Anita Anand

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, this government always stands with its legal obligations. At the same time, we have introduced Bill C-35, and we very much hope that the opposition will work with us. Through the summer, we will be consulting, and we will be coming up with a list of goods that will be the subject of sanctions in the case of forced labour. We stand up for human rights. We stand up for the rights of those subjected to slavery in supply chains, and we will not let it happen.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has some of the most rigorous forced labour laws in the world. We condemn forced labour everywhere it exists, including in my meeting last Friday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. Every good that enters this country is subject to rigorous import controls and screening. We allocated $600 million in last year's budget to address forced labour. We prioritize the inclusion of comprehensive labour provisions in free trade agreements to promote international labour standards. We stand with workers everywhere—

Mr. Speaker, I want to underline that Canada will always protect the rights of workers within and outside this country. The $600 million allocated in last year's budget was on top of a number of measures that we have taken in our negotiations, in our free trade agreements with other countries around the world, a point I emphasized last Friday when I spoke with China's Minister of Foreign Affairs. I want to say that our economy, at the same time, has grown by more than 17% in terms of our exports. We will build Canada—

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on the front lines of our relationship with China and countries around the world. We wholeheartedly and emphatically condemn forced labour wherever it occurs. In addition, in our free trade negotiations with countries around the world, we underline and ensure that we are condemning forced labour. Finally, we will continue to grow the Canadian economy strong, not only concluding 20 agreements on the economy, security and defence worldwide, but also ensuring that we are responsibly—

Mr. Speaker, last year, Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets grew by more than 17%. Canada has the fastest-growing economy in the G7, this year and next. In the first four months of this year alone, we secured more than $10 billion in commercial deals for Canadian businesses. Speaking of infrastructure investments, there is Ksi Lisims, Mackenzie Valley Highway and Contrecoeur. Canada was ranked the world's most attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is a reason: We are building Canada—

Mr. Speaker, we are creating over 1,000 jobs through Nouveau Monde Graphite, supporting 18,000 construction jobs, and the Darlington nuclear project is supporting 18,000 construction jobs. This is just an example of the types of investments the Government of Canada is putting into the Canadian economy. Just recently, we secured the largest order of Canadian-built aircraft in our history, 150 Airbus A220s built by Canadian workers. At a time when Canada is facing a trade war, we are building, we are investing and we are diversifying.

Mr. Speaker, last year Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets grew by over 17%. Canada is expected to have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 this year and next, and in the first four months of this year alone, we landed over $10 billion in commercial deals. Over the past year, Canada has secured more than 20 economic and defence agreements across five continents. Countries are choosing Canada. We are ranked the world's most attractive place for investment, and we will build—

Mr. Speaker, our government has delivered real affordability measures, including cutting the gas excise tax, all while ensuring that we are reducing our projected deficit by more than $11 billion. Our trade agreements have opened up preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers across 16 trade agreements, 51 countries and roughly two-thirds of global GDP. Those are the facts. Maybe opposition members could recognize truth when they see it.

Mr. Speaker, let me be frank with this House and with Canadians: Canada has entered into MOUs with China with respect to combatting crime in various forms since 2010 and, as has historically been the case with this agreement, the advice of Canada's intelligence agencies is always followed. I had a productive exchange with China's minister of foreign affairs regarding areas of mutual interest. I raised issues relating to transnational repression, human rights and security domestically. I will always stand up for Canadian values.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has entered into MOUs with China on combatting crime in varied forms since 2010. As has been the case historically, we have entered into these agreements on the advice of Canada's intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and they have also not been released publicly. I look forward to meeting with China's foreign minister and having a constructive exchange on areas of mutual interest. We will continue to uphold Canada's values and the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, our government will always stand up for Canadians, protect our national interests and engage from a position of strength. We welcome the upcoming visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, the first such bilateral visit to Canada in nearly a decade. We will also work with China where it advances Canada's national interests, including on trade, economic stability and global security, while defending Canada's sovereignty, security and values unequivocally.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to reiterate that in these conversations, including my conversation with Minister Wang Yi tomorrow, we will ensure that the guardrails in place will continue protecting Canada's security, protecting Canada's sovereignty and ensuring Canada's greatest economic resilience. Our government has taken concrete action to combat foreign interference, including establishing the foreign influence transparency registry and strengthening protections for Canadians and democratic—

Mr. Speaker, last week, I met with my NATO counterparts in Sweden following its historic accession to the NATO alliance, of which Canada was the first ratifier. As global conflicts disrupt our supply chains, Canada is investing in our defence industry to meet 2% of GDP, reaffirming the support for Ukraine, condemning ongoing aggression and attacks against Ukraine and securing the confidence of our allies in establishing the defence, resilience and security bank. We are contributing to NATO's strength by building Canada strong.

Actually, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is not accurately reflecting the importance we place on the Indo-Pacific region in general, including Taiwan, which is an important economic partner. We enjoy strong people-to-people ties with Taiwan, and we will continue to ensure that Taiwan continues to be an important economic partner for this country as we diversify trade and double non-U.S. trade over the next 10 years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. What he said is not true. We are continuing to build a strong economy in Canada with trade agreements around the world. For example, we signed an agreement with Indonesia last year, and we have agreements with Indo‑Pacific countries, including ASEAN in 2026. We are going to keep building the economy through agreements like these. I would like to know why the Conservatives refuse to vote with us in support of Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, we are unlocking trade opportunities for Canadians and Canadian farmers around the world. Let us look at China. Let us look at Mexico, for example, where we are continuing to stand with Canadian farmers. At the same time, we are unlocking trade agreements and investment directly into Canada, around the world, and negotiating and concluding over 20 trade agreements over the past six months, over four continents. One thing that would advantage Canadians is if the opposition actually recognized that we are standing for the Canadian—

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Canada has one of the strongest positions fiscally in the G7. In addition to maintaining and growing that position, we are also delivering for Canadians: $6 billion for investing in the skilled trades; more than $700 million for athletics in this country, from playground to podium; building Canada's homes by providing low-cost financing; and ensuring that there is a groceries and essentials benefit. We ask the Conservatives rationally to get on board.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. At the same time, in direct response to my colleague's question, we have reduced the deficit by $11 billion, as announced yesterday. One thing the Conservatives have failed to do is to vote for Canadians, vote for dental care, vote for pharmacare, vote for the groceries and essentials benefit, vote for housing and vote for supporting school food lunch programs on a permanent basis. I ask them to get—

Mr. Speaker, our strategy is actually to double non-U.S. trade over the next 10 years and to continue working on the CUSMA review, as the minister is doing. I will also say that, in the meantime, we are building trade relationships with Indonesia, China, India, Mexico and Brazil. We are looking forward to an FTA with the ASEAN in 2026 and working on Mercosur as well. That is what working for the Canadian public is all about. That is what building Canada strong means.

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we, along with this country as a whole, are continuing to diversify non-U.S. trade. That means real results. There have been more than 12 agreements over the past six months across four continents, which is a result that I ask my hon. colleague to acknowledge. Furthermore, as we work to double non-U.S. trade, we will build Canada strong internally. We will bring down internal barriers to trade. We will build national projects.