Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let me explain something to the member opposite. A strategic reserve is for importing countries. We an exporting country. Guess what. We have centuries' worth of reserve in this country.
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Mr. Speaker, I sit on the natural resources committee with the hon. member. She knows too well how complicated it is to do a project like the Ring of Fire, which is actually multiple projects. We are working with the Government of Ontario. We have already started to work with them on the road to access the Ring of Fire, because it requires major infrastructure to get to the Ring of Fire. She shoul…
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Mr. Speaker, I found it very interesting that the member talks about benefits for the first nations when what the Conservatives would like us to do is bulldoze and ignore the constitutional rights of the first nations. I do not understand what they are saying. Should we help them, or follow the rules?
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Mr. Speaker, as our economy pivots and modernizes, it is important to appreciate the fact that existing regulations may not fit the needs of new and emerging technologies. This can cause significant delays or even stop new products or services from entering the Canadian marketplace. Doing so can hamper Canadian entrepreneurship and innovation, reduce competition and make life less affordable for C…
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Mr. Speaker, the government will always work with indigenous people to find the right way forward when it comes to building energy and natural resource projects. These projects can strengthen our economy, diversify our trade and build the resilience we need to face the trade war with the United States. At the same time, they can represent incredible economic opportunities for indigenous people. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, housing affordability is the number one concern for people in my riding. Rents are too high, young people are unable to save up enough for a down payment and seniors are worried that they might be forced out of their own neighbourhoods. This is why my top priority from day one has been simple and clear, to build more homes. Last year, I announced two new social housing projects in our…
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Mr. Speaker, we are committed to making Canada an energy superpower, both in clean and conventional energy, while protecting our environment, including northern B.C. coasts, and respecting indigenous rights, something we did not hear in the member's elocution. So far, the government has not received a proposal for the project being referenced by the member opposite. If this pipeline is to be consi…
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Mr. Speaker, ministers could not use these provisions to exempt themselves or others from obligation under statutes such as the Conflict of Interest Act, for example. The authorities would apply it only to laws within a minister's portfolio and only for the purpose of testing and innovating under regulatory supervision. Nor is it intended to bypass important protections and lead to regulatory chan…
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Mr. Speaker, the mill closures are a challenge across the country, not just in British Columbia. We feel for every worker who is being impacted with that situation, as well as their families, but the reality is that we are faced with an unjustified tariff war from our neighbour to the south, which is affecting this industry and has been affecting it for many years. We have been fighting numerous t…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for making it very clear and obvious what is happening across the country, not just in his riding or in British Columbia. Resolving the trade issue is actually a challenge, just as it is in steel, in auto, in aluminum and in forestry. The challenges in forestry have been going on for many years, and we need some fundamental structural solutions to be able to strengt…
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Mr. Speaker, it is $50 million for the workers. The $500 million is actually to help companies diversify into new products and changes, which is required. The reality is that it is going to take a while to address these problems that are specific to an industry that has been affected for so long. Last but not least, we have worked with the British Columbia government, because it is also within the…
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is trying to suggest that we are not building. I would remind him that we just saw the largest private sector investment in Canada. LNG Canada shipped its first LNG to Asia. Cedar LNG is now under construction. Woodfibre LNG is now under construction. Ksi Lisims LNG is now approved, and its pipeline is now ready for construction. When Alberta's project is ready, it…
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Mr. Speaker, the closure of a mill is difficult news, whether it is on Vancouver Island or anywhere across the country. It is difficult news for workers, their families and the community. The federal government has come forward with support for the sector. We urge the provincial governments to work with us as partners to protect these jobs—
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Mr. Speaker, it is difficult news, the closure of any mill, whether it is on Vancouver Island or anywhere in the country. We have come forward with a lot of support from a financial perspective. We work with the provincial governments as partners to protect these. The Conservatives may have missed the news that we announced a forestry sector transformation task force for the industry. It has alrea…
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Madam Speaker, what happened in the member's riding is sad, but I am very confused by his position. He is the first Conservative member I have heard mention the words “climate change”. We know that the long-term strategy to fight climate change is carbon neutrality, to get to net zero, which the government is staying steadfast to meet by 2050. The proposal by the Conservatives today would be an un…
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Madam Speaker, during the last election, we made a clear promise to Canadians to make Canada an energy superpower. From day one, we have been working hard to achieve that goal, building major projects for clean and conventional energy across the country. We made that promise because Canada is a nation of builders, innovators and explorers. Whether it is the development of hydroelectric power in Qu…
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Madam Speaker, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, I spend a lot of my time focusing on critical minerals. I therefore have the great privilege of doing most of my work with stakeholders in regions across Canada. We know that energy production and mining—
