House of Commons
Committee of the Whole – Consideration of the Main Estimates 2025-2026
Date: Thursday, June 05, 2025
Time: 6:30pm to 10:30pm (times are approximate)
Location: House of Commons Chamber
Subject: Consideration of the Main Estimates 2025-2026
Appearing:
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Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
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Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety
Officials in attendance on the floor of the House of Commons (accompanying the Ministers):
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Arun Thangaraj, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada
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Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada
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Christiane Fox, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet
Context
On May 27, 2025, the House of Commons adopted a motion to refer the Main Estimates 2025-2026 to a Committee of the Whole (CoW). The proceedings will take place over four designated days at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment in the House of Commons for up to four hours each day.
Minister Freeland and Minister Anandasangaree are the first to appear in Committee of the Whole on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Other Ministers will appear on the remaining designated days: Monday, June 9, 2025; Tuesday, June 10, 2025; and Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Remarks
Minister Freeland will deliver 10-minute remarks during the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, speaking to the 2025-2026 Main Estimates for Transport Canada.
Proceedings
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Once the Committee of the Whole is convened, the Speaker outlines the rules, including the scope of the Estimates under review, speaking time limits, party speaking order, and the requirement for unanimous consent to split time.
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One official for each Minister (DM Thangaraj and DM Fox) will be present to provide advice and information to the Ministers, however the DMs are not allowed to address the Chamber directly.
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The rounds of questions then begin. The Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole will moderate the debate of Committee of the Whole by matching the amount of time given to each answer with the amount of time used to pose the question (e.g. short question will be responded to with a short answer).
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Opposition Q&As are expected to last 15 minutes each round, with no time spent on a speech. The time allocated to the government should be approximately broken down in two parts: 10 minutes for a Speech and 5 minutes for the government-led Q&A portion. The speaking slots should follow a rotation representing the composition of the House.
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In the opening round, each recognized party will get a 15-minute slot, in the following order:
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Opposition Q&A (Conservative Party of Canada) (15 minutes)
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Government Speech (maximum 10 minutes)
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Opposition Q&A (Bloc Quebecois) (15 minutes)
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The remaining speaking slots will follow a rotation that align with each party’s standings. Approximately half of the speaking slots will go to the Government, and the opposition will get the other half of the speaking slots (the Conservative Party will have the majority of opposition speaking slots, followed by the Bloc Québécois and the Independent members (Green Party and NDP)) – see more details below
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Members may share their time with other speakers.
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At the expiry of the time provide for study of the Estimates (4 hours), or if the debate collapses, the proceedings will come to an end. The House immediately adjourns to the next sitting day.
Opening Round
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
BQ (15 minutes)
Rotations
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
CPC (15 minutes)
LPC (15 minutes)
BQ (15 minutes)
Ind (GP/NDP) (15 minutes)