québécois MPs continued to press the government on the performance and cost of the OAS payment software. They also questioned the government on expropriation related to the proposed high-speed rail project and its impact on local communities.

Liberal MPs sought updates on supports for the forestry sector, Bill C-15, Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1, and the defence industrial strategy.

NDP MPs questioned the government’s housing construction plans, arguing it is falling short of election commitments. They also pressed the government on access to abortion services.

The transcript for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, is available online.

Conservative MP John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.):

    "Mr. Speaker, the agriculture minister gave his word to farmers that he would support a request for emergency use of strychnine. Prairie farmers were devastated last season, with some losing 20% of their yield. Denying the request from Alberta and Saskatchewan is another Liberal broken promise when farmers needed help the most. It is also further proof that the agriculture minister does not have clout at the cabinet table. Will the minister keep his word to farmers? Will he reassess this decision with a lens on economic impact and food security?"

CPC / 31 / Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; The Economy; Seniors; Public Services and Procurement; Agriculture and Agri-Food; Fisheries and Oceans; Natural Resources Bloc / 5 / Pensions; Public Services and Procurement; Rail Transportation LPC / 3 / Forestry Industry; Finance; Industry NDP / 2 / Housing; Health