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Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague on one point: Like him, I am a bit puzzled by the proposal before us today. However, here is where we differ a little: In my speech, I talked about clean energy and conventional energy. The government wants to do both, and we think we can do both. Naturally, however, doing both while meeting our climate change commitments will take a certain framework. My c…
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Mr. Speaker, as my first year in the House draws to a close, I am proud of what we have accomplished together, including presenting our first budget and supporting major projects like the Nouveau Monde Graphite mine. Now comes my first holiday as a member of Parliament. Let us just say, it is not quite what I am used to. Most years I would be home, trying and failing to get my Christmas lights to …
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Mr. Speaker, I am not going to talk about history. I am going to talk about the here and now. I would submit that the Conservative Party did not move a motion that supports the entire MOU, specifically because their caucus and even their leader, for that matter, do not support the MOU that Alberta signed, which includes strengthening industrial carbon pricing. On this side of the House, the govern…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is in a trade war, one we did not ask for, but one which we must win. In a moment like this, we need to be united and focused on building our country up. We should not be playing partisan Conservative games. Canadians expect more from the House, and we are delivering for Canadians. That is why the federal government and Premier Smith signed and support the full memorandum of un…
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to call attention to the last motion moved by our Conservative colleagues. This motion seeks to divide Canada. Conservative representatives from different provinces across the country support the framework agreement. We have persuaded a province that had been relatively reluctant until now to participate in our decarbonization measures and to embrace a series o…
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Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what my hon. colleague was doing during my 10-minute speech in which I talked about climate change and all the measures we included in the framework agreement we signed with Alberta. We are very proud to have persuaded Alberta to agree to diversify our conventional and clean energy sources by signing this agreement, which includes many climate change measures and related…
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Mr. Speaker, I totally agree, and the MOU is actually to diversify our market. We totally intend to work with Alberta to give access to the Asian market. It actually is stated in the MOU. I regret to inform the member that the motion put forward does not include that portion of the MOU. We totally agree about the market, but we would like all the pieces of the MOU to be included in the motion.
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Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Humber River—Black Creek. Throughout Canada, from the far north to our urban centres and smaller communities, Canadians expect their government to show true leadership in dealing with the greatest challenge of our time, and that is climate change. Our path to prosperity, our vision for energy, the economy and security, cannot and must no…
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Mr. Speaker, I have good news for all the workers across Canada. All of the major projects we are introducing will generate good jobs for unionized workers in all trades across the country. This will move Canada forward.
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Madam Chair, I just want to correct the hon. member. I may seem to have been here for only a minute in the House, as I have just been elected for the first time. However, I was in business for 40 years. I have done a lot of business with pulp and paper and the forestry industry during my career, so I understand the industry very well. Conservatives say they care. We have announced $1.25 million, i…
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Madam Chair, I have a comment and a question for the Leader of the Opposition. My comment is that it sounds to me as though there is selective amnesia from the Leader of the Opposition and the Conservatives, because this has been going on for 40 years. He just reminded us of one time under Prime Minister Harper, but it has really happened five times over 40 years, and this is the fifth time. There…
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Just let me finish. Madam Chair, if they are so smart and know better than we do what should happen, I have heard their comments and I would like to hear what they would offer. If the answer is that they would do a deal with the Americans, I would love to hear their strategy on how they would do a deal and what they would leave on the table and concede to the Americans in order to get a good deal.…
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Madam Chair, I agree with my colleague from the Bloc Québécois on the importance of this sector. He knows full well that the government is pulling out all the stops to find a way to help the industry. I also want to thank him for his proposal. I have two questions for him. It is clear that this could be seen as a subsidy for U.S. consumers, since Canada would be paying the tariffs in their place. …
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Madam Chair, I would like to remind the House that during question period today, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said that additional assistance for the softwood lumber industry would be announced this week. I just wanted to point that out. My question for the parliamentary secretary is this. At the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, the CEO of Domtar said that one of the measur…
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Mr. Chair, no matter how my colleague presents it, I believe that everyone in this House agrees that this is a terrible situation and that the impact it is having on the industry, families and workers is unfortunate. I would like to remind him of something. Perhaps the interpretation was not working earlier, but today the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources announced that additional assistanc…
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Mr. Chair, I would like to put a question to my colleague, who has a great deal of experience in the House and has been through these recent crises. What does he suggest as a long-term solution to this crisis?
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Mr. Chair, I hear the hon. member asking for action. The government is taking action. Is it perfect? Maybe it is not perfect. We are listening to the industry, but I did not hear the member suggest any solution to what we agree is a very difficult situation. If they do not want a handout and they want a deal, I would like to know what concessions they are prepared to give to the Americans to get a…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member that there are plenty of examples. I have another one, the north coast transmission line, which has been referred to the Major Projects Office for further consideration, twinning existing transmission lines from Prince George to Terrace and up to Bob Quinn substation, enabling clean growth for critical minerals and LNG while also improving telecom and…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House of Commons, located on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people, land that reminds us daily of our duty to honour indigenous rights and reconciliation. We are committed to making Canada an energy superpower while protecting our environment, including the northern B.C. coast. It is important to clearly state that the federal governm…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not really understand the question from my Bloc colleague, because there are already three programs in place, and I just mentioned that we are planning new ones. There is a program to support businesses with wages and transformation, and others will follow.
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Mr. Speaker, I would note that this story has already been corrected. This is a commercial company-led decision and it is not final. Nutrien has said that a final investment decision will come in 2027, with any new terminal only online near the end of the decade. We will keep engaging with Nutrien and others so that Canadian options are as competitive as possible. Canada has the potash the world n…
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Mr. Speaker, we are already investing heavily to strengthen trade corridors and port-rail capacity across the country. We have all seen the major announcements in the last few days and in budget 2025, and they include major long-term projects through the national trade corridors fund. These investments are aimed exactly at improving reliability, reducing bottlenecks and keeping the value chain her…
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Mr. Speaker, the forestry industry is the lifeblood and is so important for many communities, particularly in rural areas. That is why we have already announced a series of measures: $700 million in liquidity, $500 million for transformation and $50 million for helping with salaries. We are listening to everyone in the industry. I would love to work with my colleague, because we plan on announcing…
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Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear on how important the softwood lumber industry is for this country and the government, and we will continue to support it while we navigate this. The member may not remember, but it has been more than 40 years of discussions, tariffs and all kinds of activities with the American side. He knows this is a long-term dispute, but we will support our workers and our …
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Mr. Speaker, there are some people in this House who have historical amnesia. It has been 40 years that we have had problems with the American market for forestry trade. We feel terribly sorry for the families that are affected by this. We will continue to do everything we can to support them. We are actively working on and hoping for a deal in the future with the Americans.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Beauport—Limoilou for his question. I was present at the announcement and I have met with the people of Nouveau Monde Graphite a number of times in the past. This project will provide significant economic benefits for Quebec, particularly in the battery industry. This project will be integrated with a battery material plant in Bécancour, which is also…
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Mr. Speaker, we have an incredible opportunity to be a world-leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. This government was elected to deliver bold nation-building projects that strengthen our economy, reinforce Canadian autonomy and advance indigenous prosperity, while contributing to clean growth and Canada's climate objectives. Yes, friends from the Conservative Party, we …
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Mr. Speaker, we are having very productive conversations with Premier Eby about responsibly advancing major projects. By the way, B.C. has already seen the highest number of projects move forward of any province. Any additional energy infrastructure in B.C. that is approved will be considered with direct input from both the provincial government and the indigenous community.
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Mr. Speaker, softwood lumber is the lifeblood of Canada's small forestry communities, which are essential to our country's economy. We have been clear that the tariffs on softwood lumber are absolutely unjustified, and we are working at all levels to resolve the softwood lumber dispute. We have announced a number of programs, including $50 million to support employment, $500 million to make change…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for expressing himself on the budget, but I suggest he may want to stick to football as opposed to the economy as a topic. As it relates to the economy, let us talk a little about the future. I have been wrestling with all these Conservative comments. A portion of the budget is expenses and a portion is investment, and the biggest portion of the budget is in…
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Mr. Speaker, all municipalities in Quebec have just completed their municipal elections, and although the results are not yet official, I would like to warmly congratulate the new mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the newly elected borough mayors Nancy Blanchet, Véronique Fournier and Céline‑Audrey Beauregard, as well as all the newly elected officials in LaSalle, Verdun and Sud‑Ouest. I…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. We could not agree more. What is happening is unjustified; the tariffs are unjustified. Those of us on this side of the House hope we can work with him and with all members, including the 44 Liberal members from Quebec, to help our softwood lumber industry. As the minister said, $1.25 billion is already available, and we want to do even more for …
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Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in this chamber on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people with confidence and conviction to address Canada's unwavering commitment to a more prosperous future, a future we are actively building together. Our collective efforts to advance the biofuel sector are not just about energy; they are about powering our country's economy, strengthening our sovere…
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